Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Adoption of New Accounting Standards
Comprehensive Income
In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) updated the accounting standard related to comprehensive income. The update requires entities to provide information about significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012 and is required to be applied prospectively. The Company adopted the standard in the first quarter of 2013. The adoption of the standard did not have any effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition. See Note 13 for the required disclosures.
Balance Sheet
In December 2011, the FASB updated the accounting standards to require new disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities. The standard requires an entity to disclose both gross and net information about certain financial instruments and transactions subject to master netting arrangements (or similar agreements) or eligible for offset in the statement of financial position. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 on a retrospective basis. The Company adopted the standard in the first quarter of 2013. The adoption of the standard did not have any effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition. See Note 15 for the required disclosures.
Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts
In October 2010, the FASB updated the accounting standard for DAC. Under this new standard, only the following costs incurred in the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts are capitalizable as DAC: (i) incremental direct costs of a successful contract acquisition, (ii) portions of employees’ compensation and benefits directly related to time spent performing acquisition activities (that is, underwriting, policy issuance and processing, medical and inspection, and contract selling) for a contract that has been acquired, (iii) other costs related to acquisition activities that would not have been incurred had the acquisition of the contract not occurred, and (iv) advertising costs that meet the capitalization criteria in other GAAP guidance for certain direct-response marketing. All other acquisition related costs are expensed as incurred. The Company retrospectively adopted the new standard on January 1, 2012. The cumulative effect of the adoption reduced retained earnings by $1.4 billion after-tax and increased AOCI by $113 million after-tax, totaling to a $1.3 billion after-tax reduction in total equity at January 1, 2012.
Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards
Receivables - Troubled Debt Restructuring by Creditors
In January 2014, the FASB updated the accounting standard related to recognizing residential real estate obtained through a repossession or foreclosure from a troubled debtor. The update clarifies the criteria for derecognition of the loan receivable and recognition of the real estate property. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014 and can be applied under a modified retrospective transition method or a prospective transition method. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of the standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures
In January 2014, the FASB updated the accounting standard related to investments in qualified affordable housing projects. The update allows for an accounting policy election to account for investments in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. Under the proportional amortization method, the investment in a qualified affordable housing project is amortized in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received. The net investment performance is recognized as a component of income tax expense (benefit). The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014 and should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
Income Taxes
In July 2013, the FASB updated the accounting standard for income taxes. The update provides guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013 and should be applied prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. Retrospective application is permitted. The adoption of the standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
Investment Companies
In June 2013, the FASB updated the accounting standard related to investment companies. The guidance does not directly apply to the Company; however, it may impact investment entities that the Company consolidates. The standard provides a new two-tiered approach for determining whether a company is an investment company and requires new disclosures for investment companies. Investment entities the Company consolidates may be required to adopt a different basis of accounting as a result of determining whether they qualify as an investment company under the new guidance. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013 and is required to be applied prospectively. The adoption of the standard is not expected to have a material the impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
