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AFLAC INC - Quarter Report: 2021 September (Form 10-Q)




UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021
or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission File Number: 001-07434
afl-20210930_g1.jpg
Aflac Incorporated
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Georgia58-1167100
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1932 Wynnton RoadColumbus,Georgia 31999
(Address of principal executive offices)(ZIP Code)
706. 323.3431
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.10 par value per shareAFLNew York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  þ  Yes  ¨  No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).            þ  Yes  ¨  No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filerþAccelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer    ¨Smaller reporting company  
Emerging growth company  
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  þ  No
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. 661,528,219 shares of the issuer's common stock were outstanding as of October 19, 2021.





Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2021
Table of Contents
 
PART I.Page
Item 1.
  Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020
  Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020
  September 30, 2021, and December 31, 2020
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 
  Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 
  Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
PART II.
Item 2.
Item 6.
Items other than those listed above are omitted because they are not required or are not applicable.





PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
  
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In millions, except for share and per-share amounts - Unaudited)2021202020212020
Revenues:
Net premiums, principally supplemental health insurance$4,372 $4,623 $13,406 $13,969 
Net investment income991 896 2,908 2,669 
Net investment gains (losses)(171)108 224 (525)
Other income (loss)45 38 132 121 
Total revenues5,237 5,665 16,670 16,234 
Benefits and expenses:
Benefits and claims, net2,609 2,985 7,996 8,822 
Acquisition and operating expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs278 292 869 914 
Insurance commissions311 325 952 993 
Insurance and other expenses (1)
869 847 2,582 2,382 
Interest expense57 63 181 181 
Total acquisition and operating expenses1,515 1,527 4,584 4,470 
Total benefits and expenses4,124 4,512 12,580 13,292 
Earnings before income taxes1,113 1,153 4,090 2,942 
Income taxes225 (1,303)804 (884)
Net earnings$888 $2,456 $3,286 $3,826 
Net earnings per share:
Basic$1.33 $3.45 $4.84 $5.33 
Diluted1.32 3.44 4.82 5.31 
Weighted-average outstanding common shares used in
  computing earnings per share (In thousands):
Basic668,762 711,698 678,509 717,962 
Diluted671,925 713,793 681,521 720,333 
Cash dividends per share$.33 $.28 $.99 $.84 
(1) Includes expense of $48 and $15 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, for the early extinguishment of debt.
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

1





Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
  
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In millions - Unaudited)2021202020212020
Net earnings$888 $2,456 $3,286 $3,826 
Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes:
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during
   period
(93)172 (646)329 
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities:
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities
   during period
(316)1,420 (800)26 
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses on
   fixed maturity securities included in net earnings
(13)(13)2 132 
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives during period2 3 (3)
Pension liability adjustment during period1 (1)7 (1)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes(419)1,580 (1,434)483 
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive
   income (loss)
(62)413 (162)29 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes(357)1,167 (1,272)454 
Total comprehensive income (loss)$531 $3,623 $2,014 $4,280 
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
2




Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In millions, except for share and per-share amounts)September 30,
2021
(Unaudited)
December 31,
2020
Assets:
Investments and cash:
Fixed maturity securities available for sale, at fair value, (no allowance for credit losses in
  2021 and $38 in 2020, amortized cost $84,000 in 2021 and $88,143 in 2020)
$96,285 $101,286 
Fixed maturity securities available for sale - consolidated variable interest entities, at fair value
  (amortized cost $3,228 in 2021 and $3,487 in 2020)
4,437 4,596 
Fixed maturity securities held to maturity, at amortized cost, net of allowance
  for credit losses of $9 in 2021 and $10 in 2020 (fair value $27,748 in 2021 and $30,399 in 2020)
22,613 24,464 
Equity securities, at fair value1,461 1,283 
Commercial mortgage and other loans, net of allowance for credit losses of $165 in 2021 and $180
  in 2020 (includes $9,543 in 2021 and $8,964 in 2020 of consolidated variable interest entities)
11,388 10,554 
Other investments
  (includes $1,272 in 2021 and $826 in 2020 of consolidated variable interest entities)
3,612 2,429 
Cash and cash equivalents6,208 5,141 
Total investments and cash146,004 149,753 
Receivables787 796 
Accrued investment income701 780 
Deferred policy acquisition costs9,714 10,441 
Property and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation542 601 
Other2,849 2,715 
Total assets$160,597 $165,086 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:
Liabilities:
Policy liabilities:
Future policy benefits$92,434 $97,783 
Unpaid policy claims4,909 5,187 
Unearned premiums2,814 3,597 
Other policyholders’ funds7,286 7,824 
Total policy liabilities107,443 114,391 
Income taxes4,577 4,661 
Payables for return of cash collateral on loaned securities2,849 964 
Notes payable and lease obligations8,066 7,899 
Other4,110 3,612 
Total liabilities127,045 131,527 
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 12)
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock of $.10 par value. In thousands: authorized 1,900,000
   shares in 2021 and 2020; issued 1,352,562 shares in 2021 and 1,351,018 shares in 2020
135 135 
Additional paid-in capital2,491 2,410 
Retained earnings40,830 37,984 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)(1,760)(1,109)
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities9,731 10,361 
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives(31)(34)
Pension liability adjustment(278)(284)
Treasury stock, at average cost(17,566)(15,904)
Total shareholders’ equity33,552 33,559 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$160,597 $165,086 
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


3




Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
(In millions, except for per share amounts - Unaudited)Common StockAdditional Paid-in CapitalRetained EarningsAccumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)Treasury StockTotal
Shareholders'
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2020$135 $2,410 $37,984 $8,934 $(15,904)$33,559 
Net earnings1,293 1,293 
Unrealized foreign currency translation
   gains (losses) during period, net of
   income taxes
(565)(565)
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity
   securities during period, net of income
   taxes and reclassification adjustments
(1,567)(1,567)
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives
   during period, net of income taxes
Pension liability adjustment during period,
   net of income taxes
Dividends to shareholders
  ($.00 per share)
Exercise of stock options
Share-based compensation
Purchases of treasury stock(668)(668)
Treasury stock reissued10 18 28 
Balance at March 31, 2021$135 $2,438 $39,277 $6,807 $(16,554)$32,103 
Net earnings1,105 1,105 
Unrealized foreign currency translation
   gains (losses) during period, net of
   income taxes
13 13 
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity
   securities during period, net of income
   taxes and reclassification adjustments
1,198 1,198 
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives
   during period, net of income taxes
Pension liability adjustment during period,
   net of income taxes
Dividends to shareholders
  ($.33 per share)
(220)(220)
Exercise of stock options
Share-based compensation 20 20 
Purchases of treasury stock(500)(500)
Treasury stock reissued13 
Balance at June 30, 2021$135 $2,465 $40,162 $8,019 $(17,046)$33,735 
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(continued)














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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity (continued)
(In millions, except for per share amounts - Unaudited)Common StockAdditional Paid-in CapitalRetained EarningsAccumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)Treasury StockTotal
Shareholders'
Equity
Balance at June 30, 2021$135 $2,465 $40,162 $8,019 $(17,046)$33,735 
Net earnings888 888 
Unrealized foreign currency translation
   gains (losses) during period, net of
   income taxes
(99)(99)
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity
   securities during period, net of income
   taxes and reclassification adjustments
(261)(261)
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives
   during period, net of income taxes
Pension liability adjustment during period,
   net of income taxes
Dividends to shareholders
  ($.33 per share)
(220)(220)
Exercise of stock options
Share-based compensation 16 16 
Purchases of treasury stock(527)(527)
Treasury stock reissued15 
Balance at September 30, 2021$135 $2,491 $40,830 $7,662 $(17,566)$33,552 
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(continued)














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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity (continued)
(In millions, except for per share amounts - Unaudited)Common StockAdditional Paid-in CapitalRetained EarningsAccumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)Treasury StockTotal Shareholders'
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2019$135 $2,313 $34,291 $6,615 $(14,395)$28,959 
Cumulative effect of change in accounting
  principle - Accounting Standards Update (ASU)
  2016-13, net of income taxes (1)
(56)(56)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting
  principle - ASU 2019-04, net of income taxes (1)
848 848 
Balance at January 1, 2020135 2,313 34,235 7,463 (14,395)29,751 
Net earnings566 566 
Unrealized foreign currency translation
   gains (losses) during period, net of
   income taxes
80 80 
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity
   securities during period, net of income
   taxes and reclassification adjustments
(3,353)(3,353)
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives
   during period, net of income taxes
(2)(2)
Pension liability adjustment during period,
   net of income taxes
Dividends to shareholders
  ($.28 per share)
(202)(202)
Exercise of stock options
Share-based compensation
Purchases of treasury stock(476)(476)
Treasury stock reissued17 26 
Balance at March 31, 2020$135 $2,334 $34,599 $4,188 $(14,854)$26,402 
Net earnings805 805 
Unrealized foreign currency translation
   gains (losses) during period, net of
   income taxes
74 74 
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity
   securities during period, net of income
   taxes and reclassification adjustments
2,489 2,489 
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives
   during period, net of income taxes
(1)(1)
Pension liability adjustment during period,
   net of income taxes
Dividends to shareholders
  ($.28 per share)
(200)(200)
Exercise of stock options
Share-based compensation 16 16 
Purchases of treasury stock(189)(189)
Treasury stock reissued16 23 
Balance at June 30, 2020$135 $2,358 $35,204 $6,750 $(15,027)$29,420 
(1) See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company's 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(continued)








6




Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity (continued)
(In millions, except for per share amounts - Unaudited)Common StockAdditional Paid-in CapitalRetained EarningsAccumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)Treasury StockTotal Shareholders'
Equity
Balance at June 30, 2020$135 $2,358 $35,204 $6,750 $(15,027)$29,420 
Net earnings2,456 2,456 
Unrealized foreign currency translation
   gains (losses) during period, net of
   income taxes
179 179 
Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity
   securities during period, net of income
   taxes and reclassification adjustments
988 988 
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives
   during period, net of income taxes
Pension liability adjustment during period,
   net of income taxes
(1)(1)
Dividends to shareholders
  ($.28 per share)
(200)(200)
Exercise of stock options
Share-based compensation 16 16 
Purchases of treasury stock(400)(400)
Treasury stock reissued11 18 
Balance at September 30, 2020$135 $2,383 $37,460 $7,917 $(15,416)$32,479 
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.



7




Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In millions - Unaudited)20212020
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings$3,286 $3,826 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:
Change in receivables and advance premiums22 12 
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs(778)(870)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs869 914 
Increase in policy liabilities770 1,601 
Change in income tax liabilities325 (1,509)
Net investment (gains) losses(224)525 
Other, net(89)102 
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities4,181 4,601 
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from investments sold or matured:
Available-for-sale fixed maturity securities2,719 2,688 
Equity securities210 217 
Held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities2 
Commercial mortgage and other loans2,625 1,115 
Costs of investments acquired:
Available-for-sale fixed maturity securities(4,187)(3,710)
Equity securities(458)(275)
Commercial mortgage and other loans(3,434)(2,554)
Other investments, net(929)(405)
Settlement of derivatives, net171 15 
Cash received (pledged or returned) as collateral, net2,123 (420)
Other, net(13)(185)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities(1,171)(3,511)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchases of treasury stock(1,676)(1,037)
Proceeds from borrowings1,153 1,545 
Principal payments under debt obligations(700)(350)
Dividends paid to shareholders(647)(580)
Change in investment-type contracts, net(25)(7)
Treasury stock reissued13 27 
Other, net(15)

(29)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities(1,897)(431)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents(46)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents1,067 667 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period5,141 4,896 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$6,208 $5,563 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Income taxes paid$478 $626 
Interest paid146 131 
Noncash interest36 47 
Noncash financing activities:
Lease obligations36 31 
Treasury stock issued for:
   Associate stock bonus16 12 
   Shareholder dividend reinvestment23 22 
   Share-based compensation grants4 
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
8




Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Interim period data – Unaudited)

1.    SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business

Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) primarily sell supplemental health and life insurance in the United States (U.S.) and Japan. The Company's insurance business is marketed and administered through American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac) in the U.S. and through Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. (ALIJ) in Japan. The Company’s operations consist of two reportable business segments: Aflac U.S., which includes Aflac, and Aflac Japan, which includes ALIJ. American Family Life Assurance Company of New York (Aflac New York) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aflac. Most of Aflac's policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. With the exception of group dental and vision products administered by Argus Dental & Vision, Inc. (Argus) and certain group life insurance products, Aflac U.S. markets and administers group products through Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC), branded as Aflac Group Insurance. The Company's insurance operations in the U.S. and Japan service the two markets for the Company's insurance business. Aflac Japan's revenues, including net gains and losses on its investment portfolio, accounted for 69% and 68% of the Company's total revenues in the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The percentage of the Company's total assets attributable to Aflac Japan was 82% at September 30, 2021, compared with 83% at December 31, 2020.

Basis of Presentation

The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). In these Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, references to U.S. GAAP issued by the FASB are derived from the FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM (ASC). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates based on currently available information when recording transactions resulting from business operations. The most significant items on the Company's balance sheet that involve a greater degree of accounting estimates and actuarial determinations subject to changes in the future are the valuation of investments and derivatives, deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC), liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, and income taxes. These accounting estimates and actuarial determinations are sensitive to market conditions, investment yields, mortality, morbidity, commission and other acquisition expenses, and terminations by policyholders. As additional information becomes available, or actual amounts are determinable, the recorded estimates will be revised and reflected in operating results. Although some variability is inherent in these estimates, the Company believes the amounts provided are reasonable and reflective of the best estimates of management.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Parent Company, its subsidiaries and those entities required to be consolidated under applicable accounting standards. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, which are necessary to fairly present the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive income (loss) for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the consolidated statement of shareholders' equity for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, June 30, 2021 and 2020, and September 30, 2021 and 2020, and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. As a result, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (2020 Annual Report).

COVID-19: The impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the Company continues to evolve, and its future effects remain uncertain. The Company took prompt action at the beginning of the pandemic to strengthen its capital and liquidity position, and continues to monitor its investment portfolios to adjust to market conditions, including the continuing recovery and inflation expectations. Both Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. have accelerated investments in digital initiatives to improve productivity, efficiency and customer service over the long term.
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The Company continues to closely monitor the effects and risks of COVID-19, including its variants, to assess its impact on economic conditions in Japan and the U.S. and on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and capital position.

Reclassifications: Certain reclassifications have been made to prior-year amounts to conform to current-year reporting classifications. These reclassifications had no impact on net earnings or total shareholders' equity.

New Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting Pronouncements Pending Adoption

ASU 2018-12 Financial Services - Insurance: Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts, as clarified and amended by:
ASU 2019-09 Financial Services - Insurance: Effective Date
ASU 2020-11 Financial Services - Insurance: Effective Date and Early Application

In August 2018, the FASB issued amendments that will significantly change how insurers account for long-duration contracts. The amendments will change existing recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure requirements. Issues addressed in the new guidance include: 1) a requirement to review and, if there is a change, update assumptions for the liability for future policy benefits at least annually, and to update the discount rate assumption quarterly, 2) accounting for market risk benefits at fair value, 3) simplified amortization for deferred acquisition costs, and 4) enhanced financial statement presentation and disclosures.

In November 2019, the FASB issued an amendment extending the effective date for public business entities that meet the definition of an SEC filer, excluding entities eligible to be small reporting companies as defined by the SEC, by one year.

In November 2020, the FASB issued an amendment providing an additional year deferral for all insurance entities due to the impact of COVID-19. The amendments are now effective for the Company for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022. Early application of the amendments is permitted.

The Company continues to evaluate the impact of adoption and expects that the adoption will have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and disclosures. The Company anticipates that the requirement to update assumptions for liability for future policy benefits (LFPB) will have a significant impact on its results of operations, systems, processes and controls and that the requirement to update discount rates will have a significant impact on its equity.

As part of working toward implementation of the updated standard, the Company has made progress on key accounting policy decisions, including processes to identify insurance policy groupings (cohorts) for LFPB measurement and DAC amortization purposes, applicable discount rates, development of liability cash flow and claim expense assumptions, and DAC amortization methodology.

The Company will not early adopt the updated standard and has selected the modified retrospective transition method. Based upon this transition method, the Company currently estimates that the January 1, 2021 transition date (Transition Date) impact from adoption is likely to result in a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) in a range between $18 billion and $20 billion. This is due to updating the LFPB discount rate assumptions from the rates locked in for reserves held as of the Transition Date to rates determined by reference to the Transition Date market level yields for upper-medium-grade (low credit risk) fixed income instruments (as of December 31, 2020). The variability around the impact of adoption results from the Company making certain estimates, primarily related to the determination of Transition Date market level yields.

The Company has advanced and continues to refine the design of its discount rate methodology for both the U.S. and Japan insurance business. The methodology incorporates constructing a discount rate curve separately for discounting cash flows used to calculate the U.S. and Japan LFPB, with each curve intended to be reflective of the currency, tenor and characteristics of the insurance liabilities. Discount rates comprising each curve will be determined by reference to upper-medium grade (low credit risk) fixed-income instrument yields that are intended to reflect the duration characteristics of the corresponding insurance liabilities. The Company intends to use for these yields single-A rated fixed income instruments with credit ratings based on international rating standards. Where only local ratings are available, the Company intends to select the fixed-income instruments with local ratings that are equivalent to a single-A rating based on international rating standards. The methodology will be designed to prioritize observable inputs based on market data available in the local debt markets where the respective policies were issued in the currency in which the policies are
10




denominated. For the discount rates applicable to tenors for which the single-A debt market is not liquid or there is little or no observable market data, the Company will use various estimation techniques consistent with the fair value guidance in ASC 820, which include, but are not limited to: (i) for tenors where there is less observable market data and/or the observable market data is available for similar instruments, estimating tenor-specific single-A credit spreads and applying them to risk-free government rates; (ii) for tenors where there is very limited or no observable single-A or similar market data, interpolation and extrapolation techniques. Discount rates will be updated each reporting period.

Long duration insurance contracts issued by the Company will be grouped into annual calendar-year cohorts based on the contract issue date, reportable segment, legal entity and product type. Limited pay contracts will be grouped into separate cohorts from other traditional products in the same manner and will be further separated based on their premium payment structures. Riders will be combined with base policies with similar insurance coverage types and the same contract issue years.

In addition to the preliminary policy elections related to cohorts and LFPB discount rates directly impacting Transition Date AOCI, the Company has also advanced the following accounting policies relevant to the post-Transition Date accounting:

Cash flow assumptions underlying insurance liabilities will be evaluated as to whether an update is needed at least annually in the same fiscal quarter each year. To facilitate the review, experience studies will be performed annually in the consistent quarter year-to-year to substantiate assumptions, including mortality, morbidity, and terminations in future periods.

Locked-in discount rates used for the computation of interest accretion on LFPB for policies issued on or after January 1, 2021 will be determined for each issue-year cohort as a single discount rate, calculated as the weighted-average of monthly upper-medium grade (low-credit risk) fixed-income instrument forward curves over the calendar year, determined using the methodology described above and weighted using issued annualized premiums for each issue month. The single discount rate for each issue-year cohort will remain unchanged after the calendar year of issue. Locked-in discount rates on the policies held at Transition Date reflect the locked-in rates in existence immediately before the Transition Date.

For DAC amortization, the Company has made a preliminary election to group insurance policies into cohorts that are consistent with the groupings used in estimating the associated LFPB. DAC will be amortized on a constant-level basis for the grouped contracts over the expected remaining term of the related contracts. For both life and health products issued by Aflac Japan, the constant-level basis used will be units in force, which is a proxy for face amount and insurance in force, respectively. For life products issued by Aflac U.S., the constant level basis used will be face amount of policies in force; for health products issued by Aflac U.S., the constant level basis used will be the number of policies in force.

The Company has made a preliminary entity-wide election to use locked-in claim expense assumptions determined for each issue-year cohort as a percentage of incurred claims; these assumptions would remain unchanged over the term of the insurance policy.

The Company has created a governance framework and a plan to support implementation of the updated standard. As part of its implementation plan, the Company has also advanced the modernization of its actuarial technology platform to enhance its modeling, data management, experience study and analytical capabilities, increase the end-to-end automation of key reporting and analytical processes and optimize its control framework. The Company has also put in place internal controls related to the new processes created as part of implementing the updated standard and will continue to refine and maturate these internal controls until the formal implementation in the first quarter of 2023.

The Company has recently begun testing its reporting and disclosure capabilities under the new ASU for post-Transition Date accounting periods.

The Company currently has no products with market risk benefits.

Recent accounting guidance not discussed above is not applicable, did not have, or is not expected to have a material impact to the Company's business. 

For additional information on new accounting pronouncements and recent accounting guidance and their impact, if any, on the Company's financial position, results of operations or disclosures, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Report.

11




2.    BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company consists of two reportable insurance business segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S., both of which sell supplemental health and life insurance. In addition, the Parent Company, other operating business units that are not individually reportable, and business activities, including reinsurance retrocession activities, not included in Aflac Japan or Aflac U.S. are included in Corporate and other.

The Company does not allocate corporate overhead expenses to business segments. Consistent with U.S. GAAP accounting guidance for segment reporting, the Company evaluates and manages its business segments using a financial performance measure called pretax adjusted earnings. Adjusted earnings are adjusted revenues less benefits and adjusted expenses. The adjustments to both revenues and expenses account for certain items that cannot be predicted or that are outside management’s control. Adjusted revenues are U.S. GAAP total revenues excluding net investment gains and losses, except for amortized hedge costs/income related to foreign currency exposure management strategies and net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies. Adjusted expenses are U.S. GAAP total acquisition and operating expenses including the impact of interest cash flows from derivatives associated with notes payable but excluding any nonrecurring or other items not associated with the normal course of the Company’s insurance operations and that do not reflect Aflac’s underlying business performance. The Company excludes income taxes related to operations to arrive at pretax adjusted earnings. Information regarding operations by reportable segment and Corporate and other, follows:
  
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In millions)2021202020212020
Revenues:
Aflac Japan:
   Net earned premiums$2,934 $3,168 $9,045 $9,476 
   Adjusted net investment income (1),(2)
763 663 2,260 1,939 
   Other income10 11 32 32 
               Total adjusted revenue Aflac Japan3,707 3,842 11,337 11,447 
Aflac U.S.:
   Net earned premiums1,393 1,407 4,223 4,348 
   Adjusted net investment income (3)
191 175 557 523 
   Other income32 24 90 78 
           Total adjusted revenue Aflac U.S.1,616 1,606 4,870 4,949 
Corporate and other (4),(5)
72 87 205 292 
           Total adjusted revenues5,395 5,535 16,412 16,688 
Net investment gains (losses) (1),(2),(3),(4)
(158)130 258 (454)
           Total revenues$5,237 $5,665 $16,670 $16,234 
(1) Amortized hedge costs of $20 and $51 for the three-month periods and $55 and $155 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, and 2020, respectively, related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies have been reclassified from net investment gains (losses) and reported as a deduction from net investment income when analyzing operations.
(2) Net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $(7) and $6 for the three-month periods and $(24) and $5 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, have been reclassified from net investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income when analyzing operations.
(3) Net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $1 for both three-month periods and $1 and $2 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, have been reclassified from net investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income.
(4) Amortized hedge income of $13 and $22 for the three-month periods and $45 and $78 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, and 2020, respectively, related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies has been reclassified from net investment gains (losses) and reported as an increase to net investment income when analyzing operations.
(5) The change in value of federal historic rehabilitation and solar investments in partnerships of $5 and $35 for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, respectively, are included as a reduction to net investment income. Offsetting tax credits on these investments of $10 and $35 for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, respectively, have been recorded as an income tax benefit in the consolidated statement of earnings. See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on these investments.


12




  
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In millions)2021202020212020
Pretax earnings:
Aflac Japan (1),(2)
$976 $747 $2,867 $2,442 
Aflac U.S. (3)
358 329 1,217 1,082 
Corporate and other (4),(5),(6)
(41)(39)(144)(69)
    Pretax adjusted earnings (7)
1,293 1,037 3,940 3,455 
Net investment gains (losses) (1),(2),(3),(4),(5)
(172)117 216 (497)
Other income (loss)(8)(1)(66)(16)
    Total earnings before income taxes$1,113 $1,153 $4,090 $2,942 
Income taxes applicable to pretax adjusted earnings$262 $43 $771 $659 
Effect of foreign currency translation on after-tax
  adjusted earnings
(14)(8)17 
(1) Amortized hedge costs of $20 and $51 for the three-month periods and $55 and $155 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, and 2020, respectively, related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies have been reclassified from net investment gains (losses) and reported as a deduction from net investment income when analyzing operations.
(2) Net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $(7) and $6 for the three-month periods and $(24) and $5 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, have been reclassified from net investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income when analyzing operations.
(3) Net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $1 for both three-month periods and $1 and $2 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, have been reclassified from net investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income.
(4) Amortized hedge income of $13 and $22 for the three-month periods and $45 and $78 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, and 2020, respectively, related to certain foreign currency exposure management strategies has been reclassified from net investment gains (losses) and reported as an increase in net investment income when analyzing operations.
(5) A gain of $14 and $13 for the three-month periods and $41 and $43 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, and 2020, respectively, related to the interest rate component of the change in fair value of foreign currency swaps on notes payable has been reclassified from net investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings when analyzing operations.
(6) The change in value of federal historic rehabilitation and solar investments in partnerships of $5 and $35 for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, respectively, is included as a reduction to net investment income. Offsetting tax credits on these investments of $10 and $35 for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, respectively, have been recorded as an income tax benefit in the consolidated statement of earnings. See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on these investments.
(7) Includes $40 and $44 for the three-month periods and $130 and $122 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, and 2020, respectively, of interest expense on debt.

Assets were as follows:
(In millions)September 30,
2021
December 31,
2020
Assets:
Aflac Japan$131,651 $137,271 
Aflac U.S.23,304 22,864 
Corporate and other5,642 4,951 
    Total assets$160,597 $165,086 

13




3.     INVESTMENTS
Investment Holdings
The amortized cost for the Company's investments in fixed maturity securities, the cost for equity securities and the fair values of these investments are shown in the following tables.
  
September 30, 2021
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Credit LossesGross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
  Value
Securities available for sale, carried at fair
  value through other comprehensive income:
Fixed maturity securities:
  Yen-denominated:
Japan government and agencies$31,549 $0 $3,574 $62 $35,061 
Municipalities1,224 0 323 5 1,542 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities310 0 21 1 330 
Public utilities4,584 0 930 2 5,512 
Sovereign and supranational781 0 81 0 862 
Banks/financial institutions7,149 0 834 66 7,917 
Other corporate7,377 0 1,575 22 8,930 
Total yen-denominated52,974 0 7,338 158 60,154 
  U.S. dollar-denominated:
U.S. government and agencies155 0 10 0 165 
Municipalities1,217 0 179 1 1,395 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities932 0 30 0 962 
Public utilities3,887 0 920 4 4,803 
Sovereign and supranational225 0 59 4 280 
Banks/financial institutions3,081 0 745 1 3,825 
Other corporate24,757 0 4,448 67 29,138 
Total U.S. dollar-denominated34,254 0 6,391 77 40,568 
Total securities available for sale$87,228 $0 $13,729 $235 $100,722 

14




  
December 31, 2020
(In millions)Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Credit LossesGross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
  Value
Securities available for sale, carried at fair
  value through other comprehensive income:
Fixed maturity securities:
  Yen-denominated:
Japan government and agencies$32,959 $$4,182 $52 $37,089 
Municipalities1,324 374 1,693 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities342 27 368 
Public utilities4,777 1,096 5,872 
Sovereign and supranational981 108 1,089 
Banks/financial institutions7,552 886 102 8,336 
Other corporate8,114 1,747 37 9,824 
Total yen-denominated56,049 8,420 198 64,271 
  U.S. dollar-denominated:
U.S. government and agencies245 16 261 
Municipalities1,154 173 1,325 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities667 670 
Public utilities4,013 947 15 4,945 
Sovereign and supranational232 64 293 
Banks/financial institutions2,973 758 3,724 
Other corporate26,297 38 4,385 251 30,393 
Total U.S. dollar-denominated35,581 38 6,351 283 41,611 
Total securities available for sale$91,630 $38 $14,771 $481 $105,882 

  
September 30, 2021
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Credit LossesNet Carrying AmountGross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair  
Value  
Securities held to maturity, carried at
  amortized cost:
Fixed maturity securities:
  Yen-denominated:
Japan government and agencies$21,676 $3 $21,673 $4,868 $0 $26,541 
Municipalities346 0 346 107 0 453 
Public utilities45 1 44 13 0 57 
Sovereign and supranational533 5 528 139 0 667 
Other corporate22 0 22 8 0 30 
Total yen-denominated22,622 9 22,613 5,135 0 27,748 
Total securities held to maturity$22,622 $9 $22,613 $5,135 $0 $27,748 

15




  
December 31, 2020
(In millions)Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Credit LossesNet Carrying AmountGross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair  
Value
Securities held to maturity, carried at
  amortized cost:
Fixed maturity securities:
  Yen-denominated:
Japan government and agencies$23,448 $$23,445 $5,625 $$29,070 
Municipalities377 377 122 499 
Public utilities48 47 14 61 
Sovereign and supranational577 571 165 736 
Other corporate24 24 33 
Total yen-denominated24,474 10 24,464 5,935 30,399 
Total securities held to maturity$24,474 $10 $24,464 $5,935 $$30,399 

(In millions)September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
Equity securities, carried at fair value through net earnings:Fair ValueFair Value
Equity securities:
      Yen-denominated$753 $680 
      U.S. dollar-denominated667 603 
Other currencies41 
Total equity securities$1,461 $1,283 

The methods of determining the fair values of the Company's investments in fixed maturity securities and equity securities are described in Note 5.

During the first nine months of 2021, the Company did not reclassify any investments from the held-to-maturity category to the available-for-sale category. During the second and third quarter of 2020, the Company did not reclassify any investments from the held-to-maturity category to the available-for-sale category. During the first quarter of 2020, as a result of the adoption of ASU 2019-04, the Company reclassified $6.9 billion (at amortized cost) of pre-payable fixed-maturity securities from the held-to-maturity category to the available-for-sale category. This reclassification resulted in recording in accumulated other comprehensive income a net unrealized gain of $848 million on an after-tax basis.
Contractual and Economic Maturities
The contractual and economic maturities of the Company's investments in fixed maturity securities at September 30, 2021, were as follows:
16




(In millions)
Amortized
Cost
(1)
Fair
Value
Available for sale:
Due in one year or less$914 $930 
Due after one year through five years8,302 8,909 
Due after five years through 10 years13,291 15,565 
Due after 10 years63,479 74,026 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities1,242 1,292 
Total fixed maturity securities available for sale$87,228 $100,722 
Held to maturity:
Due in one year or less$$
Due after one year through five years45 49 
Due after five years through 10 years8,753 10,207 
Due after 10 years13,815 17,492 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
Total fixed maturity securities held to maturity$22,613 $27,748 
(1) Net of allowance for credit losses

Economic maturities are used for certain debt instruments with no stated maturity where the expected maturity date is based on the combination of features in the financial instrument such as the right to call or prepay obligations or changes in coupon rates.

Investment Concentrations

The Company's process for investing in credit-related investments begins with an independent approach to underwriting each issuer's fundamental credit quality. The Company evaluates independently those factors that it believes could influence an issuer's ability to make payments under the contractual terms of the Company's instruments. This includes a thorough analysis of a variety of items including the issuer's country of domicile (including political, legal, and financial considerations); the industry in which the issuer competes (with an analysis of industry structure, end-market dynamics, and regulation); company specific issues (such as management, assets, earnings, cash generation, and capital needs); and contractual provisions of the instrument (such as financial covenants and position in the capital structure). The Company further evaluates the investment considering broad business and portfolio management objectives, including asset/liability needs, portfolio diversification, and expected income.

Investment exposures that individually exceeded 10% of shareholders' equity were as follows:
September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
(In millions)Credit
Rating
Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
Credit
Rating
Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
Japan National Government(1)
A+$51,953$60,106A+$55,153$64,657
(1)Japan Government Bonds (JGBs) or JGB-backed securities


17




Net Investment Gains and Losses

Information regarding pretax net gains and losses from investments is as follows:
  
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In millions)2021202020212020
Net investment gains (losses):
Sales and redemptions:
Fixed maturity securities available for sale:
Gross gains from sales$24 $$40 $28 
Gross losses from sales(36)(39)(46)
Foreign currency gains (losses) on sales and redemptions(2)(5)(21)(39)
Total sales and redemptions(14)(20)(57)
Equity securities(119)

12 (17)(106)
Credit losses:
Fixed maturity securities available for sale27 38 (75)
Fixed maturity securities held to maturity0 1 
Commercial mortgage and other loans(29)78 15 (86)
Impairment losses0 (20)
Loan commitments3 64 3 (17)
Reinsurance recoverables and other0 (2)(2)
Total credit losses1 142 35 (179)
Derivatives and other:
Derivative gains (losses)(174)138 (557)173 
Foreign currency gains (losses)135 (186)783 (356)
Total derivatives and other(39)(48)226 (183)
Total net investment gains (losses)$(171)$108 $224 $(525)

The unrealized holding gains, net of losses, recorded as a component of net investment gains and losses for the three-month period ended September 30, 2021, that relate to equity securities still held at the September 30, 2021 reporting date, were $170 million. The unrealized holding losses, net of gains, recorded as a component of net investment gains and losses for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, that relate to equity securities still held at the September 30, 2021 reporting date, were $33 million.

Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses
Effect on Shareholders’ Equity
The net effect on shareholders’ equity of unrealized gains and losses from fixed maturity securities was as follows:
(In millions)September 30, 2021December 31,
2020
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale$13,494 $14,290 
Deferred income taxes(3,763)(3,929)
Shareholders’ equity, unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities$9,731 $10,361 

Gross Unrealized Loss Aging
The following tables show the fair values and gross unrealized losses of the Company's available-for-sale investments for the periods ended September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.
18




  
September 30, 2021
  
TotalLess than 12 months12 months or longer
(In millions)Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fixed maturity securities available
   for sale:
  Japan government and
      agencies:
  Yen-denominated$2,980 $62 $342 $2 $2,638 $60 
  Municipalities:
  U.S. dollar-denominated56 1 56 1 0 0 
  Yen-denominated168 5 30 0 138 5 
Mortgage- and asset-
    backed securities:
  Yen-denominated34 1 0 0 34 1 
  Public utilities:
  U.S. dollar-denominated195 4 108 2 87 2 
      Yen-denominated242 2 182 1 60 1 
  Sovereign and supranational:
  U.S. dollar-denominated6 4 6 1 0 3 
  Banks/financial institutions:
  U.S. dollar-denominated152 1 146 1 6 0 
  Yen-denominated1,824 66 735 5 1,089 61 
  Other corporate:
  U.S. dollar-denominated1,731 67 898 17 833 50 
  Yen-denominated 558 22 106 1 452 21 
  Total$7,946 $235 $2,609 $31 $5,337 $204 

19




  
December 31, 2020
  
TotalLess than 12 months12 months or longer
(In millions)Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fixed maturity securities available
   for sale:
  Japan government and
      agencies:
  Yen-denominated$2,604 $52 $2,604 $52 $$
  Municipalities:
  U.S. dollar-denominated94 94 
  Yen-denominated183 169 14 
Mortgage- and asset-
    backed securities:
  U.S. dollar-denominated360 360 
  Yen-denominated37 37 
  Public utilities:
  U.S. dollar-denominated326 15 208 118 
  Yen-denominated135 135 
  Sovereign and supranational:
U.S. dollar-denominated39 39 
  Banks/financial institutions:
  U.S. dollar-denominated82 44 38 
  Yen-denominated1,809 102 765 36 1,044 66 
  Other corporate:
  U.S. dollar-denominated4,499 251 2,157 59 2,342 192 
  Yen-denominated613 37 290 13 323 24 
  Total $10,781 $481 $6,902 $184 $3,879 $297 

Analysis of Securities in Unrealized Loss Positions

The unrealized losses on the Company's fixed maturity securities investments have been primarily related to general market changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and/or the levels of credit spreads rather than specific concerns with the issuer's ability to pay interest and repay principal.

For any significant declines in fair value of its fixed maturity securities, the Company performs a more focused review of the related issuers' credit profile. For corporate issuers, the Company evaluates their assets, business profile including industry dynamics and competitive positioning, financial statements and other available financial data. For non-corporate issuers, the Company analyzes all sources of credit support, including issuer-specific factors. The Company utilizes information available in the public domain and, for certain private placement issuers, from consultations with the issuers directly. The Company also considers ratings from Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSROs), as well as the specific characteristics of the security it owns including seniority in the issuer's capital structure, covenant protections, or other relevant features. From these reviews, the Company evaluates the issuers' continued ability to service the Company's investment through payment of interest and principal.

Assuming no credit-related factors develop, unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturity securities are expected to diminish as investments near maturity. Based on its credit analysis, the Company believes that the issuers of its fixed maturity investments in the sectors shown in the table above have the ability to service their obligations to the Company, and the Company does not intend to sell the investments and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost bases, which may be at maturity.

However, from time to time the Company identifies certain available-for-sale fixed maturity securities where the amortized cost basis exceeds the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected due to credit related factors and as a
20




result, a credit allowance will be calculated. Refer to the Allowance for Credit Losses section below for additional information.

Commercial Mortgage and Other Loans

The Company classifies its transitional real estate loans (TREs), commercial mortgage loans (CMLs) and middle market loans (MMLs) as held-for-investment and includes them in the commercial mortgage and other loans line on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company carries them on the balance sheet at amortized cost less an estimated allowance for credit losses.

The following table reflects the composition of the carrying value for commercial mortgage and other loans by property type as of the periods presented.

(In millions)September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
Amortized Cost% of TotalAmortized Cost% of Total
Commercial Mortgage and other loans:
Transitional real estate loans:
Office$1,944 16.8 %$2,115 19.7 %
Retail140 1.2 125 1.2 
Apartments/Multi-Family1,666 14.4 1,782 16.6 
Industrial46 0.4 85 .8 
Hospitality1,075 9.3 1,106 10.3 
Other340 3.0 81 .7 
Total transitional real estate loans5,211 45.1 5,294 49.3 
Commercial mortgage loans:
Office395 3.4 401 3.7 
Retail334 3.0 340 3.2 
Apartments/Multi-Family640 5.5 588 5.5 
Industrial478 4.1 391 3.6 
Other14 0.1 0.0 
Total commercial mortgage loans1,861 16.1 1,720 16.0 
Middle market loans4,481 38.8 3,720 34.7 
Total commercial mortgage and other loans$11,553 100.0 %$10,734 100.0 %
Allowance for credit losses(165)(180)
Total net commercial mortgage and other loans$11,388 $10,554 
CMLs and TREs were secured by properties entirely within the U.S. (with the largest concentrations in California (18%), Texas (13%) and Florida (9%)). Middle market loans are issued only to companies domiciled within the U.S. and Canada.

Transitional Real Estate Loans

TREs are commercial mortgage loans that are typically relatively short-term floating rate instruments secured by a first lien on the property. These loans provide funding for properties undergoing a change in their physical characteristics and/or economic profile and do not typically require any principal repayment prior to the maturity date. This loan portfolio is generally considered to be investment grade. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had $645 million in outstanding commitments to fund TREs. These commitments are contingent on the final underwriting and due diligence to be performed.

21




Commercial Mortgage Loans

CMLs are typically fixed rate loans on commercial real estate with partial repayment of principal over the life of the loan with the remaining outstanding principal being repaid upon maturity. This loan portfolio is generally considered higher quality investment grade loans. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had no outstanding commitments to fund CMLs. These commitments are contingent on the final underwriting and due diligence to be performed.

Middle Market Loans

MMLs are typically first lien senior secured cash flow loans to small to mid-size companies for working capital, refinancing, acquisition, and recapitalization. These loans are generally considered to be below investment grade. The carrying value for MMLs included $25 million for a short term credit facility that is reflected in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, as of September 30, 2021, and December 31, 2020.

As of September 30, 2021, the Company had commitments of approximately $1.7 billion to fund future MMLs. These commitments are contingent upon the availability of middle market loans that meet the Company's underwriting criteria.

Credit Quality Indicators

For TREs, the Company’s key credit quality indicator is loan-to-value (LTV). Given that TRE loans involve properties undergoing renovation or construction, LTV provides the most insight into the credit risk of the loan. The Company monitors the performance of the loans periodically, but not less frequently than quarterly.

For CMLs, the Company’s key credit quality indicators include LTV and debt service coverage ratios (DSCR). LTV is calculated by dividing the current outstanding loan balance by the most recent estimated property value. DSCR is the most recently available operating income of the underlying property compared to the required debt service of the loan.

For MMLs and held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities, the Company’s key credit quality indicator is credit ratings. The Company’s held-to-maturity portfolio is composed of investment grade securities that are senior unsecured instruments, while its MMLs generally have below-investment-grade ratings but are typically senior secured instruments. The Company monitors the credit ratings periodically, but not less frequently than quarterly.

For the Company’s reinsurance recoverable balance, the key credit quality indicator is the credit rating of the Company’s reinsurance counterparty. The Company uses external credit ratings focused on the reinsurer’s financial strength and credit worthiness. The Company's reinsurance counterparties are rated A+. The Company monitors the credit ratings periodically, but not less frequently than quarterly.

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The following tables present as of September 30, 2021 the amortized cost basis of TREs, CMLs and MMLs by year of origination and credit quality indicator.
Transitional Real Estate Loans
(In millions)20212020201920182017Total
Loan-to-Value Ratio:
0%-59.99%$449 $55 $439 $353 $77 $1,373 
60%-69.99%417 136 831 543 182 2,109 
70%-79.99%569 184 443 323 182 1,701 
80% or greater28 28 
Total$1,435 $403 $1,713 $1,219 $441 $5,211 

Commercial Mortgage Loans
(In millions)20212020201920182017PriorTotalWeighted-Average DSCR
Loan-to-Value Ratio:
0%-59.99%$174 $47 $559 $168 $68 $561 $1,577 2.51
60%-69.99%34 87 138 259 1.97
70%-79.99%25 25 1.67
Total208 47 646 168 68 724 1,861 2.42
Weighted Average DSCR2.491.942.552.322.782.30

Middle Market Loans
(In millions)20212020201920182017PriorRevolving LoansTotal
Credit Ratings:
BBB$54 $78 $51 $39 $10 $$68 $303 
BB346 347 283 163 106 27 221 1,493 
B357 493 635 323 154 121 170 2,253 
CCC19 64 81 79 49 87 379 
CC14 26 45 
C and lower
Total$757 $945 $1,033 $620 $375 $200 $551 $4,481 

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company calculates its allowance for credit losses for held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities, loan receivables, loan commitments and reinsurance recoverable by grouping assets with similar risk characteristics when there is not a specific expectation of a loss for an individual asset. For held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities, MMLs, and MML commitments, the Company groups assets by credit ratings, industry, and country. The Company groups CMLs and TREs and respective loan commitments by property type, property location and the property’s LTV and debt service coverage ratios. The credit allowance for the reinsurance recoverable balance is estimated using a probability-of-default (PD) / loss-given-default (LGD) method.

The credit allowance for held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities and loan receivables is estimated using a PD / LGD method, discounted for the time value of money. For held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale fixed maturity securities and loan receivables, the Company includes the change in present value due to the passage of time in the change in the allowance for credit losses. The Company’s methodology for estimating credit losses utilizes the contractual maturity date of the financial asset, adjusted when necessary to reflect the expected timing of repayment (such as prepayment options, renewal options, call options, or extension options). The Company applies reasonable and supportable forecasts of macroeconomic variables that impact the determination of PD/LGD over a two-year period for
23




held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities and MMLs. The Company reverts to historical loss information over one year, following the two-year forecast period. For the CML and TRE portfolio, the Company applies reasonable and supportable forecasts of macroeconomic variables as well as national and local real-estate market factors to estimate future credit losses where the market factors revert back to historical levels over time with the period being dependent on current market conditions, projected market conditions and difference in the current and historical market levels for each factor. The Company continuously monitors the estimation methodology, due to changes in portfolio composition, changes in underwriting practices and significant events or conditions and makes adjustments as necessary.

The Company’s held-to-maturity fixed maturity portfolio includes Japan Government and Agency securities of $21.5 billion amortized cost as of September 30, 2021 that meet the requirements for zero-credit-loss expectation and therefore these asset classes have been excluded from the current expected credit loss measurement.

An investment in an available-for-sale fixed maturity security is impaired if the fair value falls below amortized cost. The Company regularly reviews its fixed maturity security investments portfolio for declines in fair value. The Company's debt impairment model focuses on the ultimate collection of the cash flows from its investments and whether the Company has the intent to sell or if it is more likely than not the Company would be required to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost. The determination of the amount of impairments under this model is based upon the Company's periodic evaluation and assessment of known and inherent risks associated with the respective securities. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available.

When determining the Company's intention to sell a security prior to recovery of its fair value to amortized cost, the Company evaluates facts and circumstances such as, but not limited to, future cash flow needs, decisions to reposition its security portfolio, and risk profile of individual investment holdings. The Company performs ongoing analyses of its liquidity needs, which includes cash flow testing of its policy liabilities, debt maturities, projected dividend payments, and other cash flow and liquidity needs.

The Company’s methodology for estimating credit losses for available-for-sale fixed maturity securities utilizes the discounted cash flow model, based on past events, current market conditions and future economic conditions, as well as industry analysis and credit ratings of the fixed maturity securities. In addition, the Company evaluates the specific issuer’s probability of default and expected recovery of its position in the event of default based on the underlying financial condition and assets of the borrower as well as seniority and/or security of other debt holders in the issuer when developing management’s best estimate of expected cash flows.

The Company granted certain loan modifications in its MML and TRE portfolios during the period ended September 30, 2021. As of September 30, 2021, these loan modifications did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations.

The Company had no troubled debt restructurings (TDRs) during the period ended September 30, 2021 and an immaterial amount due to COVID-19 during the year ended December 31, 2020.

The Company designates nonaccrual status for a nonperforming debt security or a loan that is not generating its stated interest rate because of nonpayment of periodic interest by the borrower. The Company applies the cash basis method to record any payments received on non-accrual assets. The Company resumes the accrual of interest on fixed maturity securities and loans that are currently making contractual payments or for those that are not current where the borrower has paid timely (less than 30 days outstanding).

As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had an immaterial amount of loans or fixed maturities on nonaccrual status.











24





The following table presents the roll forward of the allowance for credit losses by portfolio segment.
(in millions)Transitional Real Estate LoansCommercial Mortgage LoansMiddle Market LoansHeld to Maturity SecuritiesAvailable for Sale SecuritiesReinsurance Recoverables
Three Months Ended September 30, 2021:
Balance at June 30, 2021$(41)$(22)$(76)$(8)$(26)$(13)
(Addition to) release of allowance for credit
   losses
(18)5 (13)(1)0 0 
Write-offs, net of recoveries0 0 0 0 26 0 
Balance at September 30, 2021$(59)$(17)$(89)$(9)$0 $(13)
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020:
Balance at June 30, 2020
$(66)$(42)$(134)$(9)$(38)$(11)
(Addition to) release of allowance for credit
   losses
13 14 59 (1)
Write-offs, net of recoveries(9)
Balance at September 30, 2020$(53)$(28)$(84)$(9)$(38)$(11)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021:
Balance at December 31, 2020$(63)$(32)$(85)$(10)$(38)$(12)
(Addition to) release of allowance for credit
   losses
4 15 (4)1 26 (1)
Write-offs, net of recoveries0 0 0 0 12 0 
Balance at September 30, 2021$(59)$(17)$(89)$(9)$0 $(13)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020:
Balance at December 31, 2019 (1)
$(22)$(3)$(20)$$$
Transition impact to retained earnings(2)(8)(33)(10)(11)
(Addition to) release of allowance for credit
   losses
(29)(17)(31)(75)
Write-offs, net of recoveries37 
Balance at September 30, 2020$(53)$(28)$(84)$(9)$(38)$(11)
(1) U.S. GAAP guidance adopted as of January 1, 2020 has superseded these losses, included for comparative purposes only.

For assets that are subject to the credit loss measurement, the change in credit loss allowance will be significantly impacted by purchases and sales in those assets during the period as well as entering into new non-cancelable loan commitments. The estimate of credit losses for loan commitments as of September 30, 2021 was $32 million.
Other Investments

The table below reflects the composition of the carrying value for other investments as of the periods presented.
(In millions)September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
Other investments:
Policy loans$241 $260 
Short-term investments (1)
1,833 1,139 
Limited partnerships1,519 1,004 
Other19 26 
Total other investments$3,612 $2,429 
(1) Includes securities lending collateral

The Parent Company invests in partnerships that specialize in rehabilitating historic structures or the installation of solar equipment in order to receive federal historic rehabilitation and solar tax credits. These investments are classified as limited partnerships and included in other investments in the consolidated balance sheet. The change in value of each investment is recorded as a reduction to net investment income. Offsetting tax credits generated by these investments are recorded as an income tax benefit in the consolidated statement of earnings.
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As of September 30, 2021, the Company had $1.9 billion in outstanding commitments to fund alternative investments in limited partnerships.

Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)

As a condition of its involvement or investment in a VIE, the Company enters into certain protective rights and covenants that preclude changes in the structure of the VIE that would alter the creditworthiness of the Company's investment or its beneficial interest in the VIE.

For those VIEs other than certain unit trust structures, the Company's involvement is passive in nature. The Company has not, nor has it been, required to purchase any securities issued in the future by these VIEs.

The Company's ownership interest in VIEs is limited to holding the obligations issued by them. The Company has no direct or contingent obligations to fund the limited activities of these VIEs, nor does it have any direct or indirect financial guarantees related to the limited activities of these VIEs. The Company has not provided any assistance or any other type of financing support to any of the VIEs it invests in, nor does it have any intention to do so in the future. For those VIEs in which the Company holds debt obligations, the weighted-average lives of the Company's notes are very similar to the underlying collateral held by these VIEs where applicable.

The Company's risk of loss related to its interests in any of its VIEs is limited to the carrying value of the related investments held in the VIE.

VIEs - Consolidated

The following table presents the cost or amortized cost, fair value and balance sheet caption in which the assets and liabilities of consolidated VIEs are reported.

Investments in Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost
(1)
Fair
Value
Amortized
Cost (1)
Fair
Value
Assets:
Fixed maturity securities, available for sale$3,228 $4,437 $3,487 $4,596 
Commercial mortgage and other loans9,543 9,723 8,964 9,040 
Other investments (2)
1,272 1,272 826 826 
Other assets (3)
99 99 133 133 
Total assets of consolidated VIEs$14,142 $15,531 $13,410 $14,595 
Liabilities:
Other liabilities (3)
$356 $356 $231 $231 
Total liabilities of consolidated VIEs$356 $356 $231 $231 
(1) Net of allowance for credit losses
(2) Consists entirely of alternative investments in limited partnerships
(3) Consists entirely of derivatives

The Company is substantively the only investor in the consolidated VIEs listed in the table above. As the sole investor in these VIEs, the Company has the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and is therefore considered to be the primary beneficiary of the VIEs that it consolidates. The Company also participates in substantially all of the variability created by these VIEs. The activities of these VIEs are limited to holding invested assets and foreign currency swaps, as appropriate, and utilizing the cash flows from these securities to service its investment. Neither the Company nor any of its creditors are able to obtain the underlying collateral of the VIEs unless there is an event of default or other specified event. For those VIEs that contain a swap, the Company is not a direct counterparty to the swap contracts and has no control over them. The Company's loss exposure to these VIEs is limited to its original investment. The Company's consolidated VIEs do not rely on outside or ongoing sources of funding to support their activities beyond the underlying collateral and swap contracts, if applicable.
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With the exception of its investment in unit trust structures, the underlying collateral assets and funding of the Company's consolidated VIEs are generally static in nature.

Investments in Unit Trust Structures

The Company also utilizes unit trust structures in its Aflac Japan segment to invest in various asset classes. As the sole investor of these VIEs, the Company is required to consolidate these trusts under U.S. GAAP.

VIEs - Not Consolidated
The table below reflects the amortized cost, fair value and balance sheet caption in which the Company's investment in VIEs not consolidated are reported.
Investments in Variable Interest Entities Not Consolidated
  
September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
(In millions)Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
Assets:
Fixed maturity securities, available for sale$4,990 $6,119 $5,477 $6,767 
Other investments (1)
247 247 178 178 
Total investments in VIEs not consolidated$5,237 $6,366 $5,655 $6,945 
(1) Consists entirely of alternative investments in limited partnerships

The Company holds alternative investments in limited partnerships that have been determined to be VIEs. These partnerships invest in private equity and structured investments. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss on these investments is limited to the amount of its investment. The Company is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs and is therefore not required to consolidate them. The Company classifies these investments as Other investments in the consolidated balance sheets.

Certain investments in VIEs that the Company is not required to consolidate are investments that are in the form of debt obligations from the VIEs that are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed by their corporate parents or sponsors. These VIEs are the primary financing vehicles used by their corporate sponsors to raise financing in the capital markets. The variable interests created by these VIEs are principally or solely a result of the debt instruments issued by them. The Company does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance, nor does it have the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity. As such, the Company is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs and is therefore not required to consolidate them.

Securities Lending and Pledged Securities

The Company lends fixed maturity and public equity securities to financial institutions in short-term security-lending transactions. These short-term security-lending arrangements increase investment income with minimal risk. The Company receives cash or other securities as collateral for such loans. The Company's security lending policy requires that the fair value of the securities received as collateral be 102% or more of the fair value of the loaned securities and that unrestricted cash received as collateral be 100% or more of the fair value of the loaned securities. The securities loaned continue to be carried as investment assets on the Company's balance sheet during the terms of the loans and are not reported as sales. For loans involving unrestricted cash or securities as collateral, the collateral is reported as an asset with a corresponding liability for the return of the collateral. For loans where the Company receives as collateral securities that the Company is not permitted to sell or repledge, the collateral is not reflected on the consolidated financial statements.

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Details of collateral by loaned security type and remaining maturity of the agreements were as follows:
Securities Lending Transactions Accounted for as Secured Borrowings
Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements
September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
(In millions)
Overnight
and
Continuous
(1)
Up to 30
days
Total
Overnight
and
Continuous
(1)
Up to 30
days
Total
Securities lending transactions:
Fixed maturity securities:
Japan government and
  agencies
$0 $1,587 $1,587 $$$
Public utilities27 0 27 57 57 
Sovereign and supranational2 0 2 
Banks/financial institutions81 0 81 63 63 
Other corporate1,152 0 1,152 841 841 
          Total borrowings$1,262 $1,587 $2,849 $964 $$964 
Gross amount of recognized liabilities for securities
   lending transactions
$2,849 $964 
(1) The related loaned security, under the Company's U.S. securities lending program, can be returned to the Company at the transferee's discretion; therefore, they are classified as Overnight and Continuous.

In connection with securities lending, in addition to cash collateral received, the Company received from counterparties securities collateral of $7,969 million and $6,654 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, which may not be sold or re-pledged, unless the counterparty is in default. Such securities collateral is not reflected on the consolidated financial statements.
The Company did not have any repurchase agreements or repurchase-to-maturity transactions outstanding as of September 30, 2021, and December 31, 2020, respectively.

Certain fixed maturity securities can be pledged as collateral as part of derivative transactions, or pledged to support state deposit requirements on certain investment programs. For additional information regarding pledged securities related to derivative transactions, see Note 4.

4.    DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Company's freestanding derivative financial instruments have historically consisted of:

foreign currency forwards and options used in hedging foreign exchange risk on U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan's portfolio, with options used on a standalone basis and/or in a collar strategy

foreign currency forwards and options used to economically hedge certain portions of forecasted cash flows denominated in yen and hedge the Company's long term exposure to a weakening yen

cross-currency interest rate swaps, also referred to as foreign currency swaps, associated with certain senior notes and subordinated debentures

foreign currency swaps that are associated with VIE bond purchase commitments, and investments in special-purpose entities, including VIEs where the Company is the primary beneficiary

interest rate swaps used to economically hedge interest rate fluctuations in certain variable-rate investments

interest rate swaptions used to hedge changes in the fair value associated with interest rate fluctuations for certain U.S. dollar-denominated available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities

bond purchase commitments at the inception of investments in consolidated VIEs.

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Some of the Company's derivatives are designated as cash flow hedges, fair value hedges or net investment hedges; however, other derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting or the Company elects not to designate them as accounting hedges.

Derivative Types

Foreign currency forwards and options are executed for the Aflac Japan segment in order to hedge the currency risk on the carrying value of certain U.S. dollar-denominated investments. The average maturity of these forwards and options can change depending on factors such as market conditions and types of investments being held. In situations where the maturity of the forwards and options is shorter than the underlying investment being hedged, the Company may enter into new forwards and options near maturity of the existing derivative in order to continue hedging the underlying investment. In forward transactions, Aflac Japan agrees with another party to buy a fixed amount of yen and sell a corresponding amount of U.S. dollars at a specified future date. Aflac Japan also executes foreign currency option transactions in a collar strategy, where Aflac Japan agrees with another party to simultaneously purchase put options and sell call options. In the purchased put transactions, Aflac Japan obtains the option to buy a fixed amount of yen and sell a corresponding amount of U.S. dollars at a specified future date. In the sold call transactions, Aflac Japan agrees to sell a fixed amount of yen and buy a corresponding amount of U.S. dollars at a specified future date. The combination of purchasing the put option and selling the call option results in no net premium being paid (i.e. a costless or zero-cost collar). The Company also uses one sided foreign currency put options to mitigate the settlement risk on U.S. dollar-denominated assets related to extreme foreign currency rate changes.

From time to time, the Company may also enter into foreign currency forwards and options to hedge the currency risk associated with the net investment in Aflac Japan. In these forward transactions, the Company agrees with another party to buy a fixed amount of U.S. dollars and sell a corresponding amount of yen at a specified price at a specified future date. In the option transactions, the Company may use a combination of foreign currency options to protect expected future cash flows by simultaneously purchasing yen put options (options that protect against a weakening yen) and selling yen call options (options that limit participation in a strengthening yen). The combination of these two actions create a zero-cost collar. Additionally, the Company enters into purchased options to hedge cash flows from the net investment in Aflac Japan.

The Company enters into foreign currency swaps pursuant to which it exchanges an initial principal amount in one currency for an initial principal amount of another currency, with an agreement to re-exchange the principal amounts at a future date. There may also be periodic exchanges of payments at specified intervals based on the agreed upon rates and notional amounts. Foreign currency swaps are used primarily in the consolidated VIEs in the Company's Aflac Japan portfolio to convert foreign-denominated cash flows to yen, the functional currency of Aflac Japan, in order to minimize cash flow fluctuations. The Company also uses foreign currency swaps to economically convert certain of its U.S. dollar-denominated senior note and subordinated debenture principal and interest obligations into yen-denominated obligations.

In order to reduce investment income volatility from its variable-rate investments, the Company enters into receive–fixed, pay–floating interest rate swaps. These derivatives are cleared and settled through a central clearinghouse.

Swaptions are used to mitigate the adverse impact resulting from significant changes in the fair value of U.S. dollar-denominated available-for-sale securities due to fluctuation in interest rates. In a payer swaption, the Company pays a premium to obtain the right, but not the obligation, to enter into a swap contract where it will pay a fixed rate and receive a floating rate. Interest rate swaption collars are combinations of two swaption positions. In order to maximize the efficiency of the collars while minimizing cost, a collar strategy is used whereby the Company purchases a long payer swaption (the Company purchases an option that allows it to enter into a swap where the Company will pay the fixed rate and receive the floating rate of the swap) and sells a short receiver swaption (the Company sells an option that provides the counterparty with the right to enter into a swap where the Company will receive the fixed rate and pay the floating rate of the swap). The combination of purchasing the long payer swaption and selling the short receiver swaption results in no net premium being paid (i.e. a costless or zero-cost collar).

Bond purchase commitments result from repackaged bond structures that are consolidated VIEs whereby there is a delay in the trade date and settlement date of the bond within the structure to ensure completion of all necessary legal agreements to support the consolidated VIE that issues the repackaged bond. Since the Company has a commitment to purchase the underlying bond at a specified price, the agreement meets the definition of a derivative where the value is derived based on the current market value of the bond compared to the fixed purchase price to be paid on the settlement date.

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Derivative Balance Sheet Classification
The table below summarizes the balance sheet classification of the Company's derivative fair value amounts, as well as the gross asset and liability fair value amounts. The fair value amounts presented do not include income accruals. Derivative assets are included in “Other Assets,” while derivative liabilities are included in “Other Liabilities” within the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The notional amount of derivative contracts represents the basis upon which pay or receive amounts are calculated and are not reflective of exposure or credit risk.
  September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
(In millions)Asset
Derivatives
Liability
Derivatives
Asset
Derivatives
Liability
Derivatives
Hedge Designation/ Derivative
  Type
Notional
Amount
Fair ValueFair ValueNotional
Amount
Fair ValueFair Value
Cash flow hedges:
Foreign currency swaps - VIE$18 $0 $2 $18 $$
Total cash flow hedges18 0 2 18 
Fair value hedges:
Foreign currency forwards62 0 3 64 
Foreign currency options8,410 1 0 8,865 
Total fair value hedges8,472 1 3 8,929 
Net investment hedge:
Foreign currency forwards4,996 240 0 5,010 14 84 
Foreign currency options1,954 0 0 2,027 
Total net investment hedge6,950 240 0 7,037 15 84 
Non-qualifying strategies:
Foreign currency swaps2,250 52 22 2,250 47 81 
Foreign currency swaps - VIE3,141 99 354 2,857 133 230 
Foreign currency forwards14,153 353 872 26,528 386 301 
Foreign currency options3,165 0 0 11,037 
Interest rate swaps3,500 0 16 
Forward bond purchase commitment - VIE45 0 1 
Total non-qualifying strategies26,254 504 1,265 42,672 566 612 
Total derivatives$41,694 $745 $1,270 $58,656 $583 $697 

Cash Flow Hedges
For certain variable-rate U.S. dollar-denominated available-for-sale securities held by Aflac Japan via consolidated VIEs, foreign currency swaps are used to swap the USD variable rate interest and principal payments to fixed rate JPY interest and principal payments. The Company has designated foreign currency swaps as a hedge of the variability in cash flows of a forecasted transaction or of amounts to be received or paid related to a recognized asset (“cash flow” hedge). The remaining maximum length of time for which these cash flows are hedged is approximately five years. The derivatives in the Company's consolidated VIEs that are not designated as accounting hedges are discussed in the "non-qualifying strategies" section of this note.
Fair Value Hedges
The Company designates and accounts for certain foreign currency forwards, options, and interest rate swaptions as fair value hedges when they meet the requirements for hedge accounting. The Company recognizes gains and losses on these derivatives as well as the offsetting gain or loss on the related hedged items in current earnings.

Foreign currency forwards and options hedge the foreign currency exposure of certain U.S. dollar-denominated available-for-sale fixed-maturity investments held in Aflac Japan. The change in the fair value of the foreign currency forwards related to the changes in the difference between the spot rate and the forward price is excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. The change in fair value of the foreign currency option related to the time value of the option is recognized in current earnings and is excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

Interest rate swaptions hedge the interest rate exposure of certain U.S. dollar-denominated available-for-sale securities held in Aflac Japan. For these hedging relationships, the Company excludes time value from the assessment of hedge
30




effectiveness and recognizes changes in the intrinsic value of the swaptions in current earnings within net investment income. The change in the time value of the swaptions is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) and amortized into earnings (net investment income) over its legal term.

The following table presents the gains and losses on derivatives and the related hedged items in fair value hedges.

Fair Value Hedging Relationships
(In millions)Hedging DerivativesHedged Items
Hedging DerivativesHedged Items Total
Gains
(Losses)
Gains (Losses)
Excluded from Effectiveness Testing
(1)
Gains (Losses)
Included in Effectiveness Testing
(2)
 Gains (Losses)(2)
Net Investment Gains (Losses) Recognized for Fair Value Hedge
Three Months Ended September 30, 2021:
Foreign currency
forwards
Fixed maturity securities$(1)$0 $(1)$1 $0 
Foreign currency optionsFixed maturity securities(5)(5)0 0 0 
  Total gains (losses)$(6)$(5)$(1)$1 $0 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021:
Foreign currency forwardsFixed maturity securities$(5)$0 $(5)$5 $0 
Foreign currency optionsFixed maturity securities(16)(15)(1)4 3 
Total gains (losses)$(21)$(15)$(6)$9 $3 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020:
Foreign currency forwardsFixed maturity securities$$$$(1)$
Foreign currency optionsFixed maturity securities(2)(2)
  Total gains (losses)$(1)$(2)$$(1)$
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020:
Foreign currency forwardsFixed maturity securities$(15)$(8)$(7)$$
Foreign currency optionsFixed maturity securities(4)(3)(1)
Total gains (losses)$(19)$(11)$(8)$$
(1) Gains (losses) excluded from effectiveness testing includes the forward point on foreign currency forwards and time value change on foreign currency options which are reported in the consolidated statement of earnings as net investment gains (losses). It also includes the change in the fair value of the interest rate swaptions related to the time value of the swaptions which is recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (loss).
(2) Gains and losses on foreign currency forwards and options and related hedged items are reported in the consolidated statement of earnings as net investment gains (losses). For interest rate swaptions and related hedged items, gains and losses included in the hedge assessment, premium amortization and time value amortization while the hedge items are still outstanding are reported within net investment income. The time value gains and losses for interest rate swaptions when the related hedged items are redeemed are reported in net investment gains and losses consistent with the impact of the hedged item. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, gains and losses included in the hedge assessment on interest rate swaptions and related hedged items were immaterial.

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The following table shows the carrying amounts of assets designated and qualifying as hedged items in fair value hedges of interest rate risk and the related cumulative hedge adjustment included in the carrying amount.
(In millions)
Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)(1)
Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)
September 30, 2021December 31, 2020September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
Fixed maturity securities$3,261 $4,331 $216 $237 
(1) The balance includes hedging adjustment on discontinued hedging relationships of $216 in 2021 and $237 in 2020.

Net Investment Hedge

The Company's investment in Aflac Japan is affected by changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate. To mitigate this exposure, the Parent Company's yen-denominated liabilities (see Note 8) have been designated as non-derivative hedges and certain foreign currency forwards and options have designated as derivative hedges of the foreign currency exposure of the Company's net investment in Aflac Japan.

The Company's net investment hedge was effective during the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Non-qualifying Strategies
For the Company's derivative instruments in consolidated VIEs that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, all changes in their fair value are reported in current period earnings within net investment gains (losses). The amount of gain or loss recognized in earnings for the Company's VIEs is attributable to the derivatives in those investment structures. While the change in value of the swaps is recorded through current period earnings, the change in value of the available-for-sale fixed maturity securities associated with these swaps is recorded through other comprehensive income.

As of September 30, 2021, the Parent Company had $2.3 billion notional amount of cross-currency interest rate swap agreements related to certain of its U.S. dollar-denominated senior notes to effectively convert a portion of the interest on the notes from U.S dollar to Japanese yen. Changes in the values of these swaps are recorded through current period earnings. For additional information regarding these swaps, see Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Report.
The Company uses foreign exchange forwards and options to economically mitigate the currency risk of some of its U.S. dollar-denominated loan receivables held within the Aflac Japan segment. These arrangements are not designated as accounting hedges, as the foreign currency remeasurement of the loan receivables impacts current period earnings, and substantially offsets gains and losses from foreign exchange forwards within net investment gains (losses). The Company also has certain foreign exchange forwards on U.S. dollar-denominated available-for-sale securities where hedge accounting is not being applied.

The Company uses interest rate swaps to economically convert the variable rate investment income to a fixed rate on certain variable-rate investments.

32




Impact of Derivatives and Hedging Instruments

The following table summarizes the impact to earnings and other comprehensive income (loss) from all derivatives and hedging instruments.
 Three Months Ended September 30,
20212020
(In millions)
Net Investment Income (1)
Net Investment
Gains (Losses)
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
(2)
Net Investment Income (1)
Net Investment
Gains (Losses)
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
(2)
Qualifying hedges:
  Cash flow hedges:
       Foreign currency swaps - VIE$0 $(1)$1 $$$
  Total cash flow hedges0 (1)
(3)
1 
(3)
  Fair value hedges:
       Foreign currency forwards (3)
0 
       Foreign currency options (3)
(5)(2)
       Interest rate swaptions (3)
(1)(1)1 
  Total fair value hedges(1)(6)1 (2)
  Net investment hedge:
       Non-derivative hedging
          instruments
0 41 (51)
       Foreign currency forwards(42)55 (16)(91)
       Foreign currency options (1)0 (2)
   Total net investment hedge(43)96 (18)(142)
  Non-qualifying strategies:
       Foreign currency swaps6 (27)
       Foreign currency swaps - VIE(36)40 
       Foreign currency forwards(84)139 
       Foreign currency options 0 
       Interest rate swaps(9)
       Forward bond purchase
         commitment- VIE
(1)
  Total non- qualifying strategies(124)158 
          Total$(1)$(174)$98 $$138 $(140)
(1) Interest expense/income on cash flow hedges are recorded in net investment income. For interest rate swaptions classified as fair value hedges, the change in the time value of the swaptions is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) and amortized into net investment income over its legal term. If the swaption is early terminated but the hedge item is still outstanding, the amortization of disposal amount of the swaptions is recorded in net investment income over the remaining life of the hedged items.
(2) Gains and losses on cash flow hedges and the change in the fair value of interest rate swaptions related to the time value of the swaptions in fair value hedges are recorded as unrealized gains (losses). Gains and losses on net investment hedges related to changes in foreign currency spot rates are recorded in the unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) line in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss).
(3) Impact of cash flow hedges reported as net investment gains (losses) includes $1 of losses reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings during the three-month period ended September 30, 2021. In addition, $1 of losses and an immaterial amount were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings during the three-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, related to fair value hedges excluded component. Impact shown net of effect of hedged items (see Fair Value Hedges section of this Note 4 for further detail).
33




Nine Months Ended September 30,
20212020
(In millions)
Net Investment Income(1)
Net Investment
Gains (Losses)
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
(2)
Net Investment Income(1)
Net Investment
Gains (Losses)
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
(2)
Qualifying hedges:
  Cash flow hedges:
       Foreign currency swaps - VIE$0 $(3)$2 $(1)$$(4)
  Total cash flow hedges0 (3)
(3)
2 (1)
(3)
(4)
  Fair value hedges:
       Foreign currency forwards(3)
0 (7)
       Foreign currency options(3)
(12)(3)
       Interest rate swaptions(3)
(1)(1)1 (1)
  Total fair value hedges(1)(13)1 (1)(10)
  Net investment hedge:
       Non-derivative hedging
         instruments
0 237 (72)
       Foreign currency forwards7 396 136 (166)
       Foreign currency options (4)0 (3)
  Total net investment hedge3 633 133 (238)
  Non-qualifying strategies:
       Foreign currency swaps105 54 
       Foreign currency swaps - VIE(115)(185)
       Foreign currency forwards(527)133 
       Foreign currency options 1 (1)
       Interest rate swaps(6)49 
Forward bond purchase
  commitment - VIE
(2)
  Total non-qualifying strategies(544)50 
          Total$(1)$(557)$636 $(2)$173 $(241)
(1) Interest expense/income on cash flow hedges are recorded in net investment income. For interest rate swaptions classified as fair value hedges, the change in the time value of the swaptions is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) and amortized into net investment income over its legal term. If the swaption is early terminated but the hedge item is still outstanding, the amortization of disposal amount of the swaptions is recorded in net investment income over the remaining life of the hedged items.
(2) Gains and losses on cash flow hedges and the change in the fair value of interest rate swaptions related to the time value of the swaptions in fair value hedges are recorded as unrealized gains (losses). Gains and losses on net investment hedges related to changes in foreign currency spot rates are recorded in the unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) line in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss).
(3) Impact of cash flow hedges reported as net investment gains (losses) includes $3 of losses reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021. In addition, $1 of losses and an immaterial amount were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, related to fair value hedges excluded component. Impact shown net of effect of hedged items (see Fair Value Hedges section of this Note 4 for further detail).

As of September 30, 2021, $5 million of deferred losses on derivative instruments recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income are expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next twelve months.

Credit Risk Assumed through Derivatives

For the foreign currency and credit default swaps associated with the Company's VIE investments for which it is the primary beneficiary, the Company bears the risk of loss due to counterparty default even though it is not a direct counterparty to those contracts.

The Company is a direct counterparty to the foreign currency swaps that it has entered into in connection with certain of its senior notes and subordinated debentures; foreign currency forwards; and foreign currency options, and therefore the Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties in those contracts. The risk of counterparty default for the Company's foreign currency swaps, certain foreign currency forwards, and foreign currency options is mitigated by collateral posting requirements that counterparties to those transactions must meet.

As of September 30, 2021, all of the Company's derivative agreement counterparties were investment grade.
34





The Company engages in over-the-counter (OTC) bilateral derivative transactions directly with unaffiliated third parties under International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA) agreements and other documentation. Most of the ISDA agreements also include Credit Support Annexes (CSAs) provisions, which generally provide for two-way collateral postings at the first dollar of exposure. The Company mitigates the risk that counterparties to transactions might be unable to fulfill their contractual obligations by monitoring counterparty credit exposure and collateral value while generally requiring that collateral be posted at the outset of the transaction. In addition, a significant portion of the derivative transactions have provisions that give the counterparty the right to terminate the transaction upon a downgrade of Aflac’s financial strength rating. The actual amount of payments that the Company could be required to make depends on market conditions, the fair value of outstanding affected transactions, and other factors prevailing at and after the time of the downgrade.

The Company also engages in OTC cleared derivative transactions through regulated central clearing counterparties. These positions are marked to market and margined on a daily basis (both initial margin and variation margin), and the Company has minimal exposure to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to these derivatives.

Collateral posted by the Company to third parties for derivative transactions can generally be repledged or resold by the counterparties. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that were in a net liability position by counterparty was approximately $694 million and $268 million as of September 30, 2021, and December 31, 2020, respectively. If the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements had been triggered on September 30, 2021, the Company estimates that it would be required to post a maximum of $169 million of additional collateral to these derivative counterparties. The Company is generally allowed to sell or repledge collateral obtained from its derivative counterparties, although it does not typically exercise such rights. (See the Offsetting tables below for collateral posted or received as of the reported balance sheet dates.)

Offsetting of Financial Instruments and Derivatives

Most of the Company's derivative instruments are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements that provide for the net settlement of all derivative contracts between the Parent Company or its subsidiaries and the respective counterparty in the event of default or upon the occurrence of certain termination events. Collateral support agreements with the master netting arrangements generally provide that the Company will receive or pledge financial collateral at the first dollar of exposure.

The Company has securities lending agreements with unaffiliated financial institutions that post collateral to the Company in return for the use of its fixed maturity and public equity securities (see Note 3). When the Company has entered into securities lending agreements with the same counterparty, the agreements generally provide for net settlement in the event of default by the counterparty. This right of set-off allows the Company to keep and apply collateral received if the counterparty failed to return the securities borrowed from the Company as contractually agreed.

The tables below summarize the Company's derivatives and securities lending transactions, and as reflected in the tables, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company's policy is to not offset these financial instruments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.


35




Offsetting of Financial Assets and Derivative Assets
September 30, 2021
Gross Amounts Not Offset
in Balance Sheet
(In millions)Gross Amount of Recognized AssetsGross Amount
Offset in
Balance Sheet
Net Amount of Assets Presented
 in Balance Sheet
Financial InstrumentsSecurities
Collateral
Cash Collateral ReceivedNet Amount
Derivative
  assets:
    Derivative
      assets subject to a
      master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
          OTC - bilateral$646 $0 $646 $(375)$(21)$(249)$1 
    Total derivative
      assets subject to a
      master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
646 0 646 (375)(21)(249)1 
    Derivative
      assets not subject
      to a master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
          OTC - bilateral99 99 99 
    Total derivative
      assets not subject
      to a master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
99 99 99 
    Total derivative
      assets
745 0 745 (375)(21)(249)100 
Securities lending
   and similar
   arrangements
2,827 0 2,827 0 0 (2,827)0 
    Total$3,572 $0 $3,572 $(375)$(21)$(3,076)$100 

36




December 31, 2020
Gross Amounts Not Offset
in Balance Sheet
(In millions)Gross Amount of Recognized AssetsGross Amount
Offset in
Balance Sheet
Net Amount of Assets Presented
 in Balance Sheet
Financial InstrumentsSecurities
Collateral
Cash Collateral ReceivedNet Amount
Derivative
  assets:
    Derivative
      assets subject to a
      master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
          OTC - bilateral$450 $$450 $(295)$(73)$(76)$
    Total derivative
      assets subject to a
      master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
450 450 (295)(73)(76)
    Derivative
      assets not subject
      to a master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
          OTC - bilateral133 133 133 
    Total derivative
      assets not subject
      to a master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
133 133 133 
    Total derivative
      assets
583 583 (295)(73)(76)139 
Securities lending
   and similar
   arrangements
940 940 (940)
    Total$1,523 $$1,523 $(295)$(73)$(1,016)$139 





















37




Offsetting of Financial Liabilities and Derivative Liabilities
September 30, 2021
Gross Amounts Not Offset
in Balance Sheet
(In millions)Gross Amount of Recognized LiabilitiesGross Amount
Offset in
Balance Sheet
Net Amount of Liabilities Presented
 in Balance Sheet
Financial InstrumentsSecurities
Collateral
Cash Collateral PledgedNet Amount
Derivative
  liabilities:
    Derivative
      liabilities subject
      to a master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
          OTC - bilateral$898 $0 $898 $(375)$(491)$(19)$13 
          OTC - cleared16 0 16 0 0 (15)1 
    Total derivative
      liabilities subject
      to a master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
914 0 914 (375)(491)(34)14 
    Derivative
      liabilities not
      subject to a
      master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
          OTC - bilateral356 356 356 
    Total derivative
      liabilities not
      subject to a
      master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
356 356 356 
    Total derivative
      liabilities
1,270 0 1,270 (375)(491)(34)370 
Securities lending
   and similar
   arrangements
2,849 0 2,849 (2,827)0 0 22 
    Total$4,119 $0 $4,119 $(3,202)$(491)$(34)$392 

38




December 31, 2020
Gross Amounts Not Offset
in Balance Sheet
(In millions)Gross Amount of Recognized LiabilitiesGross Amount
Offset in
Balance Sheet
Net Amount of Liabilities Presented
 in Balance Sheet
Financial InstrumentsSecurities
Collateral
Cash Collateral PledgedNet Amount
Derivative
  liabilities:
    Derivative
      liabilities subject
      to a master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
          OTC - bilateral$466 $$466 $(295)$(43)$(69)$59 
    Total derivative
      liabilities subject
      to a master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
466 466 (295)(43)(69)59 
    Derivative
      liabilities not
      subject to a
      master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
          OTC - bilateral231 231 231 
    Total derivative
      liabilities not
      subject to a
      master netting
      agreement or
      offsetting
      arrangement
231 231 231 
    Total derivative
      liabilities
697 697 (295)(43)(69)290 
Securities lending
   and similar
   arrangements
964 964 (940)24 
    Total$1,661 $$1,661 $(1,235)$(43)$(69)$314 

For additional information on the Company's financial instruments, see the accompanying Notes 1, 3 and 5 and Notes 1, 3 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Report.

39




5.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair Value Hierarchy

U.S. GAAP specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. These two types of inputs create three valuation hierarchy levels. Level 1 valuations reflect quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Level 2 valuations reflect quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted market prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets or model-derived valuations in which all significant valuation inputs are observable in active markets. Level 3 valuations reflect valuations in which one or more of the significant inputs are not observable in an active market.

The following tables present the fair value hierarchy levels of the Company's assets and liabilities that are measured and carried at fair value on a recurring basis.
  
September 30, 2021
(In millions)Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Fair
Value
Assets:
Securities available for sale, carried at
  fair value:
Fixed maturity securities:
Government and agencies$33,903 $1,323 $0 $35,226 
Municipalities0 2,937 0 2,937 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities0 1,042 250 1,292 
Public utilities0 9,792 523 10,315 
Sovereign and supranational0 1,097 45 1,142 
Banks/financial institutions0 11,696 46 11,742 
Other corporate0 37,762 306 38,068 
Total fixed maturity securities33,903 65,649 1,170 100,722 
Equity securities1,210 90 161 1,461 
Other investments1,833 0 0 1,833 
Cash and cash equivalents6,208 0 0 6,208 
Other assets:
Foreign currency swaps0 52 99 151 
Foreign currency forwards0 593 0 593 
Foreign currency options0 1 0 1 
Total other assets0 646 99 745 
Total assets$43,154 $66,385 $1,430 $110,969 
Liabilities:
Other liabilities:
Foreign currency swaps$0 $22 $356 $378 
Foreign currency forwards0 875 0 875 
Interest rate swaps0 16 0 16 
Forward bond purchase commitment 0 1 0 1 
Total liabilities$0 $914 $356 $1,270 
40




  
December 31, 2020
(In millions)Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Fair
Value
Assets:
Securities available for sale, carried at
  fair value:
Fixed maturity securities:
Government and agencies$36,032 $1,318 $$37,350 
Municipalities3,018 3,018 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities814 224 1,038 
Public utilities10,395 422 10,817 
Sovereign and supranational1,334 48 1,382 
Banks/financial institutions12,036 24 12,060 
Other corporate39,918 299 40,217 
Total fixed maturity securities36,032 68,833 1,017 105,882 
Equity securities1,095 86 102 1,283 
Other investments1,139 1,139 
Cash and cash equivalents5,141 5,141 
Other assets:
Foreign currency swaps47 133 180 
Foreign currency forwards402 402 
Foreign currency options
Total other assets450 133 583 
Total assets$43,407 $69,369 $1,252 $114,028 
Liabilities:
Other liabilities:
Foreign currency swaps$$81 $231 $312 
Foreign currency forwards385 385 
Total liabilities$$466 $231 $697 


41




The following tables present the carrying amount and fair value categorized by fair value hierarchy level for the Company's financial instruments that are not carried at fair value.
  
September 30, 2021
(In millions)Carrying
Value
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Fair
Value
Assets:
Securities held to maturity,
    carried at amortized cost:
  Fixed maturity securities:
Government and agencies$21,673 $26,304 $237 $0 $26,541 
Municipalities346 0 453 0 453 
Public utilities44 0 57 0 57 
Sovereign and
   supranational
528 0 667 0 667 
Other corporate22 0 30 0 30 
Commercial mortgage and
    other loans
11,388 0 0 11,596 11,596 
Other investments (1)
19 0 19 0 19 
 Total assets$34,020 $26,304 $1,463 $11,596 $39,363 
Liabilities:
Other policyholders’ funds$7,286 $0 $0 $7,175 $7,175 
Notes payable
   (excluding leases)
7,937 0 8,416 266 8,682 
Total liabilities$15,223 $0 $8,416 $7,441 $15,857 
(1) Excludes policy loans of $241 and equity method investments of $1,519, at carrying value
42




  
December 31, 2020
(In millions)Carrying
Value
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Fair
Value
Assets:
Securities held to maturity,
   carried at amortized cost:
  Fixed maturity securities:
Government and agencies$23,445 $28,810 $260 $$29,070 
Municipalities377 499 499 
Public utilities47 61 61 
Sovereign and
   supranational
571 736 736 
Other corporate24 33 33 
Commercial mortgage and
    other loans
10,554 10,655 10,655 
Other investments (1)
26 26 26 
  Total assets$35,044 $28,810 $1,615 $10,655 $41,080 
Liabilities:
Other policyholders’ funds$7,824 $$$7,709 $7,709 
Notes payable
   (excluding leases)
7,745 8,396 288 8,684 
Total liabilities$15,569 $$8,396 $7,997 $16,393 
(1) Excludes policy loans of $260 and equity method investments of $1,004, at carrying value

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fixed maturity and equity securities

The Company determines the fair values of fixed maturity securities and public and privately-issued equity securities using the following approaches or techniques: price quotes and valuations from third party pricing vendors (including quoted market prices readily available from public exchange markets), in-house valuations and non-binding price quotes the Company obtains from outside brokers.

A third party pricing vendor has developed valuation models to determine fair values of privately issued securities. Starting in June 2021, these models and associated processes and controls were substantially transitioned to and executed by company personnel. These models are discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation models, but also use information from related markets, specifically the credit default swap (CDS) market to estimate expected cash flows. These models take into consideration any unique characteristics of the securities and make various adjustments to arrive at an appropriate issuer-specific loss adjusted credit curve. This credit curve is then used with the relevant recovery rates to estimate expected cash flows and modeling of additional features, including illiquidity adjustments, if necessary, to price the security by discounting those loss adjusted cash flows. In cases where a credit curve cannot be developed from the specific security features, the valuation methodology takes into consideration other market observable inputs, including:

1) the most appropriate comparable security(ies) of the issuer
2) issuer-specific CDS spreads
3) bonds or CDS spreads of comparable issuers with similar characteristics such as rating, geography, or sector
4) bond indices that are comparative in rating, industry, maturity and region.

The pricing data and market quotes the Company obtains from outside sources, including third party pricing services, are reviewed internally for reasonableness. If a fair value appears unreasonable, the Company will re-examine the inputs and assess the reasonableness of the pricing data with the vendor. Additionally, the Company may compare the inputs to relevant market indices and other performance measurements. Based on management's analysis, the valuation is confirmed or may be revised if there is evidence of a more appropriate estimate of fair value based on available market data. Beginning in the third quarter of 2020, the Company refined these valuation models to explicitly incorporate currency
43




basis swap adjustments (market observable data) to assumed interest rate curves where appropriate. The Company has performed verification of the inputs and calculations in any valuation models to confirm that the valuations represent reasonable estimates of fair value.

For the periods presented, the Company has not adjusted the quotes or prices it obtains from the pricing services and brokers it uses.

The following tables present the pricing sources for the fair values of the Company's fixed maturity and equity securities.
44




September 30, 2021
(In millions)Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Fair
Value
Securities available for sale, carried at fair value:
      Fixed maturity securities:
         Government and agencies:
Third party pricing vendor$33,903 $831 $0 $34,734 
Internal0 492 0 492 
               Total government and agencies33,903 1,323 0 35,226 
         Municipalities:
Third party pricing vendor0 2,114 0 2,114 
 Internal0 823 0 823 
               Total municipalities0 2,937 0 2,937 
         Mortgage- and asset-backed securities:
Third party pricing vendor0 1,021 0 1,021 
Broker/other0 21 250 271 
               Total mortgage- and asset-backed securities0 1,042 250 1,292 
         Public utilities:
            Third party pricing vendor0 4,628 0 4,628 
            Internal 0 5,163 0 5,163 
            Broker/other0 1 523 524 
               Total public utilities0 9,792 523 10,315 
         Sovereign and supranational:
            Third party pricing vendor0 279 0 279 
            Internal0 818 0 818 
            Broker/other 0 0 45 45 
               Total sovereign and supranational0 1,097 45 1,142 
         Banks/financial institutions:
            Third party pricing vendor0 5,191 0 5,191 
            Internal0 6,505 0 6,505 
            Broker/other0 0 46 46 
               Total banks/financial institutions0 11,696 46 11,742 
         Other corporate:
            Third party pricing vendor0 29,601 0 29,601 
            Internal0 8,155 0 8,155 
            Broker/other0 6 306 312 
               Total other corporate0 37,762 306 38,068 
                  Total securities available for sale$33,903 $65,649 $1,170 $100,722 
Equity securities, carried at fair value:
            Third party pricing vendor$1,210 $90 $0 $1,300 
            Broker/other0 0 161 161 
               Total equity securities$1,210 $90 $161 $1,461 

45




September 30, 2021
(In millions)Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Fair
 Value
Securities held to maturity, carried at amortized cost:
      Fixed maturity securities:
         Government and agencies:
Third party pricing vendor$26,304 $237 $0 $26,541 
               Total government and agencies26,304 237 0 26,541 
         Municipalities:
Third party pricing vendor0 453 0 453 
               Total municipalities0 453 0 453 
         Public utilities:
Third party pricing vendor0 57 0 57 
               Total public utilities0 57 0 57 
         Sovereign and supranational:
Third party pricing vendor0 322 0 322 
Broker/other0 345 0 345 
               Total sovereign and supranational0 667 0 667 
         Other corporate:
Third party pricing vendor0 30 0 30 
               Total other corporate0 30 0 30 
                  Total securities held to maturity$26,304 $1,444 $0 $27,748 



46




December 31, 2020
(In millions)Quoted Prices in Active Markets
for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Fair
Value
Securities available for sale, carried at fair value:
      Fixed maturity securities:
         Government and agencies:
            Third party pricing vendor$36,032 $1,318 $$37,350 
               Total government and agencies36,032 1,318 37,350 
         Municipalities:
            Third party pricing vendor3,018 3,018 
               Total municipalities3,018 3,018 
         Mortgage- and asset-backed securities:
            Third party pricing vendor364 364 
            Broker/other450 224 674 
               Total mortgage- and asset-backed securities814 224 1,038 
         Public utilities:
            Third party pricing vendor10,395 10,395 
            Broker/other422 422 
               Total public utilities10,395 422 10,817 
         Sovereign and supranational:
            Third party pricing vendor1,334 1,334 
            Broker/other48 48 
               Total sovereign and supranational1,334 48 1,382 
         Banks/financial institutions:
            Third party pricing vendor12,036 12,036 
            Broker/other24 24 
               Total banks/financial institutions12,036 24 12,060 
         Other corporate:
            Third party pricing vendor39,886 39,886 
            Broker/other32 299 331 
               Total other corporate39,918 299 40,217 
                  Total securities available for sale$36,032 $68,833 $1,017 $105,882 
Equity securities, carried at fair value:
            Third party pricing vendor$1,095 $86 $$1,181 
            Broker/other102 102 
               Total equity securities$1,095 $86 $102 $1,283 
47




December 31, 2020
(In millions)Quoted Prices in Active Markets
for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Fair
 Value
Securities held to maturity, carried at amortized cost:
      Fixed maturity securities:
         Government and agencies:
            Third party pricing vendor$28,810 $260 $$29,070 
               Total government and agencies28,810 260 29,070 
         Municipalities:
            Third party pricing vendor499 499 
               Total municipalities499 499 
         Public utilities:
            Third party pricing vendor61 61 
               Total public utilities61 61 
         Sovereign and supranational:
            Third party pricing vendor736 736 
               Total sovereign and supranational736 736 
         Other corporate:
            Third party pricing vendor33 33 
               Total other corporate33 33 
                  Total securities held to maturity$28,810 $1,589 $$30,399 

The following is a discussion of the determination of fair value of the Company's remaining financial instruments.

Derivatives

The Company uses derivative instruments to manage the risk associated with certain assets. However, the derivative instrument may not be classified in the same fair value hierarchy level as the associated asset. The significant inputs to pricing derivatives are generally observable in the market or can be derived by observable market data. When these inputs are observable, the derivatives are classified as Level 2.

The Company uses present value techniques to value non-option based derivatives. It also uses option pricing models to value option based derivatives. Key inputs are as follows:

Instrument TypeLevel 2Level 3
Interest rate derivatives
Swap yield curves
Basic curves
Interest rate volatility (1)
Not applicable
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives - Non-VIES (forwards, swaps and options)
Foreign currency forward rates
Swap yield curves
Basis curves
Foreign currency spot rates
Cross foreign currency basis curves
Foreign currency volatility (1)
Not applicable
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives - VIEs (swaps)Foreign currency spot rates
Swap yield curves (2)
Credit default swap curves (2)
Basis curves (2)
Recovery rates
Foreign currency forward rates (2)
Foreign cross currency basis curves (2)
(1) Option-based only
(2) Extrapolation beyond the observable limits of the curve(s).
48




The fair values of the foreign currency forwards and options are based on observable market inputs, therefore they are classified as Level 2.

To determine the fair value of its interest rate derivatives, the Company uses inputs that are generally observable in the market or can be derived from observable market data. Interest rate swaps are cleared trades. In a cleared swap contract, the clearinghouse provides benefits to the counterparties similar to contracts listed for investment traded on an exchange since it maintains a daily margin to mitigate counterparties' credit risk. These derivatives are priced using observable inputs, accordingly, they are classified as Level 2. For its interest rate swaptions, the Company estimates their fair values using observable market data, including interest rate curves and volatility. Their fair values are also classified as Level 2.

For derivatives associated with VIEs where the Company is the primary beneficiary, the Company is not the direct counterparty to the swap contracts. As a result, the fair value measurements incorporate the credit risk of the collateral associated with the VIE. Based on an analysis of these derivatives and a review of the methodology employed by the pricing vendor, the Company determined that due to the long duration of these swaps and the need to extrapolate from short-term observable data to derive and measure long-term inputs, certain inputs, assumptions and judgments are required to value future cash flows that cannot be corroborated by current inputs or current observable market data. As a result, the derivatives associated with the Company's consolidated VIEs are classified as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

For forward bond purchase commitments with VIEs, the fair value of the derivative is based on the difference in the fixed purchase price and the current market value of the related bond prior to the settlement date. Since the bond is typically a public bond with readily available pricing, the derivatives associated with the forward purchase commitment are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Commercial mortgage and other loans

Commercial mortgage and other loans include TREs, CMLs and MMLs. The Company's loan receivables do not have readily determinable market prices and generally lack market liquidity. Fair values for loan receivables are determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the applicable U.S. Treasury or London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) yield plus an appropriate spread that considers other risk factors, such as credit and liquidity risk. The spreads are a significant component of the pricing inputs and are generally considered unobservable. Therefore, these investments have been assigned a Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.

Other investments

Other investments includes short-term investments that are measured at fair value where amortized cost approximates fair value.

Other policyholders' funds

The largest component of the other policyholders' funds liability is the Company's annuity line of business in Aflac Japan. The Company's annuities have fixed benefits and premiums. For this product, the Company estimates the fair value to be equal to the cash surrender value. This is analogous to the value paid to policyholders on the valuation date if they were to surrender their policy. The Company periodically checks the cash value against discounted cash flow projections for reasonableness. The Company considers its inputs for this valuation to be unobservable and have accordingly classified this valuation as Level 3.

Notes payable

The fair values of the Company's publicly issued notes payable are determined by utilizing available sources of observable inputs from third party pricing vendors and are classified as Level 2. The fair values of the Company's yen-denominated loans approximate their carrying values and are classified as Level 3.



49




Transfers between Hierarchy Levels and Level 3 Rollforward
Assets and liabilities are transferred into Level 3 when a significant input cannot be corroborated with market observable data. This occurs when market activity decreases significantly and underlying inputs cannot be observed, current prices are not available, and/or when there are significant variances in quoted prices, thereby affecting transparency. Assets and liabilities are transferred out of Level 3 when circumstances change such that a significant input can be corroborated with market observable data. This may be due to a significant increase in market activity, a specific event, or one or more significant input(s) becoming observable.

The following tables present the changes in fair value of the Company's investments and derivatives carried at fair value classified as Level 3. Derivative assets and liabilities are presented as a net value.
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2021
 Fixed Maturity SecuritiesEquity
Securities
Derivatives
(In millions)Mortgage-
and
Asset-
Backed
Securities
Public
Utilities
Sovereign and SupranationalBanks/
Financial
Institutions
Other
Corporate
 Foreign
Currency
Swaps
Total
Balance, beginning of period$258 $480 $45 $38 $316 $158 $(200)$1,095 
Net investment gains (losses) included in
   earnings
(1)(57)(56)
Unrealized gains (losses) included in other
   comprehensive income (loss)
(4)(3)(7)(14)
Purchases, issuances, sales and
  settlements:
Purchases35 54 12 109 
Issuances
Sales(8)(8)
Settlements(8)(8)
Transfers into Level 3
Transfers out of Level 3(39)(5)(44)
Balance, end of period$250 $523 $45 $46 $306 $161 $(257)$1,074 
Changes in unrealized gains (losses)
  relating to Level 3 assets and liabilities
  still held at the end of the period
  included in earnings
$(4)$(3)$$$(7)$(1)$(57)$(72)


50




Three Months Ended
September 30, 2020
  Fixed Maturity SecuritiesEquity
Securities
Derivatives  
(In millions)Mortgage-
and
Asset-
Backed
Securities
Public
Utilities
Banks/
Financial
Institutions
Other
Corporate
 Foreign
Currency
Swaps
Total
Balance, beginning of period$188 $322 $24 $243 $86 $(168)$695 
Net investment gains (losses) included
  in earnings
23 23 
Unrealized gains (losses) included in
  other comprehensive income (loss)
15 24 44 
Purchases, issuances, sales and settlements:
Purchases33 39 
Issuances
Sales(5)(5)
Settlements(2)(2)
Transfers into Level 3
Transfers out of Level 3
Balance, end of period$191 $368 $24 $268 $86 $(143)$794 
Changes in unrealized gains (losses)
  relating to Level 3 assets and liabilities
  still held at the end of the period
  included in earnings
$$$$$$23 $23 


Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2021
 Fixed Maturity SecuritiesEquity
Securities
Derivatives
(In millions)Mortgage-
and
Asset-
Backed
Securities
Public
Utilities
Sovereign
and
Supranational
Banks/
Financial
Institutions
Other
Corporate
 Foreign
Currency
Swaps
Total
Balance, beginning of period$224 $422 $48 $24 $299 $102 $(98)$1,021 
Net investment gains (losses) included
  in earnings
21 (158)(135)
Unrealized gains (losses) included in
  other comprehensive income (loss)
(19)(13)(3)(1)(5)(1)(42)
Purchases, issuances, sales
  and settlements:
Purchases99 132 23 29 283 
Issuances17 17 
Sales(23)(8)(31)
Settlements(18)(17)(35)
Transfers into Level 323 32 55 
Transfers out of Level 3(54)(5)(59)
Balance, end of period$250 $523 $45 $46 $306 $161 $(257)$1,074 
Changes in unrealized gains
  (losses) relating to Level 3 assets
  and liabilities still held at the end
  of the period included in earnings
$(19)$(13)$(3)$(1)$(5)$21 $(158)$(178)


51




Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2020
 Fixed Maturity SecuritiesEquity
Securities
Derivatives 
(In millions)Mortgage-
and
Asset-
Backed
Securities
Public
Utilities
Banks/
Financial
Institutions
Other
Corporate
 Foreign
Currency
Swaps
Total
Balance, beginning of period$178 $224 $23 $262 $80 $43 $810 
Net investment gains (losses) included
   in earnings
(184)(184)
Unrealized gains (losses) included in other
   comprehensive income (loss)
(2)17 
Purchases, issuances, sales and settlements:
Purchases129 13 12 155 
Issuances
Sales(6)(6)
Settlements(1)(6)(7)
Transfers into Level 315 24 
Transfers out of Level 3(15)(15)
Balance, end of period$191 $368 $24 $268 $86 $(143)$794 
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating
   to Level 3 assets and liabilities still held at
   the end of the period included in earnings
$$$$$$(184)$(184)



52




Fair Value Sensitivity

Level 3 Significant Unobservable Input Sensitivity

The following tables summarize the significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of the Company's Level 3 investments and derivatives carried at fair value. Included in the tables are the inputs or range of possible inputs that have an effect on the overall valuation of the financial instruments.
September 30, 2021
(In millions)Fair ValueValuation Technique(s)Unobservable InputRange
(Weighted Average)
Assets:
  Securities available for sale, carried at fair value:
    Fixed maturity securities:
       Mortgage- and asset-backed securities$250 Consensus pricingOffered quotesN/A
(a)
       Public utilities523 Discounted cash flowCredit spreadsN/A
(a)
       Sovereign and supranational45 Discounted cash flowHistorical volatilityN/A
(a)
       Banks/financial institutions46 Consensus pricingOffered quotesN/A
(a)
       Other corporate306 Discounted cash flowCredit spreadsN/A
(a)
  Equity securities161 Net asset valueOffered quotesN/A
(a)
  Other assets:
       Foreign currency swaps34 Discounted cash flowInterest rates (USD)1.51%-1.79%
(b)
Interest rates (JPY).11%-.53%
(c)
CDS spreads23 bps-124 bps
65 Discounted cash flowInterest rates (USD)1.51%-1.79%
(b)
Interest rates (JPY).11%-.53%
(c)
            Total assets$1,430 
Liabilities:
  Other liabilities:
       Foreign currency swaps$167 Discounted cash flowInterest rates (USD)1.51%-1.79%
(b)
Interest rates (JPY).11%-.53%
(c)
CDS spreads23 bps-182 bps
189 Discounted cash flowInterest rates (USD)1.51%-1.79%
(b)
Interest rates (JPY).11%-.53%
(c)
            Total liabilities$356 
(a) N/A represents securities where the Company receives unadjusted broker quotes and for which there is no transparency into the providers' valuation techniques or unobservable inputs.
(b) Inputs derived from U.S. long-term rates to accommodate long maturity nature of the Company's swaps
(c) Inputs derived from Japan long-term rates to accommodate long maturity nature of the Company's swaps



53




December 31, 2020
(In millions)Fair ValueValuation Technique(s)Unobservable InputRange
(Weighted Average)
Assets:
  Securities available for sale, carried at fair value:
    Fixed maturity securities:
       Mortgage- and asset-backed securities$224 Consensus pricingOffered quotesN/A
(a)
       Public utilities422 Discounted cash flowCredit spreadsN/A
(a)
       Sovereign and supranational48 Discounted cash flowHistorical volatilityN/A
(a)
       Banks/financial institutions24 Consensus pricingOffered quotesN/A
(a)
       Other corporate299 Discounted cash flowCredit spreadsN/A
(a)
  Equity securities102 Net asset valueOffered quotesN/A
(a)
  Other assets:
       Foreign currency swaps69 Discounted cash flowInterest rates (USD).93%-1.40%
(b)
Interest rates (JPY).05%-.43%
(c)
CDS spreads22 bps-128 bps
64 Discounted cash flowInterest rates (USD).93%-1.40%
(b)
Interest rates (JPY).05%-.43%
(c)
            Total assets$1,252 
Liabilities:
  Other liabilities:
       Foreign currency swaps$160 Discounted cash flowInterest rates (USD).93%-1.12%
(b)
Interest rates (JPY).05%-.35%
(c)
CDS spreads41 bps-140 bps
71 Discounted cash flowInterest rates (USD).93%-1.12%
(b)
Interest rates (JPY).05%-.35%
(c)
            Total liabilities$231 
(a) N/A represents securities where the Company receives unadjusted broker quotes and for which there is no transparency into the providers' valuation techniques or unobservable inputs.
(b) Inputs derived from U.S. long-term rates to accommodate long maturity nature of the Company's swaps
(c) Inputs derived from Japan long-term rates to accommodate long maturity nature of the Company's swaps
54




The following is a discussion of the significant unobservable inputs or valuation techniques used in determining the fair value of securities and derivatives classified as Level 3.

Net Asset Value

The Company holds certain unlisted equity securities whose fair value is derived based on the financial statements published by the investee. These securities do not trade on an active market and the valuations derived are dependent on the availability of timely financial reporting of the investee. Net asset value is an unobservable input in the determination of fair value of equity securities.

Offered Quotes

In circumstances where the Company's valuation model price is overridden because it implies a value that is not consistent with current market conditions, the Company will solicit bids from a limited number of brokers. The Company also receives unadjusted prices from brokers for its mortgage and asset-backed securities. These quotes are non-binding but are reflective of valuation best estimates at that particular point in time. Offered quotes are an unobservable input in the determination of fair value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, certain banks/financial institutions, certain other corporate, and equity securities investments.

Interest Rates and CDS Spreads

The significant drivers of the valuation of the foreign exchange swaps are interest rates and CDS spreads. Some of the Company's swaps have long maturities that increase the sensitivity of the swaps to interest rate fluctuations. For the Company's foreign exchange or cross currency swaps that are in a net asset position, an increase in yen interest rates (all other factors held constant) will decrease the present value of the yen final settlement receivable (receive leg), thus decreasing the value of the swap as long as the derivative remains in a net asset position.
Foreign exchange swaps also have a lump-sum final settlement of foreign exchange principal amounts at the termination of the swap. Assuming all other factors are held constant, an increase in yen interest rates will decrease the receive leg and decrease the net value of the swap. Likewise, holding all other factors constant, an increase in U.S. dollar interest rates will increase the swap's net value due to the decrease in the present value of the dollar final settlement payable (pay leg).
The extinguisher feature in most of the Company's VIE swaps results in a cessation of cash flows and no further payments between the parties to the swap in the event of a default on the referenced or underlying collateral. To price this feature, the Company applies the survival probability of the referenced entity to the projected cash flows. The survival probability uses the CDS spreads and recovery rates to adjust the present value of the cash flows. For extinguisher swaps with positive values, an increase in CDS spreads decreases the likelihood of receiving the final exchange payments and reduces the value of the swap.

For additional information on the Company's investments and financial instruments, see the accompanying Notes 1, 3 and 4 and Notes 1, 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Report.

55




6.    POLICY LIABILITIES

Changes in the liability for unpaid policy claims were as follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In millions)2021202020212020
Unpaid supplemental health claims, beginning of period$4,162 $4,041 $4,389 $3,968 
Less reinsurance recoverables37 37 39 31 
Net balance, beginning of period4,125 4,004 4,350 3,937 
Add claims incurred during the period related to:
Current year1,720 1,780 5,302 5,354 
Prior years(215)(105)(739)(408)
Total incurred1,505 1,675 4,563 4,946 
Less claims paid during the period on claims incurred during:
Current year1,279 1,295 2,947 2,971 
Prior years219 249 1,676 1,811 
Total paid1,498 1,544 4,623 4,782 
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on unpaid claims(29)42 (187)76 
Net balance, end of period4,103 4,177 4,103 4,177 
Add reinsurance recoverables 39 40 39 40 
Unpaid supplemental health claims, end of period4,142 4,217 4,142 4,217 
Unpaid life claims, end of period767 759 767 759 
Total liability for unpaid policy claims$4,909 $4,976 $4,909 $4,976 

The incurred claims development related to prior years reflects favorable claims experience compared to previous estimates. The favorable claims development of $739 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 comprises approximately $369 million from Japan and $370 million from the U.S., representing 49.9% and 50.1% of the total, respectively. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange of a loss of approximately $11 million from December 31, 2020 to September 30, 2021, the favorable claims development in Japan would have been approximately $380 million, representing approximately 51% of the total.

The Company has experienced continued favorable claim trends in 2021 for its core health products in Japan. During the first nine months of 2021, there were impacts from lower utilization of healthcare services, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This impacted both cancer and medical products, as the Japan population was avoiding doctor and hospital visits and staying home more. This resulted in lower sickness, accident, and cancer incurred claims. In addition, cancer treatment patterns in Japan are continuing to be influenced by significant advances in early-detection techniques and by the increased use of pathological diagnosis rather than clinical exams. Additionally, follow-up radiation and chemotherapy treatments are occurring more often on an outpatient basis. Such changes in treatment not only increase the quality of life and initial outcomes for the patients, but also decrease the average length of each hospital stay, resulting in favorable claims development.

For the majority of the Company's major U.S. accident and health lines of business, including accident, hospital indemnity, cancer, critical illness and short-term disability, the incurred claims development related to prior years reflects favorable claims experience compared to previous estimates. The U.S. portion of the favorable claims development includes $143 million related to refinements in estimates for COVID and non-COVID claims as experience emerged.

7.    REINSURANCE

The Company periodically enters into fixed quota-share coinsurance agreements with other companies in the normal course of business. For each of its reinsurance agreements, the Company determines whether the agreement provides indemnification against loss or liability relating to insurance risk in accordance with applicable accounting standards. Reinsurance premiums and benefits paid or provided are accounted for on bases consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Premiums and benefits are reported net of insurance ceded.

56




The Company has recorded a deferred profit liability related to reinsurance transactions. The remaining deferred profit liability of $900 million and $1.0 billion as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, is included in future policy benefits in the consolidated balance sheet and is being amortized into income over the expected lives of the policies. The Company has also recorded a reinsurance recoverable for reinsurance transactions, which is included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet and had a remaining balance of $962 million and $1.0 billion as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The spot yen/dollar exchange rate weakened by approximately 7.5% and ceded reserves decreased approximately 7.2% from December 31, 2020 to September 30, 2021.

The following table reconciles direct premium income and direct benefits and claims to net amounts after the effect of reinsurance which also includes the elimination of inter-segment amounts associated with affiliated reinsurance.
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In millions)2021202020212020
Direct premium income$4,426 $4,711 $13,567 $14,236 
Ceded to other companies:
    Ceded Aflac Japan closed blocks(107)(116)(329)(349)
    Other(19)(22)(54)(69)
Assumed from other companies:
    Retrocession activities45 49 138 146 
    Other27 84 
Net premium income$4,372 $4,623 $13,406 $13,969 
Direct benefits and claims$2,649 $3,051 $8,112 $9,054 
Ceded benefits and change in reserves for future benefits:
    Ceded Aflac Japan closed blocks(94)(103)(288)(314)
    Eliminations8 10 24 29 
    Other(9)(10)(25)(54)
Assumed from other companies:
    Retrocession activities42 47 126 133 
    Eliminations(8)(10)(24)(29)
    Other21 71 
Benefits and claims, net$2,609 $2,985 $7,996 $8,822 

These reinsurance transactions are indemnity reinsurance that do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. In the event that the reinsurer is unable to meet their obligations, the Company remains liable for the reinsured claims.

As a part of its capital contingency plan, the Company entered into a committed reinsurance facility agreement on December 1, 2015 in the amount of approximately ¥120 billion of reserves. This reinsurance facility agreement was renewed in 2020 and is effective until December 31, 2021. There are also additional commitment periods of a one-year duration, each of which are automatically extended unless notification is received from the reinsurer within 60 days prior to the expiration. The reinsurer can withdraw from the committed facility if Aflac's Standard and Poor's (S&P) rating drops below BBB-. As of September 30, 2021, the Company has not executed a reinsurance treaty under this committed reinsurance facility.
8.    NOTES PAYABLE AND LEASE OBLIGATIONS

A summary of notes payable and lease obligations follows:
57




(In millions)September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
3.625% senior notes paid May 2021
$0 $698 
3.625% senior notes due November 2024
748 747 
3.25% senior notes due March 2025
448 448 
1.125% senior sustainability notes due March 2026
397 
2.875% senior notes due October 2026
298 298 
3.60% senior notes due April 2030
991 990 
6.90% senior notes due December 2039
221 221 
6.45% senior notes due August 2040
255 254 
4.00% senior notes due October 2046
394 394 
4.750% senior notes due January 2049
541 541 
Yen-denominated senior notes and subordinated debentures:
.300% senior notes due September 2025 (principal amount ¥12.4 billion)
110 119 
.932% senior notes due January 2027 (principal amount ¥60.0 billion)
534 578 
.500% senior notes due December 2029 (principal amount ¥12.6 billion)
112 121 
.550% senior notes due March 2030 (principal amount ¥13.3 billion)
118 127 
1.159% senior notes due October 2030 (principal amount ¥29.3 billion)
261 282 
.633% senior notes due April 2031 (principal amount ¥30.0 billion)
266 
.843% senior notes due December 2031 (principal amount ¥9.3 billion)
83 90 
.750% senior notes due March 2032 (principal amount ¥20.7 billion)
183 198 
.844% senior notes due April 2033 (principal amount ¥12.0 billion)
107 
1.488% senior notes due October 2033 (principal amount ¥15.2 billion)
135 146 
.934% senior notes due December 2034 (principal amount ¥9.8 billion)
87 94 
.830% senior notes due March 2035 (principal amount ¥10.6 billion)
94 101 
1.039% senior notes due April 2036 (principal amount ¥10.0 billion)
88 
1.750% senior notes due October 2038 (principal amount ¥8.9 billion)
79 85 
1.122% senior notes due December 2039 (principal amount ¥6.3 billion)
56 61 
1.264% senior notes due April 2041 (principal amount ¥10.0 billion)
89 
2.108% subordinated debentures due October 2047 (principal amount ¥60.0 billion)
532 575 
.963% subordinated bonds due April 2049 (principal amount ¥30.0 billion)
267 289 
1.560% senior notes due April 2051 (principal amount ¥20.0 billion)
177 0
Yen-denominated loans:
Variable interest rate loan due September 2026 (.41% in 2021 and .43% in 2020,
  principal amount ¥5.0 billion)
44 48 
Variable interest rate loan due September 2029 (.56% in 2021 and .58% in 2020,
  principal amount ¥25.0 billion)
222 240 
Finance lease obligations payable through 202713 11 
Operating lease obligations payable through 2049116 143 
Total notes payable and lease obligations$8,066 $7,899 
Amounts in the table above are reported net of debt issuance costs and issuance premiums or discounts, if applicable, that are being amortized over the life of the notes.

In April 2021, the Parent Company issued five series of senior notes totaling ¥82.0 billion through a public debt offering under its then existing U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled ¥30.0 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .633% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in April 2031. The second series, which totaled ¥12.0 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .844% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in April 2033. The third series, which totaled ¥10.0 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.039% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in April 2036. The fourth series, which totaled ¥10.0 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.264% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in April 2041. The fifth series, which totaled ¥20.0 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.560% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in April 2051. The notes are redeemable at the Parent Company’s option (i) at any time, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance or (ii) on or after the date that is six months prior to the
58




stated maturity date of the series, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the aggregate principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be redeemed to, but excluding, the date of redemption.
In May 2021, the Parent Company used a portion of the net proceeds from the April 2021 issuance of its various series of senior notes to redeem $700 million of the Parent Company's 3.625% senior notes due June 2023.

In March 2021, the Parent Company issued $400 million of senior sustainability notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 1.125% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in March 2026. The Company intends, but is not contractually committed, to allocate an amount at least equivalent to the net proceeds from this issuance exclusively to existing or future investments in, or financing of, assets, businesses or projects that meet the eligibility criteria of the Company's sustainability bond framework described in the offering documentation in connection with such notes. These notes are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (ii) the amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments for principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed, not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of such redemption date, discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis at the yield to maturity for a U.S. Treasury security with a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes, plus 10 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such redemption date.
59




A summary of the Company's lines of credit as of September 30, 2021 follows:
Borrower(s)TypeTermExpiration DateCapacityAmount OutstandingInterest Rate on Borrowed AmountMaturity PeriodCommitment FeeBusiness Purpose
Aflac Incorporated
and Aflac
uncommitted bilateral364 daysDecember 17, 2021
$100 million
$0 million
The rate quoted by the bank and agreed upon at the time of borrowing
Up to 3 months
NoneGeneral corporate purposes
Aflac Incorporatedunsecured revolving5 years
March 29,
2024, or the date commitments are terminated pursuant to an event of default
¥100.0 billion
¥0.0 billion
A rate per annum equal to (a) Tokyo interbank market rate (TIBOR) plus, the alternative applicable TIBOR margin during the availability period from the closing date to the commitment termination date or (b) the TIBOR rate offered by the agent to major banks in yen for the applicable period plus, the applicable alternative TIBOR margin during the term out periodNo later than
March 29, 2024
.30% to .50%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination
General corporate purposes, including a capital contingency plan for the operations of the Parent Company
Aflac Incorporated
and Aflac
unsecured revolving5 yearsNovember 18, 2024, or the date commitments are terminated pursuant to an event of default
$1.0 billion
$0.0 billion
A rate per annum equal to, at the Company's option, either, (a) London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) for U.S. dollar denominated borrowings or TIBOR for Japanese yen denominated borrowings, in either case adjusted for certain costs, or (b) a base rate determined by reference to the highest of (1) the federal funds rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (2) the rate of interest for such day announced by Mizuho Bank, Ltd. as its prime rate, or (3) the eurocurrency rate for an interest period of one month plus 1.00%, in each case plus an applicable marginNo later than November 18, 2024
.085% to
.225%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination
General corporate purposes, including a capital contingency plan for the operations of the Parent Company
Aflac Incorporated
and Aflac
uncommitted bilateralNone specifiedNone specified
$50 million
$0 million
A rate per annum equal to, at the Company's option, either (a) a rate determined by reference to LIBOR for the interest period relevant to such borrowing or (b) the base rate determined by reference to the highest of (a) the lender's U.S. dollar short-term commercial loan rate, (b) the federal funds rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (c) one-month LIBOR plus 1%. LIBOR is subject to replacement with Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) under certain circumstances
Up to 3 months
NoneGeneral corporate purposes
Aflac(1)
uncommitted revolving364 daysNovember 30, 2021
$250 million
$0 million
USD three-month LIBOR plus 75 basis points per annum3 monthsNoneGeneral corporate purposes
Aflac Incorporated(1)
uncommitted revolving364 daysApril 4, 2022
¥50.0 billion
¥0.0 billion
Three-month TIBOR plus 70 basis points per annum3 monthsNoneGeneral corporate purposes
Aflac Incorporated(1)
uncommitted revolving364 daysNovember 26, 2021
¥50.0 billion
¥0.0 billion
Three-month TIBOR plus 70 basis points per annum3 monthsNoneGeneral corporate purposes
Aflac New York(1)
uncommitted revolving364 daysApril 8, 2022
$25 million
$0 million
USD three-month LIBOR plus 75 basis points per annum3 monthsNoneGeneral corporate purposes
CAIC(1)
uncommitted revolving364 daysMarch 21, 2022
$15 million
$0 million
USD three-month LIBOR plus 75 basis points per annum3 monthsNoneGeneral corporate purposes
(1) Intercompany credit agreement
(continued)
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Borrower(s)TypeTermExpiration DateCapacityAmount OutstandingInterest Rate on Borrowed AmountMaturity PeriodCommitment FeeBusiness Purpose
Tier One Insurance Company(1)
uncommitted revolving364 daysMarch 21, 2022
$0.3 million
$0 million
USD three-month LIBOR plus 75 basis points per annum3 monthsNoneGeneral corporate purposes
AGV Management Services Japan K.K.(1)
uncommitted revolving364 daysMay 2, 2022
¥500 million
¥350 million
A rate per annum equal to the short-term prime lending rates of banks appearing on the website for the Bank of Japan on the first day of the applicable periodNo later than
May 2, 2022
NoneGeneral corporate purposes
Hatch Healthcare K.K.(1)
uncommitted revolving364 daysJanuary 3, 2022
¥900 million
¥0 million
A rate per annum equal to the short-term prime lending rates of banks appearing on the website for the Bank of Japan on the first day of the applicable periodNo later than January 3, 2022NoneGeneral corporate purposes
Hatch Insight K.K.(1)
uncommitted revolving364 daysJanuary 3, 2022
¥600 million
¥0 million
A rate per annum equal to the short-term prime lending rates of banks appearing on the website for the Bank of Japan on the first day of the applicable periodNo later than January 3, 2022NoneGeneral corporate purposes
Aflac GI Holdings LLC(1)
uncommitted revolving364 daysJuly 18, 2022
$30 million
$0 million
USD three-month LIBOR plus 75 basis points per annumNo later than July 18, 2022NoneGeneral corporate purposes
(1) Intercompany credit agreement

The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at September 30, 2021. No events of default or defaults occurred during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021.

For additional information, see Notes 4 and 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Report.
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9.    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The following table is a reconciliation of the number of shares of the Company's common stock for the nine-month periods ended September 30.
(In thousands of shares)20212020
Common stock - issued:
Balance, beginning of period1,351,018 1,349,309 
Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted shares1,544 1,546 
Balance, end of period1,352,562 1,350,855 
Treasury stock:
Balance, beginning of period658,564 622,516 
Purchases of treasury stock:
Share repurchase program32,186 26,108 
Other419 541 
Dispositions of treasury stock:
Shares issued to AFL Stock Plan(967)(1,584)
Exercise of stock options(240)(49)
Other(217)(251)
Balance, end of period689,745 647,281 
Shares outstanding, end of period662,817 703,574 

Outstanding share-based awards are excluded from the calculation of weighted-average shares used in the computation of basic earnings per share (EPS). The following table presents the approximate number of share-based awards to purchase shares, on a weighted-average basis, that were considered to be anti-dilutive and were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the following periods.
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands)2021202020212020
Anti-dilutive share-based awards0 592 1 857 

Share Repurchase Program

During the first nine months of 2021, the Company repurchased 32.2 million shares of its common stock for $1.7 billion as part of its share repurchase program. During the first nine months of 2020, the Company repurchased 26.1 million shares of its common stock for $1.0 billion as part of its share repurchase program. As of September 30, 2021, a remaining balance of 67.0 million shares of the Company's common stock was available for purchase under share repurchase authorizations by its board of directors.

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Reclassifications from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The tables below are reconciliations of accumulated other comprehensive income by component for the following periods.

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Three Months Ended
September 30, 2021
(In millions)Unrealized Foreign
Currency Translation
Gains (Losses)
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Fixed Maturity Securities
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Derivatives
Pension
Liability
Adjustment
Total
Balance at June 30, 2021$(1,661)$9,992 $(33)$(279)$8,019 
Other comprehensive
   income (loss) before
   reclassification
(99)(251)0 (5)(355)
Amounts reclassified from
   accumulated other
   comprehensive income
  (loss)
0 (10)2 6 (2)
Net current-period other
   comprehensive
   income (loss)
(99)(261)2 1 (357)
Balance at September 30, 2021$(1,760)$9,731 $(31)$(278)$7,662 
All amounts in the table above are net of tax.

Three Months Ended
September 30, 2020
(In millions)Unrealized Foreign
Currency Translation
Gains (Losses)
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Fixed Maturity Securities
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Derivatives
Pension Liability AdjustmentTotal
Balance at June 30, 2020$(1,469)$8,532 $(36)$(277)$6,750 
Other comprehensive
   income (loss) before
   reclassification
179 995 (5)1,170 
Amounts reclassified from
   accumulated other
   comprehensive income
  (loss)
(7)(3)
Net current-period other
   comprehensive
   income (loss)
179 988 (1)1,167 
Balance at September 30, 2020$(1,290)$9,520 $(35)$(278)$7,917 
All amounts in the table above are net of tax.
63




Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2021
(In millions)Unrealized Foreign
Currency Translation
Gains (Losses)
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Fixed Maturity Securities
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Derivatives
Pension
Liability
Adjustment
Total
Balance at December 31, 2020$(1,109)$10,361 $(34)$(284)$8,934 
Other comprehensive
   income (loss) before
   reclassification
(651)(632)0 (15)(1,298)
Amounts reclassified from
   accumulated other
   comprehensive income
  (loss)
0 2 3 21 26 
Net current-period other
   comprehensive
   income (loss)
(651)(630)3 6 (1,272)
Balance at September 30, 2021$(1,760)$9,731 $(31)$(278)$7,662 
All amounts in the table above are net of tax.

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2020
(In millions)Unrealized Foreign
Currency Translation
Gains (Losses)
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Fixed Maturity Securities
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Derivatives
Pension Liability AdjustmentTotal
Balance at December 31, 2019$(1,623)$8,548 $(33)$(277)$6,615 
Cumulative effect of change
   in accounting principle -
   ASU 2019-04
848 848 
Balance at January 1, 2020$(1,623)$9,396 $(33)$(277)$7,463 
Other comprehensive
   income (loss) before
   reclassification
333 20 (2)(18)333 
Amounts reclassified from
   accumulated other
   comprehensive income
  (loss)
104 17 121 
Net current-period other
   comprehensive
   income (loss)
333 124 (2)(1)454 
Balance at September 30, 2020$(1,290)$9,520 $(35)$(278)$7,917 
All amounts in the table above are net of tax.

The tables below summarize the amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income into net earnings for the following periods.

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Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

(In millions)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2021
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ComponentsAmount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive IncomeAffected Line Item in the
Statements of Earnings
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale
   securities
$13 Net investment gains (losses)
(3)
Tax (expense) or benefit(1)
$10 Net of tax
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives$(2)Net investment gains (losses)
0 
Tax (expense) or benefit(1)
$(2)Net of tax
Amortization of defined benefit pension items:
       Actuarial gains (losses)$(8)
Acquisition and operating expenses(2)
       Prior service (cost) credit0 
Acquisition and operating expenses(2)
2 
Tax (expense) or benefit(1)
$(6)Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period$2 Net of tax
(1) Based on 21% tax rate
(2) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 11 for additional details).

(In millions)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2020
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ComponentsAmount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive IncomeAffected Line Item in the
Statements of Earnings
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale
   securities
$13 Net investment gains (losses)
(6)
Tax (expense) or benefit(1)
$Net of tax
Amortization of defined benefit pension items:
       Actuarial gains (losses)$(7)
Acquisition and operating expenses(2)
       Prior service (cost) credit
Acquisition and operating expenses(2)
Tax (expense) or benefit(1)
$(4)Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period$Net of tax
(1) Based on 21% tax rate, with a cumulative adjustment to the first six months of 2020 due to the effects of Final and Proposed Regulations released on September 29, 2020 by the U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service and addressing, among other items, the allocation of insurance expenses in the calculation of the foreign tax credit limitation. See Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company's 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(2) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 11 for additional details).

65




(In millions)Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2021
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ComponentsAmount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive IncomeAffected Line Item in the
Statements of Earnings
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale
   securities
$(2)Net investment gains (losses)
0 
Tax (expense) or benefit(1)
$(2)Net of tax
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives$(4)Net investment gains (losses)
1 
Tax (expense) or benefit(1)
$(3)Net of tax
Amortization of defined benefit pension items:
       Actuarial gains (losses)$(27)
Acquisition and operating expenses(2)
Prior service (cost) credit0 
Acquisition and operating expenses(2)
6 
Tax (expense) or benefit(1)
$(21)Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period$(26)Net of tax
(1) Based on 21% tax rate
(2) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 11 for additional details).

(In millions)Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2020
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ComponentsAmount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive IncomeAffected Line Item in the
Statements of Earnings
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale
   securities
$(132)Net investment gains (losses)
28 
Tax (expense) or benefit(1)
$(104)Net of tax
Amortization of defined benefit pension items:
       Actuarial gains (losses)$(22)
Acquisition and operating expenses(2)
Prior service (cost) credit
Acquisition and operating expenses(2)
Tax (expense) or benefit(1)
$(17)Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period$(121)Net of tax
(1) Based on 21% tax rate
(2) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 11 for additional details).

10.    SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

As of September 30, 2021, the Company has outstanding share-based awards under the Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan). Share-based awards are designed to reward employees for their long-term contributions to the Company and provide incentives for them to remain with the Company. The number and frequency of share-based awards are based on competitive practices, operating results of the Company, government regulations, and other factors.

The Plan, as amended on February 14, 2017, allows for a maximum number of shares issuable over its term of 75 million shares including 38 million shares that may be awarded in respect of awards other than options or stock appreciation rights. If any awards granted under the Plan are forfeited or are terminated before being exercised or settled for any reason other than tax forfeiture, then the shares underlying the awards will again be available under the Plan.

66




The Plan allows awards to Company employees for incentive stock options (ISOs), non-qualifying stock options (NQSOs), restricted stock, restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights. Non-employee directors are eligible for grants of NQSOs, restricted stock, and stock appreciation rights. As of September 30, 2021, approximately 36.7 million shares were available for future grants under this plan. The ISOs and NQSOs have a term of 10 years, and the share-based awards generally vest upon time-based conditions or time and performance-based conditions. Time-based vesting generally occurs after three years. Performance-based vesting conditions generally include the attainment of goals related to Company financial performance. As of September 30, 2021, the only performance-based awards issued and outstanding were restricted stock awards and units.

Stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the amended Plan have an exercise price of at least the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date and have an expiration date no later than 10 years from the grant date. Time-based restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and stock options granted after January 1, 2017 generally vest on a ratable basis over three years, and awards granted prior to the amendment vest on a three years cliff basis. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has the discretion to determine vesting schedules.

Share-based awards granted to U.S.-based grantees are settled with authorized but unissued Company stock, while those issued to Japan-based grantees are settled with treasury shares.

The following table provides information on stock options outstanding and exercisable at September 30, 2021.
Stock
Option Shares
(in thousands)
Weighted-Average
Remaining Term
(in years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in millions)
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price Per
Share
Outstanding2,317 3.6$49 $30.87 
Exercisable2,317 3.649 30.87 

The Company received cash from the exercise of stock options in the amount of $20 million during the first nine months of 2021, compared with $9 million in the first nine months of 2020. The tax benefit realized as a result of stock option exercises and restricted stock releases was $16 million in the first nine months of 2021, compared with $19 million in the first nine months of 2020.

As of September 30, 2021, total compensation cost not yet recognized in the Company's consolidated financial statements related to restricted stock awards and units was $45 million, of which $19 million (1.7 million shares) was related to restricted stock awards and units with a performance-based vesting condition. The Company expects to recognize these amounts over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.7 years. There are no other contractual terms covering restricted stock awards once vested.

The following table summarizes restricted stock activity during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021.
(In thousands of shares)SharesWeighted-Average
Grant-Date Fair Value
Per Share
Restricted stock at December 31, 20202,580 $48.57 
Granted in 20211,454 47.70 
Canceled in 2021(102)48.89 
Vested in 2021(1,317)45.91 
Restricted stock at September 30, 20212,615 $49.20 

In February 2021, the Company granted 474 thousand performance-based stock awards, which are contingent on the achievement of the Company's financial performance metrics and its market-based conditions. On the date of grant, the Company estimated the fair value of restricted stock awards with market-based conditions using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The model discounts the value of the stock at the assumed vesting date based on the risk-free interest rate. Based on estimates of actual performance versus the vesting thresholds, the calculated fair value percentage pay-out estimate will be updated each quarter.

The Company uses third-party analyses to assist in developing the assumptions used in, as well as calibrating, a Monte Carlo simulation model. The Company is responsible for determining the assumptions used in estimating the fair value of its share-based payment awards.
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For additional information on the Company's long-term share-based compensation plans and the types of share-based awards, see Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2020 Annual Report.

11.    BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has funded defined benefit plans in Japan and the U.S., however the U.S. plan was frozen to new participants effective October 1, 2013. The Company also maintains non-qualified, unfunded supplemental retirement plans that provide defined pension benefits in excess of limits imposed by federal tax law for certain Japanese, U.S. and former employees, however the U.S. plan was frozen to new participants effective January 1, 2015. U.S. employees who are not participants in the defined benefit plan receive a nonelective 401(k) employer contribution. Effective January 1, 2021, the Company increased this nonelective contribution to 4% of an employee's annual cash compensation.

The Company provides certain health care benefits for eligible U.S. retired employees, their beneficiaries and covered dependents (other postretirement benefits). The health care plan is contributory and unfunded. Effective January 1, 2014, employees eligible for benefits included the following: (1) active employees whose age plus service, in years, equaled or exceeded 80 (rule of 80); (2) active employees who were age 55 or older and have met the 15 years of service requirement; (3) active employees who would meet the rule of 80 in the next 5 years; (4) active employees who were age 55 or older and who would meet the 15 years of service requirement within the next 5 years; and (5) current retirees. For certain employees and former employees, additional coverage is provided for all medical expenses for life.

Pension and other postretirement benefit expenses are included in acquisition and operating expenses in the consolidated statement of earnings, which includes other components of net periodic pension cost and postretirement costs (other than service costs) $4 million and $6 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively and $18 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. Total net periodic cost includes the following components:

 Three Months Ended September 30,
Pension BenefitsOther
JapanU.S.Postretirement Benefits
(In millions)202120202021202020212020
Components of net periodic
  benefit cost:
Service cost$6 $$7 $$0 $
Interest cost1 8 0 
Expected return on plan assets(2)(2)(11)(9)0 
Amortization of net actuarial loss1 7 0 
Net periodic (benefit) cost$6 $$11 $13 $0 $
Nine Months Ended September 30,
Pension BenefitsOther
JapanU.S.Postretirement Benefits
(In millions)202120202021202020212020
Components of net periodic
  benefit cost:
Service cost$18 $18 $21 $21 $0 $
Interest cost3 24 25 1 
Expected return on plan assets(6)(6)(31)(27)0 
Amortization of net actuarial loss2 23 18 2 
Net periodic (benefit) cost$17 $18 $37 $37 $3 $

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, Aflac Japan contributed approximately $29 million (using the weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021) to the Japanese funded defined benefit plan, and Aflac U.S. did not make a contribution to the U.S. funded defined benefit plan.

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For additional information regarding the Company's Japanese and U.S. benefit plans, see Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Report.

12.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Effective for 2021, the Company entered into an outsourcing agreement with a technology and consulting company to provide mainframe computer operations for Aflac Japan. As of September 30, 2021, the agreement has a remaining term of four years and an aggregate remaining cost of ¥29.3 billion ($262 million using the September 30, 2021 exchange rate).

Effective for 2021, the Company entered into an outsourcing agreement with a management consulting and technology services company to provide application maintenance and development services for Aflac Japan. As of September 30, 2021, the agreement has a remaining term of six years and an aggregate remaining cost of ¥16.9 billion ($151 million using the September 30, 2021 exchange rate).

Effective for 2021, the Company entered into an enterprise agreement with an information technology and data services company to license software for Aflac Japan. As of September 30, 2021, the agreement has a remaining term of three years and an aggregate remaining cost of ¥1.8 billion ($16 million using the September 30, 2021 exchange rate).

The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. Members of the Company's senior legal and financial management teams review litigation on a quarterly and annual basis. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, the Company believes the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for details on certain investment commitments.

Guaranty Fund Assessments

The U.S. insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that is monitored and regulated by state insurance departments. These life and health insurance guaranty associations are state entities (in all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia) created to protect policyholders of an insolvent insurance company. All insurance companies (with limited exceptions) licensed to sell life or health insurance in a state must be members of that state’s guaranty association. Under state guaranty association laws, certain insurance companies can be assessed (up to prescribed limits) for certain obligations to the policyholders and claimants of impaired or insolvent insurance companies that write the same line or similar lines of business.

In 2009, the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner placed long-term care insurer Penn Treaty Network America Insurance Company and its subsidiary American Network Insurance Company (collectively referred to as Penn Treaty), neither of which is affiliated with Aflac, in rehabilitation and petitioned a state court for approval to liquidate Penn Treaty. A final order of liquidation was granted by a recognized judicial authority on March 1, 2017, and as a result, Penn Treaty is in the process of liquidation. The Company estimated and recognized the impact of its share of guaranty fund assessments resulting from the liquidation using a discounted rate of 4.25%. The Company recognized a discounted liability for the assessments of $62 million (undiscounted $94 million), offset by discounted premium tax credits of $48 million (undiscounted $74 million), for a net $14 million impact to net income in the quarter ended March 31, 2017. The Company paid a majority of these assessments by September 30, 2021. The Company used the cost estimate provided as of the liquidation date by the National Organization of Life and Health Guaranty Associations (NOLHGA) to calculate its estimated assessments and tax credits.

Guaranty fund assessments for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were immaterial.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A)

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor to encourage companies to provide prospective information, so long as those informational statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) and its subsidiaries (collectively with the Parent Company, the Company) desire to take advantage of these provisions. This report contains cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected herein, and in any other statements made by Company officials in communications with the financial community and contained in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information and relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. Furthermore, forward-looking information is subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. In particular, statements containing words such as the ones listed below or similar words, as well as specific projections of future results, generally qualify as forward-looking. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements.
• expect• anticipate• believe• goal• objective
• may• should• estimate• intends• projects
• will• assumes• potential• target• outlook

The Company cautions readers that the following factors, in addition to other factors mentioned from time to time, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements:

difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy, including those caused by COVID-19
defaults and credit downgrades of investments
exposure to significant interest rate risk
concentration of business in Japan
limited availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments
foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate
differing judgments applied to investment valuations
significant valuation judgments in determination of expected credit losses recorded on the Company's investments
decreases in the Company's financial strength or debt ratings
decline in creditworthiness of other financial institutions
concentration of the Company's investments in any particular single-issuer or sector
the effects of COVID-19 and its variants (both known and emerging), and any resulting economic effects and government interventions, on the Company's business and financial results
ability to attract and retain qualified sales associates, brokers, employees, and distribution partners
deviations in actual experience from pricing and reserving assumptions
ability to continue to develop and implement improvements in information technology systems
interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems
subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company
inherent limitations to risk management policies and procedures
the level of sales of Aflac Japan products in the Japan Post channel
tax rates applicable to the Company may change
failure to comply with restrictions on policyholder privacy and information security
extensive regulation and changes in law or regulation by governmental authorities
competitive environment and ability to anticipate and respond to market trends
catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, as a result of climate change, epidemics, pandemics (such as the coronavirus COVID-19), tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, war or other military action, terrorism or other acts of violence, and damage incidental to such events
ability to protect the Aflac brand and the Company's reputation
ability to effectively manage key executive succession
changes in accounting standards
level and outcome of litigation
allegations or determinations of worker misclassification in the United States
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MD&A OVERVIEW
MD&A is intended to inform the reader about matters affecting the financial condition and results of operations of Aflac Incorporated and its subsidiaries for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. As a result, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes that are included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (2020 Annual Report). In this MD&A, amounts may not foot due to rounding. For additional information on the Company’s performance measures included in this MD&A, see the Glossary of Selected Terms found directly following Part II. Other Information. 
This MD&A is divided into the following sections:
Page

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Company Overview

Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) provide financial protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. The Company’s principal business is supplemental health and life insurance products with the goal to provide customers the best value in supplemental insurance products in the United States (U.S.) and Japan. The Company's insurance business consists of two reporting segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. The Parent Company’s primary insurance subsidiaries are Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. in Japan (Aflac Japan) and American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac); Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC), branded as Aflac Group Insurance (AGI); American Family Life Assurance Company of New York (Aflac New York); Tier One Insurance Company (TOIC) and Argus Dental & Vision, Inc. (Argus), which provides a platform for Aflac Dental and Vision in the U.S. (collectively, Aflac U.S.).

COVID-19

The impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the Company continues to evolve, and its future effects remain uncertain. At the onset of the pandemic in 2020, the majority of the Company’s employees in Japan and the U.S. shifted to remote working environments, with returns to office undertaken as warranted by local conditions. Both Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. have taken measures to address employee health and safety and increase employees’ ability to develop and maintain more flexible working conditions, and operations remained stable throughout the first nine months of 2021. The Company also took prompt action at the beginning of the pandemic to strengthen its capital and liquidity position, and continues to monitor its investment portfolios to adjust to market conditions, including the continuing recovery and inflation expectations. Both Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. have accelerated investments in digital initiatives to improve productivity, efficiency and customer service over the long term.

In the three-month period ended September 30, 2021, sales for Aflac Japan, in yen terms, were essentially flat, compared to the same period in 2020. Aflac Japan sales in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 increased 10.3%, compared to the same period in 2020, reflecting the launch of a new medical product in January 2021 and favorable comparisons due to pandemic conditions in 2020. In the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, sales for Aflac U.S. increased 35.0% and 15.5%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2020, reflecting increased sales activity as a result of the ongoing economic reopening in the U.S. and favorable comparisons due to pandemic conditions in 2020.

Pandemic-related claims and associated reserve increases in both Japan and the U.S. have not materially impacted financial results in the first nine months of 2021 and were more than offset by a reduction in claims related to non-COVID-19 medical needs. The pandemic’s impact on economic conditions have contributed to sales declines, pressuring premium growth rates. This has been partially offset by lower lapse rates in the U.S. The Company has not experienced material realized losses or impairments and credit losses associated with the pandemic. The Company continues to monitor the effects and risks of COVID-19, including its variants, to assess its impact on economic conditions in Japan and the U.S. and on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and capital position. Those impacts may cause changes to estimates of future earnings, capital deployment, regulatory capital position, segment dividend payout ratios and other measures the Company provided under 2021 Outlook in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the 2020 Annual Report.

The Company’s efforts and other developments are outlined below.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company entered the crisis in a strong capital and liquidity position, having maintained capital ratios in Japan and the U.S. at a level designed to absorb a degree of market volatility. The Company has the ability to adjust cash flow management from other sources of liquidity including reinvestment cash flows and selling investments.

The Company remains committed to prudent liquidity and capital management. In terms of repurchases, the Company remains in the market and is being tactical in its approach to repurchasing its stock. The Company believes that this approach will allow it to increase or decrease repurchase activity depending on how the pandemic and market conditions evolve.

The Company is committed to maintaining a strong Aflac Japan solvency margin ratio (SMR) and Aflac U.S. risk-based capital (RBC) ratios.
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The Company regularly evaluates adjustments to its foreign currency-hedging program in Aflac Japan to mitigate hedging cost and settlement risk while maintaining a strong SMR, including changes in the level of hedging employed with the U.S dollar-denominated investments. See the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of this MD&A for additional information regarding other potential sources of liquidity and capital resources.

Investment Portfolio
    
The Company's investment portfolio was well-positioned entering the crisis, and the Company continues to follow its strategy of investing primarily in fixed maturity securities to generate a reliable stream of income. Fundamental credit analysis and de-risking activity in prior periods contributed to the current quality of the Company’s investments. Economic and market conditions have continued to improve throughout most of 2021. The continued path of the recovery remains uncertain given the potential longer term impacts of the pandemic. This includes structural changes in employment patterns which are impacting multiple sectors of the economy and contributing to disruptions in the global supply chain, triggering price increases across several areas of the broader economy. Supply shortages, upward pressure on wages to attract employees and higher commodity prices have all driven near-term increases in inflation. It remains unclear whether the current elevated levels of inflation are transitory or more lasting, making the ultimate impact on the global economy and markets uncertain, with resulting uncertainty as to the impact on the Company's investments.

Crisis Management

The Company established command centers in Japan and the U.S. to monitor and communicate pandemic developments to the Company's leadership. The command centers participate in regular updates to the Company's leadership, including government and regulatory actions, operations, employee policies and conditions and distribution status. In addition, updates on cybersecurity are provided, including with respect to the Company's remote workforce. Moreover, the Company's financial leadership group has been meeting more frequently since the onset of the pandemic and has focused on the capital markets, capital and liquidity position, stress testing and any defensive actions that may be necessary.

Aflac Japan initiatives

Aflac Japan has maintained certain measures implemented at the onset of the pandemic, such as restrictions on travel, working from home, staggered work hours and limitations on the number of personnel attending in-person meetings. As of September 30, 2021, Aflac Japan had approximately 57% of its workforce working remotely. Aflac Japan continues to evaluate return to the office measures; however, throughout the pandemic, Aflac Japan has evaluated its operational capabilities and anticipates that the remote configuration could remain for an indefinite period of time without materially impacting operations.

In June 2021, in response to the Government of Japan's initiative to accelerate vaccinations, Aflac Japan began offering workplace vaccinations to employees, temporary workers and contractors, including employee co-resident spouses, children and relatives who wish to be vaccinated. Aflac Japan also introduced a special paid leave system for employees who wish to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

Aflac Japan remains focused on generating new business to existing and prospective customers through direct mail and digital methods. Aflac Japan has also accelerated investments in digital and paperless initiatives designed to increase long term productivity, efficiency, customer service and business continuity.

Aflac U.S. and Corporate and Other initiatives

The Parent Company and Aflac U.S. continue to maintain certain employee and worksite safety measures that were first implemented at the onset of the pandemic, as well as protocols to limit in-person meetings applicable to U.S. employees. As of September 30, 2021, over 80% of U.S. employees were working remotely. The Company's return to worksite for U.S. based employees is expected to be a phased approach that begins in the first quarter of 2022, subject to factors including vaccination rates, the return schedule of school systems and the availability of child care, the number of COVID–19 cases and the COVID–19 replication rate, the emergence of new variants and hospital capacity in areas of the U.S. where the Company has significant operations. For those employees who are working in one of the Company's worksites, safety protocols have been put in place that align with or exceed those recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). After the return to worksite, the Parent Company and Aflac U.S. expect to adopt a workforce model comprised of a mix of full time
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office employees, full time remote employees, and employees who will split their time between office and remote work.

The Parent Company and Aflac U.S. also continue to maintain several actions taken for its employees. These include a commitment to cover the costs of COVID-19 testing and extended paid leave in certain circumstances.

Aflac U.S. policy sales, enrollment and agent recruiting functions are highly dependent upon face-to-face interaction between independent agents and brokers with prospective and new customers and agents. Throughout the pandemic, opportunities for such interaction have been significantly reduced by reactions to the pandemic, such as social distancing, shelter in place orders and work from home initiatives. Notwithstanding the general improvement of economic conditions to date in 2021, the impact of pandemic conditions on Aflac U.S. sales remains subject to uncertainty as the effects of varying levels of vaccination and the emergence of COVID-19 variants continue to develop. Aflac U.S. has accelerated investments in digital initiatives designed to improve long term productivity, efficiency and customer service. Further, Aflac U.S. is in its third year of the build-out of the Consumer Markets business for the digital direct-to-consumer sale of insurance and sales made through that platform have continued to grow.

Major government initiatives

Government authorities in Japan and the U.S. have implemented several initiatives in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including actions designed to mitigate the adverse health effects of the virus and those designed to provide broad-based relief and economic support to all aspects of the economy.

In January 2021, in response to the spread of COVID-19, the Government of Japan issued a state of emergency declaration covering 11 prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka. The declaration was lifted in stages in areas where improvements in infection rates and lower healthcare system utilization were observed, and it was lifted in all areas on March 21, 2021. On April 23, 2021, due to the continued spread of COVID-19, the Government of Japan issued a state of emergency declaration covering four prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka, from April 25, 2021 until May 11, 2021. This declaration was expanded to ten prefectures and extended until June 20, 2021, due to the emergence of COVID-19 variants and the continued increase in infections and impacts on the healthcare system. On June 20, 2021, the declaration was lifted in nine prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka, and extended only in Okinawa until July 11. On July 8, 2021, due to a rise in COVID-19 infections, the Government of Japan issued a new state of emergency declaration for Tokyo for the period from July 12, 2021 to August 22, 2021. The state of emergency declaration for Okinawa was also further extended to August 22, 2021. Subsequently, the Government of Japan further extended the state of emergency declaration to 19 prefectures, and extended the emergency declaration period until September 30, 2021. On September 30, 2021, the state of emergency declaration was fully lifted by the Government of Japan. In addition to the restrictions imposed by these emergency declarations, certain local governments continue to request a reduction of the onsite workforce and restraint from non-urgent traveling.

The Financial Services Agency (FSA) has requested that financial service providers in Japan respond appropriately while continuing their essential operations. This request includes insurance companies, which have been asked to continue essential operations such as benefits and claims payment, including policyholder loans. Moreover, following the expansion of the impact of COVID-19, the FSA requested insurance companies to consider flexible interpretation and application of insurance policy provisions and measures required for products from the standpoint of protecting policyholders. In accordance with the FSA’s request, Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. implemented a measure to pay accidental death benefits and accidental serious disability benefits under its accidental death benefit rider in cases of death or specified serious disabilities from COVID-19.

Throughout the pandemic, Aflac Japan has also followed the guidance of the FSA in terms of treating customers with care, ensuring ease and timeliness of claims payments and extended coverage for temporary medical facilities and telemedicine in certain circumstances, and waiver of interest on certain policyholder loans. In January 2021, the grace period on premium payments was extended to July 31, 2021 for the policyholders who live in areas under the state of emergency and in February 2021, the scope was expanded to all regions in Japan. Furthermore, in response to the state of emergency declaration in April 2021, in May 2021, in July 2021 and August 2021, the grace period on premium payments was extended to October, 31, 2021, November 30, 2021, January 31, 2022 and February 28, 2022, respectively. Aflac Japan will continue to provide flexibility for policyholders who live in areas under the state of emergency, including extending the payment grace period for a maximum of six months from the state of emergency declaration. Policyholders are required to file for relief through this extension.
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During 2021, in response to fluctuations in COVID-19 infection rates and the declaration of a state of emergency by the Government of Japan, Aflac Japan has responded to requests of the Government of Japan and local governments while also giving priority to customer service quality and business continuity.

In the U.S., initial statewide shelter in place or stay at home orders were lifted although restrictions such as social distancing, mask or vaccination requirements exist in some localities. A September 9, 2021 executive order and related September 24, 2021 guidance issued by the Biden Administration will require COVID-19 vaccination of certain federal contractor employees, except in certain limited circumstances, as well as masking and social distancing measures applicable to such employees and workplace visitors.The Company is reviewing the order and guidance to determine their potential impact on the Company's operations.

Throughout the pandemic, Aflac U.S. has taken steps to comply with COVID-19-related directives issued by state regulatory authorities, including those requiring or requesting premium grace periods. As of September 30, 2021, premium grace periods remained in effect in three states and Puerto Rico. Aflac U.S. experienced some increase in policy lapses in the first nine months of 2021 in certain states where premium grace periods expired. If the premium grace periods continue to expire throughout 2021, Aflac U.S. would expect an increase in lapse rates, and a decrease in corresponding persistency rates.

The U.S. government took action in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing broad-based relief and economic support to all aspects of the economy.

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 was signed into law in March 2021 and was designed to provide approximately $1.9 trillion in financial stimulus in the form of financial aid to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, states, and municipalities. Among other measures, the ARP Act provides funding for vaccines and testing; for states, tribal and local governments; and for small businesses. The ARP Act also expands eligibility for the Paycheck Protection Program created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act enacted in March 2020.

Performance Highlights

Total revenues were $5.2 billion in the third quarter of 2021, compared with $5.7 billion in the third quarter of 2020. Net earnings were $888 million, or $1.32 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2021, compared with $2.5 billion, or $3.44 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2020. Net earnings in the third quarter of 2020 reflects a $1.4 billion benefit primarily from the release of valuation allowances on deferred foreign tax credits, which were allowed due to U.S. tax regulations released in September 2020.

Total revenues were $16.7 billion in the first nine months of 2021, compared with $16.2 billion in the first nine months of 2020. Net earnings were $3.3 billion, or $4.82 per diluted share in the first nine months of 2021, compared with $3.8 billion, or $5.31 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2020. Net earnings in the first nine months of 2020 reflects a $1.4 billion benefit primarily from the release of valuation allowances on deferred foreign tax credits, which were allowed due to U.S. tax regulations released in September 2020.

Results in the third quarter of 2021 included pretax net investment losses of $171 million, compared with pretax net investment gains of $108 million in the third quarter of 2020. Net investment losses in the third quarter of 2021 included a decrease in credit loss allowances of $1 million; $39 million of net losses from certain derivative and foreign currency gains or losses; $119 million of net losses on equity securities; and $14 million of net losses from sales and redemptions.

Results in the first nine months of 2021 included pretax net investment gains of $224 million, compared with pretax net investment losses of $525 million in the first nine months of 2020. Net investment gains in the first nine months of 2021 included a decrease in credit loss allowances of $35 million; $226 million of net gains from certain derivative and foreign currency gains or losses; $17 million of net losses on equity securities; and $20 million of net losses from sales and redemptions.

The average yen/dollar exchange rate(1) for the three-month period ended September 30, 2021 was 110.11, or 3.5% weaker than the average yen/dollar exchange rate(1) of 106.23 for the same period in 2020. The average yen/dollar exchange rate(1) for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 was 108.58, or .9% weaker than the average yen/dollar exchange rate(1) of 107.63 for the same period in 2020.

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Adjusted earnings(2) in the third quarter of 2021 were $1.0 billion, or $1.53 per diluted share, compared with $994 million, or $1.39 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2020. The weaker yen/dollar exchange rate impacted adjusted earnings per diluted share by $.02. Adjusted earnings(2) in the first nine months of 2021 were $3.2 billion, or $4.65 per diluted share, compared with $2.8 billion, or $3.88 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2020. The weaker yen/dollar exchange rate impacted adjusted earnings per diluted share by $.01.

Total investments and cash at September 30, 2021 were $146.0 billion, compared with $146.1 billion at September 30, 2020. In the first nine months of 2021, Aflac Incorporated repurchased $1.7 billion, or 32.2 million of its common shares. At September 30, 2021, the Company had 67.0 million remaining shares authorized for repurchase.

Shareholders’ equity was $33.6 billion, or $50.62 per share, at September 30, 2021, compared with $32.5 billion, or $46.16 per share, at September 30, 2020. Shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2021 included a net unrealized gain on investment securities and derivatives of $9.7 billion, compared with a net unrealized gain of $9.5 billion at September 30, 2020. Shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2021 also included an unrealized foreign currency translation loss of $1.8 billion, compared with an unrealized foreign currency translation loss of $1.3 billion at September 30, 2020. The annualized return on average shareholders’ equity in the third quarter of 2021 was 10.6%.

Shareholders’ equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI)(2) (adjusted book value) was $25.9 billion, or $39.06 per share at September 30, 2021, compared with $24.6 billion, or $34.91 per share, at September 30, 2020. The annualized adjusted return on equity (ROE) excluding foreign currency impact(2) in the third quarter of 2021 was 16.2%.

(1) Yen/U.S. dollar exchange rates are based on the published MUFG Bank, Ltd. telegraphic transfer middle rate (TTM).
(2) See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for a definition of this non-U.S. GAAP financial measure.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The Company earns its revenues principally from insurance premiums and investments. The Company’s operating expenses primarily consist of insurance benefits provided and reserves established for anticipated future insurance benefits, general business expenses, commissions and other costs of selling and servicing its products. Profitability for the Company depends principally on its ability to price its insurance products at a level that enables the Company to earn a margin over the costs associated with providing benefits and administering those products. Profitability also depends on, among other items, actuarial and policyholder behavior experience on insurance products, and the Company's ability to attract and retain customer assets, generate and maintain favorable investment results, effectively deploy capital and utilize tax capacity, and manage expenses.

This document includes references to the Company’s financial performance measures which are not calculated in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) (non-U.S. GAAP). The financial measures exclude items that the Company believes may obscure the underlying fundamentals and trends in insurance operations because they tend to be driven by general economic conditions and events or related to infrequent activities not directly associated with insurance operations.

Due to the size of Aflac Japan, where the functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on reported results. In periods when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars results in fewer dollars being reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars results in more dollars being reported. Consequently, yen weakening has the effect of suppressing current period results in relation to the comparable prior period, while yen strengthening has the effect of magnifying current period results in relation to the comparable prior period. A significant portion of the Company’s business is conducted in yen and never converted into dollars but translated into dollars for U.S. GAAP reporting purposes, which results in foreign currency impact to earnings, cash flows and book value on a U.S. GAAP basis. Management evaluates the Company's financial performance both including and excluding the impact of foreign currency translation to monitor, respectively, cumulative currency impacts on book value and the currency-neutral operating performance over time. The average yen/dollar exchange rate is based on the published MUFG Bank, Ltd. telegraphic transfer middle rate (TTM).

The Company defines the non-U.S. GAAP financial measures included in this document as follows:

Adjusted earnings are adjusted revenues less benefits and adjusted expenses. Adjusted earnings per share (basic or diluted) are the adjusted earnings for the period divided by the weighted average outstanding shares (basic or diluted) for the period presented. The adjustments to both revenues and expenses account for certain items that cannot be predicted or that are outside management’s control. Adjusted revenues are U.S. GAAP total
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revenues excluding adjusted net investment gains and losses. Adjusted expenses are U.S. GAAP total acquisition and operating expenses including the impact of interest cash flows from derivatives associated with notes payable but excluding any nonrecurring or other items not associated with the normal course of the Company’s insurance operations and that do not reflect the Company's underlying business performance. Management uses adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share to evaluate the financial performance of the Company’s insurance operations on a consolidated basis and believes that a presentation of these financial measures is vitally important to an understanding of the underlying profitability drivers and trends of the Company’s insurance business. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures for adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share (basic or diluted) are net earnings and net earnings per share, respectively.

Adjusted net investment gains and losses are net investment gains and losses adjusted for i) amortized hedge cost/income related to foreign currency exposure management strategies and certain derivative activity, ii) net interest cash flows from foreign currency and interest rate derivatives associated with certain investment strategies, which are both reclassified to net investment income, and iii) the impact of interest cash flows from derivatives associated with notes payable, which is reclassified to interest expense as a component of total adjusted expenses. The Company considers adjusted net investment gains and losses important as it represents the remainder amount that is considered outside management’s control, while excluding the components that are within management’s control and are accordingly reclassified to net investment income and interest expense. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for adjusted net investment gains and losses is net investment gains and losses.

Amortized hedge costs/income represent costs/income incurred or recognized as a result of using foreign currency derivatives to hedge certain foreign exchange risks in the Company's Japan segment or in the Corporate and Other segment. These amortized hedge costs/ income are estimated at the inception of the derivatives based on the specific terms of each contract and are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the hedge. The Company believes that amortized hedge costs/income measure the periodic currency risk management costs/income related to hedging certain foreign currency exchange risks and are an important component of net investment income. There is no comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for amortized hedge costs/ income.

Adjusted earnings excluding current period foreign currency impact are computed using the average foreign currency exchange rate for the comparable prior-year period, which eliminates fluctuations driven solely by foreign currency exchange rate changes. Adjusted earnings per diluted share excluding current period foreign currency impact is adjusted earnings excluding current period foreign currency impact divided by the weighted average outstanding diluted shares for the period presented. The Company considers adjusted earnings excluding current period foreign currency impact and adjusted earnings per diluted share excluding current period foreign currency impact important because a significant portion of the Company's business is conducted in Japan and foreign exchange rates are outside management’s control; therefore, the Company believes it is important to understand the impact of translating foreign currency (primarily Japanese yen) into U.S. dollars. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures for adjusted earnings excluding current period foreign currency impact and adjusted earnings per diluted share excluding current period foreign currency impact are net earnings and net earnings per share, respectively.

Adjusted book value is the U.S. GAAP book value (representing total shareholders’ equity), less AOCI as recorded on the U.S. GAAP balance sheet. Adjusted book value per common share is adjusted book value at the period end divided by the ending outstanding common shares for the period presented. The Company considers adjusted book value and adjusted book value per common share important as they exclude AOCI, which fluctuates due to market movements that are outside management’s control. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures for adjusted book value and adjusted book value per common share are total book value and total book value per common share, respectively.

Adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currency impact is adjusted earnings excluding the current period foreign currency impact divided by average shareholders’ equity, excluding AOCI. The Company considers adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currency impact important as it excludes changes in foreign currency and components of AOCI, which fluctuate due to market movements that are outside management's control. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currency impact is ROE as determined using net earnings and average total shareholders’ equity.

U.S. dollar-denominated investment income excluding foreign currency impact represents amounts excluding foreign currency impact on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income using the average foreign currency exchange rate for the comparable prior year period. The Company considers U.S. dollar-denominated investment income excluding foreign currency impact important as it eliminates the impact of foreign currency
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changes on the Aflac Japan segment results, which are outside management’s control. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for U.S. dollar-denominated investment income excluding foreign currency impact is the corresponding net investment income amount from the U.S. dollar denominated investments translated to yen.

The following table is a reconciliation of items impacting adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures of net earnings and net earnings per diluted share, respectively.
Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted Earnings(1)
  
In MillionsPer Diluted ShareIn MillionsPer Diluted Share
 Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
20212020202120202021202020212020
Net earnings$888 $2,456 $1.32 $3.44 $3,286 $3,826 $4.82 $5.31 
Items impacting net earnings:
Adjusted net investment (gains) losses (2)
172 (117).26 (.16)(216)497 (.32).69 
Other and non-recurring (income) loss8 .01 .00 67 16 .10 .02 
Income tax (benefit) expense on items excluded from adjusted earnings(37)72 (.06).10 32 (125).05 (.17)
Tax valuation allowance
  release (3)
0 (1,418).00 (1.99)0 (1,418).00 (1.97)
Adjusted earnings1,031 994 1.53 1.39 3,169 2,797 4.65 3.88 
Current period foreign currency impact (4)
14 N/A.02 N/A8 N/A.01 N/A
Adjusted earnings excluding current period foreign currency impact$1,045 $994 $1.56 $1.39 $3,177 $2,797 $4.66 $3.88 
(1) Amounts may not foot due to rounding.
(2) See reconciliation of net investment (gains) losses to adjusted net investment (gains) losses below
(3) One-time tax benefit recognized in the third quarter of 2020 representing the release of valuation allowances on deferred foreign tax credits due to new tax regulations.
(4) Prior period foreign currency impact reflected as “N/A” to isolate change for current period only.

Reconciling Items

Net Investment Gains and Losses

Reconciliation of Net Investment (Gains) Losses to Adjusted Net Investment (Gains) Losses(1)
 Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In millions)2021202020212020
Net investment (gains) losses$171 $(108)$(224)$525 
Items impacting net investment (gains) losses:
Amortized hedge costs(20)(51)(55)(155)
Amortized hedge income13 22 45 78 
Net interest cash flows from derivatives associated
  with certain investment strategies
(6)(23)
Interest rate component of the change in fair value
  of foreign currency swaps on notes payable
14 13 41 43 
Adjusted net investment (gains) losses$172 $(117)$(216)$497 
(1) Amounts may not foot due to rounding.

The Company's investment strategy is to invest primarily in fixed maturity securities to provide a reliable stream of investment income, which is one of the drivers of the Company’s profitability. This investment strategy incorporates asset-liability matching (ALM) to align the expected cash flows of the portfolio to the needs of the Company's liability structure. The Company does not purchase securities with the intent of generating investment gains or losses. However, investment
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gains and losses may be realized as a result of changes in the financial markets and the creditworthiness of specific issuers, tax planning strategies, and/or general portfolio management and rebalancing. The realization of investment gains and losses is independent of the underwriting and administration of the Company's insurance products. Net investment gains and losses excluded from adjusted earnings include the following:

Securities Transactions
Credit Losses
Changes in the Fair Value of Equity Securities
Certain Derivative and Foreign Currency Activities.

Securities Transactions, Credit Losses and Changes in the Fair Value of Equity Securities

Securities transactions include gains and losses from sales and redemptions of investments where the amount received is different from the amortized cost of the investment. Credit losses include losses for held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale fixed maturity securities, loan receivables, loan commitments and reinsurance recoverables. Changes in the fair value of equity securities are the result of gains or losses driven by fluctuations in market prices.

Certain Derivative and Foreign Currency Activities

The Company's derivative activities include:

foreign currency forwards and options used in hedging foreign exchange risk on U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan's portfolio, with options used on a standalone basis and/or in a collar strategy

foreign currency forwards and options used to economically hedge certain portions of forecasted cash flows denominated in yen and hedge the Company's long term exposure to a weakening yen

cross-currency interest rate swaps, also referred to as foreign currency swaps, associated with certain senior notes and subordinated debentures

foreign currency swaps that are associated with VIE bond purchase commitments, and investments in special-purpose entities, including VIEs where the Company is the primary beneficiary

interest rate swaps used to economically hedge interest rate fluctuations in certain variable-rate investments

interest rate swaptions used to hedge changes in the fair value associated with interest rate fluctuations for certain U.S. dollar-denominated available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities

bond purchase commitments at the inception of investments in consolidated VIEs.

Gains and losses are recognized as a result of valuing these derivatives, net of the effects of hedge accounting. The Company also excludes from adjusted earnings the accounting impacts of remeasurement associated with changes in the foreign currency exchange rate.

For additional information regarding net investment gains and losses, including details of reported amounts for the periods presented, see Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Other and Non-recurring Items

The U.S. insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. The system can result in periodic charges to the Company as a result of insolvencies/bankruptcies that occur with other companies in the life insurance industry. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets. These charges neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance, but result from external situations not controlled by the Company. The Company excludes any charges associated with U.S. guaranty fund assessments and the corresponding tax benefit or expense from adjusted earnings.

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In Japan, the government also requires the insurance industry to contribute to a policyholder protection corporation that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers; however, these costs are calculated and administered differently than in the U.S. In Japan, these costs are not directly related to specific insolvencies or bankruptcies, but are rather a regular operational cost for an insurance company. Based on this structure, the Company does not remove the Japan policyholder protection expenses from adjusted earnings.

Other items excluded from adjusted earnings included integration costs related to the Company's acquisition of Zurich North America's U.S. Corporate Life and Pensions business; these costs primarily consist of expenditures for legal, accounting, consulting, integration of systems and processes and other similar services. These integration costs amounted to $8 million and $20 million for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, respectively.

The Company considers the costs associated with the early redemption of its debt to be unrelated to the underlying fundamentals and trends in its insurance operations. Additionally, these costs are driven by changes in interest rates subsequent to the issuance of the debt, and the Company considers these interest rate changes to represent economic conditions not directly associated with its insurance operations. In May 2021, the Parent Company used a portion of the net proceeds from its April 2021 issuance of various series of senior notes to redeem $700 million of the its 3.625% senior notes due June 2023. The pretax expense due to the early redemption of these notes was $48 million. In January 2020, the Parent Company used the net proceeds from senior notes issued in December 2019 to redeem $350 million of its 4.00% senior notes due February 2022. The pretax expense due to the early redemption of these notes was $15 million.

Income Taxes

The Company's combined U.S. and Japanese effective income tax rate on pretax earnings was 20.2% for the three-month period ended September 30, 2021, compared with (112.9)% for the same period in 2020. The Company's combined U.S. and Japanese effective income tax rate on pretax earnings was 19.7% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, compared with (30.0)% for the same period in 2020. In 2021, the combined effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to new tax regulations released in the third quarter of 2020 and historic and solar tax credits. In 2020, the combined effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to the release of certain valuation allowances established on the Company's deferred foreign tax credit benefits. The release of these valuation allowances was a result of the issuance of Final and Proposed Regulations issued by the U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service on September 29, 2020, and resulted in a one-time income tax benefit of $1.4 billion in the third quarter of 2020. For additional information, see Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Critical Accounting Estimates - Income Taxes section of the MD&A in the 2020 Annual Report.

The Company expects that its effective tax rate for future periods will be approximately 20%. The effective tax rate continues to be subject to future tax law changes both in the U.S. and in foreign jurisdictions. See risk factor entitled "Tax rates applicable to the Company may change" in the 2020 Annual Report for more information.

Foreign Currency Translation

Aflac Japan’s premiums and a significant portion of its investment income are received in yen, and its claims and most expenses are paid in yen. Aflac Japan purchases yen-denominated assets and U.S. dollar-denominated assets, which may be hedged to yen, to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. Yen-denominated income statement accounts are translated to U.S. dollars using a weighted average Japanese yen/U.S. dollar foreign exchange rate, except realized gains and losses on security transactions which are translated at the exchange rate on the trade date of each transaction. Yen-denominated balance sheet accounts are translated to U.S. dollars using a spot Japanese yen/U.S. dollar foreign exchange rate.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT

U.S. GAAP financial reporting requires that a company report financial and descriptive information about operating segments in its annual and interim period financial statements. Furthermore, the Company is required to report a measure of segment profit or loss, certain revenue and expense items, and segment assets. The Company's insurance business consists of two segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. Aflac Japan is the principal contributor to consolidated earnings. Businesses that are not individually reportable, such as the Parent Company, asset management subsidiaries and other business activities, including reinsurance retrocession activities, are included in the Corporate and other segment. See the Item 1. Business section of the 2020 Annual Report for a summary of each segment's products and distribution channels.
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Consistent with U.S. GAAP guidance for segment reporting, pretax adjusted earnings is the Company's U.S. GAAP measure of segment performance. The Company believes that a presentation of this measure is vitally important to an understanding of the underlying profitability drivers and trends of its business. Additional performance measures used to evaluate the financial condition and performance of the Company's segments are listed below.

Operating Ratios
New Annualized Premium Sales
New Money Yield
Return on Average Invested Assets
Average Weekly Producer

For additional information on the Company’s performance measures included in this MD&A, see the Glossary of Selected Terms found directly following Part II. Other Information. See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the reconciliation of segment results to the Company's consolidated U.S. GAAP results and additional information.
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AFLAC JAPAN SEGMENT
Aflac Japan Pretax Adjusted Earnings
Changes in Aflac Japan’s pretax adjusted earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac Japan.

Aflac Japan Summary of Operating Results
  
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In millions)2021202020212020
Net premium income$2,934 $3,168 $9,045 $9,476 
Net investment income: (1)
Yen-denominated investment income317 331 960 972 
U.S. dollar-denominated investment income465 383 1,355 1,122 
Net investment income783 714 2,315 2,094 
Amortized hedge costs related to certain foreign currency exposure
  management strategies
20 51 55 155 
Adjusted net investment income763 663 2,260 1,939 
Other income (loss)10 11 32 32 
Total adjusted revenues3,707 3,842 11,337 11,447 
Benefits and claims, net1,938 2,259 6,072 6,651 
Adjusted expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs154 151 496 479 
Insurance commissions175 185 541 553 
Insurance and other expenses462 500 1,360 1,323 
Total adjusted expenses792 835 2,397 2,355 
Total benefits and adjusted expenses2,731 3,094 8,469 9,006 
           Pretax adjusted earnings$976 $747 $2,867 $2,442 
Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate110.11 106.23 108.58 107.63 
In DollarsIn Yen
Percentage change over
 previous period:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
20212020202120202021202020212020
Net premium income(7.4)%(2.3)%(4.5)%(1.2)%(4.0)%(3.3)%(3.8)%(2.6)%
Adjusted net investment
   income
15.1 .6 16.6 3.2 19.7 (.2)17.9 1.9 
Total adjusted revenues(3.5)(1.8)(1.0)(.5).1 (2.8)(.1)(1.9)
Pretax adjusted earnings30.7 (10.9)17.4 (2.5)35.8 (11.6)18.7 (3.8)
(1) Net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $(7) and $6 for the three-month periods and $(24) and $5 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, have been reclassified from net investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income.
In the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, Aflac Japan's net premium income decreased, in yen terms, due to an anticipated decrease in first sector premiums as savings products reached premium paid-up status and constrained sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adjusted net investment income increased in the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, primarily due to higher alternative and floating rate income and lower hedge costs.
Annualized premiums in force decreased 4.6% to ¥1.38 trillion as of September 30, 2021, compared with ¥1.44 trillion as of September 30, 2020. The decrease in annualized premiums in force in yen was driven primarily by limited-pay products reaching paid up status and lower sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. Annualized premiums in force, translated into dollars at respective period-end exchange rates, were $12.3 billion at September 30, 2021, compared with $13.6 billion at September 30, 2020.

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Aflac Japan's investment portfolios include U.S. dollar-denominated securities and reverse-dual currency securities (yen-denominated debt securities with dollar coupon payments). In years when the yen strengthens in relation to the dollar, translating Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investment income into yen lowers growth rates for net investment income, total adjusted revenues, and pretax adjusted earnings in yen terms. In years when the yen weakens, translating U.S. dollar-denominated investment income into yen magnifies growth rates for net investment income, total adjusted revenues, and pretax adjusted earnings in yen terms.
The following table illustrates the effect of translating Aflac Japan’s U.S. dollar-denominated investment income and related items into yen by comparing certain segment results with those that would have been reported had foreign currency exchange rates remained unchanged from the comparable period in the prior year. Amounts excluding foreign currency impact on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income were determined using the average foreign currency exchange rate for the comparable prior year period. See non-U.S. GAAP financial measures defined above.
Aflac Japan Percentage Changes Over Previous Period
(Yen Operating Results)
For the Periods Ended September 30,
  
Including Foreign
Currency Changes
Excluding Foreign
Currency Changes
Three MonthsNine MonthsThree Months Nine Months
  
20212020202120202021202020212020
Adjusted net investment income19.7 %(.2)%17.9 %1.9 %17.2 %.4 %17.2 2.8 %
Total adjusted revenues.1 (2.8)(.1)(1.9)(.3)(2.7)(.2)(1.8)
Pretax adjusted earnings35.8 (11.6)18.7 (3.8)33.7 (11.1)18.2 (3.2)
The following table presents a summary of operating ratios in yen terms for Aflac Japan.
  
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Ratios to total adjusted revenues:2021202020212020
Benefits and claims, net52.3 %58.8 %53.5 %58.1 %
Adjusted expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs4.2 3.9 4.4 4.2 
Insurance commissions4.7 4.8 4.8 4.8 
Insurance and other expenses12.5 13.0 12.0 11.5 
Total adjusted expenses21.4 21.7 21.2 20.6 
Pretax adjusted earnings26.3 19.4 25.3 21.3 
Ratios to total premiums:
Benefits and claims, net66.1 %71.3 %67.1 %70.2 %
Adjusted expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs5.3 4.8 5.5 5.1 
In the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, the benefit ratio decreased, compared with the same periods in the prior year. This is primarily due to the continued change in mix of first and third sector business, favorable third sector claim experience, and higher surrenders in Aflac Japan's third sector business. In the three-month period ended September 30, 2021, the adjusted expense ratio decreased mainly due to a decrease in loss adjustment expenses, compared to the same period in the prior year. In the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, the adjusted expense ratio increased mainly due to an increase in outsourcing expenses related to enhancement of business continuity infrastructure in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic situation. In total, the pretax adjusted profit margin increased in the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 primarily due to lower benefit ratios. For the full year of 2021, the Company will continue to monitor the situation with respect to COVID-19, and potential impacts on the pretax adjusted profit margin and benefit ratio.

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Aflac Japan Sales
The following table presents Aflac Japan’s new annualized premium sales for the periods ended September 30.
  
In DollarsIn Yen
Three MonthsNine MonthsThree MonthsNine Months
(In millions of dollars and billions of yen)20212020202120202021202020212020
New annualized premium sales$114 $119 $371 $339 ¥12.6 ¥12.6 ¥40.2 ¥36.4 
Increase (decrease) over prior period(3.8)%(31.0)%9.4 %(39.5)%.0 %(32.0)%10.3 %(40.4)%
The following table details the contributions to Aflac Japan's new annualized premium sales by major insurance product for the periods ended September 30.
  Three MonthsNine Months
  2021202020212020
Cancer49.9 %55.7 %48.0 %55.3 %
Medical36.3 32.0 39.9 32.3 
Income support.5 .9 .6 1.0 
Ordinary life:
WAYS.7 .8 .7 .7 
Child endowment.3 .4 .3 .4 
Other ordinary life (1)
9.0 9.6 9.1 9.6 
Other3.3 .6 1.4 .7 
    Total100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %
(1) Includes term and whole life

The foundation of Aflac Japan's product portfolio has been, and continues to be, third sector products, which include cancer, medical and income support insurance products. Aflac Japan has been focusing more on promotion of cancer and medical insurance products in this low-interest-rate environment. These products are less interest-rate sensitive and more profitable compared to first sector savings products. With continued cost pressure on Japan’s health care system, the Company expects the need for third sector products will continue to rise in the future and that the medical and cancer insurance products Aflac Japan provides will continue to be an important part of its product portfolio.

Sales of protection-type first sector and third sector products on a yen basis were essentially flat in the third quarter of 2021, compared with the same period in 2020.

Sales of Aflac Japan cancer products in the Japan Post Group channel experienced a material decline beginning in August 2019 which has continued in 2021. Japan Post Group began resuming proactive sales of cancer insurance policies on April 1, 2021 and Aflac Japan continues to strengthen the strategic alliance. The Company expects continued collaboration to further position both companies for long-term growth and a gradual improvement of Japan Post Group cancer insurance sales in the intermediate term. For additional information, see the risk factor entitled "Events related to the ongoing Japan Post investigation and other matters regarding sales of Japan Post Insurance products could negatively impact the Company’s sales and results of operations," in Item 1A. Risk Factors in the 2020 Annual Report. Beginning in the second quarter of 2020 and continuing into 2021, Aflac Japan experienced a sharp drop-off in total sales, as compared to pre-pandemic levels, due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aflac Japan continues to promote digital and web-based sales to groups and use of its system that enables smart device-based insurance application by allowing the customer and an Aflac Japan operator to see the same screen through their smart devices. Further, Aflac Japan continues to utilize its virtual sales tool that enables online consultations and policy applications to be completed entirely online.
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The following table details the contributions to Aflac Japan's new annualized premium sales by agency type for the three-month periods ended September 30.

20212020
Independent corporate and individual49.9 %51.7 %
Affiliated corporate (1)
43.8 41.4 
Bank6.3 6.9 
Total100.0 %100.0 %
(1) Includes Japan Post

During the three-month period ended September 30, 2021, Aflac Japan recruited 13 new sales agencies. At September 30, 2021, Aflac Japan was represented by approximately 8,200 sales agencies, with more than 112,000 licensed sales associates employed by those agencies. The number of sales agencies has declined in recent years due to Aflac Japan's focus on supporting agencies with strong management frameworks, high productivity and more producing agents.

At September 30, 2021, Aflac Japan had agreements to sell its products at 360 banks, approximately 90% of the total number of banks in Japan.

Strategic Alliance with Japan Post Holdings

As previously reported, on December 19, 2018, the Parent Company and Aflac Japan entered into a Basic Agreement with Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd., a Japanese corporation (Japan Post Holdings). Pursuant to the terms of the Basic Agreement, among other items, Japan Post Holdings and Aflac Japan agreed to reconfirm existing initiatives regarding cancer insurance and to consider new joint initiatives, including leveraging digital technology in various processes and cooperation in new product development to promote customer-centric business management. In June 2021, the Parent Company and Aflac Japan, Japan Post Holdings, Japan Post Co., Ltd. and Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd. agreed to pursue several specific initiatives toward building a "'Co-creation Platform' to support customers and local communities," consistent with Japan Post Group's medium-term management plan announced in May 2021. The initiatives are directed at, among other items, the promotion of Aflac Japan cancer insurance, digital transformation within the Japan Post Group, and certain diversity efforts.

Aflac Japan Investments

The level of investment income in yen is affected by available cash flow from operations, the timing of investing the cash flow, yields on new investments, the effect of yen/dollar exchange rates on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income, and other factors.

As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac Japan invests in yen and U.S. dollar-denominated investments. Yen-denominated investments primarily consist of JGBs, public and private fixed maturity securities and public equity securities. Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investments include fixed maturity investments and growth assets, including alternative investments in limited partnerships or similar investment vehicles. Aflac Japan has been investing in both publicly-traded and privately originated U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loan receivables, and has entered into foreign currency forwards and options to hedge the currency risk on the fair value of a portion of the U.S. dollar investments.

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The following table details the investment purchases for Aflac Japan.
 Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In millions)2021202020212020
Yen-denominated:
  Fixed maturity securities:
     Japan government and agencies$0 $94 $1,181 $830 
     Private placements146 154 456 267 
     Other fixed maturity securities25 45 161 316 
  Equity securities 75 121 197 263 
  Other investments3 8 
        Total yen-denominated$249 $414 $2,003 $1,676 
U.S. dollar-denominated:
  Fixed maturity securities:
     Other fixed maturity securities$363 $314 $1,362 $1,231 
     Infrastructure debt0 0 55 
     Collateralized loan obligations40 99 194 99 
  Equity securities0 8 
  Commercial mortgage and other loans:
     Transitional real estate loans390 152 1,089 617 
     Commercial mortgage loans0 17 12 
     Middle market loans496 238 1,762 1,665 
  Other investments94 60 241 158 
        Total dollar-denominated$1,383 $863 $4,673 $3,837 
            Total Aflac Japan purchases$1,632 $1,277 $6,676 $5,513 

See the Investments section of this MD&A for further discussion of these investment programs, and see Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes 1, 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Report for more information regarding loans and loan receivables.

The following table presents the results of Aflac Japan’s investment yields for the periods ended September 30.
  Three MonthsNine Months
  2021202020212020
Total purchases for the period (in millions) (1)
$1,535 $1,217 $6,427 $5,355 
New money yield (1), (2)
3.99 %3.14 %3.38 %3.73 %
Return on average invested assets (3)
2.72 2.35 2.68 2.33 
Portfolio book yield, including U.S. dollar-denominated investments, end of period (1)
2.60 %2.62 %2.60 %2.62 %
(1) Includes fixed maturity securities, commercial mortgage and other loans, equity securities, and excludes alternative investments in limited partnerships
(2) Reported on a gross yield basis; excludes investment expenses, external management fees, and amortized hedge costs
(3) Net of investment expenses and amortized hedge costs, year-to-date number reflected on a quarterly average basis

The increase in the Aflac Japan new money yield in the three-month period ended September 30, 2021 was primarily due to higher allocation to floating rate asset classes. The decrease in the Aflac Japan new money yield in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 was primarily due to lower yields on floating rate asset classes. See Notes 3, 4 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Investments section of this MD&A for additional information on the Company's investments and hedging strategies.

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AFLAC U.S. SEGMENT
Aflac U.S. Pretax Adjusted Earnings
Changes in Aflac U.S. pretax adjusted earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac U.S.
Aflac U.S. Summary of Operating Results
  
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In millions)2021202020212020
Net premium income$1,393 $1,407 $4,223 $4,348 
Adjusted net investment income (1)
191 175 557 523 
Other income32 24 90 78 
Total adjusted revenues1,616 1,606 4,870 4,949 
Benefits and claims628 679 1,798 2,038 
Adjusted expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs123 141 373 435 
Insurance commissions136 140 411 439 
Insurance and other expenses370 316 1,071 955 
Total adjusted expenses629 597 1,855 1,829 
Total benefits and adjusted expenses1,257 1,277 3,653 3,867 
             Pretax adjusted earnings$358 $329 $1,217 $1,082 
Percentage change over previous period:
Net premium income(1.0)%(2.6)(2.9)%(.4)%
Adjusted net investment income9.1 (4.4)6.5 (3.1)
Total adjusted revenues.6 (1.5)(1.6).8 
Pretax adjusted earnings8.8 (1.8)12.5 8.6 
(1) Net interest cash flows from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $1 for both three-month periods and $1 and $2 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, have been reclassified from net investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income.

In the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, net premium income for Aflac U.S. decreased primarily due to constrained sales as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Total adjusted revenues increased in the three-month period ended September 30, 2021, mainly due to the increase in adjusted net investment income from higher variable net investment income. Total adjusted revenues decreased in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, mainly due to the decline in net premium income from reduced sales activity, partially offset by the increase in adjusted net investment income from higher variable net investment income. Pretax adjusted earnings increased in the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, driven primarily by the lower-than-expected benefit ratios due to lower incurred claims related to pandemic conditions.

Annualized premiums in force decreased .7% to $5.9 billion at September 30, 2021, compared with $6.0 billion at September 30, 2020.
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The following table presents a summary of operating ratios for Aflac U.S.
  
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Ratios to total adjusted revenues:2021202020212020
Benefits and claims38.9 %42.3 %36.9 %41.2 %
Adjusted expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs7.6 8.8 7.7 8.8 
Insurance commissions8.4 8.7 8.4 8.9 
Insurance and other expenses22.9 19.7 22.0 19.3 
Total adjusted expenses38.9 37.2 38.1 37.0 
  Pretax adjusted earnings22.2 20.5 25.0 21.9 
Ratios to total premiums:
Benefits and claims45.1 %48.3 %42.6 %46.9 %
Adjusted expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs8.8 10.0 8.8 10.0 

For the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, the benefit ratio decreased compared with the same periods in 2020, reflecting reduced estimates of both COVID-19-related and non-COVID-19-related incurred claims since the advent of the pandemic. The adjusted expense ratio increased in the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, when compared with the same periods in 2020, primarily due to planned spending on buy-to-build investments, offset slightly by lower DAC amortization related to elevated persistency. The pretax adjusted profit margin increased in the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, compared with the same periods in 2020, primarily due to lower benefit ratios. For the full year of 2021, the Company will continue to monitor the situation with respect to COVID-19, and potential impacts on the pretax adjusted profit margin and benefit ratio.

Aflac U.S. Sales
The following table presents Aflac's U.S. new annualized premium sales for the periods ended September 30.
Three Months     Nine Months
(In millions)2021202020212020
New annualized premium sales$299 $221 $814 $705 
Increase (decrease) over prior period35.0 %(35.7)%15.5 %(32.7)%
The following table details the contributions to Aflac's U.S. new annualized premium sales by major insurance product category for the periods ended September 30.
  
Three Months     Nine Months
2021202020212020
Accident25.5 %26.4 %26.3 %26.6 %
Disability26.2 24.2 24.1 23.3 
 Critical care(1)
19.1 20.5 20.8 20.8 
Hospital indemnity15.1 16.8 16.0 16.9 
Dental/vision4.9 5.0 5.0 4.5 
Life9.2 7.1 7.8 7.9 
Total100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %
(1) Includes cancer, critical illness, and hospital intensive care products

New annualized premium sales for accident insurance, the leading Aflac U.S. product category, increased 30.6%; disability sales increased 41.7%; critical care insurance sales (including cancer insurance) increased 25.4%; and hospital indemnity insurance sales increased 20.9% in the third quarter of 2021, compared with the same period in 2020. The increase in sales for Aflac U.S. in the third quarter of 2021 is primarily attributable to increased sales activity as a result of the ongoing economic reopening in the U.S. and favorable comparisons due to pandemic conditions in 2020. See the Executive Summary section entitled COVID-19 of this MD&A for additional information.

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In the third quarter of 2021, the Aflac U.S. sales force included an average of approximately 5,900 U.S. agents, including brokers, who were actively producing business on a weekly basis. The Company believes that this average weekly producer equivalent metric allows sales management to monitor progress and needs, as well as serve as a leading indicator of future production capacity. Aflac U.S. believes that during the third quarter, constraints in the labor market have limited its recruiting of new sales agents, and that during the second and third quarters of 2021 limitations on face-to-face sales opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic suppressed the development of newly recruited agents into business producers and the productivity of veteran agents and brokers. While gains were made in recruiting during the second and third quarter of 2021 compared with the same time in 2020, most notably among recruited brokers, Aflac U.S. believes that the above factors have acted as a headwind to sales and to growth in the number of average weekly producers during 2021. Aflac U.S. remains focused on mitigating and reversing these trends as the U.S. economy continues to recover from the pandemic.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aflac U.S. remains focused on supporting its agency channel, most of which are small businesses, by offering financial support and an extended value proposition. The Aflac U.S. sales team has pivoted to accommodate preferred enrollment conditions which include realizing sales at the worksite through in-person enrollment, an enrollment call center, video enrollment through co-browsing and self-enrollment. The traditional agent sales team is also using virtual recruiting and training through video conferencing in order to maintain or increase the recruiting pipeline. The Aflac U.S. broker sales team is focused on product enhancements due to COVID-19 as well as leveraging technology based solutions to drive enrollment.

Aflac U.S. Investments

The level of investment income is affected by available cash flow from operations, the timing of investing the cash flow, yields on new investments, and other factors.

As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac U.S. invests in fixed maturity investments and growth assets, including public equity securities and alternative investments in limited partnerships. Aflac U.S. has been investing in both publicly traded and privately originated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loan receivables.

The following table details the investment purchases for Aflac U.S.
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In millions)2021202020212020
Fixed maturity securities:
     Other fixed maturity securities$141 $166 $517 $434 
     Infrastructure debt30 30 20 
     Collateralized loan obligations22 56 52 67 
Equity securities 91 203 
Commercial mortgage and other loans:
     Transitional real estate loans109 43 245 88 
     Commercial mortgage loans0 163 37 
     Middle market loans37 20 138 63 
Other investments10 27 18 
        Total Aflac U.S. Purchases$440 $292 $1,375 $732 

See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes 1 and 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Report for more information regarding loans and loans receivables.

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The following table presents the results of Aflac's U.S. investment yields for the periods ended September 30.
Three Months     Nine Months
  
2021202020212020
Total purchases for period (in millions) (1)
$430 $285 $1,348 $714 
New money yield (1), (2)
3.87 %2.80 %3.59 %3.24 %
Return on average invested assets (3)
4.88 4.75 4.84 4.86 
Portfolio book yield, end of period (1)
5.04 %5.26 %5.04 %5.26 %
(1) Includes fixed maturity securities, commercial mortgage and other loans, equity securities, and excludes alternative investments in limited partnerships
(2) Reported on a gross yield basis; excludes investment expenses and external management fees
(3) Net of investment expenses, year-to-date number reflected on a quarterly average basis

The increase in the Aflac U.S. new money yield for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 was primarily due to higher yields on floating rate asset classes. See Notes 3 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Analysis of Financial Condition section of this MD&A for additional information on the Company's investments.

CORPORATE AND OTHER

Changes in the pretax adjusted earnings of Corporate and other are primarily affected by investment income. The following table presents a summary of results for Corporate and other.
Corporate and Other Summary of Operating Results
  
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In millions)2021202020212020
Premium income$45 $49 $138 $146 
Net investment income (loss) (1)
11 14 14 59 
Amortized hedge income related to certain foreign currency
  management strategies
13 22 45 78 
Adjusted net investment income24 36 59 137 
Other income3 8 
Total adjusted revenues72 87 205 292 
Benefits and claims, net42 47 126 134 
Adjusted expenses:
Interest expense39 44 126 120 
Other adjusted expenses32 35 97 107 
Total adjusted expenses71 79 223 227 
Total benefits and adjusted expenses113 126 349 361 
Pretax adjusted earnings$(41)$(39)$(144)$(69)
(1) The change in value of federal historic rehabilitation and solar investments in partnerships of $5 and $35 for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, respectively, is included as a reduction to net investment income. Offsetting tax credits on these investments of $10 and $35 for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, respectively, have been recorded as an income tax benefit in the consolidated statement of earnings. See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on these investments.

In the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, the decrease in total adjusted revenues was primarily driven by a decline in adjusted net investment income as a result of the change in value of federal historic rehabilitation and solar investments in partnerships discussed below, as well as lower amortized hedge income. The decrease in pretax adjusted earnings in the three-month period ended September 30, 2021, was primarily driven by lower adjusted net investment income. The decrease in pretax adjusted earnings for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, was primarily driven by lower adjusted net investment income and higher interest expense associated with debt issuances.

The Parent Company invests in partnerships that specialize in rehabilitating historic structures or the installation of solar equipment in order to receive federal historic rehabilitation and solar tax credits. These investments are classified as
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limited partnerships and included in other investments in the consolidated balance sheet. The change in value of each investment is recorded as a reduction to net investment income. Offsetting tax credits generated by these investments are recorded as an income tax benefit in the consolidated statement of earnings. Beginning in 2020, net investment income also includes the Company's portion of earnings from its strategic equity investment in an asset management company.

INVESTMENTS

The Company’s investment strategy utilizes disciplined asset and liability management while seeking long-term risk-adjusted investment returns and the delivery of stable income within regulatory and capital objectives, and preserving shareholder value. In attempting to optimally balance these objectives, the Company seeks to maintain on behalf of Aflac Japan a diversified portfolio of yen-denominated investment assets, U.S. dollar-denominated investment portfolio hedged back to yen and a portfolio of unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated assets. As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac U.S. invests in fixed maturity investments and growth assets, including public equity securities and alternative investments in limited partnerships. Aflac U.S. invests in both publicly traded and privately originated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loans.

For additional information concerning the Company's investments, see Notes 3, 4, and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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The following tables detail investments by segment.

Investment Securities by Segment
September 30, 2021
(In millions)Aflac JapanAflac U.S.Corporate and Other Total
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities,
   at fair value
$83,894 $14,835 $1,993 $100,722 
Held to maturity, fixed maturity securities,
   at amortized cost (1)
22,613 0 0 22,613 
Equity securities731 273 457 1,461 
Commercial mortgage and other loans:
Transitional real estate loans (1)
4,186 960 6 5,152 
Commercial mortgage loans (1)
1,251 588 5 1,844 
Middle market loans (1)
4,107 285 0 4,392 
Other investments:
Policy loans222 19 0 241 
Short-term investments (2)
593 322 918 1,833 
Limited partnerships1,264 139 116 1,519 
Other0 19 0 19 
     Total investments118,861 17,440 3,495 139,796 
Cash and cash equivalents2,785 1,039 2,384 6,208 
              Total investments and cash$121,646 $18,479 $5,879 $146,004 
(1) Net of allowance for credit losses
(2) Includes securities lending collateral
December 31, 2020
(In millions)Aflac JapanAflac U.S.Corporate and Other Total
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities,
   at fair value
$88,757 $15,133 $1,992 $105,882 
Held to maturity, fixed maturity securities,
   at amortized cost (1)
24,464 24,464 
Equity securities674 66 543 1,283 
Commercial mortgage and other loans:
Transitional real estate loans (1)
4,331 900 5,231 
Commercial mortgage loans (1)
1,268 420 1,688 
Middle market loans (1)
3,365 270 3,635 
Other investments:
Policy loans242 18 260 
Short-term investments (2)
449 242 448 1,139 
Limited partnerships828 91 85 1,004 
Other26 26 
     Total investments124,378 17,166 3,068 144,612 
Cash and cash equivalents2,001 785 2,355 5,141 
              Total investments and cash$126,379 $17,951 $5,423 $149,753 
(1) Net of allowance for credit losses
(2) Includes securities lending collateral

The ratings of the Company's securities referenced in the table below are based on the ratings designations provided by major rating organizations such as Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch or, if not rated, are determined based on the Company's internal analysis of such securities. When the ratings issued by the rating agencies differ, the Company utilizes
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the second lowest rating when three or more rating agency ratings are available or the lowest rating when only two rating agency ratings are available.

The distributions of fixed maturity securities the Company owns, by credit rating, were as follows:

Composition of Fixed Maturity Securities by Credit Rating
 September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
 Amortized
Cost
  Fair    
  Value    
Amortized
Cost
  Fair    
  Value    
AAA1.0 %0.9 %1.0 %.9 %
AA5.0 5.1 4.5 4.6 
A69.4 69.2 69.3 69.5 
BBB21.9 22.1 21.9 21.9 
BB or lower2.7 2.7 3.3 3.1 
Total100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %

As of September 30, 2021, the Company's direct and indirect exposure to securities in its investment portfolio that were guaranteed by third parties was immaterial both individually and in the aggregate.

The following table presents the 10 largest unrealized loss positions in the Company's portfolio as of September 30, 2021.
(In millions)Credit
Rating
Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
Unrealized Loss 
KLM Royal Dutch AirlinesB$148 $135 $(13)
Intesa Sanpaolo SpaBBB139 132 (7)
Kommunal Landspensjonskasse (KLP)BBB134 128 (6)
Nippon Prologis REIT Inc.A89 84 (5)
Alphabet Inc.AA173 168 (5)
Grenke Finance PLCBBB63 59 (4)
Lloyds Banking Group PLCA206 202 (4)
Commonwealth of the BahamasBB43 39 (4)
Heathrow Funding Ltd.BBB89 86 (3)
Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd.A93 90 (3)

Generally, declines in fair values can be a result of changes in interest rates, yen/dollar exchange rate, and changes in net spreads driven by a broad market move or a change in the issuer's underlying credit quality. The Company believes these issuers have the ability to continue making timely payments of principal and interest. See the Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses section in Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussions of unrealized losses related to financial institutions and other corporate investments.

Below-Investment-Grade Securities

The Company's portfolio of below-investment-grade securities includes debt securities purchased while the issuer was rated investment grade plus other loans and bonds purchased as part of an allocation to that segment of the market. The following is the Company's below-investment-grade exposure.
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Below-Investment-Grade Investments
September 30, 2021
(In millions)Par
Value
Amortized
Cost
(1)
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Gain
(Loss)
Investcorp Capital Limited$381 $380 $388 $8 
Commerzbank357 249 412 163 
Pemex Project Funding Master Trust268 268 276 8 
Autostrade Per Litalia Spa179 177 210 33 
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines179 148 135 (13)
Telecom Italia SpA179 179 236 57 
Apache Corporation138 123 169 46 
Ovintiv Inc.119 114 161 47 
IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG116 53 108 55 
Arconic Inc.100 83 125 42 
Other Issuers415 370 471 101 
          Subtotal (2)
2,431 2,144 2,691 547 
High yield corporate bonds805 787 843 56 
Middle market loans4,215 4,088 4,154 66 
          Grand Total$7,451 $7,019 $7,688 $669 
(1) Net of allowance for credit losses
(2) Securities initially purchased as investment grade, but have subsequently been downgraded to below investment grade

The Company invests in middle market loans primarily to U.S. corporate borrowers, most of which have below-investment-grade ratings. The objectives of this program include enhancing the yield on invested assets, achieving further diversification of credit risk, and mitigating the risk of rising interest rates and hedge costs through the acquisition of floating rate assets.

The Company maintains an allocation to higher yielding corporate bonds within the Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. portfolios. Most of these securities were rated below-investment-grade at the time of purchase, but the Company also purchased several that were rated investment grade which, because of market pricing, offer yields commensurate with below-investment-grade risk profiles. The objective of this allocation was to enhance the Company's yield on invested assets and further diversify credit risk. All investments in this program must have a minimum rating at purchase of low BB using the Company's above described rating methodology and are managed by the Company's internal credit portfolio management team.

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Fixed Maturity Securities by Sector

The Company maintains diversification in investments by sector to avoid concentrations to any one sector, thus managing exposure risk. The following table shows the distribution of fixed maturities by sector classification.
September 30, 2021
(In millions)
Amortized Cost (1)
Gross Unrealized GainsGross Unrealized LossesFair Value% of
Total
Government and agencies$53,377 $8,453 $(62)$61,767 48.6 %
Municipalities2,787 608 (6)3,390 2.5 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities1,242 51 (1)1,292 1.1 
Public utilities8,515 1,862 (7)10,372 7.9 
Electric6,892 1,543 (4)8,431 6.3 
Natural Gas294 51 346 .3 
Other607 126 (1)732 .6 
Utility/Energy722 142 (2)863 .7 
Sovereign and Supranational1,534 279 (4)1,809 1.4 
Banks/financial institutions10,230 1,579 (66)11,742 9.3 
Banking6,039 1,031 (23)7,046 5.5 
Insurance1,917 373 (24)2,266 1.7 
Other2,274 175 (19)2,430 2.1 
Other corporate32,156 6,032 (89)38,098 29.2 
Basic Industry3,146 684 (9)3,820 2.9 
Capital Goods3,410 560 (8)3,962 3.1 
Communications3,324 771 (3)4,091 3.0 
Consumer Cyclical2,661 504 (2)3,164 2.4 
Consumer Non-Cyclical6,929 1,218 (12)8,135 6.3 
Energy3,410 762 (16)4,156 3.1 
Other1,499 209 (4)1,704 1.4 
Technology4,217 494 (16)4,695 3.8 
Transportation3,560 830 (19)4,371 3.2 
        Total fixed maturity securities$109,841 $18,864 $(235)$128,470 100.0 %
(1) Net of allowance for credit losses

Securities by Type of Issuance
The Company has investments in both publicly and privately issued securities. The Company's ability to sell either type of security is a function of overall market liquidity which is impacted by, among other things, the amount of outstanding securities of a particular issuer or issuance, trading history of the issue or issuer, overall market conditions, and idiosyncratic events affecting the specific issue or issuer.

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The following table details investment securities by type of issuance.

Investment Securities by Type of Issuance 
  
September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost
(1)
Fair   
Value   
Amortized
Cost (1)
Fair  
Value  
Publicly issued securities:
Fixed maturity securities$90,630 $105,427 $95,545 $111,479 
Equity securities1,018 1,018 740 740 
      Total publicly issued91,648 106,445 96,285 112,219 
Privately issued securities: (2)
Fixed maturity securities (3)
19,211 23,043 20,511 24,802 
Equity securities443 443 543 543 
      Total privately issued19,654 23,486 21,054 25,345 
      Total investment securities$111,302 $129,931 $117,339 $137,564 
(1) Net of allowance for credit losses
(2) Primarily consists of securities owned by Aflac Japan
(3) Excludes Rule 144A securities

The following table details the Company's reverse-dual currency securities.

Reverse-Dual Currency Securities(1)
(Amortized cost, in millions)September 30,
2021
December 31,
2020
Privately issued reverse-dual currency securities$4,913 $5,300 
Publicly issued collateral structured as reverse-dual currency securities1,641 1,775 
Total reverse-dual currency securities$6,554 $7,075 
Reverse-dual currency securities as a percentage of total investment
   securities
5.9 %6.0 %
(1) Principal payments in yen and interest payments in dollars

Aflac Japan has a portfolio of privately issued securities to better match liability characteristics and secure higher yields than those available on Japanese government or other public corporate bonds. Aflac Japan’s investments in yen-denominated privately issued securities consist primarily of non-Japanese issuers, are rated investment grade at purchase and have longer maturities, thereby allowing the Company to improve asset/liability matching and overall investment returns. These securities are generally either privately negotiated arrangements or issued under medium-term note programs and have standard documentation commensurate with credit ratings of the issuer, except when internal credit analysis indicates that additional protective and/or event-risk covenants were required. Many of these investments have protective covenants appropriate to the specific investment. These may include a prohibition of certain activities by the borrower, maintenance of certain financial measures, and specific conditions impacting the payment of the Company's notes.

HEDGING ACTIVITIES

The Company uses derivative contracts to hedge foreign currency exchange rate risk and interest rate risk. The Company uses various strategies, including derivatives, to manage these risks. See item “7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in the 2020 Annual Report for more information about market risk and the Company’s use of derivatives.

Derivatives are designed to reduce risk on an economic basis while minimizing the impact on financial results. The Company’s derivatives programs vary depending on the type of risk being hedged. See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for:

A description of the Company's derivatives, hedging strategies and underlying risk exposure.
Information about the notional amount and fair market value of the Company's derivatives.
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The unrealized and realized gains and losses impact on adjusted earnings of derivatives in cash flow, fair value, net investments in foreign operations, or non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk Hedge Program
The Company has deployed the following hedging strategies to mitigate exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk:
Aflac Japan hedges U.S. dollar-denominated investments back to yen (see Aflac Japan’s U.S. Dollar-Denominated Hedge Program below).

Aflac Japan maintains certain unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated securities, which serve as an economic currency hedge of a portion of the Company's investment in Aflac Japan (see Aflac Japan’s U.S. Dollar-Denominated Hedge Program below).

The Parent Company designates yen-denominated liabilities (notes payable and loans) as non-derivative hedging instruments and designates certain foreign currency forwards and options as derivative hedges of the Company’s net investment in Aflac Japan (see Enterprise Corporate Hedging Program below).

The Parent Company enters into forward and option contracts to accomplish a dual objective of hedging foreign currency exchange rate risk related to dividend payments by its subsidiary, ALIJ, and reducing enterprise-wide hedge costs. (see Enterprise Corporate Hedging Program below).

Aflac Japan’s U.S. Dollar-Denominated Hedge Program

Aflac Japan buys U.S. dollar-denominated investments, typically corporate bonds, and hedges them back to yen with foreign currency forwards and options to hedge foreign currency exchange rate risk. This economically creates yen assets that match yen liabilities during the life of the derivative and provides capital relief. The currency risk being hedged is generally based on fair value of hedged investments. The following table summarizes the U.S. dollar-denominated investments held by Aflac Japan.
September 30,
2021
December 31,
2020
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost
(1)
Fair
Value
Amortized
Cost (1)
Fair
Value
Available-for-sale securities:
  Fixed maturity securities (excluding bank loans)$17,886 $20,444 $19,249 $21,108 
  Fixed maturity securities - bank loans (floating rate)0 0 319 283 
Equity securities24 24 20 20 
Commercial mortgage and other loans:
  Transitional real estate loans (floating rate)4,187 4,236 4,331 4,298 
  Commercial mortgage loans 1,250 1,315 1,268 1,365 
  Middle market loans (floating rate)4,106 4,171 3,365 3,377 
Other investments1,264 1,264 828 828 
      Total U.S. Dollar Program28,717 31,454 29,380 31,279 
Available-for-sale securities:
  Fixed maturity securities - economically converted to yen2,227 3,294 2,085 3,094 
      Total U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan$30,944 $34,748 $31,465 $34,373 
(1) Net of allowance for credit losses

U.S. Dollar Program includes all U.S. dollar-denominated investments in Aflac Japan other than the investments in certain consolidated VIEs where the instrument is economically converted to yen as a result of a derivative in the consolidated VIE. Aflac Japan maintains an options program (collars and one sided options) on a portion of its US dollar program to mitigate against more extreme moves in foreign exchange and therefore support SMR. Depending on further developments, including the possibility of further market volatility, there may be additional costs associated with maintaining the options program. The Company is continually evaluating other adjustments, including the possibility of changing the level of hedging employed with the U.S dollar-denominated investments.

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As of September 30, 2021, Aflac Japan had $6.4 billion outstanding notional amounts of foreign currency forwards and $8.0 billion outstanding notional amounts of foreign currency options, of which none were in-the-money, hedging its U.S. dollar-denominated investments. The fair value of Aflac Japan's unhedged U.S. dollar-denominated portfolio was $15.1 billion (excluding certain U.S. dollar-denominated assets shown in the table above as a result of consolidation that have been economically converted to yen using derivatives).

Foreign exchange derivatives used for hedging are periodically settled, which results in cash receipt or payment at maturity or early termination. The following table presents the settlements associated with the Company's currency derivatives used for hedging Aflac Japan’s U.S. dollar-denominated investments.
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In millions)2021202020212020
Net cash inflows (outflows)$(14)$(2)$88 $(34)

Enterprise Corporate Hedging Program

The Company has designated certain yen-denominated liabilities and foreign currency forwards and options of the Parent Company as accounting hedges of its net investment in Aflac Japan. The Company's consolidated yen-denominated net asset position was partially hedged at $10.3 billion as of September 30, 2021, compared with $9.9 billion as of December 31, 2020.

The Company makes its accounting designation of net investment hedge at the beginning of each quarter. If the total of the designated Parent Company non-derivative and derivative notional is equal to or less than the Company's net investment in Aflac Japan, the hedge is deemed to be effective, and the currency exchange effect on the yen-denominated liabilities and the change in estimated fair value of the derivatives are reported in the unrealized foreign currency component of other comprehensive income. The Company's net investment hedge was effective during the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. For additional information on the Company's net investment hedging strategy, see Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In order to economically mitigate risks associated with the enterprise-wide exposure to the yen and the level and volatility of hedge costs, the Parent Company enters into foreign exchange forward and option contracts. By buying U.S. dollars and selling yen, the Parent Company is effectively lowering its overall economic exposure to the yen, while Aflac Japan's U.S dollar exposure remains reduced as a result of Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated hedge program that economically creates yen assets. Among other objectives, this strategy is intended to offset the enterprise-wide amortized hedge costs by generating amortized hedge income. The portion of the enterprise-wide amortized hedge income contributed by this strategy was $13 million and $22 million for the three-month periods and $45 million and $78 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This activity is reported in Corporate and Other. As this program evolves, the Company will continue to evaluate the program’s efficacy. See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for the Company's definition of amortized hedge costs/income.

The following table presents metrics related to Aflac Japan amortized hedge costs and the Parent Company amortized hedge income for the periods ended September 30.

















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Hedge Cost/Income Metrics(1)
Three Months     Nine Months
2021202020212020
Aflac Japan:
FX Forwards
   FX forward (sell USD, buy yen) notional at end of period (in billions)(2)
$6.4$9.2$6.4$9.2
   Weighted average remaining tenor (in months)(3)
3.710.33.710.3
   Amortized hedge income (cost) for period (in millions)$(13)$(49)$(42)$(150)
FX Options
FX option notional at the end of period (in billions) (2)
$8.0$9.0$8.0$9.0
Weighted average remaining tenor (in months) (3)
3.61.23.61.2
Amortized hedge income (cost) for period (in millions)$(7)$(2)$(13)$(5)
Corporate and Other (Parent Company):
FX Forwards
   FX forward (buy USD, sell yen) notional at end of period (in billions)(2)
$5.0$5.0$5.0$5.0
   Weighted average remaining tenor (in months)(3)
12.212.512.212.5
   Amortized hedge income (cost) for period (in millions)$14$24$49$81
FX Options
FX option notional at the end of period (in billions) (2)
$2.0$2.1$2.0$2.1
Weighted average remaining tenor (in months) (3)
7.26.87.26.8
Amortized hedge income (cost) for period (in millions)$(1)$(2)$(4)$(3)
(1) See the Results of Operations section of this MD&A for the Company's definition of amortized hedge costs/income.
(2) Notional is reported net of any offsetting positions within Aflac Japan or the Parent Company, respectively.
(3) Tenor based on period reporting date to settlement date

Amortized hedge costs/income can fluctuate based upon many factors, including the derivative notional amount, the length of time of the derivative contract, changes in both U.S. and Japan interest rates, and supply and demand for dollar funding. Amortized hedge costs and income have fluctuated in recent periods due to changes in the previously mentioned factors.

Interest Rate Risk Hedge Program

Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. use interest rate swaps from time to time to mitigate the risk of investment income volatility for certain variable-rate investments. Additionally, to manage interest rate risk associated with its U.S. dollar-denominated investments held by Aflac Japan, from time to time the Company utilizes interest rate swaptions.

For additional discussion of the risks associated with the foreign currency exposure refer to the Currency Risk section in Item 7A., Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, and Item 1A, specifically to the Risk Factor titled “The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate" and “Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity" in the 2020 Annual Report.

See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's hedging activities.

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DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS
The following table presents deferred policy acquisition costs by segment.
(In millions)September 30, 2021December 31, 2020% Change      
Aflac Japan$6,418 $6,991 (8.2)%
(1)
Aflac U.S.3,296 3,450 (4.5)
Total$9,714 $10,441 (7.0)%
(1) Aflac Japan’s deferred policy acquisition costs decreased .7% in yen during the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

See Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Report for additional information on the Company's deferred policy acquisition costs.

POLICY LIABILITIES
The following table presents policy liabilities by segment.
(In millions)September 30, 2021December 31, 2020% Change      
Aflac Japan$96,039 $103,128 (6.9)%
(1)
Aflac U.S.11,882 11,810 .6 
Other280 274 2.2 
Intercompany eliminations(2)
(758)(821)(7.7)
Total$107,443 $114,391 (6.1)%
(1) Aflac Japan’s policy liabilities increased .7% in yen during the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
(2) Elimination entry necessary due to recapture of a portion of policy liabilities ceded externally, as a result of the reinsurance retrocession transaction as described in Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

BENEFIT PLANS

Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. have various benefit plans. For additional information on the Company's Japanese and U.S. plans, see Note 11 of the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Report.

POLICYHOLDER PROTECTION

Policyholder Protection Corporation

The Japanese insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. Legislation enacted regarding the framework of the Life Insurance Policyholder Protection Corporation (LIPPC) included government fiscal measures supporting the LIPPC. In November 2016, Japan's Diet passed legislation that extended the government's fiscal support of the LIPPC through March 2022. Effective April 2014, the annual LIPPC contribution amount for the total life industry was lowered from ¥40 billion to ¥33 billion. Aflac Japan recognized an expense of ¥1.8 billion and ¥1.9 billion for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, for LIPPC assessments.

Guaranty Fund Assessments

Under U.S. state guaranty association laws, certain insurance companies can be assessed (up to prescribed limits) for certain obligations to the policyholders and claimants of impaired or insolvent insurance companies that write the same line or similar lines of business. The amount of the guaranty fund assessment that an insurer is assessed is based on its proportionate share of premiums in that state. Guaranty fund assessments for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were immaterial.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for details on certain investment commitments.

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As of September 30, 2021, the Company had no material letters of credit, standby letters of credit, guarantees or standby repurchase obligations. See Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Report for information on material unconditional purchase obligations that are not recorded on the Company's balance sheet.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity refers to the ability to generate sufficient cash resources to meet the payment obligations of the Company. Capital refers to the long-term financial resources available to support the operations of the businesses, fund business growth and provide for an ability to withstand adverse circumstances. Financial leverage (leverage) refers to an investment strategy of using debt to increase the potential ROE. The Company targets and actively manages liquidity, capital and leverage in the context of a number of considerations, including:

business investment and growth needs
strategic growth objectives
financial flexibility and obligations
capital support for hedging activity
a constantly evolving business and economic environment
a balanced approach to capital allocation and shareholder deployment.

The governance framework supporting liquidity, capital and leverage includes global senior management and board committees that review and approve all significant capital related decisions.

The Company's cash and cash equivalents include unrestricted cash on hand, money market instruments, and other debt instruments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased, all of which has minimal market, settlement or other risk exposure. The target minimum amount for the Parent Company’s cash and cash equivalents is approximately $2.0 billion to provide a capital buffer and liquidity support at the holding company. This amount excludes $400 million of proceeds from the issuance of senior sustainability notes discussed below, which proceeds contribute to the capital buffer but are not intended to support holding company liquidity. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company remains committed to prudent liquidity and capital management. At September 30, 2021, the Company held $6.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents for stress conditions, which includes the Parent Company's target minimum amount of $2.0 billion. For additional information on the Company’s liquidity and capital resources in response to COVID-19, see the Executive Summary section of this MD&A.

Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. provide the primary sources of liquidity to the Parent Company through management fees and dividends, with Aflac Japan being the largest contributor. The primary uses of cash by the Parent Company are shareholder dividends, the repurchase of its common stock and interest on its outstanding indebtedness and operating expenses.
The following table presents the amounts provided to the Parent Company for the nine-month periods ended September 30.

Liquidity Provided by Subsidiaries to Parent Company
(In millions)20212020
Dividends declared or paid by subsidiaries$2,016 $892 
Management fees paid by subsidiaries96 100 

The following table details Aflac Japan remittances for the nine-month periods ended September 30.
Aflac Japan Remittances 
(In millions of dollars and billions of yen)20212020
Aflac Japan management fees paid to Parent Company$44 $54 
Aflac Japan dividends declared or paid to Parent Company (in dollars)1,776 667 
Aflac Japan dividends declared or paid to Parent Company (in yen)¥195.6 ¥72.8 

The Company intends to maintain higher than historical levels of liquidity and capital at the Parent Company for stress conditions and with the goals of addressing the Company’s hedge costs and related potential need for collateral and mitigating against long-term weakening of the Japanese yen. Further, the Company plans to continue to maintain a
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portfolio of unhedged U.S. dollar based investments at Aflac Japan and to consider whether the amount of such investments should be increased or decreased relative to the Company’s view of economic equity surplus in Aflac Japan in light of potentially rising hedge costs and other factors. See the Hedging Activity subsection of this MD&A for more information.

In addition to cash and equivalents, the Company also maintains credit facilities, both intercompany and with external partners, and a number of other available tools to support liquidity needs on a global basis. In September 2021, the Parent Company filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC that allows the Company to issue an indefinite amount of debt securities, in one or more series, from time to time until September 2024. The Company believes outside sources for additional debt and equity capital, if needed, will continue to be available. Additionally, as of September 30, 2021, the Parent Company and Aflac had four lines of credit with third parties as well as ten intercompany lines of credit. For additional information, see Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company's consolidated financial statements convey its financing arrangements during the periods presented. The Company has not engaged in material intra-period short-term financings during the periods presented that are not otherwise reported in its balance sheet or disclosed therein. The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at September 30, 2021. The Company has not entered into transactions involving the transfer of financial assets with an obligation to repurchase financial assets that have been accounted for as a sale under applicable accounting standards, including securities lending transactions. See Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes 1, 3, and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Report for more information on the Company's securities lending and derivative activities. With the exception of disclosed activities in those referenced footnotes and the Risk Factors in the 2020 Annual Report entitled, "The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate" and "Lack of availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity," the Company is not aware of any trend, demand, commitment, event or uncertainty that would reasonably result in its liquidity increasing or decreasing by a material amount.
Consolidated Cash Flows
The Company translates cash flows for Aflac Japan’s yen-denominated items into U.S. dollars using weighted-average exchange rates. In periods when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars causes fewer dollars to be reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars causes more dollars to be reported.
The following table summarizes consolidated cash flows by activity for the nine-month periods ended September 30.
(In millions)20212020
Operating activities$4,181 $4,601 
Investing activities(1,171)(3,511)
Financing activities(1,897)(431)
Exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents(46)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents$1,067 $667 

Operating Activities

The principal cash inflows for the Company's insurance activities come from insurance premiums and investment income. The principal cash outflows are the result of policy claims, operating expenses, income tax, as well as interest expense. As a result of policyholder aging, claims payments are expected to gradually increase over the life of a policy. Therefore, future policy benefit reserves are accumulated in the early years of a policy and are designed to help fund future claims payments.

The Company expects its future cash flows from premiums and investment portfolios to be sufficient to meet its cash needs for benefits and expenses.

Investing Activities

The Company's investment objectives provide for liquidity primarily through the purchase of publicly traded investment-grade debt securities. Prudent portfolio management dictates that the Company attempts to match the duration of its assets with the duration of its liabilities. Currently, when the Company's fixed maturity securities mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years. However, the long-term nature of the Company's business and its strong cash flows provide the Company with the ability
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to minimize the effect of mismatched durations and/or yields identified by various asset adequacy analyses. From time to time or when market opportunities arise, the Company disposes of selected fixed maturity securities that are available for sale to improve the duration matching of assets and liabilities, improve future investment yields, and/or re-balance its portfolio. As a result, dispositions before maturity can vary significantly from year to year.

As part of its overall corporate strategy, the Company has committed $400 million to Aflac Ventures, LLC (Aflac Ventures), as opportunities emerge. Aflac Ventures is a subsidiary of Aflac Global Ventures, LLC (Aflac Global Ventures) which is reported in the Corporate and Other segment. The central mission of Aflac Global Ventures is to support the organic growth and business development needs of Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. with emphasis on digital applications designed to improve the customer experience, gain efficiencies, and develop new markets in an effort to enhance and defend long-term shareholder value. Investments are included in equity securities or the other investments line in the consolidated balance sheets.

As part of an arrangement with Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLB), Aflac U.S. obtains low-cost funding from FHLB supported by acceptable forms of collateral pledged by Aflac U.S. In the first nine months of 2021, Aflac U.S. borrowed and repaid $78 million under this program. As of September 30, 2021, Aflac U.S. had outstanding borrowings of $320 million reported in its balance sheet.

See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for details on certain investment commitments.

Financing Activities

Consolidated cash used by financing activities was $1.9 billion in the first nine months of 2021, compared with consolidated cash used by financing activities of $431 million for the same period of 2020.

In April 2021, the Parent Company issued five series of senior notes totaling ¥82.0 billion through a public debt offering under its then existing U.S. shelf registration statement. The first series, which totaled ¥30.0 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .633% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in April 2031. The second series, which totaled ¥12.0 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of .844% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in April 2033. The third series, which totaled ¥10.0 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.039% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in April 2036. The fourth series, which totaled ¥10.0 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.264% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in April 2041. The fifth series, which totaled ¥20.0 billion, bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.560% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in April 2051. The notes are redeemable at the Parent Company’s option (i) at any time, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain changes affecting U.S. taxation, as specified in the indenture governing the terms of the issuance or (ii) on or after the date that is six months prior to the stated maturity date of the series, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the aggregate principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be redeemed to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

In May 2021, the Parent Company used a portion of the net proceeds from the April 2021 issuance of its various series of senior notes to redeem $700 million of the Parent Company's 3.625% senior notes due June 2023.

In March 2021, the Parent Company issued $400 million of senior sustainability notes through a U.S. public debt offering. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 1.125% per annum, payable semi-annually, and will mature in March 2026. The Company intends, but is not contractually committed, to allocate an amount at least equivalent to the net proceeds from this issuance exclusively to existing or future investments in, or financing of, assets, businesses or projects that meet the eligibility criteria of the Company's sustainability bond framework described in the offering documentation in connection with such notes. These notes are redeemable at the Parent Company's option in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (ii) the amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments for principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed, not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of such redemption date, discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis at the yield to maturity for a U.S. Treasury security with a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes, plus 10 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such redemption date.

See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the debt issuance discussed above.

The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at September 30, 2021.

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Cash returned to shareholders through treasury stock purchases and dividends was $2.3 billion during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, compared with $1.6 billion during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020.

The following tables present a summary of treasury stock activity during the nine-month periods ended September 30.

Treasury Stock Purchased
(In millions of dollars and thousands of shares)20212020
Treasury stock purchases$1,676 $1,037 
Number of shares purchased:
Share repurchase program32,186 26,108 
Other419 541 
   Total shares purchased32,605 26,649 

Treasury Stock Issued
(In millions of dollars and thousands of shares)20212020
Stock issued from treasury:
   Cash financing$13 $27 
   Noncash financing43 40 
   Total stock issued from treasury$56 $67 
Number of shares issued1,424 1,884 

During the first nine months of 2021, the Company repurchased 32.2 million shares of its common stock for $1.7 billion as part of its share repurchase program. As of September 30, 2021, a remaining balance of 67.0 million shares of the Company's common stock was available for purchase under share repurchase authorizations by its board of directors. For information on the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's share repurchase program, see the Executive Summary section of this MD&A.

Cash dividends paid to shareholders were $.33 per share in the third quarter of 2021, compared with $.28 per share in the third quarter of 2020. The following table presents the dividend activity for the nine-month periods ended September 30.

(In millions)20212020
Dividends paid in cash$647 $580 
Dividends through issuance of treasury shares23 22 
Total dividends to shareholders$670 $602 

In October 2021, the board of directors declared the fourth quarter cash dividend of $.33 per share, an increase of 17.9% compared with the same period in 2020. The dividend is payable on December 1, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 17, 2021.

Regulatory Restrictions

Aflac Japan

Aflac Japan is required to meet certain financial criteria as governed by Japanese corporate law in order to provide dividends to the Parent Company. Under these criteria, dividend capacity at the Japan subsidiary is basically defined as total equity excluding common stock, accumulated other comprehensive income amounts, capital reserves (representing statutorily required amounts in Japan) but reduced for net after-tax unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities. These dividend capacity requirements are generally aligned with the SMR. Japan's FSA maintains its own solvency standard which is quantified through the SMR. Aflac Japan's SMR is sensitive to interest rate, credit spread, and foreign exchange rate changes, therefore the Company continues to evaluate alternatives for reducing this sensitivity, including the reduction of subsidiary dividends paid to the Parent Company and Parent Company capital contributions. In the event of a rapid change in market risk conditions causing SMR to decline, the Company has one senior unsecured revolving credit facility in the amount of ¥100 billion and a committed reinsurance facility in the amount of approximately ¥120 billion as a capital contingency plan. Additionally, the Company could take action to enter into derivatives on unhedged U.S.
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dollar-denominated investments with foreign currency options or forwards. See Notes 7 and 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

The Company has already undertaken various measures to mitigate the sensitivity of Aflac Japan's SMR. For example, the Company employs policy reserve matching (PRM) investment strategies, which is a Japan-specific accounting treatment that reduces SMR interest rate sensitivity since PRM-designated investments are carried at amortized cost consistent with corresponding liabilities. In order for a PRM-designated asset to be held at amortized cost, there are certain criteria that must be maintained. The primary criterion relates to maintaining the duration of designated assets and liabilities within a specified tolerance range. If the duration difference is not maintained within the specified range without rebalancing, then a certain portion of the assets must be re-classified as available for sale and held at fair value with any associated unrealized gain or loss recorded in surplus. To rebalance, assets may need to be sold in order to maintain the duration with the specified range, resulting in realizing a gain or loss from the sale. For U.S. GAAP, PRM investments are categorized as available for sale. The Company also uses foreign currency derivatives to hedge a portion of its U.S. dollar-denominated investments. See Notes 3, 4 and 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Report for additional information on the Company's investment strategies, hedging activities, and reinsurance, respectively.

As of September 30, 2021, Aflac Japan's SMR remains high and reflects a strong capital and surplus position. The Company is committed to maintaining strong capital levels throughout the pandemic, consistent with maintaining current insurance financial strength and credit ratings. For additional information see the Executive Summary COVID-19 section of this MD&A.

Aflac U.S.

A life insurance company’s statutory capital and surplus is determined according to rules prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), as modified by the insurance department in the insurance company’s state of domicile. Statutory accounting rules are different from U.S. GAAP and are intended to emphasize policyholder protection and company solvency. The continued long-term growth of the Company's business may require increases in the statutory capital and surplus of its insurance operations. The Company's insurance operations may secure additional statutory capital through various sources, such as internally generated statutory earnings, reduced dividends paid to the Parent Company, capital contributions by the Parent Company from funds generated through debt or equity offerings, or reinsurance transactions. The NAIC’s RBC formula is used by insurance regulators to help identify inadequately capitalized insurance companies. The RBC formula quantifies insurance risk, business risk, asset risk and interest rate risk by weighing the types and mixtures of risks inherent in the insurer’s operations. As of September 30, 2021, Aflac’s RBC ratio remains high and reflects a strong capital and surplus position.

Aflac, CAIC and TOIC are domiciled in Nebraska and are subject to its regulations. The maximum amount of dividends that can be paid to the Parent Company by Aflac, CAIC and TOIC without prior approval of Nebraska's director of insurance is the greater of the net income from operations, which excludes net investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. Dividends declared by Aflac during 2021 in excess of $872 million would be considered extraordinary and require such approval. Similar laws apply in New York, the domiciliary jurisdiction of Aflac New York.

Privacy and Cybersecurity Governance

The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted an information security policy directing management to establish and operate a global information security program with the goals of monitoring existing and emerging threats and ensuring that the Company’s information assets and data, and the data of its customers, are appropriately protected from loss or theft. The Board has delegated oversight of the Company’s information security program to the Audit and Risk Committee. The Company’s senior officers, including its Global Security and Chief Information Security Officer, are responsible for the operation of the global information security program and communicates quarterly with the Audit and Risk Committee on the program, including with respect to the state of the program, compliance with applicable regulations, current and evolving threats, and recommendations for changes in the information security program. The global information security program also includes a cybersecurity incident response plan that is designed to provide a management framework across Company functions for a coordinated assessment and response to potential security incidents. This framework establishes a protocol to report certain incidents to the Global Security and Chief Information Security Officer and other senior officers, with the goal of timely assessing such incidents, determining applicable disclosure requirements and communicating with the Audit and Risk Committee. The incident response plan directs the executive officers to report certain incidents immediately and directly to the Lead Non-Management Director.

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Other

For information regarding commitments and contingent liabilities, see Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Additional Information

Investors should note that the Company announces material financial information in its SEC filings, press releases and public conference calls. In accordance with SEC guidance, the Company may also use the Investor Relations section of the Company's website (http://investors.aflac.com) to communicate with investors about the Company. It is possible that the financial and other information the Company posts there could be deemed to be material information. The information on the Company's website is not part of this document. Further, the Company's references to website URLs are intended to be inactive textual references only.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These principles are established primarily by the FASB. In this MD&A, references to U.S. GAAP issued by the FASB are derived from the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates based on currently available information when recording transactions resulting from business operations. The estimates that the Company deems to be most critical to an understanding of Aflac’s results of operations and financial condition are those related to the valuation of investments and derivatives, DAC, liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, and income taxes. The preparation and evaluation of these critical accounting estimates involve the use of various assumptions developed from management’s analyses and judgments. The application of these critical accounting estimates determines the values at which 93% of the Company's assets and 80% of its liabilities are reported as of September 30, 2021, and thus has a direct effect on net earnings and shareholders’ equity. Subsequent experience or use of other assumptions could produce significantly different results.

There have been no changes in the items the Company has identified as critical accounting estimates during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. For additional information, see the Critical Accounting Estimates section of MD&A included in the 2020 Annual Report.

New Accounting Pronouncements

For information on new accounting pronouncements and the impact, if any, on the Company's financial position or results of operations, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The Company is exposed primarily to the following types of market risks: currency risk, interest rate risk, credit risk and equity risk. The Company regularly monitors its market risks and uses a variety of strategies to manage its exposure to these market risks. A description of the Company's market risk exposures may be found under “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in Part II, Item 7A, of the 2020 Annual Report. There have been no changes to the Company's market risk exposures from the market risk exposures previously disclosed in the 2020 Annual Report except as outlined below.

Item 4.Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report (the Evaluation Date). Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

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Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the first nine months of 2021, the Company has executed internal controls associated with new processes supporting the implementation of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2018-12 for long-duration insurance contracts (LDTI). These controls provide assurance over the reasonableness of the estimated range of impact to the Company's accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) that is expected upon adoption of LDTI on January 1, 2023 as disclosed in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company will continue to refine and maturate the internal controls associated with LDTI until adoption on January 1, 2023. Except for the change in controls over the Company's implementation of LDTI, there have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the third fiscal quarter of 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
During the first nine months of 2021, the Company repurchased shares of its common stock as follows:
PeriodTotal
Number of
Shares
Purchased
Average
Price Paid
Per Share
Total
Number
of Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs 
January 1 - January 312,850,664 $45.60 2,850,664 96,304,954 
February 1 - February 285,034,979 47.30 4,661,812 91,643,142 
March 1 - March 315,932,047 50.55 5,927,500 85,715,642 
April 1 - April 302,266,200 52.73 2,266,200 83,449,442 
May 1 - May 312,855,900 55.81 2,855,900 80,593,542 
June 1  - June 304,055,001 54.61 4,052,204 76,541,338 
July 1 - July 312,436,400 53.51 2,436,400 74,104,938 
August 1 - August 313,706,404 56.51 3,675,122 70,429,816 
September 1  - September 303,467,904 54.09 3,460,300 66,969,516 
Total32,605,499 
(1)
$52.01 32,186,102 66,969,516 
(1) During the first nine months of 2021, 419,397 shares were purchased in connection with income tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of restricted-share-based awards during the period.


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Item 6.    Exhibits
(a)EXHIBIT INDEX
-Articles of Incorporation, as amended – incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for June 30, 2008, Exhibit 3.0.
-Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended and restated – incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated April 6, 2020, Exhibit 3.1.
-
Certification of CEO dated October 28, 2021, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
-
Certification of CFO dated October 28, 2021, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
-
Certification of CEO and CFO dated October 28, 2021, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS-XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH-Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.
101.CAL-Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.
101.DEF-Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.
101.LAB-Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.
101.PRE-Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.
104-Cover Page Interactive Data File - formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101.
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Defined Terms

Throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company may use abbreviations, acronyms and defined terms which are defined below.
ALMAsset-Liability Matching
AOCIAccumulated Other Comprehensive Income
ARPAmerican Rescue Plan
ASCAccounting Standards Codification
ASUAccounting Standards Update
CARESCoronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
CDSCredit Default Swap
CMLsCommercial Mortgage Loans
CSAsCredit Support Annexes
DACDeferred Policy Acquisition Costs
DSCRDebt Service Coverage Ratios
EPSEarnings Per Share
FASBFinancial Accounting Standard Boards
FHLBFederal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta
FSAJapanese Financial Services Agency
ISDAInternational Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.
ISOsIncentive Stock Options
JGBJapan Government Bond
LDTILong-Duration Targeted Improvements
LGDLoss-Given-Default
LIBORLondon Interbank Offered Rate
LIPPCLife Insurance Policyholder Protection Corporation
LTVLoan-to-Value
MD&AManagement's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
MMLsMiddle Market Loans
NAICNational Association of Insurance Commissioners
NOLHGANational Organization of Life and Health Guaranty Associations
NQSOsNon-qualifying Stock Options
NRSROsNationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations
OTCOver-the-Counter
PDProbability-of-Default
PRMPolicy Reserve Matching
RBCRisk-Based Capital
ROEReturn on Equity
S&PStandard & Poor's
SECSecurities and Exchange Commission
SMRSolvency Margin Ratio
The PlanAflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan
TIBORTokyo Interbank Market Rate
TDRs
Troubled Debt Restructurings
TREsTransitional Real Estate Loans
TTMTelegraphic Transfer Middle Rate
U.S. GAAPU.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
VIEsVariable Interest Entities
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Glossary of Selected Terms

Throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company may use certain performance metrics and other terms which are defined below.

Adjusted Net Investment Income - Net Investment Income adjusted for i) amortized hedge cost/income related to foreign currency exposure management strategies and certain derivative activity and ii) net interest cash flows from foreign currency and interest rate derivatives associated with certain investment strategies, which are reclassified from net investment gains and (losses) to net investment income. The Company considers adjusted net investment income important because it provides a more comprehensive understanding of the costs and income associated with the Company's investments and related hedging strategies. The metric is used in segment reporting as a component of segment profitability.

Affiliated Corporate Agency – Agency in Japan directly affiliated with a specific corporation that sells insurance policies primarily to its employees.

Annualized Premiums in Force the amount of gross premium that a policyholder must pay over a full year in order to keep coverage. The growth of net premiums (defined below) is directly affected by the change in premiums in force and by the change in weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rates.

Average Weekly Producer The total number of writing agents who have produced greater than $0.00 during the production week - excluding any manual adjustments divided by the number of weeks in the time period. The Company believes this metric allows sales management to monitor progress and needs, as well as serve as a leading indicator of future production capacity.

Capital Buffer Established dollar amount of liquidity at the Parent Company reserved for injecting capital into the insurance entities or general liquidity support for general expenses at the Parent Company. Currently, the capital buffer is $1.0 billion and is part of $2.0 billion minimum balance at the Parent Company.

Earnings Per Basic Share – Net earnings divided by weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period.

Earnings Per Diluted Share – Net earnings divided by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period plus the weighted-average shares for the dilutive effect of share-based awards outstanding.

Group Insurance Insurance issued to a group, such as an employer or trade association, that covers
employees or association members and their dependents through certificates of coverage.

Individual Insurance – Insurance issued to an individual with the policy designed to cover that person and his or her dependents.

In-force Policies A count of policies that are active contracts at the end of a period.

Liquidity Support – Internally defined and established dollar amount of liquidity reserved for supporting potential collateral and settlements of derivatives at the Parent Company. Currently, the liquidity support is $1.0 billion and is part of the $2.0 billion minimum balance at the Parent Company.
Net Investment Income – The income derived from interest and dividends on invested assets, after deducting investment expenses.

Net Premiums – (sometimes referred to as net premium income or net earned premiums) is a financial measure that appears on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Earnings and in its segment reporting. This measure reflects collected or due premiums that have been earned ratably on policies in force during the reporting period, reduced by premiums that have been ceded to third parties and increased by premiums assumed through reinsurance.

New Annualized Premium Sales – (sometimes referred to as new sales or sales) An operating measure that is not reflected on the Company's financial statements. New annualized premium sales generally represent annual premiums on policies the Company sold and incremental increases from policy conversions that would be collected over a 12-month period assuming the policies remain in force for that entire period. For Aflac Japan, new annualized premium sales are determined by applications submitted during the reporting period. For Aflac U.S., new annualized premium sales are determined by applications. that are issued during the reporting period. Policy conversions are defined as the positive difference in the annualized premium when a policy upgrades in the current reporting period.

New Money Yield Gross yields earned on purchases of fixed maturities, loan receivables, and equities. Purchases exclude capitalized interest, securities lending/repurchase agreements, short-term/cash activity, and alternatives. New money yield for equities is based on the assumed dividend yield at the time of purchase. The new money yield for Aflac Japan excludes the impact of any derivatives and associated amortized hedge costs associated with USD-denominated investments. Management uses this metric as a leading indicator of future investment earning potential.

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Operating Ratios Used to evaluate the Company's financial condition and profitability. Examples include: (1) Ratios to total adjusted revenues, which present expenses as a percentage of total revenues and (2) Ratios to total premium, including benefit ratio.

Persistency – Percentage of premiums remaining in force at the end of a period, usually one year. For example, 95% persistency would mean that 95% of the premiums in force at the beginning of the period were still in force at the end of the period.

Pretax Adjusted Earnings – Earnings as adjusted earnings before the application of income taxes. This measure is used in the Company's segment reporting.

Pretax Adjusted Profit Margin – Adjusted earnings divided by adjusted revenues, before taxes are applied. This measure is used in the Company's segment reporting.

Return on Average Invested Assets – Net investment income as a percentage of average invested assets during the period. Management uses this metric to demonstrate how our actual net investment income results represent an overall return on the portfolio to provide a more comparative metric as the size of our investment portfolio changes over time.

Risk-based Capital (RBC) Ratio – Statutory adjusted capital divided by statutory required capital. This insurance ratio is based on rules prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and provides an indication of the amount of statutory capital the insurance company maintains, relative to the inherent risks in the insurer’s operations.

Solvency Margin Ratio (SMR) – Solvency margin total divided by one half of the risk total. This insurance ratio is prescribed by the Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA) and is used for all life insurance companies in Japan to measure the adequacy of the company’s ability to pay policyholder claims in the event actual risks exceed expected levels.

Statutory Earnings Earnings determined according to accounting rules prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), as modified by the insurance department in the insurance company’s state of domicile. These statutory accounting rules are different from U.S. GAAP and are intended to emphasize policyholder protection and company solvency.

Weighted-Average Foreign Currency Exchange Rate – Japan segment operating earnings for the period (excluding hedge costs) in yen divided by Japan segment operating earnings for the period (excluding hedge costs) in dollars. Management uses this metric to evaluate and determine consolidated results on foreign currency effective basis.





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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
Aflac Incorporated
October 28, 2021
/s/ Max K. Brodén
(Max K. Brodén)
Executive Vice President;
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
October 28, 2021
/s/ June Howard
(June Howard)
Senior Vice President, Financial Services; Chief Accounting Officer

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