Voya Financial Announces Third-Quarter 2016 Results

NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA) today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2016.

• 3Q 2016 net loss available to common shareholders of $1.24 per diluted share, which reflects:
  • Closed Block Variable Annuity (CBVA) segment loss of $1.06 per diluted share, after-tax, which includes a $0.31 per diluted share, after-tax, loss related to the annual review of actuarial assumptions and models for the segment; the CBVA segment, which is in run-off, is supported by a hedge program that is primarily designed to mitigate the impacts of market movements on regulatory and rating agency capital resources, creating an accounting asymmetry with U.S. GAAP financial results; and
  • A loss of $0.75 per diluted share, after-tax, (operating and non-operating) from the annual review of actuarial assumptions and models in the Ongoing Business, which reflects the lower level of interest rates.
                               
• 3Q 2016 operating earnings^1,2 of $0.37 per diluted share, after-tax, which includes:
  • $(0.47) per diluted share, after-tax, of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired ("DAC/VOBA") and other intangibles unlocking primarily related to the company's annual review of actuarial assumptions and models; and
  • $0.05 per diluted share, after-tax and DAC/VOBA, of prepayment fee and alternative investment income above, in aggregate, the company's long-term expectations.
                             
• 3Q 2016 segment results include:
  • Retirement net inflows of $1.4 billion due to net inflows in all markets;
  • Investment Management net inflows of $297 million (excluding sub-advisor replacements and variable annuity outflows);
  • Positive inflows for Annuities investment-only products;
  • Unfavorable mortality in Individual Life, although improved compared with 3Q 2015;
  • Higher Stop Loss and Group Life loss ratios compared with 3Q 2015, but within the annual expected range; and
  • CBVA hedge program continued to protect regulatory and rating agency capital.
                                             
• Total assets under management (AUM) of $283 billion; total AUM and administration of $480 billion as of Sept. 30, 2016.
• $150 million of share repurchases in 3Q 2016 through a previously announced share repurchase agreement; $200 million share repurchase agreement planned for 4Q 2016.
• Planning at least $100 million in annual run rate cost savings to be realized in 2018 and subsequent years; represents an increase from the company's previously announced plans to achieve $30 to $40 million in annual run rate cost savings.
• Estimated combined risk-based capital (RBC) ratio of 468%³, which is above the company's target of 425%.
• Debt-to-capital ratio, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI), of 23.3%⁴.
• Book value per share (excluding AOCI) of $60.07⁵.

Third-Quarter Summary

3Q 2016 net income (loss) available to common shareholders was $(248) million, or $(1.24) per diluted share, compared with net income (loss) available to common shareholders of $40 million, or $0.18 per diluted share in 3Q 2015⁶. The following items primarily accounted for this change:

• A $322 million loss related to the company's annual review of actuarial assumptions and models during 3Q 2016, compared with a loss of $214 million in 3Q 2015; and
• A loss of $123 million in 3Q 2016 due to changes in the fair value of guaranteed benefit derivatives related to nonperformance risk in CBVA, which the company considers a non-economic factor, compared with a gain of $241 million in 3Q 2015⁷.

Net income available to common shareholders includes the effect of the company's CBVA hedge program – which focuses on protecting regulatory and rating agency capital from market movements, rather than minimizing GAAP earnings volatility – as well as net investment gains and losses, among other items.

3Q 2016 after-tax operating earnings were $74 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, compared with $93 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, in 3Q 2015⁸. The following items primarily accounted for this change:

• $32 million, after tax, of incremental unfavorable DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking;
• $18 million, after tax, of higher adjusted operating earnings from the Ongoing Business; and
• $6 million, after tax, of lower operating earnings from other Closed Blocks primarily due to the accelerated recognition of the deferred financing cost related to terminating three funding agreements.

"During the third quarter, we demonstrated strong sales momentum across our Ongoing Business," said Rodney O. Martin, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer, Voya Financial. "We achieved positive net flows in Retirement, Investment Management third party assets and in investment-only products in Annuities while also achieving strong sales in Employee Benefits and Individual Life.  We continue to execute on our plans to grow our Ongoing Business at higher returns on capital and – while our industry remains challenged by the low interest rate environment – we are taking actions to help maintain and improve profitability.  For example, during the third quarter, we announced plans to combine our Annuities and Individual Life businesses to share resources among the businesses and provide us with greater agility and flexibility.

"At the same time, our CBVA hedge program continued to protect regulatory and rating agency capital during the third quarter, and our capital position at Voya remains strong.  At Sept. 30, 2016, we had excess capital of $978 million, even after repurchasing $150 million of common stock during the quarter.  With the additional $600 million repurchase authorization we've received from the board of directors, we plan to continue repurchasing shares opportunistically to help drive greater shareholder value," added Martin.

New Cost Savings Target
Voya Financial also announced today a higher cost savings target as part of the company's broader plans to achieve its 2018 return on equity target.

Through a series of initiatives focused on Voya becoming a simpler, more-agile company able to deliver an enhanced customer experience, the company now expects to achieve annual run rate cost savings of at least $100 million in 2018 and subsequent years.  These cost savings represent an increase of at least $60 to $70 million annually from the company's previously announced plans to achieve $30 to $40 million in annual run rate cost savings in 2018.  The additional cost savings will be achieved, in part, by simplifying how the company operates, including a further emphasis on less capital-intensive products; greater migration to an information technology cloud environment; and the achievement of operational synergies from the combination of its Annuities and Individual Life businesses.

To achieve its new, targeted annual run rate cost savings of at least $100 million in 2018 and beyond, Voya will incur certain restructuring expenses through 2018.  These expenses, which will be classified as non-operating items, are not reflected in the company's run-rate cost savings estimates for 2018. Those estimates also exclude development expenses that will be incurred in 2018 as part of the company's $350 million strategic investment program. 

In the fourth quarter of 2016, Voya will incur restructuring expenses of at least $30 million in connection with these cost-saving initiatives.  Additional restructuring costs, which cannot currently be estimated, but which could be material, will be recognized in one or more periods through the end of 2018.

"Since our initial public offering in 2013, we have consistently demonstrated our ability to take proactive steps to achieve our goals and help our customers get ready to retire better," said Martin.  "By increasing our efforts to simplify our company and allocate capital to areas of higher return, we are actively addressing the low interest rate environment while increasing our ability to meet our customers' needs."

Ongoing Business Results

Voya Financial's Ongoing Business includes the Retirement, Investment Management, Annuities, Individual Life, and Employee Benefits segments. The Corporate and closed block segments, including CBVA, are not reflected in Ongoing Business results.

Ongoing Business operating earnings in 3Q 2016 benefitted from a gain resulting from a Lehman Brothers bankruptcy settlement, which is not reflected in Ongoing Business adjusted operating earnings.

DAC/VOBA and other intangibles, which affects Ongoing Business operating earnings but not adjusted operating earnings, was $47 million unfavorable compared with 3Q 2015 and reflects updated market return assumptions and unfavorable liability and expense assumptions.

Ongoing Business adjusted operating earnings before income taxes were $330 million, compared with $303 million in 3Q 2015. The following items primarily accounted for the change in operating earnings (in addition to DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking) and adjusted operating earnings:

• Lower DAC/VOBA and other intangible amortization ($32 million positive variance) and lower underwriting gain and other revenue ($23 million negative variance) primarily driven by a positive change in net mortality in Individual Life as a result of reduced severity when compared with 3Q 2015, partially offset by a negative change in Annuities as a result of model refinements in 3Q 2016 compared with 3Q 2015;
• Higher investment spread and other income ($24 million positive variance) across the segments primarily due to higher prepayment fee income, higher alternative investment income and higher volume resulting from customer transfers from variable to fixed investment accounts, partially offset by declining fixed income portfolio yields;
• Higher commissions ($7 million negative variance) and lower administrative expenses ($2 million positive variance); and
• Higher fee-based margin ($1 million positive variance) primarily due to higher performance fees and higher average AUM due to Investment Management sourced net cash flows and market improvements, partially offset by lower recordkeeping fees as well as lower full-service variable fees from customer transfers from variable to fixed accounts.

Segment Discussions

The following segment discussions compare 3Q 2016 with 3Q 2015, unless otherwise noted. All figures are presented before income taxes.

Retirement
Positive Net Flows; Higher Investment Spread and Lower Administrative Expenses

DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking, which affects Retirement operating earnings but not adjusted operating earnings, was $26 million unfavorable compared with 3Q 2015.

The following items primarily accounted for the change in Retirement operating earnings (in addition to DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking) and adjusted operating earnings:

• Higher investment spread and other income ($9 million positive variance) driven by materially higher investment volumes arising, in part, from a shift in participant assets from variable to fixed investment accounts, offset by declining fixed income portfolio earned yields and higher credited interest;
• Lower fee-based margin ($3 million negative variance) due to lower recordkeeping fees reflecting Voya's exit from the defined benefit business as well as lower full-service, variable fees due in part to customer transfers from variable to fixed investment accounts;
• Lower administrative expenses ($6 million positive variance) due to lower recordkeeping, IT and operations expenses, partially offset by higher trail commissions ($3 million negative variance) resulting from growth in the business; and
• Higher underwriting income ($1 million positive variance).

Prepayment fee and alternative investment income was $6 million above long-term expectations, in aggregate, before the effect of income taxes and after DAC.

Retirement net inflows were $1.4 billion, compared with net outflows of $1.1 billion in 3Q 2015 and net inflows of $693 million in 2Q 2016. Net flows vary in size and timing, sometimes substantially, from one quarter to the next. Retirement AUM totaled $120 billion, up from $115 billion as of June 30, 2016, and $107 billion as of Sept. 30, 2015.

Investment Management
Positive Investment Management Sourced and Affiliate Sourced Net Flows; Higher Revenues from Investment Capital, Partially Offset by Higher Administrative Expenses

Investment Management operating earnings in 3Q 2016 benefitted from a gain resulting from a Lehman Brothers bankruptcy settlement, which is not reflected in Investment Management adjusted operating earnings.

The following items primarily accounted for the change in Investment Management operating earnings (in addition to the gain resulting from a Lehman Brothers bankruptcy settlement) and adjusted operating earnings:

• Higher investment capital and other investment income ($4 million positive variance) due to income earned on alternative investments;
• Higher fee-based margin ($4 million positive variance) primarily due to higher performance fees and higher average AUM due to Investment Management sourced net cash flows and market improvements; and
• Higher administrative expenses ($5 million negative variance) primarily due to higher compensation-related expenses associated with sales and due, in part, to timing of expenses.

Alternative investment income was in line with long-term expectations before the impact of income taxes.

The increase in the 3Q 2016 operating margin, excluding investment capital and other investment income, compared with 2Q 2016 was primarily due to higher fee-based revenue resulting from higher performance fees and higher average AUM.  Compared with 3Q 2015, the 3Q 2016 operating margin excluding investment capital and other investment income declined primarily due to higher compensation-related expenses associated with sales and due, in part, to timing of expenses.

During 3Q 2016, Investment Management Sourced net inflows were driven by institutional net flows, including flows from global distribution and alternative asset classes.

Third-party¹¹ sales were $4.7 billion, compared with $6.2 billion in 3Q 2015 and $4.3 billion in 2Q 2016. Third-party AUM totaled $128 billion as of Sept. 30, 2016, up from $125 billion as of June 30, 2016, and $122 billion as of Sept. 30, 2015.

Annuities
Positive Net Flows for Investment-Only Products; Lower Underwriting Results Partially Offset by Higher Prepayment Fee Income

DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking, which affects Annuities operating earnings but not adjusted operating earnings, was $69 million favorable compared with 3Q 2015.

The following items primarily accounted for the change in Annuities operating earnings (in addition to DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking) and adjusted operating earnings:

• Lower net underwriting income ($24 million negative variance) primarily due to a $6 million negative reserve adjustment in 3Q 2016 related to valuation model refinements, compared with a $22 million positive reserve adjustment in 3Q 2015 – this was partially offset by favorable mortality;
• Higher investment spread and other income ($9 million positive variance) primarily due to higher prepayment fee income; and
• Lower DAC/VOBA and other intangibles amortization ($9 million positive variance) primarily due to the previously mentioned valuation model refinements.

Prepayment fee and alternative investment income was $5 million above long-term expectations, before the effect of income taxes and after DAC. Total Annuities net outflows were $135 million as net inflows of $81 million in investment-only products were more than offset by net outflows of $9 million in fixed indexed annuities, $151 million in fixed rate annuities, and $56 million in income and other annuities.

Annuities AUM totaled $28 billion as of Sept. 30, 2016, up from $27 billion as of June 30, 2016, and $27 billion as of Sept. 30, 2015.

Individual Life
Higher Underwriting Income and Favorable Amortization Offset by Lower Investment Spread

DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking, which affects Individual Life operating earnings but not adjusted operating earnings, was $93 million unfavorable compared with 3Q 2015.

The following items primarily accounted for the change in Individual Life operating earnings (in addition to DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking) and adjusted operating earnings:

• Higher net underwriting income and lower DAC/VOBA and other intangibles amortization ($27 million positive variance) primarily driven by net mortality as a result of reduced severity when compared to 3Q 2015;
• Lower administrative expenses ($2 million positive variance); and
• Lower investment spread ($2 million negative variance) primarily due to lower yields on fixed income portfolios partially offset by favorable prepayment fee income.

Prepayment fee and alternative investment income was $2 million above long-term expectations, before the impact of income taxes and after DAC.

Total sales were $24 million, $20 million (or 82%) of which were indexed life sales. This compares with 3Q 2015 total sales of $25 million, $18 million (or 74%) of which were indexed life sales.

Employee Benefits
Continued Revenue Growth Across the Business Offset by Higher, but Within Expected Range, Loss Ratios

DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking, which affects Employee Benefits operating earnings but not adjusted operating earnings, was approximately $3 million favorable compared with 3Q 2015.

The following items primarily accounted for the change in Employee Benefits operating earnings (in addition to DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking) and adjusted operating earnings:

• Lower net underwriting income ($4 million negative variance) as both Stop Loss and Group Life loss ratios were within expected ranges, but higher than the very favorable results in 3Q 2015 – this was partially offset by in-force premium growth across the business and a $17 million, post-DAC, favorable reserve refinement on the company's Compass product line;
• Higher trail commissions ($5 million negative variance) due to growth in the business; and
• Higher investment spread and other income ($2 million positive variance).

Prepayment fee and alternative investment income was $1 million above long-term expectations, before the impact of income taxes.

The loss ratio for Group Life was 77.9%, compared with 75.6%. The loss ratio for Stop Loss was 79.5%, compared with 67.3%. The expected annual loss ratio range for Group Life and Stop Loss is 77-80%.

Sales were $54 million, compared with $43 million in 3Q 2015.

CBVA
CBVA had a net loss before income taxes of $328 million, compared with a net loss before income taxes of $7 million in 3Q 2015. Changes in the fair value of guaranteed benefit derivatives related to nonperformance risk, which the company considers a non-economic factor, generated a loss of $123 million in 3Q 2016, compared to a gain of $241 million in 3Q 2015.

CBVA's $328 million net loss in 3Q 2016 included a $96 million loss due to annual assumption changes.  The $96 million loss reflects the negative impact of lower interest rate assumptions and other model updates, which were partially offset by the positive impact of policyholder behavior assumption changes. 

The CBVA segment contains variable annuity products with substantial guarantee features, which are in run-off. CBVA is supported by a hedge program that is primarily designed to mitigate the impacts of market movements on capital resources. As U.S. GAAP accounting differs from the methods used to determine regulatory and rating agency capital measures, the CBVA hedge program can create earnings volatility for U.S. GAAP financial statements.

During 3Q 2016, the hedge program resulted in a net gain to regulatory surplus as a result of the difference between the decrease in reserves and hedge resources related to equity market movements.

As of Sept. 30, 2016, Voya had estimated available resources of $6.3 billion for CBVA, $1.0 billion higher than statutory reserve requirements, and no letters of credit required or issued.

Corporate
Corporate operating losses were $78 million, compared with losses of $76 million in 3Q 2015.

Share Repurchases
During 3Q 2016, Voya completed the repurchase agreement announced in 2Q 2016 by repurchasing 5.7 million shares of its common stock at an average price per share of approximately $26.36 for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $150 million.  In 4Q 2016, Voya plans to enter into an agreement to repurchase $200 million of its common stock.

Additional Share Repurchase Authorization
Voya Financial announced today that its board of directors has increased the amount of the company's common stock authorized for repurchase under the company's share repurchase program by an additional $600 million. Including this additional $600 million authorization and giving effect to the planned repurchase of $200 million of shares under an agreement to be entered into in 4Q 2016, the aggregate amount currently available under the company's share repurchase authorization would be approximately $633 million. Under its share repurchase program, the company may, from time to time, purchase shares of its common stock through various means, including open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions, forward, derivative, accelerated repurchase, or automatic repurchase transactions, or tender offers. The additional $600 million share repurchase authorization expires on Dec. 31, 2017 (unless extended), and does not obligate the company to purchase any shares. The authorization for the share repurchase program may be terminated, increased or decreased by the board of directors at any time.

Supplementary Financial Information
More detailed financial information can be found in the company's Quarterly Investor Supplement, which is available on Voya's investor relations website, investors.voya.com.

Earnings Conference Call and Slide Presentation
Voya will host a conference call on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016, at 10 a.m. ET, to discuss the company's third-quarter 2016 results. The call and slide presentation can be accessed via the company's investor relations website at investors.voya.com. A replay of the call will be available on the company's investor relations website at investors.voya.com starting at 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 2, 2016.

About Voya Financial®
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), helps Americans plan, invest and protect their savings — to get ready to retire better. Serving the financial needs of approximately 13 million individual and institutional customers in the United States, Voya is a Fortune 500 company that had $11 billion in revenue in 2015. The company had $480 billion in total assets under management and administration as of Sept. 30, 2016. With a clear mission to make a secure financial future possible – one person, one family, one institution at a time – Voya's vision is to be America's Retirement Company™. The company is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible – Voya has been recognized as one of the 2016 World's Most Ethical Companies^® by the Ethisphere Institute, and as one of the Top Green Companies in the U.S., by Newsweek magazine. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook and Twitter @Voya.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Operating earnings before income taxes is a financial measure we use to evaluate segment performance. We believe that operating earnings before income taxes provides a meaningful measure of our business and segment performances and enhances the understanding of our financial results by focusing on the operating performance and trends of our underlying business segments and excluding items that tend to be highly variable from period to period based on capital market conditions and/or other factors. We use the same accounting policies and procedures to measure segment operating earnings before income taxes as we do for consolidated net income (loss). We also report operating earnings on an aggregate basis (both before and after income taxes) for both our Ongoing Business and for our company as a whole. Operating earnings does not replace net income (loss) as the measure of our results of operations. Therefore, we believe that it is useful to evaluate both net income (loss) and Operating earnings before income taxes when reviewing our financial and operating performance. Each segment's operating earnings before income taxes is calculated by adjusting income (loss) before income taxes for the following items:

• Net investment gains (losses), net of related amortization of DAC, VOBA, sales inducements and unearned revenue, which are significantly influenced by economic and market conditions, including interest rates and credit spreads. Net investment gains (losses) include gains (losses) on the sale of securities, impairments, changes in the fair value of investments using the fair value option unrelated to the implied loan-backed security income recognition for certain mortgage-backed obligations and changes in the fair value of derivative instruments, excluding realized gains (losses) associated with swap settlements and accrued interest;
• Net guaranteed benefit hedging gains (losses), which are significantly influenced by economic and market conditions, include changes in the fair value of derivatives related to guaranteed benefits, net of related reserve increases (decreases) and net of related amortization of DAC, VOBA and sales inducements, less the estimated cost of these benefits. The estimated cost, which is reflected in operating results, reflects the expected cost of these benefits if markets perform in line with our long-term expectations and includes the cost of hedging. Other derivative and reserve changes related to guaranteed benefits are excluded from operating results, including the impacts related to changes in our nonperformance spread;
• Income (loss) related to businesses exited through reinsurance or divestment (including net investment gains (losses) on securities sold and expenses directly related to these transactions);
• Income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest;
• Income (loss) related to early extinguishment of debt;
• Impairment of goodwill, value of management contract rights and value of customer relationships acquired;
• Immediate recognition of net actuarial gains (losses) related to our pension and other postretirement benefit obligations and gains (losses) from plan amendments and curtailments; and
• Other items, including restructuring expenses (severance, lease write-offs, etc.), certain third-party expenses and deal incentives related to the divestment of Voya Financial by ING Group and expenses associated with the rebranding of Voya Financial from ING U.S., Inc.

Operating earnings before income taxes, when presented on a consolidated basis, also does not reflect the results of operations of our CBVA segment because this segment is managed to focus on protecting regulatory and rating agency capital rather than achieving operating metrics or generating net income. As a result of this focus on regulatory and rating agency capital, the financial results of the CBVA segment presented in accordance with GAAP tend to exhibit a high degree of volatility based on factors, such as the asymmetry between the accounting for certain liabilities and the corresponding hedging assets, and gains and losses due to changes in nonperformance risk, that are not necessarily reflective of the economic costs and benefits of our CBVA business. When we present the adjustments to income (loss) before income taxes on a consolidated basis, each adjustment excludes the portions attributable to our CBVA segment.

We also use adjusted operating earnings before income taxes as a measure of our financial performance. This measure excludes from operating earnings the following items:  (1) DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking, (2) net gains from a distribution of cash in conjunction with a Lehman Brothers bankruptcy settlement for assets held in a partnership owned by the company, (3) losses on certain receivables associated with the previously disposed low-income housing tax credit partnerships, and (4) interest expense related to debt in our Corporate segment. Because DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking can be volatile, excluding the effect of this item can improve period to period comparability. The net gain from the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy settlement and the loss from the disposition of low-income housing tax credit partnerships affected run-rate results and we believe that this effect is not reflective of our ongoing performance.

We report Ongoing Business operating earnings before income taxes (both adjusted and unadjusted as described above) because we believe this measure is a useful indicator of the business performance for our Ongoing Business segments, excluding the effect of our Closed Blocks and Corporate segments.

Operating earnings (both before and after income taxes), adjusted operating earnings before income taxes, Ongoing Business operating earnings before income taxes and Ongoing Business adjusted operating earnings before income taxes, are each non-GAAP measures. For a reconciliation of each of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures, see the tables that accompany this release, as well as our Quarterly Investor Supplement.

We report Ongoing Business adjusted operating ROE and adjusted operating ROC because we believe these measures are useful indicators of how effectively we use capital resources allocated to our Ongoing Business. The most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure to Ongoing Business adjusted operating ROE and adjusted operating ROC is return on equity. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to return on equity, see the tables that accompany this release as well as our Quarterly Investor Supplement.

In our Investment Management business, we report the operating margin excluding Investment Capital results. Because results from Investment Capital can be volatile, excluding the effect of this item can improve period-to-period comparability.

In addition to net income (loss) per share, we report operating earnings per share because we believe that operating earnings before income taxes provides a meaningful measure of its business and segment performances and enhances the understanding of our financial results by focusing on the operating performance and trends of the underlying business segments and excluding items that tend to be highly variable from period to period based on capital market conditions and/or other factors.

In addition to book value per share including AOCI, we report book value per share excluding AOCI. Included in AOCI are investment portfolio unrealized gains or losses. In the ordinary course of business we do not plan to sell most investments for the sole purpose of realizing gains or losses, and book value per share excluding AOCI provides a measure consistent with that view.

We also analyze our Ongoing Business performance based on the sources of earnings. We believe this supplemental information is useful in order to gain a better understanding of our financial performance, because it provides insight into the main drivers of operating earnings (loss) before income taxes of our Ongoing Business. The sources of earnings are defined as follows:

• Investment spread and other investment income consists of net investment income and net realized investment gains (losses) associated with swap settlements and accrued interest, less interest credited to policyholder reserves.
• Fee-based margin consists primarily of fees earned on AUM, AUA, and transaction-based recordkeeping fees.
• Net underwriting gain (loss) and other revenue contains the difference between fees charged for insurance risks and incurred benefits, including mortality, morbidity, and surrender results, contractual charges for universal life and annuity contracts, the change in the unearned revenue reserve for universal life contracts, and that portion of traditional life insurance premiums intended to cover expenses and profits. Certain contract charges for universal life insurance are not recognized in income immediately, but are deferred as unearned revenues and are amortized into income in a manner similar to the amortization of DAC.
• Administrative expenses are general expenses, net of amounts capitalized as acquisition expenses and exclude commission expenses and fees on letters of credit.
• Trail commissions are commissions paid that are not deferred and thus recorded directly to expense.
• For a detailed explanation of DAC/VOBA and other intangibles amortization/unlocking see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Unlocking of DAC/VOBA and other Contract Owner/Policyholder Intangibles" in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Feb. 25, 2016, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2016, which the company expects to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before Nov. 9, 2016.

More details on these sources of earnings can be found in Voya Financial's Quarterly Investor Supplement, which is available on Voya Financial's investor relations website, investors.voya.com.

Forward-Looking and Other Cautionary Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to future developments in our business or expectations for our future financial performance and any statement not involving a historical fact. Forward-looking statements use words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement due to, among other things, (i) general economic conditions, particularly economic conditions in our core markets, (ii) performance of financial markets, including emerging markets, (iii) the frequency and severity of insured loss events, (iv) mortality and morbidity levels, (v) persistency and lapse levels, (vi) interest rates, (vii) currency exchange rates, (viii) general competitive factors, (ix) changes in laws and regulations, including those relating to the use of and possible application of NAIC accreditation standards to captive reinsurance entities and those made pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or the U.S. Department of Labor's final rules and exemptions pertaining to the fiduciary status of providers of investment advice, and (x) changes in the policies of governments and/or regulatory authorities. Factors that may cause actual results to differ from those in any forward-looking statement also include those described under "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition – Trends and Uncertainties" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Feb. 25, 2016, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended Sept. 30, 2016, which the company expects to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before Nov. 9, 2016.

SOURCE Voya Financial, Inc.