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Business and Basis of Presentation | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2023
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Organization and Basis of Presentation | Business Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (“RGA”) is an insurance holding company that was formed on December 31, 1992. RGA and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) is engaged in providing traditional reinsurance, which includes individual and group life and health, disability and critical illness reinsurance. The Company also provides financial solutions, which includes longevity reinsurance, asset-intensive products (primarily annuities), financial reinsurance, capital solutions and stable value products. Basis of Presentation The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, these condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 24, 2023 (the “2022 Annual Report”). In the opinion of management, all adjustments, including normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023. Consolidation These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of RGA and its subsidiaries and all intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Entities in which the Company has significant influence over the operating and financing decisions but are not required to be consolidated are reported under the equity method of accounting. Standards Issued and Implemented In the first quarter of 2023, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”): ASU 2018-12, Financial Services – Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts (“ASU 2018-12”). ASU 2018-12 updates certain requirements for the accounting for long-duration insurance contracts. •Cash flow assumptions and measuring liability for future policy benefits – ASU 2018-12 requires the Company to review its cash flow assumptions at least annually and update, if necessary, with the impact recognized in net income in the period of the change. The liability for future policy benefits includes required adjustments at the cohort level to cap the net premium ratio at 100% and eliminate negative reserves. Upon adoption, an adjustment was recorded to retained earnings as a result of capping the net premium ratio at 100% and eliminating negative reserves on certain issue year cohorts. •Discount rat e – The discount rate assumption is prescribed by ASU 2018-12 as an upper-medium (low credit risk) fixed-income yield and is required to be updated every quarter. The change in the liability as a result of updating the discount rate assumption is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”). Upon adoption, an adjustment was recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) as a result of remeasuring in force contract liabilities using the current upper-medium grade fixed income instrument yields as of the date of transition. The adjustment reflects the difference between discount rates locked-in at contract inception versus current discount rates at transition. •Deferred policy acquisition costs and similar balances – Deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) and other capitalized costs such as unearned revenue should be amortized on a constant level or straight-line basis over the expected term of the contracts. Upon adoption, an adjustment was recorded to AOCI for the removal of cumulative adjustments to DAC associated with unrealized investment gains and losses previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). •Market risk benefits – Market risk benefits, which are contracts or contract features that provide protection to the policyholder from capital market risk and expose the Company to other-than-nominal capital market risk, are measured at fair value. The periodic change in fair value is recognized in net income with the exception of the periodic change in fair value related to the liability’s instrument-specific credit risk, which is recognized in OCI. Upon adoption, an adjustment was recorded to retained earnings for the difference between the fair value and carrying value of the contracts at the transition date, excluding changes in the instrument-specific credit risks, and an adjustment to AOCI for the cumulative effect of changes in the instrument-specific credit risk between contract issue date and transition date. Change in Certain Segment Allocations Investment income for each segment has been adjusted to reflect the impacts of adopting ASU 2018-12 and due to an update to the Company’s internally developed economic capital model. Internal excess capital charges, included in each segment’s policy acquisition costs and other insurance expenses, were also updated as a result of adopting ASU 2018-12 and updates to the Company’s internally developed economic capital model. These changes did not impact the recognition or presentation of investment income or policy acquisition costs and other insurance expenses in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Significant Accounting Polices – Update The Company’s significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2 – “Significant Accounting Policies and Pronouncements” of the 2022 Annual Report. The significant accounting policies discussed below have been updated to reflect the impact of adopting ASU 2018-12. Liability for Future Policy Benefits Utilizing the net premium model, a liability for future policy benefits for life and long-term health business is established to meet the estimated future benefits to be paid on assumed life and health reinsurance in force less the present value of estimated future new premiums to be collected. The liability is estimated using the Company’s mortality, morbidity, and persistency assumptions that reflect the Company’s historical experience, industry data, cedant specific experience, and discount rates based on the current yields of upper-medium grade fixed income instruments. These assumptions vary with the characteristics of the reinsurance contract, the year the risk was assumed, age of the insured and other appropriate factors. Liabilities for future benefits for annuities in the payout phase have been established in an amount adequate to meet the estimated future obligations on policies in force using expected mortality, discount rates and other assumptions. These assumptions vary with the characteristics of the plan of insurance, year of issue, age of insured, and other appropriate factors. The mortality assumptions are based on the Company’s historical experience, industry data and cedant specific experience. A deferred profit liability is established when the insurance benefit extends beyond the period in which premiums are collected, and the gross premium exceeds the net premium. The deferred profit liability is amortized in proportion to insurance in force for traditional life insurance and expected future benefits for annuity contracts. The deferred profit liability is included in the liabilities for future policy benefits, and the amortization of the deferred profit liability is recognized as a reduction in claims and other policy benefits. For the purpose of calculating the liability for future policy benefits, the Company’s reinsurance contracts for its Traditional business are grouped into annual cohorts based on the effective date of the reinsurance contract. The annual groupings are further disaggregated based on: •How the reinsurance contracts are priced and managed; •Geographical locations; •Underlying currency of the contract; •Ceding company and other factors. Given the unique risks and highly customized nature of the Company’s financial solutions business, reinsurance contracts for the Financial Solutions business are not aggregated with other contracts for the purpose of calculating the liability for future policy benefits. Each quarter, the Company updates its estimate of cash flows expected over the entire life of a group of contracts using actual historical experience and current future cash flow assumptions. These updated cash flows, discounted using the original contract issuance discount rates, are used to calculate the revised net premium ratio, as of the beginning of the current reporting period. The present value of these updated cash flows is compared to the carrying amount of the liability as of that same date, before updating cash flow assumptions, to determine the current period change in the liability’s estimate. This current period change in the liability is a component of the liability remeasurement gain or loss. In subsequent periods, the revised net premium ratio is used to measure the liability for future policy benefits, subject to future revisions. The Company also reviews actual and anticipated experience compared to the assumptions used to establish the liability for future policy benefits on a quarterly basis. If evidence suggests that the assumptions should be revised, the cumulative effect of the change is reflected in future policy benefits remeasurement (gains) losses in the current period. The Company has elected to lock-in claims expense assumptions at contract inception and those assumptions are not subsequently reviewed or updated. The discount rates used to measure the liability are based on upper-medium grade fixed-income instruments (A rated credit) with similar tenor to the expected liability cash flows. The discount rate assumption is updated quarterly and used to remeasure the liability at the reporting date, with the resulting change reflected in other comprehensive income (loss). For unobservable discount rates, the Company uses estimates consistent with fair value guidance, maximizing the use of relevant, observable market prices and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs. The Company utilizes the discount rate curve at contract inception for purposes of interest accretion and updating the net premium ratio. Interest accretion is recognized in claims and other policy benefits on the condensed consolidated statements of income. The locked-in discount curve at contract inception for contracts entered into after the adoption of ASU 2018-12 (i.e., January 1, 2021 and after) is based on the average upper-medium grade fixed-income instrument yields during the first calendar year of the reinsurance contract. The locked-in discount rates at contract inception for contracts that were effective prior to the adoption of ASU 2018-12 (i.e., prior to January 1, 2021) are the discount rate assumptions used prior to the adoption of ASU 2018-12, which were based on estimates of expected investment yields. Included in the liability for future policy benefits are unpaid claims related to long-duration contracts and an accrual for incurred but not reported losses (“IBNR”). The Company’s IBNR accrual related to long-duration contracts is determined using case-basis estimates and lag studies of past experience. The time lag from the date of the claim or death to when the ceding company reports the claim to the Company can vary significantly by ceding company, business segment and product type, but generally averages around 3 months. Incurred but not reported claims are estimates on an undiscounted basis, using actuarial estimates of historical claims expense, adjusted for current trends and conditions. These estimates are continually reviewed and the ultimate liability may vary significantly from the amount recognized. Claims payable for incurred but not reported losses for long-duration contracts are included in the liability for future policy benefits on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2018-12, unpaid claims and IBNR related to long-duration contracts were included in other policy claims and benefits. Upon adoption of ASU 2018-12, the Company revised prior period amounts to conform to the current period’s presentation. See Note 2 – “Impact of New Accounting Standard” for additional information. Interest-Sensitive Contract Liabilities and Policyholder Account Balances Liabilities for future benefits on interest-sensitive life and investment-type contract liabilities are carried at the accumulated contract holder values without reduction for potential surrender or withdrawal charges. The Company reinsures asset-intensive products, including annuities and corporate-owned life insurance. The investment portfolios for these products are segregated for management purposes within the general account of the respective legal entity. The liabilities under asset-intensive insurance contracts or reinsurance contracts reinsured on a coinsurance basis are included in interest-sensitive contract liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Asset-intensive contracts principally include individual fixed annuities in the accumulation phase, single premium immediate annuities, with no significant life contingency, equity-indexed annuities, individual variable annuities, corporate-owned life and interest-sensitive whole life insurance contracts. Interest-sensitive contract liabilities are equal to (i) policy account values, which consist of an accumulation of gross premium payments; (ii) credited interest less expenses, mortality charges, and withdrawals; and (iii) fair value adjustments relating to business combinations. Liabilities for immediate annuities are calculated as the present value of the expected cash flows, with the locked-in discount rate determined such that there is no gain or loss at inception. Equity-indexed annuity contracts reinsured by the Company allow the contract holder to elect an interest rate return or an equity market component where interest credited is based on the performance of common stock market indices, such as the S&P 500 Index®, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, or the NASDAQ. The equity market option is considered an embedded derivative, similar to a call option, which is reflected at fair value on the condensed consolidated balance sheets in interest-sensitive contract liabilities. The fair value of embedded derivatives is computed based on a projection of future equity option costs using a budget methodology, discounted back to the balance sheet date using current market indicators of volatility and interest rates. Changes in the fair value of the embedded derivatives are included as a component of interest credited on the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss). The Company reviews its estimates of actuarial liabilities for interest-sensitive contract liabilities and compares them with its actual experience. Differences between actual experience and the assumptions used in pricing these guarantees and benefits and in the establishment of the related liabilities result in variances in profit and could result in losses. The effects of changes in such estimated liabilities are included in the results of operations in the period in which the changes occur. Market Risk Benefits Market risk benefits are contracts or contract features that both provide protection to the contract holder from other-than-nominal capital market risk and expose the Company to other-than-nominal capital market risk. Market risk benefits are measured at fair value using an option-based valuation model based on current net amounts at risk, market data, Company experience, and other factors. Changes in fair value are recognized in net income each period with the exception of the portion of the change in fair value due to a change in the liability’s instrument-specific credit risk, which is recognized in other comprehensive income. Market risk benefits include the following contract features on certain annuity products that provide minimum guarantees to policyholders: •Guaranteed minimum income benefits (“GMIB”) provide the contract holder, after a specified period of time determined at the time of issuance of the variable annuity contract, with a minimum level of income (annuity) payments. Under the reinsurance treaty, the Company makes a payment to the ceding company equal to the GMIB net amount-at-risk at the time of annuitization. •Guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (“GMWB”) guarantee the contract holder a return of their purchase payment via partial withdrawals, even if the account value is reduced to zero, provided that the contract holder’s cumulative withdrawals in a contract year do not exceed a certain limit. The initial guaranteed withdrawal amount is equal to the initial benefit base as defined in the contract (typically, the initial purchase payments plus applicable bonus amounts). •Guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (“GMAB”) provide the contract holder, after a specified period of time determined at the time of issuance of the variable annuity contract, with a minimum accumulation of their purchase payments even if the account value is reduced to zero. The initial guaranteed accumulation amount is equal to the initial benefit base as defined in the contract (typically, the initial purchase payments plus applicable bonus amounts). •Guaranteed minimum death benefits (“GMDB”) provides the beneficiary a guaranteed minimum amount upon the death of the contract holder, regardless of the account balance. The fair values of the GMIB, GMWB, GMDB and GMAB contract features are reflected in market risk benefits and are calculated based on actuarial and capital market assumptions related to the projected cash flows, including benefits and related contract charges over the lives of the contracts. These projected cash flows incorporate expectations concerning policyholder behavior, such as lapses, withdrawals and benefit selections, and capital market assumptions such as interest rates and equity market volatilities. In measuring the fair value of GMIBs, GMWBs, GMABs and GMDBs, the Company attributes a portion of the fees collected from the policyholder equal to the present value of expected future guaranteed minimum income, withdrawal and accumulation and death benefits (at inception). The changes in fair value are reported in market risk benefits remeasurement (gains) losses. Any additional fees represent “excess” fees and are reported in other revenues. These variable annuity guaranteed living and death benefits may be more costly than expected in volatile or declining equity markets or falling interest rate markets, causing an increase in market risk benefit liabilities. Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs Costs of acquiring new business, which vary with and are directly related to the production of new business, have been deferred to the extent that such costs are deemed recoverable from future premiums or gross profits. Such costs include commissions and allowances as well as certain costs of policy issuance and underwriting. Non-commission costs related to the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts may be deferred only if they meet the following criteria: •Incremental direct costs of a successful contract acquisition •Portions of employees’ salaries and benefits directly related to time spent performing specified acquisition activities for a contract that has been acquired or renewed •Other costs directly related to the specified acquisition or renewal activities that would not have been incurred had that acquisition contract transaction not occurred DAC related to traditional life and interest-sensitive contracts are grouped by contract type and issue year into cohorts for consistency with the groupings used in estimating the associated liability. DAC is amortized on a constant level basis for the grouped contracts over the expected term of the related contracts to approximate straight-line amortization. The constant level basis used is based on the number of policies or policy face amount of the risk assumed in the reinsurance contract. The constant level bases used for amortization are projected using mortality and actuarial assumptions for policyholder behavior that are based on the Company’s experience, industry data and other factors and are consistent with those used for the liability for future policy benefits. Changes in assumptions are reflected in DAC amortization prospectively, and actual experience relating to number of policies reinsured will likely differ from the experience previously estimated. Amortization of DAC is included in policy acquisition costs and other insurance expenses. Reinsurance Ceded Receivables The Company generally reports retrocession activity on a gross basis. Amounts paid or deemed to have been paid for reinsurance are reflected in reinsurance ceded receivables and other. Reinsurance ceded receivables related to long-duration contracts are estimated using mortality, morbidity, and persistency assumptions that are similar to the liability for future policy benefits ceded. The discount rate used to measure the ceded receivable is based on the current yields of an upper-medium grade fixed income instrument. Similar to the liability for future policy benefits, ceded receivables are grouped into annual cohorts based on the effective date of the reinsurance contract.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480424/946-10-50-1 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480424/946-10-50-2 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Topic 810 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//810/tableOfContent Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Topic 205 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//205/tableOfContent + Details
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