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One hundred companies, comprising 84% of life industry assets, reported a strong gain in total surplus funds in the first quarter of 2004 on the strength of high operating earnings and net capital gains.
Data from Insurance Consulting & Analysis, LLC, shows a 3.2% gain in total surplus (surplus, asset valuation reserve and interest maintenance reserve) for The Townsend 100 in the first quarter of 2004.
Table 1 shows the components of surplus changes for the Townsend 100 for the years 1999-2003 and the first quarter of 2004. Surplus includes the AVR and IMR, while operating earnings exclude the amortization of the IMR.
Return on mean equity was 10.5% in the first quarter of 2004, reflecting improved interest margins as life and annuity insurers continue to reduce crediting rates on cash value products at a faster pace than the shrinkage in portfolio yield.
Net capital gains were reported in the first quarter of 2004 compared to massive net capital losses for the years 2000-2002, and large gains in 2003.
Both surplus paid-in and shareholder dividends were at modest levels in the first quarter of 2004. The net outflow of $571 million reduced the gain in surplus from a potential 3.5% to the actual 3.2%.
Table 2 shows the trend of net surplus paid in/out for the Townsend 100. Surplus infusions were ample in 1991-93 to overcome consumer solvency fears, meet rating agency demands and meet 12/31/93 risk-based capital standards.
But, net surplus paid in/out showed an outflow from 1994-1999, because many companies had built high capital ratios and were seeking to increase returns on retained equity.
With a 3.2% surplus gain in the first quarter of 2004, the life industry may not match the 16.7% gain for the full year 2003, but is likely to exceed gains ranging from 0.3% to 6.3% for the preceding 4 years, 1999-2002.
Table 3 shows the trends of net investment yield on mean invested assets, return on mean equity and capital ratio (total surplus to invested assets) for The Townsend 100 companies.
Net investment yield fell 171 basis points in 10 years, from 9.09% in 1990 to 7.38% in 2000, then fell by 149 basis points in just 3.25 years, to 5.89% in the first quarter of 2004. Based on historic experience, first-quarter annualized yields are often predictive of the full years yield rate.
However, declines of 29, 41 and 47 basis points in net investment yield in 2001-2003, respectively, may moderate in 2004. The first-quarter decline was only 22 basis points.
