SEC Filings
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| 10-K | |
| HRG GROUP, INC. filed this Form 10-K on 11/23/2016 | |
| Entire Document | |
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operations and financial condition. The possible macroeconomic effects of such events could also adversely affect FGL’s or Front Street’s asset portfolio. FGL and Front Street operate in highly competitive industries, which could limit their abilities to gain or maintain their respective positions in the industries and could materially adversely affect their business, financial condition and results of operations. FGL and Front Street operate in highly competitive industries. FGL encounters significant competition in all of its product lines from other insurance companies. Front Street faces significant competition from other reinsurance providers. Many of FGL’s and Front Street’s competitors have greater financial resources and, with respect to FGL, higher financial strength ratings, which may have a greater market share, offer a broader range of products, services or features, assume a greater level of risk, have lower operating or financing costs, or have different profitability expectations than FGL or Front Street, as applicable. Competition could result in, among other things, lower sales or higher lapses of existing products. FGL’s annuity products compete with fixed indexed, fixed rate and variable annuities sold by other insurance companies and also with mutual fund products, traditional bank investments and other retirement funding alternatives offered by asset managers, banks and broker-dealers. FGL’s insurance products compete with those of other insurance companies, financial intermediaries and other institutions based on a number of factors, including premium rates, policy terms and conditions, service provided to distribution channels and policyholders, ratings by rating agencies, reputation and commission structures. Consolidation in the insurance and reinsurance industries and in distribution channels may result in increasing competitive pressures on FGL and Front Street. Larger, potentially more efficient organizations may emerge from such consolidation. In addition, some mutual insurance companies have converted to stock ownership, which gives them greater access to capital markets and greater ability to compete. The ability of banks to increase their securities-related business or to affiliate with insurance companies may materially and adversely affect sales of all of FGL’s products by substantially increasing the number and financial strength of potential competitors. Consolidation and expansion among banks, insurance companies and other financial services companies with which FGL and Front Street do business could also have an adverse effect on their business, operations and financial condition if they demand more favorable terms than FGL or Front Street previously offered or if they elect not to continue to do business with FGL or Front Street following consolidation or expansion. FGL’s ability to compete is dependent upon, among other things, its ability to develop competitive and profitable products, its ability to maintain low unit costs, and its maintenance of adequate financial strength ratings from rating agencies. FGL’s ability to compete is also dependent upon, among other things, its ability to attract and retain distribution channels to market its products, the competition for which is vigorous. FGL competes for marketers and agents primarily on the basis of FGL’s financial position, support services, compensation and product features. Such marketers and agents may promote products offered by other life insurance companies that may offer a larger variety of products than FGL does. FGL’s competitiveness for such marketers and agents also depends upon the long-term relationships FGL develops with them. If FGL is unable to attract and retain sufficient marketers and agents to sell its products, its ability to compete and FGL’s revenues will suffer. Front Street’s ability to successfully compete will be dependent on, among other things, risks associated with an insurance business and managing of assets, including, among other things, Front Street’s: (a) ability to successfully implement its investment strategy, especially with respect to riskier, below-investment-grade securities; (b) exposure to credit risk associated with third parties, including brokers with whom it will conduct business; (c) ability to provide collateral to ceding companies or otherwise comply with applicable insurance regulations; (d) ability to successfully employ loss limitation methods to mitigate its loss exposure; (e) ability to attract qualified personnel and retain such key personnel; (f) mitigate unfavorable changes in applicable laws, accounting rules or regulations; (g) operational risks associated with, among other things, employee and contractor conduct, operational errors, system malfunctions and cyber-security incidents; and (h) successfully maintain its existing investments. FGL’s ability to maintain competitive policy expense costs is dependent upon the level of new sales and persistency of existing business. FGL’s ability to maintain competitive policy expense costs is dependent upon a number of factors, such as the level of new sales, persistency of existing business and expense management. A decrease in sales or persistency without a corresponding reduction in expenses may result in higher policy expense costs. In addition, lower persistency may result in higher or more rapid amortization of VOBA costs, which would result in higher unit costs and lower reported earnings. Although many of FGL’s products contain surrender charges, such charges decrease over time and may not be sufficient to cover the unamortized DAC and VOBA costs with respect to the insurance policy or annuity contract being surrendered. There may be adverse consequences if the independent contractor status of FGL’s IMOs is successfully challenged. FGL sells its products through a network of approximately 200 IMOs representing approximately 35,000 independent agents and managing general agents. FGL currently treats these IMOs as independent contractors who own their own businesses. However, the tests governing the determination of whether an individual is considered to be an independent contractor or an employee are typically fact sensitive and vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Laws and regulations that govern the status of the IMOs are subject to change or interpretation by various authorities. If a federal, state or local authority or court enacts 69 | |
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