AFLAC INC
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This report includes certain forward-looking information that is based on current expectations and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. For details on forward-looking information, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A), Part II, Item 7, of this report.
Aflac Incorporated qualifies as a large accelerated filer within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 12b-2. Our Internet address is aflac.com. The information on the Company’s Web site is not incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 10-K. We make available, free of charge on our Web site, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments thereto as soon as reasonably practicable after those forms have been electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
General Description
Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) was incorporated in 1973 under the laws of the state of Georgia. Aflac Incorporated is a general business holding company and acts as a management company, overseeing the operations of its subsidiaries by providing management services and making capital available. Its principal business is supplemental health and life insurance, which is marketed and administered through its subsidiary, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), which operates in the United States (Aflac U.S.) and as a branch in Japan (Aflac Japan). Additionally, Aflac U.S. markets and administers group products through Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC). Most of Aflac’s policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Our insurance operations in the United States and our branch in Japan service the two markets for our insurance business.
During 2009, the Parent Company purchased Continental American Insurance Group, Inc., which includes its wholly-owned subsidiary, CAIC. CAIC, headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, equips Aflac U.S. with a platform for offering attractive voluntary group insurance products that are well-suited for distribution by insurance brokers at the worksite.
We believe Aflac is the world’s leading underwriter of individually issued policies marketed at worksites. We continue to diversify our product offerings in both Japan and the United States. Aflac Japan sells supplemental insurance products, including cancer plans, general medical indemnity plans, medical/sickness riders, care plans, living benefit life plans, ordinary life insurance plans and annuities. Aflac U.S. sells supplemental insurance products, including accident/disability plans, cancer plans, short-term disability plans, sickness and hospital indemnity plans, hospital intensive care plans, fixed-benefit dental plans, vision care plans, long-term care plans, and life insurance products.
We are authorized to conduct insurance business in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, several U.S. territories and Japan. Aflac Japan’s revenues, including realized gains and losses on its investment portfolio, accounted for 73% of the Company’s total revenues in 2009, 72% in 2008 and 71% in 2007. The percentage of the Company’s total assets attributable to Aflac Japan was 85% at December 31, 2009, and 87% at December 31, 2008. For additional information, see Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Results of Operations
For information on our results of operations and financial information by segment, see MD&A and Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Foreign Currency Translation
For information regarding the effect of currency fluctuations on our business, see the Foreign Currency Translation and Market Risks of Financial Instruments - Currency Risk sections of MD&A and Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Insurance Premiums
The growth of earned premiums is directly affected by the change in premiums in force and by the change in weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rates. Consolidated earned premiums were $16.6 billion in 2009, $14.9 billion in 2008, and $13.0 billion in 2007. For additional information on the composition of earned premiums by segment, see Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report. The following table presents the changes in annualized premiums in force for Aflac’s insurance business for the years ended December 31.
Insurance - Japan
We translate Aflac Japan’s annualized premiums in force into dollars at the respective end-of-period exchange rates. Changes in annualized premiums in force are translated at weighted-average exchange rates. The following table presents the changes in annualized premiums in force for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.
For further information regarding Aflac Japan’s financial results, sales and the Japanese economy, see the Aflac Japan section of MD&A in this report.
Insurance - U.S.
The following table presents the changes in annualized premiums in force for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.
For further information regarding Aflac’s U.S. financial results and sales, see the Aflac U.S. section of MD&A in this report.
Insurance Products - Japan
Aflac Japan’s insurance products are designed to help consumers pay for medical and nonmedical costs that are not reimbursed under Japan’s national health insurance system. Changes in Japan’s economy and an aging population have put increasing pressure on Japan’s national health care system. As a result, more costs are being shifted to Japanese consumers, who in turn have become increasingly interested in insurance products that help them manage those costs. Aflac Japan has responded to this consumer need by enhancing existing products and developing new products.
Aflac Japan’s stand-alone medical product, EVER, offers a basic level of hospitalization coverage with an affordable premium. Since its initial introduction in 2002, we have expanded our suite of EVER product offerings that appeal to specific types of Japanese consumers. In August 2009, we introduced a new generation of our popular EVER product, the most notable changes being an enhanced surgical benefit and gender-specific premium rates. We believe that there is an attractive market for this type of medical product in Japan. We continue to believe that the entire medical category will remain an important part of our product portfolio in Japan.
The cancer insurance plans we offer in Japan provide a lump-sum benefit upon initial diagnosis of internal cancer and a fixed daily benefit for hospitalization and outpatient services related to cancer as well as surgical, convalescent and terminal care benefits. In September 2007, we introduced a new product called Cancer Forte. This was the first major revision we have made to our cancer product offerings since 2001. Responding to requests for enhanced outpatient coverage for cancer treatment, Cancer Forte pays outpatient benefits for 60 days, compared with 30 days for our previous plans. It also incorporates two new features. First, if a policyholder is diagnosed with cancer for the first time, we pay that policyholder an annuity from the second year through the fifth year after diagnosis. This is in addition to the traditional upfront first-occurrence benefit. The second new benefit is called “Premier Support,” where Aflac arranges for a third party to provide policyholders with counseling and doctor referral services upon their cancer diagnosis. For consumers who had the earlier cancer insurance product, we introduced a special bridge policy in 2008 that allows existing policyholders to upgrade their coverage to that of Cancer Forte.
Some of the life products that we offer in Japan provide death benefits and cash surrender values. These products are available as stand-alone policies and riders. Some plans have features that allow policyholders to convert a portion of their life insurance to medical, nursing care, or fixed annuity benefits at a predetermined age. In March 2009, we introduced a new child endowment product, which offers a death benefit until the child reaches age 18. It also pays a lump-sum benefit at the time of the child’s entry into high school, as well as an educational annuity for each of the four years during his or her college education.
We also offer traditional fixed-income annuities and care policies. For additional information on Aflac Japan’s products and composition of sales, see the Aflac Japan section of MD&A in this report.
Insurance Products - U.S.
We design our U.S. insurance products to provide supplemental coverage for people who already have major medical or primary insurance coverage. Our policies are portable and pay regardless of other insurance. Benefits are paid in cash directly to policyholders; therefore, they have the opportunity to use this cash to help with expenses of their choosing. Our health insurance plans are guaranteed-renewable for the lifetime of the policyholder (to age 70 for short-term disability policies). We cannot cancel guaranteed-renewable coverage, but we can increase premium rates on existing policies on a uniform, nondiscriminatory basis by class of policy in response to adverse experience. Any premium rate increases are subject to state regulatory approval. We have had minimal rate increase activity in the last five years.
Aflac U.S. offers an accident and disability policy to protect against losses resulting from accidents. The accident portion of the policy includes lump-sum benefits for accidental death, dismemberment and specific injuries as well as fixed benefits for hospital confinement. Optional disability riders are also available. Short-term disability policies provide disability benefits with a variety of elimination and benefit period options. The longest such benefit period offered is two years.
Our U.S. cancer plans are designed to provide insurance benefits for medical and nonmedical costs that are not covered by major medical insurance. Benefits include a first-occurrence benefit that pays an initial amount when internal cancer is first diagnosed; a fixed amount for each day an insured is hospitalized for cancer treatment; fixed amounts for radiation, chemotherapy and surgery; and a wellness benefit applicable toward certain diagnostic tests. Our Maximum Difference® cancer plan incorporates coverage for medical advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and the many new ways cancer patients may now receive their care. Maximum Difference allows customization of coverage to fit varying needs and budgets.
In 2009, we launched Essentials Accident and Essentials Maximum Difference® cancer plans. These new products have lower benefit and premium levels than the core versions of these products. In the short term, we believe these products are better suited to the current economy and in the long run, they will give consumers more choices.
Our hospital indemnity products provide fixed daily benefits for hospitalization due to accident or sickness. Indemnity benefits for inpatient and outpatient surgeries, as well as various other diagnostic expenses, are also available. Our sickness indemnity plan provides a fixed daily benefit for hospitalization due to sickness and fixed amounts for physician services for accident or sickness.
Aflac U.S. offers a specified health event policy that gives consumers a choice of three benefit and premium levels. One of the levels combines the specified health event policy with our intensive care plan. By leveraging administrative efficiencies, consumers may purchase the combined coverage for less than purchasing the policies separately.
Aflac U.S. offers term and whole life policies sold through payroll deduction at the worksite and various term and whole life policies on a direct basis. Our newest life insurance product line, Life Protector Series, offers term policies with varying duration options and a new whole life policy with additional benefits, including an increased face value option. These revisions greatly enhanced the product category and contributed to its success in the marketplace.
We offer a series of fixed-benefit dental policies, providing various levels of benefits for dental procedures, including checkups and cleanings. Plan features include a renewal guarantee, no deductible and no network restrictions.
Aflac U.S. offers Vision NowSM, which provides benefits for serious eye health conditions and loss of sight. Vision Now includes coverage for corrective eye materials and exam benefits.
For additional information on Aflac’s U.S. products and composition of sales, see the Aflac U.S. section of MD&A in this report.
Distribution - Japan
The traditional channels through which we have sold our products are independent corporate agencies, individual agencies and affiliated corporate agencies. The independent corporate agencies and individual agencies that sell our products give us better access to workers at a vast number of small businesses in Japan. Agents’ activities are primarily focused on insurance sales, with customer service support provided by the Aflac Contact Center. Independent corporate agencies and individual agencies contributed 55% of total new annualized premium sales in both 2009 and 2008 and 56% in 2007. Affiliated corporate agencies are formed when companies establish subsidiary businesses to sell our insurance products to their employees, suppliers and customers. These agencies help us reach employees at large worksites, including 89% of the companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Affiliated corporate agencies contributed 35% of total new annualized premium sales in 2009, compared with 36% in both 2008 and 2007. During 2009, we recruited approximately 4,600 new sales agencies. As of December 31, 2009, Aflac Japan was represented by more than 19,600 sales agencies, with more than 110,500 licensed sales associates employed by those agencies at such date. We believe that new agencies will continue to be attracted to Aflac Japan’s high commissions, superior products, customer service and strong brand image.
We continue to reach consumers through our strategic marketing alliance with Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company (Dai-ichi Life). We believe our alliance has been one of the most successful partnerships in the insurance industry since it was first launched in 2001. In 2009, Dai-ichi Life sold more than 122,000 of our market-leading cancer policies, compared with 190,000 policies in 2008 and 244,000 policies in 2007. Dai-ichi Life contributed 4% of our total new annualized premium sales in 2009, compared with 7% in 2008 and 8% in 2007.
We have sold our products to employees of banks since our entry into Japan in 1974. However, December 2007 marked the first time it was permissible for banks to sell supplemental health insurance products to their customers. By the end of 2009, we had agreements with 353 banks to sell our products. We have significantly more selling agreements with banks than any of our competitors. We believe our longstanding and strong relationships with the banking sector, along with our strategic preparations, have proven to be an advantage as this channel opened up for our products.
For additional information on Aflac Japan’s distribution, see the Aflac Japan section of MD&A in this report.
Distribution - U.S.
Our U.S. sales force comprises sales associates who are independent contractors licensed to sell accident and health insurance. Many are also licensed to sell life insurance. Sales associates are paid commissions based on first-year and renewal premiums from their sales of insurance products. In addition to receiving commissions on personal production, district, regional and state sales coordinators may also receive override commissions and incentive bonuses. Most associates’ efforts are principally focused on selling supplemental insurance at the worksite. Administrative personnel in Georgia, New York, and Nebraska handle policyholder service functions, including issuance of policies, premium collection, payment notices and claims.
We concentrate on marketing our products at the worksite. This method offers policies to individuals through employment, trade and other associations. Historically, our policies have been individual which means that our policies are individually underwritten and premiums are generally paid by the employee. Additionally, Aflac’s individual policies are portable, meaning that individuals may retain their full insurance coverage upon separation from employment or such affiliation, generally at the same premium. We collect a major portion of premiums on such sales through payroll deduction or other forms of centralized billing. With the beginning of our brokerage sales expansion and the purchase of CAIC, we are now able to offer group voluntary benefit products desired by many large employers. These products are sold on a group basis and often have some element of guaranteed issue. This coverage is generally not portable, which means the insurance coverage may terminate upon separation from employment or affiliation with the entity holding the group contract. Worksite marketing enables a sales associate to reach a greater number of prospective policyholders and lowers distribution costs, compared with individually marketed business. With total new payroll accounts rising 10.6% in 2009, we believe that we have provided a solid foundation for future sales when the U.S. economy recovers.
During the past several years, we have enhanced and increased the size of our distribution system. We recruited more than 28,400 new sales associates in 2009. At December 31, 2009, Aflac was represented by more than 75,300 licensed sales associates, a 1.2% increase over 2008. However, increasing our sales force means more than just recruiting people. We focus on growing the number of average weekly producers, which measures high-quality, consistent, capable producers who make solid, consistent contributions to sales. New average weekly producers, or those who are in their first year, increased 6.2% for 2009.
New sales associates participate in our New Associate Training Cycle, a training program that combines classroom instruction and online learning through Aflac University® with field training. The New Associate Training Cycle also includes LEASE training (Larger Earnings by Acquiring Smaller Employers), which helps new sales associates jumpstart their sales careers with an easily transferable guide for approaching smaller businesses.
In addition to training sales associates, we extend our training initiatives to both new and veteran sales force management. Sales associates who exhibit leadership potential are invited to participate in our national Coordinator in Training (CIT) program. The CIT program concentrates on developing potential leaders’ skills so they have a better chance to succeed as a district sales coordinator, the first level of Aflac’s sales force management. For district, regional, and state sales coordinators (listed in order from first level to highest level of sales management), we have refined and expanded the use of leadership development programs. We believe our efforts to increase the size and capability of our field force will translate into a higher proportion of successful producing sales associates in the future.
In addition to our established training programs, we conduct an annual Aflac National Training Day, which is available to all levels of our field force. Objectives of this training day have recently included topics such as: (1) conveying to our sales force how a weak economy enhances the need for our products and training them on how to better sell in the current economic environment, (2) providing training and support for new product initiatives and (3) developing associates’ skills in achieving enrollment conditions necessary to succeed in economic environments with lagging consumer confidence.
In July 2009, we introduced Success Trax, which is a tool that benefits all levels of our sales force. At the sales associate level, this technology helps streamline information about their contacts, presentations, sales, referrals, and enrollments. At the sales coordinator level, it allows sales management to track the activities, progress, strengths, and weaknesses of those who report to them so they may proactively coach agents on their team and address any emerging issues or need for improvement.
In the first quarter of 2009, we implemented our new Aflac for BrokersSM initiative. Insurance brokers have been a historically underleveraged sales channel for Aflac, and we believe we can establish
relationships that will complement, not compete with, our traditional distribution system. We have assembled a management team experienced in broker sales, and we are supporting this initiative with streamlined products, targeted broker specific advertising campaigns, customized enrollment technology, and competitive compensation. Additionally, a new level of management was introduced in 2009 to deliver this initiative. Over 100 broker development coordinators have been hired to be single points of contact for brokers across the country. Broker development coordinators are responsible for building relationships with new brokers as well as strengthening relationships with our current brokers. These coordinators are assisted by a team of certified case managers whose role is to coordinate and manage the account enrollments for brokers.
Furthering our initiatives in the broker arena, we acquired CAIC in the fourth quarter of 2009. This acquisition equips us with a platform for offering attractive voluntary group insurance products that are well-suited for distribution by insurance brokers at the worksite. Expanding our product portfolio with group products also greatly enhances the sales opportunities for our traditional sales force of individual associates.
For additional information on Aflac’s U.S. distribution, see the Aflac U.S. section of MD&A in this report.
Competition - Japan
In 1974, Aflac was granted an operating license to sell life insurance in Japan, making Aflac the second non-Japanese life insurance company to gain direct access to the Japanese insurance market. Through 1981, we faced limited competition for cancer insurance policy sales. However, Japan has experienced two periods of deregulation since we entered the market. The first came in the early 1980s, when nine mid-sized insurers, including domestic and foreign companies, were allowed to sell cancer insurance products for the first time. In 2001, all life and non-life insurers were allowed to sell stand-alone cancer and medical insurance products as well as other stand-alone health insurance products. As a result, the number of insurance companies offering stand-alone cancer and medical insurance has more than doubled since the market was deregulated in 2001. However, based on our growth of annualized premiums in force and agencies, we do not believe that our market-leading position has been significantly impacted by increased competition. Furthermore, we believe the continued development and maintenance of operating efficiencies will allow us to offer affordable products that appeal to consumers. Aflac is the largest insurer in Japan in terms of individual policies in force. As of December 31, 2009, we exceeded 20 million individual policies in force in Japan.
Aflac has had substantial success selling cancer policies in Japan, with 14 million cancer policies in force as of December 31, 2009. Aflac continued to be the number one seller of cancer insurance policies in Japan throughout 2009. We believe we will remain a leading provider of cancer insurance coverage in Japan, principally due to our experience in the market, low-cost operations, unique marketing system (see Distribution - Japan above) and product expertise.
We have also experienced substantial success selling medical insurance in Japan. While other companies have recognized the opportunities that we have seen in the medical insurance market and offered new products, we believe our products stand out for their value to consumers. Aflac Japan continued to be the number one seller of stand-alone medical insurance in the life insurance industry in terms of policy sales in 2009.
Competition - U.S.
We compete against several insurers on a national basis plus other insurers regionally. We believe our policies and premium rates, as well as the commissions paid to our sales associates, are competitive
with those offered by other companies providing similar types of insurance. However, we believe our U.S. business is distinct from our competitors because of our product focus, distribution system, and brand awareness. For many of the other companies that sell supplemental insurance, it represents a secondary business. For us, it is our primary business. We also believe that our growing distribution system of independent sales associates expands our business opportunities, while our advertising campaigns have increased our name awareness and understanding by consumers and businesses of the value our products provide.
Private insurers and voluntary and cooperative plans, such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield, provide major medical insurance for hospitalization and medical expenses. Much of this insurance is sold on a group basis. The federal and state governments also pay substantial costs of medical treatment through various programs. Such major medical insurance generally covers a substantial amount of the medical expenses incurred by an insured as a result of accident and disability, cancer or other major illnesses. Aflac’s policies are designed to provide coverage that supplements major medical insurance and may also be used to defray nonmedical expenses. Thus, we do not compete directly with major medical insurers. However, the scope of major medical coverage offered by other insurers does represent a potential limitation on the market for our products. Accordingly, expansion of coverage by other insurers or governmental programs could adversely affect our business opportunities. Conversely, any reduction of coverage, or increased deductibles and copayments, by other insurers or governmental programs could favorably affect our business opportunities.
Investments and Investment Results
Net investment income was $2.8 billion in 2009, $2.6 billion in 2008 and $2.3 billion in 2007. The growth of net investment income during the last three years has been negatively impacted by the low level of investment yields for new money in both Japan and the United States. In particular, Japan’s life insurance industry has contended with low investment yields for a number of years.
Investments - Japan
The following table presents the composition of total investments by sector, at amortized cost, and cash for Aflac Japan ($65.3 billion in 2009 and $62.9 billion in 2008) as of December 31.
Composition of Portfolio by Sector
* Includes 10.8% and 13.4% of perpetual securities at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively
** Includes .4% and .5% of perpetual securities at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively
Our highest sector concentration is in banks and financial institutions. Our investment discipline begins with a top-down approach. We first approve each country we invest in, and within those countries, we primarily invest in financial institutions that are strategically crucial to each country’s economy. The banks and financial institutions sector is a highly regulated industry and plays a strategic role in the global economy. While this is our largest sector concentration, we achieve some degree of diversification through a geographically diverse universe of credit exposures. See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Market Risks of Financial Instruments - Credit Risk section of MD&A for more information regarding the sector concentrations of our investments.
Yen-denominated debt and perpetual securities accounted for 94% of Aflac Japan’s total debt and perpetual securities at December 31, 2009, and 2008, at amortized cost.
Funds available for investment include cash flows from operations, investment income, and funds generated from bond swaps, maturities and redemptions. Aflac Japan purchased debt security investments at aggregate acquisition cost of approximately 955.6 billion yen in 2009 (approximately $10.1 billion), 689.0 billion yen in 2008 (approximately $6.8 billion), and 699.1 billion yen in 2007 (approximately $6.0 billion). During the three-year period ended December 31, 2009, there were no purchases of perpetual securities, and equity security purchases were immaterial. The following table presents the composition of debt security purchases by sector, as a percentage of acquisition cost, for the years ended December 31.
Composition of Purchases by Sector
The change in allocation of purchases from year to year is based on diversification objectives, relative value and availability of investment opportunities. In 2009, Aflac Japan increased its purchases of securities in the government and agencies sector because of our view of their relative value. A significant portion of the increased percentage of purchases of those securities was due to a bond-swap program that we executed in 2009 to generate investment gains to take advantage of tax loss carryforwards.
The distributions by credit rating of Aflac Japan’s purchases of debt securities for the years ended December 31, based on acquisition cost, were as follows:
Composition of Purchases by Credit Rating
The increase in the percentage of debt securities purchased in the AA rated category during 2009 was due to the attractive relative value these securities presented while still meeting our investment policy guidelines for liquidity, safety and quality. In 2007, the increased percentage of debt securities purchased in the AAA rated category primarily reflected the purchase of U.S. Treasury bills by Aflac Japan prior to repatriating profits to Aflac U.S. in the third quarter of 2007.
The distributions of debt and perpetual securities owned by Aflac Japan, by credit rating, as of December 31 were as follows:
Composition of Portfolio by Credit Rating
During 2009, Aflac Japan experienced an overall decrease in its holdings of AA rated securities due to downgrades of certain securities offset partially by purchases within that category. Aflac Japan’s A rated securities increased due to purchases and downgrades of higher rated securities. Aflac Japan’s BB or lower rated securities increased due to the downgrade of higher rated securities during 2009.
Investments - U.S.
The following table presents the composition of total investments by sector, at amortized cost, and cash for Aflac U.S. ($8.4 billion in 2009 and $7.3 billion in 2008) as of December 31.
Composition of Portfolio by Sector
* Includes 2.8% and 4.4% of perpetual securities at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Larger cash balances were held for specific corporate purposes in 2009 and for reserve due to the uncertainty and lack of liquidity in the market. The cash balances are in the process of being invested as
market conditions improve. See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Market Risks of Financial Instruments - Credit Risk section of MD&A for more information regarding the sector concentrations of our investments.
Funds available for investment include cash flows from operations, investment income, and funds generated from bond swaps, maturities and redemptions. Aflac U.S. purchased debt security investments at an aggregate acquisition cost of approximately $1.0 billion in 2009, $1.1 billion in 2008 and $1.0 billion in 2007. We purchased no perpetual or equity securities during the three-year period ended December 31, 2009. The following table presents the composition of debt security purchases by sector, as a percentage of acquisition cost, for the years ended December 31.
Composition of Purchases by Sector
The change in allocation of purchases from year to year is based on diversification objectives, relative value and availability of investment opportunities. During 2008, Aflac U.S. used the proceeds from the issuance of $200 million of variable interest rate funding agreements to third party investors to purchase a corresponding amount of variable interest rate CDOs. These CDOs were purchased exclusively to support our obligation under the funding agreements. As a result of this transaction, CDO purchases were higher in 2008 compared with 2009 and 2007.
The distributions by credit rating of Aflac’s U.S. purchases of debt securities for the years ended December 31, based on acquisition cost, were as follows:
Composition of Purchases by Credit Rating
The increase in the percentage of debt securities purchased in the AA and A rated categories during 2009 was due to the attractive relative value these securities presented while still meeting our investment policy guidelines for liquidity, safety and quality.
The distributions of debt and perpetual securities owned by Aflac U.S., by credit rating, as of December 31 were as follows:
Composition of Portfolio by Credit Rating
During 2009, Aflac U.S. experienced a decrease in its holdings of AAA rated securities due to a decrease in purchases in that category combined with downgrades of certain securities. Aflac U.S. BB or lower rated securities increased due to the downgrade of higher rated securities during 2009.
For additional information on the composition of our investment portfolios and investment results, see the Analysis of Financial Condition section in MD&A and Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Regulation - Japan
The financial and business affairs of Aflac Japan are subject to examination by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA). Aflac Japan files annual reports and financial statements for the Japanese insurance operations based on a March 31 fiscal year end, prepared in accordance with Japanese regulatory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the FSA. Japanese regulatory basis earnings are determined using accounting principles that differ materially from U.S. GAAP. Under Japanese regulatory accounting practices, policy acquisition costs are charged off immediately; deferred income tax liabilities are recognized on a different basis; policy benefit and claim reserving methods and assumptions are different; the carrying value of securities transferred to held-to-maturity is different; policyholder protection corporation obligations are not accrued; and premium income is recognized on a cash basis. Reconciliations of the net assets of the Japan branch on a U.S. GAAP basis to net assets determined on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis as of December 31 were as follows:
The FSA maintains a solvency standard, which is used by Japanese regulators to monitor the financial strength of insurance companies. As of December 31, 2009, Aflac Japan’s solvency margin ratio
was 885.5%, which significantly exceeds regulatory minimums. The FSA has issued a proposal to revise the current method of calculating the solvency margin ratio. The FSA intends to apply the revised method to life insurance companies for the fiscal year-end 2011 (March 31, 2012) and require the disclosure of the ratio as reference information for fiscal year-end 2010 (March 31, 2011). The FSA expects the revision would generally reduce life insurance companies’ solvency margin ratios to approximately half the level of those reported under the current calculation method.
A portion of Aflac Japan’s annual earnings, as determined on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis, may be repatriated each year to Aflac U.S. These repatriated profits represent a portion of Aflac Japan’s after-tax earnings reported to the FSA on a March 31 fiscal year basis. If needed, we may elect not to repatriate profits to Aflac U.S. or to repatriate a reduced amount to strengthen Aflac Japan’s solvency margin. In addition, the FSA may not allow profit repatriations or other transfers of funds to Aflac U.S. if they would cause Aflac Japan to lack sufficient financial strength for the protection of Japanese policyholders. In the near term, we do not expect these requirements to adversely affect the funds available for profit repatriations, nor do we expect these requirements to adversely affect the funds available for payments of allocated expenses to Aflac U.S. and management fees to the Parent Company.
The Japanese insurance industry has a policyholder protection corporation that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. For additional information regarding the policyholder protection fund, see the Policyholder Protection Corporation section of MD&A and Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
As a branch of our principal insurance subsidiary, Aflac Japan is also subject to regulation and supervision in the United States (see Regulation - U.S.). For additional information regarding Aflac Japan’s operations and regulations, see the Aflac Japan section of MD&A and Notes 2 and 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Regulation - U.S.
The Parent Company and its insurance subsidiaries, Aflac (a Nebraska-domiciled insurance company), American Family Life Assurance Company of New York (Aflac New York, a New York-domiciled insurance company) and CAIC (a South Carolina-domiciled insurance company) are subject to state regulations in the United States as an insurance holding company system. Such regulations generally provide that transactions between companies within the holding company system must be fair and equitable. In addition, transfers of assets among such affiliated companies, certain dividend payments from insurance subsidiaries, and material transactions between companies within the system, including management fees, loans and advances are subject to prior notice to, or approval by, state regulatory authorities. These laws generally require, among other things, the insurance holding company and each insurance company directly owned by the holding company to register with the insurance departments of their respective domiciliary states and to furnish annually financial and other information about the operations of companies within the holding company system.
Like all U.S. insurance companies, Aflac is subject to regulation and supervision in the jurisdictions in which it does business. In general, the insurance laws of the various jurisdictions establish supervisory agencies with broad administrative powers relating to, among other things:
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granting and revoking licenses to transact business
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regulating trade and claims practices
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licensing of insurance agents and brokers
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approval of policy forms and premium rates
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standards of solvency and maintenance of specified policy benefit reserves and minimum loss ratio requirements
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capital requirements
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limitations on dividends to shareholders
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the nature of and limitations on investments
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deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders
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filing of financial statements prepared in accordance with statutory insurance accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities
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periodic examinations of the market conduct, financial, and other affairs of insurance companies
The insurance laws of Nebraska that govern Aflac’s activities provide that the acquisition or change of “control” of a domestic insurer or of any person that controls a domestic insurer cannot be consummated without the prior approval of the Nebraska Department of Insurance. A person seeking to acquire control, directly or indirectly, of a domestic insurance company or of any person controlling a domestic insurance company (in the case of Aflac, the Parent Company) must generally file with the Nebraska Department of Insurance an application for change of control containing certain information required by statute and published regulations and provide a copy to Aflac. In Nebraska, control is generally presumed to exist if any person, directly or indirectly, acquires 10% or more of an insurance company or of any other person or entity controlling the insurance company. The 10% presumption is not conclusive and control may be found to exist at less than 10%. Similar laws apply in New York and South Carolina, the domiciliary jurisdictions of the Parent Company’s other insurance subsidiaries, Aflac New York and CAIC.
Additionally, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) continually reviews regulatory matters and recommends changes and revisions for adoption by state legislators and insurance departments.
The NAIC uses a risk-based capital formula relating to insurance risk, business risk, asset risk and interest rate risk to facilitate identification by insurance regulators of inadequately capitalized insurance companies based upon the types and mix of risk inherent in the insurer’s operations. The formulas for determining the amount of risk-based capital specify various weighting factors that are applied to financial balances or various levels of activity based on the perceived degree of risk. Regulatory compliance is determined by a ratio of a company’s regulatory total adjusted capital to its authorized control level risk-based capital as defined by the NAIC. Companies below specific trigger points or ratios are classified within certain levels, each of which requires specified corrective action.
The levels are company action, regulatory action, authorized control, and mandatory control. Aflac’s NAIC risk-based capital ratio remains high and reflects a very strong capital and surplus position. As of December 31, 2009, based on year-end statutory accounting results, Aflac’s company action level RBC ratio was 479%.
Currently, the U.S. federal government does not directly regulate the business of insurance. However, federal legislation and administrative policies in several areas can significantly and adversely affect insurance companies. These areas include financial services reform legislation, securities regulation, pension regulation, privacy, tort reform legislation and taxation. Various forms of federal oversight and possible regulation of insurance have been proposed in Congress. These proposals include the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which would establish the “Federal Insurance Office” within the Department of Treasury to monitor the insurance industry, identify gaps in regulation of insurance that could contribute to a systemic crisis, and identify an insurer that should be subject to stricter standards. Other proposals are pending in Congress that would permit an optional federal charter for insurers. The Obama administration has indicated that enactment of financial services reform is a legislative priority in 2010. Accordingly, it is possible that legislation to create federal oversight of insurance through an office in the Department of Treasury may be enacted, however, the chance of enactment of a federal insurance charter, while possible, appears to be less likely.
In addition, U.S. Congressional leaders and the Obama administration have expressed their commitment to enacting major health reform legislation, and both the House and the Senate have adopted their versions of a health care reform bill. While it is not possible to predict with certainty what provisions may be in any final legislation, it is likely that such legislation, if adopted, will include major changes to the U.S. health care insurance marketplace. Some of the proposals currently under discussion address individual and employer mandates, health insurance exchanges, coverage and exclusions, and medical loss ratios. The legislation also may include changes in government reimbursements and subsidies for individuals and employers and alter federal and state regulation of health insurers. Given the substantial differences between the legislation passed by the House and Senate, the ongoing negotiations to reconcile the legislation and the fact that some key provisions will be general in nature and subject to future regulatory interpretation, it is not possible to predict with any degree of certainty what effect any legislation and future regulation, if adopted, will have on the Company’s U.S. business, financial condition, or results of operations. However, Japan has had a national health care system for many years, and Aflac Japan has successfully operated in such a regulated environment.
For further information concerning Aflac U.S. operations, regulation, change of control and dividend restrictions, see the Aflac U.S. section of MD&A and Notes 2 and 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Employees
As of December 31, 2009, Aflac Japan had 3,946 employees and Aflac U.S. had 4,111 employees. We consider our employee relations to be excellent.
Other Operations
Our other operations include the Parent Company and a printing subsidiary. These operations had 292 employees as of December 31, 2009. We consider our relations with these employees to be excellent. For additional information on our other operations, see the Other Operations section of MD&A.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
We face a wide range of risks, and our continued success depends on our ability to identify, prioritize and appropriately manage our enterprise risk exposures. Readers should carefully consider each of the following risks and all of the other information set forth in this Form 10-K. These risks and other factors may affect forward-looking statements, including those in this document or made by the Company elsewhere, such as in earnings release webcasts, investor conference presentations or press releases. The risks and uncertainties described herein may not be the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business. If any of the following risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, there could be a material impact on the Company.
Difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy may have a material adverse effect on our investments, capital position, revenue, profitability, and liquidity and harm our business, and these conditions may not improve in the near future.
Our results of operations are materially affected by conditions in the global capital markets and the economy generally, in the United States, Japan and elsewhere. As widely reported, financial markets in the United States, Europe and Asia have experienced extreme disruption since the latter part of 2008. Concerns over the availability and cost of credit, the U.S. mortgage market, a declining real estate market in the United States, energy costs and geopolitical issues, among other factors, have contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the economy and the markets going forward. These
factors, combined with volatile commodity prices, declining business and consumer confidence, increased unemployment, and the impact of the economy on businesses, in particular, have precipitated an economic slowdown and fears of a sustained recession.
In addition, the fixed-income markets have continued to experience volatility, which has negatively impacted market liquidity conditions and increased the risk that issuers, or guarantors, of fixed maturity securities will default on principal and interest payments. This volatility has negatively impacted a broad range of mortgage- and asset-backed and other fixed income securities, the U.S. and international credit and interbank money markets generally, and a wide range of financial institutions and markets, asset classes and sectors. As a result, the market for fixed income securities has continued to experience decreased liquidity, increased price volatility, credit downgrade events, and increased probability of default. Securities that are less liquid are more difficult to value and trade. Domestic and international equity markets have also been experiencing heightened volatility and turmoil, with financial institutions being particularly affected. These factors may have an adverse effect on our capital position, in part because we hold in our investment portfolio a significant amount of fixed maturity and perpetual securities, including a large portion issued by banks and financial institutions. Our revenues may decline in such circumstances and our profit margins may erode.
We need liquidity to pay our operating expenses, dividends on our common stock, interest on our debt and liabilities. For a further description of our liquidity needs, including maturing indebtedness, see Item 7 of this Form 10-K - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Capital Resources and Liquidity. In the event our current resources do not meet our needs, we may need to seek additional financing. The availability of additional financing will depend on a variety of factors such as market conditions, the general availability of credit to the financial services industry and our credit ratings, as well as the possibility that lenders or debt investors may develop a negative perception of us if we incur large investment losses or if the level of our business activity decreases due to a market downturn or there are further adverse economic trends in the United States or Japan. Similarly, our access to funds may be impaired if regulatory authorities or rating agencies take negative actions against us.
Factors such as consumer spending, business investment, government spending, the volatility and strength of the capital markets, and inflation all affect the business and economic environment and, indirectly, the amount and profitability of our business. In an economic downturn characterized by higher unemployment, lower family income, lower corporate earnings, lower business investment and lower consumer spending, the demand for financial and insurance products could be adversely affected. This adverse effect could be particularly significant for companies such as ours that distribute supplemental, discretionary insurance products primarily through the worksite in the event that economic conditions result in a decrease in the number of new hires. Adverse changes in the economy could potentially lead our customers to be less inclined to purchase supplemental insurance coverage or to decide to cancel or modify existing insurance coverage, which could adversely affect our premium revenue, results of operations and financial condition. We are unable to predict the likely duration and severity of the current disruptions in financial markets and adverse economic conditions in the United States, Japan and other countries, which may have an adverse effect on us, in part because we are dependent upon customer behavior and spending. In addition, adverse conditions in the financial sector could result in lower sales through our bank distribution channel, as account executives refocus their discussions with customers toward the bank’s core business and away from supplemental insurance products in times of economic stress.
The effect that governmental actions for the purpose of stabilizing the financial markets will have on such markets generally, or on us specifically, is difficult to determine at this time.
In response to the financial crises affecting the banking system and financial markets and concern about financial institutions’ viability, numerous regulatory and governmental actions have been taken or
proposed. Within the United States, the Federal Reserve has taken action through reduced federal funds rates and the expansion of acceptable collateral for its loans to provide additional liquidity. Numerous financial institutions have received capital both in the form of emergency loans and direct Treasury equity investments. In addition, on February 13, 2009, the U.S. Congress passed a $787 billion economic stimulus plan. Within the United Kingdom and Euro-zone, similar actions including interest rate cuts and capital injections into financial institutions have been undertaken, including certain institutions that are obligors of the perpetual securities in our investment portfolio.
There can be no assurance as to the effect that any such governmental actions will have on the financial markets generally or on our competitive position, business and financial condition.
Defaults, downgrades, widening credit spreads or other events impairing the value of the fixed maturity securities and perpetual securities in our investment portfolio may reduce our earnings.
We are subject to the risk that the issuers, guarantors, or counterparties of fixed maturity securities and perpetual securities we own may default on principal, interest and other payments they owe us. We are also subject to the risk that the underlying collateral within loan-backed securities, including collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) and mortgage-backed securities, may default on principal and interest payments, causing an adverse change in cash flows from our investment portfolio. The credit rating agencies have been reviewing and modifying their rating criteria for perpetual securities. As a result, many of these securities have been downgraded and may experience further downgrades. While we are not currently required to recognize losses on these securities in light of our intent to not sell them prior to their anticipated recovery in fair value, we may in the future be required to do so. If we determine to reposition or realign portions of our investment portfolio so as not to hold certain securities in an unrealized loss position to recovery, we will incur a charge against net income for the unrealized loss in the period that the decision was made not to hold the security to recovery.
In addition to our credit exposure to various obligors and counterparties, we are also exposed to credit spreads, primarily relating to market price and cash flow variability associated with changes in credit spreads. A widening of credit spreads will increase the net unrealized loss position of our fixed maturity investment portfolio and if issuer credit spreads increase significantly or for an extended period of time, it would likely result in higher other-than-temporary impairment charges. Credit spread tightening will reduce net investment income associated with new purchases of fixed maturity securities. In addition, market volatility has made it difficult to value certain of our securities, such as our perpetual securities, and our investments in CDOs, qualified special purpose entities and variable interest entities, as trading of such securities has become less frequent. As such, our valuations of such securities may include assumptions or estimates that may have significant period-to-period changes, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Ongoing challenges include continued weakness in the U.S. real estate market and increased mortgage delinquencies, investor anxiety over the U.S. and global economy, and rating agency downgrades of various structured products and financial issuers.
For more information regarding credit risk, see the Market Risks of Financial Instruments - Credit Risk section of MD&A in this Form 10-K.
The impairment of other financial institutions could adversely affect us.
We have exposure to and routinely execute transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including brokers and dealers, commercial banks and other institutions. Additionally, our highest concentration in our investment portfolio is in banks and financial institutions. Many of these transactions expose us to credit risk in the event of default of the obligor or the counterparty. In addition, with respect to secured transactions, our credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral held by us cannot be
liquidated at prices sufficient to recover the full amount of the loan. Any losses or impairments to the carrying value of these assets may materially and adversely impact our business and results of operations. We have agreements with various financial institutions for the distribution of our insurance products. For example, at December 31, 2009, we had agreements with 353 banks to market Aflac’s products in Japan. In addition, in 2009, Dai-ichi Mutual Life sold more than 122,000 of our cancer policies under a strategic alliance that we have with Dai-ichi. Any material adverse effect on these or other financial institutions could also have an adverse effect on our sales.
We are subject to certain risks as a result of our investments in perpetual securities.
We maintain investments in perpetual securities, which have no stated maturity. As of December 31, 2009, we held $7.6 billion of perpetual securities, which represented 10.5% of our total debt and perpetual securities, at amortized cost. Our holdings of perpetual securities are in the following geographic areas: Europe, excluding the United Kingdom (68%); the United Kingdom (14%); Japan (14%); and Australia (4%).
Perpetual securities have characteristics of both debt and equity investments. The securities have stated interest coupons that were fixed at their time of issuance and subsequently change to a floating, short-term rate of interest of 125 to more than 300 basis points above a pre-determined market index, generally by the 25th year after issuance. While we generally believe that this interest step-up has the effect of creating an economic maturity date of the perpetual securities, no assurances can be given that the issuers of these securities will repay the principal at the time any interest step-up becomes effective.
Perpetual securities typically provide that the issuer is able to defer payment of interest on the securities for up to five years. The Upper Tier II securities that we own have cumulative deferrable payment provisions, however the Tier I securities that we own do not have similar provisions. No assurance can be given that the issuers of these securities will not defer making interest payments.
There is also a risk that the accounting for these perpetual securities could change in a manner that would have an adverse impact on the reporting for these securities. At the date of filing this Form 10-K, the SEC does not object to the use of a debt impairment model for impairment recognition of these securities as long as there is no significant deterioration in the credit condition of the perpetual securities. The debt impairment model allows the holder to consider whether or not interest and principal payments will be received in accordance with contractual terms and the holder’s intent and ability to hold the perpetual security until there is a recovery in value. The equity impairment model, by contrast, looks at the length of time a security’s market value has been below its cost basis and the percentage decline to determine whether an impairment should be recorded, without consideration to the holder’s intent and ability to hold the security until recovery in value. If the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) should decide that the appropriate model for determining impairments is the equity model, we would be required to recognize some portion of the unrealized losses now reported directly through equity as a charge against net income. Although this change would not affect total shareholders’ equity as the unrealized loss is already recorded in shareholders’ equity, it would reduce net income in the period the change occurred and in future periods. Statutory accounting principles account for these securities using the debt model. Additionally, these securities are carried at amortized cost for statutory reporting purposes, with the exception of any securities that are assigned the lowest NAIC rating (i.e. NAIC 6) or are determined to be impaired, i.e. the issuer will not be able to pay interest and principal as contractually due. Should the statutory accounting requirements change regarding the method of recognizing impairments or the values at which the securities should be carried in the financial statements, it could adversely affect our statutory capital, depending upon the changes adopted.
The valuation of our investments includes methodologies, estimations and assumptions which are subject to differing interpretations and could result in changes to investment valuations that may adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.
The vast majority of our financial instruments are subject to the fair value classification provisions under GAAP, which specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on observable or unobservable inputs to valuations, relate to our investment securities classified as securities available for sale in our investment portfolio, which comprised $44.1 billion (60%) of our total cash and invested assets at December 31, 2009. In accordance with GAAP, we have categorized these securities into a three-level hierarchy, based on the priority of the inputs to the respective valuation technique. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1). It gives the next priority to quoted prices in markets that are not active or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities and other inputs that can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities (Level 2). The lowest priority represents unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity and that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (Level 3). An asset or liability’s classification within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of significant input to its valuation.
At December 31, 2009, approximately 23%, 65% and 12% of our total available-for-sale securities represented Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 securities, respectively. Securities that are less liquid are more difficult to value and trade. During periods of market disruption, including periods of significantly rising or high interest rates, rapidly widening credit spreads or illiquidity, it may be difficult to value certain of the securities in our investment portfolio, if trading becomes less frequent and/or market data becomes less observable. There may be certain asset classes that were in active markets with significant observable data that become illiquid due to the current financial environment. In such cases, more securities may fall to Level 3 and thus require more subjectivity and management judgment. In addition, prices provided by independent pricing services and independent broker quotes can vary widely even for the same security.
As such, valuations may include inputs and assumptions that are less observable or require greater estimation as well as valuation methods which are more sophisticated, thereby resulting in values which may be greater or less than the value at which the investments may be ultimately sold. Further, rapidly changing and unprecedented credit and equity market conditions could materially impact the valuation of securities as reported within our consolidated financial statements and the period-to-period changes in value could vary significantly. Decreases in value may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
For further discussion on investment valuation, see Notes 1, 3, and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-K.
The determination of the amount of impairments taken on our investments is subjective and could materially impact our results of operations or financial position.
The determination of the amount of impairments is based upon our periodic evaluation and assessment of known and inherent risks associated with the respective securities. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available. Management updates its evaluations regularly and reflects impairments in its income statement as such evaluations are revised. There can, however, be no assurance that our management has accurately assessed the level of impairments reflected in our financial statements. Furthermore, additional impairments may need to be taken in the future. Historical trends may not be indicative of future impairments.
An investment in a fixed maturity or a perpetual security is impaired if its fair value falls below its book value. We regularly review our entire investment portfolio for declines in value. If we believe that a decline
in the value of a particular investment is temporary, no impairment is taken. However, for our fixed maturity and perpetual securities reported in the available-for-sale portfolio, we report the investments at market value in the statement of financial condition and record the decline or appreciation as an unrealized loss or gain in accumulated other comprehensive income. Management’s assessment of a decline in value includes current judgment as to the financial position and future prospects of the entity that issued the investment security. In the course of our credit review process, we may determine that it is unlikely that we will recover our investment in an issuer due to factors specific to an individual issuer, as opposed to general changes in global credit spreads. In this event, we consider such a decline in the investment’s fair value, to the extent below the investment’s cost or amortized cost, to be an other-than-temporary impairment of the investment and write the investment down to its fair value and record a realized loss in our consolidated statements of earnings. The determination of whether an impairment is other than temporary is subjective and involves considerable judgment and consideration of various factors and circumstances. The more significant factors include:
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issuer financial condition, including profitability and cash flows
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credit status of the issuer
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the issuer’s specific and general competitive environment
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published reports
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general economic environment
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regulatory and legislative environment
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the severity of the decline in fair value
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the length of time the fair value is below cost
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other factors as may become available from time to time
Another factor we consider in determining whether a decline in value is other than temporary is an evaluation of our intent and/or need to sell the investment prior to its anticipated recovery in fair value. We perform ongoing analyses of our liquidity needs, which include cash flow testing of our policy liabilities, debt maturities, projected dividend payments and other cash flow and liquidity needs. Our cash flows from operations have been substantial over the last three years, growing from $4.7 billion in 2007 to $5.0 billion in 2008 and to $6.2 billion in 2009.
Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect our profits.
We attempt to match the duration of our assets with the duration of our liabilities. At December 31, 2009, the average duration of Aflac Japan’s policy liabilities was approximately 14 years and the average duration of its yen-denominated debt and perpetual securities was approximately 12 years. The duration of the perpetual securities is based upon their economic maturity dates. Since the securities have no fixed maturity date, there is no assurance that the securities will be repaid on the dates assumed. When the principal of our debt securities or perpetual securities is repaid, there is a risk that the proceeds will be reinvested at a yield below that of the interest required for the accretion of policy liabilities. Our net investment income has been negatively affected by the low level of investment yields in Japan in the last three years.
The concentration of our investment portfolios in any particular sector of the economy may have an adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.
The concentration of our investment portfolios in any particular industry, group of related industries or geographic sector could have an adverse effect on our investment portfolios and, consequently, on our results of operations and financial position. Events or developments that have a negative impact on any particular industry, group of related industries or geographic sector may have a greater adverse effect on the investment portfolios to the extent that the portfolios are concentrated rather than diversified. At December 31, 2009, approximately 38% of our total portfolio of debt and perpetual securities was in the bank and financial institution sector.
Our concentration of business in Japan poses risks to our operations.
Our operations in Japan, including realized gains and losses on the Japan investment portfolio, accounted for 73%, 72% and 71% of our total revenues for 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Japanese operations accounted for 85% of our total assets at December 31, 2009, compared with 87% at December 31, 2008. The Bank of Japan’s January 2010 Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments stated that Japan’s economic conditions have improved due to various policy measures taken in Japan and abroad. Exports and production have been increasing, and private consumption is increasing despite the depressed employment and income situation. The report projected that Japan’s economic conditions are expected to continue to improve at a moderate pace. A potential deterioration in Japan’s economic recovery could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
We operate in an industry that is subject to ongoing changes.
We operate in a competitive environment and in an industry that is subject to ongoing changes from market pressures brought about by customer demands, legislative reform, marketing practices and changes to health care and health insurance delivery. These factors require us to anticipate market trends and make changes to differentiate our products and services from those of our competitors. We also face the potential of competition from existing or new companies in the United States and Japan that have not historically been active in the supplemental health insurance industry. Failure to anticipate market trends and/or to differentiate our products and services can affect our ability to retain or grow profitable lines of business.
We are exposed to significant financial and capital markets risk which may adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and our net investment income can vary from period to period.
We are exposed to significant financial and capital markets risk, including changes in foreign currency, interest rates, real estate markets, market volatility, the performance of the economy in general, the performance of the specific obligors included in our investment portfolio and other factors outside our control.
Foreign Currency Risk
Due to the size of Aflac Japan, where our functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on our reported financial position and results of operations. Aflac Japan’s premiums and most of its investment income are received in yen. Claims and expenses are paid in yen, and we primarily purchase yen-denominated assets to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are, however, translated into dollars for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on our reported financial position and results of operations. In periods when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars causes fewer dollars to be reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars causes more dollars to be reported. Any unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. As a result, yen weakening has the effect of suppressing current year results in relation to the prior year, while yen strengthening has the effect of magnifying current year results in relation to the prior year. In addition, the weakening of the yen relative to the dollar will generally adversely affect the value of our yen-denominated investments in dollar terms. Foreign currency translation also impacts the computation of our risk-based capital ratio because Aflac Japan is consolidated in our U.S. statutory filings due to its status as a branch. Our required capital, as determined by the application of risk factors to our assets and liabilities, is proportionately more sensitive to changes in the exchange rate than our total adjusted capital. As a result, when the yen strengthens relative to the dollar, our risk-based capital ratio is suppressed. We engage in
certain foreign currency hedging activities for the purpose of hedging the yen exposure to our net investment in our branch operations in Japan. These hedging activities are limited in scope and we cannot provide assurance that these activities will be effective or that counterparties to these activities will perform their obligations.
Additionally, we are exposed to economic currency risk when yen cash flows are converted into dollars, resulting in an increase or decrease in our earnings when exchange gains or losses are realized. This primarily occurs when we repatriate funds from Aflac Japan to Aflac U.S., which is generally done on an annual basis. The exchange rates prevailing at the time of repatriation may differ from the exchange rates prevailing at the time the yen profits were earned.
Interest Rate Risk
We have substantial investment portfolios that support our policy liabilities. Low levels of interest rates on investments, such as those experienced in Japan and the United States during recent years, have reduced the level of investment income earned by the Company. Slower investment income growth will occur if a low-interest-rate environment persists. While we generally seek to maintain a diversified portfolio of fixed-income investments that reflects the cash flow and duration characteristics of the liabilities it supports, we may not be able to fully mitigate the interest rate risk of our assets relative to our liabilities. Our exposure to interest rate risk relates primarily to the ability to invest future cash flows to support the interest rate assumption made at the time our products were priced and the related reserving assumptions were established. A rise in interest rates would improve our ability to earn higher rates of return on funds that we reinvest. Conversely, a decline in interest rates would impair our ability to earn the returns assumed in the pricing and the reserving for our products at the time they were sold and issued.
We also have an exposure to interest rates related to the value of the substantial investment portfolios that support our policy liabilities. A rise in interest rates would increase the net unrealized loss position of our debt and perpetual securities. Conversely, a decline in interest rates would decrease the net unrealized loss position of our debt and perpetual securities. While we generally invest our assets to match the duration and cash flow characteristics of our policy liabilities, and therefore would not expect to realize most of these gains or losses, our risk is that unforeseen events or economic conditions, such as changes in interest rates resulting from governmental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions, and other factors beyond our control, reduce the effectiveness of this strategy and either cause us to dispose of some or all of these investments prior to their maturity, or cause the issuers of these securities to default, both of which would result in our having to recognize such gains or losses.
Significant, continued volatility, the strengthening or weakening of the yen against the dollar, changes in interest rates, changes in credit spreads and defaults, market liquidity and declines in equity prices, individually or in tandem, could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows through realized losses, impairments, and changes in unrealized positions.
For more information regarding foreign currency and interest rate risk, see the Currency Risk and Interest Rate Risk sections within the Market Risks of Financial Instruments section in this Form 10-K.
If future policy benefits, claims or expenses exceed those anticipated in establishing premiums and reserves, our financial results would be adversely affected.
We establish and carry, as a liability, reserves based on estimates of how much will be required to pay for future benefits and claims. We calculate these reserves using various assumptions and estimates, including premiums we will receive over the assumed life of the policy; the timing, frequency and severity
of the events covered by the insurance policy; and the investment returns on the assets we purchase with a portion of our net cash flow from operations. These assumptions and estimates are inherently uncertain. Accordingly, we cannot determine with precision the ultimate amounts that we will pay for, or the timing of payment of, actual benefits and claims or whether the assets supporting the policy liabilities will grow to the level we assume prior to payment of benefits or claims. If our actual experience is different from our assumptions or estimates, our reserves may prove inadequate. As a result, we would incur a charge to earnings in the period in which we determine such a shortfall exists, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
As a holding company, the Parent Company depends on the ability of its subsidiaries to transfer funds to it to meet its debt service and other obligations and to pay dividends on its common stock.
The Parent Company is a holding company and has no direct operations or significant assets other than the stock of its subsidiaries. Because we conduct our operations through our operating subsidiaries, we depend on those entities for dividends and other payments to generate the funds necessary to meet our debt service and other obligations and to pay dividends on our common stock. Aflac is domiciled in Nebraska and is subject to insurance regulations that impose certain limitations and restrictions on payments of dividends, management fees, loans and advances by Aflac to the Parent Company. The Nebraska insurance statutes require prior approval for dividend distributions that exceed the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. In addition, the Nebraska insurance department must approve service arrangements and other transactions within the affiliated group of companies. In addition, the FSA may not allow profit repatriations or other transfers from Aflac Japan if they would cause Aflac Japan to lack sufficient financial strength for the protection of policyholders.
The ability of Aflac to pay dividends or make other payments to the Parent Company could also be constrained by our dependence on financial strength ratings from independent rating agencies. Our ratings from these agencies depend to a large extent on Aflac’s capitalization level. Any inability of Aflac to pay dividends or make other payments to the Parent Company could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. There is no assurance that the earnings from, or other available assets of, our operating subsidiaries will be sufficient to make distributions to us to enable us to operate.
Extensive regulation and changes in legislation can impact profitability and growth.
Aflac’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to complex laws and regulations that are administered and enforced by a number of governmental authorities, including state insurance regulators, the SEC, the NAIC, the FSA and Ministry of Finance (MOF) in Japan, the U.S. Department of Justice, state attorneys general, and the Internal Revenue Service, each of which exercises a degree of interpretive latitude. Consequently, we are subject to the risk that compliance with any particular regulator’s or enforcement authority’s interpretation of a legal or regulatory issue may not result in compliance with another regulator’s or enforcement authority’s interpretation of the same issue, particularly when compliance is judged in hindsight. There is also a risk that any particular regulator’s or enforcement authority’s interpretation of a legal or regulatory issue may change over time to our detriment. In addition, changes in the overall legal or regulatory environment may, even absent any particular regulator’s or enforcement authority’s interpretation of an issue changing, cause us to change our views regarding the actions we need to take from a legal or regulatory risk management perspective, thus necessitating changes to our practices that may, in some cases, limit our ability to grow or otherwise negatively impact the profitability of our business.
The primary purpose of insurance company regulatory supervision is the protection of insurance policyholders, rather than investors. The extent of regulation varies, but generally is governed by state statutes in the United States and by the FSA and the MOF in Japan. These systems of supervision and regulation cover, among other things:
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standards of establishing and setting premium rates and the approval thereof
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standards of minimum capital requirements and solvency margins, including risk-based capital measures
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restrictions on, limitations on and required approval of certain transactions between our insurance subsidiaries and their affiliates, including management fee arrangements
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restrictions on the nature, quality and concentration of investments
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restrictions on the types of terms and conditions that we can include in the insurance policies offered by our primary insurance operations
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limitations on the amount of dividends that insurance subsidiaries can pay or foreign profits that can be repatriated
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the existence and licensing status of a company under circumstances where it is not writing new or renewal business
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certain required methods of accounting
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reserves for unearned premiums, losses and other purposes
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assignment of residual market business and potential assessments for the provision of funds necessary for the settlement of covered claims under certain policies provided by impaired, insolvent or failed insurance companies
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administrative practices requirements
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imposition of fines and other sanctions
State insurance regulators and the NAIC regularly re-examine existing laws and regulations applicable to insurance companies and their products. Changes in these laws and regulations, or in interpretations thereof, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Currently, the U.S. federal government does not directly regulate the business of insurance. However, federal legislation and administrative policies in several areas can significantly and adversely affect insurance companies. These areas include financial services reform legislation, securities regulation, pension regulation, privacy, tort reform legislation and taxation. Various forms of federal oversight and possible regulation of insurance have been proposed in Congress. These proposals include the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which would establish the “Federal Insurance Office” within the Department of Treasury to monitor the insurance industry, identify gaps in regulation of insurance that could contribute to a systemic crisis, and identify an insurer that should be subject to stricter standards. Other proposals are pending in Congress that would permit an optional federal charter for insurers. The Obama administration has indicated that enactment of financial services reform is a legislative priority in 2010. Accordingly, it is possible that legislation to create federal oversight of insurance through an office in the Department of Treasury may be enacted, however, the chance of enactment of a federal insurance charter, while possible, appears to be less likely.
In addition, U.S. Congressional leaders and the Obama administration have expressed their commitment to enacting major health reform legislation, and both the House and the Senate have adopted their versions of a health care reform bill. While it is not possible to predict with certainty what provisions may be in any final legislation, it is likely that such legislation, if adopted, will include major changes to the U.S. health care insurance marketplace. Some of the proposals currently under discussion address individual and employer mandates, health insurance exchanges, coverage and exclusions, and medical loss ratios. The legislation also may include changes in government reimbursements and subsidies for
individuals and employers and alter federal and state regulation of health insurers. Given the substantial differences between the legislation passed by the House and Senate, the ongoing negotiations to reconcile the legislation and the fact that some key provisions will be general in nature and subject to future regulatory action, it is not possible to predict with any degree of certainty what effect any legislation and future regulation, if adopted, will have on the Company’s U.S. business, financial condition, or results of operations.
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.
Sales of our products and services are dependent on our ability to attract, retain and support a network of qualified sales associates.
Our sales could be adversely affected if our sales networks deteriorate or if we do not adequately provide support, training and education for our existing network. Competition exists for sales associates with demonstrated ability. We compete with other insurers and financial institutions primarily on the basis of our products, compensation, support services and financial rating. An inability to attract and retain qualified sales associates could have a material adverse effect on sales and our results of operations and financial condition. Our sales associates are independent contractors and may sell products of our competitors. If our competitors offer products that are more attractive than ours, or pay higher commissions than we do, these sales associates may concentrate their efforts on selling our competitors’ products instead of ours.
Any decrease in our financial strength or debt ratings may have an adverse effect on our competitive position.
Financial strength ratings are important factors in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies and generally have an effect on the business of insurance companies. On an ongoing basis, Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSROs) review the financial performance and condition of insurers and may downgrade or change the outlook on an insurer’s ratings due to, for example, a change in an insurer’s statutory capital; a change in a rating agency’s determination of the amount of risk-adjusted capital required to maintain a particular rating; an increase in the perceived risk of an insurer’s investment portfolio; a reduced confidence in management; or other considerations that may or may not be under the insurer’s control. Aflac currently maintains a Standard & Poor’s (S&P) financial strength rating of AA-, a Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) financial strength rating of Aa2 (Excellent), an A.M. Best Company, Inc. (A.M. Best) financial strength rating of A+ (Superior), and an R&I insurance claims paying ability rating of AA-. Because all of our ratings are subject to continual review, the retention of these ratings cannot be assured.
In addition to financial strength ratings, various NRSROs also publish debt ratings for us. These ratings are indicators of a debt issuer’s ability to meet the terms of debt obligations in a timely manner and are important factors in our ability to access liquidity in the debt markets. Currently, our senior debt, Samurai notes and Uridashi notes are rated A- by S&P, A2 by Moody’s and A by R&I. Downgrades in our credit ratings could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations in many ways, including adversely limiting our access to capital markets and potentially increasing the cost of debt.
S&P, Moody’s, and A.M. Best have a negative credit outlook for the U.S. life insurance sector due to, among other things, the significant deterioration and volatility in the credit and equity markets, economic and political uncertainty, and the expected impact of realized and unrealized investment losses on life insurers’ capital levels and profitability.
In view of the difficulties experienced recently by many financial institutions, including in the insurance industry, we believe it is possible that the NRSROs will heighten the level of scrutiny that they apply to such institutions, will increase the frequency and scope of their reviews, will request additional information from the companies that they rate, including additional information regarding the valuation of investment securities held, and may increase the capital and other requirements employed in their models for maintenance of certain rating levels.
A downgrade in any of these ratings could have a material adverse effect on agent recruiting and retention, sales, competitiveness and the marketability of our products which could negatively impact our liquidity, operating results and financial condition. Additionally, sales through the bank channel could be adversely affected as a result of their reliance and sensitivity to ratings levels.
We cannot predict what actions rating agencies may take, or what actions we may take in response to the actions of rating agencies, which could adversely affect our business. As with other companies in the financial services industry, our ratings could be downgraded at any time and without any notice by any NRSRO.
The success of our business depends in part on effective information technology systems and on continuing to develop and implement improvements in technology; certain significant multiyear strategic information technology projects are currently in process.
Our business depends in large part on our technology systems for interacting with employers, policyholders and sales associates, and our business strategy involves providing customers with easy-to-use products to meet their needs. Some of our information technology systems and software are older, legacy-type systems that are less efficient and require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain or upgrade to current standards (including adequate business continuity procedures). While we are in a continual state of upgrading and enhancing Aflac business systems, changes are always challenging in a complex integrated environment. Our success is dependent in large part on maintaining or improving the effectiveness of existing systems and continuing to develop and enhance information systems that support our business processes in a cost-efficient manner.
Changes in accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) or other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect our financial statements.
Our financial statements are subject to the application of generally accepted accounting principles in both the United States and Japan, which are periodically revised and/or expanded. Accordingly, from time to time we are required to adopt new or revised accounting standards issued by recognized authoritative bodies, including the FASB. It is possible that future accounting standards we are required to adopt could change the current accounting treatment that we apply to our consolidated financial statements and that such changes could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
In February 2010, the SEC issued a statement that it continues to encourage the convergence of U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in order to narrow the differences between the two sets of standards. The SEC also directed its staff to execute a Work Plan, the results of which will aid the Commission in its evaluation of the impact that the use of IFRS by U.S. companies would have on the U.S. securities market. Included in this Work Plan will be consideration of IFRS, as it exists today and after the completion of various convergence projects currently underway between U.S. and international accounting standards-setters. By 2011, assuming completion of these convergence projects and the staff’s Work Plan, the SEC will decide whether to incorporate IFRS into the U.S. financial reporting system, and if so, when and how. If the SEC determines in 2011 to incorporate IFRS into the U.S. financial reporting system, the first time that U.S. companies would report under such a system would be no earlier than 2015. For the insurance industry, key components of the convergence between U. S.
GAAP and IFRS have yet to be clarified. We are monitoring these developments closely. The adoption of IFRS could significantly alter the presentation of our financial position and results of operations in our financial statements.
See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-K for a discussion of recent changes in accounting standards that are pending adoption.
If we fail to comply with restrictions on patient privacy and information security, including taking steps to ensure that our business associates who obtain access to sensitive patient information maintain its confidentiality, our reputation and business operations could be materially adversely affected.
The collection, maintenance, use, disclosure and disposal of individually identifiable data by our businesses are regulated at the international, federal and state levels. These laws and rules are subject to change by legislation or administrative or judicial interpretation. Various state laws address the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health data to the extent they are more restrictive than those contained in the privacy and security provisions in the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (GLBA) and in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). HIPAA also requires that we impose privacy and security requirements on our business associates (as such term is defined in the HIPAA regulations).
Even though we provide for appropriate protections through our contracts with business associates, we still have limited control over their actions and practices. In addition, despite the security measures we have in place to ensure compliance with applicable laws and rules, our facilities and systems, and those of our third-party providers may be vulnerable to security breaches, acts of vandalism or theft, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors or other similar events. Congress and many states are considering new privacy and security requirements that would apply to our business. Compliance with new privacy and security laws, requirements, and new regulations may result in cost increases due to necessary systems changes, new limitations or constraints on our business models, the development of new administrative processes, and the effects of potential noncompliance by our business associates. They also may impose further restrictions on our collection, disclosure and use of patient identifiable data that are housed in one or more of our administrative databases. Noncompliance with any privacy laws or any security breach involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential member information, whether by us or by one of our vendors, could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation and results of operations, including: material fines and penalties; compensatory, special, punitive and statutory damages; consent orders regarding our privacy and security practices; adverse actions against our licenses to do business; and injunctive relief.
We face risks related to litigation.
We are a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. Members of our senior legal and financial management teams review litigation on a quarterly and annual basis. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, we believe the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. However, litigation could adversely affect us because of the costs of defending these cases, costs of settlement or judgments against us or because of changes in our operations that could result from litigation.
Managing key executive succession is critical to our success.
We would be adversely affected if we fail to adequately plan for succession of our senior management and other key executives. While we have succession plans and employment arrangements
with certain key executives, these cannot guarantee that the services of these executives will be available to us, and our operations could be adversely affected if they are not.
Any event, including one external to our operations, could damage our reputation.
Because insurance products are intangible, we rely to a large extent on consumer trust in our business. The perception of financial weakness could create doubt regarding our ability to honor the commitments we have made to our policyholders. Maintaining our stature as a responsible corporate citizen, which helps support the strength of our unique brand, is critical to our reputation and the failure or perceived failure to do so could adversely affect us.
We also face other risks that could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition, which include:
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any requirement to restate financial results in the event of inappropriate application of accounting principles
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failure of our processes to prevent and detect unethical conduct of employees
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a significant failure of internal controls over financial reporting
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failure of our prevention and control systems related to employee compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements
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failure of corporate governance policies and procedures
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
In the United States, Aflac owns land and buildings that comprise two primary campuses located in Columbus, Georgia. These campuses include buildings that serve as our worldwide headquarters and house administrative support and information technology functions for our U.S. operations. Aflac also owns land and office buildings in Columbia, South Carolina, which house our CAIC subsidiary. Aflac leases additional administrative office space in Georgia, New York, and Nebraska.
In Tokyo, Japan, Aflac has two primary campuses. The first campus includes a building, owned by Aflac, for the customer call center, information technology departments, and training facility. It also includes a leased property, which houses our policy administration and customer service departments. The second campus comprises leased space, which serves as our Japan branch headquarters and houses administrative support functions for the Japan branch. Aflac also leases additional office space in Tokyo, along with regional offices located throughout the country.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. Members of our senior legal and financial management teams review litigation on a quarterly and annual basis. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, we believe the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
There were no matters submitted to the security holders for a vote during the quarter ended December 31, 2009.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
* Unless specifically noted, the respective executive officer has held the occupation(s) set forth in the table for at least the last five years. Each executive officer is appointed annually by the board of directors and serves until his or her successor is chosen and qualified, or until his or her death, resignation or removal.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Aflac Incorporated’s common stock is principally traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. Our stock is also listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The quarterly high and low market prices for the Company’s common stock, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange for the two years ended December 31 were as follows:
Quarterly Common Stock Prices
Holders
As of February 22, 2010, there were 86,217 holders of record of the Company’s common stock.
Dividends
In February 2010, the board of directors declared the first quarter 2010 cash dividend of $.28 per share. The dividend is payable on March 1, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 16, 2010. The declaration and payment of future dividends to holders of our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements of our operating subsidiaries, legal requirements, regulatory constraints and other factors as the board of directors deems relevant. There can be no assurance that we will declare and pay any additional or future dividends. For information concerning dividend restrictions, see Regulatory Restrictions in the Capital Resources and Liquidity section of the MD&A and Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements presented in this report.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the five-year performance of the Company’s common stock to the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) and the Standard & Poor’s Life and Health Insurance Index (S&P Life and Health). The Standard & Poor’s Life and Health Insurance Index includes: Aflac Incorporated, Lincoln National Corporation, MetLife Inc., Principal Financial Group Inc., Prudential Financial Inc., Torchmark Corporation and Unum Group.
Performance Graph Index
December 31,
Copyright © 2010 Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
www.researchdatagroup.com/S&P.htm
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
During the fourth quarter of 2009, we repurchased shares of Aflac common stock as follows:
* The total remaining shares available for purchase at December 31, 2009, consisted of: (1) 2,370,254 shares related to a 30,000,000 share repurchase authorization by the board of directors announced in February 2006 and (2) 30,000,000 shares related to a 30,000,000 share repurchase authorization by the board announced in January 2008.
** During the fourth quarter of 2009, 6,505 shares were purchased in connection with income tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of restricted-share-based awards during the period.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Years Ended December 31,
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
December 31,
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” to encourage companies to provide prospective information, so long as those informational statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. We desire to take advantage of these provisions. This report contains cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected herein, and in any other statements made by Company officials in communications with the financial community and contained in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information and relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. Furthermore, forward-looking information is subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. In particular, statements containing words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “goal,” “objective,” “may,” “should,” “estimate,” “intends,” “projects,” “will,” “assumes,” “potential,” “target” or similar words as well as specific projections of future results, generally qualify as forward-looking. Aflac undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements.
We caution readers that the following factors, in addition to other factors mentioned from time to time, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements:
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difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy
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governmental actions for the purpose of stabilizing the financial markets
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defaults and downgrades in certain securities in our investment portfolio
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impairment of financial institutions
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credit and other risks associated with Aflac’s investment in perpetual securities
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differing judgments applied to investment valuations
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subjective determinations of amount of impairments taken on our investments
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limited availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments
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concentration of our investments in any particular sector
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concentration of business in Japan
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ongoing changes in our industry
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exposure to significant financial and capital markets risk
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fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates
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significant changes in investment yield rates
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deviations in actual experience from pricing and reserving assumptions
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subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company
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changes in law or regulation by governmental authorities
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ability to attract and retain qualified sales associates and employees
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decreases in our financial strength or debt ratings
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ability to continue to develop and implement improvements in information technology systems
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changes in U.S. and/or Japanese accounting standards
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failure to comply with restrictions on patient privacy and information security
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level and outcome of litigation
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ability to effectively manage key executive succession
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catastrophic events
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failure of internal controls or corporate governance policies and procedures
MD&A OVERVIEW
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is intended to inform the reader about matters affecting the financial condition and results of operations of Aflac Incorporated and its subsidiaries for the three-year period ended December 31, 2009. As a result, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements and notes. This MD&A is divided into the following sections:
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Our Business
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2009 Performance Highlights
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Critical Accounting Estimates
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Results of Operations, consolidated and by segment
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Analysis of Financial Condition, including discussion of market risks of financial instruments
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Capital Resources and Liquidity, including discussion of availability of capital and the sources and uses of cash
OUR BUSINESS
Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) primarily sell supplemental health and life insurance in the United States and Japan. The Company’s insurance business is marketed and administered through American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), which operates in the United States (Aflac U.S.) and as a branch in Japan (Aflac Japan). Additionally, Aflac U.S. markets and administers group products through Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC). Most of Aflac’s policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Our insurance operations in the United States and our branch in Japan service the two markets for our insurance business.
During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Parent Company closed its $100 million purchase of Continental American Insurance Group, Inc. (CAIG), which includes its wholly owned subsidiary CAIC. Subsequent to the closing, CAIG merged into Continental American Group, LLC, a limited liability company wholly owned by CAIC. As a result of the merger, CAIC became directly wholly owned by the Parent Company. CAIC is headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, and equips Aflac U.S. with a platform for offering attractive voluntary group insurance products that are well-suited for distribution by insurance brokers at the worksite. The purchase business combination resulted in the recognition of $97 million of net assets at fair value. An immaterial amount of intangible assets, including goodwill, was recognized as part of the business combination.
2009 PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Results for 2009 benefited from the stronger yen. Total revenues rose 10.3% to $18.3 billion, compared with $16.6 billion a year ago. Net earnings were $1.5 billion, or $3.19 per diluted share, compared with $1.3 billion, or $2.62 per share, in 2008.
We experienced net realized investment losses of $1.2 billion in 2009, which included the recognition of other-than-temporary impairments of $1.4 billion. During 2009, we had a $1.0 billion decrease in gross unrealized losses on our available-for-sale debt and perpetual securities due to the recognition of impairment losses and improved fair values for many categories of investment securities.
In 2009, we borrowed a total of $1.4 billion, consisting of $1.3 billon in dollar-denominated senior notes raised through U.S. public debt offerings and loans totaling 15 billion yen. We used $450 million of this capital to redeem our senior notes that were due in 2009, and we plan to use some of this capital to redeem our yen-denominated Samurai notes due July 2010, a liability of $428 million using the December 31, 2009 exchange rate. We have suspended stock repurchase activity in the open market. The raising of capital and suspension of stock repurchase activity have had a favorable impact on our capital position.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). References to GAAP issued by the FASB in this MD&A are to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ (ASC). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates based on currently available information when recording transactions resulting from business operations. The estimates that we deem to be most critical to an understanding of Aflac’s results of operations and financial condition are those related to the valuation of investments, deferred policy acquisition costs, liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, and income taxes. The preparation and evaluation of these critical accounting estimates involve the use of various assumptions developed from management’s analyses and judgments. The application of these critical accounting estimates determines the values at which 94% of our assets and 88% of our liabilities are reported as of December 31, 2009, and thus has a direct effect on net earnings and shareholders’ equity. Subsequent experience or use of other assumptions could produce significantly different results.
Investments
Aflac’s investments in debt, perpetual and equity securities include both publicly issued and privately issued securities. For privately issued securities, we receive pricing data from external sources that take into account each security’s credit quality and liquidity characteristics. We also routinely review our investments that have experienced declines in fair value to determine if the decline is other than temporary. These reviews are performed with consideration of the facts and circumstances of an issuer in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. The identification of distressed investments, the determination of fair value if not publicly traded, and the assessment of whether a decline is other than temporary involve significant management judgment and require evaluation of factors, including but not limited to:
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issuer financial condition, including profitability and cash flows
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credit status of the issuer
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the issuer’s specific and general competitive environment
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published reports
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general economic environment
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regulatory, legislative and political environment
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the severity of the decline in fair value
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the length of time the fair value is below cost
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our intent, need, or both to sell the security prior to its anticipated recovery in value
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other factors as may become available from time to time
See Notes 1, 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Policy Liabilities
Aflac’s products are generally long-duration fixed-benefit indemnity contracts. We make estimates of certain factors that affect the profitability of our business to match expected policy benefits and deferrable acquisition costs with expected policy premiums. These assumptions include persistency, morbidity, mortality, investment yields and expenses. If actual results match the assumptions used in establishing policy liabilities and the deferral and amortization of acquisition costs, profits will emerge as a level percentage of earned premiums. However, because actual results will vary from the assumptions, profits as a percentage of earned premiums will vary from year to year.
We measure the adequacy of our policy reserves and recoverability of deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC) annually by performing gross premium valuations on our business. Our testing indicates that our insurance liabilities are adequate and that our DAC is recoverable.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Certain costs of acquiring new business are deferred and amortized over the policy’s premium payment period in proportion to anticipated premium income. Future amortization of DAC is based upon our estimates of persistency, interest and future premium revenue generally established at the time of policy issuance. However, the unamortized balance of DAC reflects actual persistency.
As presented in the following table, the ratio of unamortized DAC to annualized premiums in force increased slightly for Aflac U.S. in 2009 and 2008, compared with prior years. This increase was primarily driven by the introduction of an accelerated commission payment option for new associates and the refinement of our first-year commission deferrals on certain products. The ratio of unamortized DAC to annualized premiums in force has shown a slight upward trend for Aflac Japan for the last three years. This trend is a result of a greater proportion of our annualized premiums being under the alternative commission schedule, which pays a higher commission on first-year premiums and lower commissions on renewal premiums. This schedule is very popular with our new agents as it helps them with cash flow for personal and business needs as they build their business. While this has resulted in a higher unamortized DAC balance, the overall cost to the Company has been reduced.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Cost Ratios
Policy Liabilities
The following table provides details of policy liabilities by segment and in total as of December 31.
Policy Liabilities
Our policy liabilities, which are determined in accordance with applicable guidelines as defined under GAAP and Actuarial Standards of Practice, include two primary components: future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, which accounted for 89% and 5% of total policy liabilities as of December 31, 2009, respectively.
Future policy benefits provide for claims that will occur in the future and are generally calculated as the present value of future expected benefits to be incurred less the present value of future expected net benefit premiums. We calculate future policy benefits based on assumptions of morbidity, mortality, persistency and interest. These assumptions are generally established at the time a policy is issued. The assumptions used in the calculations are closely related to those used in developing the gross premiums for a policy. As required by GAAP, we also include a provision for adverse deviation, which is intended to accommodate adverse fluctuations in actual experience.
Unpaid policy claims include those claims that have been incurred and are in the process of payment as well as an estimate of those claims that have been incurred but have not yet been reported to us. We compute unpaid policy claims on a non-discounted basis using statistical analyses of historical claims payments, adjusted for current trends and changed conditions. We update the assumptions underlying the estimate of unpaid policy claims regularly and incorporate our historical experience as well as other data that provides information regarding our outstanding liability.
Our insurance products provide fixed-benefit amounts per occurrence that are not subject to medical-cost inflation. Furthermore, our business is widely dispersed in both the United States and Japan. This geographic dispersion and the nature of our benefit structure mitigate the risk of a significant unexpected increase in claims payments due to epidemics and events of a catastrophic nature. Claims incurred under Aflac’s policies are generally reported and paid in a relatively short time frame. The unpaid claims liability is sensitive to morbidity assumptions, in particular, severity and frequency of claims. Severity is the ultimate size of a claim, and frequency is the number of claims incurred. Our claims experience is primarily related to the demographics of our policyholders.
As a part of our established financial reporting and accounting practices and controls, we perform actuarial reviews of our policyholder liabilities on an ongoing basis and reflect the results of those reviews in our results of operations and financial condition as required by GAAP.
In computing the estimate of unpaid policy claims, we consider many factors, including the benefits and amounts available under the policy; the volume and demographics of the policies exposed to claims; and internal business practices, such as incurred date assignment and current claim administrative practices. We monitor these conditions closely and make adjustments to the liability as actual experience emerges. Claim levels are generally stable from period to period; however, fluctuations in claim levels may occur. In calculating the unpaid policy claim liability, we do not calculate a range of estimates. The following table shows the expected sensitivity of the unpaid policy claims liability as of December 31, 2009, to changes in severity and frequency of claims. For the years 2007 through 2009, our assumptions changed on average by approximately 1% in total, and we believe that a variation in assumptions in a range of plus or minus 1% in total is reasonably likely to occur.
Sensitivity of Unpaid Policy Claims Liability
The table below reflects the growth of future policy benefits liability for the years ended December 31.
Future Policy Benefits
The growth of the future policy benefits liability in dollars has been primarily due to the aging of our in-force block of business and the addition of new business in Japan. This growth in dollars was offset in 2009 by the weakening of the yen against the U.S. dollar, however it was enhanced by the strengthening of the yen against the U.S. dollar in 2008 and 2007.
Income Taxes
Income tax provisions are generally based on pretax earnings reported for financial statement purposes, which differ from those amounts used in preparing our income tax returns. Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and income tax basis of assets and liabilities, based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which we expect the temporary differences to reverse. The evaluation of a tax position in accordance with GAAP is a two-step process. Under the first step, the enterprise determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The second step is measurement, whereby a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements.
See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
New Accounting Pronouncements
During the last three years, various accounting standard-setting bodies have been active in soliciting comments and issuing statements, interpretations and exposure drafts. For information on new accounting pronouncements and the impact, if any, on our financial position or results of operations, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table is a presentation of items impacting net earnings and net earnings per diluted share for the years ended December 31.
Items Impacting Net Earnings
Realized Investment Gains and Losses
Our investment strategy is to invest in investment-grade fixed-income securities to provide a reliable stream of investment income, which is one of the drivers of the Company’s profitability. This investment strategy aligns our assets with our liability structure, which our assets support. We do not purchase securities with the intent of generating capital gains or losses. However, investment gains and losses may be realized as a result of changes in the financial markets and the creditworthiness of specific issuers, tax planning strategies, and/or general portfolio maintenance and rebalancing. The realization of investment gains and losses is independent of the underwriting and administration of our insurance products, which are the principal drivers of our profitability.
In 2009, we realized pretax investment losses of $1,361 million ($884 million after-tax) as a result of the recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. We realized pretax investment losses of $101 million ($66 million after-tax) from the exchange of two of our Lloyd’s Banking Group plc perpetual security investments. We exchanged our investment in Lloyds TSB Bank plc yen-denominated, Upper Tier II perpetual securities into yen-denominated, Lower Tier II fixed-maturity securities. We also exchanged our holdings of Bank of Scotland plc yen-denominated, Upper Tier II perpetual securities into yen-denominated, Lower Tier II fixed-maturity securities. The losses were partially offset by pretax investment gains of $250 million ($162 million after-tax) that were generated primarily from a bond-swap program that took advantage of tax loss carryforwards.
In 2008, we realized pretax investment losses of $753 million ($489 million after-tax) as a result of the recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. We realized pretax investment losses, net of gains, of $254 million ($166 million after-tax) from securities sold or redeemed in the normal course of business.
In 2007, we realized pretax investment losses of $23 million ($15 million after-tax) as a result of the recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. We realized pretax investment gains, net of losses, of $51 million ($34 million after-tax) from securities sold or redeemed in the normal course of business.
The following table details our pretax impairment losses by category for the years ended December 31.
For additional information regarding realized investment gains and losses, please see Notes 1, 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Impact from ASC 815 (formerly SFAS 133)
We had cross-currency interest rate swap agreements that economically converted our dollar-denominated senior notes, which matured in April 2009, into a yen-denominated obligation. Until April 2009, we designated the foreign currency component of these cross-currency swaps as a hedge of the foreign currency exposure of our investment in Aflac Japan. The effect of issuing fixed-rate, dollar-denominated debt and swapping it into fixed-rate, yen-denominated debt had the same economic impact on Aflac as if we had issued yen-denominated debt of a like amount. However, the accounting treatment for cross-currency swaps is different from issuing yen-denominated Samurai and Uridashi notes. ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” requires that the change in the fair value of the interest rate component of the cross-currency swaps, which does not qualify for hedge accounting, be reflected in net earnings. This change in fair value was determined by relative dollar and yen interest rates and had no cash impact on our results of operations. At maturity, the fair value equaled initial contract fair value, and the cumulative impact of gains and losses from the changes in fair value of the interest component was zero. We demonstrated the ability and intent to retain the cross-currency swaps until they expired in April 2009. The impact from ASC 815 includes the change in fair value of the interest rate component of the cross-currency swaps, which did not qualify for hedge accounting, and is included in other income.
We have issued yen-denominated Samurai and Uridashi notes and have entered into two yen-denominated loans. We have designated these notes and loans as a hedge of our investment in Aflac Japan. If the value of these yen-denominated notes exceeds our investment in Aflac Japan, we would be required to recognize the foreign currency effect on the excess in net earnings (other income). The foreign currency gain or loss on the excess liabilities would be included in the impact from ASC 815. When we made our hedge designations at the beginning of the second quarter of 2009, the notional amount of our yen-denominated liabilities exceeded our yen net asset position in Aflac Japan. Therefore, we de-designated this excess portion of our yen-denominated liabilities from our net investment hedge. An immaterial loss was recorded in net earnings (other income) and included in the impact from ASC 815 during the quarter ended June 30, 2009, as a result of the negative foreign currency effect on the portion of our yen-denominated liabilities that was not designated as a hedge of our investment in Aflac Japan. When we reassessed our hedge designations at the beginning of the third and fourth quarters of 2009, our yen net asset position in Aflac Japan exceeded our total yen-denominated liabilities; therefore, all of these liabilities were designated as a hedge of our net investment in Aflac Japan, resulting in no impact on net earnings during the third and fourth quarters of 2009. Our net investment hedge was effective during the years ended December 31, 2008, and 2007; therefore, there was no impact on net earnings during those periods.
We have interest rate swap agreements related to the 20 billion yen variable interest rate Uridashi notes and have designated the swap agreements as a hedge of the variability of the debt cash flows. The notional amounts and terms of the swaps match the principal amount and terms of the variable interest
rate Uridashi notes, and the swaps had no value at inception. GAAP requires that the change in the fair value of the swap contracts be recorded in other comprehensive income so long as the hedge is deemed effective. Any ineffectiveness would be recognized in net earnings (other income) and would be included in the impact from ASC 815. These hedges were effective during the three-year period ended December 31, 2009; therefore, there was no impact on net earnings. See Notes 1, 4 and 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Debt Extinguishment
During the first six months of 2009, we extinguished portions of our yen-denominated Uridashi and Samurai debt by buying the notes on the open market. We realized a total gain from extinguishment of debt of 1.6 billion yen, or $17 million ($11 million after-tax), which we included in other income. We did not extinguish any debt during the second half of 2009.
Foreign Currency Translation
Aflac Japan’s premiums and most of its investment income are received in yen. Claims and expenses are paid in yen, and we primarily purchase yen-denominated assets to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are translated into dollars for financial reporting purposes. We translate Aflac Japan’s yen-denominated income statement into dollars using an average exchange rate for the reporting period, and we translate its yen-denominated balance sheet using the exchange rate at the end of the period. However, it is important to distinguish between translating and converting foreign currency. Except for a limited number of transactions, we do not actually convert yen into dollars.
Due to the size of Aflac Japan, where our functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on our reported results. In periods when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars results in fewer dollars being reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars results in more dollars being reported. Consequently, yen weakening has the effect of suppressing current year results in relation to the prior year, while yen strengthening has the effect of magnifying current year results in relation to the prior year. As a result, we view foreign currency translation as a financial reporting issue for Aflac and not an economic event to our Company or shareholders. Because changes in exchange rates distort the growth rates of our operations, management evaluates Aflac’s financial performance excluding the impact of foreign currency translation.
Income Taxes
Our combined U.S. and Japanese effective income tax rate on pretax earnings was 33.0% in 2009, 34.5% in 2008 and 34.6% in 2007. The effective tax rate declined in 2009 due primarily to the settlement of an examination by the Internal Revenue Service that reduced the ASC 740 tax liability by $24 million. Total income taxes were $738 million in 2009, compared with $660 million in 2008 and $865 million in 2007. Japanese income taxes on Aflac Japan’s results account for most of our consolidated income tax expense. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Earnings Guidance
We communicate earnings guidance in this report based on the growth in net earnings per diluted share. However, certain items that cannot be predicted or that are outside of management’s control may have a significant impact on actual results. Therefore, our comparison of net earnings includes certain assumptions to reflect the limitations that are inherent in projections of net earnings. In comparing period-over-period results, we exclude the effect of realized investment gains and losses, the impact from ASC 815 and nonrecurring items. We also assume no impact from foreign currency translation on the Aflac Japan segment and the Parent Company’s yen-denominated interest expense for a given year in relation to the prior year.
Subject to the preceding assumptions, our objective for 2009 was to increase net earnings per diluted share by 13% to 15% over 2008. We reported 2009 net earnings per diluted share of $3.19. Adjusting that number for realized investment losses ($1.67 per diluted share), the impact from ASC 815 (a loss of $.01 per diluted share), gain on extinguishment of debt ($.02 per diluted share), and foreign currency translation (a gain of $.26 per diluted share), we met our objective for the year.
Our objective for 2010 is to increase net earnings per diluted share by 9% to 12% over 2009, on the basis described above. If we achieve this objective, the following table shows the likely results for 2010 net earnings per diluted share, including the impact of foreign currency translation using various yen/dollar exchange rate scenarios.
2010 Net Earnings Per Share (EPS) Scenarios*
* Excludes realized investment gains/losses, impact from ASC 815 and nonrecurring items in 2010 and 2009
** Actual 2009 weighted-average exchange rate
INSURANCE OPERATIONS
Aflac’s insurance business consists of two segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. Aflac Japan, which operates as a branch of Aflac, is the principal contributor to consolidated earnings. GAAP financial reporting requires that a company report financial and descriptive information about operating segments in its annual financial statements. Furthermore, we are required to report a measure of segment profit or loss, certain revenue and expense items, and segment assets.
We measure and evaluate our insurance segments’ financial performance using operating earnings on a pretax basis. We define segment operating earnings as the profits we derive from our operations before realized investment gains and losses, the impact from ASC 815, and nonrecurring items. We believe that an analysis of segment pretax operating earnings is vitally important to an understanding of the underlying profitability drivers and trends of our insurance business. Furthermore, because a significant portion of our business is conducted in Japan, we believe it is equally important to understand the impact of translating Japanese yen into U.S. dollars.
We evaluate our sales efforts using new annualized premium sales, an industry operating measure. Total new annualized premium sales, which include new sales and the incremental increase in premiums due to conversions, represent the premiums that we would collect over a 12-month period, assuming the policies remain in force. For Aflac Japan, total new annualized premium sales are determined by applications submitted during the reporting period. For Aflac U.S., total new annualized premium sales are determined by applications that are accepted during the reporting period. Premium income, or earned premiums, is a financial performance measure that reflects collected or due premiums that have been earned ratably on policies in force during the reporting period.
AFLAC JAPAN SEGMENT
Aflac Japan Pretax Operating Earnings
Changes in Aflac Japan’s pretax operating earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.
Aflac Japan Summary of Operating Results
* See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.
The percentage increases in premium income reflect the growth of premiums in force. The increases in annualized premiums in force in yen of 3.3% in 2009, 3.2% in 2008 and 3.9% in 2007 reflect the high persistency of Aflac Japan’s business and the sales of new policies. Annualized premiums in force at December 31, 2009, were 1.20 trillion yen, compared with 1.16 trillion yen in 2008 and 1.13 trillion yen in 2007. Annualized premiums in force, translated into dollars at respective year-end exchange rates, were $13.0 billion in 2009, $12.8 billion in 2008, and $9.9 billion in 2007.
Aflac Japan maintains a portfolio of dollar-denominated and reverse-dual currency securities (yen-denominated debt securities with dollar coupon payments). Dollar-denominated investment income from these assets accounted for approximately 33% of Aflac Japan’s investment income in 2009, compared with 36% in 2008 and 39% in 2007. In years when the yen strengthens in relation to the dollar, translating Aflac Japan’s dollar-denominated investment income into yen lowers growth rates for net investment income, total operating revenues, and pretax operating earnings in yen terms. In years when the yen weakens, translating dollar-denominated investment income into yen magnifies growth rates for net investment income, total operating revenues, and pretax operating earnings in yen terms. On a constant
currency basis, dollar-denominated investment income accounted for approximately 36% of Aflac Japan’s investment income during 2009, compared with 39% in 2008 and 2007. The following table illustrates the effect of translating Aflac Japan’s dollar-denominated investment income and related items into yen by comparing certain segment results with those that would have been reported had yen/dollar exchange rates remained unchanged from the prior year.
Aflac Japan Percentage Changes Over Prior Year
(Yen Operating Results)
* See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.
** Amounts excluding foreign currency changes on dollar-denominated items were determined using the same yen/dollar exchange rate for the current year as each respective prior year.
The following table presents a summary of operating ratios for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.
* See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.
The benefit ratio has declined over the past several years, reflecting the impact of newer products and riders with lower loss ratios. We have also experienced favorable claim trends in our major product lines. We expect the improvement in the benefit ratio to continue as we shift to newer products and riders and benefit from the impact of favorable claim trends. However, this improvement is partially offset by the effect of low investment yields, which impacts our profit margin by reducing the spread between investment yields and required interest on policy reserves (see table and discussion in the Interest Rate Risk section of this MD&A). The operating expense ratio increased slightly in 2009 in line with our expectations. We expect the operating expense ratio to remain relatively stable in 2010. The pretax operating profit margin expanded in 2009 primarily due to continued improvement in the benefit ratio. We expect this improvement to continue, resulting in continued expansion in the profit margin in 2010.
Aflac Japan Sales
Our stated objective for 2009 was for sales to be flat to up 5%. We exceeded our objective with a 6.7% increase in sales during 2009. The following table presents Aflac Japan’s total new annualized premium sales for the years ended December 31.
The following table details the contributions to total new annualized premium sales by major insurance product for the years ended December 31.
Medical insurance sales increased 15.7% over 2008. Since first launching our stand-alone medical product, EVER, in 2002, we have been the number one seller of medical insurance policies in Japan. In the past six years, we have segmented the market by creating a suite of EVER products with variations that appeal to specific Japanese consumers. In August 2009, we introduced a new generation of our popular EVER product, the most notable changes being an enhanced surgical benefit and gender-specific premium rates. Overall, the profitability of the new plan is similar to our original EVER product. We have had a positive initial response to our revised EVER product, selling more than 346,800 of the revised policies since it was introduced. With continued cost pressure on Japan’s health care system, we expect the need for medical products will continue to rise in the future, and we remain encouraged about the outlook for the medical insurance market.
Cancer insurance sales declined 11.3% in 2009, compared with 2008. Despite this decrease, Aflac remained the number one seller of cancer insurance policies in Japan. Our cancer policies are also marketed through a strategic alliance with Dai-ichi Mutual Life. In 2009, Dai-ichi Life sold more than 122,000 of our market-leading cancer policies. We are convinced that the affordable cancer products Aflac Japan provides will continue to be an important part of our product portfolio.
Sales of cancer and medical insurance in Japan have benefited from the bank channel. In December 2007, banks were permitted to sell supplemental health insurance products to their customers. Our bank channel sales increased 132.2% during 2009, compared with 2008, and represented 6% of total new sales. By the end of 2009, we had agreements with 353 banks to sell our products. We have significantly more selling agreements with banks than any of our competitors in Japan. We believe our long-standing and strong relationships within the Japanese banking sector, along with our strategic preparations, have proven to be an advantage as this channel opened up for our products.
Ordinary life product sales increased 33.9% during 2009, compared with 2008. The increase in our ordinary life products was driven by a favorable consumer response to our child endowment product that we introduced at the end of first quarter 2009. Our child endowment product is appropriate for new parents who are re-evaluating their insurance coverage. This product offers a death benefit until the child reaches age 18, and it pays a lump-sum benefit at the time of the child’s entry into high school as well as an educational annuity for each of the four years during his or her college education. We believe that traditional life insurance products, like our child endowment plan, provide opportunities for us to sell our third sector cancer and medical products. For every 10 child endowment plans that were purchased in 2009, we sold two additional Aflac products to the same customers.
We remain committed to selling through our traditional channels, which allows us to reach consumers through affiliated corporate agencies, independent corporate agencies and individual agencies. In 2009, we recruited approximately 4,600 new sales agencies, an increase of 17.9% over 2008. At the end of the year, Aflac Japan was represented by more than 19,600 sales agencies, or more than 110,500 licensed sales associates employed by those agencies.
We believe that there is still a strong need for our products in Japan. Our objective for 2010 is for total new annualized premium sales to be flat to up 5% in Japan.
Aflac Japan Investments
Growth of investment income in yen is affected by available cash flow from operations, the timing of investing the cash flow, yields on new investments, and the effect of yen/dollar exchange rates on dollar-denominated investment income. Aflac Japan has invested in privately issued securities to secure higher yields than those available on Japanese government or other public corporate bonds, while still adhering to prudent standards for credit quality. All of our privately issued securities are rated investment grade at the time of purchase. These securities are generally issued with documentation consistent with standard medium-term note programs. In addition, many of these investments have protective covenants appropriate to the specific issuer, industry and country. These covenants often require the issuer to adhere to specific financial ratios and give priority to repayment of our investment under certain circumstances.
The following table presents the results of Aflac Japan’s investment activities for the years ended December 31.
At December 31, 2009, the yield on Aflac Japan’s investment portfolio, including dollar-denominated investments, was 3.77%, compared with 3.90% a year ago. The overall credit quality of Aflac Japan’s investments remained high. At the end of 2009, 93.4% of Aflac Japan’s debt and perpetual securities were rated investment grade, on an amortized cost basis. See the Credit Risk section of this MD&A for additional information.
Japanese Economy
The Bank of Japan’s January 2010 Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments stated that Japan’s economic conditions have improved due to various policy measures taken in Japan and abroad. Exports and production have been increasing, and private consumption is increasing despite the depressed employment and income situation. The report projected that Japan’s economic conditions are expected to continue to improve at a moderate pace.
Japan’s system of compulsory public health care insurance provides medical coverage to every Japanese citizen. These public medical expenditures are covered by a combination of premiums paid by insureds and their employers, taxes and copayments from the people who receive medical service. However, given Japan’s aging population, the resources available to these publicly funded social insurance programs have come under increasing pressure. As a result, copayments and other out-of-pocket expenses have been rising and affecting more people. We believe higher out-of-pocket expenses will lead consumers to purchase more supplemental medical insurance. Many insurance companies have recognized the opportunities for selling supplemental medical insurance in Japan and have launched new products in recent years. However, we believe our favorable cost structure compared with other insurers makes us a very effective competitor. In addition, we believe our brand, customer service and financial strength also benefit our market position.
Japanese Regulatory Environment
We expect that our distribution system will continue to evolve in Japan. Regulatory changes that took effect in December 2007 enable banks to sell our third sector products to their customers. Our strong brand as the leading seller of cancer and medical insurance products in Japan and our many long-term relationships within the Japanese banking sector place us in a strong position to sell through this new channel. By the end of 2009, we had agreements with 353 banks to market Aflac’s products.
The FSA maintains a solvency standard, which is used by Japanese regulators to monitor the financial strength of insurance companies. As of December 31, 2009, Aflac Japan’s solvency margin ratio was 885.5%, which significantly exceeds regulatory minimums. The FSA has issued a proposal to revise the current method of calculating the solvency margin ratio. The FSA intends to apply the revised method to life insurance companies for the fiscal year-end 2011 (March 31, 2012) and require the disclosure of the ratio as reference information for fiscal year-end 2010 (March 31, 2011). The FSA expects the revision would generally reduce life insurance companies’ solvency margin ratios to approximately half the level of those reported under the current calculation method. We do not expect our relative position within the industry to materially change.
AFLAC U.S. SEGMENT
Aflac U.S. Pretax Operating Earnings
Changes in Aflac U.S. pretax operating earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.
Aflac U.S. Summary of Operating Results
* See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.
Annualized premiums in force increased 3.5% in 2009, 6.2% in 2008 and 10.0% in 2007. Annualized premiums in force at December 31 were $5.0 billion in 2009, compared with $4.8 billion in 2008 and $4.5 billion in 2007. Net investment income was relatively flat during 2009, due to the lack of growth in the
investment portfolio primarily as a result of excess capital used in our share purchase program during 2008. For further information, see the Capital Resources and Liquidity section of this MD&A and Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following table presents a summary of operating ratios for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.
* See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.
The benefit ratio declined and amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs increased in 2009, compared with 2008, due to lower persistency levels. We expect the benefit and operating expense ratios to decline and the pretax operating profit margin to increase in 2010.
Aflac U.S. Sales
Weak economic conditions in 2009 continued to challenge Aflac’s sales results in the United States. The following table presents Aflac’s U.S. total new annualized premium sales for the years ended December 31.
The following table details the contributions to total new annualized premium sales by major insurance product category for the years ended December 31.
Total new annualized premium sales for accident/disability insurance, our leading product category, decreased 9.0%, cancer indemnity insurance sales decreased 11.3% and hospital indemnity insurance sales increased 1.7% in 2009, compared with 2008.
We continued to enhance our product line in 2009 by launching Essentials Accident and Essentials Maximum Difference® cancer plans. These new products have been streamlined with lower benefit and premium levels than the traditional cancer and accident insurance policies. In the short term, we believe they are better suited to the current economy and, in the long run, they will give consumers more choices.
Another aspect of our U.S. sales strategy is our focus on growing and improving our U.S. sales force. We remain satisfied with our progress in the ongoing expansion of our U.S. sales force. We recruited more than 28,400 new sales associates in 2009, a 10.6% increase compared with 2008, resulting in more than 75,300 licensed sales associates at December 31, 2009. Newly established payroll accounts were 10.6% higher in 2009, compared with 2008, suggesting our brand message and business-to-business efforts are reaching employers across the country. The number of new average weekly producers, or those who are selling regularly in their first year, increased 6.2% during 2009, compared with a year ago. We believe strong increases in new recruits and new weekly producers, coupled with significant payroll account growth, will provide a solid foundation for future sales when the U.S. economy recovers.
In the first quarter of 2009, we implemented our new Aflac for BrokersSM initiative. Insurance brokers have been a historically underleveraged sales channel for Aflac, and we believe we can establish relationships that will complement, not compete with, our traditional distribution system. We have assembled a management team experienced in broker sales, and we are supporting this initiative with streamlined products, targeted broker-specific advertising campaigns, customized enrollment technology, and competitive compensation. Additionally, a new level of management was introduced in 2009 to deliver this initiative. Over 100 broker development coordinators have been hired to be single points of contact for brokers across the country. Broker development coordinators are responsible for building relationships with new brokers as well as strengthening relationships with our current brokers. These coordinators are assisted by a team of certified case managers whose role is to coordinate and manage the account enrollments for brokers.
Furthering our initiatives in the broker arena, we purchased CAIC for $100 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. The purchase was funded with internal capital. CAIC, which is headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, equips us with a platform for offering attractive voluntary group insurance products that are well-suited for distribution by insurance brokers at the worksite. CAIC is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. We believe that CAIC has the potential to benefit us in the U.S. market by helping us meet the product requests and needs of our field force when they pursue larger payroll accounts.
We expect 2010 to be a challenging year from a sales perspective and look for sales to again decline in the first half of the year, followed by modest sales increases in the second half of 2010.
Aflac U.S. Investments
The following table presents the results of Aflac’s U.S. investment activities for the years ended December 31.
The decrease in the U.S. new money yield in 2009 reflects tightening credit spreads. At December 31, 2009, the portfolio yield on Aflac’s U.S. portfolio was 7.17%, compared with 7.10% a year ago. During 2008, we purchased $200 million of variable interest rate collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) that support $200 million of variable interest rate funding agreements issued by Aflac U.S. Because these CDOs do not support our core policyholder benefit obligations, the yield on these CDOs is not included in the Aflac U.S. portfolio yield or in the yields listed in the above table.
The overall credit quality of Aflac U.S. investments remained high. At the end of 2009, 90.4% of Aflac U.S. debt and perpetual securities were rated investment grade, on an amortized cost basis. See the Credit Risk section of this MD&A for additional information.
See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Credit Risk section of this MD&A for additional information.
U.S. Economy
Operating in the U.S. economy continues to be challenging. The weak economic environment has likely had an impact on some of our policyholders, potential customers and sales associates. Although we believe that the weakened U.S. economy has been a contributing factor to slower sales growth, we also believe our products remain affordable to the average American consumer. We believe that consumers’ underlying need for our U.S. product line remains strong, and the United States remains a sizeable and attractive market for our products.
U.S. Regulatory Environment
U.S. Congressional leaders and the Obama administration have expressed their commitment to enacting major health reform legislation, and both the House and the Senate have adopted their versions of a health care reform bill. While it is not possible to predict with certainty what provisions may be in any final legislation, it is likely that such legislation, if adopted, will include major changes to the U.S. health care insurance marketplace. Some of the proposals currently under discussion address individual and employer mandates, health insurance exchanges, coverage and exclusions, and medical loss ratios. The legislation also may include changes in government reimbursements and subsidies for individuals and employers and alter federal and state regulation of health insurers. Given the substantial differences between the legislation passed by the House and Senate, the ongoing negotiations to reconcile the legislation and the fact that some key provisions will be general in nature and subject to future regulatory action, it is not possible to predict with any degree of certainty what effect any legislation and future regulation, if adopted, will have on the Company’s U.S. business. However, Japan has had a national health care system for many years, and Aflac Japan has successfully operated in such a regulated environment.
OTHER OPERATIONS
Corporate operating expenses consist primarily of personnel compensation, benefits and facilities expenses. Corporate expenses, excluding investment income, were $77 million in 2009, $61 million in 2008 and $56 million in 2007. The increase in expenses in 2009 was due primarily to an increase in realized foreign currency losses on yen cash held by the Parent Company and an increase in expense for our unfunded supplemental retirement plans. Investment income included in reported corporate expenses was $9 million in 2009, $20 million in 2008 and $31 million in 2007.
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
Our financial condition has remained strong in the functional currencies of our operations. The yen/dollar exchange rate at the end of each period is used to translate yen-denominated balance sheet items to U.S. dollars for reporting purposes.
The following table demonstrates the effect of the change in the yen/dollar exchange rate by comparing select balance sheet items as reported at December 31, 2009, with the amounts that would have been reported had the exchange rate remained unchanged from December 31, 2008.
Impact of Foreign Exchange on Balance Sheet Items
* The exchange rate at December 31, 2009, was 92.10 yen to one dollar, or 1.2% weaker than the December 31, 2008, exchange rate of 91.03.
Market Risks of Financial Instruments
Our investment philosophy is to maximize investment income while emphasizing liquidity, safety and quality. Our investment objective, subject to appropriate risk constraints, is to fund policyholder obligations and other liabilities in a manner that enhances shareholders’ equity. We seek to achieve this objective through a diversified portfolio of fixed-income investments that reflects the characteristics of the liabilities it supports. Aflac invests primarily within the fixed income securities markets.
The following table details investment securities by segment as of December 31.
Investment Securities by Segment
* Excludes investment-grade, available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities held by the Parent Company of $117 in 2009 and $100 in 2008.
Because we invest in fixed-income securities, our financial instruments are exposed primarily to three types of market risks: currency risk, interest rate risk and credit risk.
Currency Risk
The functional currency of Aflac Japan’s insurance operation is the Japanese yen. All of Aflac Japan’s premiums, claims and commissions are received or paid in yen, as are most of its investment income and other expenses. Furthermore, most of Aflac Japan’s investments, cash and liabilities are yen-denominated.
When yen-denominated securities mature or are sold, the proceeds are generally reinvested in yen-denominated securities. Aflac Japan holds these yen-denominated assets to fund its yen-denominated policy obligations. In addition, Aflac Incorporated has yen-denominated debt obligations.
Although we generally do not convert yen into dollars, we do translate financial statement amounts from yen into dollars for financial reporting purposes. Therefore, reported amounts are affected by foreign currency fluctuations. We report unrealized foreign currency translation gains and losses in accumulated other comprehensive income.
Aflac Japan maintains a portfolio of reverse-dual currency securities (yen-denominated debt securities with dollar coupon payments), which exposes Aflac to changes in foreign exchange rates. This foreign currency effect is accounted for as a component of unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities in accumulated other comprehensive income. When the yen strengthens against the dollar, shareholders’ equity is negatively impacted and, conversely, when the yen weakens against the dollar, shareholders’ equity is positively impacted. Aflac Japan invests a portion of its assets in reverse-dual currency securities to provide a higher yield than those available on Japanese government or other public corporate bonds, while still adhering to prudent standards of credit quality. The yen/dollar exchange rate would have to strengthen to approximately 55 before the yield on these instruments would equal that of a comparable yen-denominated instrument.
On a consolidated basis, we attempt to minimize the exposure of shareholders’ equity to foreign currency translation fluctuations. We accomplish this by investing a portion of Aflac Japan’s investment portfolio in dollar-denominated securities and by the Parent Company’s issuance of yen-denominated debt (for additional information, see the discussion under Hedging Activities as follows in this section of MD&A). As a result, the effect of currency fluctuations on our net assets is reduced. The dollar values of our yen-denominated net assets, which are subject to foreign currency translation fluctuations for financial reporting purposes, are summarized as follows (translated at end-of-period exchange rates) for the years ended December 31:
The increase in our yen-denominated net asset position was due primarily to the redemption in 2009 of the Parent Company’s $450 million senior notes (economically yen debt due to conversion using cross-currency swaps) and the holding of 35.8 billion yen in cash by the Parent Company as of December 31, 2009, for the redemption of our yen-denominated Samurai notes due July 2010.
The following table demonstrates the effect of foreign currency fluctuations by presenting the dollar values of our yen-denominated assets and liabilities, and our consolidated yen-denominated net asset exposure at selected exchange rates as of December 31.
Dollar Value of Yen-Denominated Assets and Liabilities
at Selected Exchange Rates
* Actual year-end exchange rate
We are exposed to economic currency risk only when yen funds are actually converted into dollars. This primarily occurs when we repatriate funds from Aflac Japan to Aflac U.S., which is generally done annually. The exchange rates prevailing at the time of repatriation will differ from the exchange rates prevailing at the time the yen profits were earned. A portion of the repatriation may be used to service Aflac Incorporated’s yen-denominated notes payable with the remainder converted into dollars.
Interest Rate Risk
Our primary interest rate exposure is to the impact of changes in interest rates on the fair value of our investments in debt and perpetual securities. We use a modified duration analysis modeling approach, which measures price percentage volatility, to estimate the sensitivity of the fair values of our investments to interest rate changes on the debt and perpetual securities we own. For example, if the current duration of a debt security or perpetual security is 10, then the fair value of that security will increase by approximately 10% if market interest rates decrease by 100 basis points, assuming all other factors remain constant. Likewise, the fair value of the debt security or perpetual security will decrease by approximately 10% if market interest rates increase by 100 basis points, assuming all other factors remain constant.
The estimated effect of potential increases in interest rates on the fair values of debt and perpetual securities we own, notes payable, cross-currency and interest rate swaps and our obligation to the Japanese policyholder protection corporation as of December 31 follows:
Sensitivity of Fair Values of Financial Instruments
to Interest Rate Changes
* Excludes capitalized lease obligations
** Cross-currency swaps expired in April 2009 and are therefore excluded from the 2009 column.
There are various factors that affect the fair value of our investment in debt and perpetual securities. Included in those factors are changes in the prevailing interest rate environment. Changes in the interest rate environment directly affect the balance of unrealized gains or losses for a given period in relation to a prior period. Decreases in market yields generally improve the fair value of debt and perpetual securities while increases in market yields generally have a negative impact on the fair value of our debt and perpetual securities. However, we do not expect to realize a majority of any unrealized gains or losses because we have the intent and ability to hold such securities until a recovery of value, which may be maturity. For additional information on unrealized losses on debt and perpetual securities, see Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
We attempt to match the duration of our assets with the duration of our liabilities. The following table presents the approximate duration of Aflac Japan’s yen-denominated assets and liabilities, along with premiums, as of December 31.
The following table presents the approximate duration of Aflac U.S. dollar-denominated assets and liabilities, along with premiums, as of December 31.
The following table shows a comparison of average required interest rates for future policy benefits and investment yields, based on amortized cost, for the years ended December 31.
Comparison of Interest Rates for Future Policy Benefits
and Investment Yields
(Net of Investment Expenses)
* Represents yen-denominated investments for Aflac Japan that support policy obligations and therefore excludes Aflac Japan's annuity products, and dollar-denominated investments and related investment income
We continue to monitor the spread between our new money yield and the required interest assumption for newly issued products in both the United States and Japan and will re-evaluate those assumptions as necessary.
Over the next two years, we have yen-denominated securities that will mature with yields in excess of Aflac Japan’s current net investment yield of 3.43%. These securities total $3.3 billion at amortized cost and have an average yield of 5.49%. Currently, when debt and perpetual securities we own mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that of the interest required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years. However, adding riders to our older policies has helped offset negative investment spreads on these policies. Overall, adequate profit margins exist in Aflac Japan’s aggregate block of business because of profits that have emerged from changes in the mix of business and favorable experience from mortality, morbidity and expenses.
We have entered into interest rate swap agreements related to our 20 billion yen variable interest rate Uridashi notes. These agreements effectively swap the variable interest rate Uridashi notes to fixed rate notes to mitigate our exposure to interest rate risk. For further information, see Notes 4 and 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Credit Risk
Our investment activities expose us to credit risk, which is a consequence of extending credit and/or carrying investment positions. However, we continue to adhere to prudent standards for credit quality. We accomplish this by considering our product needs and overall corporate objectives, in addition to credit risk. In evaluating the initial rating, we look at the overall senior issuer rating, the explicit rating for the actual issue or the rating for the security class, and, where applicable, the appropriate designation from the Securities Valuation Office (SVO) of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). All of our securities have ratings from either a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or the SVO of the NAIC. In addition, we perform extensive internal credit reviews to ensure that we are consistent in applying rating criteria for all of our securities.
We use specific criteria to judge the credit quality of both existing and prospective investments. Furthermore, we use several methods to monitor these criteria, including credit rating services and internal credit analysis. The distributions by credit rating of our purchases of debt securities for the years ended December 31, based on acquisition cost, were as follows:
Composition of Purchases by Credit Rating
The increase in the percentage of debt securities purchased in the AA rated category during 2009 was due to the attractive relative value these securities presented while still meeting our investment policy guidelines for liquidity, safety and quality. The increased percentage of debt securities purchased in the AAA rated category in 2007 primarily reflected the purchase of U.S. Treasury bills by Aflac Japan prior to repatriating profits to Aflac U.S. in the third quarter of 2007. We did not purchase any perpetual securities during the periods presented in the table above.
The distributions of debt and perpetual securities we own, by credit rating, as of December 31 were as follows:
Composition of Portfolio by Credit Rating
Although our investment portfolio continues to be of high credit quality, many downgrades occurred during 2009, causing a shift in composition by credit rating.
As of December 31, 2009, our direct and indirect exposure to securities in our investment portfolio that were guaranteed by third parties was immaterial both individually and in the aggregate.
Subordination Distribution
The majority of our total investments in debt and perpetual securities was senior debt at December 31, 2009 and 2008. We also maintained investments in subordinated financial instruments that primarily consisted of Lower Tier II, Upper Tier II, and Tier I securities, listed in order of seniority. The Lower Tier II (LTII) securities are debt instruments with fixed maturities. Our Upper Tier II (UTII) and Tier I investments consisted of debt instruments with fixed maturities and perpetual securities, which have an economic maturity as opposed to a stated maturity.
The following table shows the subordination distribution of our debt and perpetual securities as of December 31.
Subordination Distribution of Debt and Perpetual Securities
* Includes trust preferred securities
Portfolio Composition
For information regarding the amortized cost for our investments in debt and perpetual securities, the cost for equity securities and the fair values of these investments, refer to Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Investment Concentrations
See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of our investment discipline and our largest investment industry sector concentration, banks and financial institutions.
Our largest global investment exposures as of December 31, 2009, were as follows:
Largest Global Investment Positions
* JGBs or JGB-backed securities
As previously disclosed, we own long-dated debt instruments in support of our long-dated policyholder obligations. Included in our largest global investment holdings are legacy issues that date back many years. Additionally, the concentration of certain of our holdings of individual credit exposures has grown over time through merger and consolidation activity. Beginning in 2005, we have, as a general rule, limited our investment exposures to issuers to no more than 5% of total adjusted capital (TAC) on a statutory accounting basis, with the exception of obligations of the Japan and U.S. governments. However, existing investment exposures that exceeded 5% of TAC at the time this rule was adopted or exposures that may exceed this threshold from time to time through merger and consolidation activity are not automatically reduced through sales of the issuers’ securities but rather are reduced over time consistent with our investment policy.
We have investments in both publicly and privately issued securities. The outstanding amount of a particular issuance, as well as the level of activity in a particular issuance and market conditions, including credit events and the interest rate environment, affect liquidity regardless of whether it is publicly or privately issued.
The following table details investment securities by type of issuance as of December 31.
Investment Securities by Type of Issuance
The following table details our privately issued investment securities as of December 31.
Privately Issued Securities
* Principal payments in yen and interest payments in dollars
Aflac Japan has invested in privately issued securities to better match liability characteristics and secure higher yields than those available on Japanese government or other public corporate bonds. Aflac Japan’s investments in yen-denominated privately issued securities consist primarily of non-Japanese issuers and have longer maturities, thereby allowing us to improve our asset/liability matching and our overall investment returns. Most of our privately issued securities are issued under medium-term note programs and have standard documentation commensurate with credit ratings, except when internal credit analysis indicates that additional protective and/or event-risk covenants are required.
Below-Investment-Grade and Split-Rated Securities
In the event of a credit rating downgrade to below-investment-grade status, we do not automatically liquidate our position. However, if the security is in the held-to-maturity portfolio and we no longer have the intent to hold the security until its maturity, we immediately transfer it to the available-for-sale portfolio so that the security’s fair value and its unrealized gain or loss are reflected on the balance sheet.
Debt and perpetual securities classified as below investment grade at December 31, 2009 and 2008 were generally reported as available for sale and carried at fair value. Each of the below-investment-grade securities was investment grade at the time of purchase and was subsequently downgraded by credit rating agencies. Below-investment-grade debt and perpetual securities represented 6.9% of total debt and perpetual securities at December 31, 2009, compared with 1.8% of total debt and perpetual securities at December 31, 2008, at amortized cost. The below-investment-grade securities at December 31 were as follows:
Below-Investment-Grade Securities
* Investment grade at respective reporting date
** Perpetual security
*** Collateralized mortgage obligation
**** Collateralized debt obligation
Occasionally, a debt or perpetual security will be split rated. This occurs when one rating agency rates the security as investment grade while another rating agency rates the same security as below investment grade. Our policy is to review each issue on a case-by-case basis to determine if a split-rated security should be classified as investment grade or below investment grade. Our review includes evaluating the issuer’s credit position as well as current market pricing and other factors, such as the issuer’s or security’s inclusion on a credit rating downgrade watch list. As of December 31, 2009, none of our CDOs were split rated. Split-rated securities as of December 31, 2009, were as follows:
Split-Rated Securities*
* Split-rated securities represented 2.6% of total debt and perpetual securities at amortized cost at December 31, 2009.
** Perpetual security
*** Collateralized mortgage obligation
**** Separate securities from those reported in the Below-Investment-Grade Securities table from the same issuer
Other-than-temporary Impairment
See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of our impairment policy.
Gross Realized Investment Losses
Gross realized pretax investment losses on debt and perpetual securities, as a result of sales and impairment charges, were as follows for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Gross Realized Losses on Debt and Perpetual Securities
See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Realized Investment Gains and Losses section of this MD&A for additional information.
Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses
The following table provides details on amortized cost, fair value and unrealized gains and losses for our investments in debt and perpetual securities by investment-grade status as of December 31, 2009.
The following table presents an aging of debt and perpetual securities in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2009.
Aging of Unrealized Losses
The following table presents a distribution of unrealized losses on debt and perpetual securities by magnitude as of December 31, 2009.
Percentage Decline From Amortized Cost
The following table presents the 10 largest unrealized loss positions in our portfolio as of December 31, 2009.
* Collateralized debt obligation
Declines in fair value noted above resulted from changes in interest rates and credit spreads, yen/dollar exchange rates, and issuer credit status. However, we believe it would be inappropriate to recognize impairment charges because we believe the changes in fair value are temporary. See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion about the investments in the preceding table.
Investment Valuation and Cash
We estimate the fair values of our securities available for sale on a monthly basis. We monitor the estimated fair values obtained from our custodian and pricing brokers and those derived from our discounted cash flow pricing model for consistency from month to month, while considering current market conditions. We also periodically discuss with our custodian and pricing brokers the pricing techniques they use to monitor the consistency of their approach and periodically assess the appropriateness of the valuation level assigned to the values obtained from them. See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the fair value hierarchy classification of our securities available for sale as of December 31, 2009.
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $2.3 billion, or 3.2% of total investments and cash, as of December 31, 2009, compared with $.9 billion, or 1.4%, at December 31, 2008. For a discussion of the factors causing the change in our cash balance, see the Operating Activities, Investing Activities and Financing Activities sections of this MD&A.
For additional information concerning our investments, see Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
The following table presents deferred policy acquisition costs by segment for the years ended December 31.
* Aflac Japan’s deferred policy acquisition costs increased 4.8% in yen during the year ended December 31, 2009.
The increase in Aflac Japan’s deferred policy acquisition costs was primarily driven by total new annualized premium sales. See Note 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our deferred policy acquisition costs.
Policy Liabilities
The following table presents policy liabilities by segment for the years ending December 31.
* Aflac Japan’s policy liabilities increased 5.6% in yen during the year ended December 31, 2009.
The increase in Aflac Japan’s policy liabilities was primarily the result of the growth and aging of our in-force business. See Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our policy liabilities.
Notes Payable
Notes payable totaled $2.6 billion at December 31, 2009, compared with $1.7 billion at December 31, 2008. In April 2009, we redeemed our $450 million senior notes upon their maturity. In May 2009, the Parent Company issued $850 million in senior notes that are due in May 2019, and in December 2009, also issued $400 million in senior notes that are due in December 2039. In July 2009, the Parent Company executed a 10 billion yen loan that is due in July 2015. In August 2009, the Parent Company executed a 5 billion yen loan that is due in August 2015. During 2009, we extinguished portions of our yen-denominated Uridashi and Samurai debt by buying the notes on the open market. We paid 4.4 billion yen to extinguish 6.0 billion yen of debt, yielding a realized gain from extinguishment of debt of 1.6 billion yen, or $17 million ($11 million after-tax), which we included in other income. The ratio of debt to total capitalization (debt plus shareholders’ equity, excluding the unrealized gains and losses on investment securities) was 22.3% as of December 31, 2009, compared with 18.0% a year ago. See Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our notes payable.
Benefit Plans
Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. have various benefit plans. For additional information on our Japanese and U.S. plans, see Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Policyholder Protection Corporation
The Japanese insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. On December 12, 2008, legislation was enacted extending the framework of the Life Insurance Policyholder Protection Corporation (LIPPC), which included government fiscal measures supporting the LIPPC through March 2012.
On October 10, 2008, a small life insurance company, Yamato Life Insurance, filed for bankruptcy. The LIPPC made a decision to provide funds to Yamato Life Insurance in the amount of 27.7 billion yen. Although our future assessments for the LIPPC cannot be determined at this time, we believe the bankruptcy will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.
Hedging Activities
Aflac has limited hedging activities. Our primary exposure to be hedged is our investment in Aflac Japan, which is affected by changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate. To mitigate this exposure, we have taken the following courses of action. First, Aflac Japan maintains a portfolio of dollar-denominated securities, which serve as an economic currency hedge of a portion of our investment in Aflac Japan. Second, we have designated the Parent Company’s yen-denominated liabilities (Samurai and Uridashi notes and yen-denominated loans) as a hedge of our investment in Aflac Japan. At the beginning of each quarter, we make our net investment hedge designation. If the total of our yen-denominated liabilities is equal to or less than our net investment in Aflac Japan, the hedge is deemed to be effective and the related exchange effect is reported in the unrealized foreign currency component of other comprehensive income. Should these yen-denominated liabilities exceed our investment in Aflac Japan, the foreign exchange effect on the portion of the liabilities that exceeds our investment in Aflac Japan would be recognized in net earnings (other income). We estimate that if our yen-denominated liabilities exceeded our investment in Aflac Japan by 10 billion yen, we would report a foreign exchange gain/loss of approximately $1 million for every one yen weakening/strengthening in the end-of-period yen/dollar exchange rate. For the second quarter of 2009, we de-designated 678 million yen of our yen-denominated liabilities, which was the amount by which our yen-denominated liabilities exceeded our yen net investment position in Aflac Japan. The 678 million yen was reduced by 600 million yen during the quarter when we extinguished a portion of our outstanding Samurai debt (see Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information). We recognized an immaterial loss in net earnings (other income) during the quarter ended June 30, 2009, for the negative foreign exchange effect on the portion of our yen-denominated liabilities that was not designated as a hedge of our net investment in Japan. At the beginning of the third and fourth quarters of 2009 when we reassessed our hedge designations, our yen net asset position exceeded our total yen-denominated liabilities; therefore, all of the liabilities were designated as a hedge of our net investment in Aflac Japan, resulting in no impact on net earnings during the second half of 2009. Our net investment hedge was effective during the years ended December 31, 2008, and 2007; therefore, there was no impact on net earnings during those periods.
We have interest rate swap agreements related to the 20 billion yen variable interest rate Uridashi notes. By entering into these contracts, we have been able to lock in our interest rate at 1.52% in yen. We have designated these interest rate swaps as a hedge of the variability in our interest cash flows associated with the variable interest rate Uridashi notes. The notional amounts and terms of the swaps match the principal amount and terms of the variable interest rate Uridashi notes, and the swaps had no value at inception. GAAP requires that the change in the fair value of the swap contracts be recorded in other comprehensive income so long as the hedge is deemed effective. Any ineffectiveness is recognized in net earnings (other income). These hedges were effective during the three-year period ended December 31, 2009; therefore, there was no impact on net earnings. See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2009, we had no material letters of credit, standby letters of credit, guarantees or standby repurchase obligations. See Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information on material unconditional purchase obligations that are not recorded on our balance sheet.
CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY
Aflac provides the primary sources of liquidity to the Parent Company through dividends and management fees. The following table presents the amounts provided for the years ended December 31:
Liquidity Provided by Aflac to Parent Company
The primary uses of cash by the Parent Company are shareholder dividends, the repurchase of its common shares and interest on its outstanding indebtedness. The Parent Company’s sources and uses of cash are reasonably predictable and are not expected to change materially in the future. For additional information, see the Financing Activities section of this MD&A.
The Parent Company also accesses debt security markets to provide additional sources of capital. In March 2009, we filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC that allows us to issue an indefinite amount of senior and subordinated debt, in one or more series, from time to time through May 2012. We issued $850 million of senior notes in May 2009 and $400 million of senior notes in December 2009 under this registration statement. In November 2009, we filed an additional shelf registration statement with Japanese regulatory authorities that allows us to issue up to 100 billion yen of yen-denominated Samurai notes in Japan (approximately $1.1 billion, using the December 31, 2009, exchange rate) through November 2011. If issued, these Samurai notes would not be available to U.S. persons. We believe outside sources for additional debt and equity capital, if needed, will continue to be available. For additional information, see Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The principal sources of cash for our insurance operations are premiums and investment income. The primary uses of cash by our insurance operations are policy claims, commissions, operating expenses, income taxes and payments to the Parent Company for management fees and dividends. Both the sources and uses of cash are reasonably predictable.
When making an investment decision, our first consideration is based on product needs. Our investment objectives provide for liquidity through the purchase of investment-grade debt securities. These objectives also take into account duration matching, and because of the long-term nature of our business, we have adequate time to react to changing cash flow needs.
As a result of policyholder aging, claims payments are expected to gradually increase over the life of a policy. Therefore, future policy benefit reserves are accumulated in the early years of a policy and are designed to help fund future claims payments. We expect our future cash flows from premiums and our investment portfolio to be sufficient to meet our cash needs for benefits and expenses.
The following table presents the estimated payments by period of our major contractual obligations as of December 31, 2009. We translated our yen-denominated obligations using the December 31, 2009, exchange rate. Actual future payments as reported in dollars will fluctuate with changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate.
Distribution of Payments by Period
Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits in the amount of $11 have been excluded from the tabular disclosure above because the timing of cash payment is not reasonably estimable.
* Liability amounts are those reported on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2009.
** Not applicable
The distribution of payments for future policy benefits is an estimate of all future benefit payments for policies in force as of December 31, 2009. These projected values contain assumptions for future policy persistency, mortality and morbidity. The distribution of payments for unpaid policy claims includes assumptions as to the timing of policyholders reporting claims for prior periods and the amount of those claims. Actual amounts and timing of both future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims payments may differ significantly from the estimates above. We anticipate that the future policy benefit liability of $61.5 billion at December 31, 2009, along with future net premiums and investment income, will be sufficient to fund future policy benefit payments.
The distribution of payments due in less than one year for long-term debt consists of 39.4 billion yen for our Samurai notes ($428 million at the December 31, 2009, exchange rate) that are due in July 2010. We plan to use existing cash to redeem these notes. See Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
Consolidated Cash Flows
We translate cash flows for Aflac Japan’s yen-denominated items into U.S. dollars using weighted-average exchange rates. In years when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars causes fewer dollars to be reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars causes more dollars to be reported. The following table summarizes consolidated cash flows by activity for the years ended December 31.
Consolidated Cash Flows by Activity
Operating Activities
Consolidated cash flow from operations increased 24% in 2009, compared with 2008. The following table summarizes operating cash flows by source for the years ended December 31.
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
The increase in Aflac Japan operating cash flows during 2009 was due primarily to the strengthening of the yen against the U.S. dollar. Despite an overall increase in 2009, Aflac U.S. operating cash flows have been reduced by the payout of lump-sum return-of-premium benefits to policyholders on a closed block of U.S. cancer insurance business. These benefit payouts began in 2008 and will conclude in 2012. We paid out $152 million in 2009 and $63 million in 2008, and we anticipate paying out an additional $213 million over the next three years.
Investing Activities
Operating cash flow is primarily used to purchase debt securities to meet future policy obligations. The following table summarizes investing cash flows by source for the years ended December 31.
Net Cash Used by Investing Activities
The increase in Aflac Japan cash used by investing activities during 2009 was due primarily to the return of $1.2 billion in cash that we were holding as cash collateral for loaned securities in our short-term security lending arrangements.
Prudent portfolio management dictates that we attempt to match the duration of our assets with the duration of our liabilities. Currently, when our debt and perpetual securities mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years. However, the long-term nature of our business and our strong cash flows provide us with the ability to minimize the effect of mismatched durations and/or yields identified by various asset adequacy analyses. When market opportunities arise, we dispose of selected debt and perpetual securities that are available for sale to improve the duration matching of our assets and liabilities, improve future investment yields, and/or rebalance our portfolio. As a result, dispositions before maturity can vary significantly from year to year. Dispositions before maturity were approximately 12% of the annual average investment portfolio of debt and perpetual securities available for sale during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared with 4% for the years ended December 31, 2008, and 2007. This increase in 2009 was due primarily to a bond-swap program that we executed to generate investment gains to take advantage of tax loss carryforwards.
Financing Activities
Consolidated cash provided by financing activities was $699 million in 2009, compared with consolidated cash used by financing activities of $1.4 billion in 2008 and $655 million in 2007. In April
2009, we redeemed our $450 million senior notes and settled the related cross-currency, interest rate swaps that were used to convert the original dollar-denominated debt obligation into yen. In May 2009, the Parent Company issued $850 million in senior notes that are due in May 2019, and in December 2009, also issued $400 million in senior notes that are due in December 2039. In July 2009, the Parent Company executed a 10 billion yen loan that is due in July 2015. In August 2009, the Parent Company executed a 5 billion yen loan that is due in August 2015. Cash returned to shareholders through dividends was $524 million in 2009, compared with cash returned to shareholders through dividends and treasury stock purchases of $1.9 billion in 2008 and $979 million in 2007.
During 2009, we extinguished portions of our yen-denominated Uridashi and Samurai debt by buying the notes on the open market. We paid 4.4 billion yen to extinguish 6.0 billion yen of debt, yielding a realized gain from extinguishment of debt of 1.6 billion yen, or $17 million ($11 million after-tax), which we included in other income.
In July 2010, 39.4 billion yen (approximately $428 million using the December 31, 2009, exchange rate) of our Samurai notes will mature. We plan to use existing cash to pay off these notes.
We have no restrictive financial covenants related to our notes payable. We were in compliance with all of the covenants of our notes payable at December 31, 2009.
The following tables present a summary of treasury stock activity during the years ended December 31.
Treasury Stock Purchased
During 2009, we did not repurchase shares of our common stock in the open market. In 2008, under share repurchase authorizations from our board of directors, we purchased 23.2 million shares of our common stock in the open market, funded with internal capital. The total 23.2 million shares was comprised of 12.5 million shares purchased through an affiliate of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch) and 10.7 million shares purchased through Goldman, Sachs & Co. (GS&Co.). See Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
As of December 31, 2009, a remaining balance of 32.4 million shares of our common stock was available for purchase under share repurchase authorizations by our board of directors. The 32.4 million shares available for purchase were comprised of 2.4 million shares remaining from an authorization from the board of directors in 2006 and 30.0 million shares from a board authorization in 2008. We will closely monitor global financial markets and our capital position before we commit to further share repurchases.
Cash dividends paid to shareholders in 2009 of $1.12 per share increased 16.7% over 2008. The 2008 dividend paid of $.96 per share increased 20.0% over 2007. The following table presents the sources of dividends to shareholders for the years ended December 31.
In February 2010, the board of directors declared the first quarter 2010 cash dividend of $.28 per share. The dividend is payable on March 1, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 16, 2010.
Regulatory Restrictions
Aflac is domiciled in Nebraska and is subject to its regulations. The Nebraska insurance department imposes certain limitations and restrictions on payments of dividends, management fees, loans and advances by Aflac to the Parent Company. The Nebraska insurance statutes require prior approval for dividend distributions that exceed the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. In addition, the Nebraska insurance department must approve service arrangements and other transactions within the affiliated group of companies. These regulatory limitations are not expected to affect the level of management fees or dividends paid by Aflac to the Parent Company. A life insurance company’s statutory capital and surplus is determined according to rules prescribed by the NAIC, as modified by the insurance department in the insurance company’s state of domicile. Statutory accounting rules are different from GAAP and are intended to emphasize policyholder protection and company solvency.
The continued long-term growth of our business may require increases in the statutory capital and surplus of our insurance operations. Aflac’s insurance operations may secure additional statutory capital through various sources, such as internally generated statutory earnings or equity contributions by the Parent Company from funds generated through debt or equity offerings. The NAIC’s risk-based capital (RBC) formula is used by insurance regulators to help identify inadequately capitalized insurance companies. The RBC formula quantifies insurance risk, business risk, asset risk and interest rate risk by weighing the types and mixtures of risks inherent in the insurer’s operations. Aflac’s company action level RBC ratio was 479% as of December 31, 2009. Our RBC ratio remains high and reflects a strong capital and surplus position. As of December 31, 2009, our total adjusted capital exceeded the amounts to achieve a company action level RBC of 400% and 350% by $953 million and $1.6 billion, respectively. See Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the impact of permitted practices by the Nebraska Department of Insurance on our statutory capital and surplus. Currently, the NAIC has ongoing regulatory initiatives relating to revisions to the RBC formula as well as numerous initiatives covering insurance products, investments, and other actuarial and accounting matters.
In addition to limitations and restrictions imposed by U.S. insurance regulators, Japan’s FSA may not allow profit repatriations or other transfers from Aflac Japan if they would cause Aflac Japan to lack sufficient financial strength for the protection of policyholders. The FSA maintains its own solvency standard. As of December 31, 2009, Aflac Japan’s solvency margin ratio was 885.5%, which significantly exceeds regulatory minimums. See the Japanese Regulatory Environment section of this MD&A for a discussion of proposed changes to the calculation of the solvency margin ratio.
Payments are made from Aflac Japan to the Parent Company for management fees and to Aflac U.S. for allocated expenses and remittances of earnings. The following table details Aflac Japan remittances for the years ended December 31.
Aflac Japan Remittances
Aflac Japan remitted less profit to Aflac U.S. in 2009 to support its solvency margin ratio.
For additional information on regulatory restrictions on dividends, profit repatriations and other transfers, see Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Rating Agencies
Aflac is rated AA- by S&P, Aa2 (Excellent) by Moody’s, and A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best for financial strength and AA- by R&I for insurance claims paying ability. Aflac Incorporated’s senior debt, Samurai notes, and Uridashi notes are rated A- by S&P, A2 by Moody’s and A by R&I. S&P, Moody’s and A.M. Best have classified Aflac’s credit outlook as negative, consistent with their outlook on the insurance industry. R&I has classified Aflac’s credit outlook as stable.
Other
For information regarding commitments and contingent liabilities, see Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The information required by Item 7A is incorporated by reference from the Market Risks of Financial Instruments section of MD&A in Part II, Item 7, of this report.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our evaluation under this framework, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2009.
KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, which is included herein.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The shareholders and board of directors of Aflac Incorporated:
We have audited Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Aflac Incorporated’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity, cash flows, and comprehensive income for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009, and our report dated February 26, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Atlanta, Georgia
February 26,
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The shareholders and board of directors of Aflac Incorporated:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity, cash flows, and comprehensive income for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of evaluating other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities due to the adoption of new accounting requirements issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, effective January 1, 2009.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 26, 2010, expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Atlanta, Georgia
February 26,
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Years Ended December 31,
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31,
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(continued)
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31,
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
Years Ended December 31,
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31,
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(continued)
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31,
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Years Ended December 31,
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Description of Business
Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) and its subsidiaries (the Company) primarily sell supplemental health and life insurance in the United States and Japan. The Company’s insurance business is marketed and administered through American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), which operates in the United States (Aflac U.S.) and as a branch in Japan (Aflac Japan). Additionally, Aflac U.S. markets and administers group products through Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC). Most of Aflac’s policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Our insurance operations in the United States and our branch in Japan service the two markets for our insurance business. Aflac Japan’s revenues, including realized gains and losses on its investment portfolio, accounted for 73% of the Company’s total revenues in 2009, 72% in 2008 and 71% in 2007. The percentage of the Company’s total assets attributable to Aflac Japan was 85% at December 31, 2009, and 87% at December 31, 2008.
During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Parent Company closed its $100 million purchase of Continental American Insurance Group, Inc. (CAIG), which includes its wholly owned subsidiary CAIC. Subsequent to the closing, CAIG merged into Continental American Group, LLC, a limited liability company wholly owned by CAIC. As a result of the merger, CAIC became directly wholly owned by the Parent Company. CAIC, headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, equips Aflac U.S. with a platform for offering attractive voluntary group insurance products that are well-suited for distribution by insurance brokers at the worksite. The purchase business combination resulted in the recognition of $97 million of net assets at fair value. An immaterial amount of intangible assets, including goodwill, was recognized as part of the business combination.
Basis of Presentation
We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates when recording transactions resulting from business operations based on currently available information. The most significant items on our balance sheet that involve a greater degree of accounting estimates and actuarial determinations subject to changes in the future are the valuation of investments, deferred policy acquisition costs, liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, and income taxes. These accounting estimates and actuarial determinations are sensitive to market conditions, investment yields, mortality, morbidity, commission and other acquisition expenses, and terminations by policyholders. As additional information becomes available, or actual amounts are determinable, the recorded estimates will be revised and reflected in operating results. Although some variability is inherent in these estimates, we believe the amounts provided are adequate.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Parent Company, its subsidiaries, and those entities required to be consolidated under applicable accounting standards. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Significant Accounting Policies
Translation of Foreign Currencies: The functional currency of Aflac Japan’s insurance operations is the Japanese yen. We translate our yen-denominated financial statement accounts into U.S. dollars as follows. Assets and liabilities are translated at end-of-period exchange rates. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are translated at the exchange rate on the trade date of each transaction. Other revenues, expenses and cash flows are translated using average exchange rates for the year. The resulting
currency translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. We include in earnings the realized currency exchange gains and losses resulting from transactions. Realized currency exchange gains and losses were immaterial during the three-year period ended December 31, 2009.
Aflac Japan maintains an investment portfolio of dollar-denominated securities on behalf of Aflac U.S. The functional currency for these investments is the U.S. dollar. The related investment income and realized/unrealized investment gains and losses are also denominated in U.S. dollars.
We have designated the yen-denominated Uridashi and Samurai notes and yen-denominated loans issued by the Parent Company as a hedge of our investment in Aflac Japan (see the section in this note titled, “Derivatives and Hedging”). Outstanding principal and related accrued interest on these items are translated into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates. Currency translation adjustments are recorded through other comprehensive income and are included in accumulated other comprehensive income.
Insurance Revenue and Expense Recognition: The supplemental health and life insurance policies we issue are classified as long-duration contracts. The contract provisions generally cannot be changed or canceled during the contract period; however, we may adjust premiums for supplemental health policies issued in the United States within prescribed guidelines and with the approval of state insurance regulatory authorities.
Insurance premiums for health and life policies are recognized ratably as earned income over the premium payment periods of the policies. When revenues are reported, the related amounts of benefits and expenses are charged against such revenues, so that profits are recognized in proportion to premium revenues during the period the policies are expected to remain in force. This association is accomplished by means of annual additions to the liability for future policy benefits and the deferral and subsequent amortization of policy acquisition costs.
The calculation of deferred policy acquisition costs and the liability for future policy benefits requires the use of estimates based on sound actuarial valuation techniques. For new policy issues, we review our actuarial assumptions and deferrable acquisition costs each year and revise them when necessary to more closely reflect recent experience and studies of actual acquisition costs. For policies in force, we evaluate deferred policy acquisition costs by major product groupings to determine that they are recoverable from future revenues. Any resulting adjustment is charged against net earnings.
Advertising expense is reported as incurred in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings.
Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, money market instruments and other debt instruments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased.
Investments: Our debt securities consist of fixed-maturity securities, which are classified as either held to maturity or available for sale. Securities classified as held to maturity are securities that we have the ability and intent to hold to maturity or redemption and are carried at amortized cost. All other fixed-maturity debt securities, our perpetual securities and our equity securities are classified as available for sale and are carried at fair value. If the fair value is higher than the amortized cost for debt and perpetual securities, or the purchase cost for equity securities, the excess is an unrealized gain, and if lower than cost, the difference is an unrealized loss.
The net unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale, plus the unamortized unrealized gains and losses on debt securities transferred to the held-to-maturity portfolio, less related deferred income taxes, are recorded through other comprehensive income and included in accumulated other comprehensive income.
Amortized cost of debt and perpetual securities is based on our purchase price adjusted for accrual of discount, or amortization of premium, and recognition of impairment charges, if any. The amortized cost of debt and perpetual securities we purchase at a discount or premium will equal the face or par value at maturity or the call date, if applicable. Interest is reported as income when earned and is adjusted for amortization of any premium or discount.
Our investments in qualified special purpose entities (QSPEs) are accounted for as fixed-maturity or perpetual securities. All of our investments in QSPEs are held in our available-for-sale portfolio. See the New Accounting Pronouncements section of Note 1 for a discussion of changes to the accounting for these investments effective January 1, 2010.
For the collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) held in our fixed-maturity securities portfolio, we recognize income using a constant effective yield, which is based on anticipated prepayments and the estimated economic life of the securities. When estimates of prepayments change, the effective yield is recalculated to reflect actual payments to date and anticipated future payments. The net investment in CMO securities is adjusted to the amount that would have existed had the new effective yield been applied at the time of acquisition. This adjustment is reflected in net investment income.
We use the specific identification method to determine the gain or loss from securities transactions and report the realized gain or loss in the consolidated statements of earnings.
Our credit analysts/research personnel routinely monitor and evaluate the difference between the amortized cost and fair value of our investments. Additionally, credit analysis and/or credit rating issues related to specific investments may trigger more intensive monitoring to determine if a decline in fair value is other than temporary. For investments with a fair value below amortized cost, the process includes evaluating, among other factors, the length of time and the extent to which amortized cost exceeds fair value, the financial condition, operations, credit and liquidity posture, and future prospects of the issuer as well as our intent or need to dispose of the security prior to recovery of its fair value to amortized cost. This process is not exact and requires consideration of risks such as credit risk, which to a certain extent can be controlled, and interest rate risk, which cannot be controlled. Therefore, if an investment’s amortized cost exceeds its fair value solely due to changes in interest rates, impairment may not be appropriate.
In periods prior to 2009, if, after monitoring and analyses, management believed that a decline in fair value was other than temporary, we adjusted the amortized cost of the security to fair value and reported a realized loss in the consolidated statements of earnings. Subsequent to the adoption of updated accounting guidance on impairments in 2009, our accounting policy changed. If, after monitoring and analyses, management believes that fair value will not recover to amortized cost prior to the disposal of the security, we recognize an other-than-temporary impairment of the security. Once a security is considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired, the impairment loss is separated into two separate components: the portion of the impairment related to credit and the portion of the impairment related to factors other than credit. We automatically recognize a charge to earnings for the credit-related portion of other-than-temporary impairments. Impairments related to factors other than credit are charged to earnings in the event we intend to sell the security prior to the recovery of its amortized cost or if it is more likely than not that we would be required to dispose of the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost; otherwise, non-credit-related other-than-temporary impairments are charged to other comprehensive income.
We lend fixed-maturity securities to financial institutions in short-term security lending transactions. These securities continue to be carried as investment assets on our balance sheet during the terms of the loans and are not reported as sales. We receive cash or other securities as collateral for such loans. For loans involving unrestricted cash collateral, the collateral is reported as an asset with a corresponding liability for the return of the collateral. For loans collateralized by securities, the collateral is not reported as an asset or liability.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs: The costs of acquiring new business are deferred and amortized with interest over the premium payment periods in proportion to the ratio of annual premium income to total anticipated premium income. Anticipated premium income is estimated by using the same mortality, persistency and interest assumptions used in computing liabilities for future policy benefits. In this manner, the related acquisition expenses are matched with revenues. Deferred costs include the excess of current-year commissions over ultimate renewal-year commissions and certain direct and allocated policy issue, underwriting and marketing expenses. All of these costs vary with and are primarily related to the production of new business.
For some products, policyholders can elect to modify product benefits, features, rights or coverages by exchanging a contract for a new contract or by amendment, endorsement, or rider to a contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a contract. These transactions are known as internal replacements. For internal replacement transactions where the resulting contract is substantially unchanged, the policy is accounted for as a continuation of the replaced contract. Unamortized deferred acquisition costs from the original policy continue to be amortized over the expected life of the new policy, and the costs of replacing the policy are accounted for as policy maintenance costs and expensed as incurred. Internal replacement transactions that result in a policy that is not substantially unchanged are accounted for as an extinguishment of the original policy and the issuance of a new policy. Unamortized deferred acquisition costs on the original policy that was replaced are immediately expensed, and the costs of acquiring the new policy are capitalized and amortized in accordance with our accounting policies for deferred acquisition costs.
Policy Liabilities: Future policy benefits represent claims that are expected to occur in the future and are computed by a net level premium method using estimated future investment yields, persistency and recognized morbidity and mortality tables modified to reflect our experience, including a provision for adverse deviation. These assumptions are generally established at the time a policy is issued.
Unpaid policy claims are estimates computed on an undiscounted basis using statistical analyses of historical claims experience adjusted for current trends and changed conditions. The ultimate liability may vary significantly from such estimates. We regularly adjust these estimates as new claims experience emerges and reflect the changes in operating results in the year such adjustments are made.
For internal replacements that are determined to not be substantially unchanged, policy liabilities related to the original policy that was replaced are immediately released, and policy liabilities are established for the new insurance contract.
Income Taxes: Income tax provisions are generally based on pretax earnings reported for financial statement purposes, which differ from those amounts used in preparing our income tax returns. Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and income tax basis of assets and liabilities, based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which we expect the temporary differences to reverse.
Derivatives and Hedging: We do not use derivatives for trading purposes, nor do we engage in leveraged derivative transactions. At December 31, 2009, our only outstanding stand-alone derivative contracts were interest rate swaps related to our 20 billion yen variable interest rate Uridashi notes (see Notes 4 and 7).
From time to time, we purchase certain investments that contain an embedded derivative. We assess whether this embedded derivative is clearly and closely related to the asset that serves as its host contract. If we deem that the embedded derivative’s terms are not clearly and closely related to the host contract, and a separate instrument with the same terms would qualify as a derivative instrument, the derivative is separated from that contract and held at fair value on the consolidated statements of financial position, with changes in fair value reported in earnings.
We document all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as our risk-management objectives for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes linking derivatives and nonderivatives that are designated as hedges to specific assets or liabilities on the balance sheet. We also assess, both at inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives and nonderivatives used in hedging activities are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged items. The assessment of hedge effectiveness determines the accounting treatment of noncash changes in fair value.
Until April 2009, we designated our cross-currency swaps as a hedge of the foreign currency exposure of our investment in Aflac Japan. We included the fair value of the cross-currency swaps in either other assets or other liabilities on the balance sheet. We reported the changes in fair value of the foreign currency portion of our cross-currency swaps in other comprehensive income. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate component are reflected in other income in the consolidated statements of earnings.
We have designated our interest rate swaps as a hedge of the variability of the interest cash flows associated with the variable interest rate Uridashi notes. We include the fair value of the interest rate swaps in either other assets or other liabilities on the balance sheet. We report the changes in fair value of the interest-rate swaps in other comprehensive income as long as they are deemed effective. Should any portion of the swap be deemed ineffective, that value would be reported in other income in the consolidated statements of earnings.
See the New Accounting Pronouncements section of Note 1 for a discussion of changes in accounting for derivative instruments associated with our investments in QSPEs and variable interest entities (VIEs).
Policyholder Protection Corporation and State Guaranty Association Assessments: In Japan, the government has required the insurance industry to contribute to a policyholder protection corporation. We recognize a charge for our estimated share of the industry’s obligation once it is determinable. We review the estimated liability for policyholder protection corporation contributions on an annual basis and report any adjustments in Aflac Japan’s expenses.
In the United States, each state has a guaranty association that supports insolvent insurers operating in those states. To date, our state guaranty association assessments have not been material.
Treasury Stock: Treasury stock is reflected as a reduction of shareholders’ equity at cost. We use the weighted-average purchase cost to determine the cost of treasury stock that is reissued. We include any gains and losses in additional paid-in capital when treasury stock is reissued.
Earnings Per Share: We compute basic earnings per share (EPS) by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of unrestricted shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period plus the shares representing the dilutive effect of share-based awards.
Reclassifications: Certain reclassifications have been made to prior-year amounts to conform to current-year reporting classifications. These reclassifications had no impact on net earnings or total shareholders’ equity.
New Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
Employers’ disclosures about postretirement benefit plan assets: In December 2008, the FASB issued accounting guidance on employers’ disclosures about postretirement benefit plan assets. This
guidance requires more detailed disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan, including investment strategies; major categories of plan assets; concentrations of risk within plan assets; inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets; and the effect of fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs on changes in plan assets for the period. We adopted this guidance as of December 31, 2009. The adoption did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.
Accounting Standards Codification: In June 2009, the FASB issued guidance that eliminates the hierarchy of authoritative accounting and reporting guidance on nongovernmental GAAP and replaces it with a single authoritative source, the FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ (ASC). Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and interpretive releases, which may not be included in their entirety within the ASC, will remain as authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. The ASC affects the way in which users refer to GAAP and perform accounting research, but does not change GAAP. We adopted the provisions of this guidance as of September 30, 2009. The adoption did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.
Subsequent events: In May 2009, the FASB issued accounting guidance on subsequent events which establishes standards for the recognition and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. This update requires companies to recognize in their financial statements the effects of subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the balance sheet date. This update prohibits companies from recognizing in their financial statements the effects of subsequent events that provide evidence about conditions that arose after the balance sheet date, but requires information about those events to be disclosed if the financial statements would otherwise be misleading. We adopted this new guidance as of June 30, 2009. The adoption did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.
Fair value measurements and disclosures: In April 2009, the FASB issued accounting guidance on fair value measurements and disclosures which provides information on how to determine the fair value of assets and liabilities in the current economic environment and re-emphasizes that the objective of a fair value measurement remains an exit price. This guidance provides factors to consider when determining whether there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity in the market for an asset or liability as well as provides factors for companies to consider in identifying transactions that are not orderly. This guidance also discusses the necessity of adjustments to transaction or quoted prices to estimate fair value in accordance with GAAP when it is determined that there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity or that the transaction is not orderly. We adopted this guidance as of March 31, 2009. The adoption did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
Recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments: In April 2009, the FASB issued accounting guidance that modifies the requirements for recognizing other-than-temporarily impaired debt securities and significantly changes the existing impairment model for such securities. In accordance with this new guidance, the intention to sell a security and the expectation regarding the recovery of the entire amortized cost basis of a security governs the recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. This guidance also modifies the presentation of other-than-temporary impairment losses in financial statements and increases the frequency of and expands already required disclosures about other-than-temporary impairment for debt and equity securities. We adopted this guidance as of March 31, 2009. The adoption did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
In January 2009, the FASB issued accounting guidance on impairments. This guidance applies to all entities with certain beneficial interests in securitized financial assets. It amends the impairment model on
beneficial interests held by a transferor in securitized financial assets, to be similar to the impairment model of debt and equity securities. In determining other-than-temporary impairments on the aforementioned interests, this guidance permits the use of reasonable management judgment on the probability that the holder will be unable to collect all amounts due, in addition to the former policy of reliance on market participant assumptions about future cash flows. We adopted this guidance as of December 31, 2008. The adoption did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
Disclosures about derivative instruments and hedging activities: In March 2008, the FASB issued accounting guidance on derivatives and hedging. This guidance establishes, among other things, the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and for hedging activities. It expands disclosure requirements with the intent to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced understanding of how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for in accordance with GAAP, and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. To meet those objectives, this new guidance requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. We adopted this new guidance as of January 1, 2009. The adoption did not have an effect on our financial position or results of operations.
Disclosures about transfers of financial assets and interests in variable interest entities: In December 2008, the FASB issued accounting guidance on transfers of financial assets and interests in variable interest entities. This guidance pertains to disclosures only, improving the transparency of transfers of financial assets and an enterprise’s involvement with VIEs, including QSPEs. The additional required disclosures related to asset transfers primarily focus on the transferor’s continuing involvement with transferred financial assets and the related risks retained. This guidance also requires additional disclosures that focus on a company’s involvement with VIEs and its judgments about the accounting for them. In addition, it requires certain nontransferor public enterprises to disclose details about QSPEs with which they are involved. We adopted the provisions of this new guidance as of December 31, 2008. The adoption did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.
Accounting for deferred acquisition costs: In September 2005, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) issued accounting guidance on deferred acquisition costs in connection with modifications or exchanges of insurance contracts. It provides accounting guidance on internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts other than those specifically described in the accounting guidance issued by the FASB regarding accounting and reporting by insurance enterprises for certain long-duration contracts and for realized gains and losses from the sale of investments. We adopted the provisions of this guidance effective January 1, 2007. We have determined that certain of our policy modifications in both the United States and Japan that were previously accounted for as a continuation of existing coverage will be considered internal replacements that are substantially changed as contemplated by this new guidance and will be accounted for as the extinguishment of the affected policies and the issuance of new contracts. The adoption of this guidance increased net earnings in 2007 by $6 million, or $.01 per diluted share, and was insignificant to our financial position and results of operations.
Accounting Pronouncements Pending Adoption
Fair value measurements and disclosures: In January 2010, the FASB issued amended accounting guidance on fair value disclosures. This guidance requires new disclosures about transfers in and out of fair value hierarchy Levels 1 and 2. This portion of the guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2009. This guidance also requires the activity in Level 3 for
purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements to be reported on a gross, rather than net, basis. This portion of the guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2010. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have any impact on our financial position or results of operations.
Accounting for variable interest entities and transfers of financial assets: In June 2009, the FASB issued amended guidance on accounting for VIEs and transfers of financial assets. This guidance defines new criteria for determining the primary beneficiary of a VIE; increases the frequency of required reassessments to determine whether a company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE; eliminates the exemption for the consolidation of QSPEs; establishes conditions for reporting a transfer of a portion of a financial asset as a sale; modifies the financial asset derecognition criteria; and requires additional disclosures. This accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009, and early application is prohibited.
As a result of implementing this new accounting guidance on January 1, 2010, we will be required to consolidate certain of the former QSPEs and VIEs with which we are currently involved. We do not believe there are any VIEs that we will be required to deconsolidate on January 1, 2010.
As of December 31, 2009, we had beneficial interests in QSPEs with a total amortized cost of $4.4 billion, which we will begin consolidating effective January 1, 2010. Our beneficial interests in the former QSPEs are structured as debt investments, which we have classified as available for sale. We are the only beneficial interest holder in the QSPEs and our risk of loss over the life of these investments is limited to the amount of our original investment. These investments are primarily structured as reverse dual-currency investments whereby the principal payments are denominated in yen and the periodic coupon payments are denominated in dollars. The underlying assets of each QSPE includes a debt or hybrid instrument and a derivative transaction (swap) that swaps all or a portion of the cash flows from the debt/hybrid instrument into yen, the functional currency of Aflac Japan. The QSPE operates in accordance with a set of governing documents and all of the critical activities are entirely predefined.
We also have interests in VIEs with a total amortized cost of $3.0 billion, of which $496 million we will be required to consolidate as a result of this new accounting guidance. Many of these VIEs that we will begin consolidating are structured as collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) that combine highly rated underlying assets as collateral with a credit default swap (CDS) linked to a portfolio of reference assets. These structures produce an investment security that consists of multiple asset tranches with varying levels of subordination within the VIE. We currently own only senior CDO tranches within these VIEs. The underlying collateral assets and funding of these VIEs are generally static in nature, and these VIEs are limited to holding the underlying collateral and CDS contracts and utilizing the cash flows from the collateral and CDS contracts.
Upon the initial consolidation of the VIEs and QSPEs on January 1, 2010, the assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interests of the VIEs and QSPEs will be recorded at their carrying values, which is the amounts at which the assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interests would have been carried in the consolidated financial statements when we first met the conditions to be the primary beneficiary. For any of the former QSPEs and VIEs that are required to be consolidated, we also considered whether any of the derivatives in these structures qualify on January 1, 2010, as a cash flow hedge of the changes in cash flows attributable to foreign currency and/or interest rate risk. Certain of the swaps may not qualify for hedge accounting since the swap has a fair value on January 1, 2010. Other swaps may not qualify for hedge accounting since they increase, rather than reduce, cash flow risk.
The estimated impact of consolidating these VIEs and former QSPEs as of January 1, 2010, includes three components. The first component is the valuation differences associated with the underlying securities and derivatives included in the former QSPE structures. Prior to the consolidation of these
QSPEs, we utilized a pricing model to value our beneficial interests and did not separately consider the fair value of the individual assets included within the structure. The cumulative impact of these valuation adjustments will be recorded in other comprehensive income or retained earnings depending on whether the valuation adjustment is associated with the underlying debt securities and whether the derivative qualifies as a cash flow hedge.
Another portion of the impact of consolidation is related to the currency translation adjustments that were previously recognized for our beneficial interests in the VIEs and QSPEs that were yen-denominated. Since some of the underlying assets in the VIEs and QSPEs are dollar-denominated, the previously recognized currency translation adjustment will be reversed and any amortization/accretion of discount/premium recognized as a cumulative impact through retained earnings.
The final portion relates to the fair value of CDSs included in the CDOs that had been designated as held to maturity. Under U.S. GAAP, these credit default swaps will be recorded at fair value as a cumulative effect adjustment through retained earnings. The CDSs are not eligible for hedge accounting.
The following table summarizes the estimated after-tax consolidation impact:
* Includes $54 in realized gains which represents the effective portion of derivatives that qualify for and are designated as cash flow hedges on January 1, 2010
For additional information concerning our investments in QSPEs and VIEs, see Note 3.
SEC Guidance
On October 14, 2008, the SEC issued a letter to the FASB addressing questions raised by various interested parties regarding declines in the fair value of perpetual preferred securities, or so-called “hybrid securities,” and the assessment of those declines under existing accounting guidelines for other-than-temporary impairments. In its letter, the SEC recognized that hybrid securities are often structured in equity form but generally possess significant debt-like characteristics. The SEC also recognized that existing accounting guidance does not specifically address the impact, if any, of the debt-like characteristics of these hybrid securities on the assessment of other-than-temporary impairments.
After consultation with and concurrence of the FASB staff, the SEC concluded that it will not object to the use of an other-than-temporary impairment model that considers the debt-like characteristics of hybrid securities (including the anticipated recovery period), provided there has been no evidence of a deterioration in credit of the issuer (for example, a decline in the cash flows from holding the investment or a downgrade of the rating of the security below investment grade), in filings after the date of its letter until the matter can be addressed further by the FASB.
We maintain investments in subordinated financial instruments, or hybrid securities. Within this class of investments, we own perpetual securities. These perpetual securities are subordinated to other debt obligations of the issuer, but rank higher than the issuers’ equity securities. Perpetual securities have characteristics of both debt and equity investments, along with unique features that create economic maturity dates for the securities. Although perpetual securities have no contractual maturity date, they have stated interest coupons that were fixed at their issuance and subsequently change to a floating
short-term rate of interest of 125 to more than 300 basis points above an appropriate market index, generally by the 25th year after issuance. We believe this interest step-up penalty has the effect of creating an economic maturity date for our perpetual securities. We accounted for and reported perpetual securities as debt securities and classified them as both available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities until the third quarter of 2008.
We concluded in the third quarter of 2008 that all of our investments in perpetual securities should be classified as available-for-sale securities. We also concluded that our perpetual securities should be evaluated for other-than-temporary impairments using an equity security impairment model for periods prior to June 30, 2008, as opposed to our previous policy of using a debt security impairment model. We recognized realized investment losses of $294 million ($191 million after-tax) in the third quarter of 2008 as a result of applying our equity impairment model to this class of securities through June 30, 2008. Included in the $191 million other-than-temporary impairment charge is $40 million, $53 million, $50 million, and $38 million, net of tax, that relate to the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively; and, $10 million, net of tax, that relates to the quarter ended June 30, 2008. There were no impairment charges related to the perpetual securities in the first quarter of 2008. The impact of classifying all of our perpetual securities as available-for-sale securities and assessing them for other-than-temporary impairments under our equity impairment model was determined to be immaterial to our results of operations and financial position for any previously reported period. Consistent with the previously mentioned SEC letter regarding the appropriate impairment model for hybrid securities, we have applied our debt security impairment model to our perpetual securities in periods subsequent to June 30, 2008, with the exception of certain securities that are rated below investment grade and are therefore being evaluated under our equity impairment model. We will continue with this approach pending further guidance from the SEC or the FASB.
Recent accounting guidance not discussed above is not applicable or did not have an impact to our business.
2. BUSINESS SEGMENT AND FOREIGN INFORMATION
The Company consists of two reportable insurance business segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S., both of which sell supplemental health and life insurance. As discussed in Note 1, in the fourth quarter of 2009 we purchased CAIG which includes its wholly owned subsidiary CAIC. CAIC is included in the Aflac U.S. business segment effective October 1, 2009.
Operating business segments that are not individually reportable are included in the “Other business segments” category. We do not allocate corporate overhead expenses to business segments. We evaluate and manage our business segments using a financial performance measure called pretax operating earnings. Our definition of operating earnings excludes the following items from net earnings on an after-tax basis: realized investment gains/losses, the impact from ASC 815 (formerly referred to as SFAS 133), and nonrecurring items. We then exclude income taxes related to operations to arrive at pretax operating earnings. Information regarding operations by segment for the years ended December 31 follows:
Assets as of December 31 were as follows:
Yen-Translation Effects: The following table shows the yen/dollar exchange rates used for or during the periods ended December 31. Exchange effects were calculated using the same yen/dollar exchange rate for the current year as for each respective prior year.
Aflac Japan maintains a portfolio of dollar-denominated securities, which serves as an economic currency hedge of a portion of our investment in Aflac Japan. We have designated the Parent Company’s yen-denominated notes payable as a hedge of our investment in Aflac Japan. The dollar values of our yen-denominated net assets, which are subject to foreign currency translation fluctuations for financial reporting purposes, are summarized as follows at December 31 (translated at end-of-period exchange rates):
Transfers of funds from Aflac Japan: Aflac Japan makes payments to the Parent Company for management fees and to Aflac U.S. for allocated expenses and profit repatriations. Information on transfers for each of the years ended December 31 is shown below. See Note 11 for information concerning restrictions on transfers from Aflac Japan.
Policyholder Protection Corporation: The total liability accrued for our obligations to the Japanese Life Insurance Policyholder Protection Corporation (LIPPC) was $128 million (11.8 billion yen) at December 31, 2009, compared with $161 million (14.6 billion yen) a year ago. The obligation is payable in semi-annual installments through 2013.
Property and Equipment: The costs of buildings, furniture and equipment are depreciated principally on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives (maximum of 45 years for buildings and 10 years for furniture and equipment). Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred; expenditures for betterments are capitalized and depreciated. Classes of property and equipment as of December 31 were as follows:
Receivables: Receivables consist primarily of monthly insurance premiums due from individual policyholders or their employers for payroll deduction of premiums. At December 31, 2009, $397 million, or 52.0% of total receivables, were related to Aflac Japan’s operations, compared with $527 million, or 57.3%, at December 31, 2008.
3. INVESTMENTS
Net Investment Income
The components of net investment income for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
Investment Holdings
The amortized cost for our investments in debt and perpetual securities, the cost for equity securities and the fair values of these investments at December 31 are shown in the following tables.
* Includes $25 of other-than-temporary non-credit-related losses
The methods of determining the fair values of our investments in debt securities, perpetual securities and equity securities are described in Note 4.
During 2009, we reclassified 12 investments from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio as a result of significant declines in the issuers’ creditworthiness. At the time of transfer, the securities had an aggregate amortized cost of $1.3 billion and an aggregate unrealized loss of $548 million.
During 2008, Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc. (LBSF), the swap counterparty under four of our CDO debt securities, filed for bankruptcy protection along with certain of its affiliates (including Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., the guarantor of LBSF’s obligations relating to the CDOs). We transferred these CDOs from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio as a result of the default by LBSF under the swaps. In connection with the transfer, we took an impairment charge primarily related to the foreign currency component of three of these CDOs totaling $20 million ($13 million after-tax). This impairment charge was included in realized investment losses during 2008. At the time of the transfer and after impairment charges, these CDO debt securities had a total amortized cost of $245 million and an unrealized gain of $3 million. The unrealized gain related to the only CDO of the four that was not impaired. In the fourth quarter of 2009, we redeemed these four CDO securities and received the underlying collateral assets.
We transferred four other debt securities from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio during 2008 as a result of significant deterioration in the issuers’ creditworthiness. At the time of the transfer, the securities had an aggregate amortized cost of $268 million and an aggregate unrealized loss of $131 million.
During 2007, we reclassified an investment from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio as a result of a significant deterioration in the issuer’s creditworthiness. At the date of transfer, this debt security had an amortized cost of $169 million and an unrealized loss of $8 million. The investment was subsequently sold at a realized gain of $12 million.
Contractual and Economic Maturities
The contractual maturities of our investments in fixed maturities at December 31, 2009, were as follows:
At December 31, 2009, the Parent Company had a portfolio of investment-grade available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities totaling $118 million at amortized cost and $117 million at fair value, which is not included in the table above.
Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because some issuers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
As previously described in Note 1, our perpetual securities are subordinated to other debt obligations of the issuer, but rank higher than equity securities. Although these securities have no contractual maturity, the interest coupons that were fixed at issuance subsequently change to a floating short-term interest rate of 125 to more than 300 basis points above an appropriate market index, generally by the 25th year after issuance, thereby creating an economic maturity date. The economic maturities of our investments in perpetual securities, which were all reported as available for sale at December 31, 2009, were as follows:
Investment Concentrations
Our investment discipline begins with a top-down approach for each investment opportunity we consider. Consistent with that approach, we first approve each country in which we invest. In our approach to sovereign analysis, we consider the political, legal and financial context of the sovereign entity in which an issuer is domiciled and operates. Next we approve the issuer’s industry sector, including such factors as the stability of results and the importance of the sector to the overall economy. Specific credit names within approved countries and industry sectors are evaluated for their market positions and specific strengths and potential weaknesses. Structures in which we invest are chosen for specific portfolio management purposes, including asset/liability management, portfolio diversification and net investment income.
Investment exposures that individually exceeded 10% of shareholders’ equity as of December 31 were as follows:
* Less than 10% of shareholders’ equity at reporting date
** For this issuer, we own more than one security with different ratings.
Our largest investment industry sector concentration is banks and financial institutions. Within the countries we approve for investment opportunities, we primarily invest in financial institutions that are strategically crucial to each approved country’s economy. The bank and financial institution sector is a highly regulated industry and plays a strategic role in the global economy. We achieve some degree of diversification in the bank and financial institution sector through a geographically diverse universe of credit exposures. Within this sector, the more significant concentration of our credit risk by geographic region or country of issuer at December 31, 2009, based on amortized cost, was: Europe, excluding the United Kingdom (48%); United States (20%); United Kingdom (8%); Japan (9%); and other (15%).
Our total investments in the bank and financial institution sector as of December 31, including those classified as perpetual securities, were as follows:
Realized Investment Gains and Losses
Information regarding pretax realized gains and losses from investments for the years ended December 31 follows:
In 2009, we realized pretax investment losses of $1,361 million ($884 million after-tax) as a result of the recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. We realized pretax investment losses of $101 million ($66 million after-tax) from the exchange of two of our Lloyd’s Banking Group plc perpetual security investments. We exchanged our investment in Lloyds TSB Bank plc yen-denominated, Upper Tier II perpetual securities into yen-denominated, Lower Tier II fixed-maturity securities. We also exchanged our holdings of Bank of Scotland plc yen-denominated, Upper Tier II perpetual securities into yen-denominated, Lower Tier II fixed-maturity securities. The losses were partially offset by pretax investment gains of $250 million ($162 million after-tax) that were generated primarily from a bond-swap program that took advantage of tax loss carryforwards.
In 2008, we realized pretax investment losses of $753 million ($489 million after-tax) as a result of the recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. We realized pretax investment losses, net of gains, of $254 million ($166 million after-tax) from securities sold or redeemed in the normal course of business.
In 2007, we realized pretax investment losses of $23 million ($15 million after-tax) as a result of the recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. We realized pretax investment gains, net of losses, of $51 million ($34 million after-tax) from securities sold or redeemed in the normal course of business.
Other-than-temporary Impairment
The fair value of our debt and perpetual security investments fluctuates based on changes in credit spreads in the global financial markets. Credit spreads are most impacted by market rates of interest, the general and specific credit environment and global market liquidity. We believe that fluctuations in the fair value of our investment securities related to changes in credit spreads have little bearing on whether our investment is ultimately recoverable. Therefore, we consider such declines in fair value to be temporary even in situations where an investment remains in an unrealized loss position for a year or more.
However, in the course of our credit review process, we may determine that it is unlikely that we will recover our investment in an issuer due to factors specific to an individual issuer, as opposed to general changes in global credit spreads. In this event, we consider such a decline in the investment’s fair value, to the extent below the investment’s cost or amortized cost, to be an other-than-temporary impairment of the investment and write the investment down to its fair value. The determination of whether an impairment is other than temporary is subjective and involves the consideration of various factors and circumstances, which includes but is not limited to the following:
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issuer financial condition, including profitability and cash flows
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credit status of the issuer
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the issuer’s specific and general competitive environment
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published reports
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general economic environment
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regulatory, legislative and political environment
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the severity of the decline in fair value
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the length of time the fair value is below cost
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other factors as may become available from time to time
In addition to the usual investment risk associated with a debt instrument, our perpetual security holdings may be subject to the risk of nationalization of their issuers in connection with capital injections from an issuer’s sovereign government. We cannot be assured that such capital support will extend to all levels of an issuer’s capital structure. In addition, certain governments or regulators may consider imposing interest and principal payment restrictions on issuers of hybrid securities to preserve cash and build capital. In addition to the cash flow impact that additional deferrals would have on our portfolio, such deferrals could result in ratings downgrades of the affected securities, which in turn could impair the fair value of the securities and increase our regulatory capital requirements. We take factors such as these into account in our credit review process.
Another factor we consider in determining whether an impairment is other than temporary is an evaluation of our intent, need, or both to sell the security prior to its anticipated recovery in value. We perform ongoing analyses of our liquidity needs, which includes cash flow testing of our policy liabilities, debt maturities, projected dividend payments and other cash flow and liquidity needs. Our cash flow testing includes extensive duration matching of our investment portfolio and policy liabilities. Based on our analyses, we have concluded that we have sufficient excess cash flows to meet our liquidity needs without liquidating any of our investments prior to their maturity. In addition, provided that our credit review process results in a conclusion that we will collect all of our cash flows and recover our investment in an issuer, we generally do not sell investments prior to their maturity.
The majority of our investments are evaluated for other-than-temporary impairment using our debt impairment model. Our debt impairment model focuses on the ultimate collection of the cash flows from our investments. Our investments in perpetual securities that are rated below investment grade are evaluated for other-than-temporary impairment using our equity impairment model. Our equity impairment model focuses on the severity of a security’s decline in fair value coupled with the length of time the fair value of the security has been below amortized cost.
The following table details our pretax impairment losses by investment category for the years ended December 31.
As more fully discussed in the SEC Guidance section of Note 1, we apply the debt security impairment model to our perpetual securities provided there has been no evidence of deterioration in credit of the issuer, such as a downgrade of the rating of a perpetual security to below investment grade. During 2009, the perpetual securities of seven issuers we own were downgraded to below investment grade. As a result of these downgrades, we were required to evaluate these securities for other-than-temporary impairment using the equity security impairment model rather than the debt security impairment model. Use of the equity impairment model limits the forecasted recovery period that can be used in the impairment evaluation and, accordingly, affects both the recognition and measurement of other-than-temporary impairment losses. As a result of market conditions and the extent of changes in ratings on our perpetual securities, we recognized other-than-temporary impairment losses for perpetual securities being evaluated under our equity impairment model of $729 million ($474 million after-tax) during 2009.
During our review of certain CMOs, we determined that a portion of the other-than-temporary impairment of the securities was credit-related. However, we concluded a portion of the reduction in fair value below amortized cost was due to non-credit factors, which we believe we will recover. As a result, we recognized an impairment charge in earnings for credit-related declines in value of $24 million ($15 million after-tax) during 2009. We recorded an unrealized loss in other comprehensive income of $26 million ($17 million after-tax) during 2009 for the portion of the other-than-temporary impairment of these securities resulting from non-credit factors. We recorded an unrealized gain of $1 million in other comprehensive income for some of these CMOs to reflect the change in fair value subsequent to their other-than-temporary impairment recognized earlier in the year.
The other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized during 2009, of which a portion was transferred to other comprehensive income, related only to the other-than-temporary impairment of certain
of our investments in CMOs. The other-than-temporary impairment charges related to credit and all other factors other than credit were determined using statistical modeling techniques. The model projects expected cash flows from the underlying mortgage pools assuming various economic recession scenarios including, more significantly, geographical and regional home data, housing valuations, prepayment speeds, and economic recession statistics. The following table summarizes credit-related impairment losses on securities for which other-than-temporary losses were recognized during 2009 and only the amount related to credit loss was recognized in earnings.
Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses
Information regarding changes in unrealized gains and losses from investments for the years ended December 31 follows:
Effect on Shareholders’ Equity
The net effect on shareholders’ equity of unrealized gains and losses from investment securities at December 31 were as follows:
Gross Unrealized Loss Aging
The following tables show the fair value and gross unrealized losses, including the portion of other-than-temporary impairment recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, of our available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investments, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31.
Analysis of Securities in Unrealized Loss Positions
The unrealized losses on our investments have been primarily related to changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates or the widening of credit spreads rather than specific issuer credit-related events. In addition, because we do not intend to sell and do not believe it is likely that we will be required to sell these investments before a recovery of fair value to amortized cost, we do not consider any of these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009, with the exception of certain CMOs discussed in the previous section. The following summarizes our evaluation of investment categories with significant unrealized losses and securities that were rated below investment grade. All other investment categories with securities in an unrealized loss position that are not specifically discussed below were comprised of investment grade fixed maturities.
Municipalities and Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities
At December 31, 2009, 74% of securities in the municipalities sector and 39% of securities in the mortgage- and asset-backed securities sector in an unrealized loss position were investment grade, compared with 53% and 100%, respectively, at the end of 2008. We have determined that the majority of the unrealized losses on the investments in these sectors were caused by widening credit spreads. However, we have determined that the ability of the issuers to service our investments has not been compromised. Unrealized gains or losses related to prevailing interest rate environments are impacted by the remaining time to maturity of an investment. Assuming no credit-related factors develop, as investments near maturity the unrealized gains or losses can be expected to diminish.
Collateralized Debt Obligation (CDO) Investments
As of December 31, 2009, 12% of our CDO investments in an unrealized loss position was investment grade, compared with 100% at the end of 2008. We have determined that these unrealized losses were primarily the result of widening credit spreads. The widening credit spreads in the CDO sector have been fueled by continued deterioration of the creditworthiness of the CDS reference credit entities underlying the CDO contracts and an overall contraction of market liquidity (demand) for CDO investments in all capital markets. As more fully described in our discussion regarding our investment in variable interest entities below, we only invested in the senior tranches of CDO structures. The subordinated tranches of our CDOs absorb the majority of the risk of loss, if any, arising from the CDS contracts underlying our CDOs. As a part of our credit analysis process, we obtain CDS default and default recovery probability statistics from published market sources. We use these default and default recovery statistics to project the number of defaults our CDOs can withstand before our CDO investment would be impaired. In addition to our review of default and default recovery statistics, we also assess the credit quality of the collateral underlying our CDOs.
Based on these reviews, we determined that the declines in value of certain of our CDO investments below their carrying value were considered to be other than temporary and wrote down our investment in these CDOs to their estimated fair value through a charge to earnings in the first and third quarters of 2009.
Our credit analyses of the CDO issues we own indicate that the remaining number of defaults that can be sustained in our CDOs, other than those disclosed in the preceding paragraph, is sufficient to withstand any expected credit deterioration without impairing the value of our investments. In addition, the credit quality of the collateral underlying these CDOs remains investment grade.
Bank and Financial Institution Investments
The following table shows the composition of our investments in an unrealized loss position in the bank and financial institution sector by fixed maturity securities and perpetual securities. The table reflects
those securities in that sector that were in an unrealized loss position as a percentage of our total investment portfolio in an unrealized loss position and their respective unrealized losses as a percentage of total unrealized losses at December 31.
The valuation and pricing pressures from certain structured investment securities throughout 2008 and in the first half of 2009, more notably the bank and financial institution sector’s exposure to the well-publicized structured investment vehicles (SIVs), coupled with their exposure to the continued weakness in the housing sector in the UK, Europe and the United States, led to significant write-downs of asset values and capital pressure. In the second half of 2009, the valuation of credit securities improved. To reduce capital pressure, banks and other financial institutions have sought to enhance their capital positions through exchanges and tender offers. In addition, national governments in these regions have provided support in various forms, ranging from guarantees on new and existing debt to significant injections of capital. Should capital markets deteriorate, more of these banks and financial institutions may need various forms of government support. While it does not appear to be a preferred solution, some troubled banks and financial institutions may be nationalized. Few nationalizations have occurred to date, and the governments have generally stood behind the classes of investments that we own.
As of December 31, 2009, 75% of our investments in the bank and financial institution sector in an unrealized loss position was investment grade, compared with 96% at December 31, 2008. We have determined that the majority of the unrealized losses on the investments in this sector were caused by widening credit spreads, the downturn in the global economic environment and, to a lesser extent, changes in foreign exchange rates. Unrealized gains or losses related to prevailing interest rate environments are impacted by the remaining time to maturity of an investment. Assuming no credit-related factors develop, as investments near maturity, the unrealized gains or losses can be expected to diminish. Based on our credit analysis, we believe that our investments in this sector have the ability to service their obligations to us.
Other Corporate Investments
As of December 31, 2009, 58% of the securities in the other corporate sector in an unrealized loss position was investment grade, compared with 70% at the end of 2008. For any credit-related declines in market value, we perform a more focused review of the related issuer’s credit ratings, financial statements and other available financial data, timeliness of payment, competitive environment and any other significant data related to the issuer. From those reviews, we evaluate the issuers’ continued ability to service our investments. We have determined that the majority of the unrealized losses on the investments in the other corporate sector were caused by widening credit spreads. Also impacting the unrealized losses in this sector is the decline in creditworthiness of certain issuers in the other corporate sector. Based on our credit analysis, we believe that our investments in this sector have the ability to service their obligation to us.
Perpetual Securities
At December 31, 2009, 92% of our total investments in perpetual securities in an unrealized loss position was investment grade, compared with 96% at December 31, 2008. The decrease in investment-grade securities was related to downgrades of investments we own. The majority of our investments in Upper Tier II and Tier I perpetual securities were in highly-rated global financial institutions. Upper Tier II securities have more debt-like characteristics than Tier I securities and are senior to Tier I securities, preferred stock, and common equity of the issuer. Conversely, Tier I securities have more equity-like characteristics, but are senior to the common equity of the issuer. They may also be senior to certain preferred shares, depending on the individual security, the issuer’s capital structure and the regulatory jurisdiction of the issuer.
Details of our holdings of perpetual securities as of December 31, 2009, were as follows:
Perpetual Securities
With the exception of the Icelandic bank securities that we completely impaired in 2008 and our Tier I Lloyds Banking Group plc dollar-denominated Tier I perpetual securities (par value of $33 million at December 31, 2009), all of the perpetual securities we own were current on interest and principal payments at December 31, 2009. Based on amortized cost as of December 31, 2009, the geographic breakdown of our perpetual securities by issuer was as follows: European countries, excluding the United Kingdom (68%); the United Kingdom (14%); Japan (14%); and Australia (4%). To determine any credit-related declines in market value, we perform a more focused review of the related issuer’s credit ratings, financial statements and other available financial data, timeliness of payment, competitive environment and any other significant data related to the issuer. From those reviews, we evaluate the issuer’s continued ability to service our investment.
We have determined that the majority of our unrealized losses in the perpetual security category was principally due to widening credit spreads, largely as the result of the contraction of liquidity in the capital markets. Based on our reviews, we concluded that the ability of the issuers to service our investment has not been compromised by these factors. Unrealized gains or losses related to prevailing interest rate environments are impacted by the remaining time to maturity of an investment. Assuming no credit-related factors develop, as the investments near economic maturity, the unrealized gains or losses can be expected to diminish. Based on our credit analyses, we believe that our investments in this sector have the ability to service their obligations to us.
Qualified Special Purpose Entities (QSPEs) and Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)
As part of our investment activities, we own investments in QSPEs and VIEs. The following table details our investments in these vehicles as of December 31.
Investments in Qualified Special Purpose Entities
and Variable Interest Entities
* Total QSPEs represent 6.1% of total debt and perpetual securities in 2009 and 6.4% in 2008.
** Total VIEs represent 4.2% of total debt and perpetual securities in 2009 and 4.7% in 2008.
QSPEs
We have no equity interests in any of the QSPEs in which we invest, nor do we have control over these entities. Therefore, our loss exposure is limited to the cost of our investment. See Note 1 for a discussion of changes in accounting for our QSPEs under the provisions of amended FASB guidance, effective for us on January 1, 2010.
VIEs
Under accounting guidance in effect on December 31, 2009, we evaluate our involvement with VIEs at inception to determine our beneficial interests in the VIE and, accordingly, our beneficiary status. As a condition to our involvement or investment in a VIE, we enter into certain protective rights and covenants that preclude changes in the structure of the VIE that would alter the creditworthiness of our investment or our beneficial interest in the VIE. We would re-evaluate our beneficiary status should a reconsideration event occur. According to GAAP, reconsideration events include changes to a VIE’s design or structure, contractual arrangements, and/or its equity at risk. Due to the static nature of these VIEs and our protective rights entered into as a condition of investing in the VIEs, there are few, if any, scenarios that would constitute a reconsideration event in our VIEs. To date, we have not had any reconsideration events in any of our VIEs. If we determine that we own less than 50% of the variable interest created by a VIE, we are not considered to be a primary beneficiary of the VIE and therefore are not required to consolidate the VIE.
Our involvement with all of the VIEs in which we have an interest is passive in nature, and we are not the arranger of these entities. Except as relates to our review and evaluation of the structure of these VIEs in the normal course of our investment decision-making process, we have not been involved in establishing these entities. We have not been nor are we required to purchase the securities issued in the future by any of these VIEs.
Our ownership interest in the VIEs is limited to holding the obligations issued by them. All of the VIEs in which we invest are static with respect to funding and have no ongoing forms of funding after the initial funding date. We have no direct or contingent obligations to fund the limited activities of these VIEs, nor do we have any direct or indirect financial guarantees related to the limited activities of these VIEs. We have not provided any assistance or any other type of financing support to any of the VIEs we invest in, nor do we have any intention to do so in the future. The weighted-average lives of our notes are very similar to the underlying collateral held by these VIEs where applicable.
Our risk of loss related to our interests in any of our VIEs is limited to our investment in the debt securities issued by them.
VIEs - Consolidated
We are substantively the only investor in the consolidated VIEs listed in the table above. As the sole investor in these VIEs, we absorb or participate in greater than 50%, if not all, of the variability created by these VIEs and are therefore considered to be the primary beneficiary of the VIEs that we consolidate. The activities of these VIEs are limited to holding debt securities and utilizing the cash flows from the debt securities to service our investments therein. The terms of the debt securities held by these VIEs mirror the terms of the notes held by Aflac. Our loss exposure to these VIEs is limited to the cost of our investment.
VIEs - Not Consolidated
We also have interests in VIEs that we are not required to consolidate as reflected in the above table. Included in the VIEs that we do not consolidate are CDOs issued through VIEs originated by third parties. These VIEs combine highly rated underlying assets as collateral for the CDOs with CDSs to produce an investment security that consists of multiple asset tranches with varying levels of subordination within the VIE.
The underlying collateral assets and funding of these VIEs are generally static in nature. These VIEs are limited to holding the underlying collateral and CDS contracts on specific corporate entities and utilizing the cash flows from the collateral and CDS contracts to service our investment therein. The underlying collateral and the reference corporate entities covered by the CDS contracts are all investment grade at the time of issuance. These VIEs do not rely on outside or ongoing sources of funding to support their activities beyond the underlying collateral and CDS contracts.
We currently own only senior CDO tranches within these VIEs. At inception of our investment in these VIEs, we identify the variable interests created by the VIE and, using statistical analysis techniques, evaluate our participation in the variable interests created by them.
Consistent with other debt and perpetual securities we own, we are exposed to credit losses within these CDOs that could result in principal losses to our investments. We have mitigated our risk of credit loss through the structure of the VIE, which contractually requires the subordinated tranches within these VIEs to absorb the majority of the expected losses from the underlying credit default swaps. Based on our statistical models, each of the VIEs can sustain a reasonable number of defaults in the underlying CDS pools with no loss to our CDO investments.
While we may own a significant portion of the securities issued by these VIEs, we have determined that we do not participate in the majority of the variable interests created by the VIE. We also confirm with the arranging investment banks that the variable interests in which we do not retain an interest are issued to third parties unrelated to the arranging investment bank. Because we participate in less than 50% of the variable interests created by these VIEs, we are not the primary beneficiary and are therefore not required to consolidate these VIEs.
Included in the CDOs described above are variable interest rate CDOs purchased with the proceeds from $200 million of variable interest rate funding agreements issued to third party investors during the second quarter of 2008. We earn a spread between the coupon received on the CDOs and the interest credited on the funding agreements. Our obligation under these funding agreements is included in other policyholder funds.
The remaining VIEs that we are not required to consolidate are investments that are limited to loans in the form of debt obligations from the VIEs that are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed by their corporate parents. These VIEs are the primary financing vehicles used by their corporate sponsors to raise financing in the international capital markets. The variable interests created by these VIEs are principally or solely a result of the debt instruments issued by them. We invest in less than 50% of the security interests issued by these VIEs and therefore participate in less than 50% of the variable interests created by them. As such, we are not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs and are therefore not required to consolidate them.
The categories, ratings and weighted-average lives of the assets held by the non-consolidated VIEs that we own as of December 31, 2009, are reflected in the table below.
See Note 1 for a discussion of our evaluation of our VIEs for consolidation under the provisions of the amended FASB guidance on accounting for VIEs, effective for us on January 1, 2010. We do not anticipate any impact on debt covenants, capital ratios, credit ratings or dividends as a result of consolidating any of the VIEs we own. In the event that we incur losses on the debt securities issued by these VIEs, the impact on debt covenants, capital ratios, credit ratings or dividends would be no different than the impact from losses on any of the other debt securities we own.
Securities Lending and Pledged Securities
We lend fixed-maturity securities to financial institutions in short-term security-lending transactions. These short-term security-lending arrangements increase investment income with minimal risk. Our security lending policy requires that the fair value of the securities and/or cash received as collateral be 102% or more of the fair value of the loaned securities. The following table presents our security loans outstanding and the corresponding collateral held as of December 31:
All security-lending agreements are callable by us at any time.
At December 31, 2009, debt securities with a fair value of $14 million were on deposit with regulatory authorities in the United States and Japan. We retain ownership of all securities on deposit and receive the related investment income.
For general information regarding our investment accounting policies, see Note 1.
4. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Fair Value Measurement
We determine the fair values of our debt, perpetual and privately issued equity securities primarily using three pricing approaches or techniques: quoted market prices readily available from public exchange markets, a discounted cash flow (DCF) pricing model, and price quotes we obtain from outside brokers.
Our DCF pricing model utilizes various market inputs we obtain from both active and inactive markets. The estimated fair values developed by the DCF pricing models are most sensitive to prevailing credit spreads, the level of interest rates (yields) and interest rate volatility. Credit spreads are derived based on pricing data obtained from investment brokers and take into account the current yield curve, time to maturity and subordination levels for similar securities or classes of securities. We validate the reliability of the DCF pricing models periodically by using the models to price investments for which there are quoted market prices from active and inactive markets or, in the alternative, are quoted by our custodian for the same or similar securities.
The pricing data and market quotes we obtain from outside sources are reviewed internally for reasonableness. If a fair value appears unreasonable, the inputs are re-examined and the value is confirmed or revised.
During 2009 and 2008, we noted a continued reduction in the availability of pricing data from market sources. This decline is due largely to the contraction of liquidity in the global markets and a reduction in the overall number of sources to provide pricing data. As a result, we have noted that available pricing data has become more volatile. The reduction in available pricing sources coupled with the increase in price volatility has increased the degree of management judgment required in the final determination of fair values. We continually assess the reasonableness of the pricing data we receive by comparing it to historical results. In addition to historical comparisons, we evaluate the reasonableness of the pricing data in light of current market trends and events. The final pricing data used to determine fair values is based on management’s judgment.
Fair Value Hierarchy
GAAP specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs to those valuations techniques are observable or unobservable. These two types of inputs create three valuation hierarchy levels. Level 1 valuations reflect quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Level 2 valuations reflect quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted market prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets or model-derived valuations in which all significant valuation inputs are observable in active markets. Level 3 valuations reflect valuations in which one or more of the significant valuation inputs are not observable in an active market. The vast majority of our financial instruments subject to the classification provisions of GAAP relate to our investment securities classified as securities available for sale in our investment portfolio. We determine the fair value of our securities available for sale using several sources or techniques based on the type and nature of the investment securities.
The following tables present the fair value hierarchy levels of the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31.
Approximately 42% of our investments classified as Level 2 are valued by obtaining quoted market prices from our investment custodian. The custodian obtains price quotes from various pricing services that estimate fair values based on observable market transactions for similar investments in active markets, market transactions for the same investments in inactive markets or other observable market data where available.
The fair value of approximately 51% of our Level 2 investments is determined using our DCF pricing model. The significant valuation inputs to the DCF model are obtained from, or corroborated by, observable market sources from both active and inactive markets.
For the remaining Level 2 investments that are not quoted by our custodian and cannot be priced under the DCF pricing model, we obtain specific broker quotes from up to three outside securities brokers and generally use the average of the quotes to estimate the fair value of the securities.
Historically, we have not adjusted the quotes or prices we obtain from the brokers and pricing services we use.
The fair value of our swap contracts is based on the amount we would expect to receive or pay to terminate the swaps. The prices used to determine the value of the swaps are obtained from the respective swap counterparties and take into account current interest rates, duration, counterparty credit risk and our own credit rating.
The fixed maturities and perpetual securities classified as Level 3 consist of securities for which there are limited or no observable valuation inputs. We estimate the fair value of these securities by obtaining broker quotes from a limited number of brokers. These brokers base their quotes on a combination of their knowledge of the current pricing environment and market flows. We consider these inputs unobservable. The equity securities classified in Level 3 are related to investments in Japanese businesses, each of which are insignificant and in the aggregate are immaterial. Because fair values for these investments are not readily available, we carry them at their original cost. We review each of these investments periodically and, in the event we determine that any are other-than-temporarily impaired, we write them down to their estimated fair value at that time.
Level 3 Rollforward
The following tables present the changes in our available-for-sale securities classified as Level 3 for the years ended December 31.
* Represents the amount of total gains or losses for the period, included in earnings, attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets classified as Level 3 that were still held at December 31, 2009.
* Represents the amount of total gains or losses for the period, included in earnings, attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets classified as Level 3 that were still held at December 31, 2008.
The inputs we receive from pricing brokers for forward exchange rates and the credit spreads for certain issuers, including liquidity risk, have become increasingly difficult for us to observe or corroborate in the markets for our investments in CDOs, callable reverse-dual currency securities (RDCs), securities rated below investment grade, and to a lesser extent less liquid sinking fund securities. This has resulted in the transfer of affected fixed maturities available for sale from the Level 2 valuation category into the Level 3 valuation category.
During the year ended December 31, 2009, we transferred investments totaling $1.8 billion into Level 3 as a result of credit downgrades of the respective securities to below investment grade. During the year ended December 31, 2008, we transferred investments totaling $3.0 billion into Level 3, which consisted primarily of below-investment-grade investments, callable RDC investments and certain of our private placement securities.
The significant valuation inputs that are used in the valuation process for the below-investment-grade, callable RDC and private placement investments classified as Level 3 include forward exchange rates, yen swap rates, dollar swap rates, interest rate volatilities, credit spread data on specific issuers, assumed default and default recovery rates, certain probability assumptions, and call option data.
Some of these securities require the calculation of a theoretical forward exchange rate which is developed by using yen swap rates, U.S. dollar swap rates, interest rate volatilities, and spot exchange rates. The forward exchange rate is then used to convert all future dollar cash flows of the bond, where applicable, into yen cash flows. Additionally, credit spreads for the individual issuers are key valuation inputs of these securities. Finally, in pricing securities with a call option, the assumptions regarding interest rates in the U.S. and Japan are considered to be significant valuation inputs. Collectively, these valuation inputs, are included to estimate the fair values of these securities at each reporting date.
In obtaining the above valuation inputs, we have determined that certain pricing assumptions and data used by our pricing sources are becoming increasingly more difficult to validate or corroborate by the market and/or appear to be internally developed rather than observed in or corroborated by the market.
The use of these unobservable valuation inputs causes more subjectivity in the valuation process for these securities and consequently, causes more volatility in their estimated fair values.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of December 31 were as follows:
* Cross-currency swaps expired in April 2009
As mentioned previously, we determine the fair values of our debt, perpetual and privately issued equity securities using three basic pricing approaches or techniques: quoted market prices readily available from public exchange markets, a DCF pricing model, and price quotes we obtain from outside brokers.
The fair values of notes payable with fixed interest rates were obtained from an independent financial information service. The fair values of our cross-currency and interest-rate swaps are the expected amounts that we would receive or pay to terminate the swaps, taking into account current interest rates, foreign currency rates and the current creditworthiness of the swap counterparties. The fair value of the obligation to the Japanese policyholder protection corporation is our estimated share of the industry’s obligation calculated on a pro rata basis by projecting our percentage of the industry’s premiums and reserves and applying that percentage to the total industry obligation payable in future years.
The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accrued investment income, accounts payable, cash collateral and payables for security transactions approximated their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. Consequently, such instruments are not included in the above table. The preceding table also excludes liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims as these liabilities are not financial instruments as defined by GAAP.
DCF Sensitivity
Our DCF pricing model utilizes various market inputs we obtain from both active and inactive markets. The estimated fair values developed by the DCF pricing models are most sensitive to prevailing credit spreads, the level of interest rates (yields) and interest rate volatility. Management believes that under normal market conditions, a movement of 50 basis points (bps) in the key assumptions used to estimate these fair values would be reasonably likely. Therefore, we selected a uniform magnitude of movement (50 bps) and provided both upward and downward movements in the assumptions. Since the changes in fair value are relatively linear, readers of these financial statements can make their own judgments as to the movement in interest rates and the change in fair value based upon this data. The following scenarios provide a view of the sensitivity of our securities priced by our DCF pricing model.
The fair values of our available-for-sale fixed-maturity and perpetual securities valued by our DCF pricing model totaled $14.8 billion at December 31, 2009. The estimated effect of potential changes in interest rates, credit spreads and interest rate volatility on these fair values as of such date is as follows:
The fair values of our held-to-maturity fixed-maturity securities valued by our DCF pricing model totaled $24.2 billion at December 31, 2009. The estimated effect of potential changes in interest rates, credit spreads and interest rate volatility on these fair values as of such date is as follows:
The two tables above illustrate the differences on the fair values of our investment portfolio among each of the inputs for interest rates, credit spreads and interest volatility. These differences are driven principally by the securities in our portfolio that have call features. These call features cause the fair values of the affected securities to react differently depending on the inputs used to price these securities.
Derivatives and Hedging
We do not use derivative financial instruments for trading purposes, nor do we engage in leveraged derivative transactions. See Note 1 for a discussion of our accounting policy for derivatives and hedging and for a discussion of changes in accounting for derivative instruments associated with our investments in QSPEs and VIEs.
Derivative Hedges
Until April 2009, we had outstanding cross-currency interest rate swap agreements related to our $450 million senior notes (see Note 7). We had designated the foreign currency component of these cross-currency swaps as a hedge of the foreign currency exposure of our investment in Aflac Japan. The interest rate component of the swaps did not qualify for hedge accounting, therefore the change in fair value of the interest rate component was reflected in net earnings. The notional amounts and terms of the swaps matched the principal amount and terms of the senior notes. We entered into cross-currency swaps to minimize the impact of foreign currency translation on shareholders’ equity and to reduce interest expense by economically converting the dollar-denominated principal and interest on the senior notes we issued into yen-denominated obligations. By entering into these cross-currency swaps, we economically converted our $450 million liability into a 55.6 billion yen liability, and we reduced our interest rate from 6.5% in dollars to 1.67% in yen. The net investment hedge was effective from its inception through the first quarter of 2009. We therefore reported the change in fair value of the foreign currency portion of our cross-currency swaps in other comprehensive income during that period of time. In April 2009, our cross-currency swap agreements expired in conjunction with the maturity of the corresponding senior notes (see Note 7). At the beginning of the second quarter of 2009 and prior to their expiration, we
de-designated these swaps as a hedge of our net investment in Aflac Japan. Upon de-designation and until the swaps expired, we recorded the change in fair value of the foreign currency portion of the cross-currency swaps in net earnings (other income). See further discussion below.
We have interest rate swap agreements on the 20 billion yen variable interest rate Uridashi notes (see Note 7). By entering into these contracts, we have been able to lock in the interest rate at 1.52% in yen. We have designated these interest rate swaps as a hedge of the variability in our interest cash flows associated with the variable interest rate Uridashi notes. The notional amounts and terms of the swaps match the principal amount and terms of the variable interest rate Uridashi notes. The swaps had no value at inception. Changes in the fair value of the swap contracts are recorded in other comprehensive income as long as the hedge is deemed effective. Should any portion of the hedge be deemed ineffective, that value would be reported in net earnings (other income). This hedge was effective during each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009, therefore there was no impact on net earnings.
The components of the fair value of the cross-currency and interest rate swap agreements were reflected as an asset or (liability) in the balance sheet as follows:
The cross-currency swaps expired in April 2009, at which time we settled the foreign exchange liability balance of $106 million for these swaps with the applicable swap counterparties.
The following is a reconciliation of the foreign currency component of the cross-currency swaps included in accumulated other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31.
Because the cross-currency swaps were de-designated as a hedge of the net investment in Aflac Japan for the second quarter of 2009 prior to their expiration, the foreign exchange loss recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income for these swaps remained unchanged from the balance as of March 31, 2009. This unrealized loss of $113 million would need to be reversed out of accumulated other comprehensive income and recognized in earnings if we ever divested of our investment in Aflac Japan. Subsequent to March 31, 2009 and upon expiration of these swaps, the fair value of the foreign currency component of the cross-currency swaps increased by $7 million, therefore we realized this amount as a foreign exchange gain in earnings during the quarter ended June 30, 2009.
The change in fair value of the interest rate swaps, included in accumulated other comprehensive income, was immaterial during each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009.
Our exposure to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to our derivatives as of December 31, 2009, was immaterial.
Nonderivative Hedges
During each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009, we designated our yen-denominated Samurai and Uridashi notes and yen-denominated loans (see Note 7) as nonderivative hedges of the foreign currency exposure of our investment in Aflac Japan.
5. DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS AND INSURANCE EXPENSES
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Insurance Expenses: Consolidated policy acquisition costs deferred were $1.30 billion in 2009, compared with $1.24 billion in 2008 and $1.09 billion in 2007. The following table presents a rollforward of deferred policy acquisition costs by segment for the years ended December 31.
Commissions deferred as a percentage of total acquisition costs deferred were 76% in both 2009 and 2008 and 74% in 2007.
Personnel, compensation and benefit expenses as a percentage of insurance expenses were 43% in both 2009 and 2008 and 44% in 2007. Advertising expense, which is included in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, was as follows for the years ended December 31:
Depreciation and other amortization expenses, which are included in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, were as follows for the years ended December 31:
* Aflac Japan accounted for $46 in 2009, $43 in 2008 and $37 in 2007.
Lease and rental expense, which are included in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, were as follows for the years ended December 31:
6. POLICY LIABILITIES
Policy liabilities primarily include future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, which accounted for 89% and 5% of total policy liabilities at December 31, 2009, respectively. We regularly review the adequacy of our policy liabilities in total and by component. The liability for future policy benefits as of December 31 consisted of the following:
The weighted-average interest rates reflected in the consolidated statements of earnings for future policy benefits for Japanese policies were 4.5% in 2009 and 4.6% in both 2008 and 2007; and for U.S. policies, 6.1% in both 2009 and 2008 and 6.2% in 2007.
Changes in the liability for unpaid policy claims were as follows for the years ended December 31:
The incurred claims development related to prior years reflects favorable development in the unpaid policy claims liability previously provided for. There are no additional or return of premium considerations associated with that development.
7. NOTES PAYABLE
A summary of notes payable as of December 31 follows:
* $400 issuance net of a $4 underwriting discount that is being amortized over the life of the notes
In April 2009, we used internally generated cash flow to pay off our $450 million senior notes upon their maturity. In May 2009, we issued $850 million of senior notes that pay interest semi-annually and have a 10-year maturity. In December 2009, we issued $400 million of senior notes that pay interest
semi-annually and have a 30-year maturity. Each issuance of senior notes in 2009 was done through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes are redeemable at our option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the principal amount of the notes or (ii) the present value of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest to be redeemed, discounted to the redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
In July 2009, the Parent Company executed a 10 billion yen loan (approximately $109 million using the December 31, 2009, exchange rate) at an interest rate of 3.60%. Interest on the loan is payable semiannually, and the loan has a six-year maturity. In August 2009, the Parent Company executed a 5 billion yen loan (approximately $54 million using the December 31, 2009, exchange rate) at an interest rate of 3.00%. Interest on the loan is payable semiannually, and the loan has a six-year maturity.
The Parent Company issued yen-denominated Samurai notes totaling 30 billion yen in June 2007 and 40 billion yen in July 2005. These Samurai notes each have five-year maturities. Each series of Samurai notes pays interest semiannually, may only be redeemed prior to maturity upon the occurrence of a tax event as specified in the respective bond agreement and is not available to U.S. persons.
In September 2006, the Parent Company issued three tranches of Uridashi notes totaling 45 billion yen. The first tranche totaled 15 billion yen and has a five-year maturity. The second tranche totaled 10 billion yen and has a 10-year maturity. The third tranche totaled 20 billion yen and has a five-year maturity and a variable interest coupon of six-month yen LIBOR plus a spread. We have entered into interest rate swaps related to the 20 billion yen variable interest rate notes (see Note 4). Each tranche of Uridashi notes pays interest semiannually, may only be redeemed prior to maturity upon the occurrence of a tax event as specified in the respective bond agreement and is not available to U.S. persons.
During the first six months of 2009, we extinguished portions of our yen-denominated Uridashi and Samurai debt by buying the notes on the open market. We extinguished 2.0 billion yen (par value) of our Uridashi notes due September 2016 at a cost of 1.4 billion yen, yielding a gain of .6 billion yen. We extinguished 3.4 billion yen (par value) of our Samurai notes due June 2012 at a cost of 2.5 billion yen, yielding a gain of .9 billion yen. We extinguished .6 billion yen (par value) of our Samurai notes due July 2010 at a cost of .5 billion yen, yielding a gain of .1 billion yen. Through these transactions, we realized a total gain from extinguishment of debt of 1.6 billion yen, or $17 million ($11 million after-tax), which we included in other income. We did not extinguish any debt during the second half of 2009.
For our yen-denominated loans, the principal amount as stated in dollar terms will fluctuate from period to period due to changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate. We have designated all of our yen-denominated notes payable as a nonderivative hedge of the foreign currency exposure of our investment in Aflac Japan. We have also designated the interest rate swaps on our variable interest rate Uridashi notes as a hedge of the variability in our interest cash flows associated with these notes.
The aggregate contractual maturities of notes payable during each of the years after December 31, 2009, are as follows:
We have no restrictive financial covenants related to our notes payable. We were in compliance with all of the covenants of our notes payable at December 31, 2009. No events of default or defaults occurred during 2009 and 2008.
8. INCOME TAXES
The components of income tax expense (benefit) applicable to pretax earnings for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
Income tax expense in the accompanying statements of earnings varies from the amount computed by applying the expected U.S. tax rate of 35% to pretax earnings. The principal reasons for the differences and the related tax effects for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
Total income tax expense for the years ended December 31 was allocated as follows:
Changes in unrealized foreign currency translation gains/losses included a deferred income tax expense of $14 million in 2009, compared with a deferred income tax benefit of $329 million in 2008 and $55 million in 2007.
The income tax effects of the temporary differences that gave rise to deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 were as follows:
A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be realized. In prior years, we established valuation allowances primarily for alternative minimum tax credit and non-life operating loss carryforwards that exceeded projected future offsets. As of December 31, 2009, no valuation allowances were required. Under U.S. income tax rules, only 35% of non-life operating losses can be offset against life insurance taxable income each year. For current U.S. income tax purposes, there were non-life operating loss carryforwards of $17 million expiring in 2029, and no tax credit carryforwards available at December 31, 2009. The Company has capital loss carryforwards of $537 million available to offset capital gains, of which $7 million expires in 2011, $213 million expires in 2013 and $317 million expires in 2014.
We file federal income tax returns in the United States and Japan as well as state or prefecture income tax returns in various jurisdictions in the two countries. U.S. federal and state income tax returns for years before 2006 are no longer subject to examination. During the year, we settled an examination by the IRS in the U.S. for tax years 2006 and 2007. In Japan, the National Tax Agency (NTA) has completed exams through tax year 2007.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows for the years ended December 31:
* Amounts do not include tax deductions of $6 at December 31, 2009, $20 at December 31, 2008, and $18 at January 1, 2008.
Included in the balance of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2009, are $16 million of tax positions for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain, but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility, compared with $56 million at December 31, 2008. Because of the impact of deferred tax accounting, other than interest and penalties, the disallowance of the shorter deductibility period would not affect the annual effective tax rate, but would accelerate the payment of cash to the taxing authority to an earlier period. The Company has accrued approximately $2 million as of December 31, 2009, for permanent uncertainties, which if reversed would not have a material effect on the annual effective rate.
The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. We recognized approximately $1 million in interest and penalties in 2009, compared with $5 million in 2008 and $3 million in 2007. The Company has accrued approximately $11 million for the payment of interest and penalties as of December 31, 2009, compared with $37 million a year ago.
As of December 31, 2009, there were no material uncertain tax positions for which the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months.
9. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
The following table is a reconciliation of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock for the years ended December 31.
Outstanding share-based awards are excluded from the calculation of weighted-average shares used in the computation of basic earnings per share. The following table presents the approximate number of share-based awards to purchase shares, on a weighted-average basis, that were considered to be anti-dilutive and were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share at December 31:
The weighted-average shares used in calculating earnings per share for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
Share Repurchase Program: During 2009, we did not repurchase shares of our common stock in the open market. In 2008, under share repurchase authorizations from our board of directors, we purchased 23.2 million shares of our common stock, funded with internal capital. The total 23.2 million shares was comprised of 12.5 million shares purchased through an affiliate of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch) and 10.7 million shares purchased through Goldman, Sachs & Co. (GS&Co.).
In the first quarter of 2008, we entered into an agreement for an accelerated share repurchase (ASR) program with Merrill Lynch. Under the agreement, we purchased 12.5 million shares of our outstanding common stock at $60.61 per share for an initial purchase price of $758 million. The shares were acquired as a part of previously announced share repurchase authorizations by our board of directors and are held in treasury. The ASR program was settled during the second quarter of 2008, resulting in a purchase price adjustment of $40 million, or $3.22 per share, paid to Merrill Lynch based upon the volume-weighted average price of our common stock during the ASR program period. The total purchase price for the 12.5 million shares was $798 million, or $63.83 per share.
In the third quarter of 2008, we entered into an agreement for a share repurchase program with Goldman, Sachs & Co. (GS&Co.). Under the agreement, which had an original termination date of February 18, 2009, we paid $825 million to GS&Co. for the repurchase of a variable number of shares of our outstanding common stock over the stated contract period. The repurchase was funded with internal capital. As of September 30, 2008, the $825 million remitted to GS&Co. under the agreement was reflected as a reduction to additional paid-in capital pending receipt of treasury shares purchased in connection with the agreement. On October 2, 2008, due to market conditions, we took early delivery of 10.7 million shares, which we hold in treasury, at a total purchase price of $683 million, or $63.87 per share. We also received unused funds of $142 million from GS&Co.
As of December 31, 2009, a remaining balance of 32.4 million shares of our common stock was available for purchase under share repurchase authorizations by our board of directors. The 32.4 million shares were comprised of 2.4 million shares remaining from a board authorization in 2006 and 30.0 million shares remaining from an authorization by the board of directors for purchase in 2008.
Voting Rights: In accordance with the Parent Company’s articles of incorporation, shares of common stock are generally entitled to one vote per share until they have been held by the same beneficial owner for a continuous period of 48 months, at which time they become entitled to 10 votes per share.
10. SHARE-BASED TRANSACTIONS
As of December 31, 2009, the Company has outstanding share-based awards under two long-term incentive compensation plans.
The first plan, which expired in February 2007, is a stock option plan which allowed grants for incentive stock options (ISOs) to employees and non-qualifying stock options (NQSOs) to employees and non-employee directors. The options have a term of 10 years and generally vest after three years. The strike price of options granted under this plan is equal to the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. Options granted before the plan’s expiration date remain outstanding in accordance with their terms.
The second long-term incentive compensation plan allows awards to Company employees for ISOs, NQSOs, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights. Non-employee directors are eligible for grants of NQSOs, restricted stock, and stock appreciation rights. Generally, the awards vest based upon time-based conditions or time- and performance-based conditions. Performance-based vesting conditions generally include the attainment of goals related to Company financial performance. As of December 31, 2009, approximately 18.0 million shares were available for future grants under this plan, and the only performance-based awards issued and outstanding were restricted stock awards.
Share-based awards granted to U.S.-based grantees are settled with authorized but unissued Company stock, while those issued to Japan-based grantees are settled with treasury shares.
The following table presents the expense recognized in connection with share-based awards for the periods ended December 31.
We estimate the fair value of each stock option granted using the Black-Scholes-Merton multiple option approach. Expected volatility is based on historical periods generally commensurate with the estimated terms of the options. We use historical data to estimate option exercise and termination patterns within the model. Separate groups of employees that have similar historical exercise patterns are stratified and considered separately for valuation purposes. The expected term of options granted is derived from the output of our option model and represents the weighted-average period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. We base the risk-free interest rate on the Treasury note rate with a term comparable to that of the estimated term of the options. The weighted-average fair value of options at their grant date was $8.89 for 2009, compared with $17.21 for 2008 and $16.06 in 2007. The following table presents the assumptions used in valuing options granted during the years ended December 31.
The following table summarizes stock option activity.
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2009.
The aggregate intrinsic value represents the difference between the company’s closing stock price of $46.25 as of December 31, 2009, and the exercise price multiplied by the number of options outstanding or exercisable as of that date. As of December 31, 2009, the aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding was $165 million, with a weighted-average remaining term of 5.3 years. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercisable at that same date was $122 million, with a weighted-average remaining term of 4.2 years.
The following table summarizes stock option activity during the years ended December 31.
The value of restricted stock awards is based on the fair market value of our common stock at the date of grant. The following table summarizes restricted stock activity during the years ended December 31.
As of December 31, 2009, total compensation cost not yet recognized in our financial statements related to restricted stock awards was $18 million, of which $8 million (588 thousand shares) was related to restricted stock awards with a performance-based vesting condition. We expect to recognize these amounts over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.3 years. There are no other contractual terms covering restricted stock awards once vested.
11. STATUTORY ACCOUNTING AND DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS
Our insurance subsidiary is required to report its results of operations and financial position to state insurance regulatory authorities on the basis of statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by such authorities. Aflac’s statutory financial statements are prepared on the basis of accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Nebraska Department of Insurance (NEDOI). The NEDOI recognizes statutory accounting principles and practices prescribed or permitted by the state of Nebraska for determining and reporting the financial condition and results of operations of an insurance company, and for determining a company’s solvency under Nebraska insurance law. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, (SAP) has been adopted by the state of Nebraska as a component of those prescribed or permitted practices. Additionally, the Director of the NEDOI has the right to permit other specific practices which deviate from prescribed practices. Aflac has been given explicit permission by the Director of the NEDOI for three such permitted practices. These permitted practices, which do not impact the calculation of net income on a statutory basis or prevent the triggering of a regulatory event in the Company’s risk-based capital calculation, are as follows:
-
Aflac has reported as admitted assets the refundable lease deposits on the leases of commercial office space which house Aflac Japan’s sales operations. These lease deposits are unique and part of the ordinary course of doing business in the country of Japan; these assets would be non-admitted under SAP.
-
Aflac utilizes book value accounting for certain guaranteed separate account funding agreements instead of fair value accounting as required by SAP. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, the underlying separate account assets had unrealized losses of $98 million and $150 million, respectively.
-
In 2009, Aflac was granted permission to utilize the services of two Japanese rating agencies - Rating and Investment Information, Incorporated (R&I) and Japan Credit Rating Agency, Limited (JCR) - for rating Aflac’s investment holdings in Tohoku Electric Power Company Incorporated (Tohoku). The securities issued by Tohoku are no longer rated by an NAIC Acceptable Rating Organization (ARO), causing NAIC rating downgrades only due to lack of coverage by these organizations. For 2009, there was no impact on surplus due to unrealized losses for this permitted practice as the fair value of these investments exceeds book/adjusted carrying value. There was also no impact on surplus from the calculation of the Asset Valuation Reserve (AVR) on these investments due to the large amount of realized capital losses already in the calculation.
A reconciliation of the Company’s capital and surplus between SAP and practices permitted by the state of Nebraska is shown below:
As determined on a U.S. statutory accounting basis, Aflac’s net income was $1.4 billion in 2009, $1.2 billion in 2008 and $1.8 billion in 2007. Capital and surplus was $5.8 billion at December 31, 2009 and $4.6 billion at December 31, 2008.
Net assets of the insurance subsidiaries aggregated $10.1 billion at December 31, 2009, on a GAAP basis, compared with $8.0 billion a year ago. Aflac Japan accounted for $6.7 billion, or 66.7%, of net assets at December 31, 2009, compared with $5.9 billion, or 73.7%, at December 31, 2008.
Reconciliations of Aflac’s net assets on a GAAP basis to capital and surplus determined on a Nebraska statutory accounting basis as of December 31 were as follows:
Aflac Japan must report its results of operations and financial position to the Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA) on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis as prescribed by the FSA. Capital and surplus (unaudited) of Aflac Japan, based on Japanese regulatory accounting practices, aggregated $1.9 billion at December 31, 2009, and $2.0 billion at December 31, 2008. Japanese regulatory accounting practices differ in many respects from U.S. GAAP. Under Japanese regulatory accounting practices, policy acquisition costs are charged off immediately; deferred income tax liabilities are recognized on a different basis; policy benefit and claim reserving methods and assumptions are different; the carrying value of securities transferred to held to maturity is different; policyholder protection corporation obligations are not accrued; and premium income is recognized on a cash basis.
The Parent Company depends on its subsidiaries for cash flow, primarily in the form of dividends and management fees. Consolidated retained earnings in the accompanying financial statements largely represent the undistributed earnings of our insurance subsidiary. Amounts available for dividends, management fees and other payments to the Parent Company by its insurance subsidiary may fluctuate due to different accounting methods required by regulatory authorities. These payments are also subject to various regulatory restrictions and approvals related to safeguarding the interests of insurance policyholders. Our insurance subsidiary must maintain adequate risk-based capital for U.S. regulatory authorities and our Japan branch must maintain adequate solvency margins for Japanese regulatory authorities. Additionally, the maximum amount of dividends that can be paid to the Parent Company by Aflac without prior approval of Nebraska’s director of insurance is the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. Dividends declared by Aflac during 2010 in excess of $1.4 billion would require such approval. Dividends declared by Aflac during 2009 were $464 million.
A portion of Aflac Japan earnings, as determined on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis, can be repatriated each year to Aflac U.S. after complying with solvency margin provisions and satisfying various conditions imposed by Japanese regulatory authorities for protecting policyholders. Profit repatriations to the United States can fluctuate due to changes in the amounts of Japanese regulatory earnings. Among other items, factors affecting regulatory earnings include Japanese regulatory accounting practices and fluctuations in currency translation of Aflac Japan’s dollar-denominated investments and related investment income into yen. Profits repatriated by Aflac Japan to Aflac U.S. were as follows for the years ended December 31:
12. BENEFIT PLANS
Our basic employee defined-benefit pension plans cover substantially all of our full-time employees in the United States and Japan.
Reconciliations of the funded status of the basic employee defined-benefit pension plans with amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31 were as follows:
At December 31, 2009, other liabilities included a liability for both plans in the amount of $133 million, compared with $148 million a year ago. In December 2008, we pre-funded $10 million to the U.S. plan that we had originally planned to contribute in 2009. We accelerated the timing of this contribution to improve the funded status of the plan in light of the effect that market volatility had on plan asset fair values. We plan to make contributions of $18 million to the Japanese plan and $20 million to the U.S. plan in 2010.
The following table summarizes the amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31.
The following table summarizes the amounts recognized in other comprehensive loss (income) for the years ended December 31.
No prior service costs or credits or transition obligations arose during 2009, and the amounts of prior service costs and credits and transition obligations amortized to expense were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007. Amortization of actuarial losses to expense in 2010 is estimated to be $2 million for the Japanese plan and $5 million for the U.S. plan, while the amortization of prior service costs and credits and transition obligation are expected to be negligible.
The components of retirement expense and actuarial assumptions for the Japanese and U.S. pension plans for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
In Japan, participant salary and future salary increases are not factors in determining pension benefit cost or the related pension benefit obligation.
We base our assumption for the long-term rate of return on assets on historical trends (10-year historical rates of return for the Japanese plan assets and 15-year historical rates of return for the U.S. plan assets), expected future market movement, as well as the portfolio mix of securities in the asset portfolio including, but not limited to, style, class and equity and fixed income allocations. In addition, our consulting actuaries evaluate our assumptions for long-term rate of returns under Actuarial Standards of Practice (ASOP). Under the ASOP, the actual portfolio type, mix and class is modeled to determine a range of long-term rates of return. We in turn use those results to further validate our own assumptions.
The investment objective of our Japanese and U.S. plans is to preserve the purchasing power of the plan’s assets and earn a reasonable inflation-adjusted rate of return over the long term. Furthermore, we seek to accomplish these objectives in a manner that allows for the adequate funding of plan benefits and
expenses. In order to achieve these objectives, our goal is to maintain a conservative, well-diversified and balanced portfolio of high-quality equity, fixed-income and money market securities. As a part of our strategy, we have established strict policies covering quality, type and concentration of investment securities. For our Japanese plan, these policies include limitations on investments in derivatives including futures, options and swaps, and low-liquidity investments such as real estate, venture capital investments, and privately issued securities. For our U.S. plan, these policies prohibit investments in precious metals, limited partnerships, venture capital, and direct investments in real estate. We are also prohibited from trading on margin.
Target asset allocations for Japanese plan assets are 7% domestic equity securities, 19% international equity securities, 59% fixed-income securities and 15% other investments. Target asset allocations for U.S. plan assets are 43% domestic equity securities, 22% international equity securities and 35% fixed-income securities.
The composition of plan assets as of December 31 was as follows:
The Japanese pension plan assets totaling $114 million at fair value as of December 31, 2009, are all categorized as Level 2 because their fair values are based on quoted prices for similar assets in markets that are not active, other inputs that are observable, such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, and default rates, or other market-corroborated inputs.
Equity securities held by our U.S. plan included approximately $3 million (2% of plan assets) of Aflac Incorporated common stock at December 31, 2009, and 2008. The U.S. pension plan assets, with the exception of the Aflac Incorporated common stock, were converted to $168 million in cash as of January 6, 2010, due to a change in pension asset investment managers. The cash was invested in securities subsequent to the change in investment manager. The common stock was classified as Level 1 at December 31, 2009, since its fair value is based on quoted market prices for identical securities traded in active markets that are readily and regularly available to us.
Expected future benefit payments for the Japanese and U.S. plans are as follows:
In addition to the benefit obligations for funded employee plans, we also maintain unfunded supplemental retirement plans for certain officers and beneficiaries. Retirement expense for these unfunded supplemental plans was $23 million in 2009, $11 million in 2008 and $5 million in 2007. The accrued retirement liability for the unfunded supplemental retirement plans was $224 million at December 31, 2009, compared with $217 million a year ago. The assumptions used in the valuation of these plans were the same as for the funded plans.
Stock Bonus Plan: Aflac U.S. maintains a stock bonus plan for eligible U.S. sales associates. Plan participants receive shares of Aflac Incorporated common stock based on their new annualized premium sales and their first-year persistency of substantially all new insurance policies. The cost of this plan, which is included in deferred policy acquisition costs, amounted to $40 million in 2009, $46 million in 2008 and $45 million in 2007.
13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
We have three outsourcing agreements with IBM. The first agreement provides mainframe computer operations and support for Aflac Japan. It has a remaining term of six years and an aggregate remaining cost of 17.3 billion yen ($188 million using the December 31, 2009, exchange rate). The second agreement provides distributed computer mid-range server operations and support for Aflac Japan. It has a remaining term of six years and an aggregate remaining cost of 20.4 billion yen ($222 million using the December 31, 2009, exchange rate). The third agreement provides application maintenance and development services for Aflac Japan. It has a remaining term of three years and an aggregate remaining cost of 4.9 billion yen ($53 million using the December 31, 2009, exchange rate).
We have an outsourcing agreement with Accenture to provide application maintenance and development services for our Japanese operation. The agreement has a remaining term of five years with an aggregate remaining cost of 4.9 billion yen ($53 million using the December 31, 2009, exchange rate).
We lease office space and equipment under agreements that expire in various years through 2019. Future minimum lease payments due under non-cancelable operating leases at December 31, 2009, were as follows:
In a strategic marketing effort to continue to reach business decision makers and the large and loyal NASCAR fan base to grow our U.S. business, we entered into an agreement with Roush Fenway for the primary sponsorship of racing driver Carl Edwards for the years 2009 through 2011. As of December 31, 2009, the remaining cost of the marketing agreement was $51 million, however contracts with co-sponsors during the remaining term of this agreement will reduce our total cost.
We are a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. Members of our senior legal and financial management teams review litigation on a quarterly and annual basis. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, we believe the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
14. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
We evaluated events that occurred subsequent to December 31, 2009, for recognition or disclosure in our financial statements and notes to our financial statements.
Unaudited Consolidated Quarterly Financial Data
In management’s opinion, the following quarterly financial information fairly presents the results of operations for such periods and is prepared on a basis consistent with our annual audited financial statements.
Quarterly amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding annual amounts due to rounding.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
There have been no changes in, or disagreements with, accountants on accounting and financial disclosure matters during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
(a) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is incorporated herein by reference from Part II, Item 8 of this report.
(b) Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is incorporated herein by reference from Part II, Item 8 of this report.
(c) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the last fiscal quarter of 2009 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
PART III
Pursuant to General Instruction G to Form 10-K, Items 10 through 14 are incorporated by reference from the Company’s definitive Notice and Proxy Statement relating to the Company’s 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about March 19, 2010, pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee Report and Compensation Committee Report to be included in such proxy statement shall be deemed to be furnished in this report and shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 as a result of such furnishing in Items 11 and 12, respectively.
Refer to the Information Contained in the
Proxy Statement under Captions
(filed electronically)
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Executive Officers - see Part I, Item 4 herein
1. Election of Directors; Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance; The Audit Committee; Audit Committee Report; The Corporate Governance Committee; and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Director Compensation; The Compensation Committee; Compensation Committee Report; Compensation Discussion and Analysis; 2009 Summary Compensation Table; 2009 Grants of Plan-Based Awards; 2009 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End; 2009 Option Exercises and Stock Vested; Pension Benefits; Nonqualified Deferred Compensation; Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-In-Control; and Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Voting Securities; Principal Shareholders; 1. Election of Directors; Security Ownership of Management; and Equity Compensation Plan Information
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Related Person Transactions; and Director Independence
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
3. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm; and The Audit Committee
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Page(s)
(a) 1.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Included in Part II, Item 8, of this report:
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Statements of Earnings for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2009 and 2008
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31,
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31,
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Unaudited Consolidated Quarterly Financial Data
2.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Included in Part IV of this report:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Financial Statement Schedules
Schedule II -
Condensed Financial Information of Registrant as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009
Schedule III -
Supplementary Insurance Information as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31,
Schedule IV -
Reinsurance for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009
3.
EXHIBIT INDEX
An “Exhibit Index” has been filed as part of this Report beginning on the following page and is incorporated herein by this reference.
Schedules other than those listed above are omitted because they are not required, are not material, are not applicable, or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.
In reviewing the agreements included as exhibits to this annual report, please remember they are included to provide you with information regarding their terms and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about the Company 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:
-
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;
-
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;
-
may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material to you or other investors; and
-
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.
(b) EXHIBIT INDEX:
3.0
-
Articles of Incorporation, as amended - incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for June 30, 2008, Exhibit 3.0 (File No. 001-07434).
3.1
-
Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended - incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 3.1 (File No. 001-07434).
4.1
-
Indenture, dated as of May 21, 2009, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated May 21, 2009, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).
4.2
-
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 21, 2009, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including form of 8.500% Senior Note due 2019) - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated May 21, 2009, Exhibit 4.2 (File No. 001-07434).
4.3
-
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2009, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including form of 6.900% Senior Note due 2039) - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated December 14, 2009, Exhibit 4.1 (File No. 001-07434).
10.0
-
American Family Corporation Retirement Plan for Senior Officers, as amended and restated October 1, 1989 - incorporated by reference from 1993 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).
10.1
-
Amendment to American Family Corporation Retirement Plan for Senior Officers, dated December 8, 2008 - incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).
10.2
-
Aflac Incorporated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended and restated January 1, 2009 - incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.5 (File No. 001-07434).
10.3
-
Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated, effective January 1, 2009 - incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.9 (File No. 001-07434).
10.4
-
First Amendment to the Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated June 1, 2009 - incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for June 30, 2009, Exhibit 10.4 (File No. 001-07434).
10.5
-
Aflac Incorporated Amended and Restated 2009 Management Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from the 2008 Shareholders’ Proxy Statement, Appendix B (File No. 001-07434).
10.6
-
First Amendment to the Aflac Incorporated Amended and Restated 2009 Management Incentive Plan, dated December 19, 2008 - incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.11 (File No. 001-07434).
10.7
-
Aflac Incorporated Sales Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from 2007 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.8 (File No. 001-07434).
10.8
-
1999 Aflac Associate Stock Bonus Plan, as amended, dated February 11, 2003 - incorporated by reference from 2002 Form 10-K, Exhibit 99.2 (File No. 001-07434).
10.9
-
Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan - incorporated by reference from the 1997 Shareholders’ Proxy Statement, Appendix B (File No. 001-07434).
10.10
-
Form of Officer Stock Option Agreement (Non-Qualifying Stock Option) under the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.5 (File No. 001-07434).
10.11
-
Form of Officer Stock Option Agreement (Incentive Stock Option) under the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.6 (File No. 001-07434).
10.12
-
Notice of grant of stock options and stock option agreement to officers under the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.7 (File No. 001-07434).
10.13
-
2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, dated May 3, 2004 - incorporated by reference from the 2004 Notice and Proxy Statement, Exhibit B (File No. 001-07434).
10.14
-
First Amendment to the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, dated May 2, 2005 - incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2005, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).
10.15
-
Second Amendment to the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, dated February 14, 2006 - incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2006, Exhibit 10.32 (File No. 001-07434).
10.16
-
Third Amendment to the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, dated December 19, 2008 - incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.21 (File No. 001-07434).
10.17
-
Form of Non-Employee Director Stock Option Agreement (NQSO) under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).
10.18
-
Notice of grant of stock options to non-employee director under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).
10.19
-
Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.3 (File No. 001-07434).
10.20
-
Notice of restricted stock award to non-employee director under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.4 (File No. 001-07434).
10.21
-
Form of Officer Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).
10.22
-
Notice of restricted stock award to officers under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).
10.23
-
Form of Officer Stock Option Agreement (Non-Qualifying Stock Option) under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.3 (File No. 001-07434).
10.24
-
Form of Officer Stock Option Agreement (Incentive Stock Option) under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.4 (File No. 001-07434).
10.25
-
Notice of grant of stock options to officers under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.5 (File No. 001-07434).
10.26
-
Aflac Incorporated Retirement Plan for Directors Emeritus, as amended and restated, dated February 9, 2010.
10.27
-
Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Daniel P. Amos, dated August 1, 1993 - incorporated by reference from 1993 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.4 (File No. 001-07434).
10.28
-
Amendment to Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Daniel P. Amos, dated December 8, 2008 - incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.32 (File No. 001-07434).
10.29
-
Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Kriss Cloninger III, dated February 14, 1992, and as amended November 12, 1993 - incorporated by reference from 1993 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.6 (File No. 001-07434).
10.30
-
Amendment to Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Kriss Cloninger III, dated November 3, 2008 - incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.34 (File No. 001-07434).
10.31
-
Amendment to Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Kriss Cloninger III, dated December 19, 2008 - incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.35 (File No. 001-07434).
10.32
-
Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Paul S. Amos II, dated January 1, 2005 - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).
10.33
-
Amendment to Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Paul S. Amos II, dated December 19, 2008 - incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.39 (File No. 001-07434).
10.34
-
Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Joey Loudermilk, dated September 12, 1994 and as amended December 10, 2008 - incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.40 (File No. 001-07434).
10.35
-
Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Tohru Tonoike, effective February 1, 2007 - incorporated by reference from 2008 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.41 (File No. 001-07434).
10.36
-
Amendment to Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Tohru Tonoike, dated February 9, 2010.
10.37
-
Aflac Retirement Agreement with E. Stephen Purdom, dated February 15, 2000 - incorporated by reference from 2000 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.13 (File No. 001-07434).
-
Statement regarding the computation of per-share earnings for the Registrant.
-
Statement regarding the computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the Registrant.
-
Subsidiaries.
-
Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement Nos. 333-135324 and 333-158969 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan.
-
Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-27883 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan.
-
Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement Nos. 333-135327 and 333-161269 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.
-
Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-115105 with respect to the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan.
-
Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-155678 with respect to the AFL Stock Plan.
-
Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-159111 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated shelf registration statement.
31.1
-
Certification of CEO dated February 26, 2010, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
31.2
-
Certification of CFO dated February 26, 2010, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
-
Certification of CEO and CFO dated February 26, 2010, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS
-
XBRL Instance Document. [1]
101.SCH
-
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.
101.CAL
-
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.
101.LAB
-
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.
101.PRE
-
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.
101.DEF
-
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.
[1]
Includes the following materials contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) (i) Consolidated Statements of Earnings, (ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (v) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which is tagged as blocks of text.
(c) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Report on Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Financial Statement Schedules
The shareholders and board of directors of Aflac Incorporated:
Under date of February 26, 2010, we reported on the consolidated balance sheets of Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2009, and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity, cash flows, and comprehensive income for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009, which are included herein. In connection with our audits of the aforementioned consolidated financial statements, we also audited the related financial statement schedules as listed in Item 15. These financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statement schedules based on our audits.
In our opinion, such financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of evaluating other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities due to the adoption of new accounting requirements issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, effective January 1, 2009.
Atlanta, Georgia
February 26,
SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Condensed Statements of Earnings
* Eliminated in consolidation
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Condensed Balance Sheets
* Eliminated in consolidation
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
* Eliminated in consolidation
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
The accompanying condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries included in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
(A) Notes Payable
A summary of notes payable as of December 31 follows:
* $400 issuance net of a $4 underwriting discount that is being amortized over the life of the notes
During 2009, Aflac Japan bought on the open market 6.0 billion yen of yen-denominated Uridashi and Samurai notes issued by the Parent Company. In consolidation, theses notes have been extinguished; however, they remain an outstanding liability for the Parent Company and are therefore included in notes payable in the Parent Company financial statements.
The aggregate contractual maturities of notes payable during each of the years after December 31, 2009, are as follows:
For further information regarding notes payable, see Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(B) Derivatives
We do not use derivatives for trading purposes, nor do we engage in leveraged derivative transactions. At December 31, 2009, the Parent Company’s only outstanding stand-alone derivative
contracts were interest rate swaps related to its 20 billion yen variable interest rate Uridashi notes. For further information regarding these derivatives, see Notes 1, 4 and 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. From time to time, we purchase certain investments that contain an embedded derivative. We assess whether this embedded derivative is clearly and closely related to the asset that serves as its host contract. If we deem that the embedded derivative’s terms are not clearly and closely related to the host contract, and a separate instrument with the same terms would qualify as a derivative instrument, the derivative is separated from that contract and held at fair value on the consolidated statements of financial position, with changes in fair value reported in net income.
(C) Income Taxes
The Parent Company and its eligible U.S. subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. Income tax liabilities or benefits are recorded by each principal subsidiary based upon separate return calculations, and any difference between the consolidated provision and the aggregate amounts recorded by the subsidiaries is reflected in the Parent Company financial statements. As of December 31, 2009, the Parent Company was due $12 million from its subsidiary. For further information on income taxes, see Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(D) Dividend Restrictions
See Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding dividend restrictions.
(E) Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
SCHEDULE III
SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Years ended December 31,
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Segment amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding consolidated amounts due to rounding.
Years Ended December 31,
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Segment amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding consolidated amounts due to rounding.
SCHEDULE IV
REINSURANCE
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Years Ended December 31,
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Premiums by type may not agree in total to the corresponding consolidated amounts due to rounding.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
Aflac Incorporated
By:
/s/ Daniel P. Amos
(Daniel P. Amos)
Chief Executive Officer,
Chairman of the Board of Directors
February 26,
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Daniel P. Amos
(Daniel P. Amos)
Chief Executive Officer,
Chairman of the Board of Directors
February 26, 2010
/s/ Kriss Cloninger III
(Kriss Cloninger III)
President, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ Ralph A. Rogers, Jr.
(Ralph A. Rogers, Jr.)
Senior Vice President, Financial Services; Chief Accounting Officer
February 26, 2010
/s/ J. Shelby Amos II
(J. Shelby Amos II)
Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ Paul S. Amos II
(Paul S. Amos II)
Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ Yoshiro Aoki
(Yoshiro Aoki)
Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ Michael H. Armacost
(Michael H. Armacost)
Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ Joe Frank Harris
(Joe Frank Harris)
Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ Elizabeth J. Hudson
(Elizabeth J. Hudson)
Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ Kenneth S. Janke Sr.
(Kenneth S. Janke Sr.)
Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ Douglas W. Johnson
(Douglas W. Johnson)
Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ Robert B. Johnson
(Robert B. Johnson)
Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ Charles B. Knapp
(Charles B. Knapp)
Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ E. Stephen Purdom
(E. Stephen Purdom)
Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ Barbara K. Rimer
(Barbara K. Rimer)
Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ Marvin R. Schuster
(Marvin R. Schuster)
Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ David G. Thompson
(David G. Thompson)
Director
February 26, 2010
/s/ Robert L. Wright
(Robert L. Wright)
Director
February 26, 2010