d10-q.htm





 


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                           
 
FORM 10-Q
                                          
 
 
(Mark One)
x
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012
 OR

¨
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the transition period from              to             
 
Commission File Number:  1-6028
 
                                          
 
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
                                          
 
   
               Indiana                
35-1140070
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
   
150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite A305, Radnor, Pennsylvania
19087
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
 
(484) 583-1400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)
 
                                          
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x    No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x    No ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

Large accelerated filer x   Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ¨ No x
 
As of April 30, 2012, there were 285,414,653 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

 

       
 
 

 
Lincoln National Corporation
 
Table of Contents

Item
       
Page          
 
PART I
 
 
1.
Financial Statements
1
 
       
2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
40
 
   
Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language
40
 
   
Introduction
41
 
   
    Executive Summary
41
 
   
    Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
42
 
   
    Acquisitions and Dispositions
44
 
   
Results of Consolidated Operations
45
 
   
Results of Annuities
46
 
   
Results of Retirement Plan Services
51
 
   
Results of Life Insurance
57
 
   
Results of Group Protection
64
 
   
Results of Other Operations
67
 
   
Realized Gain (Loss) and Benefit Ratio Unlocking
69
 
   
Consolidated Investments
71
 
   
Review of Consolidated Financial Condition
85
 
   
    Liquidity and Capital Resources
85
 
   
Other Matters
88
 
   
    Other Factors Affecting Our Business
88
 
   
    Recent Accounting Pronouncements
88
 
     
3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
88
 
       
4.
Controls and Procedures
91          
 
       
PART II
 
 
       
1.
Legal Proceedings
92
 
       
2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
92
 
       
6.
Exhibits
92
 
       
 
Signatures
93
 
       
 
Exhibit Index for the Report on Form 10-Q
         E-1
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions, except share data)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of
 
 
As of
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2012 
 
 
2011 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity securities (amortized cost: 2012 - $69,889; 2011 - $68,988)
 
$
 76,254 
 
 
$
 75,433 
 
 
 
Variable interest entities' fixed maturity securities (amortized cost: 2012 - $674; 2011 - $673)
 
 
 702 
 
 
 
 700 
 
 
 
Equity securities (cost: 2012 - $114; 2011 - $135)
 
 
 126 
 
 
 
 139 
 
 
Trading securities
 
 
 2,650 
 
 
 
 2,675 
 
 
Mortgage loans on real estate
 
 
 6,938 
 
 
 
 6,942 
 
 
Real estate
 
 
 113 
 
 
 
 137 
 
 
Policy loans
 
 
 2,842 
 
 
 
 2,884 
 
 
Derivative investments
 
 
 2,244 
 
 
 
 3,151 
 
 
Other investments
 
 
 1,043 
 
 
 
 1,069 
 
 
 
 
Total investments
 
 
 92,912 
 
 
 
 93,130 
 
Cash and invested cash
 
 
 3,516 
 
 
 
 4,510 
 
Deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired
 
 
 6,880 
 
 
 
 6,776 
 
Premiums and fees receivable
 
 
 437 
 
 
 
 408 
 
Accrued investment income
 
 
 1,026 
 
 
 
 981 
 
Reinsurance recoverables
 
 
 6,534 
 
 
 
 6,526 
 
Funds withheld reinsurance assets
 
 
 866 
 
 
 
 874 
 
Goodwill
 
 
 2,273 
 
 
 
 2,273 
 
Other assets
 
 
 2,486 
 
 
 
 2,536 
 
Separate account assets
 
 
 91,088 
 
 
 
 83,477 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
 
$
 208,018 
 
 
$
 201,491 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Future contract benefits
 
$
 18,784 
 
 
$
 19,813 
 
Other contract holder funds
 
 
 70,027 
 
 
 
 69,466 
 
Short-term debt
 
 
 300 
 
 
 
 300 
 
Long-term debt
 
 
 5,606 
 
 
 
 5,391 
 
Reinsurance related embedded derivatives
 
 
 158 
 
 
 
 168 
 
Funds withheld reinsurance liabilities
 
 
 1,043 
 
 
 
 1,045 
 
Deferred gain on business sold through reinsurance
 
 
 375 
 
 
 
 394 
 
Payables for collateral on investments
 
 
 2,875 
 
 
 
 3,733 
 
Variable interest entities' liabilities
 
 
 149 
 
 
 
 193 
 
Other liabilities
 
 
 4,352 
 
 
 
 4,273 
 
Separate account liabilities
 
 
 91,088 
 
 
 
 83,477 
 
 
 
 
 
Total liabilities
 
 
 194,757 
 
 
 
 188,253 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingencies and Commitments (See Note 8)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock - 10,000,000 shares authorized; Series A - 9,632 and 10,072 shares
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, respectively
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 - 
 
Common stock - 800,000,000 shares authorized; 285,412,303 and 291,319,222 shares
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, respectively
 
 
 7,448 
 
 
 
 7,590 
 
Retained earnings
 
 
 3,191 
 
 
 
 2,969 
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
 
 2,622 
 
 
 
 2,679 
 
 
 
 
 
Total stockholders' equity
 
 
 13,261 
 
 
 
 13,238 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
 208,018 
 
 
$
 201,491 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 

 
1

 
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited, in millions, except per share data)
 
 

 
 
For the Three
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Insurance premiums
  $ 589   $ 568  
Insurance fees
    907     818  
Net investment income
    1,166     1,191  
Realized gain (loss):
             
     Total other-than-temporary impairment losses on securities
    (97 )   (44 )
     Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income
    50     3  
          Net other-than-temporary impairment losses on securities
             
               recognized in earnings
    (47 )   (41 )
          Realized gain (loss), excluding other-than-temporary
             
               impairment losses on securities
    (38 )   43  
                    Total realized gain (loss)
    (85 )   2  
Amortization of deferred gain on business sold through reinsurance
    19     19  
Other revenues and fees
    118     120  
          Total revenues
    2,714     2,718  
Benefits and Expenses
             
Interest credited
    625     614  
Benefits
    858     835  
Underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses
    856     768  
Interest and debt expense
    68     72  
     Total benefits and expenses
    2,407     2,289  
          Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes
    307     429  
          Federal income tax expense (benefit)
    61     115  
               Income (loss) from continuing operations
    246     314  
               Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of federal
             
                    income taxes
    (1 )   -  
                         Net income (loss)
    245     314  
                         Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
    (57 )   22  
                              Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 188   $ 336  
 
             
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share - Basic
             
Income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 0.85   $ 1.00  
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
    -     -  
     Net income (loss)
  $ 0.85   $ 1.00  
 
             
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share - Diluted
             
Income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 0.83   $ 0.97  
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
    -     -  
     Net income (loss)
  $ 0.83   $ 0.97  

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 

 
2

 
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited, in millions, except per share data)
 
 

 
 
For the Three
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Common Stock
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of beginning-of-year
  $ 7,590   $ 8,124  
Stock compensation/issued for benefit plans
    8     2  
Retirement of common stock/cancellation of shares
    (150 )   (62 )
     Balance as of end-of-period
    7,448     8,064  
 
             
Retained Earnings
             
Balance as of beginning-of-year
    2,969     3,933  
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards
    -     (1,095 )
Net income (loss)
    245     314  
Retirement of common stock
    -     (13 )
Dividends declared:  Common (2012 - $0.080; 2011 - $0.050)
    (23 )   (17 )
     Balance as of end-of-period
    3,191     3,122  
 
             
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
             
Balance as of beginning-of-year
    2,679     748  
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards
    -     103  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
    (57 )   22  
     Balance as of end-of-period
    2,622     873  
          Total stockholders' equity as of end-of-period
  $ 13,261   $ 12,059  

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 

 
3

 

 
 
For the Three
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
  $ 245   $ 314  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
             
     Deferred acquisition costs, value of business acquired, deferred sales inducements
             
          and deferred front-end loads deferrals and interest, net of amortization
    (44 )   (31 )
     Trading securities purchases, sales and maturities, net
    15     5  
     Change in premiums and fees receivable
    (29 )   (66 )
     Change in accrued investment income
    (45 )   (56 )
     Change in future contract benefits and other contract holder funds
    (144 )   124  
     Change in reinsurance related assets and liabilities
    (2 )   (67 )
     Change in federal income tax accruals
    185     131  
     Realized (gain) loss
    85     (2 )
     Amortization of deferred gain on business sold through reinsurance
    (19 )   (19 )
     (Gain) loss on disposal of discontinued operations
    1     -  
     Other
    34     7  
          Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    282     340  
 
             
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
             
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
    (2,497 )   (3,111 )
Sales of available-for-sale securities
    185     556  
Maturities of available-for-sale securities
    1,341     1,431  
Purchases of other investments
    (830 )   (855 )
Sales or maturities of other investments
    780     740  
Increase (decrease) in payables for collateral on investments
    (858 )   (105 )
Other
    (34 )   (23 )
          Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    (1,913 )   (1,367 )
 
             
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
             
Issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs
    298     -  
Deposits of fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable
    2,391     2,570  
Withdrawals of fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable
    (1,320 )   (1,200 )
Transfers to and from separate accounts, net
    (556 )   (772 )
Common stock issued for benefit plans and excess tax benefits
    (3 )   (5 )
Repurchase of common stock
    (150 )   (75 )
Dividends paid to common and preferred stockholders
    (23 )   (16 )
          Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    637     502  
 
             
Net increase (decrease) in cash and invested cash, including discontinued operations
    (994 )   (525 )
Cash and invested cash, including discontinued operations, as of beginning-of-year
    4,510     2,741  
     Cash and invested cash, including discontinued operations, as of end-of-period
  $ 3,516   $ 2,216  

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 

 
4

 
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
 

1.  Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

Nature of Operations

Lincoln National Corporation and its majority-owned subsidiaries (“LNC” or the “Company,” which also may be referred to as “we,” “our” or “us”) operate multiple insurance businesses through four business segments.  See Note 13 for additional details.  The collective group of businesses uses “Lincoln Financial Group” as its marketing identity.  Through our business segments, we sell a wide range of wealth protection, accumulation and retirement income products.  These products include institutional and/or retail fixed and indexed annuities, variable annuities, universal life insurance (“UL”), variable universal life insurance (“VUL”), linked-benefit UL, term life insurance, mutual funds and group life, disability and dental.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with United States of America generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions for the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.  Therefore, the information contained in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (“2011 Form 10-K”), should be read in connection with the reading of these interim unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Certain GAAP policies, which significantly affect the determination of financial position, results of operations and cash flows, are summarized in our 2011 Form 10-K.

In the opinion of management, these statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s results.  Operating results for the three month period ended March 31, 2012, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2012.  All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

See Note 2 “Financial Services – Insurance Industry Topic” below for information about the retrospective restatement of amounts due to the adoption of new accounting guidance.  In addition, certain amounts reported in prior years’ consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in the current year.  These reclassifications had no effect on net income or stockholders’ equity of the prior years.

2.  New Accounting Standards

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Comprehensive Income Topic

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income” (“ASU 2011-05”), with an objective of increasing the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income (“OCI”); however, in December 2011, the FASB deferred a portion of the presentation requirements by issuing ASU No. 2011-12, “Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05” (“ASU 2011- 12”).  For a more detailed description of ASU 2011-05 and ASU 2011-12, see “Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards – Comprehensive Income Topic” in Note 2 of our 2011 Form 10-K.  We adopted the provisions of ASU 2011-05 as of January 1, 2012, after considering the deferral in ASU 2011-12, and have included a single continuous statement of comprehensive income in Item 1 of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012.

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards” (“ASU 2011-04”), which was issued to create a consistent framework for the application of fair value measurement across jurisdictions. For a more detailed description of ASU 2011-04 see “Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards – Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic” in Note 2 of our 2011 Form 10-K.  We adopted the provisions of ASU 2011-04 effective January 1, 2012, and have included the additional disclosures required for fair value measurements in Note 12 for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012.

 
5

 


Financial Services – Insurance Industry Topic

In October 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-26, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts” (“ASU 2010-26”), which clarifies the types of costs incurred by an insurance entity that can be capitalized in the acquisition of insurance contracts.  Only those costs incurred that result directly from and are essential to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts may be capitalized as deferrable acquisition costs.  The determination of deferability must be made on a contract-level basis.

Prior to the adoption of ASU 2010-26, we defined deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) as commissions and other costs of acquiring UL insurance, VUL insurance, traditional life insurance, annuities and other investments contracts that vary with and are related primarily to new or renewal business, regardless of whether the acquisition efforts were successful or unsuccessful.  Upon the adoption of ASU 2010-26, we revised our accounting policy to only defer acquisition costs directly related to successful contract acquisitions or renewals, and excluded from DAC those costs incurred for soliciting potential customers, market research, training, administration, management of distribution and underwriting functions, unsuccessful acquisition or renewal efforts and product development.  In addition, indirect acquisition costs including administrative costs, rent, depreciation, occupancy costs, equipment costs and other general overhead are excluded from DAC.  The costs that are considered non-deferrable acquisition costs under ASU 2010-26 are expensed in the period incurred.
 
 
We adopted the provisions of ASU 2010-26 as of January 1, 2012, and elected to retrospectively restate all prior periods.  The following summarizes the prior period increases (decreases) (in millions) reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity related to the adoption:

 
 
As of December 31,
 
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred acquisition costs
  $ (1,415 ) $ (1,516 )
 
             
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
             
Other liabilities - deferred income taxes
  $ (490 ) $ (524 )
 
             
Stockholders' equity:
             
     Retained earnings
    (1,157 )   (1,095 )
     Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    232     103  
          Total stockholders' equity
    (925 )   (992 )
               Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ (1,415 ) $ (1,516 )

The following summarizes the prior period increases (decreases) to income from continuing operations and earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) (in millions, except per share data) reflected in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2011, related to the adoption:

Revenues
 
 
 
Realized gain (loss)
  $ 4  
 
       
Expenses
       
Underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses
    (43 )
     Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes
    (39 )
     Federal income tax expense (benefit)
    14  
          Income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ (25 )
 
       
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share - Basic
  $ (0.08 )
 
       
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share - Diluted
  $ (0.08 )


 
6

 

Intangibles – Goodwill and Other Topic

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, “Testing Goodwill for Impairment” (“ASU 2011-08”), which provides an option to first assess qualitative factors to determine if it is necessary to complete the two-step goodwill impairment test.  For a more detailed description of ASU 2011-08, see “Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards – Intangibles – Goodwill and Other Topic” in Note 2 of our 2011 Form 10-K.  We adopted the provisions of ASU 2011-08 effective January 1, 2012.  The adoption did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
 
 
Transfers and Servicing Topic

In April 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-03, “Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements” (“ASU 2011-03”), which revises the criteria for assessing effective control for repurchase agreements and other agreements that both entitle and obligate a transferor to repurchase or redeem financial assets before their maturity.  For a more detailed description of ASU 2011-03, see “Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards – Transfers and Servicing Topic” in Note 2 of our 2011 Form 10-K.  We adopted the provisions of ASU 2011-03 effective January 1, 2012.  The adoption did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Balance Sheet Topic

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11, “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities” (“ASU 2011-11”), to address certain comparability issues between financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP and those prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.  For a more detailed description of ASU 2011-11, see “Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards – Balance Sheet Topic” in Note 2 of our 2011 Form 10-K.  We will adopt the disclosure requirements in ASU 2011-11 beginning with our first quarter 2013 financial statements and are currently evaluating the appropriate location for these disclosures in the notes to our financial statements.

3.  Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”)
 
Consolidated VIEs
 
See Note 4 in our 2011 Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of our consolidated VIEs, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

The following summarizes information regarding the credit-linked note (“CLN”) structures (dollars in millions) as of March 31, 2012:

 
Amount and Date of Issuance
 
 
    $400     $200  
 
   
December
   
April
 
 
    2006     2007  
Original attachment point (subordination)
    5.50 %     2.05 %  
Current attachment point (subordination)
    4.17 %     1.48 %  
Maturity
12/20/2016
 
3/20/2017
 
Current rating of tranche
    B+  
Ba2
 
Current rating of underlying collateral pool
 
Aa1-B3
 
Aaa-Caa1
 
Number of defaults in underlying collateral pool
    2     2  
Number of entities
    123     99  
Number of countries
    19     22  


 
7

 

The following summarizes the exposure of the CLN structures’ underlying collateral by industry and rating as of March 31, 2012:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AAA
 
AA
 
A
 
BBB
 
BB
 
B
 
CCC
 
Total
Industry
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Telecommunications
%
 
0.3 
%
 
5.1 
%
 
4.8 
%
 
0.3 
%
 
0.5 
%
 
%
 
11.0 
%
Financial intermediaries
0.3 
%
 
2.8 
%
 
6.9 
%
 
0.5 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
10.5 
%
Oil and gas
%
 
0.7 
%
 
1.0 
%
 
4.6 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
6.3 
%
Utilities
%
 
%
 
2.6 
%
 
2.0 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
4.6 
%
Chemicals and plastics
%
 
%
 
2.3 
%
 
1.2 
%
 
0.3 
%
 
%
 
%
 
3.8 
%
Drugs
0.3 
%
 
2.7 
%
 
0.7 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
3.7 
%
Retailers (except food and drug)
%
 
%
 
2.1 
%
 
0.9 
%
 
0.5 
%
 
%
 
%
 
3.5 
%
Industrial equipment
%
 
%
 
3.0 
%
 
0.3 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
3.3 
%
Sovereign
%
 
0.7 
%
 
1.6 
%
 
1.0 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
3.3 
%
Food products
%
 
0.3 
%
 
1.8 
%
 
1.1 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
3.2 
%
Conglomerates
%
 
2.6 
%
 
0.5 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
3.1 
%
Forest products
%
 
%
 
%
 
1.6 
%
 
1.4 
%
 
%
 
%
 
3.0 
%
Other
%
 
2.5 
%
 
15.5 
%
 
17.8 
%
 
3.2 
%
 
1.4 
%
 
0.3 
%
 
40.7 
%
     Total
0.6 
%
 
12.6 
%
 
43.1 
%
 
35.8 
%
 
5.7 
%
 
1.9 
%
 
0.3 
%
 
100.0 
%

Asset and liability information (dollars in millions) for these consolidated VIEs included on our Consolidated Balance Sheets was as follows:

   
As of March 31, 2012
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
   
Number
 
 
 
 
 
Number
 
 
 
 
 
   
of
 
Notional
 
Carrying
 
of
 
Notional
 
Carrying
 
     Instruments  
Amounts
 
Value
 
Instruments
 
Amounts
 
Value
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Asset-backed credit card loan
    N/A   $ -   $ 596     N/A   $ -   $ 592  
     U.S. Government bonds
    N/A     -     106     N/A     -     108  
Excess mortality swap
    1     100     -     1     100     -  
               Total assets (1)
    1   $ 100   $ 702     1   $ 100   $ 700  
                                       
Liabilities
                                     
Non-qualifying hedges:
                                     
     Credit default swaps
    2   $ 600   $ 224     2   $ 600   $ 295  
     Contingent forwards
    2     -     (3 )   2     -     (4 )
          Total non-qualifying hedges
    4     600     221     4     600     291  
Federal income tax
    N/A     -     (72 )   N/A     -     (98 )
               Total liabilities (2)
    4   $ 600   $ 149     4   $ 600   $ 193  

(1)  
     Reported in VIEs’ fixed maturity securities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(2)  
     Reported in VIEs’ liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

For details related to the fixed maturity available-for-sale (“AFS”) securities for these VIEs, see Note 4.

As described more fully in Note 1 of our 2011 Form 10-K, we regularly review our investment holdings for other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”).  Based upon this review, we believe that the fixed maturity securities were not other-than-temporarily impaired as of March 31, 2012.


 
8

 

The gains (losses) for these consolidated VIEs (in millions) recorded on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Non-Qualifying Hedges
 
 
 
 
Credit default swaps
$ 71   $ 8  
Contingent forwards
  (2 )   (2 )
     Total non-qualifying hedges (1)
$ 69   $ 6  

(1)  
     Reported in realized gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
 
Unconsolidated VIEs

See Note 4 in our 2011 Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of our unconsolidated VIEs, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

4.  Investments

AFS Securities

Pursuant to the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM (“ASC”), we have categorized AFS 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) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3), as described in Note 1 in our 2011 Form 10-K, which also includes additional disclosures regarding our fair value measurements.

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, losses and OTTI and fair value of AFS securities (in millions) were as follows:

 
 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
 
Amortized
 
Gross Unrealized
 
Fair
 
 
 
Cost
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
OTTI
 
Value
 
Fixed maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Corporate bonds
  $ 55,255   $ 5,854   $ 407   $ 103   $ 60,599  
     U.S. Government bonds
    450     41     5     -     486  
     Foreign government bonds
    585     65     -     -     650  
     Residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS")
    7,196     524     48     100     7,572  
     Commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS")
    1,533     76     67     19     1,523  
     Collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs")
    117     -     15     -     102  
     State and municipal bonds
    3,497     637     8     -     4,126  
     Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
    1,256     62     122     -     1,196  
     VIEs' fixed maturity securities
    674     28     -     -     702  
          Total fixed maturity securities
    70,563     7,287     672     222     76,956  
Equity securities
    114     19     7     -     126  
               Total AFS securities
  $ 70,677   $ 7,306   $ 679   $ 222   $ 77,082  


 
9

 


 
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
 
 
Amortized
 
Gross Unrealized
 
Fair
 
 
 
Cost
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
OTTI
 
Value
 
Fixed maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Corporate bonds
  $ 53,661   $ 6,185   $ 517   $ 68   $ 59,261  
     U.S. Government bonds
    439     55     -     -     494  
     Foreign government bonds
    668     65     -     -     733  
     RMBS
    7,690     548     73     126     8,039  
     CMBS
    1,642     73     106     9     1,600  
     CDOs
    121     -     19     -     102  
     State and municipal bonds
    3,490     566     9     -     4,047  
     Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
    1,277     50     170     -     1,157  
     VIEs' fixed maturity securities
    673     27     -     -     700  
          Total fixed maturity securities
    69,661     7,569     894     203     76,133  
Equity securities
    135     16     12     -     139  
               Total AFS securities
  $ 69,796   $ 7,585   $ 906   $ 203   $ 76,272  

The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturity AFS securities by contractual maturities (in millions) were as follows:

 
 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
 
Amortized
 
Fair
 
 
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Due in one year or less
  $ 2,854   $ 2,914  
Due after one year through five years
    12,020     12,955  
Due after five years through ten years
    22,816     25,040  
Due after ten years
    24,027     26,850  
     Subtotal
    61,717     67,759  
Mortgage-backed securities ("MBS")
    8,729     9,095  
CDOs
    117     102  
          Total fixed maturity AFS securities
  $ 70,563   $ 76,956  

Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or pre-pay obligations.


 
10

 

The fair value and gross unrealized losses, including the portion of OTTI recognized in OCI, of AFS securities (dollars in millions), aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, were as follows:

 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
Less Than or Equal
 
Greater Than
 
 
 
 
to Twelve Months
 
Twelve Months
 
Total
 
 
 
 
Gross
 
 
 
Gross
 
 
 
Gross
 
 
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Fair
 
Losses and
 
Fair
 
Losses and
 
Fair
 
Losses and
 
 
Value
 
OTTI
 
Value
 
OTTI
 
Value
 
OTTI
 
Fixed maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Corporate bonds
  $ 3,186   $ 194   $ 1,335   $ 316   $ 4,521   $ 510  
     U.S. Government bonds
    213     5     1     -     214     5  
     RMBS
    572     99     351     49     923     148  
     CMBS
    119     22     130     64     249     86  
     CDOs
    3     1     75     14     78     15  
     State and municipal bonds
    2     -     26     8     28     8  
  Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
    159     6     370     116     529     122  
          Total fixed maturity securities
    4,254     327     2,288     567     6,542     894  
Equity securities
    12     7     -     -     12     7  
               Total AFS securities
  $ 4,266   $ 334   $ 2,288   $ 567   $ 6,554   $ 901  
 
                                     
Total number of AFS securities in an unrealized loss position
    828  

 
As of December 31, 2011
 
 
Less Than or Equal
 
Greater Than
 
 
 
 
to Twelve Months
 
Twelve Months
 
Total
 
 
 
 
Gross
 
 
 
Gross
 
 
 
Gross
 
 
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Fair
 
Losses and
 
Fair
 
Losses and
 
Fair
 
Losses and
 
 
Value
 
OTTI
 
Value
 
OTTI
 
Value
 
OTTI
 
Fixed maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Corporate bonds
$ 2,848   $ 162   $ 1,452   $ 423   $ 4,300   $ 585  
     RMBS
  565     125     429     74     994     199  
     CMBS
  178     15     146     100     324     115  
     CDOs
  9     1     80     18     89     19  
     State and municipal bonds
  31     -     30     9     61     9  
  Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
  324     23     353     147     677     170  
          Total fixed maturity securities
  3,955     326     2,490     771     6,445     1,097  
Equity securities
  38     12     -     -     38     12  
               Total AFS securities
$ 3,993   $ 338   $ 2,490   $ 771   $ 6,483   $ 1,109  
 
                                   
Total number of AFS securities in an unrealized loss position
    897  

For information regarding our investments in VIEs, see Note 3.


 
11

 

We perform detailed analysis on the AFS securities backed by pools of residential and commercial mortgages that are most at risk of impairment based on factors discussed in Note 1 in our 2011 Form 10-K.  Selected information for these securities in a gross unrealized loss position (in millions) was as follows:

 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
Amortized
 
Fair
 
Unrealized
 
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Loss
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
AFS securities backed by pools of residential mortgages
$ 1,875   $ 1,480   $ 395  
AFS securities backed by pools of commercial mortgages
  367     270     97  
     Total
$ 2,242   $ 1,750   $ 492  
 
                 
Subject to Detailed Analysis
                 
AFS securities backed by pools of residential mortgages
$ 1,862   $ 1,467   $ 395  
AFS securities backed by pools of commercial mortgages
  109     59     50  
     Total
$ 1,971   $ 1,526   $ 445  

 
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
 
 
Amortized
 
Fair
 
Unrealized
 
 
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Loss
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AFS securities backed by pools of residential mortgages
  $ 2,023   $ 1,553   $ 470  
AFS securities backed by pools of commercial mortgages
    472     344     128  
     Total
  $ 2,495   $ 1,897   $ 598  
 
                   
Subject to Detailed Analysis
                   
AFS securities backed by pools of residential mortgages
  $ 2,015   $ 1,545   $ 470  
AFS securities backed by pools of commercial mortgages
    126     61     65  
     Total
  $ 2,141   $ 1,606   $ 535  

For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we recorded OTTI for AFS securities backed by pools of residential and commercial mortgages of $21 million, pre-tax, and before associated amortization expense for DAC, value of business acquired (“VOBA”), deferred sales inducements (“DSI”) and deferred front-end loads (“DFEL”), of which $(21) million and $(26) million, respectively, was recognized in OCI and $42 million and $47 million, respectively, was recognized in net income (loss).

The fair value, gross unrealized losses, the portion of OTTI recognized in OCI (in millions) and number of AFS securities where the fair value had declined and remained below amortized cost by greater than 20% were as follows:

 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number
 
Fair
 
Gross Unrealized
 
of
 
Value
 
Losses
 
OTTI
 
Securities (1)
Less than six months
$ 81   $ 32   $ 3     23
Six months or greater, but less than nine months
  111     42     14     19
Nine months or greater, but less than twelve months
  50     17     14     16
Twelve months or greater
  579     343     151     166
     Total
$ 821   $ 434   $ 182     224


 
12

 


 
As of December 31, 2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number
 
Fair
 
Gross Unrealized
 
of
 
Value
 
Losses
 
OTTI
 
Securities (1)
Less than six months
$ 385   $ 125   $ 31   56
Six months or greater, but less than nine months
  53     30     12   18
Nine months or greater, but less than twelve months
  2     -     1   7
Twelve months or greater
  615     470     111   175
     Total
$ 1,055   $ 625   $ 155   256

(1)  
     We may reflect a security in more than one aging category based on various purchase dates.

We regularly review our investment holdings for OTTI.  Our gross unrealized losses on AFS securities decreased $208 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012.  As discussed further below, we believe the unrealized loss position as of March 31, 2012, did not represent OTTI as we did not intend to sell these fixed maturity AFS securities, it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the fixed maturity AFS securities before recovery of their amortized cost basis, the estimated future cash flows were equal to or greater than the amortized cost basis of the debt securities, or we had the ability and intent to hold the equity AFS securities for a period of time sufficient for recovery.

Based upon this evaluation as of March 31, 2012, management believed we had the ability to generate adequate amounts of cash from our normal operations (e.g., insurance premiums and fees and investment income) to meet cash requirements with a prudent margin of safety without requiring the sale of our temporarily-impaired securities.

As of March 31, 2012, the unrealized losses associated with our corporate bond securities were attributable primarily to securities that were backed by commercial loans and individual issuer companies.  For our corporate bond securities with commercial loans as the underlying collateral, we evaluated the projected credit losses in the underlying collateral and concluded that we had sufficient subordination or other credit enhancement when compared with our estimate of credit losses for the individual security and we expected to recover the entire amortized cost for each security.  For individual issuers, we performed detailed analysis of the financial performance of the issuer and determined that we expected to recover the entire amortized cost for each security.

As of March 31, 2012, the unrealized losses associated with our MBS and CDOs were attributable primarily to collateral losses and credit spreads.  We assessed for credit impairment using a cash flow model as discussed above.  The key assumptions included default rates, severities and prepayment rates.  We estimated losses for a security by forecasting the underlying loans in each transaction.  The forecasted loan performance was used to project cash flows to the various tranches in the structure, as applicable.  Our forecasted cash flows also considered, as applicable, independent industry analyst reports and forecasts, sector credit ratings and other independent market data.  Based upon our assessment of the expected credit losses of the security given the performance of the underlying collateral compared to our subordination or other credit enhancement, we expected to recover the entire amortized cost basis of each security.

As of March 31, 2012, the unrealized losses associated with our hybrid and redeemable preferred securities were attributable primarily to wider credit spreads caused by illiquidity in the market and subordination within the capital structure, as well as credit risk of specific issuers.  For our hybrid and redeemable preferred securities, we evaluated the financial performance of the issuer based upon credit performance and investment ratings and determined we expected to recover the entire amortized cost of each security.


 
13

 

Changes in the amount of credit loss of OTTI recognized in net income (loss) where the portion related to other factors was recognized in OCI (in millions) on fixed maturity AFS securities were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Balance as of beginning-of-period
$ 390   $ 319  
     Increases attributable to:
           
          Credit losses on securities for which an OTTI was not previously recognized
  34     25  
          Credit losses on securities for which an OTTI was previously recognized
  23     22  
     Decreases attributable to:
           
          Securities sold
  (37 )   (14 )
               Balance as of end-of-period
$ 410   $ 352  

During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we recorded credit losses on securities for which an OTTI was not previously recognized as we determined the cash flows expected to be collected would not be sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the debt security.  The credit losses we recorded on securities for which an OTTI was not previously recognized were attributable primarily to one or a combination of the following reasons:

·  
     Failure of the issuer of the security to make scheduled payments;
·  
     Deterioration of creditworthiness of the issuer;
·  
     Deterioration of conditions specifically related to the security;
·  
     Deterioration of fundamentals of the industry in which the issuer operates;
·  
     Deterioration of fundamentals in the economy including, but not limited to, higher unemployment and lower housing prices; and
·  
     Deterioration of the rating of the security by a rating agency.

We recognize the OTTI attributed to the noncredit portion as a separate component in OCI referred to as unrealized OTTI on AFS securities.

Details of the amount of credit loss of OTTI recognized in net income (loss) where the portion related to other factors was recognized in OCI (in millions), were as follows:

 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
Gross Unrealized
 
 
 
OTTI in
 
 
Amortized
 
 
 
Losses and
 
Fair
 
Credit
 
 
Cost
 
Gains
 
OTTI
 
Value
 
Losses
 
Corporate bonds
$ 242   $ 1   $ 100   $ 143   $ 63  
RMBS
  688     4     100     592     290  
CMBS
  39     -     19     20     57  
     Total
$ 969   $ 5   $ 219   $ 755   $ 410  

 
As of December 31, 2011
 
 
 
 
Gross Unrealized
 
 
 
OTTI in
 
 
Amortized
 
 
 
Losses and
 
Fair
 
Credit
 
 
Cost
 
Gains
 
OTTI
 
Value
 
Losses
 
Corporate bonds
$ 169   $ 1   $ 67   $ 103   $ 51  
RMBS
  690     1     128     563     301  
CMBS
  17     -     10     7     38  
     Total
$ 876   $ 2   $ 205   $ 673   $ 390  


 
14

 

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate

Mortgage loans on real estate principally involve commercial real estate.  The commercial loans are geographically diversified throughout the U.S. with the largest concentrations in California and Texas, which accounted for approximately 32% of mortgage loans on real estate as of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011.

The following provides the current and past due composition of our mortgage loans on real estate (in millions):

 
 
As of
 
  As of
 
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
2012
 
  2011
 
Current
  $ 6,853   $ 6,858  
60 to 90 days past due
    -     26  
Greater than 90 days past due
    99     76  
Valuation allowance associated with impaired mortgage loans on real estate
    (27 )   (31 )
Unamortized premium (discount)
    13     13  
     Total carrying value
  $ 6,938   $ 6,942  

The number of impaired mortgage loans on real estate, each of which had an associated specific valuation allowance, and the carrying value of impaired mortgage loans on real estate (dollars in millions) were as follows:

 
 
As of
 
As of
 
 
March 31,
December 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Number of impaired mortgage loans on real estate
 
10
 
12
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal balance of impaired mortgage loans on real estate
 
$
 85 
 
$
 100 
 
Valuation allowance associated with impaired mortgage loans on real estate
 
 
 (27
)
 
 (31
)
     Carrying value of impaired mortgage loans on real estate
 
$
 58 
 
$
 69 
 

The average carrying value on the impaired mortgage loans on real estate (in millions) was as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Average carrying value for impaired mortgage loans on real estate
$ 64   $ 55  
Interest income recognized on impaired mortgage loans on real estate
  -     1  
Interest income collected on impaired mortgage loans on real estate
  -     1  


 
15

 

As described in Note 1 in our 2011 Form 10-K, we use the loan-to-value and debt-service coverage ratios as credit quality indicators for our mortgage loans, which were as follows (dollars in millions):

 
As of March 31, 2012
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Debt-
 
 
   
 
   
Debt-
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Service
 
 
   
 
   
Service
 
 
Principal
 
% of
 
Coverage
 
Principal
   
% of
 
Coverage
 
Loan-to-Value
Amount
 
Total
 
Ratio
 
Amount
   
Total
 
Ratio
 
Less than 65%
  $ 5,419   77.9   %     1.62   $ 5,338     76.7   %     1.61  
65% to 74%
    1,121   16.1   %     1.39     1,198     17.2   %     1.37  
75% to 100%
    311   4.5   %     0.90     308     4.4   %     0.92  
Greater than 100%
    101   1.5   %     0.37     116     1.7   %     0.36  
     Total mortgage loans on real estate
  $ 6,952   100.0   %         $ 6,960     100.0   %        

Alternative Investments 

As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, alternative investments included investments in approximately 97 and 96 different partnerships, respectively, and the portfolio represented less than 1% of our overall invested assets.

Realized Gain (Loss) Related to Certain Investments

The detail of the realized gain (loss) related to certain investments (in millions) was as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Fixed maturity AFS securities:
 
 
 
 
     Gross gains
$ 5   $ 36  
     Gross losses
  (63 )   (63 )
Equity AFS securities:
           
     Gross gains
  1     8  
Gain (loss) on other investments
  7     13  
Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL and changes in other contract holder funds   2     (9 )
     Total realized gain (loss) related to certain investments
$ (48 ) $ (15 )


 
16

 

Details underlying write-downs taken as a result of OTTI (in millions) that were recognized in net income (loss) and included in realized gain (loss) on AFS securities above, and the portion of OTTI recognized in OCI (in millions) were as follows:

 
 
For the Three
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
OTTI Recognized in Net Income (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds
  $ (19 ) $ (3 )
RMBS
    (18 )   (20 )
CMBS
    (20 )   (24 )
CDOs
    -     (1 )
Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
    -     (2 )
     Gross OTTI recognized in net income (loss)
    (57 )   (50 )
     Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
    10     9  
          Net OTTI recognized in net income (loss), pre-tax
  $ (47 ) $ (41 )
 
             
Portion of OTTI Recognized in OCI
             
Gross OTTI recognized in OCI
  $ 58   $ 8  
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
    (8 )   (5 )
     Net portion of OTTI recognized in OCI, pre-tax
  $ 50   $ 3  

Determination of Credit Losses on Corporate Bonds and CDOs

As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, we reviewed our corporate bond and CDO portfolios for potential shortfall in contractual principal and interest based on numerous subjective and objective inputs.  The factors used to determine the amount of credit loss for each individual security, include, but are not limited to, near term risk, substantial discrepancy between book and market value, sector or company-specific volatility, negative operating trends and trading levels wider than peers.

Credit ratings express opinions about the credit quality of a security.  Securities rated investment grade, that is those rated BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) Rating Services or Baa3 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”), are generally considered by the rating agencies and market participants to be low credit risk.  As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, 96% of the fair value of our corporate bond portfolio was rated investment grade.  As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, the portion of our corporate bond portfolio rated below investment grade had an amortized cost of $2.8 billion and $2.6 billion and a fair value of $2.6 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively.  As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, 97% of the fair value of our CDO portfolio was rated investment grade.  As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, the portion of our CDO portfolio rated below investment grade had an amortized cost and fair value of $3 million.  Based upon the analysis discussed above, we believed as of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, that we would recover the amortized cost of each investment grade corporate bond and CDO security.

For securities where we recorded an OTTI recognized in net income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the recovery as a percentage of amortized cost was 92% and 98%, respectively, for corporate bonds and 0% for CDOs.

Determination of Credit Losses on MBS

As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, default rates were projected by considering underlying MBS loan performance and collateral type.  Projected default rates on existing delinquencies vary between 25% to 100% depending on loan type and severity of delinquency status.  In addition, we estimate the potential contributions of currently performing loans that may become delinquent in the future based on the change in delinquencies and loan liquidations experienced in the recent history.  Finally, we develop a default rate timing curve by aggregating the defaults for all loans (delinquent loans, foreclosure and real estate owned and new delinquencies from currently performing loans) in the pool to project the future expected cash flows. 

We use certain available loan characteristics such as lien status, loan sizes and occupancy to estimate the loss severity of loans.  Second lien loans are assigned 100% severity, if defaulted.  For first lien loans, we assume a minimum of 30% severity with higher severity assumed for investor properties and further housing price depreciation.


 
17

 

Payables for Collateral on Investments

The carrying values of the payables for collateral on investments (in millions) included on our Consolidated Balance Sheets and the fair value of the related investments or collateral consisted of the following:

 
As of March 31, 2012
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
 
Carrying
 
Fair
 
Carrying
 
Fair
 
 
Value
 
Value
 
Value
 
Value
 
Collateral payable held for derivative investments (1)
$ 2,132   $ 2,132   $ 2,980   $ 2,980  
Securities pledged under securities lending agreements (2)
  200     192     200     193  
Securities pledged under reverse repurchase agreements (3)
  280     292     280     294  
Securities pledged for Term Asset-Backed Securities
                       
     Loan Facility ("TALF") (4)
  163     188     173     199  
Securities pledged for Federal Home Loan Bank of
                       
     Indianapolis Securities ("FHLBI") (5)
  100     153     100     142  
          Total payables for collateral on investments
$ 2,875   $ 2,957   $ 3,733   $ 3,808  

(1)  
We obtain collateral based upon contractual provisions with our counterparties.  These agreements take into consideration the counterparties’ credit rating as compared to ours, the fair value of the derivative investments and specified thresholds that once exceeded result in the receipt of cash that is typically invested in cash and invested cash.  See Note 6 for details about maximum collateral potentially required to post on our credit default swaps.
(2)  
Our pledged securities under securities lending agreements are included in fixed maturity AFS securities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.  We generally obtain collateral in an amount equal to 102% and 105% of the fair value of the domestic and foreign securities, respectively.  We value collateral daily and obtain additional collateral when deemed appropriate.  The cash received in our securities lending program is typically invested in cash and invested cash or fixed maturity AFS securities.
(3)  
Our pledged securities under reverse repurchase agreements are included in fixed maturity AFS securities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.  We obtain collateral in an amount equal to 95% of the fair value of the securities, and our agreements with third parties contain contractual provisions to allow for additional collateral to be obtained when necessary.  The cash received in our reverse repurchase program is typically invested in fixed maturity AFS securities.
(4)  
Our pledged securities for TALF are included in fixed maturity AFS securities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.  We obtain collateral in an amount that has typically averaged 90% of the fair value of the TALF securities.  The cash received in these transactions is invested in fixed maturity AFS securities.
(5)  
Our pledged securities for FHLBI are included in fixed maturity AFS securities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.  We generally obtain collateral in an amount equal to 85% to 95% of the fair value of the FHLBI securities.  The cash received in these transactions is typically invested in cash and invested cash or fixed maturity AFS securities.

Increase (decrease) in payables for collateral on investments (in millions) included on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows consisted of the following:

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Collateral payable held for derivative investments
$ (848 ) $ (70 )
Securities pledged under securities lending agreements
  -     1  
Securities pledged for TALF
  (10 )   (36 )
     Total increase (decrease) in payables for collateral on investments
$ (858 ) $ (105 )

Investment Commitments

As of March 31, 2012, our investment commitments were $653 million, which included $186 million of limited partnerships (“LPs”), $399 million of private placements and $68 million of mortgage loans on real estate.

Concentrations of Financial Instruments

As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, our most significant investments in one issuer were our investments in securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation with a fair value of $4.6 billion and $5.0 billion, respectively, or 5% of our

 
18

 

invested assets portfolio, and our investments in securities issued by Fannie Mae with a fair value of $2.6 billion, or 3% of our invested assets portfolio.  These investments are included in corporate bonds in the tables above.

As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, our most significant investments in one industry were our investment securities in the electric industry with a fair value of $7.7 billion, or 8% of our invested assets portfolio, and our investment securities in the collateralized mortgage and other obligations industry with a fair value of $5.3 billion and $5.6 billion, respectively, or 6% of our invested assets portfolio.  We utilized the industry classifications to obtain the concentration of financial instruments amount; as such, this amount will not agree to the AFS securities table above.

5.  Derivative Instruments
 
We maintain an overall risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to minimize significant unplanned fluctuations in earnings that are caused by interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange risk, equity market risk, default risk, basis risk and credit risk.  See Note 1 in our 2011 Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of the accounting treatment for derivative instruments.  See Note 6 in our 2011 Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of our derivative instruments and use of them in our overall risk management strategy which information is incorporated herein by reference.  See Note 12 for additional disclosures related to the fair value of our derivative instruments and Note 3 for derivative instruments related to our consolidated VIEs.

We have derivative instruments with off-balance-sheet risks whose notional or contract amounts exceed the credit exposure.  Outstanding derivative instruments with off-balance-sheet risks (in millions) were as follows:

   
As of March 31, 2012
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
   
Notional
 
Fair Value
 
Notional
 
Fair Value
 
   
Amounts
 
Asset
 
Liability
 
Amounts
 
Asset
 
Liability
 
Qualifying Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Interest rate contracts (1)
  $ 2,205   $ 101   $ -   $ 2,512   $ 130   $ -  
     Foreign currency contracts (1)
    340     26     -     340     38     -  
          Total cash flow hedges
    2,545     127     -     2,852     168     -  
Fair value hedges:
                                     
     Interest rate contracts (1)
    1,175     215     -     1,675     319     -  
Non-Qualifying Hedges
                                     
Interest rate contracts (1)
    36,178     156     -     30,232     568     -  
Foreign currency contracts (1)
    94     -     -     4     -     -  
Equity market contracts (1)
    16,411     1,749     -     16,401     2,096     -  
Credit contracts (1)
    47     (3 )   -     48     -     -  
Credit contracts (2)
    148     -     10     148     -     16  
Embedded derivatives:
                                     
     Indexed annuity contracts (3)
    -     -     480     -     -     399  
  Guaranteed living benefits ("GLB") reserves (3)
    -     -     1,064     -     -     2,217  
     Reinsurance related (4)
    -     -     158     -     -     168  
               Total derivative instruments
  $ 56,598   $ 2,244   $ 1,712   $ 51,360   $ 3,151   $ 2,800  

(1)  
     Reported in derivative investments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(2)  
     Reported in other liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(3)  
     Reported in future contract benefits on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(4)  
     Reported in reinsurance related embedded derivatives on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.


 
19

 

The maturity of the notional amounts of derivative instruments (in millions) was as follows:

 
Remaining Life as of March 31, 2012
 
 
Less Than
    1 – 5  
6 – 10
 
11 – 30
 
Over 30
 
 
1 Year
   
Years
 
Years
 
Years
 
Years
 
Total
 
Interest rate contracts (1)
$ 3,060   $ 9,774   $ 11,595   $ 15,122   $ 7   $ 39,558  
Foreign currency contracts (2)
  94     61     179     100     -     434  
Equity market contracts
  8,041     23     3,168     5,176     3     16,411  
Credit contracts
  40     -     108     47     -     195  
     Total derivative instruments with notional amounts
$ 11,235   $ 9,858   $ 15,050   $ 20,445   $ 10   $ 56,598  

(1)  
     As of March 31, 2012, the latest maturity date for which we were hedging our exposure to the variability in future cash flows for these instruments was June 2042.
(2)  
     As of March 31, 2012, the latest maturity date for which we were hedging our exposure to the variability in future cash flows for these instruments was July 2022.

The change in our unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments in accumulated OCI (in millions) was as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments
 
 
 
 
Balance as of beginning-of-year
$ 119   $ (15 )
Other comprehensive income (loss):
           
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards
  -     3  
     Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the year:
           
          Cash flow hedges:
           
               Interest rate contracts
  (40 )   (6 )
               Foreign currency contracts
  (3 )   2  
          Fair value hedges:
           
               Interest rate contracts
  1     1  
     Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment
  (9 )   (9 )
     Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
  4     4  
     Income tax benefit (expense)
  15     3  
     Less:
           
          Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss):
           
               Cash flow hedges:
           
                    Interest rate contracts (1)
  (6 )   (1 )
                    Interest rate contracts (2)
  -     1  
                    Foreign currency contracts (1)
  2     2  
               Fair value hedges:
           
                    Interest rate contracts (2)
  1     1  
          Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
  -     1  
          Income tax benefit (expense)
  1     (1 )
                         Balance as of end-of-period
$ 89   $ (20 )

(1)  
     The OCI offset is reported within net investment income on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
(2)  
     The OCI offset is reported within interest and debt expense on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

 
20

 


The gains (losses) on derivative instruments (in millions) recorded within income (loss) from continuing operations on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Qualifying Hedges
 
 
 
 
Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
     Interest rate contracts (1)
$ (7 ) $ (1 )
     Foreign currency contracts (1)
  2     1  
          Total cash flow hedges
  (5 )   -  
Fair value hedges:
           
     Interest rate contracts (2)
  12     13  
          Total fair value hedges
  12     13  
Non-Qualifying Hedges
           
Interest rate contracts (1)
  (3 )   (6 )
Interest rate contracts (3)
  (413 )   (61 )
Foreign currency contracts (3)
  (4 )   (5 )
Equity market contracts (3)
  (672 )   (199 )
Equity market contracts (4)
  (135 )   (19 )
Credit contracts (3)
  3     4  
Embedded derivatives:
           
     Indexed annuity contracts (3)
  104     48  
     GLB reserves (3)
  1,153     289  
     Reinsurance related (3)
  10     11  
     AFS securities (1)
  -     1  
               Total derivative instruments
$ 50   $ 76  

(1)  
     Reported in net investment income on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
(2)  
     Reported in interest and debt expense on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
(3)  
     Reported in realized gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
(4)  
     Reported in underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Gains (losses) (in millions) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012 
 
2011 
 
Gain (loss) recognized as a component of OCI with
 
 
 
 
 
 
     the offset to net investment income
 $ (4
)
 $ -  

As of March 31, 2012, $20 million of the deferred net losses on derivative instruments in accumulated OCI were expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next 12 months.  This reclassification would be due primarily to the interest rate variances related to the interest rate swap agreements.

For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, there were no material reclassifications to earnings due to hedged firm commitments no longer deemed probable or due to hedged forecasted transactions that had not occurred by the end of the originally specified time period.


 
21

 

Gains (losses) (in millions) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as fair value hedges were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Gain (loss) recognized as a component of OCI with the offset to interest expense
$ 1   $ 1  

Information related to our open credit default swap liabilities for which we are the seller (dollars in millions) was as follows:

As of March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reason
 
Nature
 
Rating of
 
Number
 
 
 
 
Maximum
 
 
 
for
 
of
 
Underlying
 
of
 
Fair
 
Potential
 
Maturity
 
Entering
 
Recourse
 
Obligation (1)
 
 Instruments  
Value (2)
 
Payout
 
12/20/2012 (3)
 
  (5)
 
  (6)
 
BBB+
 
 4 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 40 
 
12/20/2016 (4)
 
  (5)
 
  (6)
 
BBB+
 
 3 
 
 
 (7
)
 
 68 
 
03/20/2017 (4)
 
  (5)
 
  (6)
 
BBB
 
 2 
 
 
 (3
)
 
 40 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
$
 (10
)
$
 148 
 

As of December 31, 2011
 
           
Credit
 
 
     
 
 
   
Reason
 
Nature
 
Rating of
 
Number
     
Maximum
 
   
for
 
of
 
Underlying
 
of
 
Fair
 
Potential
 
Maturity
 
Entering
 
Recourse
 
Obligation (1)
 
Instruments
 
Value (2)
 
Payout
 
12/20/2012 (3)
  (5)   (6)  
BBB+
  4   $ -   $ 40  
12/20/2016 (4)
  (5)   (6)  
BBB+
  3     (12 )   68  
03/20/2017 (4)
  (5)   (6)  
BBB
  2     (4 )   40  
           
 
  9   $ (16 ) $ 148  

(1)  
     Represents average credit ratings based on the midpoint of the applicable ratings among Moody’s, S&P and Fitch Ratings, as scaled to the corresponding S&P ratings.
(2)  
     Broker quotes are used to determine the market value of credit default swaps.
(3)  
     These credit default swaps were sold to our contract holders prior to 2007, where we determined there was a spread versus premium mismatch.
(4)  
     These credit default swaps were sold to a counter-party of the consolidated VIEs as discussed in Note 4 in our 2011 Form 10-K.
(5)  
     Credit default swaps were entered into in order to generate income by providing default protection in return for a quarterly payment.
(6)  
     Sellers do not have the right to demand indemnification or compensation from third parties in case of a loss (payment) on the contract.


 
22

 

Details underlying the associated collateral of our open credit default swaps for which we are the seller, if credit risk related contingent features were triggered (in millions), are as follows:

 
 
As of
 
As of
 
 
March 31,
  December 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Maximum potential payout
 
$
 148 
 
$
 148 
 
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Counterparty thresholds
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
          Maximum collateral potentially required to post
 
$
 148 
 
$
 148 
 

Certain of our credit default swap agreements contain contractual provisions that allow for the netting of collateral with our counterparties related to all of our collateralized financing transactions that we have outstanding.  If these netting agreements were not in place, we would have been required to post approximately $10 million as of March 31, 2012, after considering the fair values of the associated investments counterparties’ credit ratings as compared to ours and specified thresholds that once exceeded result in the payment of cash.

Credit Risk

We are exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by our counterparties on various derivative contracts and reflect assumptions regarding the credit or nonperformance risk.  The nonperformance risk is based upon assumptions for each counterparty’s credit spread over the estimated weighted average life of the counterparty exposure less collateral held.  As of March 31, 2012, the nonperformance risk adjustment was $6 million. The credit risk associated with such agreements is minimized by purchasing such agreements from financial institutions with long-standing, superior performance records.  Additionally, we maintain a policy of requiring all derivative contracts to be governed by an International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”) Master Agreement.  We are required to maintain minimum ratings as a matter of routine practice in negotiating ISDA agreements.  Under some ISDA agreements, our insurance subsidiaries have agreed to maintain certain financial strength or claims-paying ratings.  A downgrade below these levels could result in termination of the derivatives contract, at which time any amounts payable by us would be dependent on the market value of the underlying derivative contract.  In certain transactions, we and the counterparty have entered into a collateral support agreement requiring either party to post collateral when net exposures exceed pre-determined thresholds.  These thresholds vary by counterparty and credit rating.  The amount of such exposure is essentially the net replacement cost or market value less collateral held for such agreements with each counterparty if the net market value is in our favor.  As of March 31, 2012, the exposure was $61 million.

The amounts recognized (in millions) by S&P credit rating of counterparty, for which we had the right to reclaim cash collateral or were obligated to return cash collateral, were as follows:

 
 
As of March 31, 2012
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
 
 
Collateral
 
Collateral
 
Collateral
 
Collateral
 
 
 
Posted by
 
Posted by
 
Posted by
 
Posted by
 
S&P
 
Counter-
 
LNC
 
Counter-
 
LNC
 
Credit
 
Party
 
(Held by
 
Party
 
(Held by
 
Rating of
 
(Held by
 
Counter-
 
(Held by
 
Counter-
 
Counterparty
 
LNC)
 
Party)
 
LNC)
 
Party)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AA
  $ 34   $ -   $ 35   $ -  
AA-
    59     (3 )   219     -  
A+     624     -     848     -  
A     1,232     (82 )   1,681     (120 )
A-     335     (31 )   387     -  
BBB
    2     -     -     -  
    $ 2,286   $ (116 ) $ 3,170   $ (120 )


 
23

 

6.  Federal Income Taxes

The effective tax rate is a ratio of tax expense over pre-tax income (loss).  The effective tax rate was 20% and 27% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  The effective tax rate on pre-tax income from continuing operations was lower than the prevailing corporate federal income tax rate.  Differences in the effective rates and the U.S. statutory rate of 35% were the result of certain tax preferred investment income, separate account dividends-received deduction, foreign tax credits and other tax preference items.

7.  Guaranteed Benefit Features

Information on the guaranteed death benefit (“GDB”) features outstanding (dollars in millions) was as follows (our variable contracts with guarantees may offer more than one type of guarantee in each contract; therefore, the amounts listed are not mutually exclusive):

 
 
As of
 
As of
 
 
March 31,
December 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
Return of Net Deposits
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total account value
 
$
58,847
 
$
54,004
Net amount at risk (1)
 
 
528
 
 
1,379
Average attained age of contract holders
 
 
59 years
 
 
59 years
Minimum Return
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total account value
 
$
159
 
$
155
Net amount at risk (1)
 
 
41
 
 
48
Average attained age of contract holders
 
 
72 years
 
 
72 years
Guaranteed minimum return
 
 
5  
%
 
 
5  
%
Anniversary Contract Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total account value
 
$
23,223
 
$
21,648
Net amount at risk (1)
 
 
1,471
 
 
2,939
Average attained age of contract holders
 
 
67 years
 
 
67 years

(1)  
Represents the amount of death benefit in excess of the account balance.  The decrease in net amount at risk when comparing March 31, 2012, to December 31, 2011, was attributable primarily to the increase in the equity markets during the first quarter of 2012.

The determination of GDB liabilities is based on models that involve a range of scenarios and assumptions, including those regarding expected market rates of return and volatility, contract surrender rates and mortality experience.  The following summarizes the balances of and changes in the liabilities for GDB (in millions), which were recorded in future contract benefits on our Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Balance as of beginning-of-year
$ 84   $ 44  
     Changes in reserves
  (17 )   4  
     Benefits paid
  (12 )   (10 )
          Balance as of end-of-period
$ 55   $ 38  


 
24

 

Account balances of variable annuity contracts with guarantees (in millions) were invested in separate account investment options as follows:

 
 
As of
 
As of
 
 
March 31,
    December 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Asset Type
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Domestic equity
 
$
36,577
 
$
34,286
 
International equity
 
 
14,045
 
 
13,095
 
Bonds
 
 
18,000
 
 
17,735
 
Money market
 
 
6,044
 
 
5,892
 
     Total
 
$
74,666
 
$
71,008
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Percent of total variable annuity separate account values
 
 
94  
%
 
 
98  
%
 

Future contract benefits also includes reserves for our products with secondary guarantees for our products sold through our Life Insurance segment.  These UL and VUL products with secondary guarantees represented approximately 38% of permanent life insurance in force as of March 31, 2012, and approximately 33% of total sales for these products for the three months ended March 31, 2012.

8.  Contingencies and Commitments

Regulatory bodies, such as state insurance departments, the SEC, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and other regulatory bodies regularly make inquiries and conduct examinations or investigations concerning our compliance with, among other things, insurance laws, securities laws, laws governing the activities of broker-dealers and unclaimed property laws.

LNC and its subsidiaries are involved in various pending or threatened legal proceedings, including purported class actions, arising from the conduct of business both in the ordinary course and otherwise.  In some of the matters, very large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive and treble damages, are sought.  Modern pleading practice in the U.S. permits considerable variation in the assertion of monetary damages or other relief.  Jurisdictions may permit claimants not to specify the monetary damages sought or may permit claimants to state only that the amount sought is sufficient to invoke the jurisdiction of the trial court.  In addition, jurisdictions may permit plaintiffs to allege monetary damages in amounts well exceeding reasonably possible verdicts in the jurisdiction for similar matters.  This variability in pleadings, together with the actual experiences of LNC in litigating or resolving through settlement numerous claims over an extended period of time, demonstrates to management that the monetary relief which may be specified in a lawsuit or claim bears little relevance to its merits or disposition value.

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

We establish liabilities for litigation and regulatory loss contingencies when information related to the loss contingencies shows both that it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.  It is possible that some matters could require us to pay damages or make other expenditures or establish accruals in amounts that could not be estimated as of March 31, 2012.  While the potential future charges could be material in the particular quarterly or annual periods in which they are recorded, based on information currently known by management, management does not believe any such charges are likely to have a material adverse effect on LNC’s financial position.

See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2011 Form 10-K for a discussion of commitments and contingencies, which information is incorporated herein by reference.


 
25

 

9.  Shares and Stockholders’ Equity

Common and Preferred Shares

The changes in our preferred and common stock (number of shares) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Series A Preferred Stock
 
 
 
 
Balance as of beginning-of-period
  10,072     10,914  
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (1)
  (440 )   -  
     Balance as of end-of-period
  9,632     10,914  
             
Common Stock
           
Balance as of beginning-of-period
  291,319,222     315,718,554  
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (1)
  7,040     -  
Stock compensation/issued for benefit plans
  104,197     152,134  
Retirement/cancellation of shares
  (6,018,156 )   (2,413,864 )
     Balance as of end-of-period
  285,412,303     313,456,824  
             
Common Stock as of End-of-Period
           
Assuming conversion of preferred stock
  285,566,415     313,631,448  
Diluted basis
  292,953,914     321,320,873  

(1)
     Represents the conversion of Series A preferred stock into common stock.

Our common and Series A preferred stocks are without par value.

Average Shares

A reconciliation of the denominator (number of shares) in the calculations of basic and diluted EPS was as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Weighted-average shares, as used in basic calculation
  289,055,925     315,014,084  
Shares to cover exercise of outstanding warrants
  10,150,271     10,150,292  
Shares to cover conversion of preferred stock
  154,499     174,624  
Shares to cover non-vested stock
  1,010,689     771,357  
Average stock options outstanding during the period
  601,284     959,872  
Assumed acquisition of shares with assumed proceeds from exercising outstanding warrants
  (4,634,542 )   (3,669,994
Assumed acquisition of shares with assumed proceeds and benefits from exercising stock options (at average market price for the period)   (413,777 )   (654,934 )
Shares repurchaseable from measured but unrecognized stock option expense
  (14,681 )   (152,416 )
Average deferred compensation shares
  -     271,447  
Weighted-average shares, as used in diluted calculation
  295,909,668     322,864,332  

In the event the average market price of LNC common stock exceeds the issue price of stock options and the options have a dilutive effect to our EPS, such options will be shown in the table above.

 
26

 

The income used in the calculation of our diluted EPS is our net income (loss), reduced by preferred stock dividends and accretion of discount.  These amounts are presented on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Accumulated OCI

The following summarizes the components and changes in accumulated OCI (in millions):

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on AFS Securities
 
 
 
 
Balance as of beginning-of-year
$ 2,947   $ 1,072  
     Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards
  -     105  
     Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period
  (109 )   (191 )
     Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment
  10     14  
     Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and other contract holder funds
  76     104  
     Income tax benefit (expense)
  (27 )   63  
     Less:
           
          Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)
  (57 )   (19 )
          Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
  2     (10 )
          Income tax benefit (expense)
  19     10  
               Balance as of end-of-period
$ 2,933   $ 1,186  
Unrealized OTTI on AFS Securities
           
Balance as of beginning-of-year
$ (110 ) $ (129 )
     (Increases) attributable to:
           
          Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards
  -     (5 )
          Gross OTTI recognized in OCI during the period
  (58 )   (8 )
          Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
  8     5  
          Income tax benefit (expense)
  18     1  
     Decreases attributable to:
           
          Sales, maturities or other settlements of AFS securities
  39     45  
          Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
  (4 )   (9 )
          Income tax benefit (expense)
  (12 )   (13 )
               Balance as of end-of-period
$ (119 ) $ (113 )
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments
           
Balance as of beginning-of-year
$ 119   $ (15 )
     Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards
  -     3  
     Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period
  (42 )   (3 )
     Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment
  (9 )   (9 )
     Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
  4     4  
     Income tax benefit (expense)
  15     3  
     Less:
           
          Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)
  (3 )   3  
          Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
  -     1  
          Income tax benefit (expense)
  1     (1 )
               Balance as of end-of-period
$ 89   $ (20 )
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
           
Balance as of beginning-of-year
$ 1   $ 1  
     Foreign currency translation adjustment arising during the period
  (5 )   2  
     Income tax benefit (expense)
  2     (1 )
          Balance as of end-of-period
$ (2 ) $ 2  
Funded Status of Employee Benefit Plans
           
Balance as of beginning-of-year
$ (278 ) $ (181 )
     Adjustment arising during the period
  (2 )   (1 )
     Income tax benefit (expense)
  1     -  
          Balance as of end-of-period
$ (279 ) $ (182 )


 
27

 


10.  Realized Gain (Loss)

Details underlying realized gain (loss) (in millions) reported on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Total realized gain (loss) related to certain investments (1)
$ (48 ) $ (15 )
Realized gain (loss) on the mark-to-market on certain instruments (2)
  58     10  
Indexed annuity net derivative results: (3)
           
     Gross gain (loss)
  22     6  
     Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
  (6 )   (2 )
Variable annuity net derivatives results: (4)
           
     Gross gain (loss)
  (133 )   10  
     Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
  22     (7 )
          Total realized gain (loss)
$ (85 ) $ 2  

(1)  
See “Realized Gain (Loss) Related to Certain Investments” section in Note 4.
(2)  
Represents changes in the fair values of certain derivative investments (including those associated with our consolidated VIEs), total return swaps (embedded derivatives that are theoretically included in our various modified coinsurance and coinsurance with funds withheld reinsurance arrangements that have contractual returns related to various assets and liabilities associated with these arrangements) and trading securities.
(3)  
Represents the net difference between the change in the fair value of the S&P 500 call options that we hold and the change in the fair value of the embedded derivative liabilities of our indexed annuity products along with changes in the fair value of embedded derivative liabilities related to index call options we may purchase in the future to hedge contract holder index allocations applicable to future reset periods for our indexed annuity products.
(4)  
Includes the net difference in the change in embedded derivative reserves of our GLB products and the change in the fair value of the derivative instruments we own to hedge GDB and GLB products, including the cost of purchasing the hedging instruments.

11.  Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans

We sponsor various incentive plans for our employees and directors, and for the employees and agents of our subsidiaries that provide for the issuance of stock options, performance shares (performance-vested shares as opposed to time-vested shares), stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) and restricted stock units.  We have a policy of issuing new shares to satisfy option exercises.

LNC stock-based awards granted during the first quarter of 2012 were as follows:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Awards
 
 
 
10-year LNC stock options
 
 828,674 
 
Performance shares
 
 278,943 
 
SARs
 
 80,225 
 
Restricted stock units
 
 604,226 
 
Non-employee:
 
 
 
 
Agent stock options
 
 99,268 
 
 
Director stock options
 
 51,140 
 
 
Director restricted stock units
 
 10,128 
 


 
28

 

12.  Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying values and estimated fair values of our financial instruments (in millions) were as follows:

 
As of March 31, 2012
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
 
Carrying
 
Fair
 
Carrying
 
Fair
 
 
Value
 
Value
 
Value
 
Value
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AFS securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Fixed maturity securities
$ 76,254   $ 76,254   $ 75,433   $ 75,433  
     VIEs' fixed maturity securities
  702     702     700     700  
     Equity securities
  126     126     139     139  
Trading securities
  2,650     2,650     2,675     2,675  
Mortgage loans on real estate
  6,938     7,542     6,942     7,608  
Derivative investments
  2,244     2,244     3,151     3,151  
Other investments
  1,043     1,043     1,069     1,069  
Cash and invested cash
  3,516     3,516     4,510     4,510  
Separate account assets
  91,088     91,088     83,477     83,477  
                         
Liabilities
                       
Future contract benefits:
                       
     Indexed annuity contracts embedded derivatives
  (480 )   (480 )   (399 )   (399 )
     GLB reserves embedded derivatives
  (1,064 )   (1,064 )   (2,217 )   (2,217 )
Other contract holder funds:
                       
     Remaining guaranteed interest and similar contracts
  (1,100 )   (1,100 )   (1,114 )   (1,114 )
     Account values of certain investment contracts
  (27,707 )   (30,526 )   (27,468 )   (30,812 )
Short-term debt (1)
  (300 )   (306 )   (300 )   (309 )
Long-term debt
  (5,606 )   (5,543 )   (5,391 )   (5,345 )
Reinsurance related embedded derivatives
  (158 )   (158 )   (168 )   (168 )
VIEs' liabilities - derivative instruments
  (221 )   (221 )   (291 )   (291 )
Other liabilities:
                       
     Deferred compensation plans
  (375 )   (375 )   (354 )   (354 )
     Credit default swaps
  (10 )   (10 )   (16 )   (16 )

(1)  
     The difference between the carrying value and fair value of short-term debt as of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, related to current maturities of long-term debt

Valuation Methodologies and Associated Inputs for Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value

The following discussion outlines the methodologies and assumptions used to determine the fair value of our financial instruments not carried at fair value on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.  Considerable judgment is required to develop these assumptions used to measure fair value.  Accordingly, the estimates shown are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would be realized in a one-time, current market exchange of all of our financial instruments.

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate

The fair value of mortgage loans on real estate is established using a discounted cash flow method based on credit rating, maturity and future income.  The ratings for mortgages in good standing are based on property type, location, market conditions, occupancy, debt-service coverage, loan-to-value, quality of tenancy, borrower and payment record.  The fair value for impaired mortgage loans is based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s market price or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.  The inputs used to measure the fair value of our mortgage loans on real estate are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.


 
29

 

Other Investments

The carrying value of our assets classified as other investments approximates fair value.  Other investments include LPs and other privately held investments that are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and the carrying value is based on our proportional share of the net assets of the LPs.  The inputs used to measure the fair value of our other investments are classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.

Other Contract Holder Funds

Other contract holder funds include remaining guaranteed interest and similar contracts and account values of certain investment contracts.  The fair value for the remaining guaranteed interest and similar contracts is estimated using discounted cash flow calculations as of the balance sheet date.  These calculations are based on interest rates currently offered on similar contracts with maturities that are consistent with those remaining for the contracts being valued.  As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, the remaining guaranteed interest and similar contracts carrying value approximated fair value.  The fair value of the account values of certain investment contracts is based on their approximate surrender value as of the balance sheet date.  The inputs used to measure the fair value of our other contract holder funds are classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short-Term and Long-Term Debt

The fair value of long-term debt is based on quoted market prices.  For short-term debt, excluding current maturities of long-term debt, the carrying value approximates fair value.  The inputs used to measure the fair value of our short-term and long-term debt are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.


 
30

 

Financial Instruments Carried at Fair Value

We did not have any assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of March 31, 2012, or December 31, 2011, and we noted no changes in our valuation methodologies between these periods.

The following summarizes our financial instruments carried at fair value (in millions) on a recurring basis by the fair value hierarchy levels described  in “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in Note 1 of our 2011 Form 10-K:

 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
Quoted
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prices
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
in Active
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Markets for
 
Significant
 
Significant
 
 
 
 
Identical
 
Observable
 
Unobservable
 
Total
 
 
Assets
 
Inputs
 
Inputs
 
Fair
 
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
 
Value
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Fixed maturity AFS securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
          Corporate bonds
$ 64   $ 58,603   $ 1,932   $ 60,599  
          U.S. Government bonds
  452     33     1     486  
          Foreign government bonds
  -     551     99     650  
          RMBS
  -     7,474     98     7,572  
          CMBS
  -     1,491     32     1,523  
          CDOs
  -     -     102     102  
          State and municipal bonds
  -     4,126     -     4,126  
          Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
  20     1,060     116     1,196  
     VIEs' fixed maturity securities
  106     596     -     702  
     Equity AFS securities
  36     29     61     126  
     Trading securities
  2     2,580     68     2,650  
     Derivative investments
  -     207     2,037     2,244  
Cash and invested cash
  -     3,516     -     3,516  
Separate account assets
  -     91,088     -     91,088  
                    Total assets
$ 680   $ 171,354   $ 4,546   $ 176,580  
 
                       
Liabilities
                       
Future contract benefits:
                       
     Indexed annuity contracts embedded derivatives
$ -   $ -   $ (480 ) $ (480 )
     GLB reserves embedded derivatives
  -     -     (1,064 )   (1,064 )
Long-term debt
  -     (1,088 )   -     (1,088 )
Reinsurance related embedded derivatives
  -     (158 )   -     (158 )
VIEs' liabilities - derivative instruments
  -     -     (221 )   (221 )
Other liabilities:
                       
     Deferred compensation plans
  -     -     (375 )   (375 )
     Credit default swaps
  -     -     (10 )   (10 )
                    Total liabilities
$ -   $ (1,246 ) $ (2,150 ) $ (3,396 )


 
31

 


 
As of December 31, 2011
 
 
Quoted
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prices
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
in Active
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Markets for
 
Significant
 
Significant
 
 
 
 
Identical
 
Observable
 
Unobservable
 
Total
 
 
Assets
 
Inputs
 
Inputs
 
Fair
 
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
 
Value
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Fixed maturity AFS securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
          Corporate bonds
$ 63   $ 57,310   $ 1,888   $ 59,261  
          U.S. Government bonds
  475     18     1     494  
          Foreign government bonds
  -     636     97     733  
          RMBS
  -     7,881     158     8,039  
          CMBS
  -     1,566     34     1,600  
          CDOs
  -     -     102     102  
          State and municipal bonds
  -     4,047     -     4,047  
          Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
  15     1,042     100     1,157  
     VIEs' fixed maturity securities
  108     592     -     700  
     Equity AFS securities
  37     46     56     139  
     Trading securities
  2     2,605     68     2,675  
     Derivative investments
  -     681     2,470     3,151  
Cash and invested cash
  -     4,510     -     4,510  
Separate account assets
  -     83,477     -     83,477  
                    Total assets
$ 700   $ 164,411   $ 4,974   $ 170,085  
 
                       
Liabilities
                       
Future contract benefits:
                       
     Indexed annuity contracts embedded derivatives
$ -   $ -   $ (399 ) $ (399 )
     GLB reserves embedded derivatives
  -     -     (2,217 )   (2,217 )
Long-term debt
  -     (1,688 )   -     (1,688 )
Reinsurance related embedded derivatives
  -     (168 )   -     (168 )
VIEs' liabilities - derivative instruments
  -     -     (291 )   (291 )
Other liabilities:
                       
     Deferred compensation plans
  -     -     (354 )   (354 )
     Credit default swaps
  -     -     (16 )   (16 )
                    Total liabilities
$ -   $ (1,856 ) $ (3,277 ) $ (5,133 )


 
32

 

The following summarizes changes to our financial instruments carried at fair value (in millions) and classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.  This summary excludes any effect of amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL.  The gains and losses below may include changes in fair value due in part to observable inputs that are a component of the valuation methodology.

 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gains
 
Issuances,
 
Transfers
 
 
 
 
 
 
Items
 
(Losses)
 
Sales,
 
In or
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included
 
in
 
Maturities,
 
Out
 
 
 
 
Beginning
 
in
 
OCI
 
Settlements,
 
of
 
Ending
 
 
Fair
 
Net
 
and
 
Calls,
 
Level 3,
 
Fair
 
 
Value
 
Income
 
Other (1)
 
Net
 
Net (2)
 
Value
 
Investments: (3)
 
 
 
     
 
     
 
 
     Fixed maturity AFS securities:
 
 
 
     
 
     
 
 
          Corporate bonds
$ 1,888   $ (14 ) $ -   $ 174   $ (116 ) $ 1,932  
          U.S. Government bonds
  1     -     -     -     -     1  
          Foreign government bonds
  97     -     2     -     -     99  
          RMBS
  158     (3 )   3     (5 )   (55 )   98  
          CMBS
  34     (3 )   8     (7 )   -     32  
          CDOs
  102     -     4     (4 )   -     102  
       Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
  100     -     5     -     11     116  
     Equity AFS securities
  56     -     5     -     -     61  
     Trading securities
  68     1     -     (1 )   -     68  
     Derivative investments
  2,470     (520 )   (88 )   175     -     2,037  
Future contract benefits: (4)
                                   
  Indexed annuity contracts embedded derivatives
  (399 )   (104 )   -     23     -     (480 )
     GLB reserves embedded derivatives
  (2,217 )   1,153     -     -     -     (1,064 )
VIEs' liabilities - derivative instruments (5)
  (291 )   70     -     -     -     (221 )
Other liabilities:
                                   
     Deferred compensation plans (6)
  (354 )   (28 )   -     7     -     (375 )
     Credit default swaps (7)
  (16 )   6     -     -     -     (10 )
                    Total, net
$ 1,697   $ 558   $ (61 ) $ 362   $ (160 ) $ 2,396  


 
33

 


 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gains
 
Issuances,
 
Transfers
 
 
 
 
 
 
Items
 
(Losses)
 
Sales,
 
In or
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included
 
in
 
Maturities,
 
Out
 
 
 
 
Beginning
 
in
 
OCI
 
Settlements,
 
of
 
Ending
 
 
Fair
 
Net
 
and
 
Calls,
 
Level 3,
 
Fair
 
 
Value
 
Income
 
Other (1)
 
Net
 
Net (2)
 
Value
 
Investments: (3)
 
 
 
     
 
     
 
 
Fixed maturity AFS securities:
 
 
 
     
 
     
 
 
     Corporate bonds
$ 1,816   $ (1 ) $ 10   $ 54   $ (73 ) $ 1,806  
     U.S. Government bonds
  2     -     -     -     -     2  
     Foreign government bonds
  113     -     7     (3 )   (17 )   100  
     RMBS
  119     (2 )   2     (4 )   -     115  
     CMBS
  109     (23 )   30     (52 )   -     64  
     CDOs
  172     14     (12 )   (38 )   -     136  
  Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
  119     -     1     -     4     124  
     Equity AFS securities:
  92     8     3     (9 )   2     96  
     Trading securities
  76     1     (2 )   (2 )   (2 )   71  
     Derivative investments
  1,495     (145 )   (18 )   107     -     1,439  
Future contract benefits: (4)
                                   
  Indexed annuity contracts embedded derivatives
  (497 )   48     -     (79 )   -     (528 )
     GLB reserves embedded derivatives
  (408 )   290     -     -     -     (118 )
VIEs' liabilities - derivative instruments (5)
  (209 )   6     -     -     -     (203 )
Other liabilities:
                                   
     Deferred compensation plans (6)
  (363 )   (8 )   -     14     -     (357 )
     Credit default swaps (7)
  (16 )   4     -     6     -     (6 )
                    Total, net
$ 2,620   $ 192   $ 21   $ (6 ) $ (86 ) $ 2,741  

(1)  
The changes in fair value of the interest rate swaps are offset by an adjustment to derivative investments (see Note 5).
(2)  
Transfers in or out of Level 3 for AFS and trading securities are displayed at amortized cost as of the beginning-of-period.  For AFS and trading securities, the difference between beginning-of-period amortized cost and beginning-of-period fair value was included in OCI and earnings, respectively, in prior periods.
(3)  
Amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts are included in net investment income on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).  Gains (losses) from sales, maturities, settlements and calls and OTTI are included in realized gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
(4)  
Gains (losses) from sales, maturities, settlements and calls are included in realized gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
(5)  
The changes in fair value of the credit default swaps and contingency forwards are included in realized gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
(6)  
Deferrals and subsequent changes in fair value for the participants’ investment options are reported in underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
(7)  
Gains (losses) from sales, maturities, settlements and calls are included in net investment income on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).


 
34

 

The following provides the components of the items included in issuances, sales, maturities, settlements, calls, net, excluding any effect of amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL and changes in future contract benefits, (in millions) as reported above:

 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
 
 
Issuances
 
Sales
 
Maturities
 
Settlements
 
Calls
 
Total
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Fixed maturity AFS securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
          Corporate bonds
$ 231   $ (26 ) $ -   $ (29 ) $ (2 ) $ 174  
          RMBS
  -     -     -     (5 )   -     (5 )
          CMBS
  -     -     -     (7 )   -     (7 )
          CDOs
  -     -     -     (4 )   -     (4 )
     Trading securities
  -     -     -     (1 )   -     (1 )
     Derivative investments
  209     15     (49 )   -     -     175  
Future contract benefits:
                                   
  Indexed annuity contracts embedded derivatives
  (9 )   -     -     32     -     23  
Other liabilities:
                                   
     Deferred compensation plans
  -     -     -     7     -     7  
                    Total, net
$ 431   $ (11 ) $ (49 ) $ (7 ) $ (2 ) $ 362  

 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
 
 
Issuances
 
Sales
 
Maturities
 
Settlements
 
Calls
 
Total
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Fixed maturity AFS securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
          Corporate bonds
$ 101   $ (8 ) $ (1 ) $ (37 ) $ (1 ) $ 54  
          Foreign government bonds
  -     (3 )   -     -     -     (3 )
          RMBS
  -     -     -     (4 )   -     (4 )
          CMBS
  1     (44 )   -     (9 )   -     (52 )
          CDOs
  -     (33 )   -     (5 )   -     (38 )
     Equity AFS securities
  6     (15 )   -     -     -     (9 )
     Trading securities
  -     -     -     (2 )   -     (2 )
     Derivative investments
  167     (2 )   (58 )   -     -     107  
Future contract benefits:
                                   
  Indexed annuity contracts embedded derivatives
  (17 )   -     -     (62 )   -     (79 )
Other liabilities:
                                   
     Deferred compensation plans
  -     -     -     14     -     14  
     Credit default swaps
  -     6     -     -     -     6  
                    Total, net
$ 258   $ (99 ) $ (59 ) $ (105 ) $ (1 ) $ (6 )


 
35

 

The following summarizes changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income, excluding any effect of amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL and changes in future contract benefits, related to financial instruments carried at fair value classified within Level 3 that we still held (in millions):

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Investments: (1)
 
 
 
 
     Derivative investments
$ (520 ) $ (140 )
Future contract benefits: (1)
           
     Indexed annuity contracts embedded derivatives
  21     (4 )
     GLB reserves embedded derivatives
  1,183     338  
VIEs' liabilities - derivative instruments (1)
  70     2  
Other liabilities:
           
     Deferred compensation plans (2)
  (28 )   (8 )
     Credit default swaps (3)
  6     6  
          Total, net
$ 732   $ 194  

(1)  
Included in realized gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
(2)  
Included in underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
(3)  
Included in net investment income on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

The following provides the components of the transfers in and out of Level 3 (in millions) as reported above:

 
For the Three Months
 
For the Three Months
 
 
Ended March 31, 2012
 
Ended March 31, 2011
 
 
Transfers
Transfers
 
 
 
Transfers
 
Transfers
 
 
 
 
In to
Out of
 
 
 
In to
 
Out of
 
 
 
 
Level 3
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Level 3
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Fixed maturity AFS securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
          Corporate bonds
$ 150   $ (266 ) $ (116 ) $ 32   $ (105 ) $ (73 )
          Foreign government bonds
  -     -     -     -     (17 )   (17 )
          RMBS
  -     (55 )   (55 )   -     -     -  
          Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
  20     (9 )   11     4     -     4  
     Equity AFS securities
  -     -     -     2     -     2  
     Trading securities
  -     -     -     -     (2 )   (2 )
                    Total, net
$ 170   $ (330 ) $ (160 ) $ 38   $ (124 ) $ (86 )

Transfers in and out of Level 3 are generally the result of observable market information on a security no longer being available or becoming available to our pricing vendors.  For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, our corporate bonds transfers in and out were attributable primarily to the securities’ observable market information being available or no longer being available, respectively.  Transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 are generally the result of a change in the type of input used to measure the fair value of an asset or liability at the end of the reporting period.  When quoted prices in active markets become available or when these prices become unavailable, but we are able to employ a valuation methodology using significant observable inputs, transfers between Levels 1 and 2 will result.  For the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the transfers between Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy were less than $1 million for our financial instruments carried at fair value.


 
36

 

The following summarizes the fair value (in millions), valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs of the Level 3 fair value measurements that were developed as of March 31, 2012:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair
 
Valuation
 
Significant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Value
 
Technique
 
Unobservable Inputs
 
Range
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity AFS and trading securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds
$
 1,119 
 
Discounted cash flow
 
Liquidity/duration adjustment (1)
 
0.5% - 9.0%
 
 
Foreign government bonds
 
 52 
 
Discounted cash flow
 
Liquidity/duration adjustment (1)
 
2.5% - 6.0%
 
Equity AFS and trading securities
 
 12 
 
Discounted cash flow
 
Liquidity/duration adjustment (1)
 
4.0% - 4.5%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Future contract benefits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indexed annuity contracts embedded derivatives
 
 (480)
 
Discounted cash flow
 
Lapse rate (2)
 
1.0% - 15.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortality rate (3)
 
  (7)
 
GLB reserves embedded derivatives
 
 (1,064)
 
Monte Carlo simulation
 
Long-term lapse rate (2)
 
0.5% - 13.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wait period (4)
 
 
0 - 25 years (or years until the eligible age)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Percent of maximum
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
withdrawal amount (5)
 
95.0% - 100.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-performance risk ("NPR") (6)
 
0.05% - 0.35%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortality rate (3)
 
  (7)

(1)  
The liquidity/duration adjustment input represents an estimated market participant composite of adjustments attributable to liquidity premiums, expected durations, structures and credit quality that would be applied to the market observable information of an investment.
(2)  
The lapse rate input represents the estimated probability of a contract surrendering during a year, and thereby forgoing any future benefits.  The range represents the lapse rates during the surrender charge period for indexed annuity contracts.
(3)  
The mortality rate input represents the estimated probability of when an individual belonging to a particular group, categorized according to age or some other factor such as occupation, will die.
(4)  
The wait period input represents the estimated period a contract holder would wait to withdraw after becoming eligible.
(5)  
The percent of maximum withdrawal amount input represents the estimated ratio of contract withdrawal amount to the maximum withdrawal amount specified.
(6)  
The NPR input represents the estimated additional credit spread that market participants would apply to the market observable discount rate when pricing a contract.
(7)  
Based on the “Annuity 2000 Mortality Table” developed by the Society of Actuaries Committee on Life Insurance Research that was adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 1996 for our mortality input.

From the table above, we have excluded Level 3 fair value measurements obtained from independent, third-party pricing sources.  We do not develop the significant inputs used to measure the fair value of these assets and liabilities, and the information regarding the significant inputs is not readily available to us.  Independent broker-quoted fair values are non-binding quotes developed by market makers or broker-dealers obtained from third-party sources recognized as market participants.  The fair value of a broker-quoted asset or liability is based solely on the receipt of an updated quote from a single market maker or a broker-dealer recognized as a market participant as we do not adjust broker quotes when used as the fair value measurement for an asset or liability.  Significant increases or decreases in any of the quotes received from a third-party broker-dealer may result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement.

Changes in any of the significant inputs presented in the table above may result in a significant change in the fair value measurement of the asset or liability as follows:
 
37

 

·  
Investments – An increase in the liquidity/duration input would result in a decrease in the fair value measurement.
·  
Indexed annuity contracts embedded derivatives – An increase in the lapse rate or mortality rate inputs would result in a decrease in the fair value measurement.
·  
GLB reserves embedded derivatives – An increase in our lapse rate, wait period, NPR or mortality rate inputs would result in a decrease in the fair value measurement.  An increase in the percent of maximum withdrawal amount input would result in an increase in the fair value measurement.

For each category discussed above, the unobservable inputs are not inter-related; therefore, a directional change in one input will not affect the other inputs.

As part of our on-going valuation process, we assess the reasonableness of our valuation techniques or models and make adjustments as necessary.  For more information, see “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in Note 1 of our 2011 Form 10-K.

13.  Segment Information

We provide products and services and report results through our Annuities, Retirement Plan Services, Life Insurance and Group Protection segments.  We also have Other Operations, which includes the financial data for operations that are not directly related to the business segments.  Our reporting segments reflect the manner by which our chief operating decision makers view and manage the business.  See Note 22 of our 2011 Form 10-K for a brief description of these segments and Other Operations.

Segment operating revenues and income (loss) from operations are internal measures used by our management and Board of Directors to evaluate and assess the results of our segments.  Income (loss) from operations is GAAP net income excluding the after-tax effects of the following items, as applicable:

·  
Realized gains and losses associated with the following (“excluded realized gain (loss)”):
§  
Sale or disposal of securities;
§  
Impairments of securities;
§  
Change in the fair value of derivative instruments, embedded derivatives within certain reinsurance arrangements and our trading securities;
§  
Change in the fair value of the derivatives we own to hedge our GDB riders within our variable annuities;
§  
Change in the GLB embedded derivative reserves, net of the change in the fair value of the derivatives we own to hedge the changes in the embedded derivative reserves; and
§  
Changes in the fair value of the embedded derivative liabilities related to index call options we may purchase in the future to hedge contract holder index allocations applicable to future reset periods for our indexed annuity products accounted for under the Derivatives and Hedging and the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topics of the FASB ASC;
·  
Change in reserves accounted for under the Financial Services – Insurance – Claim Costs and Liabilities for Future Policy Benefits Subtopic of the FASB ASC resulting from benefit ratio unlocking on our GDB and GLB riders (“benefit ratio unlocking”);
·  
Income (loss) from the initial adoption of new accounting standards;
·  
Income (loss) from reserve changes (net of related amortization) on business sold through reinsurance;
·  
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt;
·  
Losses from the impairment of intangible assets; and
·  
Income (loss) from discontinued operations.

Operating revenues represent GAAP revenues excluding the pre-tax effects of the following items, as applicable:

·  
Excluded realized gain (loss);
·  
Amortization of DFEL arising from changes in GDB and GLB benefit ratio unlocking;
·  
Amortization of deferred gains arising from the reserve changes on business sold through reinsurance; and
·  
Revenue adjustments from the initial adoption of new accounting standards.

We use our prevailing corporate federal income tax rate of 35% while taking into account any permanent differences for events recognized differently in our financial statements and federal income tax returns when reconciling our non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measure.  Operating revenues and income (loss) from operations do not replace revenues and net income as the GAAP measures of our consolidated results of operations.


 
38

 

Segment information (in millions) was as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Revenues
 
 
 
 
Operating revenues:
 
 
 
 
     Annuities
$ 731   $ 733  
     Retirement Plan Services
  252     263  
     Life Insurance
  1,232     1,146  
     Group Protection
  504     478  
     Other Operations
  107     118  
Excluded realized gain (loss), pre-tax
  (114 )   (21 )
Amortization of deferred gain arising from reserve changes on business sold through reinsurance, pre-tax
  1     1  
Amortization of DFEL associated with benefit ratio unlocking, pre-tax
  1     -  
          Total revenues
$ 2,714   $ 2,718  

 
For the Three
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Net Income (Loss)
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) from operations:
 
 
 
 
     Annuities
$ 137   $ 144  
     Retirement Plan Services
  35     48  
     Life Insurance
  142     142  
     Group Protection
  16     24  
     Other Operations
  (34 )   (35 )
Excluded realized gain (loss), after-tax
  (73 )   (14 )
Benefit ratio unlocking, after-tax
  23     5  
          Income (loss) from continuing operations, after-tax
  246     314  
          Income (loss) from discontinued operations, after-tax
  (1 )   -  
               Net income (loss)
$ 245   $ 314  

 
39

 

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

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is intended to help the reader understand the financial condition as of March 31, 2012, compared with December 31, 2011, and the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared with the corresponding period in 2011 of Lincoln National Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.  Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, “LNC,” “Lincoln,” “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” refers to Lincoln National Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.  The MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements (“Notes”) presented in “Part I – Item 1. Financial Statements”; our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (“2011 Form 10-K”), including the sections entitled “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors,” “Part II – Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Part II – Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”; and our current reports on Form 8-K filed in 2012.

In this report, in addition to providing consolidated revenues and net income (loss), we also provide segment operating revenues and income (loss) from operations because we believe they are meaningful measures of revenues and the profitability of our operating segments.  Financial information that follows is presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), unless otherwise indicated.  See Note 1 in our 2011 Form 10-K for a discussion of GAAP.

Operating revenues and income (loss) from operations are the financial performance measures we use to evaluate and assess the results of our segments.  Accordingly, we define and report operating revenues and income (loss) from operations by segment in Note 13.  Our management believes that operating revenues and income (loss) from operations explain the results of our ongoing businesses in a manner that allows for a better understanding of the underlying trends in our current businesses because the excluded items are unpredictable and not necessarily indicative of current operating fundamentals or future performance of the business segments, and, in many instances, decisions regarding these items do not necessarily relate to the operations of the individual segments.  In addition, we believe that our definitions of operating revenues and income (loss) from operations will provide investors with a more valuable measure of our performance because it better reveals trends in our business.

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods’ financial information.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE

Certain statements made in this report and in other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”).  A forward-looking statement is a statement that is not a historical fact and, without limitation, includes any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain words like:  “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “will,” “shall” and other words or phrases with similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance.  In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, trends in our businesses, prospective services or products, future performance or financial results and the outcome of contingencies, such as legal proceedings.  We claim the protection afforded by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the PSLRA.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results contained in the forward-looking statements.  Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary materially, some of which are described within the forward-looking statements, include, among others:

·  
Deterioration in general economic and business conditions that may affect account values, investment results, guaranteed benefit liabilities, premium levels, claims experience and the level of pension benefit costs, funding and investment results;
·  
Adverse global capital and credit market conditions could affect our ability to raise capital, if necessary, and may cause us to realize impairments on investments and certain intangible assets, including goodwill and a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets, which may reduce future earnings and/or affect our financial condition and ability to raise additional capital or refinance existing debt as it matures;
·  
Because of our holding company structure, the inability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to the holding company in sufficient amounts could harm the holding company’s ability to meet its obligations;
·  
Legislative, regulatory or tax changes, both domestic and foreign, that affect the cost of, or demand for, our subsidiaries’ products, the required amount of reserves and/or surplus, or otherwise affect our ability to conduct business, including changes to statutory reserve requirements related to secondary guarantees under universal life, such as a change to reserve calculations under Actuarial Guideline 38 (also known as The Application of the Valuation of Life Insurance Policies Model Regulation, or “AG38”), and variable annuity products under Actuarial Guideline 43 (also known as Commissioners Annuity Reserve Valuation Method for Variable Annuities, or “AG43”); restrictions on revenue sharing and 12b-1 payments; and the potential for U.S. federal tax reform;

 
40

 

·  
Uncertainty about the effect of rules and regulations to be promulgated under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act on us and the economy and the financial services sector in particular;
·  
The initiation of legal or regulatory proceedings against us, and the outcome of any legal or regulatory proceedings, such as:  adverse actions related to present or past business practices common in businesses in which we compete; adverse decisions in significant actions including, but not limited to, actions brought by federal and state authorities and class action cases; new decisions that result in changes in law; and unexpected trial court rulings;
·  
Declines in or sustained low interest rates causing a reduction in investment income, the interest margins of our businesses, estimated gross profits and demand for our products;
·  
A decline in the equity markets causing a reduction in the sales of our subsidiaries’ products, a reduction of asset-based fees that our subsidiaries charge on various investment and insurance products, an acceleration of the net amortization of deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”), value of business acquired (“VOBA”), deferred sales inducements (“DSI”) and deferred front-end loads (“DFEL”) and an increase in liabilities related to guaranteed benefit features of our subsidiaries’ variable annuity products;
·  
Ineffectiveness of our risk management policies and procedures, including various hedging strategies used to offset the effect of changes in the value of liabilities due to changes in the level and volatility of the equity markets and interest rates;
·  
A deviation in actual experience regarding future persistency, mortality, morbidity, interest rates or equity market returns from the assumptions used in pricing our subsidiaries’ products, in establishing related insurance reserves and in the net amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL, which may reduce future earnings;
·  
Changes in GAAP, including the potential incorporation of International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) into the U.S. financial reporting system, that may result in unanticipated changes to our net income;
·  
Lowering of one or more of our debt ratings issued by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and the adverse effect such action may have on our ability to raise capital and on our liquidity and financial condition;
·  
Lowering of one or more of the insurer financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries and the adverse effect such action may have on the premium writings, policy retention, profitability of our insurance subsidiaries and liquidity;
·  
Significant credit, accounting, fraud, corporate governance or other issues that may adversely affect the value of certain investments in our portfolios, as well as counterparties to which we are exposed to credit risk, requiring that we realize losses on investments;
·  
The effect of acquisitions and divestitures, restructurings, product withdrawals and other unusual items;
·  
The adequacy and collectibility of reinsurance that we have purchased;
·  
Acts of terrorism, a pandemic, war or other man-made and natural catastrophes that may adversely affect our businesses and the cost and availability of reinsurance;
·  
Competitive conditions, including pricing pressures, new product offerings and the emergence of new competitors, that may affect the level of premiums and fees that our subsidiaries can charge for their products;
·  
The unknown effect on our subsidiaries’ businesses resulting from changes in the demographics of their client base, as aging baby-boomers move from the asset-accumulation stage to the asset-distribution stage of life; and
·  
Loss of key management, financial planners or wholesalers.

The risks included here are not exhaustive.  Our annual report on Form 10-K, current reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) include additional factors that could affect our businesses and financial performance.  Moreover, we operate in a rapidly changing and competitive environment.  New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors.

Further, it is not possible to assess the effect of all risk factors on our businesses or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.  Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results.  In addition, we disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this report.

INTRODUCTION

Executive Summary

We are a holding company that operates multiple insurance and retirement businesses through subsidiary companies.  Through our business segments, we sell a wide range of wealth protection, accumulation and retirement income products and solutions.  These products include fixed and indexed annuities, variable annuities, universal life insurance (“UL”), variable universal life insurance (“VUL”), linked-benefit UL, term life insurance, employer-sponsored defined contribution retirement plans, mutual funds and group life, disability and dental.

 
41

 


We provide products and services and report results through our Annuities, Retirement Plan Services, Life Insurance and Group Protection segments.  We also have Other Operations.  These segments and Other Operations are described in “Part I – Item 1. Business” of our 2011 Form 10-K.

For information on how we derive our revenues, see the discussion in results of operations by segment below.

Our current market conditions, significant operational matters, industry trends, issues and outlook are described in “Introduction – Executive Summary” of our 2011 Form 10-K.

For factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in this section, see “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above and “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2011 Form 10-K.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The MD&A included in our 2011 Form 10-K contains a detailed discussion of our critical accounting policies and estimates.  The following information updates the “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” provided in our 2011 Form 10-K and, accordingly, should be read in conjunction with the “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” discussed in our 2011 Form 10-K.

DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL

New DAC Methodology

In October 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-26, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts” (referred to herein as the “new DAC methodology”), which clarifies the types of costs incurred by an insurance entity that can be capitalized in the acquisition of insurance contracts.  Only those costs incurred that result directly from and are essential to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts may be capitalized as deferrable acquisition costs.  This determination of deferability must be made on a contract-level basis.  This new DAC methodology contrasts to the prior guidance we followed that defined deferrable acquisition costs as costs that vary with and are related primarily to new or renewal business, regardless of whether the acquisition efforts were successful or unsuccessful.

Some examples of acquisition costs that remain subject to deferral as part of the new DAC methodology include the following:

·  
Employee, agent or broker commissions for successful contract acquisitions;
·  
Wholesaler production bonuses for successful contract acquisitions;
·  
Renewal commissions and bonuses to agents or brokers;
·  
Medical and inspection fees for successful contract acquisitions;
·  
Premium-related taxes and assessments; and
·  
A portion of the salaries and benefits of certain employees involved in the underwriting, contract issuance and processing, medical and inspection and sales force contract selling functions related to the successful issuance or renewal of an insurance contract.

All other acquisition-related costs, including costs incurred by the insurer for soliciting potential customers, market research, training, administration, management of distribution and underwriting functions, unsuccessful acquisition or renewal efforts and product development, are considered non-deferrable acquisition costs and must be expensed in the period incurred.

In addition, the following indirect costs are considered non-deferrable acquisition costs as part of the new DAC methodology and must be charged to expense in the period incurred:

·  
Administrative costs;
·  
Rent;
·  
Depreciation;
·  
Occupancy costs;
·  
Equipment costs (including data processing equipment dedicated to acquiring insurance contracts); and
·  
Other general overhead.

We adopted the new DAC methodology as of January 1, 2012, and elected to apply the guidance retrospectively.  The retrospective adoption resulted in the restatement of all periods presented with a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) for the earliest period presented.  Further, our adoption of

 
42

 

the new DAC methodology resulted in an overall reduction in deferrable acquisition costs, partially offset by lower DAC amortization, in each of our business segments.  See Note 2 for more discussion of the effect of adoption.

Reversion to the Mean (“RTM”)

As equity markets do not move in a systematic manner, we reset the baseline of account values from which estimated gross profits (“EGPs) are projected, which we refer to as our RTM process, as discussed in our 2011 Form 10-K.

Our long-term variable fund growth rate assumption, which is used in the determination of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL amortization for our variable annuity and VUL products, is an immediate drop of approximately 14% followed by growth going forward of 8% to 9% depending on the block of business and reflecting differences in contract holder fund allocations between fixed income and equity-type investments.  If we were to have unlocked our RTM assumption in the corridor as of March 31, 2012, we would have recorded a favorable prospective unlocking of approximately $240 million, pre-tax, for Annuities, approximately $20 million, pre-tax, for Retirement Plan Services, and approximately $20 million, pre-tax, for Life Insurance.

Investments

Investment Valuation
 
The following summarizes our available-for-sale (“AFS”) and trading securities and derivative investments carried at fair value by pricing source and fair value hierarchy level (in millions):

 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
Quoted
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prices
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
in Active
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Markets for
 
Significant
 
Significant
 
 
 
 
 
Identical
 
Observable
 
Unobservable
 
Total
 
 
Assets
 
Inputs
 
Inputs
 
Fair
 
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
 
Value
 
Priced by third party pricing services
$
 680 
 
$
 67,534 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 68,214 
 
Priced by independent broker quotations
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 3,363 
 
 
 3,363 
 
Priced by matrices
 
 - 
 
 
 9,216 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 9,216 
 
Priced by other methods (1)
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 1,183 
 
 
 1,183 
 
     Total
$
 680 
 
$
 76,750 
 
$
 4,546 
 
$
 81,976 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Percent of total
 
1%
 
 
93%
 
 
6%
 
 
100%
 

(1)  
     Represents primarily securities for which pricing models were used to compute fair value.

For more information about the valuation of our financial instruments carried at fair value, see “Part II – Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Introduction – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Investments – Investment Valuation” in our 2011 Form 10-K and Note 12.

As of March 31, 2012, we evaluated the markets that our securities trade in and concluded that none were inactive.  We will continue to re-evaluate this conclusion, as needed, based on market conditions.  We use unobservable inputs to measure the fair value of securities trading in less liquid or illiquid markets with limited or no pricing information.  We obtain broker quotes for securities such as synthetic convertibles, index-linked certificates of deposit and collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”) when sufficient security structure or other market information is not available to produce an evaluation.  For broker-quoted only securities, non-binding quotes from market makers or broker-dealers are obtained from sources recognized as market participants.  Broker-quoted securities are based solely on receipt of updated quotes from a single market maker or a broker-dealer recognized as a market participant.  Our broker-quoted only securities are generally classified as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.  As of March 31, 2012, we used broker quotes for 89 securities as our final price source, representing less than 2% of total securities owned.


 
43

 

Derivatives

Our accounting policies for derivatives and the potential effect on interest spreads in a falling rate environment are discussed in Note 5 of this report and “Part II – Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our 2011 Form 10-K.

Guaranteed Living Benefits

Approximately 48% of our variable annuity account values contained a guaranteed withdrawal benefit (“GWB”) rider as of March 31, 2012.  Declines in the equity markets increase our exposure to potential benefits under the GWB contracts, leading to an increase in our existing liability for those benefits.  For example, a GWB contract is “in the money” if the contract holder’s account balance falls below the guaranteed amount.  As of March 31, 2012 and 2011, 39% and 29%, respectively, of all GWB in-force contracts were “in the money,” and our exposure to the guaranteed amounts, after reinsurance, as of March 31, 2012 and 2011, was $1.0 billion and $796 million, respectively.  Our exposure before reinsurance for these same periods was $1.1 billion and $911 million, respectively.  However, the only way the GWB contract holder can monetize the excess of the guaranteed amount over the account value of the contract is upon death or through a series of withdrawals that do not exceed a specific percentage per year of the guaranteed amount.  If, after the series of withdrawals, the account value is exhausted, the contract holder will receive a series of annuity payments equal to the remaining guaranteed amount, and, for our lifetime GWB products, the annuity payments can continue beyond the guaranteed amount.  The account value can also fluctuate with equity market returns on a daily basis resulting in increases or decreases in the excess of the guaranteed amount over account value.

For information on our variable annuity hedge program performance, see our discussion in “Realized Gain (Loss) and Benefit Ratio Unlocking – Variable Annuity Net Derivatives Results” below.

Acquisitions and Dispositions

The loss from discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012, related to a purchase price adjustment associated with the termination of a portion of the investment advisory agreement with Delaware Management Holdings, Inc., our former subsidiary.

For information about acquisitions and divestitures, see “Part II – Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Acquisitions and Dispositions” and Note 3 in our 2011 Form 10-K.


 
44

 

RESULTS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS
 
Details underlying the consolidated results, deposits, net flows and account values (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Net Income (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) from operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Annuities
$ 137   $ 144     -5%  
     Retirement Plan Services
  35     48     -27%  
     Life Insurance
  142     142     0%  
     Group Protection
  16     24     -33%  
     Other Operations
  (34 )   (35 )   3%  
Excluded realized gain (loss), after-tax
  (73 )   (14 )
NM
 
Benefit ratio unlocking, after-tax
  23     5  
NM
 
     Income (loss) from continuing operations, after-tax
  246     314     -22%  
     Income (loss) from discontinued operations, after-tax
  (1 )   -  
NM
 
               Net income (loss)
$ 245   $ 314     -22%  

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Deposits
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annuities
$ 2,480   $ 2,639     -6%  
Retirement Plan Services
  1,511     1,341     13%  
Life Insurance
  1,159     1,270     -9%  
     Total deposits
$ 5,150   $ 5,250     -2%  
 
                 
Net Flows
                 
Annuities
$ 293   $ 483     -39%  
Retirement Plan Services
  212     134     58%  
Life Insurance
  751     821     -9%  
     Total net flows
$ 1,256   $ 1,438     -13%  

 
As of March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Account Values
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annuities
$ 91,668   $ 87,785     4%  
Retirement Plan Services
  42,020     40,308     4%  
Life Insurance
  36,008     34,149     5%  
     Total account values
$ 169,696   $ 162,242     5%  


 
45

 

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 to 2011

Net income decreased due primarily to the following:

·  
Narrowing of our credit spreads during 2012 leading to realized losses related to our non-performance risk (“NPR”) on guaranteed living benefit (“GLB”) liabilities;
·  
New money rates averaging below portfolio yields and lower prepayment and bond makewhole premiums driving lower net investment income, partially offset by growth in business and interest crediting rate actions; and
·  
Investments in strategic initiatives related to updating information technology and expanding distribution and support during 2012.

The decrease in net income was partially offset primarily by the following:
 
·
Growth in insurance in force;
·
Positive net flows and more favorable average equity markets driving higher average daily variable account values; and
·
More favorable tax items recorded in 2012 than in 2011 driven by tax preferred investments and other items.

RESULTS OF ANNUITIES

Income (Loss) from Operations
 
Details underlying the results for Annuities (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Operating Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insurance premiums (1)
$ 17   $ 23     -26%  
Insurance fees
  325     310     5%  
Net investment income
  272     288     -6%  
Operating realized gain (loss)
  27     23     17%  
Other revenues and fees (2)
  90     89     1%  
 Total operating revenues
  731     733     0%  
Operating Expenses
                 
Interest credited
  171     174     -2%  
Benefits
  45     35     29%  
Underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses
  353     340     4%  
 Total operating expenses
  569     549     4%  
Income (loss) from operations before taxes
  162     184     -12%  
Federal income tax expense (benefit)
  25     40     -38%  
       Income (loss) from operations
$ 137   $ 144     -5%  

(1)  
     Includes primarily our single-premium immediate annuities (“SPIA”), which have a corresponding offset in benefits for changes in reserves.
(2)  
     Consists primarily of fees attributable to broker-dealer services that are subject to market volatility.

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 to 2011
 
Income from operations for this segment decreased due primarily to the following:

·  
Higher benefits attributable to unfavorable mortality experience on SPIA during 2012 as compared to favorable experience during 2011;
·  
Lower net investment income and relatively flat interest credited driven by:

 
46

 

§  
Lower prepayment and bond makewhole premiums (See “Consolidated Investments – Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums” below for more information); and
§  
New money rates averaging below our portfolio yields;
partially offset by:
§  
Positive net flows, and actions implemented to reduce interest crediting rates; and
·  
Higher underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses due to higher trail commissions and investments in strategic initiatives related to updating information technology and expanding distribution and support during 2012.

The decrease in income from operations was partially offset primarily by the following:

·  
Higher insurance fees attributable to more favorable average equity markets driving higher average daily variable account values; and
·  
More favorable tax items recorded in 2012 than in 2011 driven by tax preferred investments and other items.

Additional Information

New deposits are an important component of net flows and key to our efforts to grow our business.  Although deposits do not significantly affect current period income from operations, they are an important indicator of future profitability.

The other component of net flows relates to the retention of the business.  An important measure of retention is the lapse rate, which compares the amount of withdrawals to the average account values.  The overall lapse rate for our annuity products was 8% for the first quarter of 2012 and 2011.

Our fixed annuity business includes products with discretionary crediting rates that are reset on an annual basis and are not subject to surrender charges.  Our ability to retain annual reset annuities will be subject to current competitive conditions at the time interest rates for these products reset.  We expect to manage the effects of spreads on near-term income from operations through portfolio management and, to a lesser extent, crediting rate actions, which assumes no significant changes in net flows into or out of our fixed accounts or other changes that may cause interest rate spreads to differ from our expectations.  For information on interest rate spreads, see “Part I – Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Interest Rate Risk – Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Businesses – Falling Rates” herein.  For information on the interest rate risk due to falling interest rates, see “Part II – Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Interest Rate Risk – Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Businesses – Falling Rates” and “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors – Market Conditions – Changes in interest rates and sustained low interest rates may cause interest rate spreads to decrease and changes in interest rates may also result in increased contract withdrawals” in our 2011 Form 10-K.

We provide information about this segment’s operating revenue and operating expense line items, the period in which amounts are recognized, key drivers of changes and historical details underlying the line items and their associated drivers below.  For detail on the operating realized gain (loss), see “Realized Gain (Loss) and Benefit Ratio Unlocking” below.

For factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in this section, see “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above and “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2011 Form 10-K.

Insurance Fees

Details underlying insurance fees, account values and net flows (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Insurance Fees
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortality, expense and other assessments
$ 319   $ 310     3%  
Surrender charges
  6     11     -45%  
DFEL:
                 
     Deferrals
  (6 )   (17 )   65%  
 Amortization, net of interest, excluding unlocking
  6     6     0%  
          Total insurance fees
$ 325   $ 310     5%  

 
47

 


 
As of or For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Account Value Information
 
 
 
 
 
 
Variable annuity deposits, excluding the fixed portion of variable
$ 1,472   $ 1,523     -3%  
Net flows for variable annuities, excluding the fixed portion of variable
  (166 )   (120 )   -38%  
Change in market value on variable, excluding the fixed portion of variable
  5,544     2,217     150%  
Transfers to the variable portion of variable annuity products from the fixed portion of variable annuity products
  671     832     -19%  
Average daily variable annuity account values, excluding the fixed portion of variable   69,003     66,459     4%  
Average daily S&P 500
  1,346.25     1,302.22     3%  
Variable annuity account values, excluding the fixed portion of variable
  71,059     67,787     5%  

We charge contract holders mortality and expense assessments on variable annuity accounts to cover insurance and administrative expenses.  These assessments are a function of the rates priced into the product and the average daily variable account values.  Average daily account values are driven by net flows and the equity markets.  In addition, for our fixed annuity contracts and for some variable contracts, we collect surrender charges when contract holders surrender their contracts during their surrender charge periods to protect us from premature withdrawals.  Insurance fees include charges on both our variable and fixed annuity products, but exclude the attributed fees on our GLB products; see “Realized Gain (Loss) and Benefit Ratio Unlocking – Operating Realized Gain (Loss)” below for discussion of these attributed fees.

Net Investment Income and Interest Credited

Details underlying net investment income, interest credited (in millions) and our interest rate spread were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Net Investment Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real estate and other, net of investment expenses
$ 240   $ 248     -3%  
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and bond makewhole premiums (1)
  2     12     -83%  
Surplus investments (2)
  30     28     7%  
Total net investment income
$ 272   $ 288     -6%  
                   
Interest Credited
                 
Amount provided to contract holders
$ 168   $ 171     -2%  
DSI deferrals
  (9 )   (10 )   10%  
Interest credited before DSI amortization
  159     161     -1%  
DSI amortization, excluding unlocking
  12     13     -8%  
     Total interest credited
$ 171   $ 174     -2%  

 
48

 

(1)  
See “Consolidated Investments – Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums” below for additional information.
(2)  
Represents net investment income on the required statutory surplus for this segment and includes the effect of investment income on alternative investments for such assets that are held in the portfolios supporting statutory surplus versus the portfolios supporting product liabilities.

 
 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
Basis
 
 
 
March 31,
 
Point
 
   
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Interest Rate Spread
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real estate and other, net of investment expenses
  4.93%   5.28%     (35 )
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and bond makewhole premiums
  0.04%   0.26%     (22 )
     Net investment income yield on reserves
  4.97%   5.54%     (57 )
     Interest rate credited to contract holders
  3.15%   3.31%     (16 )
          Interest rate spread
  1.82%   2.23%     (41 )

 
As of or For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Other Information
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed annuity deposits, including the fixed portion of variable
$ 1,008   $ 1,116     -10%  
Net flows for fixed annuities, including the fixed portion of variable
  459     603     -24%  
Transfers from the fixed portion of variable annuity products to the variable portion of variable annuity products
  (671 )   (832 )   19%  
Average invested assets on reserves
  19,522     18,790     4%  
Average fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable
  21,030     20,479     3%  
Fixed annuity account values, including the fixed portion of variable
  20,609     19,998     3%  

A portion of our investment income earned is credited to the contract holders of our fixed annuity products, including the fixed portion of variable annuity contracts.  We expect to earn a spread between what we earn on the underlying general account investments supporting the fixed annuity product line, including the fixed portion of variable annuity contracts, and what we credit to our fixed annuity contract holders’ accounts, including the fixed portion of variable annuity contracts.  Changes in commercial mortgage loan prepayments and bond makewhole premiums, investment income on alternative investments and surplus investment income can vary significantly from period to period due to a number of factors and, therefore, may contribute to investment income results that are not indicative of the underlying trends.
 
Benefits

Benefits for this segment include changes in reserves of immediate annuity account values driven by premiums, changes in benefit reserves and our expected costs associated with purchases of derivatives used to hedge our benefit ratio unlocking.


 
49

 

Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and Other Expenses

Details underlying underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
and Other Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commissions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Deferrable
$ 110   $ 111     -1%  
     Non-deferrable
  73     66     11%  
General and administrative expenses
  98     87     13%  
Taxes, licenses and fees
  8     8     0%  
   Total expenses incurred, excluding broker-dealer
  289     272     6%  
DAC deferrals
  (124 )   (127 )   2%  
Total pre-broker-dealer expenses incurred, excluding amortization, net of interest
  165     145     14%  
DAC and VOBA amortization, net of interest, excluding unlocking
  98     103     -5%  
Broker-dealer expenses incurred
  90     92     -2%  
Total underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses
$ 353   $ 340     4%  
                   
DAC Deferrals
                 
As a percentage of sales/deposits
  5.0%     4.8%        

Commissions and other costs that result directly from and are essential to the successful acquisition of new or renewal business are deferred to the extent recoverable and are amortized over the lives of the contracts in relation to EGPs.  Certain of our commissions, such as trail commissions that are based on account values, are expensed as incurred rather than deferred and amortized.

Broker-dealer expenses that vary with and are related to sales are expensed as incurred and not deferred and amortized.  Fluctuations in these expenses correspond with fluctuations in other revenues and fees.


 
50

 

RESULTS OF RETIREMENT PLAN SERVICES

Income (Loss) from Operations
 
Details underlying the results for Retirement Plan Services (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
     
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Operating Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insurance fees
$ 52   $ 55     -5%  
Net investment income
  197     205     -4%  
Other revenues and fees (1)
  3     3     0%  
 Total operating revenues
  252     263     -4%  
Operating Expenses
                 
Interest credited
  111     108     3%  
Underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses
  94     86     9%  
 Total operating expenses
  205     194     6%  
Income (loss) from operations before taxes
  47     69     -32%  
Federal income tax expense (benefit)
  12     21     -43%  
     Income (loss) from operations
$ 35   $ 48     -27%  

(1)
Consists primarily of mutual fund account program fees for mid to large employers.

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 to 2011
 
Income from operations for this segment decreased due primarily to the following:

·  
Lower net investment income and relatively flat interest credited driven by:
§  
Lower prepayment and bond makewhole premiums (see “Consolidated Investments – Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums” below for more information); and
§  
New money rates averaging below our portfolio yields;
partially offset by:
§  
Transfers from variable to fixed, and actions implemented to reduce interest crediting rates; and
·  
Higher underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses due to investments in strategic initiatives related to updating information technology and expanding distribution and support during 2012.

Additional Information

Net flows in this business fluctuate based on the timing of larger plans rolling onto our platform and rolling off over the course of the year, and we expect this trend will continue during 2012.

New deposits are an important component of net flows and key to our efforts to grow our business.  Although deposits do not significantly affect current period income from operations, they are an important indicator of future profitability.  The other component of net flows relates to the retention of the business.  An important measure of retention is the lapse rate, which compares the amount of withdrawals to the average account values.  The overall lapse rate for our annuity and mutual fund products was 13% for the first quarter of 2012 compared to 12% for the corresponding period in 2011. 

Our lapse rate is negatively affected by the continued net outflows from our oldest blocks of annuities business (as presented on our Account Value Roll Forward table below as “Total Multi-Fund® and Other Variable Annuities”), which are also our higher margin product lines in this segment, due to the fact that they are mature blocks with much of the account values out of their surrender charge period.  The proportion of these products to our total account values was 39% and 41% as of March 31, 2012, and 2011, respectively.  Due to this expected overall shift in business mix toward products with lower returns, a significant increase in new deposit production will be necessary to maintain earnings at current levels.

 
51

 


Our fixed annuity business includes products with discretionary and index-based crediting rates that are reset on a quarterly basis.  Our ability to retain quarterly reset annuities will be subject to current competitive conditions at the time interest rates for these products reset.  We expect to manage the effects of spreads on near-term income from operations through portfolio management and, to a lesser extent, crediting rate actions, which assumes no significant changes in net flows into or out of our fixed accounts or other changes that may cause interest rate spreads to differ from our expectations.  For information on interest rate spreads, see “Part I – Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Interest Rate Risk – Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Businesses – Falling Rates” herein.  For information on the interest rate risk due to falling interest rates, see “Part II – Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Interest Rate Risk – Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Businesses – Falling Rates” and “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors – Market Conditions – Changes in interest rates and sustained low interest rates may cause interest rate spreads to decrease and changes in interest rates may also result in increased contract withdrawals” in our 2011 Form 10-K.

We provide information about this segment’s operating revenue and operating expense line items, the period in which amounts are recognized, key drivers of changes and historical details underlying the line items and their associated drivers below.

For factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in this section, see “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above and “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2011 Form 10-K.

Insurance Fees

Details underlying insurance fees, account values and net flows (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Insurance Fees
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annuity expense assessments
$ 45   $ 46     -2%  
Mutual fund fees
  7     8     -13%  
     Total expense assessments
  52     54     -4%  
Surrender charges
  -     1     -100%  
          Total insurance fees
$ 52   $ 55     -5%  


 
52

 


 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Account Value Roll Forward – By Product
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Micro – Small Segment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of beginning-of-period
$ 6,167   $ 6,396     -4%  
Gross deposits
  418     326     28%  
Withdrawals and deaths
  (412 )   (384 )   -7%  
     Net flows
  6     (58 )   110%  
Transfers between fixed and variable accounts
  (11 )   (6 )   -83%  
Investment increase and change in market value
  479     262     83%  
      Balance as of end-of-period
$ 6,641   $ 6,594     1%  
                   
Total Mid – Large Segment:
                 
Balance as of beginning-of-period
$ 17,435   $ 16,207     8%  
Gross deposits
  920     831     11%  
Withdrawals and deaths
  (505 )   (398 )   -27%  
     Net flows
  415     433     -4%  
Transfers between fixed and variable accounts
  (2 )   (21 )   90%  
Investment increase and change in market value
  1,351     605     123%  
      Balance as of end-of-period
$ 19,199   $ 17,224     11%  
 
             
Total Multi-Fund® and Other Variable Annuities:
                 
Balance as of beginning-of-period
$ 15,531   $ 16,221     -4%  
Gross deposits
  173     184     -6%  
Withdrawals and deaths
  (382 )   (425 )   10%  
     Net flows
  (209 )   (241 )   13%  
Investment increase and change in market value
  858     510     68%  
      Balance as of end-of-period
$ 16,180   $ 16,490     -2%  
                   
Total Annuities and Mutual Funds:
                 
Balance as of beginning-of-period
$ 39,133   $ 38,824     1%  
Gross deposits
  1,511     1,341     13%  
Withdrawals and deaths
  (1,299 )   (1,207 )   -8%  
     Net flows
  212     134     58%  
Transfers between fixed and variable accounts
  (13 )   (27 )   52%  
Investment increase and change in market value
  2,688     1,377     95%  
      Balance as of end-of-period (1)
$ 42,020   $ 40,308     4%  

(1)  
Includes mutual fund account values and other third-party trustee-held assets.  These items are not included in the separate accounts reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as we do not have any ownership interest in them.

 
53

 


 
As of or For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Account Value Information
 
 
 
 
 
 
Variable annuity deposits, excluding the fixed portion of variable
$ 468   $ 415     13%  
Net flows for variable annuities, excluding the fixed portion of variable
  (104 )   (172 )   40%  
Change in market value on variable, excluding the fixed portion of variable
  1,258     695     81%  
Transfers from the variable portion of variable annuity products to the fixed portion of variable annuity products
  (62 )   (50 )   -24%  
Average daily variable annuity account values, excluding the fixed portion of variable   13,589     14,178     -4%   
Average daily S&P 500
  1,346.25     1,302.22     3%  
Variable annuity account values, excluding the fixed portion of variable
  13,959     14,400     -3%  

We charge expense assessments to cover insurance and administrative expenses.  Expense assessments are generally equal to a percentage of the daily variable account values.  Average daily account values are driven by net flows and the equity markets.  Our expense assessments include fees we earn for the services that we provide to our mutual fund programs.  In addition, for both our fixed and variable annuity contracts, we collect surrender charges when contract holders surrender their contracts during the surrender charge periods to protect us from premature withdrawals.

Net Investment Income and Interest Credited

Details underlying net investment income, interest credited (in millions) and our interest rate spread were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Net Investment Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real estate and other, net of investment expenses
$ 182   $ 177     3%  
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and bond makewhole premiums (1)
  1     11     -91%  
Alternative investments (2)
  -     1     -100%  
Surplus investments (3)
  14     16     -13%  
     Total net investment income
$ 197   $ 205     -4%  
                   
Interest Credited
$ 111   $ 108     3%  

(1)  
See “Consolidated Investments – Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums” below for additional information.
(2)  
See “Consolidated Investments – Alternative Investments” below for additional information.
(3)  
Represents net investment income on the required statutory surplus for this segment and includes the effect of investment income on alternative investments for such assets that are held in the portfolios supporting statutory surplus versus the portfolios supporting product liabilities.

 
54

 
 
 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
Basis
 
 
March 31,
 
Point
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Interest Rate Spread
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real estate and other, net of investment expenses
  5.34%     5.61%     (27 )
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and bond makewhole premiums
  0.04%     0.35%     (31 )
Alternative investments
  0.01%     0.03%     (2 )
     Net investment income yield on reserves
  5.39%     5.99%     (60 )
     Interest rate credited to contract holders
  3.22%     3.36%     (14 )
          Interest rate spread
  2.17%     2.63%     (46 )

 
As of or For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Other Information
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed annuity deposits, including the fixed portion of variable
$ 370   $ 346     7%  
Net flows for fixed annuities, including the fixed portion of variable
  (35 )   10  
NM
 
Transfers to the fixed portion of variable annuity products from the variable portion of variable annuity products
  62     50     24%  
Average invested assets on reserves
  13,591     12,647     7%  
Average fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable
  13,723     12,872     7%  
Fixed annuity account values, including the fixed portion of variable
  13,820     12,956     7%  
 
A portion of our investment income earned is credited to the contract holders of our fixed annuity products, including the fixed portion of variable annuity contracts.  We expect to earn a spread between what we earn on the underlying general account investments supporting the fixed annuity product line, including the fixed portion of variable annuity contracts, and what we credit to our fixed annuity contract holders’ accounts, including the fixed portion of variable annuity contracts.  Commercial mortgage loan prepayments and bond makewhole premiums, investment income on alternative investments and surplus investment income can vary significantly from period to period due to a number of factors and, therefore, may contribute to investment income results that are not indicative of the underlying trends.
 
Benefits

Benefits for this segment include changes in benefit reserves and our expected costs associated with purchases of derivatives used to hedge our benefit ratio unlocking.


 
55

 

Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and Other Expenses

Details underlying underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and Other Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commissions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Deferrable
$ 5   $ 5     0%  
     Non-deferrable
  13     12     8%  
General and administrative expenses
  71     63     13%  
Taxes, licenses and fees
  5     5     0%  
      Total expenses incurred
  94     85     11%  
DAC deferrals
  (10 )   (8 )   -25%  
        Total expenses recognized before amortization
  84     77     9%  
DAC and VOBA amortization, net of interest, excluding unlocking
  10     9     11%  
Total underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses
$ 94   $ 86     9%  
 
                 
DAC Deferrals
                 
As a percentage of annuity sales/deposits
  1.2%     1.1%        

Commissions and other costs that result directly from and are essential to the successful acquisition of new or renewal business are deferred to the extent recoverable and are amortized over the lives of the contracts in relation to EGPs.  Certain of our commissions, such as trail commissions that are based on account values, are expensed as incurred rather than deferred and amortized.  We do not pay commissions on sales of our mutual fund products, and distribution expenses associated with the sale of these mutual fund products are expensed as incurred.


 
56

 

RESULTS OF LIFE INSURANCE

Income (Loss) from Operations
 
Details underlying the results for Life Insurance (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Operating Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insurance premiums
$ 109   $ 108     1%  
Insurance fees
  529     452     17%  
Net investment income
  588     579     2%  
Other revenues and fees
  6     7     -14%  
 Total operating revenues
  1,232     1,146     8%  
Operating Expenses
                 
Interest credited
  311     302     3%  
Benefits
  475     447     6%  
Underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses
  239     187     28%  
 Total operating expenses
  1,025     936     10%  
Income (loss) from operations before taxes
  207     210     -1%  
Federal income tax expense (benefit)
  65     68     -4%  
          Income (loss) from operations
$ 142   $ 142     0%  

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 to 2011

Income from operations for this segment remained flat due primarily to the following:

·  
Higher insurance fees due to growth in insurance in force; and
·  
Higher net investment income and higher interest credited driven by growth in business in force offset by new money rates averaging below our portfolio yields;
entirely offset by:
·  
Higher underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses attributable to the effect of prospective unlocking during 2012 as compared to 2011; and
·  
Higher benefits attributable to higher death claims and surrender benefits and continued growth in our secondary guarantee life insurance business.

Strategies to Address Statutory Reserve Strain

Our insurance subsidiaries have statutory surplus and risk-based capital (“RBC”) levels above current regulatory required levels.  Products containing secondary guarantees require reserves calculated under AG38.  Our insurance subsidiaries are employing strategies to reduce the strain of increasing AG38 and Valuation of Life Insurance Policies Model Regulation (“XXX”) statutory reserves associated with secondary guarantee UL and term products.  As discussed below, we have been successful in executing reinsurance solutions to release capital to Other Operations.  We expect to regularly execute transactions designed to release capital as we continue to sell products that are subject to these reserving requirements.  We also plan to refinance prior transactions with long-term structured solutions.

Included in the letters of credit (“LOCs”) issued as of March 31, 2012, was approximately $1.9 billion of long-dated LOCs issued to support inter-company reinsurance arrangements, of which approximately $100 million and $1.0 billion was issued for UL business with secondary guarantees through 2015 and 2031, respectively, and approximately $800 million was issued for term business through 2023.  We have also used the proceeds from senior note issuances of approximately $1.1 billion to execute long-term structured solutions supporting secondary guarantee UL and term business.  LOCs and related capital market alternatives lower the capital effect of secondary guarantee UL products.  An inability to obtain the necessary LOC capacity or other capital

 
57

 

market alternatives could affect our returns on our in-force secondary guarantee UL business.  However, we believe that our insurance subsidiaries have sufficient capital to support the increase in statutory reserves, based on our current reserve projections, if such structures are not available.  See “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors – Legislative, Regulatory and Tax – Changes to the calculation of reserves and attempts to mitigate the impact of Regulation XXX and Actuarial Guideline 38 may fail in whole or in part resulting in an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations” in our 2011 Form 10-K for further information on XXX and AG38 reserves.  See the table in “Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and Other Expenses” below for the presentation of our expenses associated with reserve financing.

Additional Information

We expect to manage the effects of spreads on near-term income from operations through portfolio management, which assumes no significant changes in net flows into or out of our fixed accounts or other changes that may cause interest rate spreads to differ from our expectations.

For information on interest rate spreads, see “Part I – Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Interest Rate Risk – Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Businesses – Falling Rates” herein.  For information on the interest rate risk due to falling interest rates, see “Part II – Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Interest Rate Risk – Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Businesses – Falling Rates” and “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors – Market Conditions – Changes in interest rates and sustained low interest rates may cause interest rate spreads to decrease and changes in interest rates may also result in increased contract withdrawals” in our 2011 Form 10-K.

Sales are not recorded as a component of revenues (other than for traditional products) and do not have a significant effect on current quarter income from operations but are indicators of future profitability.  Generally, we have higher sales during the second half of the year with the fourth quarter being our strongest.  However, we face conditions in the marketplace as discussed in “Introduction – Executive Summary – Current Market Conditions” above that may challenge our sales volume for the remainder of 2012.  For example, we are implementing pricing changes to our products that reflect the current low interest rate environment that we believe will lower our sales volumes and could potentially reduce our market share until competitive conditions change.
 
We provide information about this segment’s operating revenue and operating expense line items, the period in which amounts are recognized, key drivers of changes and historical details underlying the line items and their associated drivers below.

For factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in this section, see “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above and “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2011 Form 10-K.
 
Insurance Premiums

Insurance premiums relate to traditional products and are a function of the rates priced into the product and the level of insurance in force.  Insurance in force, in turn, is driven by sales, persistency and mortality experience.


 
58

 

Insurance Fees

Details underlying insurance fees, sales, net flows, account values and in-force face amount (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Insurance Fees
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortality assessments
$ 337   $ 325     4%  
Expense assessments
  207     230     -10%  
Surrender charges
  23     23     0%  
DFEL:
                 
     Deferrals
  (83 )   (126 )   34%  
     Amortization, net of interest:
                 
     Prospective unlocking - assumption changes
  -     (2 )   100%  
     Prospective unlocking - model refinements
  (6 )   (18 )   67%  
     Amortization, net of interest, excluding unlocking
  51     20     155%  
          Total insurance fees
$ 529   $ 452     17%  

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Sales by Product
 
 
 
 
 
 
UL:
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Excluding MoneyGuard®
$ 47   $ 85     -45%  
     MoneyGuard®
  41     34     21%  
          Total UL
  88     119     -26%  
VUL
  10     10     0%  
COLI and BOLI
  11     17     -35%  
Term
  13     13     0%  
               Total sales
$ 122   $ 159     -23%  
 
                 
Net Flows
                 
Deposits
$ 1,159   $ 1,270     -9%  
Withdrawals and deaths
  (408 )   (449 )   9%  
     Net flows
$ 751   $ 821     -9%  
 
                 
Contract holder assessments
$ 805   $ 806     0%  


 
59

 


 
As of March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Account Values
 
 
 
 
 
 
UL
$ 28,341   $ 26,585     7%  
VUL
  5,376     5,294     2%  
Interest-sensitive whole life
  2,291     2,270     1%  
     Total account values
$ 36,008   $ 34,149     5%  
 
                 
In-Force Face Amount
                 
UL and other
$ 307,957   $ 299,920     3%  
Term insurance
  272,006     266,764     2%  
     Total in-force face amount
$ 579,963   $ 566,684     2%  

Insurance fees relate only to interest-sensitive products and include mortality assessments, expense assessments (net of deferrals and amortization related to DFEL) and surrender charges.  Mortality and expense assessments are deducted from our contract holders’ account values.  These amounts are a function of the rates priced into the product and premiums received, face amount in force and account values.  Insurance in force, in turn, is driven by sales, persistency and mortality experience.  In-force growth should be considered independently with respect to term products versus UL and other products, as term products have a lower profitability relative to face amount compared to interest-sensitive and other products.

Sales in the table above and as discussed above were reported as follows:

·  
UL (excluding linked-benefit products) and VUL (including corporate-owned UL and VUL (“COLI”) and bank-owned UL and VUL (“BOLI”)) – first year commissionable premiums plus 5% of excess premiums received, including an adjustment for internal replacements of approximately 50% of commissionable premiums;
·  
MoneyGuard® (our linked-benefit product) – 15% of premium deposits; and
·  
Term – 100% of first year paid premiums.

UL and VUL products with secondary guarantees represented approximately 38% of interest-sensitive life insurance in force as of March 31, 2012, and approximately 33% of sales for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to approximately 50% of sales for the corresponding period in 2011.  Changes in the marketplace and product focuses are resulting in a shift in our business mix away from products with secondary guarantees to accumulation products like Indexed UL, VUL and COLI.  Actuarial Guideline 37, or Variable Life Reserves for Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits, and AG38 impose additional statutory reserve requirements for these products.

Net Investment Income and Interest Credited

Details underlying net investment income, interest credited (in millions) and our interest rate spread were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Net Investment Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real estate and other, net of investment expenses
$ 540   $ 517     4%  
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and bond makewhole premiums (1)
  2     4     -50%  
Alternative investments (2)
  15     25     -40%  
Surplus investments (3)
  31     33     -6%  
 Total net investment income
$ 588   $ 579     2%  
                   
Interest Credited
$ 311   $ 302     3%  


 
60

 


(1)  
See “Consolidated Investments – Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums” below for additional information.
(2)  
See “Consolidated Investments – Alternative Investments” below for additional information.
(3)  
Represents net investment income on the required statutory surplus for this segment and includes the effect of investment income on alternative investments for such assets that are held in the portfolios supporting statutory surplus versus the portfolios supporting product liabilities.

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
Basis
 
 
March 31,
 
Point
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Interest Rate Yields and Spread
 
 
 
 
 
 
Attributable to interest-sensitive products:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real estate and other, net of investment expenses
  5.77%     5.91%     (14 )
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and bond makewhole premiums
  0.02%     0.04%     (2 )
Alternative investments
  0.17%     0.32%     (15 )
         Net investment income yield on reserves
  5.96%     6.27%     (31 )
Interest rate credited to contract holders
  3.95%     4.09%     (14 )
               Interest rate spread
  2.01%     2.18%     (17 )
 
                 
Attributable to traditional products:
                 
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real estate and other, net of investment expenses   5.73%     5.89%     (16 )
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and bond makewhole premiums
  0.00%     0.10%     (10 )
Alternative investments
  0.01%     0.02%     (1 )
         Net investment income yield on reserves
  5.74%     6.01%     (27 )

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Averages
 
 
 
 
 
 
Attributable to interest-sensitive products:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Invested assets on reserves
$ 33,271   $ 30,793     8%  
Account values - universal and whole life
  31,210     29,440     6%  
 
                 
Attributable to traditional products:
                 
Invested assets on reserves
  4,283     4,273     0%  
 
A portion of the investment income earned for this segment is credited to contract holder accounts.  Invested assets will typically grow at a faster rate than account values because of the AG38 reserve requirements, which cause statutory reserves to grow at a faster rate than account values.  Invested assets are based upon the statutory reserve liabilities and are, therefore, affected by various reserve adjustments, including capital transactions providing relief from AG38 reserve requirements, which leads to a transfer of invested assets from this segment to Other Operations for use in other corporate purposes.  We expect to earn a spread

 
61

 
 
between what we earn on the underlying general account investments and what we credit to our contract holders’ accounts.  We use our investment income to offset the earnings effect of the associated build of our policy reserves for traditional products.  Commercial mortgage loan prepayments and bond makewhole premiums and investment income on alternative investments can vary significantly from period to period due to a number of factors, and, therefore, may contribute to investment income results that are not indicative of the underlying trends.
 
Benefits

Details underlying benefits (dollars in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Benefits
 
 
 
 
 
 
Death claims direct and assumed
$ 803   $ 699     15%  
Death claims ceded
  (415 )   (318 )   -31%  
Reserves released on death
  (106 )   (132 )   20%  
     Net death benefits
  282     249     13%  
Change in secondary guarantee life insurance product reserves:
                 
     Prospective unlocking - assumption changes
  -     10     -100%  
     Prospective unlocking - model refinements
  9     33     -73%  
     Change in reserves, excluding unlocking
  119     109     9%  
Other benefits (1)
  65     46     41%  
          Total benefits
$ 475   $ 447     6%  
                   
Death claims per $1,000 of in-force
  1.95     1.76     11%  

(1)  
     Includes primarily traditional product changes in reserves and dividends.

Benefits for this segment includes claims incurred during the period in excess of the associated reserves for its interest-sensitive and traditional products.  In addition, benefits includes the change in secondary guarantee life insurance product reserves.  The reserve for secondary guarantees is affected by changes in expected future trends of expense assessments causing prospective unlocking adjustments to this liability similar to DAC, VOBA and DFEL.
 
 

 
62

 

Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and Other Expenses

Details underlying underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses (in millions) were as follows:

 
 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and Other Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commissions
  $ 130   $ 173     -25%  
General and administrative expenses
    123     112     10%  
Expenses associated with reserve financing
    16     14     14%  
Taxes, licenses and fees
    34     36     -6%  
     Total expenses incurred
    303     335     -10%  
DAC and VOBA deferrals
    (145 )   (194 )   25%  
     Total expenses recognized before amortization
    158     141     12%  
DAC and VOBA amortization, net of interest:
                   
         Prospective unlocking - assumption changes
    -     (7 )   100%  
         Prospective unlocking - model refinements
    (33 )   (68 )   51%  
         Amortization, net of interest, excluding unlocking
    113     120     -6%  
Other intangible amortization
    1     1     0%  
          Total underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses
  $ 239   $ 187     28%  
 
                   
DAC and VOBA Deferrals
                   
As a percentage of sales
    118.9%     122.0%        

Commissions and costs that result directly from and are essential to successful acquisition of new or renewal business are deferred to the extent recoverable and for our interest-sensitive products are generally amortized over the lives of the contracts in relation to EGPs.  For our traditional products, DAC and VOBA are amortized on either a straight-line basis or as a level percent of premium of the related contracts, depending on the block of business.


 
63

 

RESULTS OF GROUP PROTECTION

Income (Loss) from Operations
 
Details underlying the results for Group Protection (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Operating Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insurance premiums
$ 463   $ 437     6%  
Net investment income
  38     39     -3%  
Other revenues and fees
  3     2     50%  
 Total operating revenues
  504     478     5%  
Operating Expenses
                 
Interest credited
  1     -  
NM
 
Benefits
  350     328     7%  
Underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses
  128     113     13%  
 Total operating expenses
  479     441     9%  
Income (loss) from operations before taxes
  25     37     -32%  
Federal income tax expense (benefit)
  9     13     -31%  
     Income (loss) from operations
$ 16   $ 24     -33%  

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Income (Loss) from Operations by Product Line
 
 
 
 
 
 
Life
$ 2   $ 8     -75%  
Disability
  14     17     -18%  
Dental
  (1 )   (2 )   50%  
     Total non-medical
  15     23     -35%  
Medical
  1     1     0%  
          Income (loss) from operations
$ 16   $ 24     -33%  

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 to 2011

Income from operations for this segment decreased due primarily to the following:

·  
Less favorable non-medical loss ratio experience attributable to fluctuations in mortality experience within our life business; and
·  
Higher underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses attributable to an increase in business and investments in strategic initiatives associated with enhancements to sales and distribution processes and improvements to technology platforms.

The decrease in income from operations was partially offset primarily by growth in insurance premiums driven by normal, organic business growth in our non-medical products.


 
64

 

Additional Information

Management compares trends in actual loss ratios to pricing expectations because group-underwriting risks change over time.  We expect normal fluctuations in our composite non-medical loss ratios of this segment, as claims experience is inherently uncertain.  Non-medical loss ratios in general are likely to remain within our long-term expectation of 71% to 74% during 2012.  For every one percent increase in the loss ratio above our expectation, we would expect an approximate annual $10 million to $12 million decrease to income from operations.

We are evaluating the potential effects that health care reform may have on the value and profitability of this segment’s products and income from operations, including, but not limited to, potential changes to traditional sources of income for our brokers who may seek additional portfolio options and/or modification to compensation structures.

For information on the effects of current interest rates on our long-term disability claim reserves, see “Part II – Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Interest Rate Risk – Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Businesses – Falling Rates” in our 2011 Form 10-K.

Sales relate to long-duration contracts sold to new contract holders and new programs sold to existing contract holders.  We believe that the trend in sales is an important indicator of development of business in force over time.

We provide information about this segment’s operating revenue and operating expense line items, the period in which amounts are recognized, key drivers of changes and historical details underlying the line items and their associated drivers below.

For factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in this section, see “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above and “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2011 Form 10-K.

Insurance Premiums

Details underlying insurance premiums (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Insurance Premiums by Product Line
 
 
 
 
 
 
Life
$ 186   $ 171     9%  
Disability
  199     186     7%  
Dental
  46     46     0%  
    Total non-medical
  431     403     7%  
Medical
  32     34     -6%  
          Total insurance premiums
$ 463   $ 437     6%  
 
                 
Sales
$ 67   $ 45     49%  

Our cost of insurance and policy administration charges are embedded in the premiums charged to our customers.  The premiums are a function of the rates priced into the product and our business in force.  Business in force, in turn, is driven by sales and persistency experience.  Sales in the table above are the combined annualized premiums for our life, disability and dental products.

Net Investment Income

We use our investment income to offset the earnings effect of the associated build of our policy reserves, which are a function of our insurance premiums and the yields on our invested assets.


 
65

 

Benefits and Interest Credited

Details underlying benefits and interest credited (in millions) and loss ratios by product line were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Benefits and Interest Credited by Product Line
 
 
 
 
 
 
Life
$ 146   $ 129     13%  
Disability
  139     131     6%  
Dental
  38     39     -3%  
     Total non-medical
  323     299     8%  
Medical
  28     29     -3%  
          Total benefits and interest credited
$ 351   $ 328     7%  
 
                 
Loss Ratios by Product Line
                 
Life
  78.2 %   75.9 %      
Disability
  70.1 %   70.1 %      
Dental
  82.1 %   83.7 %      
     Total non-medical
  74.9 %   74.1 %      
Medical
  87.6 %   86.1 %      
 
Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and Other Expenses

Details underlying underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and Other Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commissions
$ 54   $ 50     8%  
General and administrative expenses
  61     51     20%  
Taxes, licenses and fees
  12     11     9%  
     Total expenses incurred
  127     112     13%  
DAC deferrals
  (11 )   (9 )   -22%  
         Total expenses recognized before amortization
  116     103     13%  
DAC and VOBA amortization, net of interest
  12     10     20%  
          Total underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses
$ 128   $ 113     13%  
 
                 
DAC Deferrals
                 
As a percentage of insurance premiums
  2.4%     2.1%        

Expenses, excluding broker commissions, that result directly from and are essential to the successful acquisition of new or renewal business are deferred to the extent recoverable and are amortized on either a straight-line basis or as a level percent of premium of the related contracts depending on the block of business.  Broker commissions, which vary with and are related to paid premiums, are expensed as incurred.  The level of expenses is an important driver of profitability for this segment as group insurance contracts are offered within an environment that competes on the basis of price and service.

 
66

 


RESULTS OF OTHER OPERATIONS

Income (Loss) from Operations
 
Details underlying the results for Other Operations (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Operating Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
$ 70   $ 80     -13%  
Amortization of deferred gain on business sold through reinsurance
  18     18     0%  
Media revenues (net)
  17     16     6%  
Other revenues and fees
  2     4     -50%  
 Total operating revenues
  107     118     -9%  
Operating Expenses
                 
Interest credited
  31     29     7%  
Benefits
  28     32     -13%  
Media expenses
  16     17     -6%  
Other expenses
  21     25     -16%  
Interest and debt expense
  68     72     -6%  
 Total operating expenses
  164     175     -6%  
Income (loss) from operations before taxes
  (57 )   (57 )   0%  
Federal income tax expense (benefit)
  (23 )   (22 )   -5%  
        Income (loss) from operations
$ (34 ) $ (35 )   3%  

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 to 2011

Loss from operations for Other Operations decreased due primarily to the following:

·  
Lower other expenses due to higher legal expenses during the first quarter of 2011; and
·  
Lower interest and debt expense attributable to lower average balances of and a decline in the rate on outstanding debt during 2012.

The decrease in loss from operations was partially offset primarily by lower net investment income, net of interest credited, attributable to the following:

·  
Repurchases of common stock, net cash used in operating activities due to interest payments and transfers to other segments for other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”), partially offset by distributable earnings received from our insurance segments, resulting in lower average invested assets; and
·  
New money rates averaging below our portfolio yields.

Additional Information

We provide information about Other Operations’ operating revenue and operating expense line items, the period in which amounts are recognized, key drivers of changes and historical details underlying the line items and their associated drivers below.

For factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in this section, see “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above and “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2011 Form 10-K.


 
67

 

Net Investment Income and Interest Credited

We utilize an internal formula to determine the amount of capital that is allocated to our business segments.  Investment income on capital in excess of the calculated amounts is reported in Other Operations.  If regulations require increases in our insurance segments’ statutory reserves and surplus, the amount of capital retained by Other Operations would decrease and net investment income would be negatively affected.

Write-downs for OTTI decrease the recorded value of our invested assets owned by our business segments.  These write-downs are not included in the income from operations of our operating segments.  When impairment occurs, assets are transferred to the business segments’ portfolios and will reduce the future net investment income for Other Operations, but should not have an effect on a consolidated basis unless the impairments are related to defaulted securities.  Statutory reserve adjustments for our business segments can also cause allocations of invested assets between the affected segments and Other Operations.

The majority of our interest credited relates to our reinsurance operations sold to Swiss Re in 2001.  A substantial amount of the business was sold through indemnity reinsurance transactions, which is still recorded in our consolidated financial statements.  The interest credited corresponds to investment income earnings on the assets we continue to hold for this business.  There is no effect to income or loss in Other Operations or on a consolidated basis for these amounts because interest earned on the blocks that continue to be reinsured is passed through to Swiss Re in the form of interest credited.

Benefits

Benefits are recognized when incurred for Institutional Pension products and disability income business.

Other Expenses

Details underlying other expenses (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Other Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Legal
$ 1   $ 8     -88%  
     Branding
  9     5     80%  
     Other (1)
  13     13     0%  
     Total general and administrative expenses
  23     26     -12%  
Taxes, licenses and fees
  1     1     0%  
Inter-segment reimbursement associated with reserve financing and LOC expenses (2)
  (3 )   (2 )   -50%  
          Total other expenses
$ 21   $ 25     -16%  

(1)  
Includes expenses that are corporate in nature including charitable contributions, amortization of media intangible assets with a definite life, other expenses not allocated to our business segments and inter-segment expense eliminations.
(2)  
Consists of reimbursements to Other Operations from the Life Insurance segment for the use of proceeds from certain issuances of senior notes that were used as long-term structured solutions, net of expenses incurred by Other Operations for its use of LOCs.

Interest and Debt Expense

Our current level of interest expense may not be indicative of the future due to, among other things, the timing of the use of cash, the availability of funds from our inter-company cash management program and the future cost of capital.  For additional information on our financing activities, see “Review of Consolidated Financial Condition – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Sources of Liquidity and Cash Flow – Financing Activities” below.

 
68

 


REALIZED GAIN (LOSS) AND BENEFIT RATIO UNLOCKING
 
Details underlying realized gain (loss), after-DAC (1) and benefit ratio unlocking (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Components of Realized Gain (Loss), Pre-Tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total operating realized gain (loss)
$ 27   $ 23     17%  
Total excluded realized gain (loss)
  (112 )   (21 )
NM
 
          Total realized gain (loss), pre-tax
$ (85 ) $ 2  
NM
 
 
                 
Reconciliation of Excluded Realized Gain (Loss) Net of Benefit Ratio Unlocking, After-Tax
                 
Total excluded realized gain (loss)
$ (73 ) $ (14 )
NM
 
Benefit ratio unlocking
  23     5  
NM
 
      Excluded realized gain (loss) net of benefit ratio unlocking, after-tax
$ (50 ) $ (9 )
NM
 
 
                 
Components of Excluded Realized Gain (Loss) Net of Benefit Ratio Unlocking, After-Tax
                 
Realized gain (loss) related to certain investments
$ (32 ) $ (10 )
NM
 
Gain (loss) on the mark-to-market on certain instruments
  38     7  
NM
 
Variable annuity net derivatives results:
                 
     Hedge program performance
  19     (18 )   206%  
     GLB NPR component
  (85 )   11  
NM
 
          Total variable annuity net derivatives results
  (66 )   (7 )
NM
 
Indexed annuity forward-starting option
  10     1  
NM
 
          Excluded realized gain (loss) net of benefit ratio unlocking, after-tax
$ (50 ) $ (9 )
NM
 

(1)  
DAC refers to the associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL and changes in other contract holder funds and funds withheld reinsurance liabilities.

For factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in this section, see “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above and “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2011 Form 10-K.

For information on our counterparty exposure, see “Part I – Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 to 2011

We had realized losses in the first quarter of 2012 as compared to gains for the corresponding period of 2011 due primarily to the following:

·  
Higher losses on variable annuity net derivatives results attributable to:
§  
Narrowing of our credit spreads during the first quarter of 2012 resulting in an unfavorable GLB NPR component (see “Variable Annuity Net Derivatives Results” below for a discussion of how our NPR adjustment is determined);
partially offset by:

 
69

 


§  
Less volatile capital markets during the first quarter of 2012 resulting in more favorable hedge program performance; and
·  
Higher gross realized gains during the first quarter of 2011 originating from asset sales to reposition the portfolio (see “Consolidated Investments – Realized Gain (Loss) Related to Certain Investments” below for more information).

The realized losses in the first quarter of 2012 were partially offset by higher gains on the mark-to-market on certain instruments attributable to spreads narrowing on corporate credit default swaps, partially offset by increases in interest rates leading to a decrease in the value of our trading securities.

Operating Realized Gain (Loss)

See “Realized Gain (Loss) and Benefit Ratio Unlocking – Operating Realized Gain (Loss)” in our 2011 Form 10-K for a discussion of our operating realized gain (loss).

Realized Gain (Loss) Related to Certain Investments

See “Consolidated Investments – Realized Gain (Loss) Related to Certain Investments” below.

Gain (Loss) on the Mark-to-Market on Certain Instruments

See “Realized Gain (Loss) and Benefit Ratio Unlocking – Gain (Loss) on the Mark-to-Market on Certain Instruments” in our 2011 Form 10-K for a discussion on the mark-to-market on certain instruments and Note 3 for information about consolidated variable interest entities.

Variable Annuity Net Derivatives Results

See “Realized Gain (Loss) and Benefit Ratio Unlocking – Variable Annuity Net Derivatives Results” in our 2011 Form 10-K for a discussion of our variable annuity net derivatives results.

As of March 31, 2012, the net effect of the NPR resulted in a $29 million decrease in the liability for our GLB embedded derivative reserves.

Details underlying the NPR component and associated effect to our GLB embedded derivative reserves (dollars in millions) were as follows:

 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
 
March 31,
  December 31,   September 30,   June 30,   March 31,  
 
2012
 
2011
 
2011
 
2011
 
2011
 
10-year CDS spread
  2.40%     3.65%     4.42%     2.02%     1.78%  
NPR factor related to 10-year CDS spread
  0.25%     0.43%     0.51%     0.24%     0.17%  
Unadjusted embedded derivative liability
$ 1,083   $ 2,418     2,642     306   $ 112  

Estimating what the absolute amount of the NPR effect will be period to period is difficult due to the utilization of all cash flows and the shape of the spread curve.  Currently, we estimate that if the NPR factors as of March 31, 2012, were to have been zero along all points on the spread curve, then the NPR offset to the unadjusted liability would have resulted in an unfavorable effect to net income of approximately $150 million, pre-DAC and pre-tax. Under this scenario, the effect of the NPR would result in an increase rather than a decrease to the unadjusted embedded derivative liability.  Alternatively, if the NPR factors were 20 basis points higher along all points on the spread curve as of March 31, 2012, then there would have been a favorable effect to net income of approximately $85 million, pre-DAC and pre-tax.  In the preceding two sentences, “DAC” refers to the associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL.  Changing market conditions could cause this relationship to deviate significantly in future periods.  Sensitivity within this range is primarily a result of volatility in our credit default swap (“CDS”) spreads and the slope of the CDS spread term structure.

For additional information on our guaranteed benefits, see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Derivatives – Guaranteed Living Benefits” above.

Indexed Annuity Forward-Starting Option

See “Realized Gain (Loss) and Benefit Ratio Unlocking – Indexed Annuity Forward-Starting Option” in our 2011 Form 10-K for a discussion of our indexed annuity forward-starting option.

 
70

 


CONSOLIDATED INVESTMENTS

Details underlying our consolidated investment balances (in millions) were as follows:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Percentage of
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Investments
 
 
 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
 
As of
 
 
March 31,
December 31,
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
2012
 
 
2011
 
2012 
 
 
2011 
 
Investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AFS securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Fixed maturity
 
$
 76,254 
 
 
$
 75,433 
 
82.0%
 
 
81.0%
 
     VIEs' fixed maturity
 
 
 702 
 
 
 
 700 
 
0.8%
 
 
0.8%
 
          Total fixed maturity
 
 
 76,956 
 
 
 
 76,133 
 
82.8%
 
 
81.8%
 
     Equity
 
 
 126 
 
 
 
 139 
 
0.1%
 
 
0.1%
 
Trading securities
 
 
 2,650 
 
 
 
 2,675 
 
2.9%
 
 
2.9%
 
Mortgage loans on real estate
 
 
 6,938 
 
 
 
 6,942 
 
7.5%
 
 
7.4%
 
Real estate
 
 
 113 
 
 
 
 137 
 
0.1%
 
 
0.1%
 
Policy loans
 
 
 2,842 
 
 
 
 2,884 
 
3.1%
 
 
3.1%
 
Derivative investments
 
 
 2,244 
 
 
 
 3,151 
 
2.4%
 
 
3.4%
 
Alternative investments
 
 
 820 
 
 
 
 807 
 
0.9%
 
 
0.9%
 
Other investments
 
 
 223 
 
 
 
 262 
 
0.2%
 
 
0.3%
 
               Total investments
 
$
 92,912 
 
 
$
 93,130 
 
100.0%
 
 
100.0%
 

Investment Objective

Invested assets are an integral part of our operations.  We follow a balanced approach to investing for both current income and prudent risk management, with an emphasis on generating sufficient current income, net of income tax, to meet our obligations to customers, as well as other general liabilities.  This balanced approach requires the evaluation of expected return and risk of each asset class utilized, while still meeting our income objectives.  This approach is important to our asset-liability management because decisions can be made based upon both the economic and current investment income considerations affecting assets and liabilities.  For a discussion on our risk management process, see “Part II – Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our 2011 Form 10-K.

Investment Portfolio Composition and Diversification

Fundamental to our investment policy is diversification across asset classes.  Our investment portfolio, excluding cash and invested cash, is composed of fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real estate, real estate (either wholly-owned or in joint ventures) and other long-term investments.  We purchase investments for our segmented portfolios that have yield, duration and other characteristics that take into account the liabilities of the products being supported.

We have the ability to maintain our investment holdings throughout credit cycles because of our capital position, the long-term nature of our liabilities and the matching of our portfolios of investment assets with the liabilities of our various products.

Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Portfolios

Fixed maturity securities and equity securities consist of portfolios classified as AFS and trading.  Mortgage-backed and private securities are included in both of the AFS and trading portfolios.

Details underlying our fixed maturity and equity securities portfolios by industry classification (in millions) are presented in the tables below.  These tables agree in total with the presentation of AFS securities in Note 4; however, the categories below represent a more detailed breakout of the AFS portfolio.  Therefore, the investment classifications listed below do not agree to the investment categories provided in Note 4.

 
71

 


 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
Gross Unrealized
 
 
 
%
 
 
Amortized
 
 
 
Losses
 
Fair
 
Fair
 
 
Cost
 
Gains
 
and OTTI
 
Value
 
Value
 
Fixed Maturity AFS Securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Industry corporate bonds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Financial services
$ 8,912   $ 700   $ 101   $ 9,511     12.3%  
     Basic industry
  3,545     315     20     3,840     5.0%  
     Capital goods
  4,146     424     27     4,543     5.9%  
     Communications
  3,388     388     29     3,747     4.9%  
     Consumer cyclical
  3,287     333     29     3,591     4.7%  
     Consumer non-cyclical
  8,227     1,083     2     9,308     12.1%  
     Energy
  5,194     639     9     5,824     7.6%  
     Technology
  1,869     173     8     2,034     2.6%  
     Transportation
  1,413     148     2     1,559     2.0%  
     Industrial other
  887     71     1     957     1.2%  
     Utilities
  10,857     1,282     30     12,109     15.7%  
Collateralized mortgage and other obligations ("CMOs"):
                             
     Agency backed
  3,005     340     -     3,345     4.3%  
     Non-agency backed
  1,421     19     148     1,292     1.7%  
Mortgage pass through securities ("MPTS"):
                             
     Agency backed
  2,769     165     -     2,934     3.8%  
     Non-agency backed
  1     -     -     1     0.0%  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS"):
                             
     Non-agency backed
  1,533     76     86     1,523     2.0%  
Corporate asset-backed securities ("ABS"):
                             
     CDOs
  85     -     4     81     0.1%  
     Commercial real estate ("CRE") CDOs
  32     -     11     21     0.0%  
     Credit card
  779     44     -     823     1.1%  
     Home equity
  883     3     247     639     0.8%  
     Manufactured housing
  81     4     1     84     0.1%  
     Auto loan
  41     1     -     42     0.1%  
     Other
  283     28     2     309     0.4%  
Municipals:
                             
     Taxable
  3,460     635     8     4,087     5.3%  
     Tax-exempt
  37     2     -     39     0.1%  
Government and government agencies:
                             
     United States
  1,511     194     5     1,700     2.2%  
     Foreign
  1,661     158     2     1,817     2.4%  
Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
  1,256     62     122     1,196     1.6%  
          Total fixed maturity AFS securities
  70,563     7,287     894     76,956     100.0%  
Equity AFS Securities
  114     19     7     126        
               Total AFS securities
  70,677     7,306     901     77,082        
Trading Securities (1)
  2,297     381     28     2,650        
                    Total AFS and trading securities
$ 72,974   $ 7,687   $ 929   $ 79,732        


 
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As of December 31, 2011
 
 
 
 
Gross Unrealized
 
 
 
%
 
 
Amortized
 
 
 
Losses
 
Fair
 
Fair
 
 
Cost
 
Gains
 
and OTTI
 
Value
 
Value
 
Fixed Maturity AFS Securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Industry corporate bonds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Financial services
$ 8,926   $ 607   $ 158   $ 9,375     12.3%  
     Basic industry
  3,394     323     27     3,690     4.8%  
     Capital goods
  3,933     455     9     4,379     5.8%  
     Communications
  3,247     364     37     3,574     4.7%  
     Consumer cyclical
  3,226     345     36     3,535     4.6%  
     Consumer non-cyclical
  7,956     1,190     1     9,145     12.0%  
     Energy
  5,026     690     6     5,710     7.5%  
     Technology
  1,682     192     3     1,871     2.5%  
     Transportation
  1,360     166     1     1,525     2.0%  
     Industrial other
  755     74     3     826     1.1%  
     Utilities
  10,644     1,457     27     12,074     15.8%  
CMOs:
                             
     Agency backed
  3,226     357     -     3,583     4.7%  
     Non-agency backed
  1,481     12     199     1,294     1.7%  
MPTS:
                             
     Agency backed
  2,982     179     -     3,161     4.2%  
     Non-agency backed
  1     -     -     1     0.0%  
CMBS:
                             
     Non-agency backed
  1,642     73     115     1,600     2.1%  
ABS:
                             
     CDOs
  88     -     6     82     0.1%  
     CRE CDOs
  33     -     13     20     0.0%  
     Credit card
  790     47     -     837     1.1%  
     Home equity
  905     3     271     637     0.8%  
     Manufactured housing
  85     5     1     89     0.1%  
     Auto loan
  52     1     -     53     0.1%  
     Other
  246     29     1     274     0.4%  
Municipals:
                             
     Taxable
  3,452     565     9     4,008     5.3%  
     Tax-exempt
  38     1     -     39     0.1%  
Government and government agencies:
                             
     United States
  1,468     232     -     1,700     2.2%  
     Foreign
  1,746     152     4     1,894     2.5%  
Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
  1,277     50     170     1,157     1.5%  
          Total fixed maturity AFS securities
  69,661     7,569     1,097     76,133     100.0%  
Equity AFS Securities
  135     16     12     139        
               Total AFS securities
  69,796     7,585     1,109     76,272        
Trading Securities (1)
  2,301     408     34     2,675        
                    Total AFS and trading securities
$ 72,097   $ 7,993   $ 1,143   $ 78,947        

(1)  
Certain of our trading securities support our modified coinsurance arrangements (“Modco”), and the investment results are passed directly to the reinsurers.  Refer to “Part II – Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Consolidated Investments – Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Portfolios – Trading Securities” in our 2011 Form 10-K for further details.

 
73

 
AFS Securities

In accordance with the AFS accounting guidance, we reflect stockholders’ equity as if unrealized gains and losses were actually recognized and consider all related accounting adjustments that would occur upon such a hypothetical recognition of unrealized gains and losses.  Such related balance sheet effects include adjustments to the balances of DAC, VOBA, DFEL, other contract holder funds and deferred income taxes.  Adjustments to each of these balances are charged or credited to AOCI.  For instance, DAC is adjusted upon the recognition of unrealized gains or losses because the amortization of DAC is based upon an assumed emergence of gross profits on certain insurance business.  Deferred income tax balances are also adjusted because unrealized gains or losses do not affect actual taxes currently paid.

The quality of our AFS fixed maturity securities portfolio, as measured at estimated fair value and by the percentage of fixed maturity securities invested in various ratings categories, relative to the entire fixed maturity AFS security portfolio (in millions) was as follows:

 
 
 
 
 
 
Rating Agency
 
As of March 31, 2012
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
NAIC
 
Equivalent
 
Amortized
 
Fair
 
% of
 
Amortized
 
Fair
 
% of
 
Designation (1)
 
Designation (1)
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Total
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Total
 
Investment Grade Securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aaa / Aa / A
 
$
 42,126 
 
$
 46,926 
 
61.0%
 
$
 42,436 
 
$
 47,490 
 
62.4%
 
 
Baa
 
 
 24,407 
 
 
 26,402 
 
34.3%
 
 
 23,323 
 
 
 25,237 
 
33.1%
 
 
Total investment grade securities
 
 
 66,533 
 
 
 73,328 
 
95.3%
 
 
 65,759 
 
 
 72,727 
 
95.5%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Below Investment Grade Securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ba
 
 
 2,647 
 
 
 2,577 
 
3.3%
 
 
 2,466 
 
 
 2,350 
 
3.1%
 
 
B
 
 
 942 
 
 
 766 
 
1.0%
 
 
 960 
 
 
 750 
 
1.0%
 
 
Caa and lower
 
 
 307 
 
 
 200 
 
0.3%
 
 
 318 
 
 
 218 
 
0.3%
 
 
In or near default
 
 
 134 
 
 
 85 
 
0.1%
 
 
 158 
 
 
 88 
 
0.1%
 
 
Total below investment grade securities
 
 
 4,030 
 
 
 3,628 
 
4.7%
 
 
 3,902 
 
 
 3,406 
 
4.5%
 
 
 
Total fixed maturity AFS securities
 
$
 70,563 
 
$
 76,956 
 
100.0%
 
$
 69,661 
 
$
 76,133 
 
100.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total securities below investment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
grade as a percentage of total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
fixed maturity AFS securities
 
 
5.7%
 
 
4.7%
 
 
 
 
5.6%
 
 
4.5%
 
 
 

(1)  
Based upon the rating designations determined and provided by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) or the major credit rating agencies (Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) and Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”)).  For securities where the ratings assigned by the major credit agencies are not equivalent, the second highest rating assigned is used.  For those securities where ratings by the major credit rating agencies are not available, which does not represent a significant amount of our total fixed maturity AFS securities, we base the ratings disclosed upon internal ratings.

Comparisons between the NAIC ratings and rating agency designations are published by the NAIC.  The NAIC assigns securities quality ratings and uniform valuations, which are used by insurers when preparing their annual statements.  The NAIC ratings are similar to the rating agency designations of the Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations for marketable bonds.  NAIC ratings 1 and 2 include bonds generally considered investment grade (rated Baa3 or higher by Moody’s, or rated BBB- or higher by S&P and Fitch), by such ratings organizations.  However, securities rated NAIC 1 and NAIC 2 could be deemed below investment grade by the rating agencies as a result of the current RBC rules for residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) and CMBS for statutory reporting.  NAIC ratings 3 through 6 include bonds generally considered below investment grade (rated Ba1 or lower by Moody’s, or rated BB+ or lower by S&P and Fitch).

We have identified direct and indirect exposure to select countries in Europe that are currently experiencing stress in the credit markets, notably Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Hungary and Cyprus.  These countries were identified due to high credit spreads and political and economic uncertainty in these countries.  The exposure was determined by country of domicile, provided that a meaningful portion of revenues is generated from the country of domicile.  As of March 31, 2012, we had direct sovereign exposure only to Italy with an amortized cost and fair value of $3 million.  We had no exposure to any issuers, sovereign or non-sovereign, located in Greece, Hungary or Cyprus.  Our exposure to banks in Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Hungary and Cyprus is limited to two large Spanish banks where our investments are in subsidiaries located outside of Spain with an amortized cost of $63 million and fair value of $64 million.

 
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Our total non-banking and non-sovereign AFS securities exposure to Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain had an amortized cost of $770 million and a fair value of $794 million as of March 31, 2012, of which approximately 50% was related to large multinational companies domiciled in those countries.  The detailed breakout by country was as follows (in millions):

 
Amortized
 
Fair
 
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Spain
$ 367   $ 397  
Ireland
  215     205  
Italy
  148     160  
Portugal
  40     32  
Total
$ 770   $ 794  

We purchased a European subordinated investment grade financial index hedge in the amount of €35 million with a maturity of June 20, 2017, to provide some protection on possible defaults on our European investments.

We manage European and other investment risks through our internal investment department and outside asset managers.  The risk management is focused on monitoring spreads, pricing and monitoring of global economic developments.  We have incorporated these risks into our stress testing.

As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, 69.9% and 67.4%, respectively, of the total publicly traded and private securities in an unrealized loss status were rated as investment grade.  See Note 4 for maturity date information for our fixed maturity investment portfolio.  Our gross unrealized losses on AFS securities as of March 31, 2012, decreased $208 million.  As more fully described in Note 1 in our 2011 Form 10-K, we regularly review our investment holdings for OTTI.  We believe the unrealized loss position as of March 31, 2012, does not represent OTTI as we do not intend to sell these debt securities, it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt securities before recovery of their amortized cost basis, the estimated future cash flows are equal to or greater than the amortized cost basis of the debt securities, or we have the ability and intent to hold the equity securities for a period of time sufficient for recovery.  For further information on our unrealized losses on AFS securities see “Composition by Industry Categories of our Unrealized Losses on AFS Securities” below.

Selected information for certain AFS securities in a gross unrealized loss position (dollars in millions) was as follows:

 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
Gross
 
Estimated
 
Estimated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized
 
Years
 
Average
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses
 
until Call
 
Years
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair
 
and
 
or
 
Until
 
Subordination Level
 
 
Value
 
OTTI
 
Maturity
 
Recovery
 
Current
  Origination  
CMBS
$ 249   $ 86  
1 to 41
  28     24.0%     15.8%  
Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities   529     122  
1 to 55
  31     N/A     N/A  

As provided in the table above, many of the securities in these categories are long-dated with some of the preferred securities being perpetual.  This is purposeful as it matches the long-term nature of our liabilities associated with our life insurance and annuity products.  See “Part II – Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our 2011 Form 10-K where we present information related to maturities of securities and the expected cash flows for rate sensitive liabilities and maturities of our holding company debt, which also demonstrates the long-term nature of the cash flows associated with these items.  Because of this relationship, we do not believe it will be necessary to sell these securities before they recover or mature.  For these securities, the estimated range and average period until recovery is the call or maturity period.  It is difficult to predict or project when the securities will recover as it is dependent upon a number of factors including the overall economic climate.  We do not believe it is necessary to impair these securities as long as the expected future cash flows are projected to be sufficient to recover the amortized cost of these securities.

The actual range and period until recovery could vary significantly depending on a variety of factors, many of which are out of our control.  There are several items that could affect the length of the period until recovery, such as the pace of economic recovery, level of delinquencies, performance of the underlying collateral, changes in market interest rates, exposures to various industry or geographic conditions, market behavior and other market conditions.

 
75

 



We concluded that it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the fixed maturity AFS securities before recovery of their amortized cost basis, that the estimated future cash flows are equal to or greater than the amortized cost basis of the debt securities, and that we have the ability to hold the equity AFS securities for a period of time sufficient for recovery.  This conclusion is consistent with our asset-liability management process.  Management considers the following as part of the evaluation:

·  
The current economic environment and market conditions;
·  
Our business strategy and current business plans;
·  
The nature and type of security, including expected maturities and exposure to general credit, liquidity, market and interest rate risk;
·  
Our analysis of data from financial models and other internal and industry sources to evaluate the current effectiveness of our hedging and overall risk management strategies;
·  
The current and expected timing of contractual maturities of our assets and liabilities, expectations of prepayments on investments and expectations for surrenders and withdrawals of life insurance policies and annuity contracts;
·  
The capital risk limits approved by management; and
·  
Our current financial condition and liquidity demands.

To determine the recoverability of a debt security, we consider the facts and circumstances surrounding the underlying issuer including, but not limited to, the following:

·  
Historical and implied volatility of the security;
·  
Length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost;
·  
Adverse conditions specifically related to the security or to specific conditions in an industry or geographic area;
·  
Failure, if any, of the issuer of the security to make scheduled payments; and
·  
Recoveries or additional declines in fair value subsequent to the balance sheet date.

As reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, we had $96.4 billion of investments and cash, which exceeded the liabilities for our future obligations under insurance policies and contracts, net of amounts recoverable from reinsurers, which totaled $82.3 billion as of March 31, 2012.  If it were necessary to liquidate securities prior to maturity or call to meet cash flow needs, we would first look to those securities that are in an unrealized gain position, which had a fair value of $69.8 billion, excluding consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in the amount of $702 million, as of March 31, 2012, rather than selling securities in an unrealized loss position.  The amount of cash that we have on hand at any point of time takes into account our liquidity needs in the future, other sources of cash, such as the maturities of investments, interest and dividends we earn on our investments and the on-going cash flows from new and existing business.

See “AFS Securities – Evaluation for Recovery of Amortized Cost” in Note 1 in our 2011 Form 10-K and Note 4 for additional discussion.

As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, the estimated fair value for all private securities was $9.9 billion and $9.3 billion, respectively, representing approximately 11% and 10%, respectively, of total invested assets.

For information regarding our VIEs’ fixed maturity securities, see Note 3 in this report and Note 4 in our 2011 Form 10-K.

Mortgage-Backed Securities (“MBS”) (Included in AFS and Trading Securities)

See “Consolidated Investments – Mortgage-Backed Securities” in our 2011 Form 10-K for a discussion of our MBS.

Our RMBS had a market value of $7.8 billion and an unrealized gain of $390 million, or 5%, as of March 31, 2012.


 
76

 

The market value of AFS securities and trading securities backed by subprime loans was $444 million and represented less than 1% of our total investment portfolio as of March 31, 2012.  AFS securities represented $430 million, or 97%, and trading securities represented $14 million, or 3%, of the subprime exposure as of March 31, 2012.  AFS securities and trading securities rated A or above represented 43% of the subprime investments and $231 million in market value of our subprime investments was backed by loans originating in 2005 and forward.  The table below summarizes our investments in AFS securities backed by pools of residential mortgages (in millions):

 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prime Agency
 
Prime/ Non-Agency
 
Alt-A
 
Subprime
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair
Amortized
Fair
Amortized
Fair
Amortized
Fair
Amortized
Fair
Amortized
 
 
 
 
 
Value
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Cost
 
Type
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RMBS
$
 6,279 
 
$
 5,774 
 
$
 832 
 
$
 873 
 
$
 461 
 
$
 549 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 7,572 
 
$
 7,196 
 
ABS home equity
 
 4 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 205 
 
 
 271 
 
 
 430 
 
 
 608 
 
 
 639 
 
 
 883 
 
 
Total by type (1)(2)
$
 6,283 
 
$
 5,778 
 
$
 832 
 
$
 873 
 
$
 666 
 
$
 820 
 
$
 430 
 
$
 608 
 
$
 8,211 
 
$
 8,079 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rating
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AAA
$
 6,212 
 
$
 5,713 
 
$
 60 
 
$
 58 
 
$
 12 
 
$
 12 
 
$
 50 
 
$
 53 
 
$
 6,334 
 
$
 5,836 
 
AA
 
 56 
 
 
 52 
 
 
 47 
 
 
 46 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 62 
 
 
 68 
 
 
 174 
 
 
 175 
 
A
 
 15 
 
 
 13 
 
 
 53 
 
 
 52 
 
 
 49 
 
 
 49 
 
 
 69 
 
 
 73 
 
 
 186 
 
 
 187 
 
BBB
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 50 
 
 
 50 
 
 
 55 
 
 
 56 
 
 
 22 
 
 
 23 
 
 
 127 
 
 
 129 
 
BB and below
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 622 
 
 
 667 
 
 
 541 
 
 
 694 
 
 
 227 
 
 
 391 
 
 
 1,390 
 
 
 1,752 
 
 
Total by rating (1)(2)(3)
$
 6,283 
 
$
 5,778 
 
$
 832 
 
$
 873 
 
$
 666 
 
$
 820 
 
$
 430 
 
$
 608 
 
$
 8,211 
 
$
 8,079 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Origination Year
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2004 and prior
$
 1,354 
 
$
 1,240 
 
$
 211 
 
$
 209 
 
$
 221 
 
$
 247 
 
$
 203 
 
$
 252 
 
$
 1,989 
 
$
 1,948 
 
2005 
 
 817 
 
 
 732 
 
 
 117 
 
 
 134 
 
 
 246 
 
 
 293 
 
 
 161 
 
 
 227 
 
 
 1,341 
 
 
 1,386 
 
2006 
 
 236 
 
 
 211 
 
 
 161 
 
 
 167 
 
 
 163 
 
 
 227 
 
 
 65 
 
 
 127 
 
 
 625 
 
 
 732 
 
2007
 
 1,070 
 
 
 945 
 
 
 343 
 
 
 363 
 
 
 36 
 
 
 53 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 1,449 
 
 
 1,361 
 
2008
 
 227 
 
 
 205 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 227 
 
 
 205 
 
2009
 
 1,108 
 
 
 1,038 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 1,109 
 
 
 1,040 
 
2010
 
 992 
 
 
 942 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 992 
 
 
 942 
 
2011 
 
 453 
 
 
 440 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 453 
 
 
 440 
 
2012 
 
 26 
 
 
 25 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 26 
 
 
 25 
 
 
Total by origination year (1)(2)
$
 6,283 
 
$
 5,778 
 
$
 832 
 
$
 873 
 
$
 666 
 
$
 820 
 
$
 430 
 
$
 608 
 
$
 8,211 
 
$
 8,079 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total AFS RMBS as a percentage of total AFS securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.7%
 
 
11.4%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total prime/non-agency, Alt-A and subprime as a percentage of total AFS securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.5%
 
 
3.3%
 

(1)  
Does not include the fair value of trading securities totaling $251 million, which support our Modco reinsurance agreements because investment results for these agreements are passed directly to the reinsurers.  The $251 million in trading securities consisted of $227 million prime, $10 million Alt-A and $14 million subprime.
(2)  
Does not include the amortized cost of trading securities totaling $241 million, which support our Modco reinsurance agreements because investment results for these agreements are passed directly to the reinsurers.  The $241 million in trading securities consisted of $213 million prime, $12 million Alt-A and $16 million subprime.
(3)  
Based upon the rating designations determined and provided by the major credit rating agencies (Fitch, Moody’s and S&P).  For securities where the ratings assigned by the major credit agencies are not equivalent, the second highest rating assigned is used.  For those securities where ratings by the major credit rating agencies are not available, which does not represent a significant amount of our total fixed maturity AFS securities, we base the ratings disclosed upon internal ratings.

None of these investments included any direct investments in subprime lenders or mortgages.  We are not aware of material exposure to subprime loans in our alternative asset portfolio.

 
77

 



The following summarizes our investments in AFS securities backed by pools of commercial mortgages (in millions):

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
Multiple Property
 
Single Property
 
CRE CDOs
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
Fair
 
Amortized
 
Fair
 
Amortized
 
Fair
 
Amortized
 
Fair
 
Amortized
 
 
 
 
 
Value
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Cost
Type
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CMBS
$
 1,479 
 
$
 1,461 
 
$
 44 
 
$
 72 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 1,523 
 
$
 1,533 
CRE CDOs
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 21 
 
 
 32 
 
 
 21 
 
 
 32 
 
Total by type (1)(2)
$
 1,479 
 
$
 1,461 
 
$
 44 
 
$
 72 
 
$
 21 
 
$
 32 
 
$
 1,544 
 
$
 1,565 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rating
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AAA
$
 968 
 
$
 904 
 
$
 13 
 
$
 13 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 981 
 
$
 917 
AA
 
 203 
 
 
 200 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 213 
 
 
 210 
A
 
 132 
 
 
 131 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 138 
 
 
 138 
BBB
 
 104 
 
 
 108 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 115 
 
 
 121 
BB and below
 
 72 
 
 
 118 
 
 
 11 
 
 
 37 
 
 
 14 
 
 
 24 
 
 
 97 
 
 
 179 
 
Total by rating (1)(2)(3)
$
 1,479 
 
$
 1,461 
 
$
 44 
 
$
 72 
 
$
 21 
 
$
 32 
 
$
 1,544 
 
$
 1,565 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Origination Year
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2004 and prior
$
 828 
 
$
 818 
 
$
 22 
 
$
 23 
 
$
 3 
 
$
 4 
 
$
 853 
 
$
 845 
2005 
 
 318 
 
 
 301 
 
 
 21 
 
 
 45 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 345 
 
 
 353 
2006 
 
 138 
 
 
 145 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 12 
 
 
 21 
 
 
 151 
 
 
 170 
2007 
 
 139 
 
 
 143 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 139 
 
 
 143 
2010 
 
 56 
 
 
 54 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 56 
 
 
 54 
 
Total by origination year (1)(2)
$
 1,479 
 
$
 1,461 
 
$
 44 
 
$
 72 
 
$
 21 
 
$
 32 
 
$
 1,544 
 
$
 1,565 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total AFS securities backed  by pools of commercial mortgages as a percentage of total AFS securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.0%
 
 
2.2%

(1)  
Does not include the fair value of trading securities totaling $26 million, which support our Modco reinsurance agreements because investment results for these agreements are passed directly to the reinsurers.  The $26 million in trading securities consisted of $23 million CMBS and $3 million CRE CDOs.
(2)  
Does not include the amortized cost of trading securities totaling $30 million, which support our Modco reinsurance agreements because investment results for these agreements are passed directly to the reinsurers.  The $30 million in trading securities consisted of $27 million CMBS and $3 million CRE CDOs.
(3)  
Based upon the rating designations determined and provided by the major credit rating agencies (Fitch, Moody’s and S&P).  For securities where the ratings assigned by the major credit agencies are not equivalent, the second highest rating assigned is used.  For those securities where ratings by the major credit rating agencies are not available, which does not represent a significant amount of our total fixed maturity AFS securities, we base the ratings disclosed upon internal ratings.

As of March 31, 2012, the amortized cost and fair value of our AFS exposure to Monoline insurers was $563 million and $509 million, respectively.

Composition by Industry Categories of our Unrealized Losses on AFS Securities

When considering unrealized gain and loss information, it is important to recognize that the information relates to the status of securities at a particular point in time and may not be indicative of the status of our investment portfolios subsequent to the balance sheet date.  Further, because the timing of the recognition of realized investment gains and losses through the selection of which securities are sold is largely at management’s discretion, it is important to consider the information provided below within the context of the overall unrealized gain or loss position of our investment portfolios.  These are important considerations that should be included in any evaluation of the potential effect of unrealized loss securities on our future earnings.


 
78

 

The composition by industry categories of all securities in unrealized loss status (in millions), was as follows:

 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross
 
Gross
 
 
 
 
%
 
 
 
 
%
 
Unrealized
 
Unrealized
 
Fair
 
Fair
 
Amortized
 
Amortized
 
Losses
 
Losses
 
Value
 
Value
 
Cost
 
Cost
 
and OTTI
 
and OTTI
ABS
$
 703 
 
10.7%
 
$
 968 
 
13.0%
 
$
 265 
 
29.4%
Banking
 
 881 
 
13.4%
 
 
 1,059 
 
14.2%
 
 
 178 
 
19.8%
CMOs
 
 905 
 
13.8%
 
 
 1,053 
 
14.1%
 
 
 148 
 
16.4%
CMBS
 
 249 
 
3.8%
 
 
 335 
 
4.5%
 
 
 86 
 
9.5%
Electric
 
 461 
 
7.0%
 
 
 486 
 
6.5%
 
 
 25 
 
2.8%
Property and casualty insurers
 
 112 
 
1.7%
 
 
 136 
 
1.8%
 
 
 24 
 
2.7%
Diversified manufacturing
 
 228 
 
3.5%
 
 
 252 
 
3.4%
 
 
 24 
 
2.7%
Media - non-cable
 
 146 
 
2.2%
 
 
 168 
 
2.3%
 
 
 22 
 
2.4%
Retailers
 
 86 
 
1.3%
 
 
 102 
 
1.4%
 
 
 16 
 
1.8%
Paper
 
 118 
 
1.8%
 
 
 132 
 
1.8%
 
 
 14 
 
1.6%
Local authorities
 
 30 
 
0.5%
 
 
 41 
 
0.5%
 
 
 11 
 
1.2%
Industries with unrealized losses less than $10 million
 
 2,642 
 
40.3%
 
 
 2,730 
 
36.5%
 
 
 88 
 
9.7%
     Total by industry
$
 6,561 
 
100.0%
 
$
 7,462 
 
100.0%
 
$
 901 
 
100.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total by industry as a percentage of total AFS securities
 
8.5%
 
 
 
 
10.6%
 
 
 
 
100.0%
 
 

As of March 31, 2012, the amortized cost and fair value of securities subject to enhanced analysis and monitoring for potential changes in unrealized loss status was $1.1 billion and $740 million, respectively.

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate

The following tables summarize key information on mortgage loans on real estate (in millions):

 
As of March 31, 2012
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
 
Carrying
 
 
 
Carrying
 
 
 
 
Value
 
%
 
Value
 
%
 
Credit Quality Indicator
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
$ 6,861     98.9%   $ 6,854     98.7%  
Delinquent and in foreclosure (1)
  77     1.1%     88     1.3%  
     Total mortgage loans on real estate
$ 6,938     100.0%   $ 6,942     100.0%  

(1)  
As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, there were 14 and 16 mortgage loans on real estate, respectively, that were delinquent and in foreclosure.

 
As of
 
As of
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
 
By Segment
 
 
 
 
Annuities
$ 1,342   $ 1,341  
Retirement Plan Services
  1,083     1,080  
Life Insurance
  3,745     3,731  
Group Protection
  274     278  
Other Operations
  494     512  
     Total mortgage loans on real estate
$ 6,938   $ 6,942  


 
79

 


 
 
As of
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2012
 
Allowance for Losses
 
 
 
 
Balance as of beginning-of-year
 
$
 31
 
Charge-offs, net of recoveries
 
 
 (4
)
     Balance as of end-of-period
 
$
 27 
 

 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
Carrying
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carrying
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Value
 
%
 
 
 
 
 
Value
 
%
Property Type
 
 
 
 
 
State Exposure
 
 
 
 
Office building
$
 2,194 
 
31.6%
 
CA
$
 1,558 
 
22.4%
Industrial
 
 1,760 
 
25.4%
 
TX
 
 630 
 
9.1%
Retail
 
 1,570 
 
22.6%
 
MD
 
 466 
 
6.7%
Apartment
 
 1,028 
 
14.8%
 
VA
 
 347 
 
5.0%
Mixed use
 
 151 
 
2.2%
 
TN
 
 284 
 
4.1%
Hotel/Motel
 
 129 
 
1.9%
 
NC
 
 281 
 
4.0%
Other commercial
 
 106 
 
1.5%
 
FL
 
 264 
 
3.8%
 
Total
$
 6,938 
 
100.0%
 
WA
 
 261 
 
3.8%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GA
 
 225 
 
3.2%
Geographic Region
 
 
 
 
 
AZ
 
 219 
 
3.2%
Pacific
$
 1,941 
 
27.9%
 
IN
 
 206 
 
3.0%
South Atlantic
 
 1,716 
 
24.7%
 
NY
 
 192 
 
2.8%
East North Central
 
 657 
 
9.5%
 
IL
 
 191 
 
2.8%
West South Central
 
 649 
 
9.4%
 
NV
 
 183 
 
2.6%
Mountain
 
 554 
 
8.0%
 
PA
 
 171 
 
2.5%
Middle Atlantic
 
 477 
 
6.9%
 
OH
 
 162 
 
2.3%
East South Central
 
 459 
 
6.6%
 
MN
 
 147 
 
2.1%
West North Central
 
 344 
 
5.0%
 
Other states under 2%
 
 1,151 
 
16.6%
New England
 
 141 
 
2.0%
 
 
Total
$
 6,938 
 
100.0%
 
Total
$
 6,938 
 
100.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
Principal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amount
 
%
 
 
 
 
 
Amount
 
%
Origination Year
 
 
 
 
 
Future Principal Payments
 
 
 
 
2004 and prior
$
 2,399 
 
34.5%
 
2012 
$
 231 
 
3.3%
2005
 
 754 
 
10.9%
 
2013 
 
 373 
 
5.4%
2006
 
 634 
 
9.1%
 
2014 
 
 395 
 
5.7%
2007
 
 872 
 
12.5%
 
2015 
 
 604 
 
8.7%
2008
 
 792 
 
11.4%
 
2016 
 
 513 
 
7.4%
2009
 
 147 
 
2.1%
 
2017 and thereafter
 
 4,836 
 
69.5%
2010
 
 278 
 
4.0%
 
 
Total
$
 6,952 
 
100.0%
2011
 
 905 
 
13.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2012 
 
 171 
 
2.5%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
 6,952 
 
100.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The global financial markets and credit market conditions experienced a period of extreme volatility and disruption that began in the second half of 2007 and continued and substantially increased throughout 2008 that led to a decrease in the overall liquidity and

 
80

 

availability of capital in the mortgage loan market, and in particular a decrease in activity by securitization lenders.  These conditions and the overall economic downturn put pressure on the fundamentals of mortgage loans through rising vacancies, falling rents and falling property values.

See Note 4 for information regarding our loan-to-value and debt-service coverage ratios.

There were 10 and 12 impaired mortgage loans on real estate, or less than 1% and 1% of the total dollar amount of mortgage loans on real estate as of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, respectively.  The carrying value on the mortgage loans on real estate that were two or more payments delinquent as of March 31, 2012, was $77 million, or 1% of total mortgage loans on real estate.  The total principal and interest past due on the mortgage loans on real estate that were two or more payments delinquent as of March 31, 2012, was $48 million.  The carrying value on the mortgage loans on real estate that were two or more payments delinquent as of December 31, 2011, was $76 million, or 1% of total mortgage loans on real estate.  The total principal and interest past due on the mortgage loans on real estate that were two or more payments delinquent as of December 31, 2011, was $41 million.  See Note 1 in our 2011 Form 10-K for more information regarding our accounting policy relating to the impairment of mortgage loans on real estate.

Alternative Investments

Investment income (loss) on alternative investments by business segment (in millions) was as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Annuities
$ 6   $ 6     0%  
Retirement Plan Services
  3     4     -25%  
Life Insurance
  20     31     -35%  
Group Protection
  2     2     0%  
     Total (1)
$ 31   $ 43     -28%  

(1)  
Includes net investment income on the alternative investments supporting the required statutory surplus of our insurance businesses.

As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, alternative investments included investments in approximately 97 and 96 different partnerships, respectively, and the portfolio represented less than 1% of our overall invested assets.  The partnerships do not represent off-balance sheet financing and generally involve several third-party partners.  Some of our partnerships contain capital calls, which require us to contribute capital upon notification by the general partner.  These capital calls are contemplated during the initial investment decision and are planned for well in advance of the call date.  The capital calls are not material in size and are not material to our liquidity.  Alternative investments are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are included in other investments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

As discussed in “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Investments – Valuation of Alternative Investments” in our 2011 Form 10-K, we update the carrying value of our alternative investment portfolio whenever audited financial statements of the investees for the preceding year become available.  Net investment income (loss) derived from our consolidated alternative investments by segment (in millions) related to the effect of preceding year audit adjustments recorded during the indicated year at the investee was as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Annuities
$ 4   $ 3     33%  
Retirement Plan Services
  2     2     0%  
Life Insurance
  13     21     -38%  
Group Protection
  2     2     0%  
     Total
$ 21   $ 28     -25%  


 
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Non-Income Producing Investments

As of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, the carrying amount of fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real estate and real estate that were non-income producing was $16 million and $14 million, respectively.

Net Investment Income

Details underlying net investment income (in millions) and our investment yield were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Net Investment Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity AFS securities
$ 969   $ 951     2%  
VIEs' fixed maturity AFS securities
  4     3     33%  
Equity AFS securities
  1     1     0%  
Trading securities
  37     39     -5%  
Mortgage loans on real estate
  101     103     -2%  
Real estate
  4     7     -43%  
Standby real estate equity commitments
  -     1     -100%  
Policy loans
  46     41     12%  
Invested cash
  1     1     0%  
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and bond makewhole premiums (1)   6     34     -82%  
Alternative investments (2)
  31     43     -28%  
Other investments
  (8 )   (5 )   -60%  
     Investment income
  1,192     1,219     -2%  
Investment expense
  (26 )   (28 )   7%  
          Net investment income
$ 1,166   $ 1,191     -2%  

(1)  
See “Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums” below for additional information.
(2)  
See “Alternative Investments” above for additional information.

 
 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
Basis
 
 
 
March 31,
 
Point
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Interest Rate Yield
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real estate and other, net of investment expenses
    5.38%     5.56%     (18 )
Standby real estate equity commitments
    0.00%     0.01%     (1 )
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and bond makewhole premiums
    0.03%     0.17%     (14 )
Alternative investments
    0.15%     0.22%     (7 )
Net investment income yield on invested assets
    5.56%     5.96%     (40 )


 
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For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Average invested assets at amortized cost
$ 83,883   $ 79,996     5%  
 
We earn investment income on our general account assets supporting fixed annuity, term life, whole life, UL, interest-sensitive whole life and fixed portion of retirement plan and VUL products.  The profitability of our fixed annuity and life insurance products is affected by our ability to achieve target spreads, or margins, between the interest income earned on the general account assets and the interest credited to the contract holder on our average fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable.  Net investment income and the interest rate yield table each include commercial mortgage loan prepayments and bond makewhole premiums, alternative investments and contingent interest and standby real estate equity commitments.  These items can vary significantly from period to period due to a number of factors and, therefore, can provide results that are not indicative of the underlying trends.
 
The decrease in net investment income when comparing the three months ended March 31, 2012, to the same period of 2011 was attributable primarily to new money rates averaging below our portfolio yields, lower prepayment and bond makewhole premiums (see “Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums” below for more information) and less favorable investment income on alternative investments (see “Alternative Investments” above), partially offset by higher invested assets driven primarily by favorable net flows on fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable.

Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums

Prepayment and makewhole premiums are collected when borrowers elect to call or prepay their debt prior to the stated maturity.  A prepayment or makewhole premium allows investors to attain the same yield as if the borrower made all scheduled interest payments until maturity.  These premiums are designed to make investors indifferent to prepayment.

The decrease in prepayment and makewhole premiums when comparing 2012 to 2011 was attributable primarily to abnormally high prepayments and makewhole premiums during 2011 due to a rapid decline in interest rates leading to increased refinancing activity.

Realized Gain (Loss) Related to Certain Investments

The detail of the realized gain (loss) related to certain investments (in millions) was as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Fixed maturity AFS securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Gross gains
$ 5   $ 36     -86%  
     Gross losses
  (63 )   (63 )   0%  
Equity AFS securities:
                 
     Gross gains
  1     8     -88%  
Gain (loss) on other investments
  7     13     -46%  
Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI, and DFEL and changes in other contract holder funds
  2     (9 )   122%  
     Total realized gain (loss) related to certain investments, pre-tax
$ (48 ) $ (15 )
NM
 

Amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL and changes in other contract holder funds reflect an assumption for an expected level of credit-related investment losses.  When actual credit-related investment losses are realized, we recognize a true-up to our DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL amortization and changes in other contract holder funds within realized loss reflecting the incremental effect of actual versus expected credit-related investment losses.  These actual to expected amortization adjustments could create volatility in net realized gains and losses.  The write-down for impairments includes both credit-related and interest-rate related impairments.

 
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Realized gains and losses generally originate from asset sales to reposition the portfolio or to respond to product experience.  During the first three months of 2012 and 2011, we sold securities for gains and losses.  In the process of evaluating whether a security with an unrealized loss reflects declines that are other-than-temporary, we consider our ability and intent to sell the security prior to a recovery of value.  However, subsequent decisions on securities sales are made within the context of overall risk monitoring, assessing value relative to other comparable securities and overall portfolio maintenance.  Although our portfolio managers may, at a given point in time, believe that the preferred course of action is to hold securities with unrealized losses that are considered temporary until such losses are recovered, the dynamic nature of portfolio management may result in a subsequent decision to sell.  These subsequent decisions are consistent with the classification of our investment portfolio as AFS.  We expect to continue to manage all non-trading invested assets within our portfolios in a manner that is consistent with the AFS classification.

We consider economic factors and circumstances within countries and industries where recent write-downs have occurred in our assessment of the status of securities we own of similarly situated issuers.  While it is possible for realized or unrealized losses on a particular investment to affect other investments, our risk management has been designed to identify correlation risks and other risks inherent in managing an investment portfolio.  Once identified, strategies and procedures are developed to effectively monitor and manage these risks.  The areas of risk correlation that we pay particular attention to are risks that may be correlated within specific financial and business markets, risks within specific industries and risks associated with related parties.

When the detailed analysis by our credit analysts and investment portfolio managers leads us to the conclusion that a security’s decline in fair value is other-than-temporary, the security is written down to estimated recovery value.  In instances where declines are considered temporary, the security will continue to be carefully monitored.  See “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in our 2011 Form 10-K for additional information on our portfolio management strategy.

Details underlying write-downs taken as a result of OTTI (in millions) were as follows:

 
 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Corporate bonds
  $ (19 ) $ (3 )
NM
 
RMBS
    (18 )   (20 )   10%  
CMBS
    (20 )   (24 )   17%  
CDOs
    -     (1 )   100%  
Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
    -     (2 )   100%  
     Gross OTTI recognized in net income (loss)
    (57 )   (50 )   -14%  
         Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
    10     9     11%  
                  Net OTTI recognized in net income (loss), pre-tax
  $ (47 ) $ (41 )   -15%  
 
                   
Portion of OTTI Recognized in OCI
                   
Gross OTTI recognized in OCI
  $ 58   $ 8  
NM
 
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
    (8 )   (5 )   -60%  
     Net portion of OTTI recognized in OCI, pre-tax
  $ 50   $ 3  
NM
 

The increase in write-downs for OTTI when comparing the first three months of 2012 to the same period in 2011 was primarily due to structured interest only corporate bonds with floating rate coupons where the projected cash flows were less than expected based on current and expected future Libor rates.  The $115 million of impairments taken during the first three months of 2012 were split between $57 million of credit-related impairments and $58 million of noncredit-related impairments.  The credit-related impairments were largely attributable to our RMBS and CMBS holdings primarily as a result of continued weakness within the commercial and residential real estate market that affected select RMBS and CMBS holdings.  The noncredit-related impairments were incurred due to declines in values of securities for which we do not have an intent to sell or it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the securities before recovery.


 
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REVIEW OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL CONDITION

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources of Liquidity and Cash Flow

Liquidity refers to the ability of an enterprise to generate adequate amounts of cash from its normal operations to meet cash requirements with a prudent margin of safety.  Our principal sources of cash flow from operating activities are insurance premiums and fees and investment income, while sources of cash flows from investing activities result from maturities and sales of invested assets.  Our operating activities provided cash of $282 million and $340 million for the first three months of 2012 and 2011, respectively.  When considering our liquidity and cash flow, it is important to distinguish between the needs of our insurance subsidiaries and the needs of the holding company, LNC.  As a holding company with no operations of its own, LNC derives its cash primarily from its operating subsidiaries.

The sources of liquidity of the holding company are principally comprised of dividends and interest payments from subsidiaries, augmented by holding company short-term investments, bank lines of credit and the ongoing availability of long-term public financing under an SEC-filed shelf registration statement.  These sources of liquidity and cash flow support the general corporate needs of the holding company, including its common and preferred stock dividends, interest and debt service, funding of callable securities, securities repurchases, acquisitions and investment in core businesses.  Our cash flows associated with collateral received from and posted with counterparties change as the market value of the underlying derivative contract changes.  As the value of a derivative asset declines (or increases), the collateral required to be posted by our counterparties would also decline (or increase).  Likewise, when the value of a derivative liability declines (or increases), the collateral we are required to post for our counterparties’ benefit would also decline (or increase).  During the first three months of 2012, our payables for collateral on derivative investments decreased by $849 million as steadily rising equity markets and less volatility lowered the fair values of the associated derivative investments.  For additional information, see “Credit Risk” in Note 5.

Details underlying the primary sources of our holding company cash flows (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Dividends from Subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
$ 150   $ 150     0%  
Other
  -     6     -100%  
Loan Repayments and Interest from Subsidiaries
                 
Interest on inter-company notes
  33     32     3%  
  $ 183   $ 188     -3%  
Other Cash Flow and Liquidity Items
                 
Net capital received from (paid for taxes on) stock option exercises and restricted stock
$ (1 ) $ (1 )   0%  
  $ (1 ) $ (1 )   0%  

The table above focuses on significant and recurring cash flow items and excludes the effects of certain financing activities, namely the periodic issuance and retirement of debt and cash flows related to our inter-company cash management program (discussed below).  Taxes have been eliminated from the analysis due to a tax sharing agreement among our primary subsidiaries resulting in a modest effect on net cash flows at the holding company.  Also excluded from this analysis is the modest amount of investment income on short-term investments of the holding company.

Subsidiaries’ Statutory Reserving and Surplus

For discussion of our strategies to lessen the burden of increased AG38 and XXX statutory reserves associated with certain UL products and other products with secondary guarantees on our insurance subsidiaries, see “Results of Life Insurance – Income (Loss) from Operations – Strategies to Address Statutory Reserve Strain.”


 
85

 

Financing Activities

Although our subsidiaries currently generate adequate cash flow to meet the needs of our normal operations, periodically we may issue debt or equity securities to maintain ratings and increase liquidity, as well as to fund internal growth, acquisitions and the retirement of our debt and equity securities.

We currently have an effective shelf registration statement, which allows us to issue, in unlimited amounts, securities, including debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, warrants, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units, depository shares and trust preferred securities of our affiliated trusts.

Details underlying debt and financing activities (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maturities
 
in Fair
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning
 
 
 
and
 
Value
 
Other
 
Ending
 
 
Balance
 
Issuance
 
Repayments
 
Hedges
 
Changes (1)
 
Balance
 
Short-Term Debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current maturities of long-term debt (2)
$ 300   $ -   $ -   $ -   $ -   $ 300  
     Total short-term debt
$ 300   $ -   $ -   $ -   $ -   $ 300  
                                     
Long-Term Debt
                                   
Senior notes
$ 3,730   $ 300   $ -   $ (86 ) $ 1   $ 3,945  
Bank borrowing
  200     -     -     -     -     200  
Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis advance
  250     -     -     -     -     250  
Capital securities
  1,211     -     -     -     -     1,211  
     Total long-term debt
$ 5,391   $ 300   $ -   $ (86 ) $ 1   $ 5,606  

(1)  
     Includes the net increase (decrease) in commercial paper, non-cash reclassification of long-term debt to current maturities of long-term debt, accretion of discounts and (amortization) of premiums, as applicable.
(2)  
     Consisted of a $300 million 5.65% fixed rate senior note that matures in less than one year.

On March 29, 2012, we completed the issuance and sale of $300 million aggregate principal amount of our 4.20% senior notes due 2022.  We expect to repay the $300 million 5.65% fixed rate senior note maturing on August 27, 2012, with these proceeds.  In addition to the maturing note discussed above, within the next two years, we have a $200 million floating rate senior note maturing on July 18, 2013; a $300 million 4.75% senior note maturing on January 30, 2014; and a $200 million 4.75% senior note maturing on February 14, 2014.  The specific resources or combination of resources that we will use to meet these maturities will depend upon, among other things, the financial market conditions present at the time of maturity.  As of March 31, 2012, the holding company had approximately $800 million in cash and cash equivalents and $25 million invested in fixed maturity corporate bonds; however, as discussed below, it had a $19 million receivable under the inter-company cash management program.

For information about our short-term and long-term debt and our credit facilities and LOCs, see Note 12 in our 2011 Form 10-K.

We have not accounted for repurchase agreements, securities lending transactions, or other transactions involving the transfer of financial assets with an obligation to repurchase the transferred assets as sales and do have any other transactions involving the transfer of financial assets with an obligation to repurchase the transferred assets.  For information about our collateralized financing transactions on our investments, see “Payables for Collateral on Investments” in Note 4.

If current credit ratings and claims-paying ratings were downgraded in the future, terms in our derivative agreements may be triggered, which could negatively affect overall liquidity.  For the majority of our counterparties, there is a termination event should the long-term senior debt ratings of LNC drop below BBB-/Baa3 (S&P/Moody’s).  Our long-term senior debt held a rating of A-/Baa2 (S&P/Moody’s) as of March 31, 2012.  In addition, contractual selling agreements with intermediaries could be negatively affected, which could have an adverse effect on overall sales of annuities, life insurance and investment products.  See “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors – Liquidity and Capital Position – A decrease in the capital and surplus of our insurance subsidiaries may result in a downgrade to our credit and insurer financial strength ratings” and “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors – Covenants and Ratings – A downgrade in our financial strength or credit ratings could limit our ability to market products, increase the number or value of policies being surrendered and/or hurt our relationships with creditors” in our 2011 Form 10-K for more information.

 
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See “Part I – Item 1. Business – Financial Strength Ratings” in our 2011 Form 10-K for additional information on our current financial strength ratings.

See “Part II – Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Review of Consolidated Financial Condition – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Financing Activities” in our 2011 Form 10-K for information on our credit ratings.

Alternative Sources of Liquidity

In order to manage our capital more efficiently, we have an inter-company cash management program where certain subsidiaries can lend to or borrow from the holding company to meet short-term borrowing needs.  The cash management program is essentially a series of demand loans, which are permitted under applicable insurance laws, among LNC and its affiliates that reduces overall borrowing costs by allowing LNC and its subsidiaries to access internal resources instead of incurring third-party transaction costs.  For our Indiana-domiciled insurance subsidiaries, the borrowing and lending limit is currently the lesser of 3% of the insurance company’s admitted assets and 25% of its surplus, in both cases, as of its most recent year end.  The holding company did not borrow from the cash management program during the first quarter of 2012; however, it had an outstanding receivable of $19 million from certain subsidiaries resulting from funds borrowed by the subsidiaries in excess of amounts placed by those subsidiaries in the inter-company cash management account as of March 31, 2012.  Any increase (decrease) in either of these holding company cash management program payable balances results in an immediate and equal increase (decrease) to holding company cash and cash equivalents.

Our insurance subsidiaries, by virtue of their general account fixed income investment holdings, can access liquidity through securities lending programs and repurchase agreements.  As of March 31, 2012, our insurance subsidiaries had securities with a carrying value of $200 million out on loan under the securities lending program and $280 million carrying value subject to reverse-repurchase agreements.  The cash received in our securities lending program is typically invested in cash equivalents, short-term investments or fixed maturity securities.

For factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in this section, see “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above and “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2011 Form 10-K.

Divestitures

For a discussion of our divestitures, see Note 3 in our 2011 Form 10-K.

Uses of Capital

Our principal uses of cash are to pay policy claims and benefits, operating expenses, commissions and taxes, to purchase new investments, to purchase reinsurance, to fund policy surrenders and withdrawals, to pay dividends to our stockholders and to repurchase our stock and debt securities.

Return of Capital to Common Stockholders

One of the Company’s primary goals is to provide a return to our common stockholders through share price accretion, dividends and stock repurchases.  In determining dividends, the Board takes into consideration items such as current and expected earnings, capital needs, rating agency considerations and requirements for financial flexibility.  The amount and timing of share repurchase depends on key capital ratios, rating agency expectations, the generation of free cash flow and an evaluation of the costs and benefits associated with alternative uses of capital.

Details underlying this activity (in millions, except per share data), were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Common dividends to stockholders
$ 23   $ 16     44%  
Repurchase of common stock
  150     75     100%  
          Total cash returned to stockholders
$ 173   $ 91     90%  
 
                 
Number of shares repurchased
  6.018     2.414     149%  
Average price per share
$ 24.90   $ 31.09     -20%  


 
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On November 10, 2011, our Board of Directors approved an increase of the dividend on our common stock from $0.05 to $0.08 per share.  Additionally, we expect to repurchase additional shares of common stock during 2012 depending on market conditions and alternative uses of capital.  For more information regarding share repurchases, see “Part II – Item 2(c)” below.

Other Uses of Capital

In addition to the amounts in the table above in “Return of Capital to Common Stockholders,” other uses of holding company cash flow (in millions) were as follows:

 
For the Three
 
 
 
 
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Change
 
Debt service (interest paid)
$ 59   $ 63     -6%  
Capital contribution to subsidiaries
  -     8     -100%  
     Total
$ 59   $ 71     -17%  

The above table focuses on significant and recurring cash flow items and excludes the effects of certain financing activities, namely the periodic retirement of debt and cash flows related to our inter-company cash management account.  Taxes have been eliminated from the analysis due to a tax sharing agreement among our primary subsidiaries resulting in a modest effect on net cash flows at the holding company.

Significant Trends in Sources and Uses of Cash Flow

As stated above, LNC’s cash flow, as a holding company, is largely dependent upon the dividend capacity of its insurance company subsidiaries as well as their ability to advance funds to it through inter-company borrowing arrangements, which may be affected by factors influencing the insurance subsidiaries’ RBC and statutory earnings performance.  We currently expect to be able to meet the holding company’s ongoing cash needs and to have sufficient capital to offer downside protection in the event that the capital and credit markets experience another period of extreme volatility and disruption.  A decline in capital market conditions, which reduces our insurance subsidiaries’ statutory surplus and RBC, may require them to retain more capital and may pressure our subsidiaries’ dividends to the holding company, which may lead us to take steps to preserve or raise additional capital.  For factors that could affect our expectations for liquidity and capital, see “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2011 Form 10-K.

OTHER MATTERS

Other Factors Affecting Our Business
 
In general, our businesses are subject to a changing social, economic, legal, legislative and regulatory environment.  Some of the changes include initiatives to require more reserves to be carried by our insurance subsidiaries.  Although the eventual effect on us of the changing environment in which we operate remains uncertain, these factors and others could have a material effect on our results of operations, liquidity and capital resources.  For factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in this section, see “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2011 Form 10-K and “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements that have been implemented during the periods presented or that have been issued and are to be implemented in the future.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We analyze and manage the risks arising from market exposures of financial instruments, as well as other risks, in an integrated asset-liability management process that takes diversification into account.  By aggregating the potential effect of market and other risks on the entire enterprise, we estimate, review and in some cases manage the risk to our earnings and shareholder value.  We have exposures to several market risks including interest rate risk, equity market risk, default risk, basis risk, credit risk and, to a lesser extent, foreign currency exchange risk.  The exposures of financial instruments to market risks, and the related risk management processes, are most important to our business where most of the invested assets support accumulation and investment-oriented insurance products.  As an important element of our integrated asset-liability management processes, we use derivatives to minimize the effects of changes in interest levels, the shape of the yield curve, currency movements and volatility.  In this context, derivatives are designated as a hedge and serve to minimize interest rate risk by mitigating the effect of significant

 
88

 

increases in interest rates on our earnings.  Additional market exposures exist in our other general account insurance products and in our debt structure and derivatives positions.  Our primary sources of market risk are:  substantial, relatively rapid and sustained increases or decreases in interest rates or a sharp drop in equity market values.  These market risks are discussed in detail in the following pages and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements (“Notes”) presented in “Item 1. Financial Statements,” as well as “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”).”
 
 
Interest Rate Risk

Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Businesses – Falling Rates

There were no material changes to our earnings sensitivity analysis disclosed in “Part II – Item 7A. – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Interest Rate Risk – Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Businesses – Falling Rates” of our 2011 Form 10-K.

The following provides detail on the percentage differences between the March 31, 2012, interest rates being credited to contract holders based on the first quarter of 2012 declared rates and the respective minimum guaranteed policy rate (in millions), broken out by contract holder account values reported within our segments:

 
Account Values
 
 
 
 
Retirement    
 
 
 
 
 
%
 
 
 
 
Plan
 
Life
 
 
 
 
Account
 
Annuities
 
Services
 
  Insurance (1)  
Total
 
Values
Excess of Crediting Rates over Contract Minimums
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discretionary rate setting products (2)(3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     No difference
$
 6,863 
 
$
 9,579 
 
$
 25,667 
 
$
 42,109 
 
68.2%
     Up to 0.10%
 
 77 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 79 
 
0.1%
     0.11% to 0.20%
 
 75 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 75 
 
0.1%
     0.21% to 0.30%
 
 100 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 335 
 
 
 436 
 
0.7%
     0.31% to 0.40%
 
 98 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 99 
 
0.2%
     0.41% to 0.50%
 
 96 
 
 
 11 
 
 
 112 
 
 
 219 
 
0.4%
     0.51% to 0.60%
 
 88 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 88 
 
0.1%
     0.61% to 0.70%
 
 74 
 
 
 81 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 155 
 
0.3%
     0.71% to 0.80%
 
 70 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 70 
 
0.1%
     0.81% to 0.90%
 
 54 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 54 
 
0.1%
     0.91% to 1.00%
 
 33 
 
 
 94 
 
 
 103 
 
 
 230 
 
0.4%
     1.01% to 1.50%
 
 153 
 
 
 19 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 172 
 
0.3%
     1.51% to 2.00%
 
 15 
 
 
 162 
 
 
 125 
 
 
 302 
 
0.5%
     2.01% to 2.50%
 
 1 
 
 
 63 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 64 
 
0.1%
     2.51% to 3.00%
 
 8 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 8 
 
0.0%
     3.01% and above
 
 - 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 1 
 
0.0%
     Multi-year guarantee and indexed annuity products (4)
 
 11,543 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 11,543 
 
18.7%
          Total discretionary rate setting products
 
 19,348 
 
 
 10,014 
 
 
 26,342 
 
 
 55,704 
 
90.3%
Other contracts (5)
 
 2,145 
 
 
 3,806 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 5,951 
 
9.7%
               Total account values
$
 21,493 
 
$
 13,820 
 
$
 26,342 
 
$
 61,655 
 
100.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Percentage of discretionary rate setting product account values at minimum guaranteed rates
 
35.5%
 
 
95.7%
 
 
97.4%
 
 
75.6%
 
 

(1)  
Excludes policy loans.
(2)  
Contracts currently within new money rate bands are grouped according to the corresponding portfolio rate band in which they will fall upon their first anniversary.
(3)  
The average crediting rates for discretionary rate setting products were 67 basis points, 6 basis points and 2 basis points in excess of average minimum guaranteed rates for our Annuities, Retirement Plan Services and Life Insurance segments, respectively.
(4)  
The average crediting rates were 171 basis points in excess of average minimum guaranteed rates for multi-year guarantee

 
89

 

products; 19%, 10% and 71% of our total multi-year guarantee account values are scheduled to reset in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and beyond, respectively.  Our indexed renewal business resets either annually or bi-annually.  Upon reset, we are able to adjust product features to reflect changes in option prices.
(5)  
For Annuities, this amount relates primarily to immediate annuity and short-term dollar cost averaging business.  For Retirement Plan Services, this amount relates to indexed-based rate setting products in which the average crediting rates were 4 basis points in excess of average minimum guaranteed rates and 84% of account values were already at their minimum guaranteed rates.

The maturity structure and call provisions of the related portfolios are structured to afford protection against erosion of investment portfolio yields during periods of declining interest rates.  We devote extensive effort to evaluating the risks associated with falling interest rates by simulating asset and liability cash flows for a wide range of interest rate scenarios.  We seek to manage these exposures by maintaining a suitable maturity structure and by limiting our exposure to call risk in each respective investment portfolio.

Derivatives

See Note 5 for information on our derivatives used to hedge our exposure to changes in interest rates.

Equity Market Risk

Our revenues, assets, liabilities and derivatives are exposed to equity market risk.  Due to the use of our reversion to the mean (“RTM”) process and our hedging strategies, we expect that, in general, short-term fluctuations in the equity markets should not have a significant effect on our quarterly earnings from unlocking of assumptions for deferred acquisition costs, value of business acquired, deferred sales inducements and deferred front-end loads.  However, earnings are affected by equity market movements on account values and assets under management and the related fees we earn on those assets.  Refer to “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Introduction – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL”  in our 2011 Form 10-K for further discussion on the effects of equity markets on our RTM.

Effect of Equity Market Sensitivity
 
The following presents our estimate of the effect on income (loss) from operations (in millions), from the change in asset-based fees and related expenses, if the level of the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Index® (“S&P 500”), which ended at 1408 as of March 31, 2012, were to decrease to 1126 over six months after March 31, 2012, and remain at that level through the next six months or increase to 1690 over six months after March 31, 2012, and remain at that level through the next six months, excluding any effect related to sales, prospective unlocking, persistency, hedge program performance or customer behavior caused by the equity market change:

 
S&P 500
 
S&P 500
 
 
at 1126 (1)
 
at 1690 (1)
 
Segment
       
Annuities
$ (82 ) $ 44  
Retirement Plan Services
  (9 )   10  

(1)  
The baseline for these effects assumes a 4% annual equity market growth rate, depending on the block of business, beginning on April 1, 2012.  The baseline is then compared to scenarios of the S&P 500 at the 1126 and 1690 levels, which assume the index moves to those levels over six months, remains at those levels through the next six months and grows at 4% annually, depending on the block of business, thereafter.  The difference between the baseline and the S&P 500 at the 1126 and 1690 level scenarios is presented in the table.

Refer to “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Introduction – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL – Reversion to the Mean” in our 2011 Form 10-K for discussion of the effects of equity markets on our RTM.

The effect on earnings summarized above is a hypothetical scenario for the next 12 months.  The effect of quarterly equity market changes upon fee revenues and asset-based expenses is generally not fully recognized in the first quarter of the change because fee revenues are earned and related expenses are incurred based upon daily variable account values.  The difference between the current period average daily variable account values compared to the end of period variable account values affects fee revenues in subsequent periods.  Additionally, the effect on earnings may not necessarily be symmetrical with comparable increases in the equity markets.  This discussion concerning the estimated effects of ongoing equity market volatility on the fees we earn from

 
90

 

account values and assets under management is intended to be illustrative.  Actual effects may vary depending on a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control, such as changing customer behaviors that might result in changes in the mix of our business between variable and fixed annuity contracts, switching among investment alternatives available within variable products, changes in sales production levels or changes in policy persistency.  For purposes of this guidance, the change in account values is assumed to correlate with the change in the relevant index.
 
 
Credit-Related Derivatives

We use credit-related derivatives to minimize our exposure to credit-related events and we also sell credit default swaps to offer credit protection to our contract holders and investors.  See Note 5 for additional information.

Credit Risk

See Note 5 for information on our credit risk.

In addition to the information provided about our counterparty exposure in Note 5, the fair value of our exposure by rating (in millions) was as follows:

 
 
 
As of
 
As of
 
 
 
March 31,
December 31,
 
 
 
2012 
 
2011 
 
Rating
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AA
 
$
 22 
 
$
 23 
 
A
 
 
 38 
 
 
 56 
 
BBB
 
 
 1 
 
 
 2 
 
 
Total
 
$
 61 
 
$
 81 
 

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

Conclusions Regarding Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. As of the end of the period required by this report, we, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act).  Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to us and our consolidated subsidiaries required to be disclosed in our periodic reports under the Exchange Act.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2012, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met.  Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the company have been detected.  Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks.  Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.


 
91

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

Information regarding reportable legal proceedings is contained in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements in “Part I – Item 1.”

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(c)  The following table summarizes purchases of equity securities by the issuer during the quarter ended March 31, 2012 (dollars in millions, except per share data):

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a) Total
 
 
 
 
(c) Total Number
 
(d) Approximate Dollar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number
 
(b) Average
 
of Shares (or Units)
 
Value of Shares (or
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 of Shares
 
Price Paid
 
Purchased as Part of
 
Units) that May Yet Be
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (or Units)
 
per Share
 
Publicly Announced
 
Purchased Under the
Period
 
Purchased (1)
 
(or Unit)
 
Plans or Programs (2)
 
Plans or Programs (3)
1/1/12 - 1/31/12
 
 
 1,466 
 
$
20.03 
 
 
 - 
 
$
 540 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2/1/12 - 2/29/12
 
 
 3,920,073 
 
 
24.80 
 
 
 3,900,000 
 
 
 443 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3/1/12 - 3/31/12
 
 
 2,118,529 
 
 
25.10 
 
 
 2,118,156 
 
 
 390 

(1)
Of the total number of shares purchased, no shares were received in connection with the exercise of stock options and related taxes and 21,912 shares were withheld for taxes on the vesting of restricted stock.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, there were 6,018,156 shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs.
(2)
On February 23, 2007, our Board approved a $2.0 billion increase to our securities repurchase authorization, bringing the total authorization at that time to $2.6 billion.  As of March 31, 2012, our remaining security repurchase authorization was $390 million.  The security repurchase authorization does not have an expiration date.  The amount and timing of share repurchase depends on key capital ratios, rating agency expectations, the generation of free cash flow and an evaluation of the costs and benefits associated with alternative uses of capital.  The shares repurchased in connection with the awards described in Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements of our 2011 Form 10-K are not included in our security repurchase.
(3)
As of the last day of the applicable month.

Item 6.  Exhibits

The Exhibits included in this report are listed in the Exhibit Index beginning on page E-1, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 
92

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
       
 
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
       
  By:
/s/  RANDAL J. FREITAG
 
      Randal J. Freitag
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
       
  By:
/s/  DOUGLAS N. MILLER
 
      Douglas N. Miller
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
 
Dated:  May 3, 2012
     
 
 

 
93

 


LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
Exhibit Index for the Report on Form 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2012


12
Historical Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101
Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following Interactive Data Files formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2012, and  December 31, 2011; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011; and (v) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.  Users of this data are advised pursuant to Rule 401 of Regulation S-T that the information contained in the XBRL documents is unaudited and these are not the official publicly filed financial statements of Lincoln National Corporation.

In accordance with Rule 402 of Regulation S-T, the XBRL related information in this report shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

E-1