FGL - FIA Contracts
FGL has FIA contracts that permit the holder to elect an interest rate return or an equity index linked component, where interest credited to the contracts is linked to the performance of various equity indices, primarily the Standard and Poor’s ("S&P") 500 Index. This feature represents an embedded derivative under US GAAP. The FIA embedded derivative is valued at fair value and included in the liability for contractholder funds in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets with changes in fair value included as a component of "Benefits and other changes in policy reserves" in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
FGL purchases derivatives consisting of a combination of call options and futures contracts on the applicable market indices to fund the index credits due to FIA contractholders. The call options are one, two and three year options purchased to match the funding requirements of the underlying policies. On the respective anniversary dates of the index policies, the index used to compute the interest credit is reset and FGL purchases new one, two or three year call options to fund the next index credit. FGL manages the cost of these purchases through the terms of its FIA contracts, which permit FGL to change caps or participation rates, subject to guaranteed minimums, on each contract’s anniversary date. The change in the fair value of the call options and futures contracts is generally designed to offset the portion of the change in the fair value of the FIA embedded derivative related to index performance. The call options and futures contracts are marked to fair value with the change in fair value included as a component of "Net investment gains (losses)." The change in fair value of the call options and futures contracts includes the gains and losses recognized at the expiration of the instrument term or upon early termination and the changes in fair value of open positions.
Other market exposures are hedged periodically depending on market conditions and FGL’s risk tolerance. FGL’s FIA hedging strategy economically hedges the equity returns and exposes FGL to the risk that unhedged market exposures result in divergence between changes in the fair value of the liabilities and the hedging assets. FGL uses a variety of techniques, including direct estimation of market sensitivities and value-at-risk, to monitor this risk daily. FGL intends to continue to adjust the hedging strategy as market conditions and FGL’s risk tolerance change.
Oil and natural gas commodity contracts
The EXCO/HGI JV's primary objective in entering into derivative financial instruments is to manage its exposure to commodity price fluctuations, protect its returns on investments and achieve a more predictable cash flow in connection with its operations. These transactions limit exposure to declines in commodity prices, but also limit the benefits the EXCO/HGI JV would realize if commodity prices increase. When prices for oil and natural gas are volatile, a significant portion of the effect of the EXCO/HGI JV's derivative financial instrument management activities consists of non-cash income or expense due to changes in the fair value of its derivative financial instrument contracts. Cash losses or gains only arise from payments made or received on monthly settlements of contracts or if the EXCO/HGI JV terminates a contract prior to its expiration. The EXCO/HGI JV does not designate its derivative financial instruments as hedging instruments for financial accounting purposes.
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| | | | | | | | |
| | June 30,
2013 |
| | Three months ended | | Nine months ended |
Cash settlements on derivative financial instruments | | $ | (1.9 | ) | | $ | (1.3 | ) |
Non-cash change in fair value of derivative financial instruments | | 11.5 |
| | 2.1 |
|
Gain on oil and natural gas commodity contracts | | $ | 9.6 |
| | $ | 0.8 |
|
Settlements in the normal course of maturities of derivative financial instrument contracts result in cash receipts from, or cash disbursements to, the EXCO/HGI JV's derivative contract counterparties. Changes in the fair value of the EXCO/HGI JV's derivative financial instrument contracts, which includes both cash settlements and non-cash changes in fair value, are included in income with a corresponding increase or decrease in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets fair value amounts.
The EXCO/HGI JV's natural gas and oil commodity contract derivative instruments are comprised of swap contracts. Swap contracts allow the EXCO/HGI JV to receive a fixed price and pay a floating market price to the counterparty for the hedged commodity.
