Q2 2022 Brighthouse Financial Inc Earnings Call
Okay.
Okay.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Brighthouse Financial's second quarter 2022 earnings Conference call.
My name is Shannon and I will be.
Hey.
At this time all participants are in a listen only mode.
We will facilitate a question and answer session towards the end of the conference call.
To all participants please limit yourself to one question and one follow up.
As a reminder, the conference is being recorded for replay purposes.
I would now like location.
Patient over to Dana on Monday.
Investor Relations Mr. Martin You May proceed.
Yeah.
Okay.
Thank you and good morning, welcome to Brighthouse Financial's second quarter 2022 earnings call materials for today's call were released last night and can be found on the Investor Relations section of our website.
We encourage you to review all of these materials.
Today, you will hear from Eric Steigerwalt, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Ed Bihar, Our Chief Financial Officer.
Following our prepared remarks, we will open the call up for a question and answer period.
Also here with us today to participate in the discussions are other members of senior management.
Before we begin I would like to note that our discussion. During this call may include forward looking statements within the meaning of the federal Securities laws.
Brighthouse Financial's actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties described from time to time.
In Brighthouse Financial's filings with the U S Securities and Exchange Commission.
Information discussed on today's call speaks only as of today August eight 2022.
The company undertakes no obligation to update any information discussed on today's call.
During this call we will be discussing certain financial measures that are not based on generally accepted accounting principles also known as non-GAAP measures.
Reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures on a historical basis to the most directly comparable GAAP measures and related definitions may be found on the Investor relations portion of our website in our earnings release slide presentation and financial supplement.
And finally references to statutory results, including certain statutory based measures used by management are preliminary due to the timing of the filing of the statutory statements.
And now I'll turn the call over to our CEO Eric Steigerwalt.
Thank you Dana good morning, everyone and thank you for joining our second quarter 2022 earnings call before discussing our results in the quarter I want to take a moment to acknowledge that this month marks brighthouse financial's fifth anniversary as an independent public company.
It is an understatement to say that I am incredibly proud of our strategic and operational accomplishments as well as the franchise that we have built over the past five years, although we were by no means new when we launched Brighthouse as our company has a rich heritage with roots tracing back to $18 63, we did.
Have to build the Brighthouse financial brand with focused marketing initiatives as well as through our strategic and diverse distribution relationships. Today. We are an established U S retail franchise trusted by over 2 million customers and one of the largest providers of annuities and life insurance.
United States.
From the beginning as we deliver on our mission to help people achieve financial security. We have had a simple strategy built on three focus areas as well as our commitment to consistently returning capital to shareholders over time.
Our focused strategy, which has guided our approach to our financial management strategy and managing our business consists of.
Offering a target set of annuity and life insurance solutions that are simpler more transparent and provide value to our distribution partners and the clients they serve.
Selling our products through a diverse well established network of distribution partners continuing to build strategic distribution relationships and.
And entering new channels as we expand our distribution footprint in the United States and.
And finally, effectively managing our expenses by adopting and maintaining an operating model designed to drive our statutory expense ratio down over time.
The accomplishments that we've made over the past five years are directly aligned with these elements of our strategy to highlight just some of our key accomplishments early in 2017, we rolled out a focused set of advertising campaigns designed to introduce the Brighthouse brand and showcase our flagship shield.
Level suite of annuities. These.
These campaigns, which help generate brand awareness in the market and increase advisor awareness enabled us to hit the ground running as a new public company and were instrumental to expanding our sales footprint.
The results of our work are reflected in our sales growth our annuity sales have more than doubled since the end of 2017 with 2021 full year total annuity sales exceeding 9 billion.
Led by variable and shield level annuities and.
In addition, we reestablished a competitive presence in the life insurance market in 2019, we launched our first Brighthouse financial life insurance products, which we called Smart care. This was followed by the launch of our term products simply select in 2020 in collaboration with policy.
Additionally, in 2020, we expanded our relationship with Blackrock as we were selected to join the efforts to deliver Blackrock life path paycheck investment solution.
And in 2021, we entered the institutional spread margin business and as of June 30 of this year, we had balances of over $8 billion.
We expect this business to enhance and diversify our earnings profile over time.
As a result of these growth initiatives, we have made significant strides towards shifting our business mix as we seek to continue to increase the level and predictability of earnings and cash flows going forward.
As we execute our strategy. We also remain focused on managing our risk profile and optimizing statutory capital to further strengthen the balance sheet.
In 2019, we revised our variable annuity hedging strategy, which fundamentally lowered our company's risk profile and allowed for the release of $1 billion of capital.
This revision along with continued efforts to optimize our statutory capital enabled brighthouse financial to buyback a significant amount of its common stock since becoming an independent public company and to have a substantial amount of liquid assets at the holding company of $1 2 billion.
As of June 30th.
We began returning capital to shareholders approximately two years ahead of our initial timeline.
Achieved our target of returning $1 $5 billion of capital to shareholders by year end 2021 and.
And we continue to execute on the $1 billion authorization that we announced in August of last year.
Through our common stock repurchase program, we have repurchased a total of approximately one $8 billion of common stock.
As of August 3rd 2022, and we have reduced the number of our shares of common stock outstanding by approximately 40% over the past five years.
We remain committed to consistently returning capital to shareholders over time.
We've accomplished all of this while effectively manage our expenses and making great strides in the transition to our future state operations and technology platform as.
As we reflect on all that we have achieved over the past five years I want to give a heartfelt. Thank you to all of our employees for their tremendous hard work and dedication and to all of our distributors, whom we very much appreciate.
Now turning to our second quarter results.
While global equity markets have declined.
Interest rates rose significantly in the quarter with the 10 year U S treasury, increasing almost 70 basis points.
Amid this turbulent market environment Brighthouse delivered another quarter of solid results. Our capitalization was strong in the quarter with an estimated combined risk based capital or RBC ratio between $4 70 and $4 90%.
As a reminder, we continue to target an RBC ratio between 400 and 450% in normal markets. Additionally, we ended the quarter with liquid assets at the holding company of approximately $1 2 billion.
Turning to sales our sales results were strong in the quarter total annuity sales were up 20% sequentially and 8% quarter over quarter, driven by fixed deferred annuities and shield level annuities.
Through the second quarter of this year, our annuity sales results were up 3% compared with the first half of 2021, which we believe demonstrates the strength and diversity of our annuity product portfolio.
As we continue to effectively navigate the current market environment.
In addition, we continue to focus on enhancing our product portfolio to that end I am pleased to announce that this month, we plan to launch our next iteration of shield, which is shield level pay plus.
This new product is designed to help strengthen clients' retirement portfolios by providing a stream of guaranteed lifetime income, while offering them opportunities to participate in market growth combined with a level of protection against market volatility.
Additionally, in the second quarter, we generated approximately $19 million of life insurance sales down, 5% sequentially and down 27% compared with the second quarter of 2021.
While we have experienced some headwinds from the economic backdrop in the past two quarters, we remain focused on and confident in our life insurance strategy and intend to continue to broaden our product offerings and expand our distribution footprint.
Finally, let me discuss share repurchases in the quarter, we continued to repurchase our common stock with $132 million repurchased in the second quarter and additional $58 million repurchased through August 3rd.
We plan to continue to execute on each element of our simple and focused strategy enhancing our product suite for both annuities and life insurance, which will continue to shift our business mix and increased the level and predictability of earnings and cash.
Flows overtime.
With that I'll turn the call over to Ed to discuss our financial results in more detail.
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Thank you, Eric and good morning, everyone.
As you heard from Eric the second quarter was a good one for Brighthouse financial.
Despite an equity bear market and an elevated level of uncertainty for markets and the economy.
We grew annuity sales controlled expenses.
And delivered an increase in our statutory risk based capital or RBC ratio.
Our estimated combined RBC ratio was between 470 and 490%.
Which is an increase from the estimated range of 450% to 470% at the end of the first quarter.
The increase in the RBC ratio was primarily driven by strong variable annuity or VA results as we were positioned to benefit from rising interest rates and we had a protected position on equities relative to our maximum targeted first loss position of $500 million.
Non VA results were also good in the quarter, including mortality returning to a normal level.
Sully the second quarter RBC ratio benefited from targeted de risking actions in our investment portfolio.
The positive impact from these items was partially offset by capital used to fund growth.
A decrease in the admitted deferred tax asset or DTA.
And the settlement of a reinsurance Maryland.
Estimated statutory combined total adjusted capital or TAC was $8 2 billion at June 30, compared with $8 5 billion at March 31.
The reduction in cash was driven by two non trend double items.
The decrease in the admitted DTA.
And the reinsurance settlement.
As I discussed during our first quarter earnings call statutory accounting for a deferred tax asset is conservative.
The admitted DTA on our statutory balance sheet is only a fraction of our total tax attributes, which we still anticipate using over the long term.
Year to date normalized statutory earnings were approximately $400 million.
With approximately $600 million of normalized statutory earnings in the second quarter.
As I mentioned, we were well positioned for rising interest rates and we were conservatively positioned on equities relative to our maximum first loss target.
In addition, non VA results were favorable in the quarter.
We continue to have a substantial amount of cash at the holding company as holding company liquid assets were $1 2 billion at June 30.
There were no dividends from the operating companies in the first half of 2022.
However, we still anticipate taking approximately $300 million of ordinary subsidiary dividends to the holding company this year.
Moving to adjusted earnings adjusted.
Earnings excluding the impact from notable items were $247 million.
Which compares with adjusted earnings on the same basis of $315 million in the first quarter of 2022 and $458 million in the second quarter of 2021.
Notable items in the quarter totaled $223 million after tax and included a <unk>.
Settlement of a reinsurance matter for $111 million impacting the run off segment.
$89 million associated with new reinsurance agreements to Opportunistically manage exposure to large face amount legacy life insurance policies.
Primarily in the run off segment.
$14 million from model refinements for our shield level annuities and.
And establishment costs of $9 million.
Excluding these items adjusted earnings results were below expectations, driven by market performance in the second quarter.
Partially offset by expenses and the underwriting margin, which were both favorable relative to our expected quarterly run rate.
I would like to discuss each of these drivers in more detail beginning with market performance.
VA separate account returns were negative 12, 6% in the quarter, which drove a reduction in average separate account balances.
As a reminder, approximately two thirds of our separate account portfolio is invested in equities and one third is invested in fixed income.
The market performance in the quarter reduced second quarter adjusted earnings by $142 million on an after tax basis.
This was primarily driven by higher deferred acquisition cost.
Jack amortization and a change in VA reserves.
As well as lower fees on lower separate account balances.
We also expect a reduction in fees in the third quarter based on the lower separate account balances at the end of the second quarter.
Turning to expenses total expenses in the second quarter was $61 million below expectations after tax.
This was driven by lower corporate expenses, along with a favorable variance in DAC amortization unrelated to the market.
Lastly, the underwriting margin was higher sequentially and was higher than our quarterly run rate expectation by $8 million on an after tax basis.
Claim volume was down significantly relative to the first quarter and average severity of claims was also lower.
Total direct claims were near the midpoint of the $400 million to $500 million quarterly range that we typically expect.
The impact from Covid related claims was insignificant in the quarter.
Moving to adjusted earnings at the segment level.
Adjusted earnings excluding notable items in the annuity segment were $218 million in the second quarter.
Sequentially annuity results reflect higher reserves lower fees and higher DAC amortization as well as lower net investment income, partially offset by lower expenses.
The life segment reported adjusted earnings excluding notable items of $25 million in the quarter.
On a sequential basis results were driven by lower net investment income.
Partially offset by a higher underwriting margin and lower expenses.
Adjusted earnings in the run off segment, excluding notable items were $34 million.
Sequentially results reflect the higher underwriting margin and lower expenses.
Partially offset by lower net investment income.
Corporate <unk> other had an adjusted loss excluding notable items of $30 million.
On a sequential basis results were driven by a higher tax benefit and higher net investment income, partially offset by higher expenses.
In closing Brighthouse.
Brighthouse reported strong underlying results in the second quarter of 2022.
Our balance sheet and liquidity position remain robust and we continue to repurchase a significant amount of common stock.
We remain focused on managing the company under a multi year multi scenario a framework.
And support our distribution franchise.
With that we would like to turn the call over to the operator for your questions.
Thank you.
To ask a question you will need to press star one.
<unk> on your telephone.
In fairness to all participants please limit yourself to one question and one follow up.
Please standby Q&A roster.
Our first question comes from Elyse Greenspan with Wells Fargo. Your line is now open.
Alright. Thanks.
Morning, My first question.
Related to your SG UL block.
If you could comment on your lapse assumptions, there and any color that you could provide as we head into your annual review this coming quarter.
Hi, Elyse, it's Ed.
So.
We have about $25 billion of stat, USG reserves and about $16 billion of gap.
And.
First I'd start by saying this was a block that received a lot of attention from us.
At separation.
And as a result of.
Detailed analysis years ago, we took about $3 billion worth of GAAP charges.
And no charges for stat.
And when we talk about Stat staff.
That is very conservative for us under a triple X.
For example, lapses are essentially zero.
And it's historically been recognized as.
Just generally redundant reserves and I can tell you that for US we've had consistently positive cash flow testing margins for that block of business.
On a GAAP basis.
Our ultimate lapse rates are less than 1%.
Okay.
Okay. That's helpful.
And then my second question.
Ed you mentioned that you guys expect to take $300 million of ordinary dividend. This year do you have expected timing for that in the second half of the here and I know you guys don't typically guide on quarterly level of buyback, but how do you feel about I guess buyback level going forward just given the volatile market.
Yes, I would just stick with the second half of the year for dividends dividends, rather than being specific in which quarter.
<unk>.
You probably noticed from the buyback numbers this past quarter and in this in the third quarter to date, it's up a little bit from where it was in the previous quarter and the reason for that or.
We've taken advantage of certain days when the stock price has been particularly weak to buy more.
So I would just say if you look at our track record very.
Very consistent.
When the stock is.
What we consider to be an exceptional value we have been pretty aggressive in stepping up the pace and so I'm not going to give you any guide, but I think the historical behavior as well as the recent history should be helpful.
Okay. Thank you.
Thank you.
Our next question comes from Tracy <unk> with Barclays. Your line is now open.
Good morning, let's touch upon your reinsurance settlement, we tend to see these reinsurance settlement every now and then I'm just wondering how much of your growth net amount at risk is still in the pipeline for these types of reinsurance controversy.
Yes so.
So we had this settlement of disputed.
Insurance matter and.
It was a.
It had an impact on GAAP and statutory results.
Was contemplated in our contingency disclosures in our in our.
SEC filings, so I think you'll see that that range.
Used to be zero to $250 million and now it's zero to $125 million.
Yes.
Yeah.
Okay. Thank you.
You also elaborate on your Derisking actions in your investment portfolio that helps your RBC.
Hi, Tracy.
It's Sean so over the last number of months the macroeconomic outlook as both Erik and Ed have suggested has become more uncertain.
So in Q4 last year, we started to position the portfolio more defensively by selling.
Down the riskiest portions of our emerging markets and corporate high yield portfolios.
As economic uncertainty increased we continued to de risk throughout the first half of this year through sales up in quality trades and more conservatively investing new cash flow.
And in the second quarter for example, we reduced our below investment grade holdings by about $500 million, primarily focused on the single B category.
So we feel pretty good about where we're positioned right now.
Maybe just a quick follow up there was that all contemplated in your distributable earnings scenario.
Hi, Tracy So let me.
Let me give a little bit on that so.
I know when we release these day tables I mean, the short answer is no.
But just going back to the D E tables, when we release these back in March of this year, we received some questions from you and others about.
Why didn't they improve even more given what had happened in the markets and.
Part of the answer to that was that we entered this year in a very protected position on the equity side.
And in those scenarios that was a cost to us and the benefit of that is what you see in our mid year RBC ratio and our normalized statutory earnings.
Great. Thank you for taking my question.
Okay.
Thank you.
Our next question comes from Erik bass with Autonomous your line is now open.
Hi, Thank you.
It's first Ed can you touch a little bit on the drivers of the decline in statutory required capital this quarter.
Sure so.
As I said, we increased the range of our RBC ratio by 20 points. So we're at $4 70 to $4 90, and if you look at our tack of $8 2 billion.
You would conclude that there was a pretty material decline in required capital and that would be correct.
There were two drivers the biggest driver was convergence. So you've all heard me talk about convergence in the past, which is what happens when markets are bad you tend to see Cte 70 reserves go up more than Cte 98 total asset requirement.
And the capital charge under VA reform is determined by the difference between the total asset requirement at 98.
And the total asset requirement at 70.
And so that was the biggest driver of the decline in required capital.
Another driver was the Derisking of the investment portfolio, which John had commented on previously.
Got it and I guess, how should we think about the level, where that's convergence benefit kind of comes into play and when that happens is there a material change in our required capital.
So I guess it had a material benefit when it happens or is there.
Kind of a headwind as it if it reverses.
Well I mean I don't.
We should probably hoped for it to reverse because that means you are having very good markets. Most likely I guess I would look at this and say.
Think about it this way Cte 98 contemplates some bad things happening.
Cte 70 is not really a very challenging environment, because it's the average of the 30% worse scenarios for markets.
So when you have a bad thing happened it gets reflected in <unk> 70.
And so it goes up.
More than 98, because 98 was already contemplating bad things happening.
And so that's what that's why convergence is just generally something you should expect to see when you have a challenging market environment.
The opposite will occur if markets happen to be particularly strong.
You will have your <unk> 70 number come down because it doesn't contemplate.
A lot of bad stuff.
And you'll have your 98 come down less because again youre talking about the average of the 2% worst scenarios at 98, So it's always.
Looking at a pretty conservative asset requirement.
Got it that's helpful. And then if I could just ask quickly there's some more color on the new shield product you mentioned it sounds like this has an income guarantee so I was just curious.
How that changes the risk profile of the product or the capital intensity of it.
Hey, Eric This is David.
I'll start with that so we are excited about the.
Next iteration of shield is launching next week and really the <unk>.
Evolution of guaranteed income at Brighthouse. So this is going to build on the existing shield chassis and the success that we've had there and really designed for those clients looking to supplement retirement income utilizing existing shield crediting strategies and as you said, we're adding a built in living benefit feature.
And so from a from a risk profile perspective will really be hedged with with the rest of our VA and shield products.
Got it and presumably there is a separate alright.
<unk> charge for the if you opt in for the guarantee.
That's right the product will.
We will have a.
A rider fee attached with it but no other fees.
Got it thank you.
Thank you.
Our next question comes from John Barnidge with Piper Sandler Your line is now open.
Thank you.
And good morning, or are we at the point of the TSA roll off where expenses could actually end up below expectations, maybe on a go forward basis. Since I think you had previously mentioned.
Last TSA is to roll off are generally the most expensive.
Hey, John it's Eric.
Just repeat the part below expectations. So expenses, what are you, saying worse.
No better I'm talking about expenses better okay.
Look we've already we're near the end will be basically at the end of of all of our go forward platforms. This year after seven years of this.
And so you're already seeing the benefit of some of the expensive TSA is coming down.
It's going to be less next year are the closed block pieces, all chunks of business.
Those those actually arent quite as expensive, it's it's really the ones that we're finishing up now.
And we've already gotten.
A fair amount of that you can see how our expenses have been in the last two quarters and even though you are probably going to see them go up some in the third and fourth.
We're down pretty materially here. So we're at the end of the go forward sort of future state platform and all Thats left or some closed blocks.
Thank you my follow up Im sure at times with seven year, it seems like yesterday and others. It seems like a lifetime ago.
Sure.
When you think about the next iteration of shield level pay plus I believe talked about it can you maybe talk about are you gearing up for any distribution expansion plans within annuities ahead of that and then maybe your outlook for distribution expansion for life as well. Thank you very much.
Yes sure. Good morning, it's Myles I'll start with shield level pay plus.
As you know we haven't very strong franchise right now as it relates to.
A number of major national distributors that we sell our shield suite of products through so we feel really good about our distribution footprint. We also sell shield through the <unk> channel as well.
And lastly, look we're always looking for new distributors to shell or to sell our products through especially shield, but the current footprint it really solid.
It relates to life insurance expansion.
In the second quarter, we brought on.
Major national distributor to sell our smart care product and we did something again very similar early in the third quarter. So we have access to approximately 8000, new advisers that we can sell smart care through and Thats going to be a continued focus of ours as it relates to growing expansion growing in <unk>.
Spanning distribution for that product.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Our next question comes from Ryan Krueger with <unk>. Your line is now open.
Hi, Thanks, Good morning could you give us any perspective on any changes you've made to.
Two the hedge the VA hedging as the years gone on and rates have risen in the equities have fallen.
Hey, good morning, Ryan.
So.
We commented last quarter first starting out with the fact that I said that our interest rate hedging has been a combination of strategic and tactical and strategic component of that meaning that we had a lot of out of the money protection. We have a lot of out of money that protection for.
Rates dropping to very low levels and that strategic.
Tactical element I said was that rates have been very low and we have been positioned to benefit from rates going up.
So we mentioned on last quarter's call that we had taken some actions associated with.
The hedge portfolio because rates were higher and I will tell you that we took some additional actions since then.
Just to remind you that we manage this on this risk on a continuum and we will.
We will therefore continue to look at opportunities with rates up to perhaps do some other things as well.
I guess, that's the equity market has has.
Has fallen have you also.
Chosen to take off any protection.
There are largely the same.
Yes, I don't really want to get into sort of the where we are today looking forward I think I'd rather talk about.
Our results as they emerge over time.
Got it and then just one more is the actuarial system conversion it will not occur in the third quarter or the fourth quarter and I guess.
Anything you can any perspective, you can give us at this point.
Yes.
Sticking with it will be completed this year as a reminder, we've been in the midst of actuarial transformation moving all of our models to one environment.
Ben.
A herculean effort.
It's already paying dividends and that we have simplified more standardized models, we're looking at one environment versus multiple environments.
In 2020, we completed the life model migration in 2021, we did shield and all of the other annuity lines, except VA and all we have left is VA. This year and so we're on track and I feel very good about.
Getting this done this year.
Great. Thank you.
Thank you.
As a reminder to ask a question at this time, Please press star one one.
Our next question comes from Alex Scott with Goldman Sachs. Your line is now open.
First one I had for you was on annuity sales I was just interested if the some of the changes in the secure act and some of the partnerships that you guys made to maybe distribute more product through group.
Distribution channels over time as does any of that taking shape over what time do you expect that to start benefiting your growth.
So this is Myles I'll take that question so yes.
The secure act is terrific for retirement.
Retirement, but it hasn't had a huge effect as it relate to as it relates to the sale of retail annuity products.
As it relates to our group annuity business.
That's a legacy business that we do see new flows into but we're not actively signing up new plans.
And our strategy for institutional retirement opportunities will be light path moving forward.
Got it.
Second one I have is.
On.
Just some of the disclosures.
Your former parent made.
L. DTI I realize you guys are prepared to.
Probably give that at this point, but.
Are there any differences between your block of annuities and their block of annuities that we should be thinking about.
Hey, Alex it's Ed So I.
I believe they gave the opening balance sheet disclosure is that correct.
That's correct yep, Okay. So that was as of the beginning of 'twenty, one right and year end 2010 year Treasury was 92% or 93 basis points I think.
So the first thing I would start out with is we are obviously in a very different rate environment and as you know as well as anyone else.
Market risk benefit calculation is very sensitive to two rate movements. So that's the first thing.
That I would point out and the second thing is when it comes to LD Ti, we're not talking about numbers today and it really relates to my answer to the previous question.
We are in the final stages of the VA model conversion, obviously, we're doing all the LD ti calculations within that environment and so it's premature for us to talk about estimates.
I would expect that we would be in a position to talk about it on the third quarter call.
Got it and then maybe one quick follow up for me.
What credit metrics are you focused on the other side of this.
I get that there's a lot of non economic pieces statutory Youre RBC result, which was.
I thought fantastic in this kind of environment et cetera is very important.
But I guess as we think about holdco and debt load like what what are you going to be managing to and what are the rating agency is going to be looking hardest at right, where those goalposts going.
How can we think about all of that.
Sure well I think the first thing is we will have to see I mean, you probably should talk to the rating agencies, but I would say if I look at their comments to date, they've been pretty consistent in saying that they look through accounting changes.
And as you know.
Nothing changes with our statutory balance sheet or our cash generation anything.
January <unk> 23 versus year end 2002, so that's the first point and the second point is.
We have a completely different model now under GAAP than what we have today.
So the idea that we would continue to have the same targets and metrics under a completely different model doesn't seem to me to be likely.
Yes, that's kind of the intent of my question is I agree so where.
What are the new metrics that we should think about it.
Yes, I'm not sure that you would think about new metrics. I mean, you can look at our balance sheet you see the debt. We have you see the preferred we have you see our statutory capital you see our holding company cash I mean, I don't know those are the things that you're focused on.
Got it alright, that's helpful. Thank you.
Thank you. Our next question comes from Tom Gallagher with Evercore ISI. Your line is now open.
Good morning, Hey, speaking of holding company cash.
I haven't heard you talk about your target in a while I think it used to be $400 million is that still the case or IBM change you're thinking of that.
Yes, I don't think I've ever given that number but I guess I would say this right and I have said this.
I don't know that there is a target for holding company cash right, because it's going to be dependent on a number of factors.
It's not just fixed charges. It's also like what are your maturities look like.
And I.
I would say we're in a great position from that standpoint, right like we.
We issued $750 million of 30 year debt and fixed for life preferred in the fall of last year.
At the absolute nadir for funding cost and we extended the maturity profile by using most of those proceeds to take out.
That that was coming due in 2027, so I think our 2027.
Our 2027 debt now is less than $800 million the maturity.
So we have no maturities between now and then.
We have overall extended the capital structure in the last few years and added more preferred so I feel very good about kind of the funding.
Syed and.
I've also made comments about how having the amount of cash that we have at the holding company gives us a lot of flexibility in terms of buyback because of the fact that.
You see what our remaining authorization is and you see that cash level and you see that I'd say, we're taking $300 million out in the second half of the year, we really don't have to rely on dividends from our primary operating company to continue buying back stock.
Got you, yeah, and it might have been your predecessor that said $400 million.
That was a while back now but.
Yes, I think it really I mean like I said, you know what you wouldn't want to have $400 million. If you had $1 billion of debt coming due next year.
For example.
Yes.
Sure that make my follow up is just on.
I just wanted to understand.
I know you don't want to talk about prospective hedging or at least.
The way you position, but the concern I'm hearing right now is hey, this was a great result, it looks like you were closer to first dollar hedged on your overall hedging program into the.
Piece of the bear market in <unk>, but if you are closer to first dollar hedged I'm not asking for how close you are closer than the $500 million, we'll call. It first dollar position and.
And now Youre going to get Cte Cte Cte 70, Cte 98.
Divergence occurring in <unk> and <unk>.
Will you have a near term RBC hit as we think if we just marked everything to market and I'm not asking for a specific number but it's meaningful to the point, where we might we might see an unintended consequence in Q3 for RBC.
Okay sure let me try to to help on this so I don't think you should look at convergence or divergence as meaning good or bad for RBC, it's convergence and divergence that actually lend stability to RBC.
Because the RBC is for a VA company, a pure VA company, Cte 98 would be a 400% RBC ratio.
And so its the movement between 98 and 70, that's going to determine the composition of that ratio, meaning the numerator and the denominator right not the ultimate outcome.
And in terms of first dollar I would just say this I mean, I think Eric made a comment on last quarter's call that.
We have an up to $500 million first loss and that doesn't mean wherever.
That we're necessarily at that level right.
Now it's all modeling we know it's our models and we're forecasting based on different market environments, but what I would say is what you saw in the year to date rate is.
Norm Stat earnings of $400 million norm Stat earnings for VA means.
On generation of assets above 98, right. So we said last quarter that we didn't use any of our first loss position. Despite the noise that we had in RBC and if you look at the second quarter given the strong statutory results you can see it's the opposite of any first loss.
Gotcha.
Can I just sneak in one more quick one could you guys participate in that study Pru was referencing and I heard what you said on lapse rates, which sounds like you're fine on the lapse rate assumption. They also changed our ultimate mortality assumption.
It sounds like and is that something that we should be considering or something you are contemplating. Thanks.
Yes, I just would reiterate what I said before.
Statutory is very conservative for us.
Under a triple X.
You have prescribed assumptions that are very conservative.
It's the reason when we talk about.
How we think about capitalization at BRC D is looking at cash flow testing margins and I've said repeatedly that those margins have been good.
And.
I mean, that's all there is to say I think on the topic.
Got it thanks.
Thank you. Our next question comes from <unk> Kamath with Jefferies. Your line is open.
I think Thats me.
Hey, Ed can you you talked about $142 million impacted annuities I think you talked about that being split between DAC VA reserves and lower fee any way to kind of give us the splits on that.
Hi, Nate.
I'm going to just keep it at the $1 42, but maybe what I can help you out with us.
All the numbers, we put in the slide and I think talked about last night were related to the impacts in the second quarter.
If you were to look at separate account balances.
As of the end of the second quarter.
You would probably talk about another $40 million to $50 million after tax impact negative impact to go forward earnings from the markets.
So you've got the number there and then you would add on to that let's say you.
Youre not youre going to have an <unk>.
Additional $40 million to $50 million, so when youre thinking about your add back if you wanted to add something back right.
It's not going to be the full $142 million.
Got it okay that makes sense and then just my second question is.
I think yesterday Lincoln talked about.
Principles based reserving.
Our life insurance business due to the weaker markets and that had an impact on their RBC.
Just wondering if that affected your.
It all in the quarter and if not because maybe your block is smaller or that resides in the captive just.
Sense of any impacts there.
Sure. So when it comes to the topic Du jour of USG, none of our USG as PBR, because it's all run off and I think PBR was what started in a couple of years ago.
Got it I thought that they were referring to more of the equity market Act, but maybe I got that wrong it seem to be what they are referring to.
Yes.
Thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen, I will now turn the call over to Dana Monte for closing remarks.
Thank you Shannon.
Thank you all for joining us today and for your interest in Brighthouse financial have a great day.
This concludes today's conference call. Thank you for participating you may now disconnect.
Yes.
The conference will begin shortly to raise Johan during Q&A, you can dial star one one.
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Okay.
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Okay.
Uh huh.
Okay.
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