d10q.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 June 30, 2010
 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, 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.

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 August 3, 2010, there were 316,735,677 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

 


 
 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions, except share data)
 
   
As of
   
As of
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
Investments:
           
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value:
           
Fixed maturity securities (amortized cost:  2010 - $63,321; 2009 - $60,757)
  $ 66,391     $ 60,818  
Variable interest entities' fixed maturity securities (amortized cost:  2010 - $568)
    581       -  
Equity securities (cost:  2010 - $356; 2009 - $382)
    246       278  
Trading securities
    2,608       2,505  
Mortgage loans on real estate
    6,882       7,178  
Real estate
    218       174  
Policy loans
    2,902       2,898  
Derivative investments
    1,989       1,010  
Other investments
    1,136       1,057  
Total investments
    82,953       75,918  
Cash and invested cash
    3,700       4,025  
Deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired
    8,535       9,510  
Premiums and fees receivable
    317       321  
Accrued investment income
    945       889  
Reinsurance recoverables
    6,660       6,426  
Goodwill
    3,013       3,013  
Other assets
    3,162       3,831  
Separate account assets
    70,844       73,500  
Total assets
  $ 180,129     $ 177,433  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Liabilities
               
Future contract benefits
  $ 17,478     $ 15,958  
Other contract holder funds
    65,462       64,147  
Short-term debt
    99       350  
Long-term debt
    5,865       5,050  
Reinsurance related embedded derivatives
    92       31  
Funds withheld reinsurance liabilities
    1,196       1,261  
Deferred gain on business sold through reinsurance
    506       543  
Payables for collateral on investments
    2,376       1,907  
Variable interest entities' liabilities
    187       -  
Other liabilities
    3,386       2,986  
Separate account liabilities
    70,844       73,500  
Total liabilities
    167,491       165,733  
                 
Contingencies and Commitments (See Note 10)
               
                 
Stockholders' Equity
               
Preferred stock - 10,000,000 shares authorized:
               
Series A preferred stock - 11,365 and 11,497 shares issued and outstanding
               
as of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, respectively
    -       -  
Series B preferred stock - 950,000 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2009
    -       806  
Common stock - 800,000,000 shares authorized; 316,662,480 and 302,223,281 shares
               
issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, respectively
    8,188       7,840  
Retained earnings
    3,512       3,316  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    938       (262 )
Total stockholders' equity
    12,638       11,700  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 180,129     $ 177,433  
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
1

 

LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited, in millions, except per share data)
 
   
For the Three
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Revenues
                       
Insurance premiums
  $ 551     $ 542     $ 1,083     $ 1,050  
Insurance fees
    793       691       1,581       1,392  
Net investment income
    1,120       971       2,226       1,984  
Realized gain (loss):
                               
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses on securities
    (11 )     (221 )     (88 )     (431 )
Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income
    -       103       24       192  
Net other-than-temporary impairment losses on securities
                               
recognized in earnings
    (11 )     (118 )     (64 )     (239 )
Realized gain (loss), excluding other-than-temporary
                               
impairment losses on securities
    16       (325 )     43       (400 )
Total realized gain (loss)
    5       (443 )     (21 )     (639 )
Amortization of deferred gain on business sold through
                               
reinsurance
    19       18       38       37  
Other revenues and fees
    117       104       225       191  
Total revenues
    2,605       1,883       5,132       4,015  
Benefits and Expenses
                               
Interest credited
    613       607       1,231       1,234  
Benefits
    839       575       1,618       1,495  
Underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses
    754       694       1,467       1,338  
Interest and debt expense
    69       61       137       61  
Impairment of intangibles
    -       (1 )     -       603  
Total benefits and expenses
    2,275       1,936       4,453       4,731  
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes
    330       (53 )     679       (716 )
Federal income tax expense (benefit)
    78       (46 )     171       (122 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    252       (7 )     508       (594 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of federal
                               
income taxes
    3       (154 )     31       (146 )
Net income (loss)
    255       (161 )     539       (740 )
Preferred stock dividends and accretion of discount
    (149 )     -       (168 )     -  
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders
  $ 106     $ (161 )   $ 371     $ (740 )
                                 
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share - Basic
                               
Income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 0.34     $ (0.03 )   $ 1.12     $ (2.30 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
    0.01       (0.59 )     0.10       (0.57 )
Net income (loss)
  $ 0.35     $ (0.62 )   $ 1.22     $ (2.87 )
                                 
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share - Diluted
                               
Income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 0.32     $ (0.03 )   $ 1.08     $ (2.30 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
    0.01       (0.59 )     0.10       (0.57 )
Net income (loss)
  $ 0.33     $ (0.62 )   $ 1.18     $ (2.87 )
 
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 Six
 
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Preferred Stock
           
Balance as of beginning-of-year
  $ 806     $ -  
Redemption of Series B preferred stock
    (950 )     -  
Accretion of discount on Series B preferred stock
    144       -  
Balance as of end-of-period
    -       -  
                 
Common Stock
               
Balance as of beginning-of-year
    7,840       7,035  
Issuance of common stock
    368       652  
Stock compensation/issued for benefit plans
    9       (9 )
Deferred compensation payable in stock
    -       3  
Effect of amendment to non-director deferred compensation plans
    (29 )     -  
Balance as of end-of-period
    8,188       7,681  
                 
Retained Earnings
               
Balance as of beginning-of-year
    3,316       3,745  
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards
    (169 )     102  
Comprehensive income
    1,558       458  
Less other comprehensive income, net of tax
    1,019       1,198  
Net income (loss)
    539       (740 )
Dividends declared:  Common (2010 - $0.020; 2009 - $0.020)
    (6 )     (6 )
Dividends on preferred stock
    (24 )     -  
Accretion of discount on Series B preferred stock
    (144 )     -  
Balance as of end-of-period
    3,512       3,101  
                 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
               
Balance as of beginning-of-year
    (262 )     (2,803 )
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards
    181       (102 )
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
    1,019       1,198  
Balance as of end-of-period
    938       (1,707 )
Total stockholders' equity as of end-of-period
  $ 12,638     $ 9,075  
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
3

 

LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited, in millions)
 
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
           
Net income (loss)
  $ 539     $ (740 )
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
    (86 )     (165 )
Trading securities purchases, sales and maturities, net
    31       35  
Change in premiums and fees receivable
    4       46  
Change in accrued investment income
    (56 )     (67 )
Change in future contract benefits
    603       (268 )
Change in other contract holder funds
    1       102  
Change in reinsurance related assets and liabilities
    (253 )     81  
Change in federal income tax accruals
    202       110  
Realized (gain) loss
    21       639  
Gain on early extinguishment of debt
    -       (64 )
Amortization of deferred gain on business sold through reinsurance
    (38 )     (37 )
Impairment of intangibles
    -       603  
(Gain) loss on disposal of discontinued operations
    (64 )     237  
Other
    (31 )     (65 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    873       447  
                 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
               
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
    (7,474 )     (7,661 )
Sales of available-for-sale securities
    2,057       2,078  
Maturities of available-for-sale securities
    1,925       1,619  
Purchases of other investments
    (1,245 )     (2,564 )
Sales or maturities of other investments
    1,443       2,942  
Increase (decrease) in payables for collateral on investments
    469       (1,994 )
Proceeds from sale of subsidiaries/businesses, net of cash disposed
    321       4  
Other
    (29 )     (28 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (2,533 )     (5,604 )
                 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
               
Payment of long-term debt, including current maturities
    (250 )     (522 )
Issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs
    749       495  
Decrease in commercial paper, net
    (1 )     (112 )
Deposits of fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable
    5,132       5,795  
Withdrawals of fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable
    (2,483 )     (3,285 )
Transfers to and from separate accounts, net
    (1,353 )     (1,028 )
Common stock issued for benefit plans and excess tax benefits
    -       (20 )
Redemption of Series B preferred stock
    (950 )     -  
Issuance of common stock
    368       652  
Dividends paid to common and preferred stockholders
    (36 )     (56 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
    1,176       1,919  
Net decrease in cash and invested cash, including discontinued operations
    (484 )     (3,238 )
Cash and invested cash, including discontinued operations, as of beginning-of-year
    4,184       5,926  
Cash and invested cash, including discontinued operations, as of end-of-period
  $ 3,700     $ 2,688  
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
4

 

LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1.  Nature of Operations, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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 15 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 protection.

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, 2009 (“2009 Form 10-K”) should be read in connection with the reading of these interim unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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 six month period ended June 30, 2010, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2010.  All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

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.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Available-For-Sale Securities – Fair Valuation Methodologies and Associated Inputs

Securities classified as available-for-sale (“AFS”) consist of fixed maturity and equity securities and are stated at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”), net of associated deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”), value of business acquired (“VOBA”), deferred sales inducements (“DSI”), other contract holder funds and deferred income taxes.  See Notes 5 and 14 for additional details.

We measure the fair value of our securities classified as AFS based on assumptions used by market participants in pricing the security.  The most appropriate valuation methodology is selected based on the specific characteristics of the fixed maturity or equity security, and we consistently apply the valuation methodology to measure the security’s fair value.  Our fair value measurement is based on a market approach, which utilizes prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable securities.  Sources of inputs to the market approach include third-party pricing services, independent broker quotations or pricing matrices.  We do not adjust prices received from third parties; however, we do analyze the third-party pricing services’ valuation methodologies and related inputs and perform additional evaluation to determine the appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy.

We use observable and unobservable inputs in our valuation methodologies.  Observable inputs include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker-dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data.  In addition, market indicators, industry and economic events are monitored and further market data is acquired if certain triggers are met. For certain security types, additional inputs may be used, or some of the inputs described above may not be applicable.  For broker-quoted only securities, quotes from market makers or broker-dealers are obtained from sources recognized to be market participants. In order to validate the pricing information and broker-dealer quotes, we employ, where possible, procedures that include comparisons with similar observable positions, comparisons with subsequent sales, discussions with senior business leaders and brokers and observations of general market movements for those security classes.  For those securities trading in less liquid or illiquid markets with limited or no pricing information, we use unobservable inputs in order to measure the fair value of these securities.  In cases where this information is not available, such as for privately placed securities, fair value is estimated using an internal pricing matrix.  This matrix relies on management’s judgment concerning the discount rate used in calculating expected

 
5

 

future cash flows, credit quality, industry sector performance and expected maturity.

The observable and unobservable inputs to our valuation methodologies are based on a set of standard inputs that we generally use to evaluate all of our AFS securities.  The standard inputs used in order of priority are benchmark yields, reported trades, broker-dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data.  Depending on the type of security or the daily market activity, standard inputs may be prioritized differently or may not be available for all AFS securities on any given day.

The following summarizes our fair valuation methodologies and associated inputs, which are particular to the specified security type and are in addition to the defined standard inputs to our valuation methodologies for all of our AFS securities discussed above:

·
Corporate bonds and U.S. Government bonds – We also use Trade Reporting and Compliance EngineTM reported tables for our corporate bonds and vendor trading platform data for our U.S. Government bonds.
·
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities – We also utilize additional inputs which include new issues data, monthly payment information and monthly collateral performance, including prepayments, severity, delinquencies, step-down features and over collateralization features for each of our mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), which include collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), residential mortgages that back mortgage pass through securities (“MPTS”) and commercial mortgages that back commercial MBS (“CMBS”), and for our asset-backed securities (“ABS”) collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”).
·
State and municipal bonds – We also use additional inputs which include information from the Municipal Securities Rule Making Board, as well as material event notices, new issue data, issuer financial statements and Municipal Market Data benchmark yields for our state and municipal bonds.
·
Hybrid and redeemable preferred and equity securities – We also utilize additional inputs of exchange prices (underlying and common stock of the same issuer) for our hybrid and redeemable preferred stocks and equity securities, including banking, insurance, other financial services and other securities.

2.  New Accounting Standards

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Consolidations Topic

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2009-17, “Improvements to Financial Reporting by Enterprises Involved with Variable Interest Entities” (“ASU 2009-17”), which amended the consolidation guidance for variable interest entities (“VIEs”).  For a more detailed description of ASU 2009-17, see “Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards – Consolidations Topic” in Note 2 of our 2009 Form 10-K.  In February 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-10, “Amendments for Certain Investment Funds” (“ASU 2010-10”), which deferred application of the guidance in ASU 2009-17 for reporting entities with interests in an entity that applies the specialized accounting guidance for investment companies.

Effective January 1, 2010, we adopted the amendments in ASU 2009-17 and ASU 2010-10, and accordingly reconsidered our involvement with all our VIEs and the primary beneficiary of the VIEs.  In accordance with ASU 2009-17, we are the primary beneficiary of the VIEs associated with our investments in credit-linked notes (“CLNs”), and as such, we consolidated all of the assets and liabilities of these VIEs and recorded a cumulative effect adjustment of $169 million, after-tax, to the beginning balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2010.  In addition, we considered our investments in limited partnerships and other alternative investments, and concluded these investments are within the scope of the deferral in ASU 2010-10, and as such they are not subject to the amended consolidation guidance in ASU 2009-17.  As a result, we will continue to account for our alternative investments consistent with the accounting policy in Note 1 of our 2009 Form 10-K.  See Note 4 for more detail regarding the consolidation of our VIEs.

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic

In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06, “Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements” (“ASU 2010-06”), which requires us to disclose additional information related to the three-level fair value hierarchy.  For a more detailed description of ASU 2010-06, see “Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards – Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic” in Note 2 of our 2009 Form 10-K.  We adopted the amendments in ASU 2010-06 effective January 1, 2010, and have prospectively included the required disclosures in Note 14.  The disclosures related to purchases, sales, issuances and settlements for Level 3 fair value measurements are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2010, and as such, these disclosures will be included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements effective January 1, 2011.


 
6

 

Transfers and Servicing Topic

In June 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-16, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets” (“ASU 2009-16”), which eliminates the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity (“SPE”) and removes the scope exception for a qualifying SPE from the Consolidations Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM (“ASC”).  For a more detailed description of ASU 2009-16, see “Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards – Transfers and Servicing Topic” in Note 2 of our 2009 Form 10-K.  We adopted ASU 2009-16 effective January 1, 2010.  The adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Derivatives and Hedging Topic

In March 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-11, “Scope Exception Related to Embedded Credit Derivatives” (“ASU 2010-11”), to clarify the scope exception when evaluating an embedded credit derivative which may potentially require separate accounting.  Specifically, ASU 2010-11 states that only an embedded credit derivative feature related to the transfer of credit risk that is solely in the form of subordination of one financial instrument to another is not subject to further analysis as a potential embedded derivative under the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB ASC.  The amendments specify that embedded credit derivatives not qualifying for the scope exception, such as an embedded derivative related to a credit default swap on a referenced credit, would be subject to a bifurcation analysis even if their effects are allocated to interests in subordinated tranches of the securitized financial instrument.  ASU 2010-11 will be effective at the beginning of the first fiscal quarter beginning after June 15, 2010.  The fair value option may be elected for investments within the scope of ASU 2010-11 on an instrument-by-instrument basis.  If the fair value option is not elected, preexisting contracts acquired, issued or subject to a remeasurement event on or after January 1, 2007, must be evaluated under the guidance in ASU 2010-11.  We will adopt the amendments in ASU 2010-11 effective with the interim reporting period ending September 30, 2010.  We do not expect the adoption will have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

Financial Services – Insurance Industry Topic

In April 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-15, “How Investments Held through Separate Accounts Affect an Insurer’s Consolidation Analysis of Those Investments” (“ASU 2010-15”), to clarify a consolidation issue for insurance entities that hold a controlling interest in an investment fund either partially or completely through separate accounts.  ASU 2010-15 concludes that an insurance entity would not be required to consider interests held in separate accounts when determining whether or not to consolidate an investment fund, unless the separate account interest is held for the benefit of a related party.  If an investment fund is consolidated, the portion of the assets representing interests held in separate accounts would be recorded as a separate account asset with a corresponding separate account liability.  The remaining investment fund assets would be consolidated in the insurance entity’s general account.  ASU 2010-15 will be applied retrospectively for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, with early application permitted.  We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

Receivables Topic

In July 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-20, “Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses” (“ASU 2010-20”), which will enhance and expand the financial statement disclosures related to this topic.  These amendments are focused on providing financial statement users with more information regarding the nature of the risk associated with financing receivables and how the assessment of the risk is used to estimate the allowance for credit losses.  In addition, expanded disclosures are required to provide financial statement users with more information regarding changes recognized during the reporting period to the allowance for credit losses.  The new disclosure requirements in ASU 2010-20 will primarily be effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2010.  Disclosures that provide information about the activity during a reporting period, primarily in the allowance for credit losses and modifications of financing receivables, are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010.  Comparative disclosures are not required for earlier reporting periods ending prior to the initial adoption date.  We are currently evaluating the disclosure requirements of ASU 2010-20, and will include the required disclosures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements beginning with the reporting period ending December 31, 2010.  The required disclosures in ASU 2010-20 related to activity that occurs during a reporting period will be included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements beginning with the reporting period ending March 31, 2011.


 
7

 

3.  Dispositions

Discontinued Investment Management Operations

On August 18, 2009, we entered into a purchase and sale agreement with Macquarie Bank Limited (“MBL”), pursuant to which we agreed to sell to MBL all of the outstanding capital stock of Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. (“Delaware”), our subsidiary, which provided investment products and services to individuals and institutions.  This transaction closed on January 4, 2010, with after-tax proceeds of approximately $405 million.

In addition, certain of our subsidiaries, including The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company (“LNL”), our primary insurance subsidiary, entered into investment advisory agreements with Delaware, pursuant to which Delaware will continue to manage the majority of the general account insurance assets of the subsidiaries.  The investment advisory agreements will have 10-year terms, and we may terminate them without cause, subject to a purchase price adjustment of up to $80 million, the amount of which is dependent on the timing of any termination and which agreements are terminated.  The amount of the potential adjustment will decline on a pro rata basis over the 10-year term of the advisory agreements.

Accordingly, in the periods prior to closing, the assets and liabilities of this business were classified as held-for-sale and reported within other assets and other liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The major classes of assets and liabilities held-for-sale (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
As of
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
 
       
Assets
     
Cash and invested cash
  $ 159  
Premiums and fees receivable
    39  
Goodwill
    248  
Other assets
    61  
Total assets held-for-sale
  $ 507  
         
Liabilities
       
Other liabilities
  $ 116  
Total liabilities held-for-sale
  $ 116  


 
8

 

We have reclassified the results of operations of Delaware into income from discontinued operations for all periods presented on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss), and selected amounts (in millions) were as follows:
                         
   
For the Three
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Discontinued Operations Before Disposal
                       
Revenues:
                       
Investment advisory fees - external
  $ -     $ 48     $ -     $ 92  
Investment advisory fees - internal
    -       20       -       40  
Other revenues and fees
    -       24       -       42  
Gain on sale of business
    4       2       4       4  
Total revenues
  $ 4     $ 94     $ 4     $ 178  
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before disposal,
                               
before federal income tax expense (benefit)
  $ 4     $ 12     $ (13 )   $ 17  
Federal income tax expense (benefit)
    1       6       (2 )     8  
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before disposal
    3       6       (11 )     9  
Disposal
                               
Gain on disposal, before federal income tax expense
    -       -       37       -  
Federal income tax expense
    -       -       13       -  
Gain on disposal
    -       -       24       -  
Income from discontinued operations
  $ 3     $ 6     $ 13     $ 9  
 
The income (loss) from discontinued operations before disposal for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, includes final cash received toward the purchase price for certain institutional taxable fixed income business sold during the fourth quarter 2007.  The loss from discontinued operations before disposal for the six months ended June 30, 2010, also reflects stock compensation expense attributable to the acceleration of vesting of equity awards for certain Delaware employees upon the sale of Delaware.

Discontinued U.K. Operations

On June 15, 2009, we entered into a share purchase agreement with SLF of Canada UK Limited (“SLF”) and Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, as the guarantor, pursuant to which we agreed to sell to SLF all of the outstanding capital stock of Lincoln National (UK) plc (“Lincoln UK”), our subsidiary, which focused primarily on providing life and retirement income products in the United Kingdom.  This transaction closed on October 1, 2009, and we retained Lincoln UK’s pension plan assets and liabilities.


 
9

 

We have reclassified the results of operations of Lincoln UK into income from discontinued operations for all periods presented on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss), and selected amounts (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Discontinued Operations Before Disposal
                       
Revenues:
                       
Insurance premiums
  $ -     $ 14     $ -     $ 25  
Insurance fees
    -       33       -       57  
Net investment income
    -       15       -       28  
Realized gain (loss)
    -       -       -       (3 )
Other revenues and fees
    -       1       -       -  
Total revenues
  $ -     $ 63     $ -     $ 107  
Income from discontinued operations before disposal,
                               
before federal income tax expense
  $ -     $ 15     $ -     $ 23  
Federal income tax expense
    -       5       -       8  
Income from discontinued operations before disposal
    -       10       -       15  
Disposal
                               
Gain (loss) on disposal, before federal income tax expense (benefit)
    -       (237 )     27       (237 )
Federal income tax expense (benefit)
    -       (67 )     9       (67 )
Gain (loss) on disposal
    -       (170 )     18       (170 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
  $ -     $ (160 )   $ 18     $ (155 )
 
The gain on disposal for the six months ended June 30, 2010, related to additional consideration received attributable to a post-closing adjustment of the purchase price based upon a final actuarial appraisal of the value of the business as set forth in the share purchase agreement.

4.  Variable Interest Entities

Our involvement with VIEs is primarily to obtain financing and to invest in assets that allow us to gain exposure to a broadly diversified portfolio of asset classes. The factors used to determine whether or not we are the primary beneficiary and must consolidate a VIE in which we hold a variable interest changed effective January 1, 2010, upon the adoption of new accounting guidance.  See “Consolidations Topic” in Note 2 for details.  Beginning January 1, 2010, we continuously analyze the primary beneficiary of our VIEs, to determine whether we are the primary beneficiary, by applying a qualitative approach to identify the variable interest that has the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the performance of the VIE and absorb losses or receive returns that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

Consolidated VIEs

We invested in the Class 1 Notes of two CLN structures, which represent special purpose trusts that combine asset-backed securities with credit default swaps to produce multi-class structured securities.  The Class 2 Notes are held by third parties, and, together with the Class 1 Notes, represent 100% of the outstanding notes of the CLN structures.  The entities that issued the CLNs are financed by the note holders, and, as such, the note holders participate in the expected losses and residual returns of the entities.  Because the note holders do not have voting rights or similar rights, we determined the entities issuing the CLNs are VIEs, and as a note holder, our interest represented a variable interest.  As of December 31, 2009, these VIEs were not consolidated because under the previous accounting guidance, we were not the primary beneficiary of the VIEs because the subordinated class of notes (Class 2) absorbed the majority of the expected losses under the CLN structures.  The carrying value of the CLNs as of December 31, 2009, was recognized as a fixed maturity security within AFS on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Effective January 1, 2010, we adopted the new accounting guidance noted above and evaluated the primary beneficiary of the CLN structures using qualitative factors.  Based on our evaluation, we concluded that the ability to actively manage the reference portfolio underlying the credit default swaps is the most significant activity impacting the performance of the CLN structures, because the subordination and participation in credit losses may change.  We concluded that we have the power to direct this activity.  In addition, we receive returns from the CLN structures and may absorb losses that could potentially be significant to the

 
10

 

CLN structures.  As such, we concluded that we are the primary beneficiary of the VIEs associated with our CLNs.  We consolidated all of the assets and liabilities of the CLN structures through a cumulative effect adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2010, and recognized the results of operations of these VIEs on our consolidated financial statements beginning in the first quarter of 2010.

The following summarizes the increases or (decreases) recorded effective January 1, 2010, to the categories (in millions) on our Consolidated Balance Sheets for this cumulative effect adjustment:
 
Assets
     
AFS securities, at fair value:
     
Fixed maturity securities - ABS CLNs
  $ (322 )
VIEs' fixed maturity securities
    565  
Total assets
  $ 243  
Liabilities
       
VIEs' liabilities:
       
Derivative instruments
  $ 225  
Federal income tax
    (91 )
Total VIEs' liabilities
    134  
Other liabilities - deferred income taxes
    97  
Total liabilities
    231  
Stockholders' Equity
       
Retained earnings
    (169 )
Accumulated OCI - unrealized gain (loss) on AFS securities
    181  
Total stockholders' equity
    12  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 243  
 
Asset and liability information (dollars in millions) for these consolidated VIEs included on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2010, was as follows:
 
   
Number
             
   
of
   
Notional
   
Carrying
 
   
Instruments
   
Amounts
   
Value
 
Assets
                 
Fixed maturity corporate asset-backed credit card loan securities (1)
    N/A     $ -     $ 581  
                         
Liabilities
                       
Derivative instruments not designated and not qualifying as hedging
                       
instruments:
                       
Credit default swaps (2)
    2     $ 600     $ 309  
Contingent forwards (2)
    2       -       (12 )
Total derivative instruments not designated and not qualifying as
                       
hedging instruments
    4       600       297  
Federal income tax (2)
    N/A       -       (110 )
Total liabilities
    4     $ 600     $ 187  
 
(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 AFS securities for these VIEs, see Note 5.


 
11

 

The credit default swaps create variability in the CLN structures and expose the note holders to the credit risk of the referenced portfolio.

The contingent forwards transfer a portion of the loss in the underlying fixed maturity corporate asset-backed credit card loan securities back to the counterparty after credit losses reach our attachment point.

The gains (losses) for these consolidated VIEs (in millions) recorded on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) were as follows:
 
   
For the
   
For the
 
   
Three
   
Six
 
   
Months
   
Months
 
   
Ended
   
Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2010
 
Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging
           
Instruments
           
Credit default swaps (1)
  $ (70 )   $ (69 )
Contingent forwards (1)
    2       (3 )
Total derivative instruments not designated and not qualifying as hedging instruments
  $ (68 )   $ (72 )
 
(1)
Reported in realized gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).

LNL invested the proceeds of $600 million received for issuing two funding agreements in 2006 and 2007 into the Class 1 Notes of the two CLN structures we are consolidating, and this balance was reported in other contract holder funds on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009.  As of December 31, 2009, the CLNs are included in fixed maturity AFS securities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following summarizes information regarding the CLN structures (dollars in millions) as of June 30, 2010:
 
       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-    
Ba3
 
Current rating of underlying collateral pool
 
Aa1-B3
   
Aaa-B1
 
Number of defaults in underlying collateral pool
    2       2  
Number of entities
    123       99  
Number of countries
    19       23  
 
There has been no event of default on the CLNs themselves.  Based upon our analysis, the remaining subordination as represented by the attachment point should be sufficient to absorb future credit losses, subject to changing market conditions.  Similar to other debt market instruments, our maximum principal loss is limited to our original investment as of June 30, 2010.

As described more fully in Note 1 of our 2009 10-K, we regularly review our investment holdings for other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTIs”).  Based upon this review, we believe that the fixed maturity corporate asset-backed credit card loan securities were not other-than-temporarily impaired as of June 30, 2010.


 
12

 

The following summarizes the exposure of the CLN structures’ underlying collateral by industry and rating as of June 30, 2010:
 
Industry
AAA
 
AA
 
A
 
BBB
 
BB
 
B
 
Total
Financial intermediaries
0.3%
 
3.0%
 
7.2%
 
0.6%
 
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
11.1%
Telecommunications
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
6.4%
 
3.7%
 
1.1%
 
0.0%
 
11.2%
Oil and gas
0.0%
 
0.7%
 
1.5%
 
4.1%
 
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
6.3%
Utilities
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
2.1%
 
2.4%
 
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
4.5%
Chemicals and plastics
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
2.3%
 
1.6%
 
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
3.9%
Drugs
0.3%
 
2.5%
 
0.9%
 
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
3.7%
Retailers (except food and drug)
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
0.6%
 
1.8%
 
1.1%
 
0.0%
 
3.5%
Industrial equipment
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
3.0%
 
0.3%
 
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
3.3%
Sovereign
0.0%
 
0.3%
 
1.6%
 
1.3%
 
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
3.2%
Food products
0.0%
 
0.3%
 
1.8%
 
1.1%
 
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
3.2%
Conglomerates
0.0%
 
2.7%
 
0.5%
 
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
3.2%
Forest products
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
0.0%
 
1.6%
 
1.4%
 
0.0%
 
3.0%
Other industry < 3% (28 industries)
0.0%
 
1.6%
 
16.0%
 
17.7%
 
3.4%
 
1.2%
 
39.9%
Total by industry
0.6%
 
11.1%
 
43.9%
 
36.2%
 
7.0%
 
1.2%
 
100.0%
 
Unconsolidated VIEs

Through our investment activities, we make passive investments in structured securities issued by VIEs for which we are not the manager.  These structured securities include our MBS, which include CMOs, MPTS and CMBS and our ABS CDOs.  We have not provided financial or other support with respect to these structured securities other than our original investment.  We have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of these structured securities due to the relative size of our investment in comparison to the principal amount of the structured securities issued by the VIEs and the level of credit subordination which reduces our obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits.  Our maximum exposure to loss on these structured securities, both VIEs and non-VIEs, is limited to the amortized cost for these investments.  We recognize our variable interest in these VIEs at fair value on our consolidated financial statements.  For information about these structured securities, see Note 5.  


 
13

 

5.  Investments

AFS Securities

Pursuant to the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB 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 2009 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 June 30, 2010
 
   
Amortized
   
Gross Unrealized
   
Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
OTTI
   
Value
 
Fixed Maturity Securities
                             
Corporate bonds
  $ 47,145     $ 3,848     $ 692     $ 57     $ 50,244  
U.S. Government bonds
    186       24       1       -       209  
Foreign government bonds
    441       37       4       -       474  
MBS:
                                       
CMOs
    5,914       387       202       151       5,948  
MPTS
    3,377       153       5       -       3,525  
CMBS
    2,314       93       274       -       2,133  
ABS CDOs
    178       14       26       9       157  
State and municipal bonds
    2,431       121       12       -       2,540  
Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
    1,335       23       197       -       1,161  
VIEs' fixed maturity securities
    568       13       -       -       581  
Total fixed maturity securities
    63,889       4,713       1,413       217       66,972  
                                         
Equity Securities
                                       
Banking securities
    243       -       124       -       119  
Insurance securities
    31       1       3       -       29  
Other financial services securities
    19       10       -       -       29  
Other securities
    63       6       -       -       69  
Total equity securities
    356       17       127       -       246  
Total AFS securities
  $ 64,245     $ 4,730     $ 1,540     $ 217     $ 67,218  


 
14

 


   
As of December 31, 2009
 
   
Amortized
   
Gross Unrealized
   
Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
OTTI
   
Value
 
Fixed Maturity Securities
                             
Corporate bonds
  $ 44,307     $ 2,260     $ 1,117     $ 71     $ 45,379  
U.S. Government bonds
    186       13       4       -       195  
Foreign government bonds
    488       26       9       -       505  
MBS:
                                       
CMOs
    6,112       258       307       157       5,906  
MPTS
    3,028       64       26       -       3,066  
CMBS
    2,436       49       354       -       2,131  
ABS:
                                       
CDOs
    189       11       33       9       158  
CLNs
    600       -       278       -       322  
State and municipal bonds
    2,009       14       55       -       1,968  
Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
    1,402       36       250       -       1,188  
Total fixed maturity securities
    60,757       2,731       2,433       237       60,818  
                                         
Equity Securities
                                       
Banking securities
    266       -       119       -       147  
Insurance securities
    44       2       -       -       46  
Other financial services securities
    22       12       6       -       28  
Other securities
    50       7       -       -       57  
Total equity securities
    382       21       125       -       278  
Total AFS securities
  $ 61,139     $ 2,752     $ 2,558     $ 237     $ 61,096  
                                      c  
 
The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturity AFS securities by contractual maturities (in millions) were as follows:
 
      As of June 30, 2010
   
Amortized
   
Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Value
 
Due in one year or less
  $ 2,512     $ 2,565  
Due after one year through five years
    12,378       13,186  
Due after five years through ten years
    18,546       20,010  
Due after ten years
    18,670       19,448  
Subtotal
    52,106       55,209  
MBS
    11,605       11,606  
CDOs
    178       157  
Total fixed maturity AFS securities
  $ 63,889     $ 66,972  
 
Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or pre-pay obligations.

 
15

 

The fair value and gross unrealized losses, including the portion of OTTI recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), 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 June 30, 2010
 
   
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
  $ 1,814     $ 162     $ 3,287     $ 587     $ 5,101     $ 749  
U.S. Government bonds
    2       -       15       1       17       1  
Foreign government bonds
    25       -       8       4       33       4  
MBS:
                                               
CMOs
    264       136       905       217       1,169       353  
MPTS
    6       -       60       5       66       5  
CMBS
    48       1       420       273       468       274  
ABS CDOs
    12       4       126       31       138       35  
State and municipal bonds
    118       4       35       8       153       12  
Hybrid and redeemable
                                               
preferred securities
    126       14       725       183       851       197  
Total fixed maturity securities
    2,415       321       5,581       1,309       7,996       1,630  
                                                 
Equity Securities
                                               
Banking securities
    2       1       117       123       119       124  
Insurance securities
    22       3       -       -       22       3  
Total equity securities
    24       4       117       123       141       127  
Total AFS securities
  $ 2,439     $ 325     $ 5,698     $ 1,432     $ 8,137     $ 1,757  
                                                 
Total number of AFS securities in an unrealized loss position
                              1,113  


 
16

 

 
   
As of December 31, 2009
 
   
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
  $ 4,375     $ 236     $ 5,795     $ 952     $ 10,170     $ 1,188  
U.S. Government bonds
    44       4       3       -       47       4  
Foreign government bonds
    34       -       46       9       80       9  
MBS:
                                               
CMOs
    404       159       929       305       1,333       464  
MPTS
    1,293       14       81       12       1,374       26  
CMBS
    153       13       656       341       809       354  
ABS:
                                               
CDOs
    9       7       128       35       137       42  
CLNs
    -       -       322       278       322       278  
State and municipal bonds
    1,203       46       54       9       1,257       55  
Hybrid and redeemable
                                               
preferred securities
    105       5       819       245       924       250  
Total fixed maturity securities
    7,620       484       8,833       2,186       16,453       2,670  
                                                 
Equity Securities
                                               
Banking securities
    124       119       -       -       124       119  
Other financial services securities
    4       6       -       -       4       6  
Total equity securities
    128       125       -       -       128       125  
Total AFS securities
  $ 7,748     $ 609     $ 8,833     $ 2,186     $ 16,581     $ 2,795  
                                                 
Total number of AFS securities in an unrealized loss position
                              1,735  
 
For information regarding our investments in VIEs, see Note 4.

 
17

 

We perform detailed analysis on the AFS securities backed by pools that are most at risk of impairment based on factors discussed in Note 1 in our 2009 Form 10-K.  Selected information for these securities in a gross unrealized loss position (in millions) was as follows:
 
   
As of June 30, 2010
 
   
Amortized
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized
 
   
Cost
   
Loss
 
Total
                 
AFS securities backed by pools of residential mortgages
  $ 2,609     $ 1,919     $ 690  
AFS securities backed by pools of commercial mortgages
    792       498       294  
Total
  $ 3,401     $ 2,417     $ 984  
                         
Subject to Detailed Analysis
                       
AFS securities backed by pools of residential mortgages
  $ 2,572     $ 1,882     $ 690  
AFS securities backed by pools of commercial mortgages
    203       70       133  
Total
  $ 2,775     $ 1,952     $ 823  
                         
                         
   
As of December 31, 2009
 
   
Amortized
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized
 
   
Cost
   
Loss
 
Total
                       
AFS securities backed by pools of residential mortgages
  $ 4,316     $ 3,388     $ 928  
AFS securities backed by pools of commercial mortgages
    1,220       841       379  
Total
  $ 5,536     $ 4,229     $ 1,307  
                         
Subject to Detailed Analysis
                       
AFS securities backed by pools of residential mortgages
  $ 2,858     $ 1,948     $ 910  
AFS securities backed by pools of commercial mortgages
    311       164       147  
Total
  $ 3,169     $ 2,112     $ 1,057  
 
For the six months ended June 30, 2010 we recorded OTTI for AFS securities backed by pools of residential and commercial mortgages of $49 million, pre-tax, and before associated amortization expense for DAC, VOBA, DSI and deferred front-end loads (“DFEL”), of which $13 million was recognized in OCI and $62 million 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 June 30, 2010
 
                     
Number
 
   
Fair
   
Gross Unrealized
   
of
 
   
Value
   
Losses
   
OTTI
   
Securities (1)
 
Less than six months
  $ 374     $ 117     $ 9       74  
Six months or greater, but less than nine months
    10       4       3       8  
Nine months or greater, but less than twelve months
    33       15       -       15  
Twelve months or greater
    1,394       947       196       277  
Total
  $ 1,811     $ 1,083     $ 208       374  


 
18

 
 
 
   
As of December 31, 2009
 
                     
Number
 
   
Fair
   
Gross Unrealized
   
of
 
   
Value
   
Losses
   
OTTI
   
Securities (1)
 
Less than six months
  $ 434     $ 130     $ 4       81  
Six months or greater, but less than nine months
    118       61       -       25  
Nine months or greater, but less than twelve months
    427       165       100       96  
Twelve months or greater
    1,800       1,426       124       310  
Total
  $ 2,779     $ 1,782     $ 228       512  
 
(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.  Based upon this review, the cause of the $1.0 billion decrease in our gross AFS securities unrealized losses for the six months ended June 30, 2010, which was attributable to a decline in overall market yields, which was driven, in part, by improved credit fundamentals (i.e., market improvement and narrowing credit spreads).  As discussed further below, we believe the unrealized loss position as of June 30, 2010, does 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 June 30, 2010, 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 June 30, 2010, 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 June 30, 2010, the unrealized losses associated with our MBS and ABS 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 June 30, 2010, 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.

 
19

 

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
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Balance as of beginning-of-period
  $ 293     $ 103     $ 268     $ 31  
Increases attributable to:
                               
Credit losses on securities for which an OTTI
                               
was not previously recognized
    11       23       13       95  
Credit losses on securities for which an OTTI
                               
was previously recognized
    -       36       27       36  
Decreases attributable to:
                               
Securities sold
    (11 )     -       (15 )     -  
Amounts recognized in net income (loss)
    -       (30 )     -       (30 )
Balance as of end-of-period
  $ 293     $ 132     $ 293     $ 132  
 
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, 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 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 June 30, 2010
 
         
Gross
         
OTTI in
 
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Credit
 
   
Cost
   
OTTI
   
Value
   
Losses
 
Corporate bonds
  $ 147     $ 57     $ 90     $ 52  
MBS CMOs
    399       131       268       241  
Total
  $ 546     $ 188     $ 358     $ 293  



 
20

 

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 30% and 29% of mortgage loans as of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, respectively.  The number of impaired mortgage loans and the carrying value of impaired mortgage loans (dollars in millions) were as follows:
 
     
As of
   
As of
     
June 30,
   
December 31,
     
2010
   
2009
Number of impaired mortgage loans
   
 10
   
 9
             
Impaired mortgage loans
  $
94
    $
 56
Valuation allowance associated with impaired mortgage loans
   
 (23)
   
 (22)
Carrying value of impaired mortgage loans
  $
71
    $
34


The average carrying value on the impaired mortgage loans (in millions) was as follows:
 
   
For the Three
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Average carrying value for impaired loans
  $ 59     $ 26     $ 49     $ 13  
 
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, we have recognized and collected less than $1 million of interest income on impaired mortgage loans.  For the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, we did not recognize or collect interest income on impaired mortgage loans.

Alternative Investments 

As of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, alternative investments included investments in approximately 96 and 99 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
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Fixed maturity AFS securities:
                       
Gross gains
  $ 35     $ 33     $ 84     $ 86  
Gross losses
    (29 )     (172 )     (113 )     (413 )
Equity AFS securities:
                               
Gross gains
    5       1       6       4  
Gross losses
    -       (6 )     (4 )     (9 )
Gain (loss) on other investments
    (8 )     (58 )     (29 )     (60 )
Associated amortization income (expense) of DAC, VOBA,
                               
DSI and DFEL and changes in other contract holder funds
    (8 )     48       (4 )     104  
Total realized gain (loss) related to certain investments
  $ (5 )   $ (154 )   $ (60 )   $ (288 )



 
21

 

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
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
OTTI Recognized in Net Income (Loss)
                       
Fixed maturity securities:
                       
Corporate bonds
  $ (5 )   $ (75 )   $ (46 )   $ (157 )
MBS:
                               
CMOs
    (12 )     (61 )     (36 )     (142 )
ABS CDOs
    -       (30 )     (1 )     (30 )
Hybrid and redeemable preferred securities
    -       -       (5 )     (1 )
Total fixed maturity securities
    (17 )     (166 )     (88 )     (330 )
                                 
Equity Securities
                               
Other financial services securities
    -       -       (3 )     (3 )
Other securities
    -       (6 )     -       (6 )
Total equity securities
    -       (6 )     (3 )     (9 )
Gross OTTI recognized in net income (loss)
    (17 )     (172 )     (91 )     (339 )
Associated amortization expense of DAC, VOBA,
                               
DSI and DFEL
    6       54       27       100  
Net OTTI recognized in net income (loss),
                               
pre-tax
  $ (11 )   $ (118 )   $ (64 )   $ (239 )
                                 
Portion of OTTI Recognized in OCI
                               
Gross OTTI recognized in OCI
  $ -     $ 130     $ 22     $ 242  
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
    -       (27 )     2       (50 )
Net portion of OTTI recognized in OCI, pre-tax
  $ -     $ 103     $ 24     $ 192  
 
Determination of Credit Losses on Corporate Bonds and ABS CDOs

As of June 30, 2010, we reviewed our corporate bond and ABS 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, are generally considered by the rating agencies and market participants to be low credit risk.  As of June 30, 2010, 95% of the fair value of our corporate bond portfolio was rated investment grade.  As of June 30, 2010, the portion of our corporate bond portfolio rated below investment grade had an amortized cost of $2.7 billion and a fair value of $2.4 billion.  As of June 30, 2010, 78% of the fair value of our ABS CDO portfolio was rated investment grade.  As of June 30, 2010, the portion of our ABS CDO portfolio rated below investment grade had an amortized cost of $43 million and fair value $34 million.  Based upon the analysis discussed above, we believed as of June 30, 2010, that we would recover the amortized cost of each corporate bond and ABS CDO security.

For securities where we recorded an OTTI recognized in net income (loss) for the six months ended June 30, 2010, the recovery as a percentage of amortized cost was 80% for corporate bonds and 0% for ABS CDOs.


 
22

 

Determination of Credit Losses on MBS

As of June 30, 2010, 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% loan severity with higher severity assumed for investor properties and further housing price depreciation.

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 June 30, 2010
   
As of December 31, 2009
 
   
Carrying
   
Fair
   
Carrying
   
Fair
 
   
Value
   
Value
   
Value
   
Value
 
Collateral payable held for derivative investments (1)
  $ 1,421     $ 1,421     $ 617     $ 617  
Securities pledged under securities lending agreements (2)
    188       180       501       479  
Securities pledged under reverse repurchase agreements (3)
    335       352       344       359  
Securities pledged for Term Asset-Backed Securities
                               
 Loan Facility ("TALF") (4)
    332       377       345       386  
Securities pledged for Federal Home Loan Bank of
                               
Indianapolis Securities ("FHLBI") (5)
    100       112       100       111  
Total payables for collateral on investments
  $ 2,376     $ 2,442     $ 1,907     $ 1,952  
 
(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 parities 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.


 
23

 

Increase (decrease) in payables for collateral on investments (in millions) included on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows consisted of the following:
 
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Collateral payable held for derivative investments
  $ 804     $ (2,119 )
Securities pledged under securities lending agreements
    (313 )     10  
Securities pledged under reverse repurchase agreements
    (9 )     (124 )
Securities pledged for TALF
    (13 )     139  
Securities pledged for FHLBI
    -       100  
Total increase (decrease) in payables for collateral on investments
   $ 469      $ (1,994)  
 
Investment Commitments

As of June 30, 2010, our investment commitments for fixed maturity AFS securities (primarily private placements), limited partnerships, real estate and mortgage loans on real estate were $810 million, which included $343 million of limited partnerships, $86 million of standby commitments to purchase real estate upon completion and leasing, $305 million of private placements and $76 million of mortgage loans.

Concentrations of Financial Instruments

As of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, 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 $5.5 billion and $4.8 billion, or 7% and 6% of our invested assets portfolio, respectively, and our investments in securities issued by Fannie Mae with a fair value of $2.9 billion and $3.0 billion, or 4% of our invested assets portfolio, respectively.  These investments are included in corporate bonds in the tables above.

As of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, our most significant investment in one industry was our investment securities in the CMO industry with a fair value of $6.9 billion, or 9% of the invested assets portfolios.  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.

6.  Derivative Instruments

Types of Derivative Instruments and Derivative Strategies
 
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.  We assess these risks by continually identifying and monitoring changes in interest rate exposure, foreign currency exposure, equity market exposure and credit exposure that may adversely impact expected future cash flows and by evaluating hedging opportunities. Derivative instruments that are used as part of our interest rate risk management strategy include interest rate swap agreements, interest rate futures, interest rate cap agreements, forward-starting interest rate swaps, consumer price index swaps, interest rate cap corridors and treasury locks.  Derivative instruments that are used as part of our foreign currency risk management strategy include foreign currency swaps, currency futures and foreign currency forwards.  Call options based on our stock, call options based on the S&P 500 Index® (“S&P 500”), total return swaps, variance swaps, equity collars, put options and equity futures are used as part of our equity market risk management strategy.  We also use credit default swaps as part of our credit risk management strategy.
 
We evaluate and recognize our derivative instruments in accordance with the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB ASC.  As of June 30, 2010, we had derivative instruments that were designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges and fair value hedges.  We also had embedded derivatives that did not qualify as hedging instruments and derivative instruments that were economic hedges, but were not designed to meet the requirements to be accounted for as a hedge.  See Note 1 in our 2009 Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of the accounting treatment for derivative instruments.

Our derivative instruments are monitored by our Asset Liability Management Committee and our Equity Risk Management Committee as part of those committees’ oversight of our derivative activities.  Our committees are responsible for implementing various hedging strategies that are developed through their analysis of financial simulation models and other internal and industry sources.  The resulting hedging strategies are incorporated into our overall risk management strategies.

We use a hedging strategy designed to mitigate the risk and income statement volatility caused by changes in the equity markets, interest rates and volatility associated with living benefit guarantees offered in our variable annuity products, including the Lincoln SmartSecurity® Advantage guaranteed withdrawal benefit (“GWB”) feature, the 4LATER® Advantage guaranteed income benefit (“GIB”) feature and the i4LIFE® Advantage GIB feature.  See “Guaranteed Living Benefit Embedded Derivative Reserves” below for further details.

See Note 14 for additional disclosures related to the fair value of our financial instruments and see Note 4 for derivative instruments related to our consolidated VIEs.


 
24

 

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 (dollars in millions) were as follows:
 
   
As of June 30, 2010
 
   
Number
         
Asset Carrying
   
(Liability) Carrying
 
   
of
   
Notional
   
or Fair Value
   
or Fair Value
 
   
Instruments
   
Amounts
   
Gain
   
Loss
   
Gain
   
Loss
 
Derivative Instruments
                                   
Designated and Qualifying
                                   
as Hedging Instruments
                                   
Cash flow hedges:
                                   
Interest rate swap agreements (1)
    144     $ 879     $ 25     $ (95 )   $ -     $ -  
Foreign currency swaps (1)
    13       340       59       (7 )     -       -  
Total cash flow hedges
    157       1,219       84       (102 )     -       -  
Fair value hedges:
                                               
Interest rate swap agreements (2)
    4       1,175       118       -       -       (118 )
Equity collars (1)
    1       49       138       -       -       -  
Total fair value hedges
    5       1,224       256       -       -       (118 )
Total derivative instruments
                                               
designated and qualifying as
                                               
hedging instruments
    162       2,443       340       (102 )     -       (118 )
Derivative Instruments Not
                                               
Designated and Not Qualifying
                                               
as Hedging Instruments
                                               
Interest rate cap agreements (1)
    15       750       -       -       -       -  
Interest rate futures (1)
    22,425       3,476       -       -       -       -  
Equity futures (1)
    31,638       1,721       -       -       -       -  
Interest rate swap agreements (1)
    93       7,843       271       (378 )     -       -  
Credit default swaps (3)
    10       160       -       -       -       (30 )
Total return swaps (1)
    8       750       55       -       -       -  
Put options (1)
    124       4,790       1,467       -       -       -  
Call options (based on S&P 500) (1)
    545       3,672       164       -       -       -  
Variance swaps (1)
    30       22       138       (1 )     -       -  
Currency futures (1)
    2,891       371       -       -       -       -  
Consumer price index swaps (1)
    50       44       -       (2 )     -       -  
Interest rate cap corridors (1)
    39       5,400       24       -       -       -  
Embedded derivatives:
                                               
Deferred compensation plans (3)
    6       -       -       -       -       (319 )
Indexed annuity contracts (4)
    118,663       -       -       -       -       (383 )
GLB embedded derivative reserves (4)
    283,949       -       -       -       334       (2,003 )
Reinsurance related embedded
                                               
derivatives (5)
    -       -       -       -       -       (92 )
AFS securities embedded derivatives (1)
    1       -       13       -       -       -  
Total derivative instruments not
                                               
designated and not qualifying as
                                               
hedging instruments
    460,487       28,999       2,132       (381 )     334       (2,827 )
Total derivative instruments
    460,649     $ 31,442     $ 2,472     $ (483 )   $ 334     $ (2,945 )


 
25

 



   
As of December 31, 2009
 
   
Number
         
Asset Carrying
   
(Liability) Carrying
 
   
of
   
Notional
   
or Fair Value
   
or Fair Value
 
   
Instruments
   
Amounts
   
Gain
   
Loss
   
Gain
   
Loss
 
Derivative Instruments
                                   
Designated and Qualifying
                                   
as Hedging Instruments
                                   
Cash flow hedges:
                                   
Interest rate swap agreements (1)
    85     $ 620     $ 24     $ (45 )   $ -     $ -  
Foreign currency swaps (1)
    13       340       33       (19 )     -       -  
Total cash flow hedges
    98       960       57       (64 )     -       -  
Fair value hedges:
                                               
Interest rate swap agreements (2)
    1       375       54       -       -       (54 )
Equity collars (1)
    1       49       135       -       -       -  
Total fair value hedges
    2       424       189       -       -       (54 )
Total derivative instruments
                                               
designated and qualifying as
                                               
hedging instruments
    100       1,384       246       (64 )     -       (54 )
Derivative Instruments Not
                                               
Designated and Not Qualifying
                                               
as Hedging Instruments
                                               
Interest rate cap agreements (1)
    20       1,000       -       -       -       -  
Interest rate futures (1)
    19,073       2,333       -       -       -       -  
Equity futures (1)
    21,149       1,147       -       -       -       -  
Interest rate swap agreements (1)
    81       6,232       63       (349 )     -       -  
Foreign currency forwards (1)
    19       1,016       12       (110 )     -       -  
Credit default swaps (2)
    14       220       -       -       -       (65 )
Total return swaps (1)
    2       156       -       -       -       -  
Put options (1)
    114       4,093       934       -       -       -  
Call options (based on LNC stock) (1)
    1       9       -       -       -       -  
Call options (based on S&P 500) (1)
    559       3,440       215       -       -       -  
Variance swaps (1)
    36       26       66       (22 )     -       -  
Currency futures (1)
    3,664       505       -       -       -       -  
Embedded derivatives:
                                               
Deferred compensation plans (3)
    6       -       -       -       -       (332 )
Indexed annuity contracts (4)
    108,119       -       -       -       -       (419 )
GLB embedded derivative reserves (4)
    261,309       -       -       -       308       (984 )
Reinsurance related embedded
                                               
derivatives (5)
    -       -       -       -       -       (31 )
AFS securities embedded derivatives (1)
    2       -       19       -       -       -  
Total derivative instruments not
                                               
designated and not qualifying as
                                               
hedging instruments
    414,168       20,177       1,309       (481 )     308       (1,831 )
Total derivative instruments
    414,268     $ 21,561     $ 1,555     $ (545 )   $ 308     $ (1,885 )

(1)
Reported in derivative investments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(2)
The asset is reported in derivative investments and the liability in long-term debt on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(3)
Reported in other liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(4)
Reported in future contract benefits on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(5)
Reported in reinsurance related embedded derivatives on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
 
26

 
 
The maturity of the notional amounts of derivative financial instruments (in millions) was as follows:
 
   
Remaining Life as of June 30, 2010
 
   
Less Than
      1 – 5       5 – 10       10 – 30    
Over 30
       
   
1 Year
   
Years
   
Years
   
Years
   
Years
   
Total
 
Derivative Instruments Designated and
                                         
 Qualifying as Hedging Instruments
                                         
Cash flow hedges:
                                         
Interest rate swap agreements
  $ -     $ 73     $ 247     $ 531     $ 28     $ 879  
Foreign currency swaps
    -       94       165       81       -       340  
Total cash flow hedges
    -       167       412       612       28       1,219  
Fair value hedges:
                                               
Interest rate swap agreements
    -       800       -       375       -       1,175  
   Equity collars
    49       -       -       -       -       49  
Total fair value hedges
    49       800       -       375       -       1,224  
Total derivative instruments designated
                                               
and qualifying as hedging instruments
    49       967       412       987       28       2,443  
Derivative Instruments Not Designated and
                                               
Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments
                                               
Interest rate cap agreements
    750       -       -       -       -       750  
Interest rate futures
    3,476       -       -       -       -       3,476  
Equity futures
    1,721       -       -       -       -       1,721  
Interest rate swap agreements
    138       2,087       2,154       3,464       -       7,843  
Credit default swaps
    -       40       120       -       -       160  
Total return swaps
    500       250       -       -       -       750  
Put options
    -       1,514       3,276       -       -       4,790  
Call options (based on S&P 500)
    2,865       807       -       -       -       3,672  
Variance swaps
    -       2       20       -       -       22  
Currency futures
    371       -       -       -       -       371  
Consumer price index swaps
    3       11       12       16       2       44  
Interest rate cap corridors
    -       -       5,400       -       -       5,400  
Total derivative instruments not designated
                                               
and not qualifying as hedging instruments
    9,824       4,711       10,982       3,480       2       28,999  
Total derivative instruments
                                               
with notional amounts
  $ 9,873     $ 5,678     $ 11,394     $ 4,467     $ 30     $ 31,442  


 
27

 

The change in our unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments in accumulated OCI (in millions) was as follows:
 
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments
           
Balance as of beginning-of-year
  $ 11     $ 127  
Other comprehensive income (loss):
               
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period:
               
Cash flow hedges:
               
Interest rate swap agreements
    (41 )     29  
Foreign currency swaps
    3       (21 )
Forward-starting interest rate swaps
    -       2  
Treasury locks
    (29 )     -  
Fair value hedges:
               
Interest rate swap agreements
    2       2  
Net investment in foreign subsidiary
    -       (80 )
Change in foreign exchange rate adjustment
    32       (16 )
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
    3       21  
Income tax benefit (expense)
    11       (5 )
Less:
               
Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income:
               
Cash flow hedges:
               
Interest rate swap agreements (1)
    9       3  
Foreign currency swaps (1)
    1       1  
Treasury locks (2)
    (2 )     -  
Fair value hedges:
               
Interest rate swap agreements (2)
    2       2  
Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
    (1 )     1  
Income tax expense
    (3 )     (2 )
Balance as of end-of-period
  $ (14 )   $ 54  
 
(1)
The OCI offset is reported within net investment income on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
(2)
The OCI offset is reported within interest and debt expense on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).

 
28

 

The gains (losses) on derivative instruments (in millions) recorded on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) were as follows:

   
For the Three
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Derivative Instruments Designated  and Qualifying as
                       
Hedging Instruments
                       
Cash flow hedges:
                       
Interest rate swap agreements (1)
  $ 6     $ 1     $ 8     $ 2  
Foreign currency swaps (1)
    -       -       1       1  
Total cash flow hedges
    6       1       9       3  
Fair value hedges:
                               
Interest rate swap agreements (2)
    9       3       17       7  
Total derivative instruments designated
                               
 and qualifying as hedging instruments
    15       4       26       10  
Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not
                               
Qualifying as Hedging Instruments
                               
Interest rate cap corridors (3)
    (11 )     -       (11 )     -  
Interest rate futures (3)
    179       (255 )     214       (583 )
Equity futures (3)
    105       (563 )     12       (314 )
Interest rate swap agreements (3)
    322       (468 )     303       (779 )
Foreign currency forwards (1)
    -       (88 )     43       (83 )
Credit default swaps (1)
    (17 )     (7 )     (7 )     (23 )
Total return swaps (4)
    47       18       51       9  
Put options (3)
    493       (455 )     383       (410 )
Call options (based on S&P 500) (3)
    (79 )     20       (43 )     2  
Variance swaps (3)
    140       (53 )     94       (84 )
Currency futures (3)
    8       (1 )     (7 )     (1 )
Consumer price index swaps (3)
    1       -       -       -  
Embedded derivatives:
                               
Deferred compensation plans (4)
    9       (26 )     1       (21 )
Indexed annuity contracts (3)
    56       (11 )     15       11  
GLB embedded derivative reserves (3)
    (1,174 )     1,533       (993 )     1,832  
Reinsurance related embedded derivatives (3)
    (46 )     (61 )     (62 )     15  
AFS securities embedded derivatives (1)
    (1 )     2       -       3  
Total derivative instruments not designated and not
                               
qualifying as hedging instruments
    32       (415 )     (7 )     (426 )
Total derivative instruments
  $ 47     $ (411 )   $ 19     $ (416 )
 
(1)
Reported in net investment income on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
(2)
Reported in interest and debt expense on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
(3)
Reported in realized gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
(4)
Reported in underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).

The location in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) where the gains (losses) are recorded for each of the derivative instruments discussed below is specified in the table above.

 
29

 

Derivative Instruments Designated and Qualifying as Cash Flow Hedges

Gains (losses) (in millions) on derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Ineffective portion recognized in realized gain (loss)
  $ -     $ (1 )   $ -     $ (1 )
Gain (loss) recognized as a component of OCI with the offset to
                               
net investment income
    7       2       10       4  
 
As of June 30, 2010, $2 million of the deferred net gains on derivative instruments in accumulated OCI were expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next twelve months.  This reclassification would be due primarily to the receipt of interest payments associated with variable rate securities and forecasted purchases, payment of interest on our senior debt, the receipt of interest payments associated with foreign currency securities and the periodic vesting of stock appreciation rights (“SARs”).

For the three months and six months ended June 30, 2010, 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.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

We use a portion of our interest rate swap agreements to hedge the interest rate risk of our exposure to floating rate bond coupon payments, replicating a fixed rate bond.  An interest rate swap is a contractual agreement to exchange payments at one or more times based on the actual or expected price level, performance or value of one or more underlying interest rates.  We are required to pay the counterparty the stream of variable interest payments based on the coupon payments from the hedged bonds, and in turn, receive a fixed payment from the counterparty at a predetermined interest rate.  The gains or losses on interest rate swaps hedging our interest rate exposure on floating rate bond coupon payments are reclassified from accumulated OCI to net income (loss) as the related bond interest is accrued.

In addition, we use interest rate swap agreements to hedge our exposure to fixed rate bond coupon payments and the change in underlying asset values as interest rates fluctuate.

As of June 30, 2010, the latest maturity date for which we were hedging our exposure to the variability in future cash flows for these instruments was June 2042.

Foreign Currency Swaps

We use foreign currency swaps, which are traded over-the-counter, to hedge some of the foreign exchange risk of investments in fixed maturity securities denominated in foreign currencies.  A foreign currency swap is a contractual agreement to exchange the currencies of two different countries at a specified rate of exchange in the future.  The gains or losses on foreign currency swaps hedging foreign exchange risk exposure on foreign currency bond coupon payments are reclassified from accumulated OCI to net income (loss) as the related bond interest is accrued.

As of June 30, 2010, the latest maturity date for which we were hedging our exposure to the variability in future cash flows for these instruments was July 2022.


 
30

 

Derivative Instruments Designated and Qualifying as Fair Value Hedges

We designate and account for interest rate swap agreements and equity collars as fair value hedges, when they have met the requirements of the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB ASC.  Information related to our fair value hedges (in millions) was as follows:
 
   
For the Three
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Ineffective portion recognized in realized gain (loss)
  $ -     $ 1     $ 1     $ -  
Gain (loss) recognized as a component of OCI with the offset to
                               
interest expense
    1       1       2       2  
 
Interest Rate Swap Agreements

We use a portion of our interest rate swap agreements to hedge the risk of paying a higher fixed rate of interest on junior subordinated debentures issued to affiliated trusts and on senior debt than would be paid on long-term debt based on current interest rates in the marketplace.  We are required to pay the counterparty a stream of variable interest payments based on the referenced index, and in turn, we receive a fixed payment from the counterparty at a predetermined interest rate.  The net receipts or payments earned or owed from these interest rate swaps are recorded as an adjustment to the interest expense for the debt being hedged in the period it occurs.  The changes in fair value of the interest rate swap agreements are recorded as an offsetting adjustment to derivative investments and long-term debt on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Equity Collars

We used an equity collar on four million shares of our Bank of America (“BOA”) stock holdings.  The equity collar is structured such that we purchased a put option on the BOA stock and simultaneously sold a call option with the identical maturity date as the put option.  This structure effectively protects us from a price decline in the stock while allowing us to participate in some of the upside if the BOA stock appreciates over the time of the transaction.  With the equity collar in place, we are able to pledge the BOA stock as collateral, which then allows us to advance a substantial portion of the stock’s value, effectively monetizing the stock for liquidity purposes. This variable forward contract is scheduled to settle in September 2010, at which time we will be required to deliver shares or cash.  If we choose to settle in shares, the number of shares to be delivered will be determined based on the volume-weighted average price of BOA common stock over a period of 10 trading days prior to settlement.  The change in fair value of the equity collar is recorded in the period of change, along with the offsetting changes (when applicable) in fair value of the stock being hedged.

Derivative Instruments Designated and Qualifying as a Net Investment in a Foreign Subsidiary

We used foreign currency forwards to hedge a portion of our net investment in our former foreign subsidiary, Lincoln UK.  The foreign currency forwards obligated us to deliver a specified amount of currency at a future date at a specified exchange rate. The foreign currency forwards outstanding as of December 31, 2008, were terminated on February 5, 2009.  The gain on the termination of the foreign currency forwards of $38 million was recorded in OCI.  During 2009, we entered into foreign currency forwards to hedge a significant portion of the foreign currency fluctuations associated with the expected proceeds from the sale of Lincoln UK.  The loss upon the termination of these foreign currency contracts of $12 million was also recorded in OCI, and, subsequently, the OCI amounts above were recorded in income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of federal income taxes on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) when the derivative instrument was terminated.

Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments
 
We use various other derivative instruments for risk management and income generation purposes that either do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment or have not currently been designated by us for hedge accounting treatment.


 
31

 

Interest Rate Cap Agreements

We use interest rate cap agreements to provide a level of protection from the effect of rising interest rates for our annuity business, within our Retirement Solutions – Annuities and Retirement Solutions – Defined Contribution segments.  Interest rate cap agreements entitle us to receive quarterly payments from the counterparties on specified future reset dates, contingent on future interest rates.  For each cap, the amount of such quarterly payments, if any, is determined by the excess of a market interest rate over a specified cap rate, multiplied by the notional amount divided by four.  Our interest rate cap agreements provide an economic hedge of our annuity business.  However, the interest rate cap agreements do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.

Interest Rate Futures and Equity Futures

We use interest rate futures and equity futures contracts to hedge the liability exposure on certain options in variable annuity products.  These futures contracts require payment between our counterparty and us on a daily basis for changes in the futures index price.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

We use interest rate swap agreements to hedge the liability exposure on certain options in variable annuity products.

Foreign Currency Forwards

We used foreign currency forward contracts to hedge dividends received from our former subsidiary, Lincoln UK.  The foreign currency forward contracts obligated us to deliver a specified amount of currency at a future date and a specified exchange rate.  The contracts did not qualify for hedge accounting under the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB ASC.

Credit Default Swaps

We buy credit default swaps to hedge against a drop in bond prices due to credit concerns of certain bond issuers.  A credit default swap allows us to put the bond back to the counterparty at par upon a default event by the bond issuer.  A default event is defined as bankruptcy, failure to pay, obligation acceleration or restructuring.  Our credit default swaps are not currently qualified for hedge accounting treatment.
 
We sold credit default swaps to offer credit protection to contract holders and investors.  The credit default swaps hedge the contract holders and investors against a drop in bond prices due to credit concerns of certain bond issuers.  A credit default swap allows the investor to put the bond back to us at par upon a default event by the bond issuer.  A default event is defined as bankruptcy, failure to pay, obligation acceleration or restructuring.

Information related to our open credit default swap liabilities for which we are the seller (dollars in millions) was as follows:
 
As of June 30, 2010
         
Credit
         
         
Rating of
         
     
Reason
Nature
Under-
Number
     
Maximum
     
for
of
lying
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
 
 (20)
 
 65
 
03/20/2017 (4)
 
(5)
(6)
BBB-
 3
 
 (10)
 
 55
           
 10
(30)
 160
 
 
32

 

 
 
As of December 31, 2009
         
Credit
             
         
Rating of
             
     
Reason
Nature
Under-
Number
         
Maximum
     
for
of
lying
of
   
Fair
   
Potential
Maturity
Entering
Recourse
Obligation (1)
Instruments
   
Value (2)
   
Payout
 
03/20/2010 (3)
 
(7)
(6)
A-
 1
   $
-
 
 10
 
06/20/2010 (3)
 
(7)
(6)
A
 1
   
 -
   
 10
 
12/20/2012 (3)
 
(5)
(6)
BBB+
 4
   
 -
   
 40
 
12/20/2016 (4)
 
(5)
(6)
B-
 2
   
 (19)
   
 48
 
03/20/2017 (4)
 
(5)
(6)
BB+
 6
   
 (46)
   
 112
           
 14
 
 (65)
 
 220
 
(1)
Represents average credit ratings based on the midpoint of the applicable ratings among Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch.
(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.
(5)
Credit default swap was entered into in order to generate income by providing default protection in return for a quarterly payment.
(6)
Seller does not have the right to demand indemnification or compensation from third parties in case of a loss (payment) on the contract.
(7)
Credit default swap was entered into in order to generate income by providing protection on a highly rated basket of securities in return for a quarterly payment.

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
     
June 30,
   
December 31,
     
2010
   
2009
Maximum potential payout
  $
160
 
 220
Less:
           
Counterparty thresholds
   
 10
   
 30
Maximum collateral potentially required to post
  $
150
 
 190
 
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 $30 million as of June 30, 2010, 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.

Total Return Swaps

We use total return swaps to hedge a portion of the liability related to our deferred compensation plans.  We receive the total return on a portfolio of indexes and pay a floating rate of interest.

Put Options

We use put options to hedge the liability exposure on certain options in variable annuity products.  Put options are contracts that require counterparties to pay us at a specified future date the amount, if any, by which a specified equity index is less than the strike rate stated in the agreement, applied to a notional amount.

Call Options (Based on LNC Stock)

We use call options on our stock to hedge the expected increase in liabilities arising from SARs granted on our stock.  Call options hedging vested SARs are not eligible for hedge accounting treatment.

 
33

 


Call Options (Based on S&P 500)

We use indexed annuity contracts to permit the holder to elect an interest rate return or an equity market component, where interest credited to the contracts is linked to the performance of the S&P 500.  Contract holders may elect to rebalance index options at renewal dates, either annually or biannually.  As of each renewal date, we have the opportunity to re-price the indexed component by establishing participation rates, subject to minimum guarantees.  We purchase call options that are highly correlated to the portfolio allocation decisions of our contract holders, such that we are economically hedged with respect to equity returns for the current reset period.  The mark-to-market of the options held generally offsets the change in value of the embedded derivative within the indexed annuity.

Variance Swaps

We use variance swaps to hedge the liability exposure on certain options in variable annuity products.  Variance swaps are contracts entered into at no cost and whose payoff is the difference between the realized variance of an underlying index and the fixed variance rate determined as of inception.

Currency Futures

We use currency futures to hedge foreign exchange risk associated with certain options in variable annuity products.  Currency futures exchange one currency for another at a specified date in the future at a specified exchange rate.  These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.

Consumer Price Index Swaps

We use consumer price index swaps to hedge the liability exposure on certain options in fixed/indexed annuity products.  Consumer price index swaps are contracts entered into at no cost and whose payoff is the difference between the consumer price index inflation rate and the fixed rate determined as of inception.

Interest Rate Cap Corridors

We use interest rate cap corridors to provide a level of protection from the effect of rising interest rates for our annuity business, within our Retirement Solutions – Annuities and Retirement Solutions – Defined Contribution segments.  Interest rate cap corridors involve purchasing an interest rate cap at a specific cap rate and selling an interest rate cap with a higher cap rate.  For each corridor, the amount of quarterly payments, if any, is determined by the rate at which the underlying index rate resets above the original capped rate.  The corridor limits the benefit the purchaser can receive as the related interest rate index rises above the higher capped rate.  There is no additional liability to us other than the purchase price associated with the interest rate cap corridor.  Our interest rate cap corridors provide an economic hedge of our annuity business.  However, the interest rate cap corridors do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.

Embedded Derivative Instruments Not Designated and Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments

Deferred Compensation Plans

We have certain deferred compensation plans that have embedded derivative instruments.  The liability related to these plans varies based on the investment options selected by the participants.  The liability related to certain investment options selected by the participants is marked-to-market through net income (loss).

Indexed Annuity Contracts

We distribute indexed annuity contracts that permit the holder to elect an interest rate return or an equity market component, where interest credited to the contracts is linked to the performance of the S&P 500.  This feature represents an embedded derivative under the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB ASC. Contract holders may elect to rebalance index options at renewal dates, either annually or biannually.  As of each renewal date, we have the opportunity to re-price the indexed component by establishing participation rates, subject to minimum guarantees.  We purchase S&P 500 call options that are highly correlated to the portfolio allocation decisions of our contract holders, such that we are economically hedged with respect to equity returns for the current reset period.  The mark-to-market of the options held generally offsets the change in value of the embedded derivative within the indexed annuity.

 
34

 


Guaranteed Living Benefit (“GLB”) Embedded Derivative Reserves
 
 
We have certain GLB variable annuity products with GWB and GIB features that are embedded derivatives.  Certain features of these guarantees, notably our GIB, 4LATER® and Lincoln Lifetime IncomeSMAdvantage features, have elements of both insurance benefits accounted for under the Financial Services – Insurance – Claim Costs and Liabilities for Future Policy Benefits Subtopic of the FASB ASC (“benefit reserves”) and embedded derivatives accounted for under the Derivatives and Hedging and the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topics of the FASB ASC (“embedded derivative reserves”). We calculate the value of the embedded derivative reserve and the benefit reserve based on the specific characteristics of each GLB feature.  As of June 30, 2010, we had $24.4 billion of account values that were attributable to variable annuities with a GWB feature and $9.4 billion of account values that were attributable to variable annuities with a GIB feature.

We use a hedging strategy designed to mitigate the risk and income statement volatility caused by changes in the equity markets, interest rates and volatility associated with GWB and GIB features.  The hedging strategy is designed such that changes in the value of the hedge contracts due to changes in equity markets, interest rates and implied volatilities move in the opposite direction of changes in embedded derivative reserves of the GWB and GIB caused by those same factors. As part of our current hedging program, equity markets, interest rates and volatility in market conditions are monitored on a daily basis. We rebalance our hedge positions based upon changes in these factors as needed.  While we actively manage our hedge positions, these hedge positions may not be totally effective in offsetting changes in the embedded derivative reserve due to, among other things, differences in timing between when a market exposure changes and corresponding changes to the hedge positions, extreme swings in the equity markets and interest rates, market volatility, contract holder behavior, divergence between the performance of the underlying funds and the hedging indices, divergence between the actual and expected performance of the hedge instruments and our ability to purchase hedging instruments at prices consistent with our desired risk and return trade-off.

Reinsurance Related Embedded Derivatives

We have certain modified coinsurance arrangements and coinsurance with funds withheld reinsurance arrangements with embedded derivatives related to the withheld assets of the related funds.  These derivatives are considered total return swaps with contractual returns that are attributable to various assets and liabilities associated with these reinsurance arrangements. Changes in the estimated fair value of these derivatives as they occur are recorded through net income (loss).  Offsetting these amounts are corresponding changes in the estimated fair value of trading securities in portfolios that support these arrangements.  During the first quarter of 2009, the portion of the embedded derivative liability related to the funds withheld reinsurance agreement on our disability income business was released due to the rescission of the underlying reinsurance agreement.

AFS Securities Embedded Derivatives

We own various debt securities that either contain call options to exchange the debt security for other specified securities of the borrower, usually common stock, or contain call options to receive the return on equity-like indexes.  The change in fair value of these embedded derivatives flows through net income (loss).


 
35

 

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 June 30, 2010, the nonperformance risk adjustment was $14 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.  We do not believe the inclusion of termination or collateralization events pose any material threat to the liquidity position of any insurance subsidiary of the Company.  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 June 30, 2010, the exposure was $308 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 June 30, 2010
   
As of December 31, 2009
 
           
Collateral
         
Collateral
 
     
Collateral
   
Posted by
   
Collateral
   
Posted by
 
S&P
   
Posted by
   
LNC
   
Posted by
   
LNC
 
Credit
   
Counterparty
   
(Held by
   
Counterparty
   
(Held by
 
Rating of
   
(Held by
   
Counter-
   
(Held by
   
Counter-
 
Counterparty
   
LNC)
   
party)
   
LNC)
   
party)
 
AAA
    $ 19     $ -     $ 3     $ -  
AA
      302       -       140       -  
AA-
      478       -       272       (17 )
 A+       326       (34 )     171       (13 )
 A       643       (100 )     331       (240 )
      $ 1,768     $ (134 )   $ 917     $ (270 )
 
7.  Federal Income Taxes

The effective tax rate is a ratio of tax expense over pre-tax income (loss).  The effective tax rate was 24% and 25% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively.  Because the pre-tax loss of $53 million and $716 million resulted in a tax benefit of $46 million and $122 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, the effective tax rate was not meaningful.  The effective tax rate on pre-tax income (loss) 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 (“DRD”), foreign tax credits and other tax preference items.  In addition, during the six months ended June 30, 2009, the effective tax rate was also impacted as a result of the goodwill impairment related to our Retirement Solutions – Annuities reporting segment, which did not have a corresponding tax effect.

Federal income tax benefit for the first six months of 2009 included an increase of $56 million related to favorable adjustments from the 2008 tax return, filed in the first quarter of 2009, relating primarily to the separate account DRD, foreign tax credits and other tax preference items.

The application of GAAP requires us to evaluate the recoverability of our deferred tax assets and establish a valuation allowance if necessary, to reduce our deferred tax asset to an amount that is more likely than not to be realizable.  Considerable judgment and the use of estimates are required in determining whether a valuation allowance is necessary, and if so, the amount of such valuation allowance.  In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, we consider many factors, including:  the nature and character of the deferred tax assets and liabilities; taxable income in prior carryback years; future reversals of temporary differences; the length of time carryovers can be utilized; and any tax planning strategies we would employ to avoid a tax benefit from expiring unused.  Although realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets, including our capital loss deferred tax asset, will be realized.

 
36

 


In the normal course of business, we are subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the U.S. and the U.K.  At any given time, we may be under examination by state, local or non-U.S. income tax authorities.  During the second quarter of 2010, the IRS completed its examination for the tax years 2005 and 2006 resulting in a proposed assessment.  We believe a portion of the assessment is inconsistent with existing law and are protesting it through the established IRS appeals process.  We do not anticipate that any adjustments that might result from such appeals would be material to our consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

8.  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
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Return of Net Deposits
           
Total account value
  $ 44,180     $ 44,712  
Net amount at risk (1)
    2,820       1,888  
Average attained age of contract holders
 
58 years
   
57 years
 
Minimum Return
               
Total account value
  $ 176     $ 203  
Net amount at risk (1)
    70       65  
Average attained age of contract holders
 
70 years
   
69 years
 
Guaranteed minimum return
    5 %     5 %
Anniversary Contract Value
               
Total account value
  $ 20,265     $ 21,431  
Net amount at risk (1)
    5,023       4,021  
Average attained age of contract holders
 
66 years
   
65 years
 
 
(1)
Represents the amount of death benefit in excess of the account balance.  The increase in net amount at risk when comparing June 30, 2010, to December 31, 2009, was attributable primarily to the decline in equity markets and associated reduction in the account values.

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 Six
 
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Balance as of beginning-of-year
  $ 71     $ 277  
Changes in reserves
    81       24  
Benefits paid
    (46 )     (119 )
Balance as of end-of-period
  $ 106     $ 182  



 
37

 

Account balances of variable annuity contracts with guarantees (in millions) were invested in separate account investment options as follows:
 
   
As of
   
As of
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Asset Type
           
Domestic equity
  $ 30,365     $ 32,489  
International equity
    11,365       12,379  
Bonds
    11,114       9,942  
Money market
    6,828       6,373  
Total
  $ 59,672     $ 61,183  
                 
Percent of total variable annuity separate account values
    98 %     97 %
 
Future contract benefits also include reserves for our products with secondary guarantees for our products sold through our Insurance Solutions – Life Insurance segment.  These UL and VUL products with secondary guarantees represented approximately 40% of permanent life insurance in force as of June 30, 2010, and approximately 52% and 57% of total sales for these products for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

9.  Short-Term and Long-Term Debt

Commercial Paper, Credit Facilities and Letters of Credit (“LOCs”)

Commercial paper, credit facilities and LOC debt programs (in millions) were as follows:
 
         
As of June 30, 2010
 
   
Expiration
   
Maximum
   
Borrowings
   
   
Date
   
Available
   
Outstanding
   
Credit Facilities
                   
Credit facility with the FHLBI (1)
   N/A     $ 630     $ 350    
364-day revolving credit facility
 
Jun-11
      500       -  (2)  
Four-year revolving credit facility
 
Jun-14
      1,500       -    
Ten-year LOC facility
 
Dec-19
      550       -    
Total
          $ 3,180     $ 350    
                           
LOCs issued
                  $ 2,038    
 
(1)
Our borrowing capacity under this credit facility does not have an expiration date and continues while our investment in the FHLBI common stock remains outstanding.  We have pledged securities, included in fixed maturity AFS securities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, that are associated with this credit facility.
(2)
As of June 30, 2010, we had commercial paper outstanding of $98 million backed by this facility, which reduced our available credit facility by a corresponding amount, but did not represent loans borrowed from the credit facility.
 
Effective as of June 9, 2010, the Company entered into two revolving credit facilities with a syndicate of banks.  One agreement (the “Four-Year Agreement”) allows for issuance of LOCs, as well as borrowings to finance any draws under the LOCs.  The Four-Year Agreement is unsecured and has a commitment termination date of June 9, 2014.  The Four-Year Agreement must be used primarily to provide LOCs in support of certain life insurance reserves.  The second agreement (the “364-Day Agreement,” and together with the “Four-Year Agreement” the “credit facility”) allows for borrowing or issuance of LOCs and may be used for general corporate purposes.  The 364-Day Agreement is unsecured and has a commitment termination of June 8, 2011.  LOCs issued under the credit facility may remain outstanding for one year following the applicable commitment termination date of each agreement.  Because commitments associated with LOCs may expire unused, these amounts do not necessarily reflect our future cash funding requirements; however, the issuance of LOCs reduces availability of funds from the credit facilities.  These LOCs support our reinsurance needs and specific treaties associated with our reinsurance business sold to Swiss Re in 2001.  LOCs are used primarily to satisfy the U.S. regulatory requirements of domestic clients who have contracted with the reinsurance subsidiaries not domiciled in the U.S. and for reserve credit provided by our affiliated offshore reinsurance company to our domestic insurance companies for ceded business.

 
38

 


Effective as of June 9, 2010, the credit facility replaced our existing five-year revolving credit facility, under which the commitments were set to expire in the first quarter of 2011.  The credit facility contains customary terms and conditions, including covenants restricting our ability to incur liens, merge or consolidate with another entity where we are not the surviving entity and dispose of all or substantially all of our assets.  The credit facility also includes financial covenants including:  maintenance of a minimum consolidated net worth (as defined in the facility) equal to the sum of $9.2 billion plus fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate net proceeds of equity issuances received by us in accordance with the terms of the credit facility (other than net proceeds used to repay investments to the U.S. Department of Treasury (“U.S. Treasury”) under the Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”)); and a debt-to-capital ratio as defined in accordance with the credit facility not to exceed 0.35 to 1.00.  Further, the credit facility contains customary events of default, subject to certain materiality thresholds and grace periods for certain of those events of default.  The events of default include payment defaults, covenant defaults, material inaccuracies in representations and warranties, certain cross-defaults, bankruptcy and liquidation proceedings and other customary defaults.  Upon an event of default, the credit facility provides that, among other things, the commitments may be terminated and the loans then outstanding may be declared due and payable.  As of June 30, 2010, we were in compliance with all such covenants.

Issuance of Long-Term Debt 

On June 18, 2010, we issued 4.30% fixed rate senior notes due 2015 (“2015 Notes”) with a principal balance of $250 million.  We have the option to repurchase the outstanding 2015 Notes by paying the greater of 100% of the principal amount of the 2015 Notes to be redeemed or the make-whole amount (as defined in the 2015 notes), plus in each case any accrued and unpaid interest as of the date of redemption.

Also on June 18, 2010, we issued 7.00% fixed rate senior notes due 2040 (“2040 Notes”) with a principal balance of $500 million.  We have the option to repurchase the outstanding 2040 Notes by paying the greater of 100% of the principal amount of the 2040 Notes to be redeemed or the make-whole amount (as defined in the 2040 notes), plus in each case any accrued and unpaid interest as of the date of redemption.

10.  Contingencies and Commitments

See “Contingencies and Commitments” in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2009 Form 10-K for a discussion of commitments and contingencies, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

Contingencies

Regulatory and Litigation Matters

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 and laws governing the activities of broker-dealers. 

In the ordinary course of its business, LNC and its subsidiaries are involved in various pending or threatened legal proceedings, including purported class actions, arising from the conduct of business.  In some instances, these proceedings include claims for unspecified or substantial punitive damages and similar types of relief in addition to amounts for alleged contractual liability or requests for equitable relief.  After consultation with legal counsel and a review of available facts, it is management’s opinion that these proceedings, after consideration of any reserves and rights to indemnification, ultimately will be resolved without materially affecting the consolidated financial position of LNC.  However, given the large and indeterminate amounts sought in certain of these proceedings and the inherent difficulty in predicting the outcome of such legal proceedings, including the proceeding described below, it is possible that an adverse outcome in certain matters could be material to our operating results for any particular reporting period.

Transamerica Investment Management, LLC and Transamerica Investments Services, Inc. v. Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. (dba Delaware Investments), Delaware Investment Advisers and certain individuals, was filed in the San Francisco County Superior Court on April 28, 2005.  The plaintiffs are seeking substantial compensatory and punitive damages.  The complaint alleges breach of fiduciary duty, breach of duty of loyalty, breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unfair competition, interference with prospective economic advantage, conversion, unjust enrichment and conspiracy, in connection with Delaware Investment Advisers’ hiring of a portfolio management team from the plaintiffs.  We and the individual defendants dispute the allegations and are vigorously defending these actions.  As part of the purchase and sale agreement for Delaware described in Note 3, we agreed to retain control of and responsibility for this litigation.  Additionally, we have agreed to reimburse MBL for any expenses that may be incurred by Delaware in connection with this matter.


 
39

 

Commitments

Standby Real Estate Equity Commitments

Historically, we have entered into standby commitments, which obligated us to purchase real estate at a specified cost if a third-party sale did not occur within approximately one year after construction was completed.  These commitments were used by a developer to obtain a construction loan from an outside lender on favorable terms.  In return for issuing the commitment, we received an annual fee and a percentage of the profit when the property was sold.  Our long-term expectation is that we will be obligated to fund a small portion of these commitments that remain outstanding.  However, due to the current economic environment, we may experience increased funding obligations.

As of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, we had standby real estate equity commitments totaling $86 million and $220 million, respectively.  During the first six months of 2010, we funded commitments of $112 million and recorded a loss of $8 million reported within realized gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).

We have suspended the practice of entering into new standby real estate commitments. 

11.  Shares and Stockholders’ Equity

The changes in our preferred and common stock (number of shares) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Series A Preferred Stock
                       
Balance as of beginning-of-period
    11,365       11,565       11,497       11,565  
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (1)
    -       (8 )     (132 )     (8 )
Balance as of end-of-period
    11,365       11,557       11,365       11,557  
                                 
Series B Preferred Stock
                               
Balance as of beginning-of-period
    950,000       -       950,000       -  
Redemption of Series B preferred stock
    (950,000 )     -       (950,000 )     -  
Balance as of end-of-period
    -       -       -       -  
                                 
Common Stock
                               
Balance as of beginning-of-period
    302,467,034       256,046,103       302,223,281       255,869,859  
Stock issued
    14,137,615       46,000,000       14,137,615       46,000,000  
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (1)
    -       128       2,112       128  
Stock compensation/issued for benefit plans
    57,831       50,610       317,565       246,769  
Retirement/cancellation of shares
    -       (3,824 )     (18,093 )     (23,739 )
Balance as of end-of-period
    316,662,480       302,093,017       316,662,480       302,093,017  
                                 
Common stock as of end-of-period:
                               
Assuming conversion of preferred stock
    316,844,320       302,277,929       316,844,320       302,277,929  
Diluted basis
    325,852,768       304,162,403       325,852,768       304,162,403  
 
(1)
Represents the conversion of Series A preferred stock into common stock.

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

 
40

 

Series B Preferred Stock Redemption

On June 30, 2010, we repurchased from the U.S. Treasury 950,000 shares of our Series B preferred stock, which we issued in connection with CPP, established as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.  The repurchase of the Series B preferred stock resulted in a $131 million reduction to retained earnings and was deducted from income available to common stockholders in our calculation of earnings per share (“EPS”), representing the write-off of unamortized discount on the Series B preferred stock at liquidation.  The U.S. Treasury continues to hold a warrant to purchase 13,049,451 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $10.92 per share.  In addition, the annual dividends payable on the Series B preferred stock were eliminated as of June 30, 2010.

Common Stock Issued

On June 18, 2010, we closed on the issuance and sale of 14,137,615 shares of common stock at a price of $27.25 per share.

A reconciliation of the denominator (number of shares) in the calculations of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share was as follows:
    For the Three      
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Weighted-average shares, as used in basic calculation
    304,483,369       260,085,214       303,358,882       257,834,591  
Shares to cover exercise of CPP warrant
    13,049,451       -       13,049,451       -  
Shares to cover conversion of preferred stock
    181,840       184,970       182,645       185,005  
Shares to cover non-vested stock
    620,528       503,548       611,940       504,397  
Average stock options outstanding during the period
    824,066       294,415       802,341       154,634  
Assumed acquisition of shares with assumed
                               
proceeds from exercising CPP warrant
    (5,015,012 )     -       (5,221,717 )     -  
Assumed acquisition of shares with assumed
                               
proceeds and benefits from exercising stock
                               
options (at average market price for the year)
    (535,667 )     (223,683 )     (525,529 )     (117,648 )
Shares repurchaseable from measured but
                               
unrecognized stock option expense
    (192,996 )     (4,433 )     (177,687 )     (3,450 )
Average deferred compensation shares (1)
    1,196,054       1,573,741       1,275,743       1,556,369  
Weighted-average shares, as used in diluted
                               
 calculation (2)
    314,611,633       262,413,772       313,356,069       260,113,898  
 
(1)
Effective April 30, 2010, we amended our non-director deferred compensation plans to allow participants the option to diversify from LNC stock to other investment alternatives.  As a result of the amendment, we reclassified the cost basis of deferred units of LNC stock from common stock to other liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.  Consequently, changes in the value of our stock are recorded in underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses on our Consolidated Statement of Income (Loss).  When calculating our weighted-average dilutive shares, we presume the investment option will be settled in cash and exclude the shares from our calculation, unless the effect of settlement in shares (“equity classification”) would be more dilutive to our diluted EPS calculation.  Our directors’ deferred compensation plan was not amended; therefore, participants who select LNC stock for measuring the investment return attributable to their deferral amounts will be paid out in LNC stock, and the obligation to satisfy it is dilutive.
(2)
As a result of a loss from continuing operations for the three and six months end June 30, 2009, shares used in the EPS calculation represent basic shares, since using diluted shares would have been anti-dilutive to the calculation.

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

The numerator used in the calculation of our diluted EPS was adjusted down by $2 million, for the removal of the favorable mark-to-market adjustment for deferred units of LNC stock in our non-director deferred compensation plans included in net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, due to the effect of equity classification being more dilutive to our diluted EPS calculation.

 
41

 

Accumulated OCI

The following summarizes the components and changes in accumulated OCI (in millions):
 
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on AFS Securities
           
Balance as of beginning-of-year
  $ 49     $ (2,654 )
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards
    181       (84 )
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period
    2,691       2,799  
Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment
    (32 )     17  
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and other contract holder funds
    (1,070 )     (1,011 )
Income tax expense
    (573 )     (646 )
Less:
               
Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income
    (27 )     (332 )
Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) on derivatives included in net income
    (2 )     29  
Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
    (3 )     103  
Income tax benefit
    11       70  
Balance as of end-of-period
  $ 1,267     $ (1,449 )
Unrealized OTTI on AFS Securities
               
Balance as of beginning-of-year
  $ (115 )   $ -  
(Increases) attributable to:
               
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards
    -       (18 )
Gross OTTI recognized in OCI during the period
    (22 )     (242 )
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
    (2 )     50  
Income tax benefit
    8       67  
Decreases attributable to:
               
Sales, maturities or other settlements of AFS securities
    42       43  
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
    (10 )     (5 )
Income tax expense
    (11 )     (13 )
Balance as of end-of-period
  $ (110 )   $ (118 )
Unrealized Gain on Derivative Instruments
               
Balance as of beginning-of-year
  $ 11     $ 127  
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period
    (65 )     (68 )
Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment
    32       (16 )
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
    3       21  
Income tax benefit (expense)
    11       (5 )
Less:
               
Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income
    10       6  
Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
    (1 )     1  
Income tax expense
    (3 )     (2 )
Balance as of end-of-period
  $ (14 )   $ 54  
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
               
Balance as of beginning-of-year
  $ 3     $ 6  
Foreign currency translation adjustment arising during the period
    (2 )     135  
Income tax expense
    -       (49 )
Balance as of end-of-period
  $ 1     $ 92  
Funded Status of Employee Benefit Plans
               
Balance as of beginning-of-year
  $ (210 )   $ (282 )
Adjustment arising during the period
    6       (6 )
Income tax benefit (expense)
    (2 )     2  
Balance as of end-of-period
  $ (206 )   $ (286 )


 
42

 

12.  Realized Gain (Loss)

Details underlying realized gain (loss) (in millions) reported on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Total realized gain (loss) related to certain investments (1)
  $ (5 )   $ (154 )   $ (60 )   $ (288 )
Realized gain (loss) related to certain derivative instruments,
                               
including those associated with our consolidated VIEs, and
                               
trading securities (2)
    (46 )     (13 )     (33 )     (8 )
Indexed annuity net derivative results (3):
                               
Gross gain
    4       9       9       9  
Associated amortization expense of DAC, VOBA, DSI
                               
and DFEL
    (1 )     (6 )     (4 )     (5 )
Guaranteed living benefits (4):
                               
Gross gain (loss)
    41       (140 )     80       (234 )
Associated amortization income (expense) of DAC, VOBA, DSI
                               
and DFEL
    (14 )     1       (26 )     (19 )
Guaranteed death benefits (5):
                               
Gross gain (loss)
    29       (163 )     14       (106 )
Associated amortization income (expense) of DAC, VOBA, DSI
                               
and DFEL
    (3 )     22       (1 )     11  
Realized gain (loss) on sale of subsidiaries/businesses
    -       1       -       1  
Total realized gain (loss)
  $ 5     $ (443 )   $ (21 )   $ (639 )
 
(1)
See “Realized Gain (Loss) Related to Certain Investments” section in Note 5.
(2)
Represents changes in the fair values of certain derivative investments (including the credit default swaps and contingent forwards 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)
Represents 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, including the cost of purchasing the hedging instruments.
(5)
Represents the change in the fair value of the derivatives used to hedge our GDB riders.


 
43

 

13.  Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans

We sponsor various incentive plans for our employees, agents and directors that provide for the issuance of various equity awards including stock options, stock incentive awards (“performance shares”), salary paid in shares of our common stock (“salary shares”), SARs, restricted stock, restricted stock units and deferred stock units.  In addition, as required under CPP, we have complied with enhanced compensation restrictions for certain executives and employees in granting compensation to those employees during our participation in the CPP.  These compensation restrictions ceased to apply after our repurchase of the Series B preferred shares from the U.S Treasury as discussed in Note 11.

LNC stock-based awards granted were as follows:
 
   
For the
   
For the
 
   
Three
   
Six
 
   
Months
   
Months
 
   
Ended
   
Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2010
 
Awards
           
10-year LNC stock options
    24,560       208,491  
Non-employee director stock options
    -       29,183  
Non-employee agent stock options
    1,858       97,636  
Restricted stock units
    27,269       644,077  
SARs
    -       119,850  
Salary shares
    37,712       76,635  
Director deferred stock units
    8,889       15,821  



 
44

 

14.  Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying values and estimated fair values of our financial instruments (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
As of June 30, 2010
   
As of December 31, 2009
 
   
Carrying
   
Fair
   
Carrying
   
Fair
 
   
Value
   
Value
   
Value
   
Value
 
Assets
                       
AFS securities:
                       
Fixed maturity securities
  $ 66,391     $ 66,391     $ 60,818     $ 60,818  
VIEs' fixed maturity securities
    581       581       -       -  
Equity securities
    246       246       278       278  
Trading securities
    2,608       2,608       2,505       2,505  
Mortgage loans on real estate
    6,882       7,432       7,178       7,316  
Derivative investments
    1,989       1,989       1,010       1,010  
Other investments
    1,136       1,136       1,057       1,057  
Cash and invested cash
    3,700       3,700       4,025       4,025  
Separate account assets
    70,844       70,844       73,500       73,500  
Liabilities
                               
Future contract benefits:
                               
Indexed annuity contracts
    (383 )     (383 )     (419 )     (419 )
GLB embedded derivative reserves
    (1,669 )     (1,669 )     (676 )     (676 )
Other contract holder funds:
                               
Remaining guaranteed interest and similar contracts
    (1,072 )     (1,072 )     (940 )     (940 )
Account value of certain investment contracts
    (25,131 )     (26,069 )     (24,114 )     (24,323 )
Short-term debt (1)
    (99 )     (99 )     (350 )     (349 )
Long-term debt
    (5,865 )     (5,504 )     (5,050 )     (4,759 )
Reinsurance related embedded derivatives
    (92 )     (92 )     (31 )     (31 )
VIEs' liabilities
    (297 )     (297 )     -       -  
Other liabilities:
                               
Deferred compensation plans
    (319 )     (319 )     (332 )     (332 )
Credit default swaps
    (30 )     (30 )     (65 )     (65 )
 
(1)
The difference between the carrying value and fair value of short-term debt as of December 31, 2009, 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.

 
45

 

Other Investments

The carrying value of other investments approximates their fair value.  Other investments include LPs and other privately held investments that are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

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 June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, the remaining guaranteed interest and similar contracts carrying value approximates 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.

Short-term and Long-term Debt

The fair value of long-term debt is based on quoted market prices or estimated using discounted cash flow analysis determined in conjunction with our incremental borrowing rate as of the balance sheet date for similar types of borrowing arrangements where quoted prices are not available.  For short-term debt, excluding current maturities of long-term debt, the carrying value approximates fair value.

Financial Instruments Carried at Fair Value

We did not have any assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of June 30, 2010, or December 31, 2009, and we noted no changes in our valuation methodologies between these periods.


 
46

 

The following summarizes our financial instruments carried at fair value (in millions) on a recurring basis by the fair value hierarchy levels described in Note 1 in our 2009 Form 10-K:
 
   
As of June 30, 2010
 
   
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
  $ 58     $ 48,259     $ 1,927     $ 50,244  
U.S. Government bonds
    175       30       4       209  
Foreign government bonds
    -       382       92       474  
MBS:
                               
CMOs
    -       5,919       29       5,948  
MPTS
    -       3,424       101       3,525  
CMBS
    -       2,014       119       2,133  
ABS CDOs
    -       1       156       157  
State and municipal bonds
    -       2,520       20       2,540  
Hybrid and redeemable preferred stocks
    12       1,074       75       1,161  
VIEs' fixed maturity securities
    -       581       -       581  
Equity AFS securities:
                               
Banking securities
    -       119       -       119  
Insurance securities
    3       -       26       29  
Other financial services securities
    -       6       23       29  
Other securities
    33       2       34       69  
Trading securities
    2       2,529       77       2,608  
Derivative investments
    -       (134 )     2,005       1,871  
Cash and invested cash
    -       3,700       -       3,700  
Separate account assets
    -       70,844       -       70,844  
Total assets
  $ 283     $ 141,270     $ 4,688     $ 146,241  
                                 
Liabilities
                               
Future contract benefits:
                               
Indexed annuity contracts
  $ -     $ -     $ (383 )   $ (383 )
GLB embedded derivative reserves
    -       -       (1,669 )     (1,669 )
Long-term debt - interest rate swap agreements
    -       (118 )     -       (118 )
Reinsurance related embedded derivatives
    -       (92 )     -       (92 )
VIEs' liabilities
    -       -       (297 )     (297 )
Other liabilities:
                               
Deferred compensation plans
    -       -       (319 )     (319 )
Credit default swaps
    -       -       (30 )     (30 )
Total liabilities
  $ -     $ (210 )   $ (2,698 )   $ (2,908 )


 
47

 

 
 
   
As of December 31, 2009
 
   
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
  $ 57     $ 43,234     $ 2,088     $ 45,379  
U.S. Government bonds
    158       34       3       195  
Foreign government bonds
    -       413       92       505  
MBS:
                               
CMOs
    -       5,871       35       5,906  
MPTS
    -       2,965       101       3,066  
CMBS
    -       1,872       259       2,131  
ABS:
                               
CDOs
    -       5       153       158  
CLNs
    -       -       322       322  
State and municipal bonds
    -       1,968       -       1,968  
Hybrid and redeemable preferred stocks
    15       1,035       138       1,188  
Equity AFS securities:
                               
Banking securities
    23       124       -       147  
Insurance securities
    3       -       43       46  
Other financial services securities
    -       6       22       28  
Other securities
    34       -       23       57  
Trading securities
    3       2,411       91       2,505  
Derivative investments
    -       (412 )     1,368       956  
Cash and invested cash
    -       4,025       -       4,025  
Separate account assets
    -       73,500       -       73,500  
Total assets
  $ 293     $ 137,051     $ 4,738     $ 142,082  
                                 
Liabilities
                               
Future contract benefits:
                               
Indexed annuity contracts
  $ -     $ -     $ (419 )   $ (419 )
GLB embedded derivative reserves
    -       -       (676 )     (676 )
Long-term debt - interest rate swap agreements
    -       (54 )     -       (54 )
Reinsurance related embedded derivatives
    -       (31 )     -       (31 )
Other liabilities:
                               
Deferred compensation plans
    -       -       (332 )     (332 )
Credit default swaps
    -       -       (65 )     (65 )
Total liabilities
  $ -     $ (85 )   $ (1,492 )   $ (1,577 )


 
48

 

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 impact 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 June 30, 2010
 
               
Gains
   
Sales,
   
Transfers
       
         
Items
   
(Losses)
   
Issuances,
   
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
  $ 2,299     $ (5 )   $ 21     $ (11 )   $ (377 )   $ 1,927  
U.S. Government bonds
    2       -       -       -       2       4  
Foreign government bonds
    90       -       2       -       -       92  
MBS:
                                               
CMOs
    31       (1 )     1       (1 )     (1 )     29  
MPTS
    174       -       3       (76 )     -       101  
CMBS
    250       (2 )     10       (17 )     (122 )     119  
ABS CDOs
    159       -       1       (5 )     1       156  
State and municipal bonds
    -       -       -       20       -       20  
Hybrid and redeemable
                                               
preferred stocks
    117       8       (12 )     (38 )     -       75  
Equity AFS securities:
                                               
Insurance securities
    30       -       (4 )     -       -       26  
Other financial services securities
    27       -       (4 )     -       -       23  
Other securities
    34       -       -       -       -       34  
Trading securities
    75       -       6       (2 )     (2 )     77  
Derivative investments
    1,281       620       5       99       -       2,005  
Future contract benefits: (4)
                                               
Indexed annuity contracts
    (457 )     56       -       18       -       (383 )
GLB embedded derivative reserves
    (495 )     (1,174 )     -       -       -       (1,669 )
VIEs' liabilities
    (229 )     (68 )     -       -       -       (297 )
Other liabilities:
                                               
Deferred compensation plans
    (300 )     9       -       (28 )     -       (319 )
Credit default swaps (5)
    (44 )     (17 )     -       31       -       (30 )
Total, net
  $ 3,044     $ (574 )   $ 29     $ (10 )   $ (499 )   $ 1,990  
 

 
49

 

   
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2009
 
               
Gains
   
Sales,
   
Transfers
       
         
Items
   
(Losses)
   
Issuances,
   
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
  $ 2,102     $ (18 )   $ 109     $ (48 )   $ (153 )   $ 1,992  
U.S. Government bonds
    3       -       -       -       -       3  
Foreign government bonds
    58       -       (3 )     (2 )     47       100  
MBS:
                                               
CMOs
    133       (3 )     4       4       (15 )     123  
MPTS
    8       -       1       145       -       154  
CMBS
    246       1       13       (30 )     -       230  
ABS:
                                               
CDOs
    112       (32 )     46       (17 )     -       109  
CLNs
    82       -       137       -       -       219  
State and municipal bonds
    125       -       (1 )     765       17       906  
Hybrid and redeemable
                                               
preferred stocks
    89       -       6       -       3       98  
Equity AFS securities:
                                               
Insurance securities
    47       1       8       (21 )     -       35  
Other financial services securities
    11       -       4       -       -       15  
Other securities
    23       -       -       -       -       23  
Trading securities
    78       3       -       7       (2 )     86  
Derivative investments
    2,145       (510 )     (9 )     (161 )     -       1,465  
Future contract benefits: (4)
                                               
Indexed annuity contracts
    (253 )     (11 )     -       (30 )     -       (294 )
GLB embedded derivative reserves
    (2,605 )     1,533       -       -       -       (1,072 )
Other liabilities:
                                               
Deferred compensation plans
    (329 )     (26 )     -       (16 )     -       (371 )
Credit default swaps (5)
    (67 )     (7 )     -       -       -       (74 )
Total, net
  $ 2,008     $ 931     $ 315     $ 596     $ (103 )   $ 3,747  

 
50

 

   
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2010
 
               
Gains
   
Sales,
   
Transfers
       
         
Items
   
(Losses)
   
Issuances,
   
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
  $ 2,088     $ (9 )   $ 11     $ (119 )   $ (44 )   $ 1,927  
U.S. Government bonds
    3       -       -       (1 )     2       4  
Foreign government bonds
    92       -       2       (3 )     1       92  
MBS:
                                               
CMOs
    35       (2 )     1       (3 )     (2 )     29  
MPTS
    101       -       4       (4 )     -       101  
CMBS
    259       (2 )     20       (36 )     (122 )     119  
ABS:
                                               
CDOs
    153       -       11       (11 )     3       156  
CLNs
    322       -       278       -       (600 )     -  
State and municipal bonds
    -       -       -       20       -       20  
Hybrid and redeemable
                                               
preferred stocks
    138       3       (37 )     (29 )     -       75  
Equity AFS securities:
                                               
Insurance securities
    43       -       (4 )     (13 )     -       26  
Other financial services securities
    22       (3 )     4       -       -       23  
Other securities
    23       -       -       11       -       34  
Trading securities
    91       1       (10 )     (5 )     -       77  
Derivative investments
    1,368       489       7       141       -       2,005  
Future contract benefits: (4)
                                               
Indexed annuity contracts
    (419 )     15       -       21       -       (383 )
GLB embedded derivative reserves
    (676 )     (993 )     -       -       -       (1,669 )
VIEs' liabilities
    -       (72 )     -       -       (225 )     (297 )
Other liabilities:
                                               
Deferred compensation plans
    (332 )     1       -       12       -       (319 )
Credit default swaps (5)
    (65 )     (7 )     -       42       -       (30 )
Total, net
  $ 3,246     $ (579 )   $ 287     $ 23     $ (987 )   $ 1,990  


 
51

 

   
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
 
               
Gains
   
Sales,
   
Transfers
       
         
Items
   
(Losses)
   
Issuances,
   
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
  $ 2,357     $ (35 )   $ 74     $ (60 )   $ (344 )   $ 1,992  
U.S. Government bonds
    3       -       -       -       -       3  
Foreign government bonds
    60       -       (5 )     (3 )     48       100  
MBS:
                                               
CMOs
    161       (5 )     -       5       (38 )     123  
MPTS
    18       -       1       145       (10 )     154  
CMBS
    244       1       17       (32 )     -       230  
ABS:
                                               
CDOs
    151       (31 )     7       (18 )     -       109  
CLNs
    50       -       169       -       -       219  
State and municipal bonds
    125       -       (2 )     766       17       906  
Hybrid and redeemable
                                               
preferred stocks
    97       -       (10 )     3       8       98  
Equity AFS securities:
                                               
Insurance securities
    51       1       3       (20 )     -       35  
Other financial services securities
    20       (3 )     1       (3 )     -       15  
Other securities
    23       2       (1 )     (1 )     -       23  
Trading securities
    81       (1 )     -       7       (1 )     86  
Derivative investments
    2,148       (486 )     (9 )     (188 )     -       1,465  
Future contract benefits: (4)
                                               
Indexed annuity contracts
    (252 )     11       -       (53 )     -       (294 )
GLB embedded derivative reserves
    (2,904 )     1,832       -       -       -       (1,072 )
Other liabilities:
                                               
Deferred compensation plans
    (336 )     (21 )     -       (14 )     -       (371 )
Credit default swaps (5)
    (51 )     (23 )     -       -       -       (74 )
Total, net
  $ 2,046     $ 1,242     $ 245     $ 534     $ (320 )   $ 3,747  
 
(1)
The changes in fair value of the interest rate swaps are offset by an adjustment to derivative investments.  See “Derivatives Instruments Designated and Qualifying as Fair Value Hedges” section in Note 6.
(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 Income (Loss).  Gains (losses) from sales, maturities, settlements and calls and OTTI are included in realized gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
(4)
Gains (losses) from sales, maturities, settlements and calls are included in realized gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
(5)
Gains (losses) from sales, maturities, settlements and calls are included in net investment income on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).


 
52

 

The following summarizes changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income, excluding any impact 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) as of June 30, 2010:
 
   
For the
   
For the
 
   
Three
   
Six
 
   
Months
   
Months
 
   
Ended
   
Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2010
 
Investments:
           
Derivative investments (1)
  $ 599     $ 487  
Future contract benefits:
               
Indexed annuity contracts (1)
    (78 )     (5 )
GLB embedded derivative reserves (1)
    (1,130 )     (910 )
VIEs' liabilities (1)
    (68 )     (72 )
Other liabilities:
               
Deferred compensation plans (2)
    9       1  
Credit default swaps (3)
    (26 )     (27 )
Total, net
  $ (694 )   $ (526 )
 
(1)
Included in realized gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
(2)
Included in underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
(3)
Included in net investment income on our Consolidated Statements of 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
 
   
Ended June 30, 2010
 
   
Transfers
   
Transfers
       
   
In to
   
Out of
       
   
Level 3
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Investments:
                 
Fixed maturity AFS securities:
                 
Corporate bonds
  $ 39     $ (416 )   $ (377 )
U.S. Government bonds
    2       -       2  
MBS:
                       
CMOs
    -       (1 )     (1 )
CMBS
    3       (125 )     (122 )
ABS CDOs
    1       -       1  
Trading securities
    -       (2 )     (2 )
Total, net
  $ 45     $ (544 )   $ (499 )


 
53

 



   
For the Six Months
 
   
Ended June 30, 2010
 
   
Transfers
   
Transfers
       
   
In to
   
Out of
       
   
Level 3
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Investments:
                 
Fixed maturity AFS securities:
                 
Corporate bonds
  $ 143     $ (187 )   $ (44 )
U.S. Government bonds
    2       -       2  
Foreign government bonds
    1       -       1  
MBS:
                       
CMOs
    -       (2 )     (2 )
CMBS
    3       (125 )     (122 )
ABS:
                       
CDOs
    3       -       3  
CLNs
    -       (600 )     (600 )
VIEs' liabilities
    (225 )     -       (225 )
Total, net
  $ (73 )   $ (914 )   $ (987 )
 
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 June 30, 2010, our corporate bonds and CMBS transfers in and out were attributable primarily to the securities’ observable market information being available or no longer being available. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, our corporate bonds and CMBS transfers in and out were attributable primarily to the securities’ observable market information being available or no longer being available, respectively, and for the CLNs transfer out of Level 3, it related to new accounting guidance that is discussed in Note 4.  For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, there were no significant transfers between Level 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy.



 
54

 

15.  Segment Information

We provide products and services in two operating businesses and report results through four business segments as follows:
 
Business
Corresponding Segments
Retirement Solutions
Annuities
 
Defined Contribution
   
Insurance Solutions
Life Insurance
 
Group Protection
 
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.  The following is a brief description of these segments and Other Operations.

Retirement Solutions

The Retirement Solutions business provides its products through two segments:  Annuities and Defined Contribution.  The Annuities segment provides tax-deferred investment growth and lifetime income opportunities for its clients by offering individual fixed annuities, including indexed annuities and variable annuities.  The Defined Contribution segment provides employer-sponsored variable and fixed annuities and mutual-fund based programs in the 401(k), 403(b) and 457 marketplaces.

Insurance Solutions

The Insurance Solutions business provides its products through two segments:  Life Insurance and Group Protection.  The Life Insurance segment offers wealth protection and transfer opportunities through term insurance, a linked-benefit product (which is a UL policy linked with riders that provide for long-term care costs) and both single and survivorship versions of UL and VUL, including corporate-owned UL and VUL insurance and bank-owned UL and VUL insurance products.  The Group Protection segment offers group life, disability and dental insurance to employers, and its products are marketed primarily through a national distribution system of regional group offices.  These offices develop business through employee benefit brokers, third-party administrators and other employee benefit firms.

Other Operations

Other Operations includes investments related to the excess capital in our insurance subsidiaries; investments in media properties and other corporate investments; benefit plan net liability; the unamortized deferred gain on indemnity reinsurance related to the sale of reinsurance to Swiss Re in 2001; the results of certain disability income business due to the rescission of a reinsurance agreement with Swiss Re; the Institutional Pension business, which is a closed-block of pension business, the majority of which was sold on a group annuity basis, and is currently in run-off; and debt costs.  We are actively managing our remaining radio station clusters to maximize performance and future value.

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 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.
 
 
55

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

·
Excluded realized 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.

Segment information (in millions) was as follows:
 
   
For the Three
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Revenues
                       
Operating revenues:
                       
Retirement Solutions:
                       
Annuities
  $ 645     $ 552     $ 1,275     $ 1,074  
Defined Contribution
    245       224       486       441  
Total Retirement Solutions
    890       776       1,761       1,515  
Insurance Solutions:
                               
Life Insurance
    1,135       1,003       2,263       2,078  
Group Protection
    470       443       915       864  
Total Insurance Solutions
    1,605       1,446       3,178       2,942  
Other Operations
    121       115       245       222  
Excluded realized gain (loss), pre-tax
    (11 )     (455 )     (52 )     (662 )
Amortization of deferred gains from reserve changes
                               
on business sold through reinsurance, pre-tax
    1       1       1       2  
Amortization income of DFEL associated with
                               
benefit ratio unlocking, pre-tax
    (1 )     -       (1 )     (4 )
Total revenues
  $ 2,605     $ 1,883     $ 5,132     $ 4,015  


 
56

 



   
For the Three
   
For the Six
 
   
Months Ended
   
Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Net Income (Loss)
                       
Income (loss) from operations:
                       
Retirement Solutions:
                       
Annuities
  $ 116     $ 65     $ 235     $ 139  
Defined Contribution
    36       28       72       57  
Total Retirement Solutions
    152       93       307       196  
Insurance Solutions:
                               
Life Insurance
    151       133       288       275  
Group Protection
    23       34       44       59  
Total Insurance Solutions
    174       167       332       334  
Other Operations
    (36 )     (53 )     (73 )     (160 )
Excluded realized gain (loss), after-tax
    (7 )     (296 )     (34 )     (432 )
Gain on early extinguishment of debt, after-tax
    -       -       -       42  
Income from reserve changes (net of related amortization)
                               
on business sold through reinsurance, after-tax
    -       -       1       -  
Impairment of intangibles, after-tax
    -       1       -       (603 )
Benefit ratio unlocking, after-tax
    (31 )     81       (25 )     29  
Income (loss) from continuing operations, after-tax
    252       (7 )     508       (594 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, after-tax
    3       (154 )     31       (146 )
Net income (loss)
  $ 255     $ (161 )   $ 539     $ (740 )
 
16.  Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow

For details related to our business dispositions, see Note 3.

 
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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 June 30, 2010, compared with December 31, 2009, and the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, compared with the corresponding periods in 2009 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, 2009 (“2009 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”; our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed in 2010; and our current reports on Form 8-K filed in 2010.

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.  Income (loss) from operations is net income recorded in accordance with United States of America generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) excluding the after-tax effects of the following items, as applicable:

·
Realized gains and losses associated with the following (“excluded realized gain (loss)”):
 
§
Sales or disposals of securities;
 
§
Impairments of securities;
 
§
Change in the fair value of derivative investments, embedded derivatives within certain reinsurance arrangements and our trading securities;
 
§
Change in the fair value of the derivatives we own to hedge our guaranteed death benefit (“GDB”) riders within our variable annuities, which is referred to as “GDB derivatives results”;
 
§
Change in the fair value of the embedded derivatives of our guaranteed living benefit (“GLB”) riders within our variable annuities accounted for under the Derivatives and Hedging and the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topics of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards CodificationTM (“ASC”) (“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, the net of which is referred to as “GLB net derivative results”; 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 (“indexed annuity forward-starting option”).
·
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.

Income (loss) from operations available to common stockholders is net income (loss) available to common stockholders (used in the calculation of earnings (loss) per share) in accordance with GAAP, excluding the after-tax effects of the items above and the acceleration of our Series B preferred stock discount as a result of redemption prior to five years from the date of issuance.

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

·
Excluded realized gain (loss);
·
Amortization of deferred front-end loads (“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.

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 report operating revenues and income (loss) from operations by segment in Note 15.  Our management and Board of Directors believe 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

 
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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.
 
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.

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;
·
Economic declines and credit market illiquidity could cause us to realize additional 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;
·
Uncertainty about the impact of existing or new stimulus legislation on the economy;
·
The restrictions, oversight, cost and other consequences of being a savings and loan holding company, including from the supervision, regulation and examination by the Office of Thrift Supervision (“OTS”), and arising from our participation in the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s, or the “U.S. Treasury,” Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”) certain requirements of which may continue to apply to us so long as U.S. Treasury holds the warrant that we issued as a part of our participation in the CPP even after Lincoln’s repurchase of the preferred stock issued to the Treasury as part of the CPP;
·
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 reserves and/or risk-based capital (“RBC”) requirements related to secondary guarantees under universal life and variable annuity products such as Actuarial Guideline 43 (“AG43,” also known as Commissioners Annuity Reserve Valuation Method for Variable Annuities or “VACARVM”); restrictions on revenue sharing and 12b-1 payments; and the potential for U.S. Federal tax reform;
·
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 extra-contractual and class action damage cases; new decisions that result in changes in law; and unexpected trial court rulings;
·
Changes in or sustained low interest rates causing a reduction of investment income, the margins of our subsidiaries’ fixed annuity and life insurance businesses and demand for their 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 amortization of deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”), value of business acquired (“VOBA”), deferred sales inducements (“DSI”) and DFEL and an increase in liabilities related to guaranteed benefit features of our subsidiaries’ variable annuity products;
·
Ineffectiveness of our various hedging strategies used to offset the impact 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 elevated impairments on investments and amortization of intangible assets that may cause an increase in reserves and/or a reduction in assets, resulting in a corresponding decrease in net income;
·
Changes in GAAP 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 impact such action may have on our ability to raise capital and on its liquidity and financial condition;
·
Lowering of one or more of the insurer financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries and the adverse impact such action may have on the premium writings, policy retention, profitability of our insurance subsidiaries and liquidity;

 
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·
Significant credit, accounting, fraud or corporate governance issues that may adversely affect the value of certain investments in our portfolios requiring that we realize losses on such investments;
·
The impact of acquisitions and divestitures, restructurings, product withdrawals and other unusual items, including our ability to integrate acquisitions and to obtain the anticipated results and synergies from acquisitions;
·
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 impact 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, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) include additional factors that could impact 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 impact 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, mutual funds and group protection.

We provide products and services in two operating businesses and report results through four business segments as follows:
 
Business
Corresponding Segments
Retirement Solutions
Annuities
 
Defined Contribution
   
Insurance Solutions
Life Insurance
 
Group Protection
 
These operating businesses and their segments are described in “Part I – Item 1. Business” of our 2009 Form 10-K.

We also have Other Operations, which includes the financial data for operations that are not directly related to the business segments.  Other Operations also includes investments related to the excess capital in our insurance subsidiaries; investments in media properties and other corporate investments; benefit plan net liability; the unamortized deferred gain on indemnity reinsurance related to the sale of reinsurance to Swiss Re in 2001; the results of certain disability income business due to the rescission of a reinsurance agreement with Swiss Re; our run-off Institutional Pension business; and debt costs.

Our former Lincoln UK and Investment Management segments are reported in discontinued operations for all periods presented.  See “Acquisitions and Dispositions” in our 2009 Form 10-K and Note 3 for more information.

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


 
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Current Market Conditions

Recent unfavorable market conditions including, but not limited to, the following concerns are weighing on the U.S. economy:

·
High unemployment, shrinking unemployment benefits and weak job creation, all leading to lower disposable income that is necessary to fuel economic growth;
·
Stressed capital and credit markets in Europe, and the impact of the expiration of the European Central Bank’s 12-month liquidity facility on July 1, 2010, that had provided liquidity to euro area banks following the global financial crisis, as many banks still cannot access the short-term commercial paper market;
·
Reports of an economic slowdown in China as policymakers have taken steps to slow lending due to concerns that the rapid expansion of its real estate sector could constitute a price bubble;
·
Slowing U.S. housing market despite historically low housing prices and mortgage rates that have sunk to levels not seen in more than a half-century believed to be due in part to the tightening of mortgage lending standards and the April 30, 2010, expiration of the federal tax credit;
·
Declining equity markets; and
·
Sinking consumer confidence.
 
For these reasons, concerns exist that the economy is at risk of slipping into a “double-dip” recession (i.e., a continuous recession that is punctuated by a period of growth and then followed by a further decline in the economy).  The National Bureau of Economic Research (“NBER”), a panel of economists charged with officially designating business cycles, announced in April 2010 that it cannot yet declare an end to the recession that began in December 2007.  The market conditions during this time were characterized by extreme volatility and disruption that affected both equity market returns and interest rates as credit spreads widened across asset classes and reduced liquidity in the credit markets, and some of these economic issues appear to be resurfacing as mentioned above, thereby making the timing of an upward turn in the economy harder to discern than in the past.  An NBER committee stated that a determination of the “trough” date based on current data would be premature.

The markets have primarily impacted us in the following areas:

Capital

During the second quarter of 2010, we addressed two matters that we believe had been depressing our stock price:  our participation in the CPP and the upcoming maturity of credit facilities in the first quarter of 2011 related to letters of credit (“LOCs”) supporting our life insurance business that could have remained outstanding until the first quarter of 2012.  On June 30, 2010, after consultation with the OTS, we repurchased our Series B preferred stock that we had issued to the U.S. Treasury as part of our participation in the CPP, primarily as a result of the improvements in the economy and capital markets, as well as the strength of our business model and our capital position.  We funded the $950 million liquidation value of the stock with net proceeds of approximately $368 million from a common stock offering, proceeds from a $250 million five-year senior notes offering and cash held at our holding company that was attributable primarily to proceeds from the sale of Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. (“Delaware”).  As a result of repurchasing the preferred stock, we accelerated the remaining accretion of the preferred stock issuance discount of $131 million and recorded a corresponding charge to retained earnings and income (loss) available to common stockholders in the calculation of earnings per common share.  Following the repayment, the U.S. Treasury continues to hold a warrant to purchase 13,049,451 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $10.92 per share.  We notified the U.S. Treasury that we will not repurchase the warrant, which under the terms of the agreement between the parties acts as U.S. Treasury's notice to us of its intention to sell the warrant.  In addition, we secured $2 billion of bank credit facilities as discussed in “Results of Insurance Solutions – Insurance Solutions – Life Insurance – Income from Operations – Strategies to Address Statutory Reserve Strain,” “Review of Consolidated Financial Condition – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Financing Activities” and Note 9.  We also completed a 30-year senior notes offering of $500 million, the proceeds of which will be used as part of a long-term financing solution supporting UL business with secondary guarantees.  For more information about our common stock and debt issuances, see “Review of Consolidated Financial Condition” below.

During May and June of 2010, Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”), Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”) and A.M. Best Co. (“A.M. Best”) all improved their outlook on our company to stable from negative, and Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”)outlook remained stable.  For more information about ratings, see “Part I – Item 1. Business – Ratings” in our 2009 Form 10-K and our Form 8-K filed on June 2, 2010.

Even with our actions, our improving ratings and our ability to produce solid results in our core businesses over the past several quarters, the price of our common stock remained volatile and declined to close at $24.29 on June 30, 2010, after trading at a high of $33.55 during the first six months of 2010.  We believe the recent volatility and decline in our stock price is more a result of the current macro economic conditions discussed above that are impacting our peer group and the entire market as opposed to factors that are unique to our company.

 
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In the face of these global economic challenges, we continue to focus on building our businesses through these difficult markets and beyond by developing and introducing high quality products, expanding distribution in new and existing key accounts and channels and targeting market segments that have high growth potential while maintaining a disciplined approach to managing our expenses.  However, the prior significant decline in the equity markets continues to constrain growth of average account values despite higher deposits and net flows during the first six months of 2010 than in the comparable period of 2009.

Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Business

Because the profitability of our fixed annuity, UL, VUL and defined contribution insurance business depends in part on interest rate spreads, interest rate fluctuations could negatively affect our profitability.  Changes in interest rates may reduce both our profitability from spread businesses and our return on invested capital.  Some of our products, principally our fixed annuities, UL and VUL, have interest rate guarantees that expose us to the risk that changes in interest rates or prolonged low interest rates will reduce our spread, or the difference between the amounts that we are required to pay under the contracts and the amounts we are able to earn on our general account investments intended to support our obligations under the contracts.  Although we have been proactive in our investment strategies, product designs, crediting rate strategies and overall asset-liability practices to mitigate the risk of unfavorable consequences in this type of environment, declines in our spread, or instances where the returns on our general account investments are not enough to support the interest rate guarantees on these products, could have an adverse effect on our businesses or results of operations.  We discuss the earnings impact of interest rates below in “Part I – Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Business – Falling Rates” and “Part II – Item 1A. Risk Factors – 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.”

Earnings from Account Values

Our asset-gathering segments – Retirement Solutions – Annuities and Retirement Solutions – Defined Contribution – are the most sensitive to the equity markets, as well as, to a lesser extent, our Insurance Solutions – Life Insurance segment.  We discuss the earnings impact of the equity markets on account values and the related asset-based earnings below in “Part I – Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Equity Market Risk – Impact of Equity Market Sensitivity.”  From December 31, 2009, to June 30, 2010, our account values were down $996 million driven primarily by a significant decline in equity markets during the month of June, partially offset by strong deposits and positive net flows.  While the end of period S&P 500 Index® (“S&P 500”) as of June 30, 2010, was lower than as of December 31, 2009, the daily average S&P 500 increased 1% during this time.
 
Investment Income on Alternative Investments

Our alternative investments portfolio consists primarily of hedge funds and various limited partnership investments.  See “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Investments – Valuation of Alternative Investments” in our 2009 Form 10-K and “Consolidated Investments – Alternative Investments” below for additional information on our investment portfolio.

Variable Annuity Hedge Program Results

We offer variable annuity products with living benefit guarantees.  As described in “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Derivatives – Guaranteed Living Benefits” in our 2009 Form 10-K, we use derivative instruments to hedge our exposure to the risks and earnings volatility that result from the GLB embedded derivatives in certain of our variable annuity products.  The change in fair value of these instruments tends to move in the opposite direction of the change in embedded derivative reserves.  These results are excluded from the Retirement Solutions – Annuities and Defined Contribution segments’ operating revenues and income from operations.  See “Realized Gain (Loss) – Operating Realized Gain (Loss) – GLB” for information on our methodology for calculating the non-performance risk (“NPR”), which affects the discount rate used in the calculation of the GLB embedded derivative reserve.

We also offer variable products with death benefit guarantees.  As described in “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Future Contract Benefits and Other Contract Holder Obligations – Guaranteed Death Benefits” in our 2009 Form 10-K, we use derivative instruments to attempt to hedge the income statement impact in the opposite direction of the GDB benefit ratio unlocking for movements in equity markets.  These results are excluded from income (loss) from operations.

Credit Losses, Impairments and Unrealized Losses

Related to our investments in fixed income and equity securities, we experienced net realized losses that reduced net income by $14 million and $18 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, and included credit-related write-downs of securities for other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”) of $7 million and $42 million, respectively.  Although economic conditions have improved, we expect a continuation of some level of OTTI.  If we were to experience another period of weakness in the economic environment like we did in late 2008 and early 2009, it could lead to increased credit defaults, resulting in additional write-downs of securities for OTTI.

 
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Increased liquidity in several market segments and improved credit fundamentals (i.e., market improvement and narrowing credit spreads) as of June 30, 2010, compared to December 31, 2009, have resulted in the $1.0 billion decrease in gross unrealized losses on the available-for-sale (“AFS”) fixed maturity securities in our general account as of June 30, 2010.

Issues and Outlook

For the remainder of 2010, significant issues include:

·
Potential unstable credit markets that can impact our financing alternatives, spreads and other-than-temporary securities impairments;
·
Potential volatile equity markets that have a significant impact on our hedge program performance and revenues;
·
Continuation of the low interest rate environment, which affects the investment margins and reserve levels for many of our products, such as fixed annuities, UL and the fixed portion of defined contribution and VUL business;
·
Continuation of global economic challenges;
·
Achieving continued sales success with our portfolio of products, including marketplace acceptance of new variable annuity features, as well as retaining management and wholesaler talent to maintain our competitive position;
·
Evolving treatment of reserve financing by rating agencies; and
·
Continuing focus by the government on tax, financial and healthcare reform including potential changes in company dividends-received deduction (“DRD”) calculations, which may affect the value and profitability of our products and overall earnings.

In the face of these issues and potential issues, we expect to focus on the following throughout the remainder of 2010:

·
Continuing to explore additional financing strategies addressing the statutory reserve strain related to our secondary guarantee UL products in order to manage our capital position effectively in accordance with our pricing guidelines;
·
Increasing our product development activities together with identifying future product development initiatives, with a focus on further reducing risk related to guaranteed benefit riders available with certain variable annuity contracts;
·
Evaluating opportunities for strategic investments in our businesses to grow revenues and further spur productivity, particularly in Retirement Solutions – Defined Contribution and Insurance Solutions – Group Protection, with technology upgrades and new products for the voluntary market and an expanded distribution focus for our group business;
·
Managing our expenses aggressively through process improvement initiatives combined with continued financial discipline and execution excellence throughout our operations;
·
Closely monitoring ongoing changes in the legal and regulatory environment; and
·
Closely monitoring our capital and liquidity positions taking into account the fragile economic recovery and changing statutory accounting and reserving practices.

For additional 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 2009 Form 10-K and “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above.
 

 
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The MD&A included in our 2009 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 2009 Form 10-K and, accordingly, should be read in conjunction with the “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” discussed in our 2009 Form 10-K.

DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL

Our DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL balances (in millions) by business segment as of June 30, 2010, were as follows:
 
   
Retirement Solutions
   
Insurance Solutions
       
         
Defined
   
Life
   
Group
       
   
Annuities
   
Contribution
   
Insurance
   
Protection
   
Total
 
DAC and VOBA
                             
Gross
  $ 2,668     $ 514     $ 6,582     $ 166     $ 9,930  
Unrealized (gain) loss
    (512 )     (139 )     (744 )     -       (1,395 )
Carrying value
  $ 2,156     $ 375     $ 5,838     $ 166     $ 8,535  
                                         
DSI
                                       
Gross
  $ 331     $ 2     $ -     $ -     $ 333  
Unrealized (gain) loss
    (44 )     -       -       -       (44 )
Carrying value
  $ 287     $ 2     $ -     $ -     $ 289  
                                         
DFEL
                                       
Gross
  $ 205     $ -     $ 1,292     $ -     $ 1,497  
Unrealized gain (loss)
    (4 )     -       (185 )     -       (189 )
Carrying value
  $ 201     $ -     $ 1,107     $ -     $ 1,308  
 
AFS securities and certain derivatives are stated at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of associated DAC, VOBA, DSI, other contract holder funds and deferred income taxes.  The unrealized balances in the table above represent the DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL balances for these effects of unrealized gains and losses on AFS securities and certain derivatives as of the end-of-period.

On a quarterly basis, we may record an adjustment to the amounts included within our Consolidated Balance Sheets for DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL with an offsetting benefit or charge to revenue or expense for the impact of the difference between future expected gross profits (“EGPs”) used in the prior quarter and the emergence of actual and updated future EGPs in the current quarter (“retrospective unlocking”).  In addition, in the third quarter of each year, we conduct our annual comprehensive review of the assumptions and the projection models used for our estimates of future gross profits underlying the amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL and the calculations of the embedded derivatives and reserves for life insurance and annuity products with living benefit and death benefit guarantees.  These assumptions include investment margins, mortality, retention, rider utilization and maintenance expenses (costs associated with maintaining records relating to insurance and individual and group annuity contracts and with the processing of premium collections, deposits, withdrawals and commissions).  Based on our review, the cumulative balances of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL, included on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, are adjusted with an offsetting benefit or charge to revenue or amortization expense to reflect such change (“prospective unlocking – assumption changes”).  We may have prospective unlocking in other quarters as we become aware of information that warrants updating outside of our annual comprehensive review.  We may also identify and implement actuarial modeling refinements (“prospective unlocking – model refinements”) that result in increases or decreases to the carrying values of DAC, VOBA, DSI, DFEL, embedded derivatives and reserves for life insurance and annuity products with living benefit and death benefit guarantees.  The primary distinction between retrospective and prospective unlocking is that retrospective unlocking is driven by the difference between actual gross profits compared to EGPs each period, while prospective unlocking is driven by changes in assumptions or projection models related to our projections of future EGPs.

In discussing our results of operations below in this MD&A, we refer to favorable and unfavorable unlocking.  With respect to DAC, VOBA and DSI, favorable unlocking refers to a decrease in the amortization expense in the period, whereas unfavorable unlocking refers to an increase in the amortization expense in the period.  With respect to DFEL, favorable unlocking refers to an increase in the amortization income in the period, whereas unfavorable unlocking refers to a decrease in the amortization income in the period.  With respect to the calculations of the embedded derivatives and reserves for life insurance and annuity products with living benefit and death benefit guarantees, favorable unlocking refers to a decrease in reserves in the period, whereas unfavorable unlocking refers to an increase in reserves in the period.

 
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We amortize DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL in proportion to our EGPs.  When actual gross profits are higher in the period than expected, we recognize more amortization than planned.  When actual gross profits are lower in the period than expected, we recognize less amortization than planned.  In a calendar year where the gross profits for a certain group of policies, or “cohorts,” are expected to be negative, our actuarial process limits, or floors, the amortization expense offset to zero.

During the first quarter of 2010, there was a $21 million favorable prospective unlocking of DAC and VOBA from assumption changes due to including an estimate in our models for rider fees related to our annuity products with living benefit guarantees.  Additionally, during the second quarter of 2010, we revised this estimate, which resulted in an additional $5 million favorable prospective unlocking of DAC and VOBA.
 
Because equity market movements have a significant impact on the value of variable annuity and VUL products and the fees earned on these accounts, EGPs could increase or decrease with movements in the equity markets; therefore, significant and sustained changes in equity markets have had and could in the future have an impact on DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL amortization for our variable annuity, annuity-based 401(k) business and VUL business.

As equity markets do not move in a systematic manner, we reset the baseline of account values from which EGPs are projected, which we refer to as our “reversion to the mean” (“RTM”) process.  Under our RTM process, on each valuation date, future EGPs are projected using stochastic modeling of a large number of future equity market scenarios in conjunction with best estimates of lapse rates, interest rate spreads and mortality to develop a statistical distribution of the present value of future EGPs for our variable annuity, annuity-based 401(k) and VUL blocks of business.  Because future equity market returns are unpredictable, the underlying premise of this process is that best estimate projections of future EGPs need not be affected by random short-term and insignificant deviations from expectations in equity market returns.  However, long-term or significant deviations from expected equity market returns require a change to best estimate projections of EGPs and prospective unlocking of DAC, VOBA, DSI, DFEL and changes in future contract benefits.  The statistical distribution is designed to identify when the equity market return deviations from expected returns have become significant enough to warrant a change of the future equity return EGP assumption.

The stochastic modeling performed for our variable annuity blocks of business as described above is used to develop a range of reasonably possible future EGPs.  We compare the range of the present value of the future EGPs from the stochastic modeling to that used in our amortization model.  A set of intervals around the mean of these scenarios is utilized to calculate two separate statistical ranges of reasonably possible EGPs.  These intervals are then compared again to the present value of the EGPs used in the amortization model.  If the present value of EGP assumptions utilized for amortization were to exceed the margin of the reasonable range of statistically calculated EGPs, a revision of the EGPs used to calculate amortization would occur.  If a revision is deemed necessary, future EGPs would be re-projected using the current account values at the end of the period during which the revision occurred along with a revised long-term annual equity market gross return assumption such that the re-projected EGPs would be our best estimate of EGPs.

Notwithstanding these intervals, if a severe decline or advance in equity markets were to occur or should other circumstances, including contract holder behavior, suggest that the present value of future EGPs no longer represents our best estimate, we could determine that a revision of the EGPs is necessary.

Our practice is not necessarily to unlock immediately after exceeding the first of the two statistical ranges, but, rather, if we stay between the first and second statistical range for several quarters, we would likely unlock.  Additionally, if we exceed the ranges as a result of a short-term market reaction, we would not necessarily unlock.  However, if the second statistical range is exceeded for more than one quarter, it is likely that we would unlock.  While this approach reduces adjustments to DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL due to short-term equity market fluctuations, significant changes in the equity markets that extend beyond one or two quarters could result in a significant favorable or unfavorable unlocking.

Our long-term equity market growth assumption rate is 9%, which is used in the determination of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL amortization for the variable component of our variable annuity and VUL products, as this component is related primarily to underlying investments in equity funds within the separate accounts.  This variable appreciation rate is before the deduction of our contract fees.  Although the piercing of the outer corridor does not automatically result in a resetting of our RTM assumption, if economic conditions change significantly, additional unlocking of our RTM assumptions could be possible in future periods.  However, if we were to have unlocked our RTM assumption in the corridor as of June 30, 2010, for our Retirement Solutions business, we would have recorded a favorable prospective unlocking of approximately $150 million, pre-tax, as a result of improved market conditions since our last unlock of RTM in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized, but are subject to impairment tests conducted at least annually.  Intangibles that do not have indefinite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives.  We are required to perform a two-step test in our evaluation of the carrying value of goodwill.  In Step 1 of the evaluation, the fair value of each reporting unit is

 
65

 

determined and compared to the carrying value of the reporting unit.  If the fair value is greater than the carrying value, then the carrying value of the reporting unit is deemed to be recoverable, and Step 2 is not required.  If the fair value estimate is less than the carrying value, it is an indicator that impairment may exist, and Step 2 is required.  In Step 2, the reporting unit’s goodwill implied fair value is determined.  The reporting unit’s fair value as determined in Step 1 is assigned to all of its net assets (recognized and unrecognized) as if the reporting unit were acquired in a business combination as of the date of the impairment test.  If the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is lower than its carrying amount, goodwill is impaired and written down to its fair value.  Refer to Note 10 of our consolidated financial statements within our 2009 Form 10-K for goodwill and intangible assets by reporting unit.
 
The fair values of our insurance and annuities businesses are comprised of two components:  the value of new business and the value of in-force business.  Factors could cause us to believe our estimated fair value of the total business may be lower than the carrying value and trigger a Step 1 test, but may not require a step 2 test, and even if it does, not result in a goodwill impairment under the Step 2 test because the Step 2 test is focused on supporting the fair value of the goodwill asset.  The value of new business supports the valuation of our goodwill asset.  Our Life Insurance reporting unit’s implied fair value of goodwill is most sensitive to new business production levels and discount rates.  Factors that could impact production levels include mix of new business, customer acceptance of our products and distribution strength.  Recent declines in interest rates have applied downward pressure to the interest rate inputs used in the discount rate calculation.  Spread compression and other impacts to profitability caused by lower interest rates have a much more significant impact on the valuation of in-force business than the valuation of new business.  The impact of interest rate movements on the value of new business is primarily related to the discount rate, because the cash flows for new business are not as sensitive to interest rates as our in-force business.
 
While threats to future profitability can theoretically cause an increase to the discount rate, a drop in the risk-free interest rates will also lower the cost of capital used in calculating the discount rate applied to the business.  Our sensitivity disclosures for the effect that changes in valuation assumptions could have on our estimate of our reporting units’ fair value, therefore, provide sensitivities to both discount rates and new business generation and do not isolate interest rates.  For such disclosures, see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” in our 2009 Form 10-K.

As discussed above in “Current Market Conditions – Stock Price,” our stock price has been unfavorably affected by the current market conditions.  At this time, we believe the decline in our stock price neither corresponds to a decline in the estimated fair value of our reporting units nor provides an indicator that requires us to perform an interim impairment test to reassess our conclusions related to goodwill recoverability since our annual evaluation as of October 1, 2009, due primarily to the following: 

·
The price of our common stock as of June 30, 2010, was slightly higher than its price as of October 1, 2009, and although our volatility has increased it recently, it has not occurred for a prolonged period of time;
·
Lower debt yields have applied downward pressure to the discount rate calculation;
·
During the second quarter of 2010, we repurchased our Series B preferred stock that we had issued through the CPP and secured $2 billion of bank credit facilities as well as completed a senior notes offering of $500 million, the proceeds of which will be used as part of a long-term financing solution supporting UL business with secondary guarantees; each of these matters had previously been weighing on the estimated fair value of our reporting units; 
·
We have experienced improving ratings since October 1, 2009;
·
We have produced solid results in our core businesses over the past several quarters, and our earnings projections and expectations for future sales have not deteriorated since our annual evaluation;
·
We have not experienced higher impairments on invested assets than assumed in our projections; and
·
The key assumptions used in our estimates of fair value have not significantly changed from October 1, 2009.

We will continue to monitor the current market conditions, and if they were to deteriorate to levels experienced during the end of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, and, in particular, if our share price were to remain below book value per share for an extended period of time or deteriorate further, we may need to perform interim goodwill impairment tests in addition to our annual test as of October 1, 2010.

Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities

We have investments in two credit-linked notes (“CLNs”) that are deemed to be variable interest entities (“VIEs”).  Effective January 1, 2010, in accordance with new accounting guidance (see Note 2), we determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these VIEs.  As such, we reflected the financial condition and results of operations of these VIEs in our consolidated financial statements and recorded a cumulative effect adjustment of $169 million, after-tax, to the beginning balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2010. 

We use assumptions, estimates and judgments similar to those used for our investments and derivatives in determining the results of operations and financial position of these VIEs.  In addition, we use judgments in concluding whether we are the primary beneficiary of these VIEs.  Specifically, judgment is required in situations where our economic interest in the VIE is significantly greater than our stated power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE.

See Note 4 for more detail regarding the consolidation of these VIEs.

 
 
66

 
 

Investments

Investment Valuation

As of June 30, 2010, 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 an internationally recognized pricing service as our primary pricing source, and we generally do not obtain multiple prices for our financial instruments.  We generally use prices from the pricing service rather than broker quotes as we have documentation from the pricing service on the observable market inputs that they use to determine the prices in contrast to the broker quotes where we have limited information on the pricing inputs.  As of June 30, 2010, we only obtained multiple prices for 36 available-for-sale and trading securities.  These multiple prices were primarily related to instances where the vendor was providing a price for the first time and we also received a broker quote.  In these instances, we used the price from the pricing service due to the higher reliability as discussed above.  As of June 30, 2010, we used broker quotes for 173 securities as our final price source, representing less than 4% of total securities owned.

Derivatives

We use derivative instruments to manage a variety of equity market and interest rate risks that are inherent in many of our life insurance and annuity products.  Assessing the effectiveness of these hedging programs and evaluating the carrying values of the related derivatives often involve a variety of assumptions and estimates.  We use derivatives to hedge equity market risks, interest rate risk and foreign currency exposures that are embedded in our annuity and life insurance product liabilities or investment portfolios.  Derivatives held as of June 30, 2010, contain industry standard terms.  Our accounting policies for derivatives and the potential impact on interest spreads in a falling rate environment are discussed in “Part I – Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” and Note 6 of this report and “Part II – Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” and Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2009 Form 10-K.

Guaranteed Living Benefits

As of June 30, 2010, the fair values of the embedded derivative reserves, before adjustment for the required NPR factors, for the guaranteed withdrawal benefit (“GWB”) feature, the i4LIFE® Advantage guaranteed income benefit (“GIB”) feature and the 4LATER® Advantage GIB feature were $1.1 billion, $427 million and $286 million, respectively.  See “Realized Gain (Loss) – Operating Realized Gain (Loss) – GLB” for information on how we determine our NPR.

As of June 30, 2010, the fair value of our derivative assets, which hedge both our GLB and GDB features, and including margins generated by futures contracts, was $2.2 billion.  As of June 30, 2010, the sum of all GLB liabilities at fair value, excluding the NPR adjustment, and GDB reserves was $1.9 billion, comprised of $1.8 billion for GLB liabilities and $105 million for the GDB reserves.  The fair value of the hedge assets exceeded the liabilities by $265 million.  However, the relationship of hedge assets to the liabilities for the guarantees may vary in any given reporting period due to market conditions, hedge performance and/or changes to the hedging strategy.

Approximately 42% of our variable annuity account values contain a GWB rider as of June 30, 2010.  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 June 30, 2010, and June 30, 2009, 83% and 75% respectively, of all GWB in-force contracts were “in the money,” and our exposure to the guaranteed amounts, after reinsurance, as of June 30, 2010, and June 30, 2009, was $3.1 billion and $4.0 billion, respectively.  Our exposure before reinsurance for these same periods was $3.5 billion and $4.5 billion, respectively.  The ultimate amount to be paid by us related to GWB guarantees is uncertain and could be significantly more or less than $3.1 billion, net of reinsurance.

For information on our GLB and GDB hedging results, see our discussion in “Realized Gain (Loss)” below.


 
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The following table presents our estimates of the potential instantaneous impact to realized gain (loss), which could result from sudden changes that may occur in equity markets, interest rates and implied market volatilities (in millions) at the levels indicated in the table and excludes the net cost of operating the hedging program.  The amounts represent the estimated difference between the change in the portion of GLB reserves that is calculated on a fair value basis and the change in the value of the underlying hedge instruments after the amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL and taxes.  These impacts do not include any estimate of retrospective or prospective unlocking that could occur, nor do they estimate any change in the NPR component of the GLB reserve or any estimate of impacts to our GLB benefit ratio unlocking.  These estimates are based upon the recorded reserves as of June 30, 2010, and the related hedge instruments in place as of that date.  The effects presented in the table below are not representative of the aggregate impacts that could result if a combination of such changes to equity market returns, interest rates and implied volatilities occurred.
 
   
In-Force Sensitivities
 
      -20%       -10%       -5%       5%  
Equity market return
  $ (55 )   $ (14 )   $ (4 )   $ (3 )
                                 
   
-50 bps
   
-25 bps
   
+25 bps
   
+50 bps
 
Interest rates
  $ (12 )   $ (3 )   $ (2 )   $ (9 )
                                 
      -4%       -2%       2%       4%  
Implied volatilities
  $ 25     $ 13     $ (16 )   $ (33 )
 
The following table shows the effect (dollars in millions) of indicated changes in instantaneous shifts in equity market returns, interest rate scenarios and market implied volatilities:
 
   
Assumptions of Changes In
   
Hypothetical
 
   
Equity
 
Interest
 
Market
   
Impact to
 
   
Market
 
Rate
 
Implied
   
Net
 
   
Return
 
Yields
 
Volatilities
   
Income
 
Scenario 1
    -5 %
 -12.5 bps
    +1 %   $ (16 )
Scenario 2
    -10 %
 -25.0 bps
    +2 %     (45 )
Scenario 3
    -20 %
 -50.0 bps
    +4 %     (151 )
 
The actual effects of the results illustrated in the two tables above could vary significantly depending on a variety of factors, many of which are out of our control, and consideration should be given to the following:

·
The analysis is only valid as of June 30, 2010, due to changing market conditions, contract holder activity, hedge positions and other factors;
·
The analysis assumes instantaneous shifts in the capital market factors and no ability to rebalance hedge positions prior to the market changes;
·
The analysis assumes constant exchange rates and implied dividend yields;
·
Assumptions regarding shifts in the market factors, such as assuming parallel shifts in interest rate and implied volatility term structures, may be overly simplistic and not indicative of actual market behavior in stress scenarios;
·
It is very unlikely that one capital market sector (e.g., equity markets) will sustain such a large instantaneous movement without affecting other capital market sectors; and
·
The analysis assumes that there is no tracking or basis risk between the funds and/or indices affecting the GLBs and the instruments utilized to hedge these exposures.  Tracking or basis risk in the second quarter of 2010 increased earnings by $4 million.

Acquisitions and Dispositions

For information about acquisitions and divestitures, see Note 3 in this report and “Part I – Item 1. Business – Acquisitions and Dispositions,” “Part II – Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Acquisitions and Dispositions” and Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2009 Form 10-K.



 
68

 

RESULTS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS
 
Details underlying the consolidated results, deposits, net flows and account values (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Revenues
                                   
Insurance premiums
  $ 551     $ 542       2 %   $ 1,083     $ 1,050       3 %
Insurance fees
    793       691       15 %     1,581       1,392       14 %
Net investment income
    1,120       971       15 %     2,226       1,984       12 %
Realized gain (loss):
                                               
Total OTTI losses on securities
    (11 )     (221 )     95 %     (88 )     (431 )     80 %
Portion of loss recognized in OCI
    -       103       -100 %     24       192       -88 %
Net OTTI losses on securities recognized
                                               
in earnings
    (11 )     (118 )     91 %     (64 )     (239 )     73 %
Realized gain (loss), excluding OTTI
                                               
losses on securities
    16       (325 )     105 %     43       (400 )     111 %
Total realized gain (loss)
    5       (443 )     101 %     (21 )     (639 )     97 %
Amortization of deferred gain on business sold
                                               
through reinsurance
    19       18       6 %     38       37       3 %
Other revenues and fees
    117       104       13 %     225       191       18 %
Total revenues
    2,605       1,883       38 %     5,132       4,015       28 %
Benefits and Expenses
                                               
Interest credited
    613       607       1 %     1,231       1,234       0 %
Benefits
    839       575       46 %     1,618       1,495       8 %
Underwriting, acquisition, insurance and
                                               
other expenses
    754       694       9 %     1,467       1,338       10 %
Interest and debt expense
    69       61       13 %     137       61       125 %
Impairment of intangibles
    -       (1 )     100 %     -       603       -100 %
Total benefits and expenses
    2,275       1,936       18 %     4,453       4,731       -6 %
Income (loss) from continuing operations
                                               
before taxes
    330       (53 )  
NM
      679       (716 )     195 %
Federal income tax expense (benefit)
    78       (46 )     270 %     171       (122 )     240 %
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    252       (7 )  
NM
      508       (594 )     186 %
Income (loss) from discontinued
                                               
operations, net of federal income taxes
    3       (154 )     102 %     31       (146 )     121 %
Net income (loss)
  $ 255     $ (161 )     258 %   $ 539     $ (740 )     173 %






 
69

 
 
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Revenues
                                   
Operating revenues:
                                   
Retirement Solutions:
                                   
Annuities
  $ 645     $ 552       17 %   $ 1,275     $ 1,074       19 %
Defined Contribution
    245       224       9 %     486       441       10 %
Total Retirement Solutions
    890       776       15 %     1,761       1,515       16 %
Insurance Solutions:
                                               
Life Insurance
    1,135       1,003       13 %     2,263       2,078       9 %
Group Protection
    470       443       6 %     915       864       6 %
Total Insurance Solutions
    1,605       1,446       11 %     3,178       2,942       8 %
Other Operations
    121       115       5 %     245       222       10 %
Excluded realized gain (loss), pre-tax
    (11 )     (455 )     98 %     (52 )     (662 )     92 %
Amortization of deferred gain arising from
                                               
reserve changes on business sold through
                                               
reinsurance, pre-tax
    1       1       0 %     1       2       -50 %
Amortization income of DFEL associated with
                                               
benefit ratio unlocking, pre-tax
    (1 )     -    
NM
      (1 )     (4 )     75 %
Total revenues
  $ 2,605     $ 1,883       38 %   $ 5,132     $ 4,015       28 %


   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Net Income (Loss)
                                   
Income (loss) from operations:
                                   
Retirement Solutions:
                                   
Annuities
  $ 116     $ 65       78 %   $ 235     $ 139       69 %
Defined Contribution
    36       28       29 %     72       57       26 %
Total Retirement Solutions
    152       93       63 %     307       196       57 %
Insurance Solutions:
                                               
Life Insurance
    151       133       14 %     288       275       5 %
Group Protection
    23       34       -32 %     44       59       -25 %
Total Insurance Solutions
    174       167       4 %     332       334       -1 %
Other Operations
    (36 )     (53 )     32 %     (73 )     (160 )     54 %
Excluded realized gain (loss), after-tax
    (7 )     (296 )     98 %     (34 )     (432 )     92 %
Gain on early extinguishment of debt, after-tax
    -       -    
NM
      -       42       -100 %
Income from reserve changes (net of related
                                               
amortization) on business sold through
                                               
reinsurance, after-tax
    -       -    
NM
      1       -    
NM
 
Impairment of intangibles, after-tax
    -       1       -100 %     -       (603 )     100 %
Benefit ratio unlocking, after-tax
    (31 )     81    
NM
      (25 )     29    
NM
 
Income (loss) from continuing
                                               
operations, after-tax
    252       (7 )  
NM
      508       (594 )     186 %
Income (loss) from discontinued
                                               
operations, after-tax
    3       (154 )     102 %     31       (146 )     121 %
Net income (loss)
  $ 255     $ (161 )     258 %   $ 539     $ (740 )     173 %


 
70

 


   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Deposits
                                   
Retirement Solutions:
                                   
Annuities
  $ 2,823     $ 2,625       8 %   $ 5,099     $ 4,813       6 %
Defined Contribution
    1,374       1,130       22 %     2,681       2,691       0 %
Insurance Solutions - Life Insurance
    1,063       1,020       4 %     2,140       2,077       3 %
Total deposits
  $ 5,260     $ 4,775       10 %   $ 9,920     $ 9,581       4 %
                                                 
Net Flows
                                               
Retirement Solutions:
                                               
Annuities
  $ 1,153     $ 1,035       11 %   $ 1,728     $ 1,465       18 %
Defined Contribution
    182       256       -29 %     291       913       -68 %
Insurance Solutions - Life Insurance
    650       540       20 %     1,252       1,097       14 %
Total net flows
  $ 1,985     $ 1,831       8 %   $ 3,271     $ 3,475       -6 %
 
   
As of June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Account Values
                 
Retirement Solutions:
                 
Annuities
  $ 73,324     $ 63,054       16 %
Defined Contribution
    35,040       31,327       12 %
Insurance Solutions - Life Insurance
    31,965       30,622       4 %
Total account values
  $ 140,329     $ 125,003       12 %
 
Comparison of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2010 to 2009

Net income increased due primarily to the following:

·
Loss from discontinued operations of $154 million during the second quarter of 2009 driven primarily by the loss on disposition of our Lincoln UK segment partially offset by income from discontinued operations related to our former Lincoln UK and Investment Management segments (see Note 3 for more information on our discontinued operations).
·
Higher net investment income and relatively flat interest credited, excluding unlocking, driven primarily by:
 
§
Higher average fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable annuity contracts, attributable primarily to positive net flows, partially offset by transfers from fixed to variable since the second quarter of 2009;
 
§
More favorable investment income on surplus and alternative investments and higher prepayment and bond makewhole premiums (see “Additional Information” and “Consolidated Investments – Alternative Investments” and “Consolidated Investments – Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums” below for more information);
 
§
Higher invested assets driven primarily by favorable net flows on fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable, and to a lesser extent issuances of common stock and debt subsequent to June 30, 2009; and
 
§
Actions implemented to reduce interest crediting rates and holding lower cash balances in the second quarter of 2010 that increased our portfolio yields;
·
A decrease in realized losses on our AFS securities attributable primarily to lower OTTI due to overall improvement in the credit markets;
·
Higher earnings from our variable annuity and mutual fund (within our Defined Contribution segment) products as a result of increases in the equity markets;
·
The overall unfavorable GDB derivative results, excluding unlocking, during the second quarter of 2009 due primarily to sporadic large movements in rates and equities that caused non-linear changes in the liability relative to the derivatives utilized in the hedge program and by other items (see “Realized Gain (Loss)” below for more information on our GDB derivatives results);
·
The overall unfavorable GLB net derivatives results, excluding unlocking, during the second quarter of 2009 due primarily to increases in interest rates and our over-hedged position for a period of time in 2009 (see “Realized Gain (Loss)” below for more information on our GLB liability and derivative performance); and
·
A $5 million favorable prospective unlocking of DAC and VOBA during the second quarter of 2010 from assumption changes due to revising the estimate in our models for rider fees related to our annuity products with living benefit guarantees.

 
71

 

The increase in net income was partially offset by the following:

·
An increase in federal income tax expense due primarily to an increase in earnings, partially offset by favorable separate account DRD, foreign tax credit adjustments and other items that impacted the effective tax rate in the second quarter of 2010;
·
Higher benefits due primarily to an increase in the change in GDB reserves from an increase in our expected GDB benefit payments attributable primarily to the decrease in account values due to unfavorable equity markets, unfavorable claims incidence and termination experience in the long-term disability product line of our Group Protection segment and less favorable mortality in our Life Insurance segment;
·
A $21 million unfavorable retrospective unlocking of DAC, VOBA, DSI, DFEL and the reserves for life insurance and annuity products with living benefit and death benefit guarantees during the second quarter of 2010 compared to a $31 million favorable retrospective unlocking during the second quarter of 2009:
 
§
The unfavorable retrospective unlocking during the second quarter of 2010 was due primarily to the increase in the change in GDB reserves as a result of the impact of unfavorable equity markets on our variable account values partially offset by higher equity market performance, higher expense assessments and lower lapses than our model projections assumed; and
 
§
The favorable retrospective unlocking during second quarter of 2009 was due primarily to the decrease in the change in GDB reserves as a result of variable account growth;
§
Higher DAC and VOBA amortization, net of interest and excluding unlocking, due primarily to a higher amortization rate from the reduction of projected EGPs being applied to the higher actual gross profits in the second quarter of 2010, discussed below in “Retirement Solutions – Annuities – Additional Information”;
·
Higher underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses, excluding amortization of DAC and VOBA, due primarily to:
 
§
Higher account value-based trail commissions driven by positive net flows and the impact of favorable equity markets on account values;
 
§
Investments in strategic initiatives in the second quarter of 2010; and
 
§
Higher interest and debt expenses as a result of an increase in interest rates that affect our variable rate borrowings and higher average balances of outstanding debt in 2010; partially offset by
 
§
Restructuring charges related to expense reduction initiatives in the second quarter of 2009, and lower expenses attributable to our U.S. pension plans in the second quarter of 2010 as compared to the corresponding period in 2009; and
§
The unfavorable realized loss related to certain derivative instruments and trading securities during the second quarter of 2010 attributable primarily to spreads widening on corporate credit default swaps, which affected the derivative instruments related to our consolidated VIEs, partially offset by gains on our trading securities due to the decline in interest rates.

Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 to 2009

Net income increased due primarily to the following:

·
Impairment of goodwill in the first quarter of 2009 of $600 million for Retirement Solutions – Annuities due to continued market volatility, the corresponding increase in discount rates and lower annuity sales (see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” in our 2009 Form 10-K for additional information on our goodwill impairment); however, this non-cash impairment did not impact our liquidity;
·
Income from discontinued operations of $31 million during the first six months of 2010 as compared to a loss from discontinued operations of $146 million during the first six months of 2009 related to our former Lincoln UK and Investment Management segments (see Note 3 for more information on our discontinued operations);
·
Higher net investment income and relatively flat interest credited, excluding unlocking and the impact of the rescission of the reinsurance agreement in the first quarter of 2009 mentioned below, driven primarily by:
 
§
Higher average fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable annuity contracts, attributable primarily to positive net flows, partially offset by transfers from fixed to variable since the second quarter of 2009;
 
§
More favorable investment income on surplus and alternative investments and higher prepayment and bond makewhole premiums (see “Additional Information” and “Consolidated Investments – Alternative Investments” and “Consolidated Investments – Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums” below for more information);
 
§
Higher invested assets driven primarily by favorable net flows on fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable, and to a lesser extent issuances of common stock and debt subsequent to June 30, 2009; and
 
§
Actions implemented to reduce interest crediting rates and holding lower cash balances in the first six months of 2010 that increased our portfolio yields;
·
Higher earnings from our variable annuity and mutual fund (within our Defined Contribution segment) products as a result of increases in the equity markets;
·
A decrease in realized losses on our AFS securities attributable primarily to lower OTTI due to overall improvement in the credit markets;

 
72

 

·
A $5 million favorable retrospective unlocking of DAC, VOBA, DSI, DFEL and the reserves for life insurance and annuity products with living benefit and death benefit guarantees during the first six months of 2010 compared to a $103 million unfavorable retrospective unlocking during the first six months of 2009:
 
§
The favorable retrospective unlocking during the first six months of 2010 was due primarily to higher equity market performance, higher expense assessments and lower lapses than our model projections assumed partially offset by the increase in the change in GDB reserves as a result of the impact of unfavorable equity markets on our variable account values; and
 
§
The unfavorable retrospective unlocking during the first six months of 2009 was due primarily to the overall performance of our GLB derivative program (see “Realized Gain (Loss)” below for more information on our GLB derivative performance) and the impact of lower equity market performance and higher lapses than our model projections assumed, partially offset by the favorable change in the fair value of GDB derivatives;
·
The overall unfavorable GLB net derivatives results, excluding unlocking, during the first six months of 2009 due primarily to increases in interest rates and our over-hedged position for a period of time in 2009 (see “Realized Gain (Loss)” below for more information on our GLB liability and derivative performance);
·
The $64 million unfavorable impact from the rescission in the first quarter of 2009 of the reinsurance agreement on certain disability income business sold to Swiss Re, as discussed in “Results of Other Operations” below;
·
The overall unfavorable GDB derivative results, excluding unlocking, during the first six months of 2009 due primarily to sporadic large movements in rates and equities that caused non-linear changes in the liability relative to the derivatives utilized in the hedge program and by other items (see “Realized Gain (Loss)” below for more information on our GDB derivatives results); and
·
A $26 million favorable prospective unlocking of DAC and VOBA during the first six months of 2010 from assumption changes due to including an estimate in our models for rider fees related to our annuity products with living benefit guarantees.

The increase in net income was partially offset by the following:

·
Higher DAC and VOBA amortization, net of interest and excluding unlocking, due primarily to a higher amortization rate from the reduction of projected EGPs being applied to the higher actual gross profits in the first six months of 2010, discussed below in “Retirement Solutions – Annuities – Additional Information”;
·
An increase in federal income tax expense due primarily to an increase in earnings and favorable tax return true-ups in the first quarter of 2009 driven by the separate account DRD, foreign tax credit adjustments and other items;
·
Higher benefits, excluding the impact of the rescission of the reinsurance agreement in the first quarter of 2009 mentioned above, due primarily to an increase in the change in GDB reserves from an increase in our expected GDB benefit payments attributable primarily to the decrease in account values due to unfavorable equity markets, adverse mortality in our Life Insurance and Group Protection segments and unfavorable claims incidence and termination experience in the long-term disability product line of our Group Protection segment;
·
A $42 million gain in the first quarter of 2009 associated with the early extinguishment of long-term debt;
·
Higher underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses, excluding amortization of DAC and VOBA, due primarily to:
 
§
Higher account value-based trail commissions driven by positive net flows and the impact of favorable equity markets on account values;
 
§
Investments in strategic initiatives during the first six months of 2010; and
 
§
Higher interest and debt expenses as a result of an increase in interest rates that affect our variable rate borrowings and higher average balances of outstanding debt in 2010; partially offset by
 
§
Restructuring charges related to expense reduction initiatives in the first six months of 2009, and lower expenses attributable to our U.S. pension plans in the first six months of 2010 as compared to the corresponding period in 2009; and
·
The unfavorable realized loss related to certain derivative instruments and trading securities during the first six months of 2010 attributable primarily to spreads widening on corporate credit default swaps, which affected the derivative instruments related to our consolidated VIEs, partially offset by gains on our trading securities due to the decline in interest rates.

The foregoing items are discussed in further detail in results of operations by segment discussions and “Realized Gain (Loss)” below.  In addition, for a discussion of the earnings impact of the equity markets, see “Part I – Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Equity Market Risk – Impact of Equity Market Sensitivity.”



 
73

 

RESULTS OF RETIREMENT SOLUTIONS

The Retirement Solutions business provides its products through two segments:  Annuities and Defined Contribution.  The Retirement Solutions – Annuities segment provides tax-deferred investment growth and lifetime income opportunities for its clients by offering individual fixed annuities, including indexed annuities, and variable annuities.  The Retirement Solutions – Defined Contribution segment provides employer-sponsored variable and fixed annuities and mutual-fund based programs in the 401(k), 403(b) and 457 marketplaces.

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 2009 Form 10-K and “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above.

Retirement Solutions – Annuities

Income from Operations
 
Details underlying the results for Retirement Solutions – Annuities (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Operating Revenues
                                   
Insurance premiums (1)
  $ 10     $ 32       -69 %   $ 20     $ 60       -67 %
Insurance fees
    270       196       38 %     530       378       40 %
Net investment income
    272       244       11 %     542       484       12 %
Operating realized gain (loss)
    16       12       33 %     31       23       35 %
Other revenues and fees (2)
    77       68       13 %     152       129       18 %
Total operating revenues
    645       552       17 %     1,275       1,074       19 %
Operating Expenses
                                               
Interest credited
    177       170       4 %     353       334       6 %
Benefits
    41       67       -39 %     85       143       -41 %
Underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other
                                               
 expenses
    282       239       18 %     542       458       18 %
Total operating expenses
    500       476       5 %     980       935       5 %
Income from operations before taxes
    145       76       91 %     295       139       112 %
Federal income tax expense
    29       11       164 %     60       -    
NM
 
Income from operations
  $ 116     $ 65       78 %   $ 235     $ 139       69 %

(1)
Includes primarily our single premium immediate annuities, which have a corresponding offset in benefits for changes in reserves.
(2)
Consists primarily of broker-dealer earnings that are subject to market volatility.
 
Comparison of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2010 to 2009
 
Income from operations for this segment increased due primarily to the following:

·
Higher insurance fees driven primarily by higher average daily variable account values due to more favorable equity markets;
·
Higher net investment income, partially offset by higher interest credited, excluding unlocking, driven primarily by:
 
§
Higher average fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable annuity contracts, attributable primarily to positive net flows;
 
§
More favorable investment income on alternative investments within our surplus portfolio and higher prepayment and bond makewhole premiums (see “Additional Information”, “Consolidated Investments – Alternative Investments” and  “Consolidated Investments – Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums” below for more information); and
 
§
Holding lower cash balances in the second quarter of 2010 that increased our portfolio yields (see discussion in “Additional Information” below);

 
74

 


·
A $21 million favorable retrospective unlocking of DAC, VOBA, DSI, DFEL and reserves for our guarantee riders during the second quarter of 2010, partially offset by higher DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL amortization, net of interest and excluding unlocking, compared to a $5 million favorable retrospective unlocking during the second quarter of 2009:
 
§
The favorable retrospective unlocking during the second quarter of 2010 was due primarily to higher equity market performance, higher expense assessments and lower lapses than our model projections assumed;
 
§
The higher amortization during the second quarter of 2010 was due primarily to a higher amortization rate from the reduction of projected EGPs for this segment being applied to the higher actual gross profits in the second quarter of 2010 (discussed in “Additional Information” below), discussed below; and
 
§
The favorable retrospective unlocking during the second quarter of 2009 was due primarily to lower lapses and the impact of higher equity market performance than our model projections assumed;
·
A $5 million favorable prospective unlocking of DAC and VOBA during the second quarter of 2010 from assumption changes due to revising the estimate in our models for rider fees related to our annuity products with living benefit guarantees; and
·
Lower benefits from a decrease in the change in GDB reserves due to a decrease in our expected GDB benefit payments attributable primarily to the increase in account values above guaranteed levels due to the more favorable equity markets.

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

·
Higher underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses, excluding amortization of DAC and VOBA, due primarily to:
 
§
Higher account value-based trail commissions driven by the effect of favorable equity markets on account values and positive net flows; and
 
§
An increase in the allocation of overhead costs to this segment, discussed in “Additional Information” below; and
·
An increase in federal income tax expense due primarily to an increase in earnings.

Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 to 2009
 
Income from operations for this segment increased due primarily to the following:

·
Higher insurance fees driven primarily by higher average daily variable account values due to more favorable equity markets;
·
A $44 million favorable retrospective unlocking of DAC, VOBA, DSI, DFEL and reserves for our guarantee riders during the first six months of 2010, partially offset by higher DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL amortization, net of interest and excluding unlocking, compared to a $2 million unfavorable retrospective unlocking during the first six months of 2009:
 
§
The favorable retrospective unlocking during the first six months of 2010 was due primarily to higher equity market performance, higher expense assessments and lower lapses than our model projections assumed;
 
§
The higher amortization during the first six months of 2010 was due primarily to a higher amortization rate from the reduction of projected EGPs for this segment being applied to the higher actual gross profits (discussed in “Additional Information” below), discussed below; and
 
§
The unfavorable retrospective unlocking during the first six months of 2009 was due primarily to higher lapses, higher death benefit costs and the impact of lower equity market performance than our model projections assumed;
·
A $26 million favorable prospective unlocking of DAC and VOBA during the first six months of 2010 from assumption changes due to including an estimate in our models for rider fees related to our annuity products with living benefit guarantees;
·
Higher net investment income, partially offset by higher interest credited, excluding unlocking, driven primarily by:
 
§
Higher average fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable annuity contracts, attributable primarily to positive net flows;
 
§
More favorable investment income on alternative investments within our surplus portfolio and higher prepayment and bond makewhole premiums (see “Additional Information”, “Consolidated Investments – Alternative Investments” and  “Consolidated Investments – Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums” below for more information); and
 
§
Holding lower cash balances during the first six months of 2010 that increased our portfolio yields (see discussion in “Additional Information” below); and
·
Lower benefits from a decrease in the change in GDB reserves due to a decrease in our expected GDB benefit payments attributable primarily to the increase in account values above guaranteed levels due to the more favorable equity markets.

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

·
An increase in federal income tax expense due primarily to an increase in earnings and favorable tax return true-ups in the first quarter of 2009 driven by the separate account DRD, foreign tax credit adjustments and other items; and
·
Higher underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses, excluding amortization of DAC and VOBA, due primarily to:
 
§
Higher account value-based trail commissions driven by positive net flows; and
 
§
An increase in the allocation of overhead costs to this segment, discussed in “Additional Information” below.


 
75

 

Additional Information

We are in the process of completing a conversion of our actuarial valuation systems to a uniform valuation platform.  This conversion will harmonize methods and processes and involves an upgrade to a critical platform for our financial reporting and analysis capabilities.  As part of this conversion process, we are harmonizing assumptions and methods of calculations that exist between similar blocks of business within our actuarial models.  This exercise may result in material one-time gain and loss adjustments to our results of operations and may result in changes to earnings trends.  Although we expect some differences to emerge as a result of this exercise, based upon the current status of these efforts, we are not able to provide an estimate or range of the effects to our results of operations from any differences that may exist upon completion of the conversion.  We expect to substantially complete the most critical phases of the conversion by the end of 2010.  In the third quarter of each year, we also conduct our annual comprehensive review of the assumptions and models used for our estimates of future gross profits underlying the amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL and the calculations of the embedded derivatives and reserves for annuity products with living benefit and death benefit guarantees.  See “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL” in our 2009 Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of our prospective unlocking process.

Prior to the second quarter of 2009, the equity markets unfavorably impacted our average variable account values and the resulting fees earned on these accounts.  Additionally, weaker credit fundamentals negatively impacted our investment margins and increased our realized losses on investments, including OTTI.  As a result, we recorded prospective unlocking during the fourth quarter of 2008 related to our RTM process, as discussed in “Critical Accounting Policies – DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL” in our 2009 Form 10-K.  This RTM unlocking that occurred at an equity market trough had the impact of lowering the projected EGPs for this segment, thereby increasing our rate of amortization, results in higher DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL amortization and lower earnings for this segment.

Fixed annuity deposits moderated in the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first six months of 2010, as customers shifted deposits back into variable annuity products as equity markets improved, and we expect this trend will continue during the remainder of 2010 with improving economic conditions.

We allocated more overhead costs to this segment during the first six months of 2010, and this trend will continue for the remainder of 2010, as the disposal of our Lincoln UK and Investment Management businesses resulted in a reallocation of overhead expenses to our remaining businesses.  See “Acquisitions and Dispositions” in our 2009 Form 10-K for additional details.  Additionally, we plan to make strategic investments during 2010 that will also result in higher expenses.

During the volatile markets experienced in late 2008 and early 2009, we implemented a short-term liquidity strategy of maintaining higher cash balances that reduced our portfolio yields by 33 basis points and 37 basis points during the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively.  As we progressed through 2009, we reduced these excess cash balances, thereby increasing our portfolio yields; therefore, there was no impact to our portfolio yields for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

We experienced a favorable decline in expenses attributable to our U.S. pension plans during the first six months of 2010 when compared to the corresponding period in 2009, and this trend will continue for the remainder of 2010.  For additional information, see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans” in our 2009 Form 10-K.

New deposits are an important component of net flows and key to our efforts to grow our business.  Although deposits do not significantly impact 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 7% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to 8% and 9% for the corresponding periods in 2009.

See Note 8 for information on contractual guarantees to contract holders related to GDB features for our Retirement Solutions business.

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 and the interest rate risk due to falling interest rates, see “Part I – Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Business – Falling Rates” and “Part II – Item 1A. Risk Factors – 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.”


 
76

 

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)” below.

Insurance Fees

Details underlying insurance fees, account values and net flows (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Insurance Fees
                                   
Mortality, expense and other assessments
  $ 273     $ 200       37 %   $ 536     $ 381       41 %
Surrender charges
    10       9       11 %     20       18       11 %
DFEL:
                                               
Deferrals
    (20 )     (12 )     -67 %     (37 )     (23 )     -61 %
Retrospective unlocking
    1       -    
NM
      -       2       -100 %
Amortization, net of interest, excluding
                                               
unlocking
    6       (1 )  
NM
      11       -    
NM
 
Total insurance fees
  $ 270     $ 196       38 %   $ 530     $ 378       40 %
 
   
As of June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Account Values
                 
Variable portion of variable annuities
  $ 53,921     $ 45,523       18 %
Fixed portion of variable annuities
    3,896       3,899       0 %
Total variable annuities
    57,817       49,422       17 %
Fixed annuities, including indexed
    16,501       14,697       12 %
Fixed annuities ceded to reinsurers
    (994 )     (1,065 )     7 %
Total fixed annuities
    15,507       13,632       14 %
Total account values
  $ 73,324     $ 63,054       16 %
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Averages
                                   
Daily variable account values, excluding the fixed
                                   
 portion of variable
  $ 56,788     $ 43,828       30 %   $ 56,301     $ 41,445       36 %
                                                 
Daily S&P 500
    1,134.42       893.53       27 %     1,127.97       852.32       32 %


 
77

 


   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Net Flows on Account Values
                                   
Variable portion of variable annuity deposits
  $ 1,322     $ 851       55 %   $ 2,460     $ 1,678       47 %
Variable portion of variable annuity withdrawals
    (1,214 )     (944 )     -29 %     (2,429 )     (1,937 )     -25 %
Variable portion of variable annuity net flows
    108       (93 )     216 %     31       (259 )     112 %
Fixed portion of variable annuity deposits
    864       875       -1 %     1,591       1,634       -3 %
Fixed portion of variable annuity withdrawals
    (102 )     (131 )     22 %     (200 )     (285 )     30 %
Fixed portion of variable annuity net flows
    762       744       2 %     1,391       1,349       3 %
Total variable annuity deposits
    2,186       1,726       27 %     4,051       3,312       22 %
Total variable annuity withdrawals
    (1,316 )     (1,075 )     -22 %     (2,629 )     (2,222 )     -18 %
Total variable annuity net flows
    870       651       34 %     1,422       1,090       30 %
Fixed indexed annuity deposits
    522       651       -20 %     846       1,018       -17 %
Fixed indexed annuity withdrawals
    (111 )     (187 )     41 %     (235 )     (401 )     41 %
Fixed indexed annuity net flows
    411       464       -11 %     611       617       -1 %
Other fixed annuity deposits
    115       248       -54 %     202       483       -58 %
Other fixed annuity withdrawals
    (243 )     (328 )     26 %     (507 )     (725 )     30 %
Other fixed annuity net flows
    (128 )     (80 )     -60 %     (305 )     (242 )     -26 %
Total annuity deposits
    2,823       2,625       8 %     5,099       4,813       6 %
Total annuity withdrawals
    (1,670 )     (1,590 )     -5 %     (3,371 )     (3,348 )     -1 %
Total annuity net flows
  $ 1,153     $ 1,035       11 %   $ 1,728     $ 1,465       18 %
 
   
For the Three
     
For the Six
   
   
Months Ended
     
Months Ended
   
   
June 30,
     
June 30,
   
   
2010
   
2009
 
Change
 
2010
   
2009
 
Change
Other Changes to Account Values
                           
Interest credited and change in market value on
                           
variable, excluding the fixed portion of variable
  $ (4,802 )   $ 5,733  
NM
  $ (3,050 )   $ 3,717  
NM
Transfers to the variable portion of variable
                                   
annuity products from the fixed portion of
                                   
variable annuity products
    800       582  
37%
    1,572       1,140  
38%

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) – Operating Realized Gain (Loss) – GLB” below for discussion of these attributed fees.


 
78

 

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
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Net Investment Income
                                   
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real
                                   
estate and other, net of investment expenses
  $ 245     $ 235       4 %   $ 493     $ 458       8 %
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and
                                               
 bond makewhole premiums (1)
    4       -    
NM
      5       1    
NM
 
Alternative investments (2)
    -       -    
NM
      -       (1 )     100 %
Surplus investments (3)
    23       9       156 %     44       26       69 %
Total net investment income
  $ 272     $ 244       11 %   $ 542     $ 484       12 %
                                                 
Interest Credited
                                               
Amount provided to contract holders
  $ 183     $ 178       3 %   $ 365     $ 352       4 %
DSI deferrals
    (18 )     (19 )     5 %     (37 )     (34 )     -9 %
Interest credited before DSI amortization
    165       159       4 %     328       318       3 %
DSI amortization:
                                               
Retrospective unlocking
    (2 )     -    
NM
      (4 )     2    
NM
 
Amortization, excluding unlocking
    14       11       27 %     29       14       107 %
Total interest credited
  $ 177     $ 170       4 %   $ 353     $ 334       6 %

(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 impact 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
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
   
Basis
   
Months Ended
   
Basis
 
   
June 30,
   
Point
   
June 30,
   
Point
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Interest Rate Spread
                                   
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real
                                   
estate and other, net of investment expenses
    5.47 %     5.44 %     3       5.54 %     5.36 %     18  
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and
                                               
bond make whole premiums
    0.09 %     0.01 %     8       0.06 %     0.01 %     5  
Alternative investments
    0.00 %     0.00 %     -       0.00 %     -0.01 %     1  
Net investment income yield on reserves
    5.56 %     5.45 %     11       5.60 %     5.36 %     24  
Interest rate credited to contract holders
    3.51 %     3.81 %     (30 )     3.51 %     3.83 %     (32 )
Interest rate spread
    2.05 %     1.64 %     41       2.09 %     1.53 %     56  

Note:  The yields, rates and spreads above are calculated using whole dollars instead of dollars rounded to millions.

 
79

 



   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Other Information
                                   
Average invested assets on reserves
  $ 17,970     $ 17,249       4 %   $ 17,814     $ 17,082       4 %
Average fixed account values, including the
                                               
fixed portion of variable
    19,754       17,728       11 %     19,625       17,453       12 %
Transfers to the fixed portion of variable
                                               
annuity products from the variable portion of
                                               
variable annuity products
    (800 )     (582 )     -37 %     (1,572 )     (1,140 )     -38 %
Net flows for fixed annuities, including the
                                               
fixed portion of variable
    1,045       1,128       -7 %     1,697       1,724       -2 %

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.  The interest rate spread for this segment represents the excess of the yield on invested assets on reserves over the average crediting rate.  The yield on invested assets on reserves is calculated as net investment income, excluding the amounts attributable to our surplus investments, reverse repurchase agreement interest expense, inter-segment cash management program interest expense and interest on collateral divided by average invested assets on reserves.  The average invested assets on reserves is calculated based upon total invested assets, excluding hedge derivatives and collateral.  The average crediting rate is calculated as interest credited before DSI amortization, plus the immediate annuity reserve change (included within benefits) divided by the average fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable annuity contracts, net of coinsured account values.  Fixed account values reinsured under modified coinsurance agreements are included in account values for this calculation.  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 GDB and GLB benefit reserves and our expected costs associated with purchases of derivatives used to hedge our GDB benefit ratio unlocking.


 
80

 

Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and Other Expenses

Details underlying underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and
                                   
Other Expenses
                                   
Commissions
  $ 177     $ 157       13 %   $ 327     $ 282       16 %
General and administrative expenses
    82       76       8 %     160       148       8 %
Taxes, licenses and fees
    5       6       -17 %     13       10       30 %
Total expenses incurred, excluding
                                               
broker-dealer
    264       239       10 %     500       440       14 %
DAC and VOBA deferrals
    (164 )     (158 )     -4 %     (296 )     (286 )     -3 %
Total pre-broker-dealer expenses incurred,
                                               
excluding amortization, net of interest
    100       81       23 %     204       154       32 %
DAC and VOBA amortization, net of interest:
                                               
Prospective unlocking - assumption changes
    (8 )     -    
NM
      (39 )     -    
NM
 
Retrospective unlocking
    (20 )     (5 )  
NM
      (47 )     13    
NM
 
Amortization, net of interest, excluding
                                               
unlocking
    132       93       42 %     270       155       74 %
Broker-dealer expenses incurred
    78       70       11 %     154       136       13 %
Total underwriting, acquisition,
                                               
insurance and other expenses
  $ 282     $ 239       18 %   $ 542     $ 458       18 %
                                                 
DAC and VOBA Deferrals
                                               
As a percentage of sales/deposits
    5.8 %     6.0 %             5.8 %     5.9 %        

Commissions and other costs that vary with and are related primarily to the production of new business are deferred to the extent recoverable and are amortized over the lives of the contracts in relation to EGPs.  Certain of our commissions are expensed as incurred rather than deferred and amortized.  These non-deferred commissions, which include trail commissions that are based upon account values, were approximately $50 million and $103 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, compared to approximately $39 million and $71 million for the corresponding periods in 2009.

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.
 
The increase in amortization, net of interest, excluding unlocking, when comparing the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, to the corresponding periods in 2009, was due to a higher amortization rate from the reduction of projected EGPs for this segment being applied to the higher actual gross profits during the first six months of 2010 (discussed above in “Additional Information”).

During 2009, we had more unfavorable hedge program performance and securities impairments than our model projections assumed, which resulted in negative gross profits in total for certain cohorts.  As a result, the amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL for those cohorts during 2010 was significantly higher than it was in the previous year.

 

 
81

 

Retirement Solutions Defined Contribution

Income from Operations
 
Details underlying the results for Retirement Solutions – Defined Contribution (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Operating Revenues
                                   
Insurance fees
  $ 49     $ 45       9 %   $ 100     $ 85       18 %
Net investment income
    191       176       9 %     377       351       7 %
Other revenues and fees
    5       3       67 %     9       5       80 %
Total operating revenues
    245       224       9 %     486       441       10 %
Operating Expenses
                                               
Interest credited
    110       112       -2 %     220       223       -1 %
Benefits
    -       (1 )     100 %     2       (3 )     167 %
Underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other
                                               
expenses
    85       74       15 %     164       147       12 %
Total operating expenses
    195       185       5 %     386       367       5 %
Income from operations before taxes
    50       39       28 %     100       74       35 %
Federal income tax expense
    14       11       27 %     28       17       65 %
Income from operations
  $ 36     $ 28       29 %   $ 72     $ 57       26 %

Comparison of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2010 to 2009
 
Income from operations for this segment increased due primarily to the following:

·
Higher net investment income and relatively flat interest credited driven primarily by:
 
§
Higher average fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable annuity contracts, attributable primarily to transfers from variable to fixed since the second quarter of 2009;
 
§
Crediting rate actions implemented after the second quarter of 2009 that reduced interest crediting rates;
 
§
More favorable investment income on surplus and alternative investments due to the improvement in the capital markets (see “Consolidated Investments – Alternative Investments” below for additional information); and
 
§
Holding lower cash balances in the second quarter of 2010 that increased our portfolio yields (see discussion in “Additional Information” below); and
·
Higher insurance fees driven primarily by higher average daily variable account values due to more favorable equity markets, partially offset by an overall shift in business mix toward products with lower expense assessment rates.

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

·
Higher underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses, excluding unlocking, due primarily to investments in strategic initiatives in the second quarter of 2010, as discussed in “Additional Information” below; and
·
A $2 million unfavorable retrospective unlocking of DAC, VOBA, DSI and reserves for our guarantee riders in the second quarter of 2010 due primarily to higher lapses than our model projections assumed, partially offset by more favorable equity markets than our model projections assumed.

Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 to 2009
 
Income from operations for this segment increased due primarily to the following:

·
Higher net investment income and relatively flat interest credited driven primarily by:
 
§
Higher average fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable annuity contracts, attributable primarily to transfers from variable to fixed since the second quarter of 2009;
 
§
Crediting rate actions implemented after the second quarter of 2009 that reduced interest crediting rates;
 
§
More favorable investment income on surplus and alternative investments due to the improvement in the capital markets (see “Consolidated Investments – Alternative Investments” below for additional information); and
 
§
Holding lower cash balances during the first six months of 2010 that increased our portfolio yields (see discussion in “Additional Information” below); and

 
82

 

·
Higher insurance fees driven primarily by higher average daily variable account values due to more favorable equity markets, partially offset by an overall shift in business mix toward products with lower expense assessment rates.

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

·
An increase in federal income tax expense due primarily to an increase in earnings and favorable tax return true-ups during the first quarter of 2009 attributable to the separate account DRD and other items; and
·
Higher underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses, excluding unlocking, due primarily to:
 
§
Investments in strategic initiatives during the first six months of 2010, as discussed in “Additional Information” below;
 
§
Higher account value-based trail commissions driven by the effect of favorable equity markets on account values; and
 
§
Higher DAC and VOBA amortization during the first six months of 2010, net of interest, due to higher actual gross profits attributable primarily to favorable equity markets; and
·
A $3 million unfavorable retrospective unlocking of DAC, VOBA, DSI and reserves for our guarantee riders in the first six months of 2010 due primarily to higher lapses than our model projections assumed, partially offset by more favorable equity markets than our model projections assumed, compared to a $1 million unfavorable retrospective unlocking in the first six months of 2009 due primarily to less favorable equity markets than our model projections assumed.

Additional Information

We are in the process of completing a conversion of our actuarial valuation systems to a uniform valuation platform.  This conversion will harmonize methods and processes and involves an upgrade to a critical platform for our financial reporting and analysis capabilities.  As part of this conversion process, we are harmonizing assumptions and methods of calculations that exist between similar blocks of business within our actuarial models.  This exercise may result in material one-time gain and loss adjustments to our results of operations and may result in changes to earnings trends.  Although we expect some differences to emerge as a result of this exercise, based upon the current status of these efforts, we are not able to provide an estimate or range of the effects to our results of operations from any differences that may exist upon completion of the conversion.  We expect to substantially complete the most critical phases of the conversion by the end of 2010.  In the third quarter of each year, we also conduct our annual comprehensive review of the assumptions and models used for our estimates of future gross profits underlying the amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL and the calculations of the embedded derivatives and reserves for annuity products with living benefit and death benefit guarantees.  See “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL” in our 2009 Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of our prospective unlocking process.

We allocated more overhead costs to this segment during the first six months of 2010, and this trend will continue for the remainder of 2010, as the disposal of our Lincoln UK and Investment Management businesses resulted in a reallocation of overhead expenses to our remaining businesses.  See “Acquisitions and Dispositions” in our 2009 Form 10-K for additional details.  Additionally, we expect to continue making strategic investments during 2010 to improve our infrastructure and product offerings that will also result in higher expenses.

We experienced a favorable decline in expenses attributable to our U.S. pension plans during the first six months of 2010 when compared to the corresponding period in 2009, and this trend will continue for the remainder of 2010.  For additional information, see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans” in our 2009 Form 10-K.

During the volatile markets experienced in late 2008 and early 2009, we implemented a short term liquidity strategy of maintaining higher cash balances that reduced our portfolio yields by 18 basis points and 17 basis points during the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively.  As we progressed through 2009, we reduced these cash balances, thereby increasing our portfolio yields; therefore, there was no impact to our portfolio yields for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

New deposits are an important component of net flows and key to our efforts to grow our business.  Although deposits do not significantly impact 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 11% and 12% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to 11% for the corresponding periods in 2009.  Our lapse rate is negatively impacted 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 surrender charge period.  The proportion of these products to our total account values was 43% and 47% as of June 30, 2010 and 2009, 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.

 
83

 


See Note 8 for information on contractual guarantees to contract holders related to GDB features for our Retirement Solutions business.

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 and the interest rate risk due to falling interest rates, see “Part I – Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Business – Falling Rates” and “Part II – Item 1A. Risk Factors – 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.”

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.

Insurance Fees

Details underlying insurance fees, account values and net flows (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Insurance Fees
                                   
Annuity expense assessments
  $ 41     $ 39       5 %   $ 85     $ 73       16 %
Mutual fund fees
    7       5       40 %     13       10       30 %
Total expense assessments
    48       44       9 %     98       83       18 %
Surrender charges
    1       1       0 %     2       2       0 %
Total insurance fees
  $ 49     $ 45       9 %   $ 100     $ 85       18 %
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Averages
                                   
Daily variable account values, excluding the
                                   
 fixed portion of variable
  $ 12,855     $ 10,768       19 %   $ 12,882     $ 10,309       25 %
                                                 
Daily S&P 500
    1,134.42       893.53       27 %     1,127.97       852.32       32 %
 
   
As of June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Account Values
                 
Variable portion of variable annuities
  $ 11,967     $ 11,102       8 %
Fixed portion of variable annuities
    6,114       6,191       -1 %
Total variable annuities
    18,081       17,293       5 %
Fixed annuities
    6,466       5,879       10 %
Total annuities
    24,547       23,172       6 %
Mutual funds (1)
    10,493       8,155       29 %
Total annuities and mutual funds
  $ 35,040     $ 31,327       12 %
 
(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.

 
84

 



   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Account Value Roll Forward – By Product
                                   
Total Micro – Small Segment:
                                   
Balance as of beginning-of-period
  $ 5,966     $ 4,710       27 %   $ 5,863     $ 4,888       20 %
Gross deposits
    265       256       4 %     607       562       8 %
Withdrawals and deaths
    (334 )     (268 )     -25 %     (756 )     (534 )     -42 %
Net flows
    (69 )     (12 )  
NM
      (149 )     28    
NM
 
Transfers between fixed and variable accounts
    -       -    
NM
      (1 )     (4 )     75 %
Investment increase and change in market value
    (353 )     536    
NM
      (169 )     322    
NM
 
Balance as of end-of-period
  $ 5,544     $ 5,234       6 %   $ 5,544     $ 5,234       6 %
                                                 
Total Mid – Large Segment:
                                               
Balance as of beginning-of-period
  $ 14,767     $ 9,920       49 %   $ 13,653     $ 9,540       43 %
Gross deposits
    920       661       39 %     1,689       1,688       0 %
Withdrawals and deaths
    (455 )     (211 )  
NM
      (805 )     (445 )     -81 %
Net flows
    465       450       3 %     884       1,243       -29 %
Transfers between fixed and variable accounts
    12       10       20 %     18       (3 )  
NM
 
Other (1)
    -       -    
NM
      186       -    
NM
 
Investment increase and change in market value
    (860 )     1,045    
NM
      (357 )     645    
NM
 
Balance as of end-of-period
  $ 14,384     $ 11,425       26 %   $ 14,384     $ 11,425       26 %
                                                 
Total Multi-Fund® and Other Variable Annuities:
                                               
Balance as of beginning-of-period
  $ 15,966     $ 13,863       15 %   $ 15,786     $ 14,450       9 %
Gross deposits
    189       213       -11 %     385       441       -13 %
Withdrawals and deaths
    (403 )     (395 )     -2 %     (829 )     (799 )     -4 %
Net flows
    (214 )     (182 )     -18 %     (444 )     (358 )     -24 %
Transfers between fixed and variable accounts
    -       -    
NM
      -       1       -100 %
Investment increase and change in market value
    (640 )     987    
NM
      (230 )     575    
NM
 
Balance as of end-of-period
  $ 15,112     $ 14,668       3 %   $ 15,112     $ 14,668       3 %
                                                 
Total Annuities and Mutual Funds:
                                               
Balance as of beginning-of-period
  $ 36,699     $ 28,493       29 %   $ 35,302     $ 28,878       22 %
Gross deposits
    1,374       1,130       22 %     2,681       2,691       0 %
Withdrawals and deaths
    (1,192 )     (874 )     -36 %     (2,390 )     (1,778 )     -34 %
Net flows
    182       256       -29 %     291       913       -68 %
Transfers between fixed and variable accounts
    12       10       20 %     17       (6 )  
NM
 
Other (1)
    -       -    
NM
      186       -    
NM
 
Investment increase and change in market value
    (1,853 )     2,568    
NM
      (756 )     1,542    
NM
 
Balance as of end-of-period (2)
  $ 35,040     $ 31,327       12 %   $ 35,040     $ 31,327       12 %

(1)
Represents LINCOLN ALLIANCE® program assets held by a third-party trustee that were not previously included in the account value roll forward.  Effective January 1, 2010, all such LINCOLN ALLIANCE® program activity was included in the account value roll forward.
(2)
Includes mutual fund account values and other third-party trustee-held assets as mentioned in footnote one.  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.

 
85

 
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Net Flows on Account Values
                                   
Variable portion of variable annuity deposits
  $ 362     $ 368       -2 %   $ 803     $ 786       2 %
Variable portion of variable annuity withdrawals
    (527 )     (416 )     -27 %     (1,164 )     (828 )     -41 %
Variable portion of variable annuity net flows
    (165 )     (48 )  
NM
      (361 )     (42 )  
NM
 
Fixed portion of variable annuity deposits
    77       84       -8 %     157       177       -11 %
Fixed portion of variable annuity withdrawals
    (162 )     (194 )     16 %     (329 )     (392 )     16 %
Fixed portion of variable annuity net flows
    (85 )     (110 )     23 %     (172 )     (215 )     20 %
Total variable annuity deposits
    439       452       -3 %     960       963       0 %
Total variable annuity withdrawals
    (689 )     (610 )     -13 %     (1,493 )     (1,220 )     -22 %
Total variable annuity net flows
    (250 )     (158 )     -58 %     (533 )     (257 )  
NM
 
Fixed annuity deposits
    250       244       2 %     486       560       -13 %
Fixed annuity withdrawals
    (244 )     (132 )     -85 %     (418 )     (317 )     -32 %
Fixed annuity net flows
    6       112       -95 %     68       243       -72 %
Total annuity deposits
    689       696       -1 %     1,446       1,523       -5 %
Total annuity withdrawals
    (933 )     (742 )     -26 %     (1,911 )     (1,537 )     -24 %
Total annuity net flows
    (244 )     (46 )  
NM
      (465 )     (14 )  
NM
 
Mutual fund deposits
    685       434       58 %     1,235       1,168       6 %
Mutual fund withdrawals
    (259 )     (132 )     -96 %     (479 )     (241 )     -99 %
Mutual fund net flows
    426       302       41 %     756       927       -18 %
Total annuity and mutual fund deposits
    1,374       1,130       22 %     2,681       2,691       0 %
Total annuity and mutual fund
                                               
withdrawals
    (1,192 )     (874 )     -36 %     (2,390 )     (1,778 )     -34 %
Total annuity and mutual fund
                                               
net flows
  $ 182     $ 256       -29 %   $ 291     $ 913       -68 %
 
   
For the Three
     
For the Six
   
   
Months Ended
     
Months Ended
   
   
June 30,
     
June 30,
   
   
2010
   
2009
 
Change
 
2010
   
2009
 
Change
Other Changes to Account Values
                           
Interest credited and change in market value on
                           
variable, excluding the fixed portion of variable
  $ (1,071 )   $ 1,448  
NM
  $ (556 )   $ 741  
NM
Transfers to the variable portion of variable
                                   
annuity products from the fixed portion of
                                   
variable annuity products
    (47 )     (19 )
NM
    (69 )     (185 )
63%

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.

When comparing the six months ended June 30, 2010, to the corresponding period in 2009, our net flows declined due to higher withdrawals during 2010, which is in line with higher account values and relatively flat lapse rates.


 
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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
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Net Investment Income
                                   
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real
                                   
estate and other, net of investment expenses
  $ 176     $ 172       2 %   $ 349     $ 336       4 %
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and
                                               
bond makewhole premiums (1)
    1       -    
NM
      2       -    
NM
 
Alternative investments (2)
    1       (1 )     200 %     1       (1 )     200 %
Surplus investments (3)
    13       5       160 %     25       16       56 %
Total net investment income
  $ 191     $ 176       9 %   $ 377     $ 351       7 %
                                                 
Interest Credited
  $ 110     $ 112       -2 %   $ 220     $ 223       -1 %

(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 impact 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
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
   
Basis
   
Months Ended
   
Basis
 
   
June 30,
   
Point
   
June 30,
   
Point
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Interest Rate Spread
                                   
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real
                                   
estate and other, net of investment expenses
    5.73 %     5.79 %     (6 )     5.71 %     5.74 %     (3 )
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and
                                               
bond makewhole premiums
    0.04 %     0.01 %     3       0.03 %     0.01 %     2  
Alternative investments
    0.02 %     -0.02 %     4       0.02 %     -0.01 %     3  
Net investment income yield on reserves
    5.79 %     5.78 %     1       5.76 %     5.74 %     2  
Interest rate credited to contract holders
    3.51 %     3.73 %     (22 )     3.55 %     3.76 %     (21 )
Interest rate spread
    2.28 %     2.05 %     23       2.21 %     1.98 %     23  

Note:  The yields, rates and spreads above are calculated using whole dollars instead of dollars rounded to millions.

 
87

 

 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Other Information
                                   
Average invested assets on reserves
  $ 12,342     $ 11,787       5 %   $ 12,236     $ 11,695       5 %
Average fixed account values, including the
                                               
fixed portion of variable
    12,524       12,002       4 %     12,428       11,888       5 %
Transfers to the fixed portion of variable
                                               
annuity products from the variable portion of
                                               
variable annuity products
    47       19       147 %     69       185       -63 %
Net flows for fixed annuities, including the
                                               
fixed portion of variable
    (79 )     2    
NM
      (104 )     28    
NM
 

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.  The interest rate spread for this segment represents the excess of the yield on invested assets on reserves over the average crediting rate.  The yield on invested assets on reserves is calculated as net investment income, excluding the amounts attributable to our surplus investments, reverse repurchase agreement interest expense, inter-segment cash management program interest expense and interest on collateral, divided by average invested assets on reserves.  The average invested assets on reserves are calculated based upon total invested assets, excluding hedge derivatives.  The average crediting rate is calculated as interest credited before DSI amortization, divided by the average fixed account values, 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 GDB and GLB benefit reserves and our expected costs associated with purchases of derivatives used to hedge our GDB benefit ratio unlocking.


 
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Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and Other Expenses

Details underlying underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and
                                   
Other Expenses
                                   
Commissions
  $ 16     $ 16       0 %   $ 32     $ 30       7 %
General and administrative expenses
    58       54       7 %     111       107       4 %
Taxes, licenses and fees
    3       3       0 %     7       7       0 %
Total expenses incurred
    77       73       5 %     150       144       4 %
DAC deferrals
    (15 )     (17 )     12 %     (31 )     (35 )     11 %
Total expenses recognized before
                                               
amortization
    62       56       11 %     119       109       9 %
DAC and VOBA amortization, net of interest:
                                               
Retrospective unlocking
    4       -    
NM
      5       2       150 %
Amortization, net of interest, excluding
                                               
unlocking
    19       18       6 %     40       36       11 %
Total underwriting, acquisition, insurance
                                               
and other expenses
  $ 85     $ 74       15 %   $ 164     $ 147       12 %
                                                 
DAC Deferrals
                                               
As a percentage of annuity sales/deposits
    2.2 %     2.4 %             2.1 %     2.3 %        

Commissions and other costs that vary with and are related primarily to the sale of annuity contracts are deferred to the extent recoverable and are amortized over the lives of the contracts in relation to EGPs.  Certain of our commissions are expensed as incurred rather than deferred and amortized.  These non-deferred commissions, which include trail commissions that are based upon account values, were approximately $9 million and $19 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, compared to approximately $9 million and $15 million for the corresponding periods in 2009.  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.




 
89

 

RESULTS OF INSURANCE SOLUTIONS

The Insurance Solutions business provides its products through two segments:  Life Insurance and Group Protection.  The Insurance Solutions – Life Insurance segment offers wealth protection and transfer opportunities through term insurance, a linked-benefit product (which is a UL policy linked with riders that provide for long-term care costs) and both single and survivorship versions of UL and VUL, including corporate-owned UL and VUL (“COLI”) and bank-owned UL and VUL (“BOLI”) products.  The Insurance Solutions – Group Protection segment offers group life, disability and dental insurance to employers.

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 2009 Form 10-K and “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above.

Insurance Solutions – Life Insurance

Income from Operations
 
Details underlying the results for Insurance Solutions – Life Insurance (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Operating Revenues
                                   
Insurance premiums
  $ 108     $ 93       16 %   $ 220     $ 184       20 %
Insurance fees
    475       450       6 %     953       932       2 %
Net investment income
    545       453       20 %     1,075       951       13 %
Other revenues and fees
    7       7       0 %     15       11       36 %
Total operating revenues
    1,135       1,003       13 %     2,263       2,078       9 %
Operating Expenses
                                               
Interest credited
    299       291       3 %     596       594       0 %
Benefits
    374       323       16 %     773       678       14 %
Underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other
                                               
 expenses
    241       192       26 %     471       416       13 %
Total operating expenses
    914       806       13 %     1,840       1,688       9 %
Income from operations before taxes
    221       197       12 %     423       390       8 %
Federal income tax expense
    70       64       9 %     135       115       17 %
Income from operations
  $ 151     $ 133       14 %   $ 288     $ 275       5 %

Comparison of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2010 to 2009

Income from operations for this segment increased due primarily to higher net investment income and relatively flat interest credited attributable primarily to:

·
More favorable investment income on surplus and alternative investments and higher prepayment and bond makewhole premiums (see “Additional Information” and “Consolidated Investments – Alternative Investments” and “Consolidated Investments – Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums” below for more information);
·
Growth in business in force; and
·
Actions implemented to reduce interest crediting rates, discussed in “Additional Information” below.

The increase in income from operations was partially offset by:

·
An increase in benefits attributable primarily to:
 
§
Higher death claims; and
 
§
An increase in traditional product reserves due to the harmonization of actuarial methods; partially offset by
 
§
A decrease in secondary guarantee life insurance product reserves – reinsurance due to more favorable mortality;

 
90

 

·
An increase in DAC, VOBA, and DFEL amortization, excluding unlocking, partially offset by a $5 million favorable retrospective unlocking of DAC, VOBA, and DFEL during the second quarter of 2010 compared to a $5 million unfavorable retrospective unlocking during the second quarter of 2009:
 
§
The higher amortization during the second quarter of 2010 was due primarily to higher actual gross profits attributable primarily to higher investment income on alternative investments;
 
§
The favorable retrospective unlocking during the second quarter of 2010 was due primarily to higher actual gross profits compared to model assumptions; and
 
§
The unfavorable retrospective unlocking during the second quarter of 2009 was due primarily to lower investment income on alternative investments and prepayment and bond makewhole premiums than our model projections assumed, partially offset by lower death claims than our model projections assumed; and
·
The inter-company reinsurance arrangement effective December 31, 2009, discussed below, which resulted in reductions in net investment income and an increase in underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses.

Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 to 2009

Income from operations for this segment increased due primarily to higher net investment income and relatively flat interest credited attributable primarily to:

·
More favorable investment income on surplus and alternative investments and higher prepayment and bond makewhole premiums (see “Additional Information” and “Consolidated Investments – Alternative Investments” and “Consolidated Investments – Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums” below for more information);
·
Growth in business in force; and
·
Actions implemented to reduce interest crediting rates, discussed in “Additional Information” below.

The increase in income from operations was partially offset by:

·
An increase in benefits attributable primarily to:
 
§
Higher death claims; and
 
§
An increase in traditional product reserves due to the harmonization of certain processes; partially offset by
 
§
A decrease in secondary guarantee life insurance product reserves – reinsurance due to more favorable mortality;
·
An increase in DAC, VOBA, and DFEL amortization, excluding unlocking, partially offset by a $2 million unfavorable retrospective unlocking of DAC, VOBA, and DFEL during the first six months of 2010, compared to a $14 million unfavorable retrospective unlocking during the first six months of 2009:
 
§
The higher amortization during the first six months of 2010 was due primarily to higher actual gross profits attributable primarily to higher investment income on alternative investments;
 
§
The unfavorable retrospective unlocking during the first six months of 2010 was due primarily to lower persistency and lower investment income on alternative investments and prepayment and bond makewhole premiums than our model projections assumed, partially offset by lower lapse rates than our model projections assumed; and
 
§
The unfavorable retrospective unlocking during the first six months of 2009 was due primarily to lower investment income on alternative investments and prepayment and bond makewhole premiums and lower persistency than our model projections assumed, partially offset by lower death claims and lapse rates than our model projections assumed;
·
An increase in federal income tax expense due primarily to favorable tax return true-ups in the first quarter of 2009; and
·
The inter-company reinsurance arrangement effective December 31, 2009, discussed below, which resulted in reductions in net investment income and an increase in underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses.

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.

Strategies to Address Statutory Reserve Strain

Our insurance subsidiaries have statutory surplus and RBC levels above current regulatory required levels.  Products containing secondary guarantees require reserves calculated under Actuarial Guideline 38, or The Application of the Valuation of Life Insurance Policies Model Regulation (“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 further 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 as discussed further below.  Recently, we introduced new secondary guarantee UL products that achieve our return requirements without dependency on such reinsurance solutions.

 
91

 

During the second quarter of 2010, we replaced credit facilities that were to mature in the first quarter of 2011 and completed a $500 million 30-year senior notes offering, the proceeds of which will be used in the third quarter of 2010 as part of a long-term financing solution supporting UL business with secondary guarantees.  Included in the LOCs issued as of June 30, 2010, as discussed in Note 9 and reported in the credit facilities table below in “Review of Consolidated Financial Condition – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Financing Activities,” was approximately $1.2 billion of LOCs supporting the reinsurance obligations of our affiliated reinsurance subsidiaries on UL business with secondary guarantees.  The underlying credit facility matures in the second quarter of 2014; however, the LOCs may remain outstanding for one year following the maturity date.  LOCs and related capital market alternatives lower the capital impact of secondary guarantee UL products.  An inability to obtain the necessary LOC capacity or other capital market alternatives could impact 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 if such structures are not available.  See “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors – 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 2009 Form 10-K for further information on XXX reserves.  We expect to have an unfavorable impact to earnings beginning in the third quarter of 2010 related to fees associated with the long-term financing solution and LOCs issued under the new credit facility mentioned above of approximately $5 million per quarter.

As of December 31, 2009, we released approximately $400 million of capital that had previously supported statutory reserves related to our term products as a result of executing on a letter of credit transaction with a third party to support an inter-company  reinsurance arrangement.  As part of this transaction, we entered into a $550 million 10-year LOC facility related to this business.  For more information on this transaction, see our current report on Form 8-K filed on January 7, 2010.  This reduction in capital lowered the level of invested assets required to support the reserves of this business, which we transferred to Other Operations where we maintain capital not allocated to our businesses.  The cost of the LOC reflected in underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses, together with the impact of lower net investment income associated with assets shifting from backing reserves in this segment to surplus in Other Operations, has reduced this segment’s quarterly income from operations by approximately $7 million, $4 million of which is simply a shift to Other Operations due to the transfer of invested assets.

Additional Information

We are in the process of completing a conversion of our actuarial valuation systems to a uniform valuation platform.  This conversion will harmonize methods and processes and involves an upgrade to a critical platform for our financial reporting and analysis capabilities.  As part of this conversion process, we are harmonizing assumptions and methods of calculations that exist between similar blocks of business within our actuarial models.  This exercise may result in material one-time gain and loss adjustments to our results of operations and may result in changes to earnings trends.  Although we expect some differences to emerge as a result of this exercise, based upon the current status of these efforts, we are not able to provide an estimate or range of the effects to our results of operations from any differences that may exist upon completion of the conversion.  We expect to substantially complete the most critical phases of the conversion by the end of 2010.  In the third quarter of each year, we also conduct our annual comprehensive review of the assumptions and models used for our estimates of future gross profits underlying the amortization of DAC, VOBA and DFEL and secondary guarantee life insurance product reserves.  See “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL” in our 2009 Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of our prospective unlocking process.

We allocated more overhead costs to this segment during the first six months of 2010, and this trend will continue for the remainder of 2010, as the disposal of our Lincoln UK and Investment Management businesses resulted in a reallocation of overhead expenses to our remaining businesses.  See “Acquisitions and Dispositions” in our 2009 Form 10-K for additional details.  Additionally, we plan to make strategic investments during 2010 that will also result in higher expenses.

We experienced a favorable decline in expenses attributable to our U.S. pension plans during the first six months of 2010 when compared to the corresponding period of 2009, and this trend will continue for the remainder of 2010.  For additional information, see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans” in our 2009 Form 10-K.

Effective March 31, 2009, we transferred a closed block of business consisting of certain UL and VUL insurance products to a third party.  During the fourth quarter of 2009, one of our insurance subsidiaries executed a separate agreement whereby we assumed the mortality risk associated with this business on a yearly-renewable basis.  These transactions caused an approximate $6 million per quarter ongoing reduction in this segment’s income from operations as a result of reductions in insurance fees and net investment income, partially offset by reductions in interest credited and benefits.  The assumption of the mortality risk associated with this business on a yearly-renewable basis resulted in an approximate $13 million per quarter ongoing increase in insurance premiums offset by an increase in benefits.  The unfavorable impact to this segment’s income from operations was partially offset by an approximate $2 million per quarter ongoing increase to income from operations in Other Operations, as a result of having higher net investment income due to the transfer of invested assets from Insurance Solutions – Life Insurance.  The transfer of invested assets from this segment was attributable to a reduction in capital as a result of the transfer of this business to a third party.  These transactions caused a net $4 million per quarter ongoing reduction to our consolidated net income.  Effective April 1, 2010, the agreement to assume the mortality risk associated with this business on a yearly-renewable basis was terminated and

 
92

 

replaced with an inter-company reinsurance agreement that effectively resulted in no change to the impact to income from operations discussed above and removed any impacts to insurance premiums and benefits.

On January 1, 2010, we implemented a 20 basis point decrease in crediting rates on most interest-sensitive products not already at contractual guarantees, which reduced crediting rates by approximately 3 basis points.  On March 1, 2009, we implemented a 15 basis point decrease in crediting rates on most interest-sensitive products not already at contractual guarantees, which reduced crediting rates by approximately 5 basis points.

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 and the interest rate risk due to falling interest rates, see “Part I – Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Business – Falling Rates” and “Part II – Item 1A. Risk Factors – 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.”

Sales are not recorded as a component of revenues (other than for traditional products) and do not have a significant impact 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.
 
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.

Insurance Fees

Details underlying insurance fees, sales, net flows, account values and in-force face amount (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Insurance Fees
                                   
Mortality assessments
  $ 325     $ 320       2 %   $ 643     $ 664       -3 %
Expense assessments
    192       173       11 %     392       351       12 %
Surrender charges
    24       27       -11 %     55       48       15 %
DFEL:
                                               
Deferrals
    (114 )     (100 )     -14 %     (232 )     (197 )     -18 %
Amortization, net of interest:
                                               
Retrospective unlocking
    7       1    
NM
      15       4       275 %
Amortization, net of interest, excluding
                                               
unlocking
    41       29       41 %     80       62       29 %
Total insurance fees
  $ 475     $ 450       6 %   $ 953     $ 932       2 %


 
93

 
 

   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Sales by Product
                                   
UL:
                                   
Excluding MoneyGuard®
  $ 78     $ 85       -8 %   $ 168     $ 188       -11 %
MoneyGuard®
    23       14       64 %     41       25       64 %
Total UL
    101       99       2 %     209       213       -2 %
VUL
    10       7       43 %     17       16       6 %
COLI and BOLI
    10       5       100 %     17       16       6 %
Term/whole life
    19       13       46 %     39       24       63 %
Total sales
  $ 140     $ 124       13 %   $ 282     $ 269       5 %
                                                 
Net Flows
                                               
Deposits
  $ 1,063     $ 1,020       4 %   $ 2,140     $ 2,077       3 %
Withdrawals and deaths
    (413 )     (480 )     14 %     (888 )     (980 )     9 %
Net flows
  $ 650     $ 540       20 %   $ 1,252     $ 1,097       14 %
                                                 
Contract holder assessments
  $ 752     $ 733       3 %   $ 1,515     $ 1,458       4 %
 
   
As of June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Account Values
                 
UL
  $ 25,425     $ 24,502       4 %
VUL
    4,284       3,843       11 %
Interest-sensitive whole life
    2,256       2,277       -1 %
Total account values
  $ 31,965     $ 30,622       4 %
                         
In-Force Face Amount
                       
UL and other
  $ 293,013     $ 288,632       2 %
Term insurance
    259,450       238,901       9 %
Total in-force face amount
  $ 552,463     $ 527,533       5 %
 
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 whole life and interest-sensitive products.

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

·
UL (excluding linked-benefit products) and VUL (including COLI and 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
·
Whole life and term – 100% of first year paid premiums.

UL and VUL products with secondary guarantees represented approximately 40% of interest-sensitive life insurance in force as of June 30, 2010, and approximately 52% and 57% of sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively.  Actuarial Guideline 37, or Variable Life Reserves for Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits, and AG38 impose additional statutory reserve requirements for these products.


 
94

 

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
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Net Investment Income
                                   
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real
                                   
estate and other, net of investment expenses
  $ 500     $ 486       3 %   $ 988     $ 966       2 %
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and
                                               
bond makewhole premiums (1)
    6       4       50 %     10       4       150 %
Alternative investments (2)
    14       (49 )     129 %     27       (53 )     151 %
Surplus investments (3)
    25       12       108 %     50       34       47 %
Total net investment income
  $ 545     $ 453       20 %   $ 1,075     $ 951       13 %
                                                 
Interest Credited
  $ 299     $ 291       3 %   $ 596     $ 594       0 %

(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 impact 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
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
   
Basis
   
Months Ended
   
Basis
 
   
June 30,
   
Point
   
June 30,
   
Point
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
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
    5.91 %     6.03 %     (12 )     5.86 %     5.93 %     (7 )
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment and
                                               
bond makewhole premiums
    0.07 %     0.06 %     1       0.06 %     0.03 %     3  
Alternative investments
    0.19 %     -0.71 %     90       0.19 %     -0.38 %     57  
Net investment income yield on reserves
    6.17 %     5.38 %     79       6.11 %     5.58 %     53  
Interest rate credited to contract holders
    4.18 %     4.20 %     (2 )     4.18 %     4.22 %     (4 )
Interest rate spread
    1.99 %     1.18 %     81       1.93 %     1.36 %     57  
                                                 
Attributable to traditional products:
                                               
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real
                                               
estate and other, net of investment expenses
    6.11 %     5.96 %     15       6.18 %     5.98 %     20  
Commercial mortgage loan prepayment
                                               
   and bond makewhole premiums
    0.04 %     0.01 %     3       0.02 %     0.01 %     1  
Alternative investments
    0.01 %     -0.01 %     2       0.01 %     -0.01 %     2  
Net investment income yield on reserves
    6.16 %     5.96 %     20       6.21 %     5.98 %     23  


 
95

 



   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Averages
                                   
Attributable to interest-sensitive products:
                                   
Invested assets on reserves (1)
  $ 29,235     $ 27,432       7 %   $ 29,003     $ 27,715       5 %
Account values - universal and whole life (1)
    28,306       27,359       3 %     28,178       27,757       2 %
                                                 
Attributable to traditional products:
                                               
Invested assets on reserves
    4,469       4,863       -8 %     4,488       4,852       -8 %

(1)
We experienced declines in our average invested assets on reserves and account values attributable to interest-sensitive products subsequent to the transfer of certain life insurance policies to a third party, which reduced these balances by $927 million and $938 million, respectively, on March 31, 2009.
 
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 between what we earn on the underlying general account investments and what we credit to our contract holders’ accounts.  The interest rate spread for this segment represents the excess of the yield on invested assets on reserves over the average crediting rate on interest-sensitive products.  The yield on invested assets on reserves is calculated as net investment income, excluding amounts attributable to our surplus investments and reverse repurchase agreement interest expense, divided by average invested assets on reserves.  In addition, we exclude the impact of earnings from affordable housing tax credit securities, which is reflected as a reduction to federal income tax expense, from our spread calculations.  Traditional products use interest income to build the policy reserves.  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
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Benefits
                                   
Death claims direct and assumed
  $ 614     $ 537       14 %   $ 1,280     $ 1,101       16 %
Death claims ceded
    (284 )     (246 )     -15 %     (581 )     (488 )     -19 %
Reserves released on death
    (106 )     (92 )     -15 %     (223 )     (195 )     -14 %
Net death benefits
    224       199       13 %     476       418       14 %
Change in secondary guarantee life insurance
                                               
product reserves
    68       59       15 %     143       111       29 %
Change in secondary guarantee life insurance
                                               
product reserves - reinsurance
    (16 )     13    
NM
      (15 )     33    
NM
 
Other benefits (1)
    98       52       88 %     169       116       46 %
Total benefits
  $ 374     $ 323       16 %   $ 773     $ 678       14 %
Death claims per $1,000 of inforce
    1.63       1.51       8 %     1.74       1.56       12 %

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


 
96

 

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 impacted by changes in expected future trends of expense assessments causing unlocking adjustments to this liability similar to DAC, VOBA and DFEL.  Additionally, we establish a reserve for reinsurance margin (reinsurance premiums paid less death benefit recoveries) and amortize this margin over the life of the expected insurance assessments for certain blocks of secondary guarantee UL business.  When we experience unfavorable mortality, particularly on higher face amount claims, our reinsurance recoveries can increase significantly and are deferred, which reduces the amount by which the expense for the direct claims are offset by reinsurance.  The reinsurance on our secondary guarantee UL business is excess of loss reinsurance, and this block has a large range of face amounts, both of which contribute to volatility in our actual experience of reinsurance recoveries as compared to our expectations.

Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and Other Expenses

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


   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and
                                   
Other Expenses
                                   
Commissions
  $ 151     $ 142       6 %   $ 318     $ 319       0 %
General and administrative expenses
    112       110       2 %     219       220       0 %
Taxes, licenses and fees
    27       23       17 %     59       56       5 %
Total expenses incurred
    290       275       5 %     596       595       0 %
DAC and VOBA deferrals
    (208 )     (198 )     -5 %     (431 )     (422 )     -2 %
Total expenses recognized before amortization
    82       77       6 %     165       173       -5 %
DAC and VOBA amortization, net of interest:
                                               
Retrospective unlocking
    2       6       -67 %     17       18       -6 %
Amortization, net of interest, excluding
                                               
unlocking
    156       108       44 %     287       223       29 %
Other intangible amortization
    1       1       0 %     2       2       0 %
Total underwriting, acquisition, insurance
                                               
and other expenses
  $ 241     $ 192       26 %   $ 471     $ 416       13 %
DAC and VOBA Deferrals
                                               
As a percentage of sales
    148.6 %     159.7 %             152.8 %     156.9 %        

Commissions and other general and administrative expenses that vary with and are related primarily to the production of new 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.

When comparing DAC and VOBA deferrals as a percentage of sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, the decrease is primarily a result of incurred deferrable commissions declining at a rate higher than sales.

 

 
97

 

Insurance Solutions Group Protection

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


   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Operating Revenues
                                   
Insurance premiums
  $ 434     $ 413       5 %   $ 843     $ 803       5 %
Net investment income
    34       28       21 %     68       58       17 %
Other revenues and fees
    2       2       0 %     4       3       33 %
Total operating revenues
    470       443       6 %     915       864       6 %
Operating Expenses
                                               
Interest credited
    -       1       -100 %     1       1       0 %
Benefits
    334       292       14 %     645       575       12 %
Underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other
                                               
expenses
    101       98       3 %     202       197       3 %
Total operating expenses
    435       391       11 %     848       773       10 %
Income from operations before taxes
    35       52       -33 %     67       91       -26 %
Federal income tax expense
    12       18       -33 %     23       32       -28 %
Income from operations
  $ 23     $ 34       -32 %   $ 44     $ 59       -25 %
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Income from Operations by Product Line
                                   
Life
  $ 16     $ 13       23 %   $ 19     $ 13       46 %
Disability
    7       20       -65 %     25       46       -46 %
Dental
    (1 )     (1 )     0 %     (3 )     (3 )     0 %
Total non-medical
    22       32       -31 %     41       56       -27 %
Medical
    1       2       -50 %     3       3       0 %
Total income from operations
  $ 23     $ 34       -32 %   $ 44     $ 59       -25 %
 
Comparison of the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 to 2009

Income from operations for this segment decreased due to unfavorable total non-medical loss ratio experience in the second quarter of 2010 that was above the high end of our historical expected range of 71% to 74% attributable primarily to unfavorable claims incidence and termination experience on our long-term disability business.

When comparing the six months ended June 30, 2010 to 2009, the decrease in income from operations was also attributable to unfavorable total non-medical loss ratio experience due to unfavorable claims incidence and termination experience, mentioned above, and to adverse mortality experience in the first quarter of 2010.

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

·
Growth in insurance premiums driven by normal, organic business growth in our non-medical products and strong case persistency; and
·
Higher net investment income driven by an increase in business and more favorable results from our investment income on alternative investments (see “Consolidated Investments – Alternative Investments” below for additional information).


 
98

 

Additional Information

During the second quarter of 2010, our non-medical loss ratio came in at 76%, above what we experienced last quarter and above our long-term expectation in the low 70% range.  During the first quarter of 2010, we experienced significantly unfavorable life loss ratios due primarily to adverse mortality experience, which improved in the second quarter of 2010 to more expected levels.  Also during the second quarter of 2010, we experienced significantly unfavorable long-term disability loss ratios due primarily to unfavorable incidence, and to a lesser extent termination experience.  We attribute the unfavorable claims incidence experience to be related to the increasing trend in submitted long-term disability claims, specifically in the healthcare, education and financial sectors, which we expect will continue in the short term.  We expect loss ratios to recover over time but are likely to remain elevated for the remainder of the year. Management focuses on trends in loss ratios to compare actual experience with pricing expectations because group-underwriting risks change over time.  We expect normal fluctuations in our composite non-medical loss ratios of this segment, as claim experience is inherently uncertain.

During the first six months of 2009, we experienced exceptional short- and long-term disability loss ratios due primarily to favorable claims incidence and termination experience.  In addition, we experienced significantly unfavorable life loss ratios in the first six months of 2009 due primarily to adverse mortality experience, the downward effects of whole-case pricing on premium rates and a one-time adjustment to benefits of $3 million relating to unfavorable waiver claim reserves.

We expect to review the discount rate assumptions associated with our long-term disability claim reserves during the third quarter of 2010.  For more information on the effects of current interest rates on our long-term disability claim reserves, see “Part I – Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Business – Falling Rates.”

We allocated more overhead costs to this segment during the first six months of 2010, and this trend will continue for the remainder of 2010, as the disposal of our Lincoln UK and Investment Management businesses resulted in a reallocation of overhead expenses to our remaining businesses.  See “Acquisitions and Dispositions” in our 2009 Form 10-K for additional details.  Additionally, we plan to make strategic investments during 2010 that will also result in higher expenses.

We experienced a favorable decline in expenses attributable to our U.S. pension plans during the first six months of 2010 when compared to the corresponding period in 2009, and this trend will continue for the remainder of 2010.  For additional information, see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans” in our 2009 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.

Insurance Premiums

Details underlying insurance premiums (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Insurance Premiums by Product Line
                                   
Life
  $ 160     $ 147       9 %   $ 317     $ 290       9 %
Disability
    182       171       6 %     360       345       4 %
Dental
    41       37       11 %     80       75       7 %
Total non-medical
    383       355       8 %     757       710       7 %
Medical
    51       58       -12 %     86       93       -8 %
Total insurance premiums
  $ 434     $ 413       5 %   $ 843     $ 803       5 %
                                                 
Sales
  $ 65     $ 60       8 %   $ 128     $ 114       12 %
 
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.

 
99

 


The business represented as “medical” consists primarily of our non-core EXEC-U-CARE® product.  This product provides an insured medical expense reimbursement vehicle to executives for non-covered health plan costs.  This product produces significant revenues and benefits expenses for this segment but only a limited amount of income.  Discontinuance of this product would significantly impact segment revenues, but not income from operations.

Net Investment Income

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

Benefits and Interest Credited

Details underlying benefits and interest credited (in millions) and loss ratios by product line were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Benefits and Interest Credited by Product Line
                                   
Life
  $ 112     $ 104       8 %   $ 241     $ 220       10 %
Disability
    143       107       34 %     260       210       24 %
Dental
    34       32       6 %     69       64       8 %
Total non-medical
    289       243       19 %     570       494       15 %
Medical
    45       50       -10 %     76       82       -7 %
Total benefits and interest credited
  $ 334     $ 293       14 %   $ 646     $ 576       12 %
                                                 
Loss Ratios by Product Line
                                               
Life
    69.7 %     70.3 %             76.0 %     75.8 %        
Disability
    78.6 %     62.4 %             72.1 %     60.8 %        
Dental
    84.4 %     86.1 %             85.3 %     85.2 %        
Total non-medical
    75.5 %     68.2 %             75.1 %     69.5 %        
Medical
    89.0 %     88.1 %             88.5 %     88.4 %        
 
Note:  Loss ratios presented above are calculated using whole dollars instead of dollars rounded to millions.


 
100

 
 
Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance and Other Expenses

Details underlying underwriting, acquisition, insurance and other expenses (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Underwriting, Acquisition, Insurance
                                   
and Other Expenses
                                   
Commissions
  $ 47     $ 44       7 %   $ 93     $ 88       6 %
General and administrative expenses
    49       48       2 %     96       96       0 %
Taxes, licenses and fees
    8       7       14 %     19       18       6 %
Total expenses incurred
    104       99       5 %     208       202       3 %
DAC and VOBA deferrals
    (14 )     (12 )     -17 %     (28 )     (27 )     -4 %
Total expenses recognized before
                                               
amortization
    90       87       3 %     180       175       3 %
DAC and VOBA amortization, net of interest
    11       11       0 %     22       22       0 %
Total underwriting, acquisition,
                                               
insurance and other expenses
  $ 101     $ 98       3 %   $ 202     $ 197       3 %
DAC and VOBA Deferrals
                                               
As a percentage of insurance premiums
    3.2 %     2.9 %             3.3 %     3.4 %        
 
Expenses, excluding broker commissions, that vary with and are related primarily to the production of new 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.




 
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RESULTS OF OTHER OPERATIONS

Other Operations includes investments related to the excess capital in our insurance subsidiaries; investments in media properties and other corporate investments; benefit plan net liability; the unamortized deferred gain on indemnity reinsurance related to the sale of reinsurance to Swiss Re in 2001; the results of certain disability income business due to the rescission of a reinsurance agreement with Swiss Re; the Institutional Pension business, which is a closed-block of pension business, the majority of which was sold on a group annuity basis, and is currently in run-off; and debt costs.  We are actively managing our remaining radio station clusters to maximize performance and future value.

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 2009 Form 10-K and “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above.

Loss from Operations
 
Details underlying the results for Other Operations (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Operating Revenues
                                   
Insurance premiums
  $ -     $ 3       -100 %   $ -     $ 3       -100 %
Net investment income
    78       70       11 %     163       139       17 %
Amortization of deferred gain on business
                                               
 sold through reinsurance
    18       18       0 %     36       37       -3 %
Media revenues (net)
    18       19       -5 %     34       34       0 %
Other revenues and fees
    7       5       40 %     12       9       33 %
Total operating revenues
    121       115       5 %     245       222       10 %
Operating Expenses
                                               
Interest credited
    28       31       -10 %     62       82       -24 %
Benefits
    35       36       -3 %     69       143       -52 %
Media expenses
    14       13       8 %     28       26       8 %
Other expenses
    37       61       -39 %     66       97       -32 %
Interest and debt expense
    69       61       13 %     137       126       9 %
Total operating expenses
    183       202       -9 %     362       474       -24 %
Loss from operations before taxes
    (62 )     (87 )     29 %     (117 )     (252 )     54 %
Federal income tax benefit
    (26 )     (34 )     24 %     (44 )     (92 )     52 %
Loss from operations
  $ (36 )   $ (53 )     32 %   $ (73 )   $ (160 )     54 %

Comparison of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2010 to 2009

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

·
Lower other expenses due primarily to restructuring charges for expense initiatives in the second quarter of 2009; and
·
Higher net investment income attributable primarily to higher invested assets driven by distributable earnings received from our insurance segments, issuances of common stock and preferred stock and proceeds from the sale of Delaware.

The decrease in loss from operations was partially offset by higher interest and debt expenses as a result of an increase in interest rates that affect our variable rate borrowings and higher average balances of outstanding debt in 2010.

Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 to 2009

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

·
The $64 million unfavorable impact in the first quarter of 2009 of the rescission of the reinsurance agreement on certain disability income business sold to Swiss Re, which resulted in pre-tax increases in benefits of $78 million, interest credited of $15 million and other expenses of $5 million, partially offset by a $34 million tax benefit;

 
102

 


·
Lower other expenses due primarily to:
 
§
Restructuring charges for expense initiatives in the first six months of 2009; and
 
§
Higher merger-related expenses in the first six months of 2009; and
·
Higher net investment income related primarily to higher invested assets driven by distributable earnings received from our insurance segments, issuances of common stock and preferred stock and proceeds from the sale of Delaware.

The decrease in loss from operations was partially offset by higher interest and debt expenses as a result of an increase in interest rates that affect our variable rate borrowings and higher average balances of outstanding debt in 2010.

Additional Information

We expect a lower loss from operations for Other Operations in 2010 than was experienced in 2009.  The expected decrease is attributable primarily to the following:

·
Lower expenses attributable to the completion of our expense reduction initiatives in 2009 (see “Results of Other Operations – Additional Information” in our 2009 Form 10-K for details), partially offset by expected increases in branding costs and investments in strategic initiatives and higher allocated overhead costs during 2010, as the disposal of our Lincoln UK and Investment Management businesses resulted in a reallocation of overhead expenses to our remaining businesses (see “Acquisitions and Dispositions” in our 2009 Form 10-K for additional details);
·
Higher investment income from an increase in the distributable earnings that will be received from our insurance segments due to expected less challenging economic conditions; and
·
The unfavorable impact of the rescission in 2009 of the reinsurance agreement with Swiss Re for disability income business that we do not expect to recur.

The inclusion of run-off disability income business results within Other Operations due to the rescission of the Swiss Re reinsurance agreement mentioned above may create volatility in earnings going forward.

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.

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 impacted.  In addition, as discussed below in “Review of Consolidated Financial Condition –
Alternative Sources of Liquidity,” we maintain an inter-segment cash management program where certain subsidiaries can borrow from or lend money to the holding company to meet short-term borrowing needs.  The inter-segment cash management program affects net investment income for Other Operations, as all inter-segment eliminations are reported within Other Operations.

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 impact 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 resulting in some of the business still flowing through 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 impact 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.


 
103

 

Other Expenses

Details underlying other expenses (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Other Expenses
                                   
Merger-related expenses
  $ 2     $ 4       -50 %   $ 4     $ 11       -64 %
Restructuring charges for expense initiatives
    -       29       -100 %     -       34       -100 %
Branding
    8       4       100 %     13       9       44 %
Retirement Income Security Ventures
    3       2       50 %     5       4       25 %
Taxes, licenses and fees
    (2 )     1    
NM
      (1 )     2    
NM
 
Other
    26       21       24 %     45       37       22 %
Total other expenses
  $ 37     $ 61       -39 %   $ 66     $ 97       -32 %

Other in the table above includes expenses that are corporate in nature including charitable contributions, certain litigation reserves, amortization of media intangible assets with a definite life, other expenses not allocated to our business segments and inter-segment expense eliminations.

Merger-related expenses were the result of actions undertaken by us to eliminate duplicate operations and functions as a result of the Jefferson-Pilot merger along with costs related to the implementation of our new unified product portfolio and other initiatives.  These actions were substantially completed during 2009, as we only expect to incur $9 million, pre-tax, during 2010.  As of December 31, 2009, our cumulative integration expense was approximately $225 million, pre-tax, which excluded amounts capitalized or recorded as goodwill.

Starting in December 2008, we implemented a restructuring plan in response to the economic downturn and sustained market volatility, which focused on reducing expenses.  The expenses associated with this initiative are reported in restructuring charges for expense initiatives above.  These actions were completed during 2009.  Our cumulative pre-tax charges amounted to $42 million for severance, benefits and related costs associated with the plan for workforce reduction and other restructuring actions.

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.


  

 
104

 

REALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

Details underlying realized gain (loss), after-DAC (1) (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
Pre-Tax
 
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Operating realized gain (loss):
                                   
Indexed annuity net derivatives
                                   
results
  $ -     $ -    
NM
    $ -     $ -    
NM
 
GLB
    16       12       33 %     31       23       35 %
Total operating realized
                                               
gain (loss)
    16       12       33 %     31       23       35 %
Realized gain (loss) related to
                                               
certain investments
    (5 )     (154 )     97 %     (60 )     (288 )     79 %
Realized gain (loss) related to
                                               
certain investments, including
                                               
those associated with our
                                               
consolidated VIEs, and trading
                                               
securities
    (46 )     (13 )  
NM
      (33 )     (8 )  
NM
 
GLB net derivatives results
    11       (151 )     107 %     23       (276 )     108 %
GDB derivatives results
    26       (141 )     118 %     13       (95 )     114 %
Indexed annuity forward-starting
                                               
option
    3       3       0 %     5       4       25 %
Realized gain (loss) on sale of
                                               
subsidiaries/businesses
    -       1       -100 %     -       1       -100 %
Total excluded realized
                                               
gain (loss)
    (11 )     (455 )     98 %     (52 )     (662 )     92 %
Total realized gain (loss)
  $ 5     $ (443 )     101 %   $ (21 )   $ (639 )     97 %
 
(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 “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2009 Form 10-K and “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above.

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

Comparison of the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 to 2009

Our realized loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, decreased significantly as compared to our experience throughout 2009 due primarily to the decline in OTTI attributable primarily to general improvement in the credit markets and more favorable hedge program performance, partially offset by losses on derivative instruments related to our consolidated VIEs.

Our GLB net derivatives results and GDB derivative results during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, were modestly favorable as compared to unfavorable during the corresponding periods of 2009.  The GLB net derivatives results during the three months ended June 30, 2010, were significantly affected by market volatility as we maintained an under-hedged position during the second quarter of 2010, but the under-hedged position was almost entirely offset by movement in the NPR.  The unfavorable GLB net derivatives results during 2009 were attributable primarily to increases in interest rates and our over-hedged position for a period of time in 2009.  The unfavorable GDB derivative results during 2009 were driven primarily by sporadic large movements in rates and equities that caused non-linear changes in the liability relative to the derivatives utilized in the hedge program and by other items.

The unfavorable realized loss related to certain derivative instruments and trading securities during 2010 was attributable primarily to spreads widening on corporate credit default swaps, which affected the derivative instruments related to our consolidated VIEs, partially offset by gains on our trading securities due to the decline in interest rates.

 
105

 


For information regarding realized gains (losses) related to certain investments, see “Consolidated Investments – Realized Gain (Loss) Related to Certain Investments” below.

Operating Realized Gain (Loss)

Details underlying operating realized gain (loss) (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
                                     
Indexed Annuity Net Derivatives Results
 
Change in fair value of S&P 500
                                   
call options
  $ 78     $ (19 )  
NM
    $ 43     $ (2 )  
NM
 
Change in fair value of embedded
                                           
derivatives
    (79 )     20    
NM
      (43 )     2    
NM
 
Associated amortization income
                                           
(expense) of DAC, VOBA, DSI
                                           
 and DFEL
    1       (1 )     200 %     -       -    
NM
 
Total indexed annuity net
                                             
derivatives results
    -       -    
NM
      -       -    
NM
 
                                               
GLB
                                             
Pre-DAC (1) amount
    24       17       41 %     47       33       42 %
Associated amortization income of
                                               
DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL:
                                               
Retrospective unlocking (2)
    8       3       167 %     16       9       78 %
Amortization, excluding
                                               
unlocking
    (16 )     (8 )     -100 %     (32 )     (19 )     -68 %
Total GLB
    16       12       33 %     31       23       35 %
Total Operating Realized
                                               
Gain (Loss)
  $ 16     $ 12       33 %   $ 31     $ 23       35 %
 
(1)
DAC refers to the associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL.
(2)
Related primarily to the emergence of gross profits.

Operating realized gain (loss) includes the following:

Indexed Annuity Net Derivative Results

Indexed annuity net derivatives results represent 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.  The change in the fair value of the liability for the embedded derivative represents the amount that is credited to the indexed annuity contract.

GLB

Our GWB, GIB and 4LATER® features have elements of both benefit reserves and embedded derivative reserves.  We calculate the value of the embedded derivative reserve and the benefit reserve based on the specific characteristics of each GLB feature.  For our GLBs that meet the definition of an embedded derivative under the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB ASC, we record them at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in realized gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).  In bifurcating the embedded derivative, we attribute to the embedded derivative the portion of total fees collected from the contract holder that relates to the GLB riders (the “attributed fees”).  These attributed fees represent the present value of future claims expected to be paid for the GLB at the inception of the contract (the “net valuation premium”) plus a margin that a theoretical market participant would include for risk/profit (the “risk/profit margin”).


 
106

 

The NPR factors affect the discount rate used in the calculation of the GLB embedded derivative reserve.  Our methodology for calculating the NPR component of the embedded derivative reserve utilizes an extrapolated 30-year NPR spread curve applied to a series of expected cash flows over the expected life of the embedded derivative.  Our cash flows consist of both expected fees to be received from contract holders and benefits to be paid, and these cash flows are different on a pre- and post- NPR basis.  We utilize a model based on our holding company’s credit default swap (“CDS”) spreads adjusted for items, such as the liquidity of our holding company CDS.  Because the guaranteed benefit liabilities are contained within our insurance subsidiaries, we apply items, such as the impact of our insurance subsidiaries’ claims-paying ratings compared to holding company credit risk and the over-collateralization of insurance liabilities, in order to determine factors that are representative of a theoretical market participant’s view of the NPR of the specific liability within our insurance subsidiaries.

Details underlying the NPR component and associated impact to our GLB embedded derivative reserves (dollars in millions) were as follows:
 
   
As of
   
As of
   
As of
   
As of
   
As of
 
   
June 30,
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2010
   
2009
   
2009
   
2009
 
10-year CDS spread
    2.94 %     1.64 %     1.68 %     2.49 %     5.52 %
NPR factor related
                                       
to 10-year CDS spread
    0.40 %     0.11 %     0.08 %     0.20 %     0.82 %
Unadjusted embedded
                                       
derivative liability
  $ 1,786     $ 461     $ 643     $ 1,014     $ 1,197  
 
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 June 30, 2010, 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 impact to net income of approximately $184 million, pre-DAC* and tax.  Alternatively, if the NPR factors were 20 basis points higher along all points on the spread curve as of June 30, 2010, then there would have been a favorable impact to net income of approximately $75 million to $100 million, pre-DAC* and tax.  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 CDS spreads and the slope of the CDS spread term structure.

*
DAC refers to the associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL.

We include the risk/profit margin portion of the GLB attributed rider fees in operating realized gain (loss) and include the net valuation premium of the GLB attributed rider fees in excluded realized gain (loss).  For our Retirement Solutions – Annuities and Retirement Solutions – Defined Contribution segments, the excess of total fees collected from the contract holders over the GLB attributed rider fees is reported in insurance fees.

Realized Gain (Loss) Related to Certain Investments

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

Realized Gain (Loss) Related to Certain Derivative Instruments, Including Those Associated With Our Consolidated VIEs, and Trading Securities

Realized gain (loss) related to certain derivative instruments, including those associated with our consolidated VIEs and trading securities represents changes in the fair values of certain derivative investments (including the credit default swaps and contingent forwards associated with 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.

See Note 4 for information about our consolidated VIEs.

 
107

 

GLB Net Derivatives Results and GDB Derivatives Results

Details underlying GLB net derivatives results and GDB derivative results (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
                                     
GLB Net Derivatives Results
                                   
Net valuation premium, net of
                                   
reinsurance
  $ 28     $ 27       4 %   $ 54     $ 50       8 %
Change in reserves hedged
    (1,402 )     1,977    
NM
      (1,212 )     2,211    
NM
 
Change in market value of
                                               
derivative assets
    1,248       (1,846 )     168 %     1,050       (2,144 )     149 %
Hedge program effectiveness
                                               
(ineffectiveness)
    (154 )     131    
NM
      (162 )     67    
NM
 
Change in reserves not hedged
                                               
(NPR component)
    151       (333 )     145 %     150       (388 )     139 %
Change in derivative assets not
                                               
hedged (NPR component)
    (8 )     17    
NM
      (9 )     5    
NM
 
Associated amortization income
                                               
(expense) of DAC, VOBA, DSI
                                               
and DFEL:
                                               
Retrospective unlocking (1)
    5       (84 )     106 %     10       (143 )     107 %
Amortization, excluding
                                               
unlocking
    (11 )     91    
NM
      (20 )     133    
NM
 
Total GLB net derivatives
                                               
results
  $ 11     $ (151 )     107 %   $ 23     $ (276 )     108 %
GDB Derivatives Results
                                               
Change in fair value of derivatives
  $ 29     $ (163 )     118 %   $ 14     $ (106 )     113 %
Associated amortization income
                                               
(expense) of DAC, VOBA, DSI
                                               
and DFEL:
                                               
Retrospective unlocking (1)
    15       (69 )     122 %     8       (42 )     119 %
Amortization, excluding
                                               
unlocking
    (18 )     91    
NM
      (9 )     53    
NM
 
Total GDB derivatives
                                               
results
  $ 26     $ (141 )     118 %   $ 13     $ (95 )     114 %
 
 
(1)
Related primarily to the emergence of gross profits.

GLB Net Derivatives Results

Our GLB net derivatives results are comprised of the net valuation premium, the change in the GLB embedded derivative reserves and the change in the fair value of the derivative instruments we own to hedge them, including the cost of purchasing the hedging instruments.

Our GWB, GIB and 4LATER® features have elements of both benefit reserves and embedded derivative reserves.  We calculate the value of the embedded derivative reserve and the benefit reserve based on the specific characteristics of each GLB feature.  We record the embedded derivative reserve on our GLBs at fair value on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.  We use derivative instruments to hedge our exposure to the risks and earnings volatility that result from changes in the GLB embedded derivatives reserves.  The change in fair value of these derivative instruments is designed to generally offset the change in embedded derivative reserves.  In the table above, we have presented the components of our GLB results, which can be volatile especially when sudden and significant changes in equity markets and/or interest rates occur.  When we assess the effectiveness of our hedge program, we

 
108

 

exclude the impact of the change in the component of the embedded derivative reserves related to the required NPR.  We do not attempt to hedge the change in the NPR component of the liability.  As of June 30, 2010, the net effect of the NPR resulted in a $117 million decrease in the liability for our GLB embedded derivative reserves.  See above for information regarding the effect of the NPR on the GLB net derivatives results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, and 2009.  For additional information on our guaranteed benefits, see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Derivatives – Guaranteed Living Benefits” above.

GDB Derivatives Results

Our GDB derivatives results represent the change in the fair value of the derivative instruments we own to hedge the change in our benefit ratio unlocking, excluding our expected cost of the hedging instruments.

Indexed Annuity Forward-Starting Option

Details underlying indexed annuity forward-starting option (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
                                     
Indexed Annuity Forward-Starting Option
Pre-DAC (1) amounts
  $ 6     $ 8       -25 %   $ 10     $ 9       11 %
Associated amortization expense of
                                               
DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL
    (3 )     (5 )     40 %     (5 )     (5 )     0 %
Total
  $ 3     $ 3       0 %   $ 5     $ 4       25 %
 
(1)
DAC refers to the associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL.

The liability for the forward-starting option reflects 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 accounted for under the Derivatives and Hedging and the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topics of the FASB ASC.  These fair values represent an estimate of the cost of the options we will purchase in the future, discounted back to the date of the balance sheet, using current market indications of volatility and interest rates, which 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.



 
109

 

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
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Investments
                       
AFS securities:
                       
Fixed maturity
  $ 66,391     $ 60,818       80.0 %     80.1 %
VIEs' fixed maturity
    581       -       0.7 %     0.0 %
    Total fixed maturity
    66,972       60,818       80.7 %     80.1 %
Equity
    246       278       0.3 %     0.4 %
Trading securities
    2,608       2,505       3.1 %     3.3 %
Mortgage loans on real estate
    6,882       7,178       8.3 %     9.5 %
Real estate
    218       174       0.3 %     0.2 %
Policy loans
    2,902       2,898       3.5 %     3.8 %
Derivative investments
    1,989       1,010       2.4 %     1.3 %
Alternative investments
    719       696       0.9 %     0.9 %
Other investments
    417       361       0.5 %     0.5 %
Total investments
  $ 82,953     $ 75,918       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 2009 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 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 5; 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 5.

 
110

 



   
As of June 30, 2010
 
               
Unrealized
             
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Losses
   
Fair
   
% Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
and OTTI
   
Value
   
Value
 
Fixed Maturity AFS Securities
                             
Industry corporate bonds:
                             
Financial services
  $ 8,287     $ 429     $ 158     $ 8,558       12.8 %
Basic industry
    2,255       187       32       2,410       3.6 %
Capital goods
    3,328       283       27       3,584       5.4 %
Communications
    2,913       258       26       3,145       4.7 %
Consumer cyclical
    2,584       221       48       2,757       4.1 %
Consumer non-cyclical
    6,859       745       3       7,601       11.3 %
Energy
    4,391       393       56       4,728       7.1 %
Technology
    1,220       132       -       1,352       2.0 %
Transportation
    1,268       117       5       1,380       2.1 %
Industrial other
    807       61       6       862       1.3 %
Utilities
    9,588       800       30       10,358       15.4 %
Corporate asset-backed securities ("ABS"):
                                       
Collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs")
    129       14       15       128       0.2 %
Commercial real estate ("CRE") CDOs
    49       -       20       29       0.0 %
Credit card
    833       37       6       864       1.3 %
Home equity
    1,047       4       324       727       1.1 %
Manufactured housing
    116       4       4       116       0.2 %
Auto loan
    214       4       -       218       0.3 %
Other
    228       19       2       245       0.4 %
Commercial mortgage-backed
                                       
securities ("CMBS"):
                                       
Non-agency backed
    2,314       93       274       2,133       3.2 %
Collateralized mortgage and
                                       
other obligations ("CMOs"):
                                       
Agency backed
    4,190       376       -       4,566       6.8 %
Non-agency backed
    1,798       12       361       1,449       2.2 %
Mortgage pass through securities ("MPTS"):
                                       
Agency backed
    3,273       151       -       3,424       5.1 %
Non-agency backed
    63       1       4       60       0.1 %
Municipals:
                                       
Taxable
    2,425       121       12       2,534       3.8 %
Tax-exempt
    6       -       -       6       0.0 %
Government and government agencies:
                                       
United States
    1,030       130       5       1,155       1.7 %
Foreign
    1,354       99       15       1,438       2.1 %
Hybrid and redeemable preferred stock
    1,320       22       197       1,145       1.7 %
Total fixed maturity AFS securities
    63,889       4,713       1,630       66,972       100.0 %
Equity AFS Securities
    356       17       127       246          
Total AFS securities
    64,245       4,730       1,757       67,218          
Trading Securities (1)
    2,333       326       51       2,608          
Total AFS and trading securities
  $ 66,578     $ 5,056     $ 1,808     $ 69,826          


 
111

 

 
 
   
As of December 31, 2009
 
               
Unrealized
             
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Losses
   
Fair
   
% Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
and OTTI
   
Value
   
Value
 
Fixed Maturity AFS Securities
                             
Industry corporate bonds:
                             
Financial services
  $ 8,260     $ 248     $ 341     $ 8,167       13.3 %
Basic industry
    2,304       116       57       2,363       3.9 %
Capital goods
    2,995       149       26       3,118       5.1 %
Communications
    2,817       200       51       2,966       4.9 %
Consumer cyclical
    2,589       141       66       2,664       4.4 %
Consumer non-cyclical
    5,568       380       16       5,932       9.8 %
Energy
    4,251       290       22       4,519       7.4 %
Technology
    1,121       76       4       1,193       2.0 %
Transportation
    1,224       85       15       1,294       2.1 %
Industrial other
    709       35       11       733       1.2 %
Utilities
    8,941       415       81       9,275       15.2 %
ABS:
                                       
CDOs and CLNs
    735       11       296       450       0.7 %
CRE CDOs
    54       -       24       30       0.0 %
Credit card
    265       9       9       265       0.4 %
Home equity
    1,099       1       428       672       1.1 %
Manufactured housing
    122       1       11       112       0.2 %
Auto loan
    220       5       -       225       0.4 %
Other
    230       12       3       239       0.4 %
CMBS:
                                       
Non-agency backed
    2,436       49       354       2,131       3.5 %
CMOs:
                                       
Agency backed
    4,494       252       23       4,723       7.8 %
Non-agency backed
    1,697       5       454       1,248       2.1 %
MPTS:
                                       
Agency backed
    2,912       64       14       2,962       4.9 %
Non-agency backed
    69       -       8       61       0.1 %
Municipals:
                                       
Taxable
    1,900       13       53       1,860       3.1 %
Tax-exempt
    35       -       -       35       0.1 %
Government and government agencies:
                                       
United States
    963       85       14       1,034       1.7 %
Foreign
    1,345       53       39       1,359       2.2 %
Hybrid and redeemable preferred stock
    1,402       36       250       1,188       2.0 %
Total fixed maturity AFS securities
    60,757       2,731       2,670       60,818       100.0 %
Equity AFS Securities
    382       21       125       278          
Total AFS securities
    61,139       2,752       2,795       61,096          
Trading Securities (1)
    2,342       243       80       2,505          
Total AFS and trading securities
  $ 63,481     $ 2,995     $ 2,875     $ 63,601          
 
(1)
Certain of our trading securities support our modified coinsurance arrangements (“Modco”) and the investment results are passed directly to the reinsurers.  Refer to the “Trading Securities” section of our 2009 Form 10-K for further details.

 
112

 

AFS Securities

The general intent of the AFS accounting guidance is to reflect stockholders’ equity as if unrealized gains and losses were actually recognized, and it is necessary that we 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 accumulated OCI.  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 June 30, 2010
   
As of December 31, 2009
 
NAIC
   
Equivalent
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
% of
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
% of
 
Designation
   
Designation
   
Cost
   
Value
   
Total
   
Cost
   
Value
   
Total
 
Investment Grade Securities
                                     
  1    
Aaa / Aa / A
    $ 38,877     $ 41,588       62.1 %   $ 35,041     $ 35,924       59.0 %
  2    
Baa
      20,682       21,897       32.7 %     20,294       20,725       34.1 %
Total investment grade securities
      59,559       63,485       94.8 %     55,335       56,649       93.1 %
Below Investment Grade Securities
                                                 
  3    
Ba
      2,843       2,456       3.7 %     3,221       2,695       4.5 %
  4     B       906       637       1.0 %     1,470       948       1.6 %
  5    
Caa and lower
      330       231       0.3 %     426       265       0.4 %
  6    
In or near default
      251       163       0.2 %     305       261       0.4 %
Total below investment grade securities
      4,330       3,487       5.2 %     5,422       4,169       6.9 %
Total fixed maturity AFS securities
    $ 63,889     $ 66,972       100.0 %   $ 60,757     $ 60,818       100.0 %
Total securities below investment grade
                                                 
as a percentage of total fixed
                                                 
maturity AFS securities
      6.8 %     5.2 %             8.9 %     6.9 %        
 
Comparisons between the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“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 below investment grade by the rating agencies, which is a result of the changes in the RBC rules for residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) that were effective December 31, 2009, 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).

As of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, 67.4% and 80.3%, respectively, of the total publicly traded and private securities in an unrealized loss status were rated as investment grade.  See Note 5 for maturity date information for our fixed maturity investment portfolio.  Our gross unrealized losses on AFS securities decreased $1.0 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2010, which was attributable to a decline in overall market yields, which was driven, in part, by improved credit fundamentals.  As more fully described in Note 1 in our 2009 Form 10-K, we regularly review our investment holdings for OTTI.  We believe the unrealized loss position as of June 30, 2010, 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 AFS securities unrealized losses, see “Additional Details on our Unrealized Losses on AFS Securities” below.


 
113

 

Selected information for certain AFS securities in a gross unrealized loss position (dollars in millions) was as follows:
 
   
As of June 30, 2010
 
             
Estimated
 
Estimated
             
         
Gross
 
Years
 
Average
             
         
Unrealized
 
until Call
 
Years
             
   
Fair
   
Losses and
 
or
 
until
   
Subordination Level
 
   
Value
   
OTTI
 
Maturity
 
Recovery
   
Current
   
Origination
 
CMBS
  $ 468     $ 274  
1 to 43
    29       21.2 %     17.2 %
Hybrid and redeemable
                                         
preferred securities
    851       197  
1 to 58
    35    
NA
   
NA
 
 
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 2009 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.

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:

·
Historic 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.


 
114

 

As reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, we had $86.7 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 $76.3 billion as of June 30, 2010.  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 $58.5 billion, excluding consolidated VIEs in the amount of $581 million, as of June 30, 2010, 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 2009 Form 10-K and Note 5 for additional discussion.

The estimated fair value for all private securities was $8.4 billion and $8.0 billion as of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, respectively, representing approximately 10% and 11% of total invested assets as of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, respectively.

For information regarding our VIEs’ fixed maturity securities, see Note 4.  For discussion of our investments in CLNs as of December 31, 2009, see our 2009 Form 10-K CLNs section in Note 5.

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

Our fixed maturity securities include MBS.  These securities are subject to risks associated with variable prepayments.  This may result in differences between the actual cash flow and maturity of these securities than that expected at the time of purchase.  Securities that have an amortized cost greater than par and are backed by mortgages that prepay faster than expected will incur a reduction in yield or a loss.  Those securities with an amortized cost lower than par that prepay faster than expected will generate an increase in yield or a gain.  In addition, we may incur reinvestment risks if market yields are lower than the book yields earned on the securities.  Prepayments occurring slower than expected have the opposite impact.  We may incur reinvestment risks if market yields are higher than the book yields earned on the securities and we are forced to sell the securities.  The degree to which a security is susceptible to either gains or losses is influenced by:  the difference between its amortized cost and par; the relative sensitivity of the underlying mortgages backing the assets to prepayment in a changing interest rate environment; and the repayment priority of the securities in the overall securitization structure.

We limit the extent of our risk on MBS by prudently limiting exposure to the asset class, by generally avoiding the purchase of securities with a cost that significantly exceeds par, by purchasing securities backed by stable collateral and by concentrating on securities with enhanced priority in their trust structure.  Such securities with reduced risk typically have a lower yield (but higher liquidity) than higher-risk MBS.  At selected times, higher-risk securities may be purchased if they do not compromise the safety of the general portfolio.  As of June 30, 2010, we did not have a significant amount of higher-risk, trust structured MBS.  A significant amount of assets in our MBS portfolio are either guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises or are supported in the securitization structure by junior securities enabling the assets to achieve high investment grade status.

Our exposure to subprime mortgage lending is limited to investments in banks and other financial institutions that may be impacted by subprime lending and direct investments in ABS CDOs, ABS and RMBS.  Mortgage-related ABS are backed by home equity loans and RMBS are backed by residential mortgages.  These securities are backed by loans that are characterized by borrowers of differing levels of creditworthiness:  prime; Alt-A; and subprime.  Prime lending is the origination of residential mortgage loans to customers with excellent credit profiles.  Alt-A lending is the origination of residential mortgage loans to customers who have prime credit profiles but lack documentation to substantiate income.  Subprime lending is the origination of loans to customers with weak or impaired credit profiles.

The slowing U.S. housing market, increased interest rates for non-prime borrowers and relaxed underwriting standards over the last several years have led to higher delinquency rates for residential mortgage loans and home equity loans.  We expect delinquency rates and loss rates on residential mortgages and home equity loans to increase in the future; however, we continue to expect to receive payments in accordance with contractual terms for a significant amount of our securities, largely due to the seniority of the claims on the collateral of the securities that we own.  The tranches of the securities will experience losses according to their seniority level with the least senior (or most junior), typically the unrated residual tranche, taking the initial loss.  The credit ratings of our securities reflect the seniority of the securities that we own.  Our RMBS had a market value of $10.5 billion and an unrealized loss of $147 million, or 1%, as of June 30, 2010.  The unrealized loss was due primarily to weak housing fundamentals and although liquidity has improved in recent quarters, a general level of illiquidity still exists in the market resulting in price declines in many structured products.


 
115

 

The market value of AFS securities and trading securities backed by subprime loans was $467 million and represented less than 1% of our total investment portfolio as of June 30, 2010.  AFS securities represented $454 million, or 97%, and trading securities represented $13 million, or 3%, of the subprime exposure as of June 30, 2010.  AFS securities and trading securities rated A or above represented 62% of the subprime investments and $230 million in market value of our subprime investments was backed by loans originating in 2005 and forward.  The tables below summarize our investments in AFS securities backed by pools of residential mortgages (in millions):
 
     
Fair Value as of June 30, 2010
 
           
Prime/
                   
     
Prime
   
Non-
                   
     
Agency
   
Agency
   
Alt-A
   
Subprime
   
Total
 
Type
                               
CMOs and MPTS
    $ 7,990     $ 1,028     $ 481     $ -     $ 9,499  
ABS home equity
      -       -       272       455       727  
Total by type (1)
    $ 7,990     $ 1,028     $ 753     $ 455     $ 10,226  
                                           
Rating
                                         
AAA
    $ 7,973     $ 328     $ 137     $ 211     $ 8,649  
AA
      -       32       99       27       158  
A       17       10       55       39       121  
BBB
      -       54       10       11       75  
BB and below
      -       604       452       167       1,223  
Total by rating (1)(2)
    $ 7,990     $ 1,028     $ 753     $ 455     $ 10,226  
                                             
Origination Year
                                         
2004 and prior
    $ 2,675     $ 346     $ 290     $ 229     $ 3,540  
 2005       902       186       220       166       1,474  
 2006       296       186       198       59       739  
 2007       1,228       310       45       -       1,583  
 2008       328       -       -       -       328  
 2009       1,581       -       -       1       1,582  
 2010       980       -       -       -       980  
Total by origination year (1)
    $ 7,990     $ 1,028     $ 753     $ 455     $ 10,226  
                                             
Total AFS securities
                                    $ 67,218  
                                             
Total AFS RMBS as a percentage of
                                         
total AFS securities
                                      15.2 %
                                           
Total prime/non-agency, Alt-A and  
                                         
subprime as a percentage of total
                                         
AFS securities
                                      3.3  %
 
 
(1)
Does not include the fair value of trading securities totaling $285 million, which support our Modco reinsurance agreements because investment results for these agreements are passed directly to the reinsurers.  The $285 million in trading securities consisted of $256 million prime, $16 million Alt-A and $13 million subprime.
 
(2)
For the table above, credit ratings shown in the document are based on ratings provided by the major credit rating agencies (Fitch, Moody’s and S&P) or are based on internal ratings for those securities where external ratings are not available.  For securities where the ratings assigned by the major rating agencies are not equivalent, the second highest of the three ratings assigned is used.

 
116

 



     
Amortized Cost as of June 30, 2010
 
           
Prime/
                   
     
Prime
   
Non-
                   
     
Agency
   
Agency
   
Alt-A
   
Subprime
   
Total
 
Type
                               
CMOs and MPTS
    $ 7,463     $ 1,244     $ 617     $ -     $ 9,324  
ABS home equity
      -       -       374       673       1,047  
Total by type (1)
    $ 7,463     $ 1,244     $ 991     $ 673     $ 10,371  
                                           
Rating
                                         
AAA
    $ 7,447     $ 334     $ 149     $ 227     $ 8,157  
AA
      -       39       115       31       185  
 A       16       10       63       63       152  
BBB
      -       64       18       17       99  
BB and below
      -       797       646       335       1,778  
Total by rating (1)(2)
    $ 7,463     $ 1,244     $ 991     $ 673     $ 10,371  
                                             
Origination Year
                                         
2004 and prior
    $ 2,490     $ 373     $ 335     $ 288     $ 3,486  
 2005       828       240       286       243       1,597  
 2006       269       216       291       138       914  
 2007       1,100       415       79       -       1,594  
 2008       301       -       -       -       301  
 2009       1,524       -       -       4       1,528  
 2010       951       -       -       -       951  
Total by origination year (1)
    $ 7,463     $ 1,244     $ 991     $ 673     $ 10,371  
                                             
Total AFS securities
                                    $ 64,245  
                                             
Total AFS RMBS as a percentage of
                                         
total AFS securities
                                      16.1 %
                                             
Total prime/non-agency, Alt-A and
                                         
subprimeas a percentage of total
                                         
                 AFS securities                                       4.5  %
 
 
(1)
Does not include the amortized cost of trading securities totaling $285 million, which support our Modco reinsurance agreements because investment results for these agreements are passed directly to the reinsurers.  The $285 million in trading securities consisted of $248 million prime, $21 million Alt-A and $16 million subprime.
 
(2)
For the table above, credit ratings shown in the document are based on ratings provided by the major credit rating agencies (Fitch, Moody’s and S&P) or are based on internal ratings for those securities where external ratings are not available.  For securities where the ratings assigned by the major rating agencies are not equivalent, the second highest of the three ratings assigned is used.

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.


 
117

 

The following summarizes our investments in AFS securities backed by pools of consumer loan ABS (in millions):
 
   
As of June 30, 2010
 
   
Credit Card (1)
   
Auto Loans
   
Total
 
   
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Amortized
 
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Value
   
Cost
 
Rating
                                   
AAA
  $ 838     $ 807     $ 218     $ 214     $ 1,056     $ 1,021  
BBB
    26       26       -       -       26       26  
Total by rating (1)(2)(3)
  $ 864     $ 833     $ 218     $ 214     $ 1,082     $ 1,047  
                                                 
Total AFS securities
                                  $ 67,218     $ 64,245  
                                                 
Total by rating as a percentage
                                               
of total AFS securities
                                    1.6 %     1.6 %
 
 
(1)
Includes amortized cost of $568 million ABS credit card assets that were reclassified from the ABS CLN assets as a result of adopting ASU 2009-17 as of January 1, 2010.  See Note 4 for additional information.
 
(2)
For the table above, credit ratings shown in the document are based on ratings provided by the major credit rating agencies (Fitch, Moody’s and S&P) or are based on internal ratings for those securities where external ratings are not available.  For securities where the ratings assigned by the major rating agencies are not equivalent, the second highest of the three ratings assigned is used.
 
(3)
Does not include the fair value of trading securities totaling $3 million, which support our Modco reinsurance agreements because investment results for these agreements are passed directly to the reinsurers.  The $3 million in trading securities consisted of credit card securities.

 
118

 

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

        As of June 30, 2010  
     
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
    $ 2,060     $ 2,200     $ 73     $ 114     $ -     $ -     $ 2,133     $ 2,314  
CRE CDOs
      -       -       -       -       29       49       29       49  
Total by type (1)
    $ 2,060     $ 2,200     $ 73     $ 114     $ 29     $ 49     $ 2,162     $ 2,363  
                                                                   
Rating
                                                                 
AAA
    $ 1,462     $ 1,381     $ 29     $ 29     $ -     $ -     $ 1,491     $ 1,410  
AA
      285       292       8       10       -       -       293       302  
A       106       122       12       13       7       8       125       143  
BBB
      102       120       6       6       14       18       122       144  
BB and below
      105       285       18       56       8       23       131       364  
Total by rating (1)(2)
    $ 2,060     $ 2,200     $ 73     $ 114     $ 29     $ 49     $ 2,162     $ 2,363  
                                                                     
Origination Year
                                                                 
2004 and prior
    $ 1,379     $ 1,404     $ 44     $ 46     $ 10     $ 11     $ 1,433     $ 1,461  
2005       379       403       27       60       11       15       417       478  
2006       154       223       2       8       8       23       164       254  
2007       148       170       -       -       -       -       148       170  
Total by origination     year (1)
    $ 2,060     $ 2,200     $ 73     $ 114     $ 29     $ 49     $ 2,162     $ 2,363  
                                                                     
Total AFS securities
                                                    $ 67,218     $ 64,245  
Total AFS CMBS
                                                                 
as a percentage of
                                                                 
total AFS securities
                                                      3.2 %     3.7 %
 
(1)
Does not include the fair value of trading securities totaling $78 million, which support our Modco reinsurance agreements because investment results for these agreements are passed directly to the reinsurers.  The $78 million in trading securities consisted of $75 million CMBS and $3 million CRE CDOs.
(2)
For the table above, credit ratings shown in the document are based on ratings provided by the major credit rating agencies (Fitch, Moody’s and S&P) or are based on internal ratings for those securities where external ratings are not available.  For securities where the ratings assigned by the major rating agencies are not equivalent, the second highest of the three ratings assigned is used.

 
119

 

Monoline insurers provide guarantees on debt for issuers, often in the form of credit wraps, which enhance the credit of the issuer. Monoline insurers guarantee the timely repayment of bond principal and interest when a bond issuer defaults and generally provide credit enhancement for bond issues such as municipal bonds and private placements as well as other types and structures of securities.  Our direct exposure represents our bond holdings of the actual Monoline insurers.  Our insured bonds represent our holdings in bonds of other issuers that are insured by Monoline insurers.

The following summarizes our exposure to Monoline insurers (in millions):
 
   
As of June 30, 2010
 
                           
Total
       
               
Total
   
Total
   
Unrealized
   
Total
 
   
Direct
   
Insured
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Loss
   
Fair
 
   
Exposure (1)
   
Bonds (2)
   
Cost
   
Gain
   
and OTTI
   
Value
 
Monoline Name
                                   
AMBAC
  $ -     $ 248     $ 248     $ 4     $ 58     $ 194  
ASSURED GUARANTY LTD
    30       -       30       -       18       12  
FGIC
    -       86       86       1       26       61  
FSA
    -       55       55       1       2       54  
MBIA
    12       149       161       15       18       158  
MGIC
    11       6       17       -       1       16  
PMI GROUP INC
    27       -       27       -       10       17  
RADIAN GROUP INC
    19       -       19       -       3       16  
XL CAPITAL LTD
    72       63       135       2       12       125  
Total by Monoline insurer (3)
  $ 171     $ 607     $ 778     $ 23     $ 148     $ 653  
                                                 
Total AFS securities
                  $ 64,245     $ 4,730     $ 1,757     $ 67,218  
Total by Monoline insurer as a
                                               
percentage of total AFS securities
                    1.2 %     0.5 %     8.4 %     1.0 %
 
(1)
Additional direct exposure through credit default swaps with a notional value totaling $20 million is excluded from this table.
(2)
Additional indirect insured exposure through structured securities is excluded from this table.
(3)
Does not include the fair value 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 $10 million of direct exposure and $20 million of insured exposure.  This table also excludes insured exposure totaling $12 million for a guaranteed investment tax credit partnership.

Additional Details on 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 impact of unrealized loss securities on our future earnings.

 
120

 

We have no concentrations of issuers or guarantors of fixed maturity and equity securities.  The composition by industry categories of securities subject to enhanced analysis and monitoring for potential changes in unrealized loss status (in millions) for our securities that we believe were most at risk of impairment, was as follows:
 
   
As of June 30, 2010
 
                                 
%
 
         
%
         
%
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
 
   
Fair
   
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Amortized
   
Loss
   
Loss
 
   
Value
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Cost
   
and OTTI
   
and OTTI
 
Banking
  $ 75       31.7 %   $ 110       28.6 %   $ 35       23.6 %
CMOs
    30       12.7 %     64       16.6 %     34       23.0 %
ABS
    47       19.8 %     78       20.2 %     31       20.9 %
CMBS
    2       0.8 %     29       7.5 %     27       18.2 %
Property and casualty insurers
    52       22.0 %     70       18.2 %     18       12.2 %
Industrial - other
    4       1.7 %     6       1.6 %     2       1.4 %
Non-agency
    1       0.4 %     2       0.5 %     1       0.7 %
Gaming
    15       6.3 %     15       3.9 %     -       0.0 %
Financial - other
    11       4.6 %     11       2.9 %     -       0.0 %
Total securities subject to
                                               
enhanced analysis
                                               
and monitoring
  $ 237       100.0 %   $ 385       100.0 %   $ 148       100.0 %
                                                 
Total AFS securities
  $ 67,218             $ 64,245             $ 1,757          
Total securities subject to
                                               
enhanced analysis and
                                               
monitoring as a percentage
                                               
of total AFS securities
    0.4 %             0.6 %             8.4 %        
 
In addition, as discussed in Note 1 in our 2009 Form 10-K, we perform detailed analysis of our AFS securities, including those presented above as well as other AFS securities.  For selected information on these AFS securities in a gross unrealized loss position backed by pools of residential and commercial mortgages as of June 30, 2010, see Note 5.

 
121

 

 
 
   
As of December 31, 2009
 
                                 
%
 
         
%
         
%
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
 
   
Fair
   
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Amortized
   
Loss
   
Loss
 
   
Value
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Cost
   
and OTTI
   
and OTTI
 
CMOs
  $ 175       36.8 %   $ 280       37.3 %   $ 105       38.1 %
ABS
    31       6.5 %     91       12.1 %     60       21.8 %
Banking
    98       20.6 %     137       18.2 %     39       14.2 %
Property and casualty insurers
    42       8.8 %     70       9.3 %     28       10.2 %
CMBS
    3       0.6 %     30       4.0 %     27       9.8 %
Non-captive diversified
    57       12.0 %     63       8.4 %     6       2.2 %
Non-agency
    1       0.2 %     4       0.5 %     3       1.1 %
Financial - other
    29       6.1 %     31       4.1 %     2       0.7 %
Industrial - other
    4       0.8 %     6       0.8 %     2       0.7 %
Gaming
    21       4.4 %     22       2.9 %     1       0.4 %
Airlines
    2       0.4 %     3       0.4 %     1       0.4 %
Electric
    2       0.4 %     3       0.4 %     1       0.4 %
Retailers
    1       0.2 %     1       0.1 %     -       0.0 %
Refining
    5       1.0 %     5       0.7 %     -       0.0 %
Chemicals
    3       0.6 %     3       0.4 %     -       0.0 %
Real estate investment trusts
    1       0.2 %     1       0.1 %     -       0.0 %
Lodging
    2       0.4 %     2       0.3 %     -       0.0 %
Total securities subject
                                               
to enhanced analysis
                                               
and monitoring
  $ 477       100.0 %   $ 752       100.0 %   $ 275       100.0 %
                                                 
Total AFS securities
  $ 61,096             $ 61,139             $ 2,795          
Total securities subject to
                                               
enhanced analysis and
                                               
monitoring as a percentage
                                               
of total AFS securities
    0.8 %             1.2 %             9.8 %        



 
122

 

The composition by industry categories of all securities in unrealized loss status (in millions), was as follows:
 
   
As of June 30, 2010
 
                                 
%
 
         
%
         
%
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
 
   
Fair
   
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Amortized
   
Loss
   
Loss
 
   
Value
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Cost
   
and OTTI
   
and OTTI
 
Banking
  $ 1,558       19.2 %   $ 1,934       19.5 %   $ 376       21.4 %
ABS
    917       11.3 %     1,288       13.0 %     371       21.1 %
CMOs
    1,175       14.4 %     1,531       15.5 %     356       20.3 %
CMBS
    468       5.8 %     742       7.5 %     274       15.6 %
Property and casualty insurers
    355       4.4 %     412       4.2 %     57       3.2 %
Paper
    185       2.3 %     210       2.1 %     25       1.4 %
Diversified manufacturing
    175       2.2 %     195       2.0 %     20       1.1 %
Gaming
    148       1.8 %     168       1.7 %     20       1.1 %
Integrated
    100       1.2 %     119       1.2 %     19       1.1 %
Electric
    223       2.7 %     242       2.4 %     19       1.1 %
Media - non-cable
    157       1.9 %     174       1.8 %     17       1.0 %
Oil field services
    142       1.7 %     159       1.6 %     17       1.0 %
Independent
    133       1.6 %     149       1.5 %     16       0.9 %
Life
    194       2.4 %     208       2.1 %     14       0.8 %
Local authorities
    118       1.4 %     130       1.3 %     12       0.7 %
Owned no guarantee
    91       1.1 %     103       1.0 %     12       0.7 %
Financial - other
    157       1.9 %     168       1.7 %     11       0.6 %
Retailers
    97       1.2 %     107       1.1 %     10       0.6 %
Industries with unrealized losses
                                               
 less than $10 million
    1,747       21.5 %     1,858       18.8 %     111       6.3 %
Total by industry
  $ 8,140       100.0 %   $ 9,897       100.0 %   $ 1,757       100.0 %
                                                 
Total AFS securities
  $ 67,218             $ 64,245             $ 1,757          
Total by industry as a
                                               
percentage of total AFS
                                               
securities
    12.1 %             15.4 %             100.0 %        


 
123

 

 
 
   
As of December 31, 2009
 
                                 
%
 
         
%
         
%
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
 
   
Fair
   
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Amortized
   
Loss
   
Loss
 
   
Value
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Cost
   
and OTTI
   
and OTTI
 
ABS
  $ 1,290       7.8 %   $ 2,061       10.6 %   $ 771       27.6 %
Banking
    1,973       12.0 %     2,462       12.8 %     489       17.5 %
CMOs
    1,797       10.8 %     2,266       11.8 %     469       16.8 %
CMBS
    809       4.9 %     1,163       6.0 %     354       12.7 %
Property and casualty insurers
    621       3.7 %     709       3.7 %     88       3.1 %
Electric
    986       5.9 %     1,037       5.3 %     51       1.8 %
Local authorities
    927       5.6 %     970       5.0 %     43       1.5 %
Media - non-cable
    277       1.7 %     318       1.6 %     41       1.5 %
Paper
    217       1.3 %     257       1.3 %     40       1.4 %
Financial - other
    260       1.6 %     292       1.5 %     32       1.1 %
Real estate investment trusts
    434       2.6 %     461       2.4 %     27       1.0 %
Non-captive diversified
    211       1.3 %     237       1.2 %     26       0.9 %
Life
    298       1.8 %     322       1.7 %     24       0.9 %
Gaming
    194       1.2 %     217       1.1 %     23       0.8 %
Entertainment
    210       1.3 %     230       1.2 %     20       0.7 %
Owned no guarantee
    283       1.7 %     302       1.6 %     19       0.7 %
Non-agency
    102       0.6 %     121       0.6 %     19       0.7 %
Sovereigns
    174       1.0 %     192       1.0 %     18       0.6 %
Pipelines
    299       1.8 %     314       1.6 %     15       0.5 %
Municipal
    362       2.2 %     376       1.9 %     14       0.5 %
Diversified manufacturing
    310       1.9 %     324       1.7 %     14       0.5 %
Distributors
    337       2.0 %     350       1.8 %     13       0.5 %
Non-captive consumer
    115       0.7 %     128       0.7 %     13       0.5 %
Metals and mining
    248       1.5 %     261       1.3 %     13       0.5 %
Conventional 30-year
    829       5.0 %     841       4.3 %     12       0.4 %
Industrial - other
    156       0.9 %     167       0.9 %     11       0.4 %
Retailers
    152       0.9 %     163       0.8 %     11       0.4 %
Industries with unrealized losses
                                               
 less than $10 million
    2,718       16.3 %     2,843       14.6 %     125       4.5 %
Total by industry
  $ 16,589       100.0 %   $ 19,384       100.0 %   $ 2,795       100.0 %
                                                 
Total AFS securities
  $ 61,096             $ 61,139             $ 2,795          
Total by industry as a
                                               
percentage of total AFS
                                               
securities
    27.2 %             31.7 %             100.0 %        
 
Unrealized Loss on Below Investment Grade AFS Fixed Maturity Securities

Gross unrealized losses on below investment grade AFS fixed maturity securities represented 51.5% and 47.5% of total gross unrealized losses on all AFS securities as of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, respectively.  Generally, below investment grade fixed maturity securities are more likely than investment grade fixed maturity securities to develop credit concerns.  The remaining 48.5% and 52.5% of the gross unrealized losses as of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, respectively, related to investment grade AFS securities.  The ratios of estimated fair value to amortized cost reflected in the table below were not necessarily indicative of the market value to amortized cost relationships for the securities throughout the entire time that the securities have been in an unrealized loss position nor are they necessarily indicative of these ratios subsequent to June 30, 2010.


 
124

 

Details underlying fixed maturity securities below investment grade and in an unrealized loss position (in millions) were as follows:
 
 
Ratio of
 
As of June 30, 2010
 
 
Amortized
             
Unrealized
 
 
Cost to
 
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Loss
 
Aging Category
Fair Value
 
Value
   
Cost
   
and OTTI
 
< or = 90 days
Above 70%
  $ 390     $ 408     $ 18  
 
40% to 70%
    48       78       30  
 
Below 40%
    7       25       18  
Total < or = 90 days
      445       511       66  
                           
>90 days but < or = 180 days
Above 70%
    42       49       7  
 
40% to 70%
    12       20       8  
 
Below 40%
    -       1       1  
Total >90 days but < or = 180 days
      54       70       16  
                           
>180 days but < or = 270 days
Above 70%
    75       98       23  
 
40% to 70%
    89       161       72  
 
Below 40%
    5       18       13  
Total >180 days but < or = 270 days
      169       277       108  
                           
>270 days but < or = 1 year
Above 70%
    31       32       1  
Total >270 days but < or = 1 year
      31       32       1  
                           
>1 year
Above 70%
    1,406       1,647       241  
 
40% to 70%
    345       596       251  
 
Below 40%
    58       279       221  
Total >1 year
      1,809       2,522       713  
Total below investment grade and in
                         
an unrealized loss position
    $ 2,508     $ 3,412     $ 904  
Total AFS securities
    $ 67,218     $ 64,245     $ 1,757  
Total below investment grade and in an
                         
unrealized loss position as a percentage
                         
of total AFS securities
      3.7 %     5.3 %     51.5 %


 
125

 

 
 
 
Ratio of
 
As of December 31, 2009
 
 
Amortized
             
Unrealized
 
 
Cost to
 
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Loss
 
Aging Category
Fair Value
 
Value
   
Cost
   
and OTTI
 
< or = 90 days
Above 70%
  $ 192     $ 211     $ 19  
 
40% to 70%
    163       307       144  
 
Below 40%
    12       44       32  
Total < or = 90 days
      367       562       195  
                           
>90 days but < or = 180 days
Above 70%
    32       33       1  
 
Below 40%
    2       6       4  
Total >90 days but < or = 180 days
      34       39       5  
                           
>180 days but < or = 270 days
40% to 70%
    18       25       7  
 
Below 40%
    -       1       1  
Total >180 days but < or = 270 days
      18       26       8  
                           
>270 days but < or = 1 year
Above 70%
    51       60       9  
 
40% to 70%
    18       30       12  
 
Below 40%
    3       13       10  
Total >270 days but < or = 1 year
      72       103       31  
                           
>1 year
Above 70%
    1,776       2,023       247  
 
40% to 70%
    802       1,403       601  
 
Below 40%
    61       303       242  
Total >1 year
      2,639       3,729       1,090  
Total below investment grade and in
                         
an unrealized loss position
    $ 3,130     $ 4,459     $ 1,329  
Total AFS securities
    $ 61,096     $ 61,139     $ 2,795  
Total below investment grade and in an
                         
unrealized loss position as a percentage
                         
of total AFS securities
      5.1 %     7.3 %     47.5 %


 
126

 

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate

The following tables summarize key information on mortgage loans on real estate (in millions):
 
       As of June 30, 2010       As of December 31, 2009  
   
Carrying
         
Carrying
       
   
Value
   
%
   
Value
   
%
 
Credit Quality Indicator
                       
Current
  $ 6,830       99.2 %   $ 7,142       99.5 %
Delinquent and in foreclosure (1)
    52       0.8 %     36       0.5 %
Total mortgage loans
                               
on real estate
  $ 6,882       100.0 %   $ 7,178       100.0 %
 
(1)
As of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, there were 12 and 8 loans that were delinquent and in foreclosure, respectively.
 
   
As of
   
As of
       
As of
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
       
June 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
       
2010
 
By Segment
             
Allowance for Losses
     
Retirement Solutions:
             
Balance as of beginning-of-year
  $ 22  
Annuities
  $ 1,107     $ 1,193    
Additions
    13  
Defined Contribution
    897       925    
Charge-offs, net of recoveries
    (12 )
Insurance Solutions:
                 
Balance as of end-of-period
  $ 23  
Life Insurance
    3,996       4,185              
Group Protection
    300       310              
Other Operations
    582       565              
Total mortgage loans
                           
on real estate
  $ 6,882     $ 7,178              




 
127

 



   
As of June 30, 2010
       
As of June 30, 2010
 
   
Carrying
             
Carrying
       
   
Value
   
%
       
Value
   
%
 
Property Type
             
State Exposure
           
Office building
  $ 2,348       34.1 %  
CA
  $ 1,429       20.8 %
Industrial
    1,839       26.7 %  
TX
    600       8.7 %
Retail
    1,649       24.0 %  
MD
    433       6.3 %
Apartment
    624       9.1 %  
VA
    312       4.5 %
Hotel/Motel
    195       2.8 %  
FL
    308       4.5 %
Mixed use
    131       1.9 %  
TN
    300       4.4 %
Other commercial
    96       1.4 %  
AZ
    292       4.2 %
Total
  $ 6,882       100.0 %  
WA
    281       4.1 %
                   
NC
    253       3.7 %
                   
GA
    236       3.4 %
                   
IL
    231       3.4 %
Geographic Region
                 
PA
    202       2.9 %
Pacific
  $ 1,814       26.4 %  
NV
    202       2.9 %
South Atlantic
    1,679       24.4 %  
OH
    183       2.7 %
Mountain
    685       10.0 %  
IN
    161       2.3 %
East North Central
    657       9.5 %  
MN
    149       2.2 %
West South Central
    634       9.2 %  
NJ
    137       2.0 %
Middle Atlantic
    435       6.3 %  
SC
    123       1.8 %
East South Central
    427       6.2 %  
MA
    117       1.7 %
West North Central
    383       5.6 %  
OR
    104       1.5 %
New England
    168       2.4 %  
Other states under 2%
    829       12.0 %
Total
  $ 6,882       100.0 %  
Total
  $ 6,882       100.0 %
                                     
                                     
   
As of June 30, 2010
       
As of June 30, 2010
 
   
Principal
               
Principal
         
   
Amount
   
%
       
Amount
   
%
 
Origination Year
                 
Future Principal Payments
               
2004 and prior
  $ 3,321       48.3 %  
Remainder of 2010
  $ 114       1.7 %
2005
    862       12.5 %  
2011
    340       4.9 %
2006
    687       10.0 %  
2012
    409       5.9 %
2007
    1,000       14.5 %  
2013
    414       6.0 %
2008
    820       11.9 %  
2014
    473       6.9 %
2009
    153       2.2 %  
2015 and thereafter
    5,130       74.6 %
2010
    37       0.6 %  
Total
  $ 6,880       100.0 %
Total
  $ 6,880       100.0 %                    
 
As discussed in “Current Market Conditions” in our 2009 Form 10-K, 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 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.


 
128

 

Loan-to-value and debt-service coverage ratios are measures commonly used to assess the quality of mortgage loans.  The loan-to-value ratio compares the principal amount of the loan to the fair value at origination of the underlying property collateralizing the loan, and is commonly expressed as a percentage.  Loan-to-value ratios greater than 100% indicate that the principal amount is greater than the collateral value.  Therefore, all else being equal, a smaller loan-to-value ratio generally indicates a higher quality loan.  The debt-service coverage ratio compares a property’s net operating income to its debt-service payments.  Debt-service coverage ratios of less than 1.0 indicate that property operations do not generate enough income to cover its current debt payments.  Therefore, all else being equal, a larger debt-service coverage ratio generally indicates a higher quality loan.  The following summarizes our loan-to-value and debt-service coverage ratios (in millions):
 
   
As of June 30, 2010
 
Loan-to-Value
 
Principal Amount
   
%
   
Debt- Service Coverage
 
Less than 65%
  $ 4,830       70.2 %     1.65  
65% to 75%
    1,685       24.5 %     1.42  
Greater than 75%
    365       5.3 %     0.79  
Total mortgage loans
  $ 6,880       100.0 %        
 
All mortgage loans that are impaired have an established allowance for credit loss.  Changing economic conditions impact our valuation of mortgage loans.  Changing vacancies and rents are incorporated into the discounted cash flow analysis that we perform for monitored loans and may contribute to the establishment of (or an increase or decrease in) an allowance for credit losses.  In addition, we continue to monitor the entire commercial mortgage loan portfolio to identify risk.  Areas of emphasis are properties that have deteriorating credits or have experienced debt coverage reduction.  Where warranted, we have established or increased loss reserves based upon this analysis.  There were 10 impaired mortgage loans as of June 30, 2010, or less than 1% of the total dollar amount of mortgage loans.  The carrying value on the mortgage loans that were two or more payments delinquent as of June 30, 2010, was $52 million, or 1% of total mortgage loans.  The total principal and interest past due on the mortgage loans that were two or more payments delinquent as of June 30, 2010, was $3 million.  The carrying value on the mortgage loans that were two or more payments delinquent as of December 31, 2009, was $36 million, or less than 1% of total mortgage loans.  The total principal and interest past due on the mortgage loans that were two or more payments delinquent as of December 31, 2009, was $2 million.  See Note 1 in our 2009 Form 10-K for more information regarding our accounting policy relating to the impairment of mortgage loans.

Alternative Investments

The carrying value of our consolidated alternative investments by business segment (in millions), which consisted primarily of investments in limited partnerships, was as follows:
 
   
As of
   
As of
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Retirement Solutions:
           
Annuities
  $ 94     $ 85  
Defined Contribution
    72       65  
Insurance Solutions:
               
Life Insurance
    524       485  
Group Protection
    30       32  
Other Operations
    (1 )     29  
Total alternative investments
  $ 719     $ 696  



 
129

 

Income (loss) derived from our consolidated alternative investments by business segment (in millions) was as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Retirement Solutions:
                                   
Annuities
  $ 3     $ (8 )     138 %   $ 6     $ (8 )     175 %
Defined Contribution
    2       (5 )     140 %     4       (5 )     180 %
Insurance Solutions:
                                               
Life Insurance
    18       (56 )     132 %     32       (62 )     152 %
Group Protection
    1       (3 )     133 %     2       (3 )     167 %
Other Operations
    -       1       -100 %     -       1       -100 %
Total alternative investments (1)
  $ 24     $ (71 )     134 %   $ 44     $ (77 )     157 %
 
(1)
Includes net investment income on the alternative investments supporting the required statutory surplus of our insurance businesses.

The increase in our investment income on alternative investments presented in the table above when comparing the first six months of 2010 to the same period in 2009 was due primarily to the impact of audit adjustments in 2009 related to completion of 2008 calendar-year financial statement audits of the investees within our portfolio and overall improvement in the equity markets in 2010 specifically benefiting our hedge fund, venture capital and energy limited partnership holdings.

As of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, alternative investments included investments in approximately 96 and 99 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 2009 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.  Our investment income from alternative investments for the second quarter of 2010 included a pre-tax gain of $7 million attributable to audit adjustments to partnerships’ 2009 financial statements.  The breakdown of these audit adjustments by segment was as follows: $4 million for Insurance Solutions – Life Insurance; $1 million for Insurance Solutions – Group Protection; $1 million for Retirement Solutions – Annuities; and $1 million for Retirement Solutions – Defined Contribution.

Non-Income Producing Investments

As of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, the carrying amount of fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans on real estate and real estate that were non-income producing was $26 million and $38 million, respectively.


 
130

 

Net Investment Income

Details underlying net investment income (in millions) and our investment yield were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Net Investment Income
                                   
Fixed maturity AFS securities
  $ 913     $ 854       6.9 %   $ 1,815     $ 1,679       8 %
VIEs' fixed maturity AFS securities
    4       -    
NM
      8       -    
NM
 
Equity AFS securities
    1       2       -50.0 %     3       3       0 %
Trading securities
    39       39       0.0 %     79       79       0 %
Mortgage loans on real estate
    106       117       -9.4 %     216       236       -8 %
Real estate
    5       4       25.0 %     11       6       83 %
Standby real estate equity
                                               
commitments
    -       -    
NM
      1       1       0 %
Policy loans
    43       42       2.4 %     85       86       -1 %
Invested cash
    2       4       -50.0 %     3       12       -75 %
Commercial mortgage loan
                                               
prepayment and bond
                                               
makewhole premiums (1)
    12       4       200.0 %     17       4    
NM
 
Alternative investments (2)
    24       (71 )     133.8 %     44       (77 )     157 %
Consent fees
    1       2       -50.0 %     1       2       -50 %
Other investments
    1       2       -50.0 %     3       5       -40 %
Investment income
    1,151       999       15.2 %     2,286       2,036       12 %
Investment expense
    (31 )     (28 )     -10.7 %     (60 )     (52 )     -15 %
Net investment income
  $ 1,120     $ 971       15.3 %   $ 2,226     $ 1,984       12 %
 
(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
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
   
Basis
   
Months Ended
   
Basis
 
   
June 30,
   
Point
   
June 30,
   
Point
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Interest Rate Yield
                                   
Fixed maturity securities, mortgage
                                   
loans on real estate and other,
                                   
net of investment expenses
    5.63 %     5.83 %     (20 )     5.84 %     5.83 %     1  
Commercial mortgage loan
                                               
prepayment and bond
                                               
makewhole premiums
    0.06 %     0.02 %     4       0.04 %     0.01 %     3  
Alternative investments
    0.12 %     -0.40 %     52       0.12 %     -0.22 %     34  
Consent fees
    0.01 %     0.01 %     -       0.00 %     0.01 %     (1 )
Net investment income yield
                                               
on invested assets
    5.82 %     5.46 %     36       6.00 %     5.63 %     37  


 
131

 

      For the Three            
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Average invested assets at
                                   
amortized cost
  $ 76,978     $ 71,331       7.9 %   $ 76,219     $ 70,457       8.2 %
 
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 defined contribution 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 increase in net investment income when comparing the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, to the corresponding periods of 2009 was attributable to more favorable investment income on surplus and alternative investments, higher prepayment and bond makewhole premiums (see “Alternative Investments” above and “Commercial Mortgage Loan Prepayment and Bond Makewhole Premiums” below for more information) and higher invested assets driven primarily by favorable net flows on fixed account values, including the fixed portion of variable and to a lesser extent issuances of common stock and debt.

Standby Real Estate Equity Commitments

Historically, we have entered into standby commitments, which obligated us to purchase real estate at a specified cost if a third-party sale does not occur within approximately one year after construction is completed.  These commitments were used by a developer to obtain a construction loan from an outside lender on favorable terms.  In return for issuing the commitment, we received an annual fee and a percentage of the profit when the property is sold.  Our historical long-term expectation had been that we will be obligated to fund a small portion of our commitments that remain outstanding.  However, due to the economic environment over the last few years, we have experienced increased funding obligations.

As of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, we had standby real estate equity commitments totaling $86 million and $220 million, respectively.  During the first six months of 2010, we funded commitments of $112 million and recorded a loss of $8 million.  During 2009, we recorded a $69 million estimated allowance for loss on projects due to our belief that our requirement to fund the projects in accordance with the standby equity commitments would result in a probable future loss.  Certain of these commitments were funded during 2010 and the allowance for loss was $21 million as of June 30, 2010.

We have suspended our practice of entering into new standby real estate commitments. 

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 increase in prepayment and makewhole premiums when comparing 2010 to 2009 was attributable primarily to the overall improvement in the capital markets and real estate financing, which resulted in more refinancing activity and more prepayment income.


 
132

 

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
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Fixed maturity AFS securities:
                                   
Gross gains
  $ 35     $ 33       6 %   $ 84     $ 86       -2 %
Gross losses
    (29 )     (172 )     83 %     (113 )     (413 )     73 %
Equity AFS securities:
                                               
Gross gains
    5       1    
NM
      6       4    
NM
 
Gross losses
    -       (6 )     100 %     (4 )     (9 )     56 %
Gain (loss) on other investments
    (8 )     (58 )     86 %     (29 )     (60 )     52 %
Associated amortization
                                               
income (expense) of DAC, VOBA,
         
DSI and DFEL and in other
                                               
contract holder funds
    (8 )     48    
NM
      (4 )     104    
NM
 
Total realized gain (loss)
                                               
related to certain
                                               
investments
  $ (5 )   $ (154 )     97 %   $ (60 )   $ (288 )     79 %
 
Amortization expense of DAC, VOBA, DSI, 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 impact 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.

Realized gains and losses generally originate from asset sales to reposition the portfolio or to respond to product experience.  During the first six months of 2010 and 2009, 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” for additional information on our portfolio management strategy in our 2009 Form 10-K.


 
133

 

Details underlying write-downs taken as a result of OTTI (in millions) that were recognized in net income (loss) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Fixed Maturity Securities
                                   
Corporate bonds
  $ (5 )   $ (75 )     93 %   $ (46 )   $ (157 )     71 %
MBS:
                                               
CMOs
    (12 )     (61 )     80 %     (36 )     (142 )     75 %
ABS CDOs
    -       (30 )     100 %     (1 )     (30 )     97 %
Hybrid and redeemable preferred
                                               
securities
    -       -    
NM
      (5 )     (1 )  
NM
 
Total fixed maturity securities
    (17 )     (166 )     90 %     (88 )     (330 )     73 %
                                                 
Equity Securities
                                               
Other financial services securities
    -       -    
NM
      (3 )     (3 )     0 %
Other securities
    -       (6 )     100 %     -       (6 )     100 %
Total equity securities
    -       (6 )     100 %     (3 )     (9 )     67 %
Gross OTTI recognized in
                                               
net income (loss)
    (17 )     (172 )     90 %     (91 )     (339 )     73 %
Associated amortization
                                               
expense of DAC, VOBA,
                                               
DSI and DFEL
    6       54       -89 %     27       100       -73 %
Net OTTI recognized in
                                               
net income (loss),
                                               
pre-tax
  $ (11 )   $ (118 )     91 %   $ (64 )   $ (239 )     73 %
                                                 
Portion of OTTI Recognized
                                               
in OCI
                                               
Gross OTTI recognized in OCI
  $ -     $ 130       -100 %   $ 22     $ 242       -91 %
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI
                                               
and DFEL
    -       (27 )     100 %     2       (50 )     104 %
Net portion of OTTI
                                               
recognized in OCI, pre-tax
  $ -     $ 103       -100 %   $ 24     $ 192       -88 %
 
When comparing the first six months of 2010 to 2009, the decrease in write-downs for OTTI on our AFS securities was attributable primarily to overall improvement in the credit markets as compared to the same period in prior year.  Losses in 2010 were attributable primarily to certain corporate bond holdings within the entertainment and banking sectors, as well as deteriorating fundamentals within the housing market that affected select RMBS holdings.



 
134

 

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 $873 million and $447 million for the first six months of 2010 and 2009, 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, a commercial paper program 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 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 six months of 2010, our payables for collateral on derivative investments increased by $804 million as declines in the equity and credit markets and interest rates resulted in increased derivative fair values.  For additional information, see “Credit Risk” in Note 6.

We believe that the rating agencies have heightened the level of scrutiny that they apply to the U.S. life insurance sector and may adjust upward the capital and other requirements employed in the rating agency models for maintenance of certain ratings levels.  In addition, actions we take to access third party financing may in turn cause rating agencies to reevaluate our ratings.  During May and June of 2010, Moody’s, Fitch and A.M. Best all improved their outlook on our company to stable from negative, and S&P’s outlook remained stable.  For more information about ratings, see “Part I – Item 1. Business – Ratings” in our 2009 Form 10-K and our Form 8-K filed on June 2, 2010.

Details underlying the primary sources of our holding company cash flows (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Dividends from Subsidiaries
                                   
The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
                                   
 ("LNL")
  $ 275     $ 405       -32 %   $ 275     $ 405       -32 %
Lincoln Financial Media
    -       2       -100 %     -       2       -100 %
First Penn-Pacific
    -       50       -100 %     -       50       -100 %
Delaware Investments (1)
    -       3       -100 %     390       5    
NM
 
Lincoln Barbados
    -       300       -100 %     -       300       -100 %
Other
    7       -    
NM
      22       -    
NM
 
Loan Repayments and Interest from
                                               
 Subsidiary
                                               
LNL interest on intercompany notes (2)
    19       19       0 %     41       41       0 %
    $ 301     $ 779       -61 %   $ 728     $ 803       -9 %
Other Cash Flow and Liquidity Items
                                               
Net proceeds on common stock issuance
  $ 368     $ 660       -44 %   $ 368     $ 660       -44 %
Lincoln UK sale proceeds
    18       -    
NM
      18       -    
NM
 
    $ 386     $ 660       -42 %   $ 386     $ 660       -42 %

(1)
For 2010, amount includes proceeds on the sale of Delaware.  For more information, see Note 3.
(2)
Primarily represents interest on the holding company’s $1.3 billion in surplus note investments in LNL.

 
135

 


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 impact 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.

Dividends from Subsidiaries

Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to certain insurance department regulatory restrictions as to the transfer of funds and payment of dividends to the holding company.  Under Indiana laws and regulations, our Indiana insurance subsidiaries, including our primary insurance subsidiary, LNL, may pay dividends to LNC without prior approval of the Indiana Insurance Commissioner (the “Commissioner”) up to a certain threshold, or must receive prior approval of the Commissioner to pay a dividend if such dividend, along with all other dividends paid within the preceding twelve consecutive months exceed the statutory limitation.  The current statutory limitation is the greater of 10% of the insurer’s contract holders’ surplus, as shown on its last annual statement on file with the Commissioner or the insurer’s statutory net gain from operations for the prior calendar year.  As discussed in “Part I – Item 1. Business – Regulatory – Insurance Regulation” in our 2009 Form 10-K, we may not consider the benefit from the statutory accounting principles relating to our insurance subsidiaries’ deferred tax assets in calculating available dividends.  Indiana law gives the Commissioner broad discretion to disapprove requests for dividends in excess of these limits.  New York, the state of domicile of our other major insurance subsidiary, The Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New York, has similar restrictions, except that in New York it is the lesser of 10% of surplus to contract holders as of the immediately preceding calendar year or net gain from operations for the immediately preceding calendar year, not including realized capital gains.

We expect our domestic insurance subsidiaries could pay dividends of approximately $730 million in 2010 without prior approval from the respective state commissioners.  The amount of surplus that our insurance subsidiaries could pay as dividends is constrained by the amount of surplus we hold to maintain our ratings, to provide an additional layer of margin for risk protection and for future investment in our businesses.

We maintain an investment portfolio of various holdings, types and maturities.  These investments are subject to general credit, liquidity, market and interest rate risks.  An extended disruption in the credit and capital markets could adversely affect LNC and its subsidiaries’ ability to access sources of liquidity, and there can be no assurance that additional financing will be available to us on favorable terms, or at all, in the current market environment.  In addition, further OTTI could reduce our statutory surplus, leading to lower RBC ratios and potentially reducing future dividend capacity from our insurance subsidiaries.

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 subject to these statutory reserving requirements on our insurance subsidiaries, see “Results of Insurance Solutions – Insurance Solutions – Life Insurance – Income from Operations – Strategies to Address Statutory Reserve Strain.”

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.

On June 30, 2010, after consultation with the OTS, we redeemed our Series B preferred stock that we had issued to the U.S. Treasury under the CPP.  We funded the $950 million liquidation value of the stock with proceeds from a $368 million common stock offering, proceeds from a $250 million five-year senior notes offering (both mentioned below) and with cash that was held at our holding company, which was attributable primarily to proceeds from the sale of Delaware.  As a result of repurchasing the preferred stock, we accelerated the remaining accretion of the preferred stock issuance discount of $131 million and recorded a corresponding charge to retained earnings and income (loss) available to common stockholders in the calculation of earnings per common share.  The U.S. Treasury continues to hold a warrant to purchase 13,049,451 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $10.92 per share.  We notified the U.S. Treasury that we will not repurchase the warrant, which under the terms of the agreement between the parties acts as U.S. Treasury's notice to us of its intention to sell the warrant.

On June 18, 2010, we closed on the sale of 14,137,615 shares of our common stock at a price to the public of $27.25 per share and also completed the sale of $250 million aggregate principal amount of our 4.3% senior notes due 2015,  In addition, we completed

 
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the sale of $500 million aggregate principal amount of our 7% senior notes due 2040, and we expect to use the net proceeds from this offering as part of a long-term financing solution supporting the life reserves of certain UL products of our insurance subsidiaries (see in “Results of Insurance Solutions – Insurance Solutions – Life Insurance – Income from Operations – Strategies to Address Statutory Reserve Strain” for more information).  The net proceeds from these offerings were $1.1 billion.  For more information about our debt issuances, see Note 9.

On January 4, 2010, we closed on the sale of Delaware and received after-tax proceeds of approximately $405 million.  On October 1, 2009, we closed on the sale of Lincoln UK and received after-tax proceeds of $307 million.  As a result of post-closing adjustments related to this transaction, we received additional consideration of $18 million, after-tax, during the second quarter of 2010.  For more information on the disposition of these businesses, see Note 3.

Details underlying debt and financing activities (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2010
 
                     
Change
             
               
Maturities
   
in Fair
             
   
Beginning
         
and
   
Value
   
Other
   
Ending
 
   
Balance
   
Issuance
   
Repayments
   
Hedges
   
Changes (1)
   
Balance
 
Short-Term Debt
                                   
Commercial paper
  $ 99     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ (1 )   $ 98  
Current maturities of long-term debt
    250       -       (250 )     -       -       -  
Other short-term debt
    1       -       -       -       -       1  
Total short-term debt
  $ 350     $ -     $ (250 )   $ -     $ (1 )   $ 99  
                                                 
Long-Term Debt
                                               
Senior notes
  $ 2,960     $ 749     $ -     $ 64     $ 2     $ 3,775  
Bank borrowing
    200       -       -       -       -       200  
Federal Home Loan Bank
                                               
of Indianapolis ("FHLBI") advance
    250       -       -       -       -       250  
Junior subordinated debentures
                                               
issued to affiliated trusts
    155       -       -       -       -       155  
Capital securities
    1,485       -       -       -       -       1,485  
Total long-term debt
  $ 5,050     $ 749     $ -     $ 64     $ 2     $ 5,865  
 
(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.

On March 12, 2010, we funded the maturity of a $250 million floating rate senior note with the majority of our proceeds from our $300 million 6.25% senior offering in December 2009.  Within the next two years, we have a $250 million 6.2% fixed rate senior note maturing on December 15, 2011.  The specific resources or combination of resources that we will use to meet the 2011 maturity will depend upon, among other things, the financial market conditions present at the time of maturity.  As of June 30, 2010, the holding company had $1.1 billion in cash and cash equivalents; however, this amount includes proceeds from a $500 million senior notes offering that has not yet been contributed to our insurance subsidiaries as part of the long-term financing solution supporting UL business, mentioned above.


 
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Details underlying our credit facilities with a group of domestic and foreign banks (in millions) were as follows:
 
         
As of June 30, 2010
 
   
Expiration
   
Maximum
   
Borrowings
   
   
Date
   
Available
   
Outstanding
   
Credit Facilities
                   
Credit facility with the FHLBI (1)
   N/A     $ 630     $ 350    
364-day revolving credit facility
 
Jun-11
      500       -  (2)  
Four-year revolving credit facility
 
Jun-14
      1,500       -    
Ten-year LOC facility
 
Dec-19
      550       -    
Total
          $ 3,180     $ 350    
                           
LOCs issued
                  $ 2,038    
 
(1)
Our borrowing capacity under this credit facility does not have an expiration date and continues while our investment in the FHLBI common stock remains outstanding as long as LNL maintains a satisfactory level of creditworthiness and does not incur a material adverse change in its financial, business, regulatory or other areas that would materially affect its operations and viability.  As of June 30, 2010, we had a $250 million floating-rate term loan outstanding under the facility (classified within long-term debt on our Consolidated Balance Sheets) due June 20, 2017, which may be prepaid beginning June 20, 2010.  We also borrowed $100 million under the facility (classified within payables for collateral on investments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets) at a rate of 0.65% that is due May 25, 2011.
(2)
During the second quarter of 2010, LNC had an average of $98 million in commercial paper outstanding with a maximum amount of $101 million outstanding at any time.  As of June 30, 2010, we had commercial paper outstanding of $98 million backed by this facility, which reduced our available credit facility by a corresponding amount, but did not represent loans borrowed by the credit facility.
 
Effective as of June 9, 2010, we entered into two revolving credit facilities with a syndicate of banks.  One agreement (the “Four-Year Agreement”) allows for issuance of LOCs, as well as borrowings to finance any draws under the LOCs.  The Four-Year Agreement is unsecured and has a commitment termination date of June 9, 2014.  The Four-Year Agreement must be used primarily to provide LOCs in support of certain life insurance reserves.  The second agreement (the “364-Day Agreement,” and together with the “Four-Year Agreement” the “credit facility”) allows for borrowing or issuance of LOCs and may be used for general corporate purposes.  The 364-Day Agreement is unsecured and has a commitment termination of June 8, 2011.  LOCs issued under the credit facility may remain outstanding for one year following the applicable commitment termination date of each agreement.  The LOCs support inter-company reinsurance transactions and specific treaties associated with our business sold through reinsurance.  LOCs are used primarily to satisfy the U.S. regulatory requirements of our domestic insurance companies for which reserve credit is provided by our affiliated reinsurance companies, as discussed above in “Insurance Solutions – Life Insurance – Strategies to Address Statutory Reserve Strain,” and our domestic clients of the business sold through reinsurance.

The credit facility contains customary terms and conditions, including covenants restricting our ability to incur liens, merge or consolidate with another entity where we are not the surviving entity and dispose of all or substantially all of our assets.  The credit facility also includes financial covenants including:  maintenance of a minimum consolidated net worth (as defined in the facility) equal to the sum of $9.2 billion plus fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate net proceeds of equity issuances received by us in accordance with the terms of the credit facility (other than net proceeds used to repay investments to the U.S. Treasury under the CPP); and a debt-to-capital ratio as defined in accordance with the credit facility not to exceed 0.35 to 1.00.  Further, the credit facility contains customary events of default, subject to certain materiality thresholds and grace periods for certain of those events of default.  The events of default include payment defaults, covenant defaults, material inaccuracies in representations and warranties, certain cross-defaults, bankruptcy and liquidation proceedings and other customary defaults.  Upon an event of default, the credit facility provides that, among other things, the commitments may be terminated and the loans then outstanding may be declared due and payable.  As of June 30, 2010, we were in compliance with all such covenants.

If current debt ratings and claims-paying ratings were downgraded in the future, terms in our derivative agreements may be triggered, which could negatively impact overall liquidity.  For the majority of our counterparties, there is a termination event should long-term debt ratings of LNC drop below BBB-/Baa3.  Our long-term debt held a rating of BBB/Baa2 as of June 30, 2010.  In addition, contractual selling agreements with intermediaries could be negatively impacted, which could have an adverse impact on overall sales of annuities, life insurance and investment products.  See “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors – 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 – 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 2009 Form 10-K for more information.  See “Part I – Item 1. Business – Ratings” in our 2009 Form 10-K for additional information on our current bond ratings.

 
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Management monitors the covenants associated with LNC’s capital securities.  As of June 30, 2010, we had approximately $1.5 billion in principal amount of capital securities outstanding.  If we fail to meet capital adequacy or net income and stockholders’ equity levels (also referred to as “trigger events”), terms in the agreements may be triggered, which would require us to make interest payments in accordance with an alternative coupon satisfaction mechanism (“ACSM”).  If we determine that one of the following triggers exists as of the 30th day prior to an interest payment date (“determination date”), then the ACSM would apply:

1.
LNL’s RBC ratio is less than 175% (based on the most recent annual financial statement filed with the State of Indiana); or

2.
(i) the sum of our consolidated net income for the four trailing fiscal quarters ending on the quarter that is two quarters prior to the most recently completed quarter prior to the determination date is zero or negative, and (ii) our consolidated stockholders’ equity (excluding accumulated OCI and any increase in stockholders’ equity resulting from the issuance of preferred stock during a quarter) (“adjusted stockholders’ equity”) as of (x) the most recently completed quarter and (y) the end of the quarter that is two quarters before the most recently completed quarter, has declined by 10% or more as compared to the quarter that is ten fiscal quarters prior to the last completed quarter (the “benchmark quarter”).

The ACSM would generally require us to use commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy our obligation to pay interest in full on the capital securities with the net proceeds from sales of our common stock and warrants to purchase our common stock with an exercise price greater than the market price.  We would have to utilize the ACSM until the trigger events above no longer existed, and, in the case of test 2 above, our adjusted stockholders’ equity amount increased or declined by less than 10% as compared to the adjusted stockholders’ equity at the end of the benchmark quarter for each interest payment date as to which interest payment restrictions were imposed by test 2 above.

If we were required to utilize the ACSM and were successful in selling sufficient shares of common stock or warrants to satisfy the interest payment, we would dilute the current holders of our common stock.  Furthermore, while a trigger event is occurring and if we do not pay accrued interest in full, we may not, among other things, pay dividends on or repurchase our capital stock.  Our failure to pay interest pursuant to the ACSM will not result in an event of default with respect to the capital securities, nor will a
nonpayment of interest, unless it lasts for ten consecutive years, although such breaches may result in monetary damages to the holders of the capital securities.

In recent quarters, we have triggered the net income test as a result of quarterly consolidated net losses.  However, recent quarterly consolidated net income and our efforts to raise capital in the form of equity resulted in no trigger of either the net income test or the overall stockholders’ equity test looking forward to the quarters ending September 30, 2010, and December 31, 2010.

The calculations of RBC, net income (loss) and adjusted stockholders’ equity are subject to adjustments and the capital securities are subject to additional terms and conditions as further described in supplemental indentures filed as exhibits to our Forms 8-K filed on March 13, 2007, May 17, 2006, and April 20, 2006.

For more information, see “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors – We will be required to pay interest on our capital securities with proceeds from the issuance of qualifying securities if we fail to achieve capital adequacy or net income and stockholders’ equity levels” and Note 13 in our 2009 Form 10-K.

For information regarding the repurchase of the preferred stock that we had issued to the U.S. Treasury under the CPP, see “Introduction – Executive Summary – Current Market Conditions” above.

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 second quarter of 2010.  There was no balance as of June 30, 2010.  In addition, the holding company had an outstanding receivable of $227 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 June 30, 2010.  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.

 
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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 June 30, 2010, our insurance subsidiaries had securities with a carrying value of $188 million out on loan under the securities lending program and $335 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 “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2009 Form 10-K and “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” above.

Divestitures

For a discussion of our divestitures, see “Part I – Item 1. Business – Acquisitions and Dispositions” in our 2009 Form 10-K and Note 3.

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.  As a result of the repurchase of the preferred stock that we had issued to the U.S. Treasury under the CPP, many of the associated restrictions will no longer apply to us, including the limit on increasing the dividend on our common stock.

Details underlying this activity (in millions) were as follows:
 
   
For the Three
         
For the Six
       
   
Months Ended
         
Months Ended
       
   
June 30,
         
June 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Common dividends to stockholders
  $ 3     $ 3       0 %   $ 6     $ 56       -89 %
Number of shares issued
    14.138       46.000       -69 %     14.138       46.000       -69 %
Average price per share
  $ 26.09     $ 14.34       82 %   $ 26.09     $ 14.34       82 %

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 impacted 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 2009 Form 10-K.




 
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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 2009 Form 10-K and “Forward-Looking Statements – Cautionary Language” in this report.

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, foreign currency exchange risk, equity market risk, default risk, basis risk and credit risk.  The exposures of financial instruments to market risks, and the related risk management process, are most important to our Retirement Solutions and Insurance Solutions businesses, where most of the invested assets support accumulation and investment-oriented insurance products.  As an important element of our integrated asset-liability management process, 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 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; fluctuations in currency exchange 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”).


 
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Interest Rate Risk on Fixed Insurance Business – Falling Rates

In periods of declining interest rates, we have to reinvest the cash we receive as interest or return of principal on our investments in lower yielding instruments.  Moreover, borrowers may prepay fixed income securities, commercial mortgages and mortgage-backed securities in our general account in order to borrow at lower market rates, which exacerbate this risk.  Because we are entitled to reset the interest rates on our fixed rate annuities only at limited, pre-established intervals, and because many of our contracts have guaranteed minimum interest or crediting rates, our spreads could decrease and potentially become negative.

Prolonged historically low rates are not healthy for our business fundamentals.  However, we have recognized this threat and have been proactive in our investment strategies, product designs, crediting rate strategies and overall asset-liability practices to mitigate the risk of unfavorable consequences in this type of environment.  For some time now, new products have been sold with low minimum crediting floors, and we apply disciplined asset-liability management standards, such as locking in spreads on these products at the time of issue.

The following summarizes solely a hypothetical significant unfavorable stress scenario to earnings if new money rates, currently averaging approximately 75 to 100 basis points below our portfolio yields, remain in place through 2012 as opposed to a scenario that we would expect to occur.  This scenario is simply an illustration of the sensitivity to our earnings if such a stress scenario were to happen:

·
Insurance Solutions – Life Insurance  The stress on earnings has been mitigated by proactive strategies to lock in long-dated and high-yielding assets.  We executed on strategies which allowed us to effectively pre-buy assets in anticipation of future flows and maturing securities  We estimate the combination of spread compression, unlocking, and increases in reserves would combine to unfavorably affect earnings in the range of approximately $35 million during 2011 and $50 million during 2012.  We pursue proactive strategies to lock-in long-dated and high-yielding assets to manage this risk.  In addition, if we were to lower our long-term yield assumption by 50 basis points, and unlocked no other assumptions, it could result in a reduction to earnings at adoption of approximately $50 million.  Our methodology assumes that new money rates grade from current levels to a long-term yield assumption over time.
·
Retirement Solutions – The earnings drag from spread compression is modest and largely concentrated in our Defined Contribution segment, which is a function of this segment having higher guaranteed crediting rates and recurring premiums.  We estimate that this scenario would have a modest unfavorable earnings impact during 2011 and an approximate impact in the range of $10 million to $15 million during 2012.  Our Annuities business is not sensitive to spread compression so there is very little impact estimated.  The risk for our Annuities business is more of sharp rising rates and we manage this risk by selling market value adjusted product and through purchase of derivative protection.
·
Insurance Solutions – Group Projection – The earnings impact is not material and would be primarily related to our review of the discount rate assumptions associated with our long-term disability claim reserves.  This evaluation may result in a reduction in the discount rate on new claims that reflects new money rates on assets supporting those reserves.  The combination of spread compression and decreases to reserve discount rates would unfavorably affect annualized earnings by less than $5 million.
·
Other Operations – We may also be impacted by sensitivity to our exposures in our institutional pension and disability run-off blocks of business that are sensitive to interest rates and could contribute to an impact.

The estimates above are based upon a hypothetical stressed scenario and are only representative of the effects of new money rates remaining in place through 2012 keeping all else equal and does not give consideration to the aggregate impact of other factors, including but not limited to:  contract holder activity; hedge positions; changing equity markets; shifts in implied volatilities; and changes in other capital market sectors.  In addition, the scenario only illustrated the impact to spreads and certain unlocking and reserve changes.  Other potential impacts of the scenario were not considered in the analysis.
 

 
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The spreads on our fixed annuity, term life, whole life, interest-sensitive whole life, universal life (“UL”), fixed portion of defined contribution business and fixed portion of variable universal life (“VUL”) insurance policies are at risk if interest rates decline and remain low for a period of time, which has generally been the case in recent years.  Should interest rates remain at current levels that are significantly lower than those existing prior to the declines of recent years, the average earned rate of return on our annuity and UL investment portfolios will continue to decline.  Declining portfolio yields may cause the spreads between investment portfolio yields and the interest rate credited to contract holders to deteriorate as our ability to manage spreads can become limited by minimum guaranteed rates on annuity and UL policies.  Minimum guaranteed rates on annuity and UL policies generally range from 1.5% to 5.0%.  The following table provides detail on the percentage differences between the June 30, 2010, interest rates being credited to contract holders based on third quarter of 2010 declared rates and the respective minimum guaranteed policy rate (dollars in millions), broken out by contract holder account values reported within the Retirement Solutions and Insurance Solutions businesses:
 
   
Account Values
 
               
Insurance
             
   
Retirement Solutions
   
Solutions -
         
%
 
         
Defined
   
Life
         
Account
 
   
Annuities
   
Contribution
   
Insurance
   
Total
   
Values
 
Excess of Crediting Rates over Contract Minimums
                             
Discretionary rate setting products (1) (2):
                             
No difference
  $ 5,102     $ 8,975     $ 20,324     $ 34,401       57.6 %
up to .10%
    122       70       191       383       0.6 %
0.11% to .20%
    74       -       1,024       1,098       1.8 %
0.21% to .30%
    272       -       545       817       1.4 %
0.31% to .40%
    66       1       640       707       1.2 %
0.41% to .50%
    44       6       678       728       1.2 %
0.51% to .60%
    60       -       344       404       0.7 %
0.61% to .70%
    11       -       990       1,001       1.7 %
0.71% to .80%
    32       -       849       881       1.5 %
0.81% to .90%
    9       -       14       23       0.0 %
0.91% to 1.0%
    25       158       20       203       0.3 %
1.01% to 1.50%
    430       285       518       1,233       2.1 %
1.51% to 2.00%
    409       11       575       995       1.7 %
2.01% to 2.50%
    232       2       4       238       0.4 %
2.51% to 3.00%
    97       154       -       251       0.4 %
3.01% and above
    19       51       38       108       0.2 %
Total discretionary rate setting products
    7,004       9,713       26,754       43,471       72.8 %
Other contracts (3)
    13,393       2,867       -       16,260       27.2 %
Total account values
  $ 20,397     $ 12,580     $ 26,754     $ 59,731       100.0 %
                                         
Percentage of discretionary rate setting product
                                       
account values at minimum guaranteed rates
    73 %     92 %     76 %     79 %        
 
(1)
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.
(2)
The average crediting rates in excess of average minimum guaranteed rates for our Annuities, Defined Contribution and Life Insurance segments were 33 basis points, 12 basis points and 16 basis points, respectively.
(3)
Includes multi-year guarantee annuities, indexed annuities, modified guarantee annuities, single premium immediate annuities, dollar cost averaging contracts and indexed-based rate setting products for our Defined Contribution segment.  The average crediting rates in excess of average minimum guaranteed rates for indexed-based rate setting products within our Defined Contribution segment was 54 basis points, and 44% 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.

 
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Derivatives

We have entered into derivative transactions to hedge our exposure to rapid changes in interest rates.  The derivative programs are used to help us achieve somewhat stable margins while providing competitive crediting rates to contract holders during periods when interest rates are changing.  Such derivatives include interest rate swap agreements, interest rate futures, interest rate cap agreements, forward-starting interest rate swaps, consumer price index swaps, interest rate cap corridors and treasury locks.  See Note 6 for additional information on our derivatives used to hedge our exposure to changes in interest rates.

In addition to continuing existing programs, we may use derivative instruments in other strategies to limit risk and enhance returns, particularly in the management of investment spread businesses.  We have established policies, guidelines and internal control procedures for the use of derivatives as tools to enhance management of the overall portfolio of risks assumed in our operations.  Annually, our Board of Directors reviews our derivatives policy.

Impact of Equity Market Sensitivity

Due to the use of our reversion to the mean (“RTM”) process and our hedging strategies as described in “MD&A – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Item 2 above and in Item 7 of our 2009 Form 10-K, we expect that, in general, short-term fluctuations in the equity markets should not have a significant impact on our quarterly earnings from unlocking of assumptions for deferred acquisition costs, value of business acquired, deferred sales inducements and deferred front-end loads, as we do not unlock our long-term equity market assumptions based upon short-term fluctuations in the equity markets.  However, there is an impact to earnings from the effects of equity market movements on account values and assets under management and the related asset-based fees we earn on those assets net of related expenses we incur based upon the level of assets.

The following table presents our estimate of the impact on income 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”) were to increase to 1100 immediately after June 30, 2010, and remain at that level through the next twelve months, or decrease to 800 immediately after June 30, 2010, and remain at that level through the next twelve months, excluding any impact 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 1100 (1)
   
at 800 (1)
 
Segment
           
Retirement Solutions - Annuities (2)
  $ 10     $ (80 )
Retirement Solutions - Defined Contribution (2)
    -       (25 )
 
(1)
The baseline for these impacts assumes 9% annual equity market growth beginning on July 1, 2010.  The baseline is then compared to scenarios of S&P 500 at the 1100 and 800 levels, which assume the index stays at those levels for the next twelve months and grows at 9% annually thereafter.  The difference between the baseline and S&P 500 at the 1100 and 800 level scenarios is presented in the table.
(2)
If the level of the S&P 500 increased to 1100 immediately after June 30, 2010, and remained at that level in subsequent periods we project that we would have a favorable RTM prospective unlocking of approximately $100 million to $140 million, after-tax, for Retirement Solutions late in 2014.  If the level of the S&P 500 decreased to 800 immediately after June 30, 2010, and remained at that level  in subsequent periods we project that we would have an unfavorable RTM prospective unlocking of approximately $200 million to $260 million, after-tax, for Retirement Solutions late in 2012.

The impact on earnings summarized above is an expected effect for the next twelve months.  The effect of quarterly equity market changes upon fee revenues and asset-based expenses will not be fully recognized in the current quarter 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 impacts fee revenues in subsequent periods.  Additionally, the impact 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 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.

 
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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.  For additional information, see Note 6.

Credit Risk

Through the use of derivative instruments, we are exposed to both credit risk (our counterparty fails to make payment) and market risk (the value of the instrument falls).  When the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, this generally indicates that the counterparty owes us and, therefore, creates a credit risk for us equal to the extent of the fair value gain in the derivative.  When the fair value of a derivative contract is negative, this generally indicates we owe the counterparty and therefore we have no credit risk, but have been affected by market risk.  We minimize the credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with high quality counterparties with minimum credit ratings that are reviewed regularly by us, by limiting the amount of credit exposure to any one counterparty and by requiring certain counterparties to post collateral if our credit risk exceeds certain limits.  We also maintain a policy of requiring all derivative contracts to be governed by an International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”) Master Agreement.  We do not believe that the credit or market risks associated with derivative instruments are material to any insurance subsidiary or to us.

We have derivative positions with counterparties.  Assuming zero recovery value, our exposure is the positive market value of the derivative positions with a counterparty, less collateral, that would be lost if the counterparty were to default.  As of June 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, our counterparty risk exposure, net of collateral, was $308 million and $292 million, respectively.  As of June 30, 2010, we had exposure to 20 counterparties, with a maximum exposure of $139 million, net of collateral, to a single counterparty.  The credit risk associated with such agreements is minimized by purchasing such agreements from financial institutions with long-standing, superior performance records.  For the majority of Lincoln National Corporation counterparties, there is a termination event should long-term debt ratings of LNC rating drop below BBB-/Baa3.  Additionally, we maintain a policy of requiring all derivative contracts to be governed by an ISDA Master Agreement.
Our fair value of counterparty exposure (in millions) was as follows:
 
     
As of
   
As of
 
     
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
     
2010
   
2009
 
Rating
             
AAA
    $ (1 )   $ -  
AA
      219       202  
 A       84       82  
BBB
      6       8  
Total
    $ 308     $ 292  
 
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 our 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 covered 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 that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-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 that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2010, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 
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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.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

Information regarding reportable legal proceedings is contained in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in “Part I – Item 1.”

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

The risk factor set forth below updates those set forth in Lincoln National Corporation and its majority-owned subsidiaries (“LNC” or the “Company,” which also may be referred to as “we,” “our” or “us”) Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.  You should carefully consider the risks described below before investing in our securities.  The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing our company.  Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations.  If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially affected.  In that case, the value of our securities could decline substantially.

Our reserves for future policy benefits and claims related to our current and future business as well as businesses we may acquire in the future may prove to be inadequate.

We establish and carry, as a liability, reserves based on estimates of how much we will need to pay for future benefits and claims.  For our insurance products, we calculate these reserves based on many assumptions and estimates, including, but not limited to, estimated premiums we will receive over the assumed life of the policy, the timing of the event covered by the insurance policy, the lapse rate of the policies, the amount of benefits or claims to be paid and the investment returns on the assets we purchase with the premiums we receive.

As part of our transition plan related to the rescission of a reinsurance treaty covering disability income business, we conducted a reserve study to determine the adequacy of the reserves to cover contract holder obligations during the fourth quarter of 2009.  During the fourth quarter of 2009, we increased reserves as a result of our review of the adequacy of reserves supporting this business and wrote off certain receivables related to the rescission that were deemed to be uncollectible, which resulted in a $33 million unfavorable effect to net income.

The sensitivity of our statutory reserves and surplus established for our variable annuity base contracts and riders to changes in the equity markets will vary depending on the magnitude of the decline.  The sensitivity will be affected by the level of account values relative to the level of guaranteed amounts, product design and reinsurance.  Statutory reserves for variable annuities depend upon the cumulative equity market impacts on the business in force, and therefore, result in non-linear relationships with respect to the level of equity market performance within any reporting period.

The assumptions and estimates we use in connection with establishing and carrying our reserves are inherently uncertain.  Accordingly, we cannot determine with precision the ultimate amount or the timing of the payment of actual benefits and claims or whether the assets supporting the policy liabilities will grow to the level we assume prior to payment of benefits or claims.  If our actual experience is different from our assumptions or estimates, our reserves may prove to be inadequate in relation to our estimated future benefits and claims.

We are in the process of completing a conversion of our actuarial valuation systems to a uniform valuation platform.  This conversion will harmonize methods and processes and involves an upgrade to a critical platform for our financial reporting and analysis capabilities.  As part of this conversion process, we are harmonizing assumptions and methods of calculations that exist between similar blocks of business within our actuarial models.  We expect to substantially complete the most critical phases of the conversion by the end of 2010.  This exercise may result in material one-time gain and loss adjustments to our results of operations and may result in changes to earnings trends.  Although we expect some differences to emerge as a result of this exercise, based upon the current status of these efforts, we are not able to provide an estimate or range of the effects to our results of operations from any differences that may exist upon completion of the conversion.


 
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Our businesses are heavily regulated and changes in regulation may reduce our profitability.

Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to extensive supervision and regulation in the states in which we do business.  The supervision and regulation relate to numerous aspects of our business and financial condition.  The primary purpose of the supervision and regulation is the protection of our insurance contract holders, and not our investors.  The extent of regulation varies, but generally is governed by state statutes.  These statutes delegate regulatory, supervisory and administrative authority to state insurance departments.  This system of supervision and regulation covers, among other things:

·
Standards of minimum capital requirements and solvency, including RBC measurements;
·
Restrictions of certain transactions between our insurance subsidiaries and their affiliates;
·
Restrictions on the nature, quality and concentration of investments;
·
Restrictions on the types of terms and conditions that we can include in the insurance policies offered by our primary insurance operations;
·
Limitations on the amount of dividends that insurance subsidiaries can pay;
·
The existence and licensing status of the company under circumstances where it is not writing new or renewal business;
·
Certain required methods of accounting;
·
Reserves for unearned premiums, losses and other purposes; and
·
Assignment of residual market business and potential assessments for the provision of funds necessary for the settlement of covered claims under certain policies provided by impaired, insolvent or failed insurance companies.
 
We may be unable to maintain all required licenses and approvals and our business may not fully comply with the wide variety of applicable laws and regulations or the relevant authority’s interpretation of the laws and regulations, which may change from time to time.  Also, regulatory authorities have relatively broad discretion to grant, renew or revoke licenses and approvals.  If we do not have the requisite licenses and approvals or do not comply with applicable regulatory requirements, the insurance regulatory authorities could preclude or temporarily suspend us from carrying on some or all of our activities or impose substantial fines.  Further, insurance regulatory authorities have relatively broad discretion to issue orders of supervision, which permit such authorities to supervise the business and operations of an insurance company.  As of June 30, 2010, no state insurance regulatory authority had imposed on us any substantial fines or revoked or suspended any of our licenses to conduct insurance business in any state or issued an order of supervision with respect to our insurance subsidiaries, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

In addition, Lincoln Financial Network and Lincoln Financial Distributors, as well as our variable annuities and variable life insurance products, are subject to regulation and supervision by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Financial Industry Regulation Authority (“FINRA”).  LNC, as a savings and loan holding company, and NCLS are subject to regulation and supervision by the Office of Thrift Supervision (“OTS”).  As a savings and loan holding company, we are also subject to the requirement that our activities be financially-related activities as defined by federal law (which includes insurance activities).  These laws and regulations generally grant supervisory agencies and self-regulatory organizations broad administrative powers, including the power to limit or restrict the subsidiaries from carrying on their businesses in the event that they fail to comply with such laws and regulations.  Finally, our radio operations require a license, subject to periodic renewal, from the Federal Communications Commission to operate.  While management considers the likelihood of a failure to renew remote, any station that fails to receive renewal would be forced to cease operations.

Recently, there has been an increase in potential federal initiatives that would affect the insurance industry.  In January 2010, the White House proposed as a part of its budget proposal a new “financial crisis responsibility fee” on certain financial institutions as a means to recoup any shortfall in revenues resulting from the CPP, so that the program does not add to the federal budget deficit.  As proposed, the fee would apply to financial institutions, including bank holding companies, thrift holding companies, insured depositories and insurance companies that own one of these entities, with over $50 billion in assets, regardless of whether the firm participated in the CPP.  The Congress has not yet acted definitively on legislation to implement the Obama Administration budget proposal regarding the financial crisis responsibility fee.

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law, the “Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act,” H.R.  4173, a wide-ranging Act that includes a number of reforms of the financial services industry and financial products.  The Act includes, among other things, changes to the rules governing derivatives; restrictions on proprietary trading by certain entities; the imposition of capital and leverage requirements on bank and savings and loan holding companies; a study by the SEC of the rules governing broker-dealers and investment advisers with respect to individual investors and investment advice, followed potentially by rulemaking; the creation of a new Federal Insurance Office within the U.S. Treasury to gather information regarding the insurance industry; the creation of a resolution authority to unwind failing institutions, funded on a post-event basis; the creation of a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect consumers of certain financial products; and changes to executive compensation and certain corporate governance rules, among other things.   The Act also eliminates the OTS and reallocates the supervisory and regulatory authority over federally chartered thrifts to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and over thrift holding companies to the Federal Reserve.  Enactment of this provision ensures that we and NCLS will each have a new

 
147

 

regulator and may be subject to additional regulations.  Many of the provisions of this act require substantial regulatory work prior to implementation and although we do not expect the Act or the rules to be promulgated thereunder to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, liquidity or capital resources, result the ultimate impact of any of these provisions on our results of operations, liquidity or capital resources is currently indeterminable.

Many of the foregoing regulatory or governmental bodies have the authority to review our products and business practices and those of our agents and employees.  In recent years, there has been increased scrutiny of our businesses by these bodies, which has included more extensive examinations, regular sweep inquiries and more detailed review of disclosure documents.  These regulatory or governmental bodies may bring regulatory or other legal actions against us if, in their view, our practices, or those of our agents or employees, are improper.  These actions can result in substantial fines, penalties or prohibitions or restrictions on our business activities and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Changes in accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) or other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect our financial statements.

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with United States of America generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) as identified in the FASB Accounting Standards CodifcationTM (“ASC”).  From time to time we are required to adopt new or revised accounting standards or guidance that are incorporated into the FASB ASC.  It is possible that future accounting standards we are required to adopt could change the current accounting treatment that we apply to our consolidated financial statements and that such changes could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

For example, the Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") of the FASB has issued an exposure draft (EITF 09-G, "Accounting For Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts") on deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”), which changes to existing guidance as to the types of costs that insurance companies may capitalize and amortize over the life of the business.  The exposure draft limits the types of acquisition costs that a company may defer.  We expect the final guidance to significantly reduce the amount of acquisition cost that we will be able to defer in connection with sales of our insurance products.  Although this will not affect the ultimate profitability of our products, we expect it could materially alter the pattern of our earnings.  In addition, we expect that the final guidance will permit companies to apply the guidance retrospectively with a cumulative effect adjustment to the balance sheet.  As of June 30, 2010, our DAC asset was $7.1 billion, pre-tax, or $4.6 billion, after-tax.  If we applied the guidance retrospectively, we would write-down a portion of our existing DAC asset that we determined did not qualify as a deferred expense.  The amount of the write-down, if any, would reduce the amount of future amortization expense.  We expect this guidance to become effective for periods occurring after December 15, 2011.  Until the final guidance is issued, the ultimate impact to our consolidated financial position and results of operations is unknown.

In addition, the SEC has proposed that large accelerated filers in the U.S. be required to report financial results in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board rather than GAAP.  As currently proposed, the earliest this would become effective would begin with a company’s fiscal year 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The 2014 Form 10-K would likely include audited IFRS financial statements for the transitional year, as well as the two preceding fiscal years.  Thus, an issuer adopting IFRS in 2014 would need to file audited IFRS financial statements for fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014 in its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 2014.  Despite the movement toward convergence of GAAP and IFRS, IFRS will be a complete change to our accounting and reporting and converting to IFRS will impose special demands on issuers in the areas of governance, employee training, internal controls, contract fulfillment and disclosure.  As convergence of GAAP and IFRS continues, it could result in significant changes in GAAP that would be implemented whether or not a transition to IFRS actually occurs.  The changes to GAAP and ultimate conversion to IFRS will likely affect how we manage our business, as it will likely affect other business processes such as design of compensation plans, product design, etc.

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.

Because the profitability of our fixed annuity and universal life insurance (“UL”) and fixed portion of defined contribution and variable universal life insurance (“VUL”) business depends in part on interest rate spreads, interest rate fluctuations could negatively affect our profitability.  Changes in interest rates may reduce both our profitability from spread businesses and our return on invested capital.  Some of our products, principally fixed annuities, interest-sensitive whole life, UL and the fixed portion of VUL, have interest rate guarantees that expose us to the risk that changes in interest rates will reduce our spread, or the difference between the amounts that we are required to pay under the contracts and the amounts we are able to earn on our general account investments intended to support our obligations under the contracts.  Declines in our spread or instances where the returns on our general account investments are not enough to support the interest rate guarantees on these products could have a material adverse effect on our businesses or results of operations.

In periods of increasing interest rates, we may not be able to replace the assets in our general account with higher yielding assets needed to fund the higher crediting rates necessary to keep our interest-sensitive products competitive.  We therefore may have to accept a lower spread and thus lower profitability or face a decline in sales and greater loss of existing contracts and related assets.  Increases in interest rates may cause increased surrenders and withdrawals of insurance products.  In periods of increasing interest

 
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rates, policy loans and surrenders and withdrawals of life insurance policies and annuity contracts may increase as contract holders seek to buy products with perceived higher returns.  This process may lead to a flow of cash out of our businesses.  These outflows may require investment assets to be sold at a time when the prices of those assets are lower because of the increase in market interest rates, which may result in realized investment losses.  A sudden demand among consumers to change product types or withdraw funds could lead us to sell assets at a loss to meet the demand for funds.

In periods of declining interest rates, we have to reinvest the cash we receive as interest or return of principal on our investments in lower yielding instruments then currently available, without taking on additional investment risk.  Moreover, borrowers may prepay fixed-income securities, commercial mortgages and mortgage-backed securities in our general account in order to borrow at lower market rates, which exacerbates this risk.  Because we are entitled to reset the interest rates on our fixed rate annuities only at limited, pre-established intervals, and since many of our contracts have guaranteed minimum interest or crediting rates, our spreads could decrease and potentially become negative.

Currently, new money rates continue to be at historically low levels.  If interests rates were to remain low over a sustained period of time, this would put additional pressure on our spreads, potentially resulting in unlocking of our DAC asset and increases in reserves.  We would expect the effect to be most pronounced in our Life Insurance segment.

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 June 30, 2010 (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)
 
4/1/10 - 4/30/10
    282     $ 31.91       -     $ 1,204  
                                 
5/1/10 - 5/31/10
    853       27.68       -       1,204  
                                 
6/1/10 - 6/30/10
    -       -       -       1,204  
 
(1)
Of the total number of shares purchased, no shares were received in connection with the exercise of stock options and related taxes and 1,135 shares were withheld for taxes on the vesting of restricted stock.  For the quarter ended June 30, 2010, there were no 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 June 30, 2010, our security repurchase authorization was $1.2 billion.  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 13 to the consolidated financial statements in “Part I – Item 1” 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.

 
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

     
 
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
     
 
By:
/s/    FREDERICK J. CRAWFORD        
   
Frederick J. Crawford
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
     
 
By:
/s/    DOUGLAS N. MILLER        
   
Douglas N. Miller
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
 
Date:  August 9, 2010
 
 
 
 
 


 
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LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
Exhibit Index for the Report on Form 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended June 30, 2010

3.1
LNC Restated Articles of Incorporation are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to LNC’s Form 8-K (File No. 1-6028) filed with the SEC on May 10, 2007.
3.2
Articles of Amendment dated July 9, 2009, to LNC’s Restated Articles of Incorporation are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to LNC’s Form 8-K (File No. 1-6028) filed with the SEC on July 10, 2009.
3.3
Articles of Amendment to LNC’s Restated Articles of Incorporation are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to LNC’s Form 8-K (File No. 1-6028) filed with the SEC on June 2, 2010.
3.4
Amended and Restated Bylaws of LNC (effective May 27, 2010) are filed herewith.
4.1
Senior Indenture, dates as of March 10, 2009, between LNC and the Bank of New York Mellon, is incorporated by reference to LNC’s Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-157822) filed with the SEC on March 10, 2009.
4.1
Form of 4.30% Senior Notes due 2015 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to LNC’s Form 8-K (File No. 1-6028) filed with the SEC on June 18, 2010.
4.2
Form of 7.00% Senior Notes due 2040 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to LNC’s Form 8-K (File No. 1-6028) filed with the SEC on June 18, 2010.
10.1
Credit Agreement, dated as of June 9, 2010, among Lincoln National Corporation, as an Account Party and Guarantor, the Subsidiary Account Parties, as additional Account Parties, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Banc of America Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, U.S. Bank National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as documentation agents, and the other lenders named therein, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to LNC’s Form 8-K (File No. 1-6028) filed with the SEC on June 10, 2010.
10.2
364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of June 9, 2010, among Lincoln National Corporation, as an Account Party and Guarantor, the Subsidiary Account Parties, as additional Account Parties, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Banc of America Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, U.S. Bank National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as documentation agents, and the other lenders named therein, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to LNC’s Form 8-K (File No. 1-6028) filed with the SEC on June 10, 2010.
12.1
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 for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009; 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 Section18 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.

* Portions of the exhibit have been redacted and are subject to a confidential treatment request filed with the Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


 
E-1