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Unum Group

unm · NYSE Financial Services
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Ticker unm
Exchange NYSE
Sector Financial Services
Industry Insurance - Life
Employees 10,000+
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FY2019 Annual Report · Unum Group
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2019 Annual Report

A Note About Non-GAAP Measures 

We present certain measures of our performance that are not calculated in accordance with generally 
accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP). Non-GAAP financial measures 
exclude or include amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable 
measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be 
viewed as substitutes for the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with 
GAAP. This annual report refers to the following non-GAAP financial measure, which we believe is a better 
performance measure and better indicator of the revenue and profitability and underlying trends in our 
business: 

•

•

After-tax adjusted operating income or loss, which excludes realized investment gains or losses,
and certain other items, as applicable, which are discussed in “Executive Summary” in Part II
Item 7 of our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K; and
Book value per common share, which is calculated excluding accumulated other comprehensive
income (AOCI).

Realized investment gains or losses and unrealized gains or losses on securities depend on market 
conditions and do not necessarily relate to decisions regarding the underlying business of our company. 
We also exclude certain other items from our discussion of financial ratios and metrics in order to 
enhance the understanding and comparability of our operational performance and the underlying 
fundamentals. We exclude these items as we believe them to be infrequent or unusual in nature, but this 
exclusion is not an indication that similar items may not recur and does not replace the comparable GAAP 
measure in the determination of overall profitability. 

Reconciliations of the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP financial 
measures are as follows: 

Net Income 

Excluding: 

Net Realized Investment Loss (net of tax benefit of$(4.5) 

Cost Related to Early Retirement of Debt (net of tax benefit $5.7) 

After-tax Adjusted Operating Income 

Year Ended December 31, 2019 

(in millions) 

per share * 

$ 

1,100.3 

$ 

5.24 

 (18.7) 

 (21.6) 

$ 

1,140.6 

$ 

(0.09) 

(0.11) 

5.44 

Total Stockholders' Equity (Book Value) 

$ 

9,965.0 

$ 

49.10 

$ 

8,621.8 

$ 

40.19 

12/31/2019 

12/31/2018 

(in millions) 

per share 

(in millions) 

per share 

Excluding: 

Net Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Securities 

Net Gain on Hedges 

Subtotal 

Excluding: 

Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment 

Subtotal 

Excluding: 

615.9 

187.8 

9,161.3 

 (281.6) 

9,442.9 

3.03 

0.93 

45.14 

  (1.39) 

46.53 

Unrecognized Pension and Postretirement Benefit Costs 

  (484.8) 

 (1.46) 

1.17 

40.48 

 (1.42) 

41.90 

 (312.4) 

250.6 

8,683.6 

 (305.2) 

8,988.8 

   (447.2) 

Total Stockholders' Equity, Excluding Accumulated Other 
Comprehensive Income (Loss) 

$ 

9,927.7 

$ 

48.92 

$ 

9,436.0 

$ 

43.98 

*Assuming dilution

A Letter from Our President and CEO, Rick McKenney 

To our shareholders, customers and colleagues:  

As I write this letter, we find ourselves in the early stages of unprecedented events stemming from the 

COVID-19 pandemic. Many individuals and families have been affected by this disease and the 

corresponding economic impacts. Unum is committed to doing everything we can for people – our 

employees and their families, our customers, our communities, and our shareholders – as the situation 

continues to unfold.  

I’m proud of the dedication and resiliency of our employees around the world as they continue working to 

provide the same level of unparalleled service to our customers, whose needs are greater than ever. From 

the start, we worked diligently to communicate to our customers, share important legislative and 

regulatory updates, and provide resources to help them navigate the many impacts of COVID-19. Our 

purpose of helping the working world thrive throughout life’s moments doesn’t stop during a pandemic. 

It becomes even more critical, and we remain committed to taking care of all our stakeholders in this fast-

evolving situation.  

Robust business continuity planning and regular program testing have allowed us to respond quickly to 

events. To protect the health and safety of our employees, we enhanced our remote-work capacity and 

successfully transitioned our 10,000 employees to working remotely within days, as the outbreak began. 

This transition and other adjustments we made provided stable service experiences for our customers and 

prompt support for their employees. At the same time, we led the way in our local communities to 

support critical health services, combat food insecurity and ensure equitable access to learning.  

The strength for us to react quickly has been built up over many years, driven by a clear mission and 

strong underlying culture. There are many unknowns ahead, but our clarity of purpose will show the way. 

Review of 2019 Performance 

2019 was a good year that further positions the company for success. We delivered consistent solid 

performance and growth across our core businesses, while remaining laser-focused on providing 

customers with a world-class experience and helping safeguard millions of people. To meet our 

customers’ evolving needs, we continued to invest in new digital capabilities and in key growth areas, like 

leave management. At the same time, we remained committed to our responsibilities as an employer, 

community member and leader in advancing efforts to benefit our society and environment. 

Despite our strong performance and significant achievements, market and industry concerns about legacy 

long term care business continued to overshadow the performance of our core operations and weigh on 

our stock price. Our core business has historically generated strong cash flow to reinvest in the company 

and manage the capital needs of LTC, and we will continue to actively manage this block. 

In 2019, we saw an increased demand for our products and services, driven by favorable economic 

conditions, low unemployment and a number of positive workplace trends. While employers in today’s 

 
market face challenging decisions in the short term, we believe the need for more inclusive, robust 

benefits packages will be critical to all businesses over the long term. It’s certainly a conversation we are 

having with our customers as they work to support their talent at this time, and it has reinforced the 

societal need for what we do. 

We’ve built on our strengths and delivered solid core results, and we are positioning the business for 

continued growth and long-term success.  

2019 Performance by the Numbers 

Through the execution of our strategy, our business maintains a solid financial base, which allows us to 

support more than 39 million individuals and their families, across more than 180,000 companies.  

In 2019, our strategy yielded profitable and steady growth. The highlights include:  

•  Net income of $1.10 billion and strong after-tax adjusted operating income of $1.14 billion, based 

on total revenues of $12 billion 

• 

Earnings per share of $5.24 and adjusted operating EPS at an all-time high of $5.44, resulting in 

another year of record growth 

•  Return on equity of 17.2% in our core operating segments  
•  Book value per share up 11.2% from 2018, continuing our long-term commitment to shareholder 

equity growth 

•  Nearly $630 million in capital returned to shareholders 

We remain focused on growing our geographic footprint, expanding our portfolio of products and 

services, and investing in key growth areas to deliver superior financial performance and capital 

deployment. In 2019, we paid $229 million in dividends and increased the annual dividend rate by 11.2% 

over the prior year. We also repurchased $400 million worth of our outstanding shares. 

Our Purpose-Led Business 

Above all else, we are relentlessly focused on living our purpose to help the working world thrive 

throughout life’s moments. We believe in our mission to help safeguard millions of people. Last year 

alone, we paid $7.5 billion in benefits to individuals during difficult moments in their lives, providing 

support that allowed them to recover and prosper. As one customer told us, “I will be eternally grateful as 

you have been a pillar of encouragement and strength in my life.” Reactions like this truly reaffirm all that 

our team does and remind us we are providing more than just financial support.  

Our employees can also attest to our focus on doing the right thing for those we support – especially in 

times where that help is critical. This year alone, our employees helped 318,000 people return to work. 

As a global organization working with unique businesses and individuals, we strongly believe in the 

importance of diversity and creating an inclusive work environment. Continuing with our efforts over the 

past several years, in 2019 we were named a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality on the Corporate 

Equality Index and a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion on the Disability Equality Index. 

 
Additionally, we have committed to achieving gender parity in our leadership by 2030 as part of the 

Paradigm for Parity Coalition.  

In 2019, we also focused on enhancing our workplace culture and the professional training and 

development of employees. We are proud to have been recognized as a great place to work by several 

independent organizations and will continue to make investments in our people and culture to create a 

world-class workplace. Last year, we were selected as a Best Employer for Women by Forbes, recognized 

for the second year in a row by the Great Place to Work Institute, and named a Best Employer for 

Excellence in Health & Wellbeing by the National Business Group on Health, among other accolades.  

We also know the importance of reaching beyond our office walls and into our communities. In 2019, we 

contributed $15 million to charitable causes through corporate and employee contributions. This giving 

includes in-kind contributions, matching gifts and more than 120,000 volunteer hours to organizations of 

their choice – time our community partners tell us is invaluable. 

Growing and Improving the Customer Experience  

In 2019, we continued to invest in digital transformation across our organization to enhance our own 

product offering and capabilities, while improving the customer experience through more efficient and 

higher-quality solutions.  

We already see the return on this investment. More customers are using cloud-based systems like our 

newly expanded HR Connect and recently launched MyUnum platforms for billing and benefit 

management, and they’re giving positive marks on the experience. As the only certified solution provider 

on Workday in the benefits and leave space, we have placed over $100 million in new premium on that 

platform, resulting in exceptional client experiences.  

Our Colonial Life business has similarly made meaningful investments in digital transformation and 

improved customer experience through several new quote-to-claim capabilities, including digital benefits 

booklets, an employee online scheduler, tailored customer websites, claims automation and the Colonial 

Life benefits app. 

We have also seen an increase in positive experiences across Unum International. In the U.K., more 

employer customers are taking advantage of our award-winning Benni platform, which allows employees 

to choose additional benefits alongside those offered by their employer. Additionally, our recently 

released Help@Hand health support app allows for quicker access to medical appointments digitally, at 

no additional cost for covered employees. We successfully integrated Poland into our international 

business, with operations in the region exceeding our expectations for both premium growth and profits 

in 2019, leveraging our marketing and distribution expertise from the U.S. and U.K. 

Along with digital improvements, our investment in leave management services has contributed to the 

growth of our group benefits business. Large employer sales were up 29% in 2019 based on leave services 

alone. The demand for absence management is evident: 46% of firms with 1,000 or more employees now 

offer parental paid leave and 90% of paid short term disability claims have an associated leave. 

 
Additionally, nine states in the U.S. have already implemented or passed comprehensive paid leave 

legislation, with 31 states having considered new or expanded programs in 2019. As the policy landscape 

continues to change, we have been an active voice in these national conversations. 

Of course, as we enhance the customer experience, we are always considering the many unique difficulties 

that people often face. With 2 in 5 workers considered financially fragile, millions on leave at any given 

moment, and 40% living paycheck to paycheck, it is essential that we have a robust and inclusive set of 

benefits for people to choose from, no matter what their situation. We continue to update our offerings 

across our portfolio to meet this increased need for flexibility in benefit packages.  

Looking Ahead  

Despite the current environment, Unum continues to make strategic investments in our future while 

remaining focused on the disciplined management of our closed block. 

As we move forward, our priority will be on focused investments for our customers. We expect to remain a 

market leader by anticipating and responding to the evolving needs of our customers. Additionally, we 

will enhance synergies across our companies and build upon our strong Unum culture, as well as improve 

processes to make our business more efficient and agile.  

Throughout Unum’s more than 170-year history, we have successfully managed many economic cycles 

and global events. Today our company has a strong balance sheet, capital position, and liquidity, with a 

high-quality franchise network that people know and trust. We are confident in our ability to navigate 

through the recent market impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, while providing workers with the 

essential benefits they need.  

As we recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare to help people return to work in 

the coming months, the need for inclusive employee benefits has never been clearer. Our belief remains 

that this success also comes from continuing to practice our company values, both through our business 

practices and our contributions to the world around us. As we focus on our business goals, we will not 

lose sight of that bigger picture. Times like these renew our sense of purpose, and although there will be 

challenges, I look forward to what we will accomplish in 2020.  

Thank you for your continued support.  

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C.  20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

☒  Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 

     ☐  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 001-11294

Unum Group
 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

62-1598430
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1 Fountain Square
Chattanooga, Tennessee
(Address of principal executive offices)

37402
(Zip Code)

(423)294-1011
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Common stock, $0.10 par value
6.250% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2058

Trading Symbol
UNM
UNMA

Name of each exchange on which registered
New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes [X]
No [ ]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes [ ]
No [X]

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. Yes [X] 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). Yes [X] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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.
(Check one): 

Large Accelerated Filer

Non-accelerated filer

x 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 Act).  Yes ☐   No ☒  

The aggregate market value of the shares of the registrant's common stock held by non-affiliates (based upon the closing price 
of these shares on the New York Stock Exchange) as of the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second 
fiscal quarter was $7.0 billion.  As of February 14, 2020, there were 202,971,077 shares of the registrant's common stock 
outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the information required by Part III of this Form 10-K are incorporated herein by reference from the registrant's 
definitive proxy statement for its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, within 120 days after the end 
of the registrant's fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

PART I

Item 1.

Business

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

Item 2.

Properties

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity 

PART II

Securities

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Item 9B. Other Information

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

PART III

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

PART IV

Index to Exhibits

Signatures

Page
1

2

19

29

29

29

29

30

31

33

89

96

195

195

197

198

198

199

199

199

200

212

216

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the Act) provides a "safe harbor" to encourage companies to provide 
prospective information, as long as those 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.  Certain information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (including certain statements 
in the business description in Item 1, Management's Discussion and Analysis in Item 7, and the consolidated financial 
statements and related notes in Item 8), or in any other written or oral statements made by us in communications with the 
financial community or contained in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), may be considered 
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act.  Forward-looking statements are those not based on historical 
information, but rather relate to our outlook, future operations, strategies, financial results, or other developments.  Forward-
looking statements speak only as of the date made.  We undertake no obligation to update these statements, even if made 
available on our website or otherwise.  These statements may be made directly in this document or may be made part of this 
document by reference to other documents filed by us with the SEC, a practice which is known as "incorporation by reference."  
You can find many of these statements by looking for words such as "will," "may," "should," "could," "believes," "expects," 
"anticipates," "estimates," "plans," "assumes," "intends," "projects," "goals,” "objectives," or similar expressions in this 
document or in documents incorporated herein. 

These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our 
control.  We caution readers that the following factors, in addition to other factors mentioned from time to time, may cause 
actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements: 

•
•

•

•
•
•

•

•

•
•
•

•
•
•

•
•
•

•
•

Sustained periods of low interest rates.
Fluctuation in insurance reserve liabilities and claim payments due to changes in claim incidence, recovery rates, 
mortality and morbidity rates, and policy benefit offsets due to, among other factors, the rate of unemployment and 
consumer confidence, the emergence of new diseases, epidemics, or pandemics, new trends and developments in 
medical treatments, the effectiveness of our claims operational processes, and changes in governmental programs. 
Unfavorable economic or business conditions, both domestic and foreign, that may result in decreases in sales, 
premiums, or persistency, as well as unfavorable claims activity.
Changes in, or interpretations or enforcement of, laws and regulations.
A cyber attack or other security breach could result in the unauthorized acquisition of confidential data.
The failure of our business recovery and incident management processes to resume our business operations in the 
event of a natural catastrophe, cyber attack, or other event. 
Investment results, including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates, defaults, changes in credit spreads, 
impairments, and the lack of appropriate investments in the market which can be acquired to match our liabilities.
Increased competition from other insurers and financial services companies due to industry consolidation, new entrants 
to our markets, or other factors.
Changes in our financial strength and credit ratings.
Our ability to develop digital capabilities or execute on our technology systems upgrades or replacements.
Actual experience in the broad array of our products that deviates from our assumptions used in pricing, underwriting, 
and reserving.
Availability of reinsurance in the market and the ability of our reinsurers to meet their obligations to us.
Ability to generate sufficient internal liquidity and/or obtain external financing.
Damage to our reputation due to, among other factors, regulatory investigations, legal proceedings, external events, 
and/or inadequate or failed internal controls and procedures. 
Effectiveness of our risk management program.
Contingencies and the level and results of litigation.
Ineffectiveness of our derivatives hedging programs due to changes in the economic environment, counterparty risk, 
ratings downgrades, capital market volatility, changes in interest rates, and/or regulation. 
Fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates.
Recoverability and/or realization of the carrying value of our intangible assets, long-lived assets, and deferred tax 
assets.

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly 
qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section.  

1

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General 

PART I

Unum Group, a Delaware general business corporation, and its insurance and non-insurance subsidiaries, which collectively 
with Unum Group we refer to as the Company, operate in the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, and, to a limited 
extent, in certain other countries.  The principal operating subsidiaries in the United States are Unum Life Insurance Company 
of America (Unum America), Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company (Provident), The Paul Revere Life Insurance 
Company (Paul Revere Life), Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company, Starmount Life Insurance Company (Starmount 
Life), in the United Kingdom, Unum Limited, and in Poland, Unum Zycie TUiR S.A. (Unum Poland).  We are a leading 
provider of financial protection benefits in the United States and the United Kingdom.  Our products include disability, life, 
accident, critical illness, dental and vision, and other related services.  We market our products primarily through the workplace. 

We have three principal operating business segments: Unum US, Unum International, and Colonial Life.  Our other segments 
are the Closed Block and Corporate segments.  These segments are discussed more fully under "Reporting Segments" included 
herein in this Item 1. 

Business Strategies

The benefits we provide help the working world thrive throughout life's moments and protect people from the financial hardship 
of illness, injury, or loss of life by providing support when it is needed most.  As a leading provider of employee benefits, we 
offer a broad portfolio of products and services through the workplace.  

Specifically, we offer group, individual, voluntary, and dental and vision products as well as provide certain fee-based services.  
These products and services, which can be sold stand-alone or combined with other coverages, help employers of all sizes 
attract and retain a stronger workforce while protecting the incomes and livelihood of their employees.  We believe employer-
sponsored benefits are the most effective way to provide workers with access to information and options to protect their 
financial stability.  Working people and their families, particularly those at lower and middle incomes, are perhaps the most 
vulnerable in today's economy yet are often overlooked by many providers of financial services and products.  For many of 
these people, employer-sponsored benefits are the primary defense against the potentially catastrophic fallout of death, illness, 
or injury.  

We have established a corporate culture consistent with the social values our products provide.  Because we see important links 
between the obligations we have to all of our stakeholders, we place a strong emphasis on contributing to positive change in our 
communities.  Accordingly, we are committed not only to meeting the needs of our customers who depend on us, but also to 
operating with integrity and being accountable for our actions through sound and consistent business practices, a strong internal 
compliance program, and a comprehensive risk management strategy.

We believe our disciplined approach to providing financial protection products at the workplace puts us in a position of strength 
as we seek to capitalize on the growing and largely unfilled need for our products and services.  We believe the need for our 
products and services remains strong, and we intend to continue protecting our solid margins and returns through our pricing 
and risk management actions.  Our strategy is centered on growing our existing business, expanding our reach, and investing in 
our operations and technology to anticipate and respond to new market demands to meet the changing needs of our customers.     

Although the low interest rate environment continues to place pressure on our profit margins, we continue to analyze and 
employ strategies that we believe will help us navigate this environment and allow us to maintain solid operating margins and 
significant financial flexibility to support the needs of our businesses, while also continuing to return capital to our shareholders 
and exploring merger and acquisition opportunities to enhance our business lines.  The continued strong labor market in the 
U.S. and the high level of consumer confidence will have positive impacts on our business.  We have substantial leverage to 
rising interest rates and an improving economy which generates payroll growth and wage inflation.  We believe that consistent 
operating results, combined with the implementation of strategic initiatives and the effective deployment of capital, will allow 
us to meet our long-term financial objectives.

2

 
 
Reporting Segments 

Our reporting segments are comprised of the following: Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, Closed Block, and 
Corporate.  The percentage of consolidated premium income generated by each reporting segment for the year ended 
December 31, 2019 is as follows:

Unum US
Unum International
Colonial Life
Closed Block
Total

64.0 %
7.0
18.0
11.0
100.0 %

Financial information is provided in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" 
contained herein in Item 7 and Note 13 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8.

Unum US Segment

Our Unum US segment includes group long-term and short-term disability products, group life and accidental death and 
dismemberment products, and supplemental and voluntary lines of business, which include individual disability, voluntary 
benefits, and dental and vision products.  Our Unum US segment also includes fee-based leave management services and 
administrative services only (ASO) business.  Unum US products are issued primarily by Unum America, Provident, and 
Starmount Life.  Paul Revere Life previously issued products reported in our Unum US segment and continues to service the in-
force policies, but Paul Revere Life no longer actively markets new business.  These products are marketed through our field 
sales personnel who work in conjunction with independent brokers and consultants.  Our market strategy for Unum US is to 
effectively deliver an integrated offering of employee benefit products in the group core market segment, which we define for 
Unum US as employee groups with fewer than 2,000 employees, the group large case market segment, and the supplemental 
and voluntary market segment.

The percentage of Unum US segment premium income generated by each product line during 2019 is as follows:

Group Disability
Group Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment
Individual Disability
Voluntary Benefits
Dental and Vision
Total

43.1 %
30.4
7.3
15.1
4.1
100.0 %

Group Long-term and Short-term Disability

We sell group long-term and short-term disability products to employers for the benefit of employees.  

Group long-term disability provides employees with insurance coverage for loss of income in the event of extended work 
absences due to sickness or injury.  We offer services to employers and insureds to encourage and facilitate rehabilitation, 
retraining, and re-employment.  Most policies begin providing benefits following 90 or 180 day waiting periods and continue 
providing benefits until the employee reaches a certain age, generally between 65 and 70, or recovers from the disability.  The 
benefits are limited to specified maximums as a percentage of income.  Also included in our long-term disability product line is 
our medical stop-loss product, which is designed to protect self-insured employers if their employees' medical claims exceed 
certain agreed upon thresholds.

Group short-term disability insurance generally provides coverage from loss of income due to injury or sickness for up to 26 
weeks, and is limited to specified maximums as a percentage of income.  Benefits are effective immediately for accidents and 
after one week for sickness.  

Our leave management services provide administrative services on behalf of employers to ensure the protected leave eligibility 
and status for employees are in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.  ASO products provide administrative services 

3

regarding claims processing and billing for self-insured customers for which the responsibility for funding claim payments 
remain with the customer.

Premiums for group long-term and short-term disability are generally based on expected claims of a pool of similar risks plus 
provisions for administrative expenses, investment income, and profit.  In some cases, coverage for large employers will 
include retrospective experience rating provisions or will be underwritten on an experience-rated basis.  Premiums for 
experience-rated group long-term and short-term disability business are based on the expected experience of the client given its 
demographics, industry group, and location, adjusted for the credibility of the specific claim experience of the client.  Both 
group long-term and short-term disability are sold primarily on a basis permitting periodic repricing to address the underlying 
claims experience.  Fees for our leave management services and ASO business are generally based on the number of covered 
employees and an agreed-upon per-employee, per-month rate.  Premiums for our medical stop-loss product are generally based 
on the number of covered employees in self-insured employer groups and their estimated overall health risk plus provisions for 
administrative expenses, and profit. 

We have defined underwriting practices and procedures.  If the coverage amount for our disability policies exceeds certain 
prescribed age and amount limits, we may require a prospective insured to submit evidence of insurability.  Our disability 
policies are typically issued, both at inception and renewal, with rate guarantees.  For new group policyholders, the usual rate 
guarantee is one to three years.  For group policies being renewed, the rate guarantee is generally one year, but may be longer.  
The profitability of the policy depends on the adequacy of the rate during the rate guarantee period.  The contracts provide for 
certain circumstances in which the rate guarantees can be overridden.  Our medical stop loss contracts are renewable on an 
annual basis and rates are not guaranteed beyond one year.  There is no requirement for prospective insureds to submit evidence 
of insurability because coverage levels are determined for the group as a whole.

Profitability of group long-term and short-term disability insurance and our medical stop-loss product is affected by sales, 
persistency, investment returns, claims experience, and the level of administrative expenses.  Morbidity is an important factor in 
disability claims experience, and many economic and societal factors can affect claim incidence for disability insurance.  We 
routinely make pricing adjustments on our group long-term and short-term disability insurance products, when contractually 
permitted, which take into account emerging experience and external factors. 

Group Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment

Group life and accidental death and dismemberment products are sold to employers as employee benefit products.  Group life 
consists primarily of renewable term life insurance with the coverages frequently linked to employees' wages and includes a 
provision for waiver of premium, if disabled.  Accidental death and dismemberment consists primarily of an additional benefit 
amount payable if death or severe injury is attributable to an accident.  

Premiums are generally based on expected claims of a pool of similar risks plus provisions for administrative expenses, 
investment income, and profit.  Underwriting practices and rate guarantees are similar to those used for group disability 
products, and evidence of insurability is required for benefits in excess of a specified limit.  

Profitability of group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance is affected by persistency, investment returns, 
claims experience, and the level of administrative expenses.

Individual Disability

Individual disability products are offered primarily to multi-life employer groups to supplement their group disability plans and 
may be funded by the employer, but the policy is owned by the employee and is portable.  Individual disability insurance 
provides the insured with a portion of earned income lost as a result of sickness or injury.  The benefits, including the 
underlying group disability coverage, typically range from 30 percent to 75 percent of the insured's monthly earned income.  
We provide various options with respect to length of benefit periods, product features, and waiting periods before benefit 
payments begin, which permit tailoring of the multi-life plan to a specific employer's needs.  We also market individual 
disability policies which include payments for the transfer of business ownership between partners and payments for business 
overhead expenses, also on a multi-life basis.  Individual disability products do not provide for the accumulation of cash values. 

Premium rates for individual disability products vary by age, product features, and occupation based on assumptions concerning 
morbidity, mortality, persistency, administrative expenses, investment income, and profit.  We develop our assumptions based 
on our own experience.  Our underwriting rules, issue limits, and plan designs reflect risk and the financial circumstances of 
prospective insureds.  Individuals in multi-life groups may be subject to limited medical underwriting.  The majority of our 

4

individual disability policies are written on a noncancelable basis.  Under a noncancelable policy, as long as the insured 
continues to pay the fixed annual premium for the policy's duration, we cannot cancel the policy or change the premium.

Profitability of individual disability insurance is affected by persistency, investment returns, claims experience, and the level of 
administrative expenses.

Voluntary Benefits

Voluntary benefits products are primarily sold to groups of employees through payroll deduction at the workplace and include 
life, disability, accident, hospital indemnity, cancer, and critical illness offered on both a group and individual basis.  

Premium rates for voluntary benefits products are based on assumptions concerning morbidity, mortality, persistency, 
administrative expenses, investment income, and profit.  We develop our assumptions based on our own claims and persistency 
experience and published industry tables.  Our underwriters evaluate the medical condition of prospective policyholders prior to 
the issuance of a policy on a simplified basis.  Underwriting requirements may be waived for cases that meet certain criteria, 
including participation levels.  Individual voluntary benefits products other than life insurance are offered on a guaranteed 
renewable basis which allows us to re-price in-force policies, subject to regulatory approval.  Group voluntary benefits products 
are offered primarily on an optionally renewable basis which allows us to re-price or terminate in-force policies. 

Profitability of voluntary benefits products is affected by the level of employee participation, persistency, investment returns, 
claims experience, and the level of administrative expenses.

Dental and Vision

Group dental and vision products are sold to employers as employee benefit products.  Our group dental products include a 
variety of insured and self-insured dental care plans including preferred provider organizations and scheduled reimbursement 
plans.  Our group vision products provide coverage that includes a range of both in-network and out-of-network benefits for 
routine vision services offered either in conjunction with our dental product offerings or as stand-alone coverage.

Premiums for small case group dental and vision products are generally based on expected claims of a pool of similar risks plus 
a provision for administrative expenses, investment income, and profit.  Premiums for large employer groups are underwritten 
on an experience-rated basis.

Profitability of our dental and vision products is affected by persistency, claims experience, the level of administrative 
expenses, and to a lesser extent, investment returns.

Unum International Segment

The Unum International segment includes our operations in the United Kingdom and Poland.  Unum UK's business includes 
insurance for group long-term disability, group life, and supplemental lines of business which include dental, individual 
disability, and critical illness products.  Unum Poland's business primarily includes insurance for individual and group life with 
accident and health riders.  Both Unum UK's and Unum Poland's products are sold primarily through field sales personnel and 
independent brokers and consultants.  The market strategy for the segment is to offer benefits to employers and employees 
through the workplace, with a focus on the expansion of the number of employers and employees covered in our Unum UK 
core market segment, which we define as employee groups with fewer than 500 employees, and the growth of the existing 
Unum Poland business through the incorporation of our benefits and distribution expertise.

The percentage of Unum International segment premium income generated by each product line during 2019 is as follows:

Unum UK

Group Long-term Disability
Group Life
Supplemental

Unum Poland
Total

5

56.0 %
18.4
14.2
11.4
100.0 %

 
Unum UK Group Long-term Disability

Group long-term disability products are sold to employers for the benefit of employees.  Group long-term disability provides 
employees with insurance coverage for loss of income in the event of extended work absences due to sickness or injury.  
Services are offered to employers and insureds to encourage and facilitate rehabilitation, retraining, and re-employment.  Most 
policies begin providing benefits following 90 or 180 day waiting periods and continue providing benefits until the employee 
reaches a certain age or reaches the end of the limited period specified in the policy terms.  The benefits are limited to specified 
maximums as a percentage of income. 

Premiums for group long-term disability are generally based on expected claims of a pool of similar risks plus provisions for 
administrative expenses, investment income, and profit.  Some cases carry experience rating provisions.  Premiums for 
experience-rated group long-term disability business are based on the expected experience of the client given its demographics, 
industry group, and location, adjusted for the credibility of the specific claim experience of the client.  Policies are sold 
primarily on a basis permitting periodic repricing to address the underlying claims experience. 

We have defined underwriting practices and procedures.  If the coverage amount exceeds certain prescribed age and amount 
limits, we may require a prospective insured to submit evidence of insurability.  Policies are typically issued, both at inception 
and renewal, with rate guarantees.  The usual rate guarantee is two years but may vary depending on circumstances.  The 
profitability of the policy is dependent upon the adequacy of the rate during the rate guarantee period.  The contracts provide for 
certain circumstances in which the rate guarantees can be overridden.

Profitability of group long-term disability insurance is affected by persistency, investment returns, claims experience, and the 
level of administrative expenses.  Morbidity is an important factor in disability claims experience.  We routinely make pricing 
adjustments on our group insurance products, when contractually permitted, which take into account emerging experience and 
external factors.

Unum UK Group Life

Group life products are sold to employers as employee benefit products.  Group life consists of two types of products, a 
renewable term life insurance product and a group dependent life product.  The renewable term life product provides a lump 
sum benefit to the beneficiary on death of an employee.  The group dependent life product, which we discontinued offering to 
new customers in 2012, provides an annuity to the beneficiary upon the death of an employee.  Both coverages are frequently 
linked to employees' wages.  Premiums for group life are generally based on expected claims of a pool of similar risks plus 
provisions for administrative expenses, investment income, and profit.  Underwriting and rate guarantees are similar to those 
utilized for group long-term disability products.  

Profitability of group life is affected by persistency, investment returns, claims experience, and the level of administrative 
expenses.

Unum UK Supplemental

Supplemental products are sold to individual retail customers as well as groups of employees and include individual disability, 
group and individual critical illness, and group dental.  Individual disability products provide the insured with a portion of 
earned income lost as a result of sickness or injury.  Critical illness products provide a lump-sum benefit on the occurrence of a 
covered critical illness event.  Group dental products generally provide fixed benefits based on specified treatments or a portion 
of the cost of the treatment.  

Premiums for our individual products vary by age and are based on assumptions concerning morbidity, mortality, persistency, 
administrative expenses, investment income, and profit.  We develop our assumptions based on our own claims and persistency 
experience and published industry tables.  Approximately one half of our individual disability policies are written on a 
noncancelable basis.  The remainder of our individual disability policies and all of our individual critical illness products are 
offered on a guaranteed renewable basis which allows us to re-price in-force policies.  Our underwriters evaluate the medical 
and financial condition of prospective policyholders prior to the issuance of a policy.  

Premiums for group critical illness products are generally based on expected claims of a pool of similar risks plus provisions for 
administrative expenses, investment income, and profit.  Underwriting and rate guarantees are similar to those utilized for group 
long-term disability products.  Premiums for group dental products are generally based on standard industry rates that vary by 
age, with minor pricing variation based on the number of covered employees in the group.

6

Profitability of our supplemental products is affected by persistency, investment returns, claims experience, and the level of 
administrative expenses.

Unum Poland

Unum Poland products, which include both individual and group life products, provide renewable term and whole life insurance 
with accident and health riders.  Premiums are based on expected claims of a pool of similar risks plus provisions for 
administrative expenses, investment income, and profit.  Profitability of our Unum Poland products is affected by persistency, 
investment returns, claims experience, and the level of administrative expenses.  

Colonial Life Segment 

Our Colonial Life segment includes accident, sickness, and disability products, which includes our dental and vision products, 
life products, and cancer and critical illness products.  These products are issued primarily by Colonial Life & Accident 
Insurance Company and marketed to employees, on both a group and an individual basis, at the workplace through an 
independent contractor agency sales force and brokers.  Our market strategy for Colonial Life is to effectively deliver a broad 
set of voluntary products and services in the public sector market and in the commercial market, with a particular focus on the 
core commercial market segment, which we define for Colonial Life as accounts with fewer than 1,000 employees.

We have defined underwriting practices and procedures for each of our products.  Most policies are issued on a simplified issue 
basis, based on answers to simple health and employment questions.  If the amount applied for exceeds certain levels, the 
applicant may be asked to answer additional health questions or submit to additional medical examinations.

The percentage of Colonial Life segment premium income generated by each product line during 2019 is as follows:

Accident, Sickness, and Disability
Life
Cancer and Critical Illness
Total

58.5 %
20.5
21.0
100.0 %

Accident, Sickness, and Disability

The accident, sickness, and disability product line consists of short-term disability plans, accident-only plans providing benefits 
for injuries on a specified loss basis, and our dental and vision products.  It also includes accident and health plans covering 
hospital admissions, confinement, and surgeries. 

Premiums for accident, sickness, and disability products are generally based on assumptions for morbidity, mortality, 
persistency, administrative expenses, investment income, and profit.  We develop our assumptions based on our own 
experience.  Premiums are primarily individual guaranteed renewable for which we have the ability to change premiums on a 
state by state basis.  A small percentage of the policies are written on a group basis for which we retain the right to change 
premiums at the individual account level.  Premiums for our dental and vision products are generally guaranteed issue with 
standard industry rates that vary by age and region. 

Profitability is affected by the level of employee participation, persistency, investment returns, claims experience, and the level 
of administrative expenses.   

Life

Life products are primarily comprised of universal life, whole life, and term life policies.  

Premium rates vary by age and are based on assumptions concerning mortality, persistency, administrative expenses, 
investment income, and profit.  We develop our assumptions based on our own experience and published industry tables.  
Premiums for the whole life and level term products are guaranteed for the life of the contract.  Premiums for the universal life 
products are flexible and may vary at the individual policyholder level.  For the group term life products, we retain the right to 
change premiums at the account level based on the experience of the account.

7

  
Profitability is affected by the level of employee participation, persistency, investment returns, claims experience, and the level 
of administrative expenses.   

Cancer and Critical Illness

Cancer policies provide various benefits for the treatment of cancer including hospitalization, surgery, radiation, and 
chemotherapy.  Critical illness policies provide a lump-sum benefit and/or fixed payments on the occurrence of a covered 
critical illness event.

Premiums are generally based on assumptions for morbidity, mortality, persistency, administrative expenses, investment 
income, and profit.  We develop our assumptions based on our own experience.  Premiums are primarily individual guaranteed 
renewable wherein we have the ability to change premiums on a state by state basis.  

Profitability of these products is affected by the level of employee participation, persistency, investment returns, claims 
experience, and the level of administrative expenses.   

Closed Block Segment 

Our Closed Block segment consists of group and individual long-term care, individual disability, and other insurance products 
no longer actively marketed.  Closed Block segment premium income for 2019 was comprised of approximately 64 percent 
group and individual long-term care and 36 percent individual disability.

Group and Individual Long-term Care 

We discontinued offering individual long-term care in 2009 and group long-term care in 2012.  Group long-term care was 
previously offered to employers for the benefit of employees.  Individual long-term care was previously marketed on a single-
life customer basis.  

Long-term care insurance pays a benefit upon the loss of two or more activities of daily living and the insured's requirement of 
standby assistance or cognitive impairment.  Payment is generally made on an indemnity basis, regardless of expenses incurred, 
up to a lifetime maximum.  Benefits begin after a waiting period, usually 90 days or less, and are generally paid for a period of 
three years, six years, or lifetime.  

Our long-term care insurance was sold on a guaranteed renewable basis which allows us to re-price in-force policies, subject to 
regulatory approval.  Premium rates for long-term care vary by age and are based on assumptions concerning morbidity, 
mortality, persistency, administrative expenses, investment income, and profit.  Premium rate increases continue to be 
implemented where needed and where approved by state regulators.  We develop our assumptions based on our own claims and 
persistency experience and published industry tables.  

Profitability is affected by premium rate increases, persistency, investment returns, claims experience, and the level of 
administrative expenses.  

Individual Disability

We began limiting sales of the types of individual disability policies reported in our Closed Block segment subsequent to the 
mid-1990s after substantial changes in product design were implemented to improve the overall risk profile of our offerings of 
individual disability products.  We entirely discontinued issuing new policies in this closed block of business in 2004.  The 
majority of the policies were written on a noncancelable basis and were marketed on a single-life customer basis.  Profitability 
is affected by persistency, investment returns, claims experience, and the level of administrative expenses.

Other

Other insurance products not actively marketed include group pension, individual life and corporate-owned life insurance, 
reinsurance pools and management operations, and other miscellaneous product lines.  The majority of these products have 
been reinsured, with approximately 80 percent of reserves at December 31, 2019 ceded to other insurance companies. 

8

Corporate Segment

Our Corporate segment includes investment income on corporate assets not specifically allocated to a line of business, interest 
expense on corporate debt other than non-recourse debt, and certain other corporate income and expenses not allocated to a line 
of business. 

Reinsurance 

In the normal course of business, we assume reinsurance from and cede reinsurance to other insurance companies.  In a 
reinsurance transaction, a reinsurer agrees to indemnify another insurer for part or all of its liability under a policy or policies it 
has issued for an agreed upon premium or fee.  We undertake reinsurance transactions for both risk management and capital 
management.  If the assuming reinsurer in a reinsurance agreement is unable to meet its obligations, we remain contingently 
liable.  In the event that reinsurers do not meet their obligations under the terms of the reinsurance agreement, reinsurance 
recoverable balances could become uncollectible.  We evaluate the financial condition of reinsurers to whom we cede business 
and monitor concentration of credit risk to minimize our exposure.  We may also require assets to be held in trust, letters of 
credit, or other acceptable collateral to support reinsurance recoverable balances.  The collectibility of our reinsurance 
recoverable is primarily a function of the solvency of the individual reinsurers.  Although we have controls to minimize our 
exposure, the insolvency of a reinsurer or the inability or unwillingness of a reinsurer to comply with the terms of a reinsurance 
contract could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

In general, the maximum amount of life insurance risk retained by our U.S. insurance subsidiaries under group or individual life 
or group or individual accidental death and dismemberment policies during 2019 was $1 million per covered life per policy.  
The retention amount remains at $1 million for 2020.  For Unum Limited life insurance risk, during 2019 we had reinsurance 
agreements which provided 75 percent coverage up to £500 thousand per covered life for group dependent life benefits and 25 
percent coverage for group lump sum benefits, as well as 100 percent coverage per covered life above that amount.  The same 
structures will be maintained for coverage during 2020 for Unum Limited.  

We have reinsurance agreements on approximately 76 percent of our Closed Block individual disability business.  As of 
December 31, 2019, this reinsurance covers approximately 67 percent of that portion of the consolidated risk above a $3.9 
billion retention limit.  The risk limit for the reinsurer grows over time to a maximum of $2.2 billion, after which any further 
losses will revert to us.

We have global catastrophic reinsurance coverage which covers all Unum Group insurance companies and includes four layers 
of coverage to limit our exposure under life, accidental death and dismemberment, long-term care, and disability policies in 
regard to a catastrophic event.  Each layer provides coverage for all catastrophic events, including acts of war and any type of 
terrorism, up to $1 million of coverage per person per policy for each U.S. and non-U.K. line of covered business, and up to £2 
million of coverage for each U.K. covered line of business.  We have the following coverage for 2020, after a $100 million 
deductible: 

Layer

First
Second
Third
Fourth
Total Catastrophic Coverage

Coverage 
(in millions)
50.0
$
55.0
90.0
180.0
375.0

$

Percent 
Coverage

50.0 %
55.0
60.0
60.0

9

In addition to the global catastrophic reinsurance coverage noted above, Unum Limited has additional catastrophic coverage via 
an arms-length, inter-company reinsurance agreement with Unum America, under similar terms as the global catastrophic 
treaties.  Unum Limited has the following additional coverage for 2020, after a £75 million deductible:

Layer

First
Second
Total Catastrophic Coverage

Coverage 
(in millions)
15.0
£
9.0
24.0

£

Percent 
Coverage
20.0 %
22.5

Unum Poland has additional global catastrophic reinsurance coverage of up to zł70 million with a maximum retention limit of 
zł0.8 million in 2019.  Insurable events include passive war, as well as nuclear, chemical, biological and other forms of 
terrorism.  This agreement was renewed with the same conditions for 2020. 

Events may occur which limit or eliminate the availability of catastrophic reinsurance coverage in future years.

We have a quota share reinsurance agreement under which we cede certain blocks of Unum US group long-term disability 
claims.  The agreement is on a combination coinsurance with funds withheld and modified coinsurance basis and provides 90 
percent quota share reinsurance on the ceded claims.  We also have four reinsurance agreements that collectively cede 
approximately 55 percent of Unum US group life risk up to our per person retention limit for our U.S. insurance subsidiaries.  
These reinsurance agreements for Unum US group disability and group life allow us to more effectively manage capital in 
conformity with statutory accounting principles but do not meet insurance risk transfer in accordance with applicable U.S. 
generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and therefore are not accounted for as reinsurance in our consolidated GAAP 
financial statements.

We also cede 30 percent of the risk for certain blocks of recently issued Unum US individual disability policies, as well as some 
related claims development risk for a limited period of time.  The agreement is on a non-proportional modified coinsurance 
basis with a provision for experience refunds. 

Certain of our domestic insurance subsidiaries cede blocks of business to Northwind Reinsurance Company (Northwind Re) 
and Fairwind Insurance Company (Fairwind), both of which are affiliated captive reinsurance subsidiaries (captive reinsurers) 
domiciled in the United States, with Unum Group as the ultimate parent.  These captive reinsurers were established for the 
limited purpose of reinsuring risks attributable to specified policies issued or reinsured by our insurance subsidiaries in order to 
effectively manage risks in connection with certain blocks of our business as well as to enhance our capital efficiency.  On a 
consolidated reporting basis for Unum Group, financial statement impacts of our reinsurance arrangements with affiliates are 
eliminated in accordance with GAAP.  

For further discussion of our reinsurance activities, refer to "Risk Factors" contained herein in Item 1A; "Consolidated 
Operating Results," "Segment Results," and "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Cash Available from Subsidiaries" contained 
herein in Item 7, and Notes 1, 12, and 16 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8. 

Reserves for Policy and Contract Benefits

The applicable insurance laws under which insurance companies operate require that they report, as liabilities, policy reserves 
to meet future obligations on their outstanding policies.  These reserves are the amounts which, with the additional premiums to 
be received and interest thereon compounded annually at certain assumed rates, are calculated to be sufficient to meet the 
various policy and contract obligations as they mature.  These laws specify that the reserves shall not be less than reserves 
calculated using certain specified mortality and morbidity tables, interest rates, and methods of valuation required for statutory 
accounting. 

The reserves reported in our financial statements contained herein are calculated in conformity with GAAP and differ from 
those specified by the laws of the various states and reported in the statutory financial statements of our life insurance 
subsidiaries.  These differences result from the use of mortality and morbidity tables and interest assumptions which we believe 
are more representative of the expected experience for these policies than those required for statutory accounting purposes and 
also result from differences in actuarial reserving methods. 

10

The assumptions we use to calculate our reserves are intended to represent an estimate of experience for the period that policy 
benefits are payable.  If actual experience is equal, or favorable, to our reserve assumptions, then reserves should be adequate to 
provide for future benefits and expenses.  If experience is less favorable than the reserve assumptions, additional reserves may 
be required.  The key experience assumptions include claim incidence rates, claim resolution rates, mortality and morbidity 
rates, policy persistency, interest rates, premium rate increases, and any applicable policy benefit offsets, including those for 
social security and other government-based welfare benefits.  We periodically review our experience and update our policy 
reserves for new issues and reserves for all claims incurred, as we believe appropriate.

The consolidated statements of income include the annual change in reserves for future policy and contract benefits.  The 
change reflects a normal accretion for premium payments and interest buildup and decreases for policy terminations such as 
lapses, deaths, and benefit payments.  If policy reserves using best estimate assumptions as of the date of a test for loss 
recognition are higher than existing policy reserves net of any deferred acquisition costs, the increase in reserves necessary to 
recognize the deficiency is also included in the change in reserves for future policy and contract benefits. 

For further discussion of reserves, refer to "Risk Factors" contained herein in Item 1A, "Critical Accounting Estimates" and the 
discussion of segment operating results included in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results 
of Operations" contained herein in Item 7, and Notes 1 and 6 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained 
herein in Item 8. 

Investments 

Investment activities are an integral part of our business, and profitability is significantly affected by investment results.  We 
segment our invested assets into portfolios that support our various product lines.  Generally, our investment strategy for our 
portfolios is to match the effective asset cash flows and durations with related expected liability cash flows and durations to 
consistently meet the liability funding requirements of our businesses.  We seek to earn investment income while assuming 
credit risk in a prudent and selective manner, subject to constraints of quality, liquidity, diversification, and regulatory 
considerations.  Our overall investment philosophy is to invest in a portfolio of high quality assets that provide investment 
returns consistent with that assumed in the pricing of our insurance products.  Assets are invested predominately in fixed 
maturity securities.  Changes in interest rates may affect the amount and timing of cash flows.  

We actively manage our asset and liability cash flow match and our asset and liability duration match to limit interest rate risk.  
We may redistribute investments among our different lines of business, when necessary, to adjust the cash flow and/or duration 
of the asset portfolios to better match the cash flow and duration of the liability portfolios.  Asset and liability portfolio 
modeling is updated on a quarterly basis and is used as part of the overall interest rate risk management strategy.  Cash flows 
from the in-force asset and liability portfolios are projected at current interest rate levels and at levels reflecting an increase and 
a decrease in interest rates to obtain a range of projected cash flows under the different interest rate scenarios.  These results 
enable us to assess the impact of projected changes in cash flows and duration resulting from potential changes in interest rates.  
Testing the asset and liability portfolios under various interest rate scenarios enables us to choose what we believe to be the 
most appropriate investment strategy, as well as to limit the risk of disadvantageous outcomes.  Although we test the asset and 
liability portfolios under various interest rate scenarios as part of our modeling, the majority of our liabilities related to 
insurance contracts are not interest rate sensitive, and we therefore have minimal exposure to policy withdrawal risk.  Our 
determination of investment strategy relies on long-term measures such as reserve adequacy analysis and the relationship 
between the portfolio yields supporting our various product lines and the aggregate discount rate assumptions embedded in the 
reserves.  We also use this analysis in determining hedging strategies and utilizing derivative financial instruments for 
managing interest rate risk and the risk related to matching duration for our assets and liabilities.  We do not use derivative 
financial instruments for speculative purposes.  

Refer to "Risk Factors" contained herein in Item 1A; "Critical Accounting Estimates" and the discussion of investments in 
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained herein in Item 7; 
"Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" herein in Item 7A; and Notes 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the "Notes to 
Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for information on our investments and derivative financial 
instruments.

Ratings 

AM Best, Fitch Ratings (Fitch), Moody's Investors Service (Moody's), and Standard & Poor's Ratings Services (S&P) are 
among the third parties that assign issuer credit ratings to Unum Group and financial strength ratings to our insurance 
subsidiaries.  Issuer credit ratings reflect an agency's opinion of the overall financial capacity of a company to meet its senior 

11

debt obligations.  Financial strength ratings are specific to each individual insurance subsidiary and reflect each rating agency's 
view of the overall financial strength (capital levels, earnings, growth, investments, business mix, operating performance, and 
market position) of the insuring entity and its ability to meet its obligations to policyholders.  Both the issuer credit ratings and 
financial strength ratings incorporate quantitative and qualitative analyses by rating agencies and are routinely reviewed and 
updated on an ongoing basis.

Rating agencies assign an outlook statement of "positive," "negative," or "developing" to indicate an intermediate-term trend in 
credit fundamentals which could lead to a rating change.  "Positive" means that a rating may be raised, "negative" means that a 
rating may be lowered, and "developing" means that a rating may be raised or lowered with equal probability.  Alternatively, a 
rating may have a "stable" outlook to indicate that the rating is not expected to change. 

"Credit watch" or "under review" highlights the potential direction of a short-term or long-term rating.  It focuses on identifiable 
events and short-term trends that cause a rating to be placed under heightened surveillance by a rating agency.  Events that may 
trigger this action include mergers, acquisitions, recapitalizations, regulatory actions, criteria changes, or operating 
developments.  Ratings may be placed on credit watch or under review when an event or a change in an expected trend occurs 
and additional information is needed to evaluate the current rating level.  This status does not mean that a rating change is 
inevitable, and ratings may change without first being placed on a watch list.  A rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or 
hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the rating agency.  Each rating should be evaluated 
independently of any other rating.  

See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Ratings" contained herein in 
Item 7 for our current outlook, issuer credit, and financial strength ratings.  See also further discussion in "Risk Factors" 
contained herein in Item 1A.

Competition 

There is significant competition among insurance companies for the types of products we sell, particularly in the voluntary 
benefits market.  We are operating in a dynamic competitive environment of both traditional and non-traditional competitors, 
with changes in product offerings, enrollment services, and technology solutions.  We believe that the principal competitive 
factors affecting our business are price, quality of the customer experience regarding service and claims management, 
integrated product choices, enrollment capabilities, financial strength ratings, claims-paying ratings, and a solution to allow our 
customers to comply with the changing laws and regulations related to family medical leave benefits.  

In the individual and group disability markets, we compete in the United States with a number of major companies and 
regionally with other companies offering specialty products.  Our principal competitors for our other products, including group 
life and the product offerings sold to groups of employees through payroll deduction, include the largest insurance companies in 
the United States.  Some of these companies have more competitive pricing or have higher claims-paying ratings.  Some may 
also have greater financial resources with which to compete. 

In the United Kingdom and Poland, where we sell both individual and group products, we compete with a mix of large 
internationally recognized providers and strong local carriers. 

All areas of the employee benefits markets are highly competitive due to the yearly renewable term nature of our products and 
the large number of insurance companies offering products in this market.  There is a risk that our customers may be able to 
obtain more favorable terms or improved technology solutions from competitors in lieu of renewing coverage with us.  The 
effect of competition may, as a result, adversely affect the persistency of these and other products, as well as our ability to sell 
products in the future.

We must attract and retain independent agents and brokers to actively market our products.  Strong competition exists among 
insurers for agents and brokers.  We compete with other insurers for sales agents and brokers primarily on the basis of our 
product offerings, financial strength, support services, and compensation.  Sales of our products could be materially adversely 
affected if we are unsuccessful in attracting and retaining agents and brokers.

For further discussion, refer to "Risk Factors" contained herein in Item 1A.

12

 
 
Regulation 

We and our subsidiaries are subject to extensive and comprehensive supervision and regulation in the United States, the United 
Kingdom, and Poland.  The laws and regulations with which we must comply are complex and subject to change.  New or 
existing laws and regulations may become more restrictive or otherwise adversely affect our operations.

Insurance Regulation and Oversight

Our U.S. insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulation and oversight by insurance regulatory authorities in the jurisdictions in 
which they do business and by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on a national basis, primarily for the protection of 
policyholders.  State insurance regulators in the U.S. generally have broad powers with respect to all aspects of the insurance 
business, including the power to: license and examine insurance companies; regulate and supervise sales practices and market 
conduct; license agents and brokers; approve policy forms; approve premium rates and subsequent increases thereon for certain 
insurance products; establish reserve requirements and solvency standards; place limitations on shareholder dividends; prescribe 
the form and content of required financial statements and reports; regulate the types and amounts of permitted investments; and 
regulate reinsurance transactions.  Our U.S. insurance subsidiaries are examined periodically by their states of domicile and by 
other states in which they are licensed to conduct business.  The domestic examinations have traditionally emphasized financial 
matters from the perspective of protection of policyholders, but they can and have covered other subjects that an examining 
state may be interested in reviewing, such as market conduct issues and reserve adequacy.  Examinations in other states more 
typically focus on market conduct, such as a review of sales practices, including the content and use of advertising materials 
and the licensing and appointing of agents and brokers, as well as underwriting, claims, and customer service practices, and 
identification and handling of unclaimed property to determine compliance with state laws.  Our U.S. insurance subsidiaries are 
also subject to assessments by state insurance guaranty associations to cover the proportional cost of insolvent or failed 
insurers.  The DOL enforces a comprehensive federal statute which regulates claims paying fiduciary responsibilities and 
reporting and disclosure requirements for most employee benefit plans.

Our U.K. insurance subsidiary, Unum Limited, is subject to dual regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and 
the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).  The PRA oversees the financial health and stability of financial services firms and is 
responsible for the prudential regulation and day-to-day supervision of insurance companies.  The FCA seeks to protect 
consumers and oversees financial services products and practices, including those governing insurance companies in the U.K.

On January 31, 2020, an official bill was passed formalizing the withdrawal of the U.K. from the European Union (EU).  The 
bill gives approval to an 11-month transition period, until December 31, 2020, to allow for further negotiations regarding the 
details of the future relationship.  The U.K.'s decision to leave the EU may add cost and complexity to our compliance efforts if 
new laws and regulations are established that significantly diverge from those currently in place, however, we are not aware of 
any indications of such changes in the short-term and do not expect significant changes over the longer term.  Additionally, the 
insurance policies issued by our U.K. insurance subsidiary cover businesses and policyholders based in the U.K.  We do not 
expect these policies to be affected by the U.K.'s exit nor do we anticipate the need to obtain additional insurance permissions 
to be able to continue writing these policies.  For the small amount of contracts and coverages provided to companies and 
individuals outside of the U.K., we have developed contingency plans that could be invoked following the U.K.'s exit.  The 
employees that support our U.K. business reside in the U.K. and will not need to change residence status.   

Our Polish insurance subsidiary, Unum Zycie TUiR, is subject to regulation by the Komisja Nadzoru Finansowego (KNF) of 
the Financial Supervision Authority (FSA) in Poland.  The KNF oversees the financial health and stability of financial services 
firms and is responsible for the prudential regulation and day-to-day supervision of insurance companies and other financial 
institutions.

13

  
Capital Requirements

Risk-based capital (RBC) standards for U.S. life insurance companies are prescribed by the National Association of Insurance 
Commissioners (NAIC).  The domiciliary states of our U.S. insurance subsidiaries have all adopted a version of the NAIC RBC 
Model Act, which prescribes a system for assessing the adequacy of statutory capital and surplus for all life and health insurers.  
The basis of the system is a risk-based formula that applies prescribed factors to the various risk elements in a life and health 
insurer's business to report a minimum capital requirement proportional to the amount of risk assumed by the insurer.  The life 
and health RBC formula is designed to measure annually (i) the risk of loss from asset defaults and asset value fluctuations, (ii) 
the risk of loss from adverse mortality and morbidity experience, (iii) the risk of loss from mismatching of asset and liability 
cash flow due to changing interest rates, and (iv) business risks.  The formula is used as an early warning tool to identify 
companies that are potentially inadequately capitalized.  The formula is intended to be used as a regulatory tool only and is not 
intended as a means to rank insurers generally.  The NAIC has also issued a proposal to implement a new and more granular 
RBC structure for fixed income asset capital charges.  The proposed structure will expand the fixed income asset designations 
from six to 20 categories and will revise factor values.  We will continue to monitor the NAIC's activities on this issue.  

The NAIC continues to review the state-based solvency regulation framework to identify opportunities to respond to national 
and international insurance regulatory and solvency developments.  The topics of its review include capital requirements, 
governance and risk management, statutory accounting and financial reporting, and reinsurance.  This ongoing review will 
likely result in significant changes to U.S. insurance regulation and solvency standards, including those for our U.S. insurance 
subsidiaries.  One of the outcomes of the NAIC's review was the adoption of the NAIC Risk Management and Own Risk and 
Solvency Assessment (ORSA) Model Act which, following enactment at the state level, requires insurers to provide, at least 
annually, a group-level perspective on the risks of the current and future business plans and the sufficiency of capital to support 
those risks.  All states where our traditional U.S. insurance subsidiaries are domiciled have enacted ORSA requirements, and 
we file an ORSA summary report annually with the applicable insurance regulators. 

The NAIC has established a working group charged with developing a group capital calculation that can be used by regulators 
as a baseline quantitative measure in assessing the risks and financial position of insurance groups.  The working group 
completed its work on the U.S. group capital calculation and conducted field testing during the second half of 2019.  The 
calculation and related instructions are being revised to incorporate findings and observations from the field testing and are 
expected to be adopted by the NAIC in late 2020.  We are also monitoring developments around the implementation of reforms 
adopted by the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) in November 2019 that established similar group 
capital requirements.  We are not subject to the reforms adopted by the IAIS, however, the requirements could influence the 
reforms that will be adopted by the NAIC.  We will continue to monitor the NAIC's activities on this issue but it is still too early 
to determine what, if any, impact these developments will have on our capital requirements.

The NAIC has adopted a valuation manual containing a principles-based approach to life insurance company reserves for new 
business.  The earliest effective date was January 2017 with a three-year optional period before mandatory adoption by January 
2020.  The Company elected a staged approach to the implementation of the new requirements, with no material impact on our 
statutory reserves. 

In 2012, the NAIC established a subgroup to study the insurance industry's use of captive reinsurers and special purpose 
vehicles to transfer insurance risk and is considering ways to promote uniformity in both the approval and supervision of such 
reinsurers.  More recently, the NAIC adopted a proposal to subject certain captive reinsurers and special purpose vehicles to the 
same capital requirements as traditional insurers.  As the NAIC and state insurance regulators continue to examine the use of 
captive insurance companies to finance reserves required under current regulations, we cannot predict the ultimate outcome of 
their work, or how long or extensively they will continue to focus on this issue.  Although we believe it to be unlikely, a 
potential outcome of future NAIC decisions from its various committees, task forces, and working groups is that companies 
could be prohibited from using captive reinsurers.  No changes in the use or regulation of captive reinsurers have been proposed 
by the NAIC, and we are unable to predict the extent of any changes that might be made.  Accordingly, we expect to continue 
our strategy of using captive reinsurers to manage risks and enhance capital efficiency while monitoring the NAIC's study and 
proposed changes in regulations.  See "Reinsurance" contained herein in this Item 1 for further discussion.

The PRA has statutory requirements, including capital adequacy and liquidity requirements and minimum solvency margins, to 
which Unum Limited must adhere as part of the provisions of Solvency II, an EU directive that prescribes capital requirements 
and risk management standards for the European insurance industry.  Our European holding company is also subject to the 
Solvency II requirements relevant to insurance holding companies, while its subsidiaries, which includes Unum Limited, are 
subject to group supervision under Solvency II.  The Unum European Economic Area (EEA) Group, which is comprised of the 
European holding company and its subsidiaries, received approval from the PRA to use its own internal model for calculating 
regulatory capital and also received approval for certain associated regulatory permissions including transitional relief as the 

14

Solvency II capital regime is implemented.  Although there are currently no indications that the regulatory capital regime for 
our U.K. operations will change due to the U.K.'s decision to leave the EU, it remains too early to predict what, if any, impact 
this may have on existing capital requirements for our U.K. entities, but economic conditions may cause volatility in our 
solvency ratios.

See further discussion in "Risk Factors" contained herein in Item 1A and "Liquidity and Capital Resources" contained herein in 
Item 7 and Note 16 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8.  

Insurance Holding Company Regulation

We and our U.S. insurance subsidiaries (excluding captive reinsurers) are subject to regulation under the insurance holding 
company laws in the states in which our insurance subsidiaries are domiciled, which currently include Maine, Massachusetts, 
New York, South Carolina, and Tennessee.  These laws generally require each insurance company that is domiciled in the state 
and a member of an insurance holding company system to register with the insurance department of that state and to furnish at 
least annually financial and other information about the operations of companies within the holding company system, including 
information concerning capital structure, ownership, management, financial condition, and certain intercompany transactions.  
Transactions between an insurer and affiliates in the holding company system generally must be fair and reasonable and, if 
material, require prior notice and approval by the domiciliary insurance regulator.

In addition, such laws and regulations restrict the amount of dividends that may be paid by our insurance subsidiaries to their 
respective shareholders, including our Company and certain of our intermediate holding company subsidiaries.  See further 
discussion in "Risk Factors" contained herein in Item 1A and "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Cash Available from 
Subsidiaries" contained herein in Item 7.

The NAIC has adopted the Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Model Act and the Corporate Governance Annual 
Disclosure Model Regulation, which require U.S. insurers to disclose detailed information regarding their governance practices.  
The model act and regulation must be adopted by individual state legislatures and insurance regulators in order to be effective 
in a particular state.  At this time, among the states in which our insurance subsidiaries are domiciled, the model act and 
regulation are effective only in Maine, Massachusetts, and Tennessee.  

The NAIC has also adopted the Insurance Data Security Model Law, which creates a legal framework that requires insurance 
companies to establish cybersecurity programs designed to protect the private data of consumers.  The law outlines planned 
cybersecurity testing, and the development of incident response plans for breach notification procedures.  The model law must 
be adopted by individual state legislatures and insurance regulators in order to be effective in particular state.  At this time, 
among the states in which our insurance subsidiaries are domiciled, the model law is effective only in South Carolina.  The 
New York State Department of Financial Services has established similar regulations to this law and the state of California has 
enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018.

The laws of most states, including the states in which our insurance subsidiaries are domiciled (or deemed to be commercially 
domiciled), require regulatory approval of a change in control of an insurance company or its holding company.  Where these 
laws apply to us, there can be no effective change in control of our Company or of any of our insurance subsidiaries unless the 
person seeking to acquire control has filed a statement containing specified information with the appropriate insurance 
regulators and has obtained their prior approval of the proposed change.  The usual measure for a presumptive change of 
control pursuant to these laws is the acquisition of 10 percent or more of the voting stock of an insurance company or its 
holding company, although this presumption is rebuttable.  Consequently, a person acquiring 10 percent or more of the voting 
stock of an insurance company or its holding company without the prior approval of the insurance regulators in the state(s) of 
domicile of the insurance company(ies) sought to be acquired (or whose holding company is sought to be acquired) will be in 
violation of these laws.  Such a person may also be subject to one or more of the following actions: (i) injunctive action 
requiring the disposition or seizure of those shares by the applicable insurance regulators; (ii) prohibition of voting of such 
shares; and (iii) other actions determined by the relevant insurance regulators.  Further, many states' insurance laws require that 
prior notification be given to state insurance regulators of a change in control of a non-domiciled insurance company doing 
business in the state.  These pre-notification statutes do not authorize the state insurance regulators to disapprove the change in 
control; however, they do authorize regulatory action in the affected state if particular conditions exist, such as undue market 
concentration.  Any future transactions that would constitute a change in control of our Company or of any of our insurance 
subsidiaries may require prior notification in those states that have adopted pre-notification laws. 

15

These laws may discourage potential acquisition proposals and may delay, deter, or prevent a change in control of our 
Company, including through transactions, and in particular unsolicited transactions, that some or all of our shareholders might 
consider to be desirable. 

Federal Laws and Regulations 

We are subject to the laws and regulations generally applicable to public companies, including the rules and regulations of the 
Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange relating to public reporting and disclosure, 
accounting and financial reporting, corporate governance, and securities trading.  Further, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and 
rules and regulations adopted under this regulation, have increased the requirements for us and other public companies in these 
and other areas.

The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (Patriot Act) contains anti-money laundering and financial transparency laws and mandates 
the implementation of various regulations applicable to broker-dealers and other financial services companies, including 
insurance companies.  The Patriot Act seeks to promote cooperation among financial institutions, regulators and law 
enforcement entities in identifying parties that may be involved in terrorism or money laundering.  Anti-money laundering laws 
outside of the United States contain some similar provisions.  Additionally, other federal laws and regulations, including the 
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and regulations issued by the Office of Foreign Asset's Controls, as well as the U.K.'s Bribery 
Act of 2010, have increased requirements relating to identifying customers, prohibiting transactions with certain organizations 
or individuals, watching for and reporting suspicious transactions, responding to requests for information by regulatory 
authorities and law enforcement agencies, sharing information with other financial institutions, and requiring the 
implementation and maintenance of internal practices, procedures, and controls.

We are subject to federal income, employment, excise and other taxes related to both our U.S. and our foreign operations.  On 
December 22, 2017, the U.S. Federal government enacted a tax bill, H.R.1, An Act to Provide Reconciliation Pursuant to Titles 
II and V of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018, more commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs 
Act (TCJA).  The key provisions of the TCJA relevant to us are as follows: 

•
•

•

•

•
•
•

•

•

•

Establishes a corporate income tax rate of 21 percent; 
Creates a territorial tax system rather than a worldwide system, which will generally allow companies to repatriate 
future foreign source earnings without incurring additional U.S. taxes by providing a 100 percent exemption for the 
foreign source portion of dividends from certain foreign subsidiaries;
Subjects undistributed and previously untaxed foreign earnings and profits to a one-time transition tax also referred to 
as a deemed repatriation toll charge; 
Creates a U.S. shareholder tax on certain foreign subsidiary income above a routine equity return on tangible 
depreciable business assets (Global Intangible Low-taxed Income);
Decreases tax-deductible life and property and casualty insurance reserves;
Increases the amount and amortization period of acquisition costs capitalized for tax purposes;
Reduces the maximum deduction for net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards arising in companies other than non-life 
insurance companies in tax years beginning after 2017 to a percentage of the taxpayer's taxable income.  It also allows 
any NOLs generated in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 to be carried forward indefinitely and repeals 
carrybacks.  NOL provisions for non-life insurance companies remain unchanged from current law;
Allows businesses to immediately write off the cost of new investments in certain qualified depreciable assets made 
after September 27, 2017 subject to phase downs starting in 2023;
Eliminates or reduces certain deductions (including deductions for certain compensation arrangements, certain 
payments made to governments for violations of law and certain legal settlements), exclusions and credits and adds 
other provisions that broaden the tax base; and
Creates a new base erosion anti-abuse tax (BEAT) that subjects certain payments made by a U.S. company to a related 
foreign company to additional taxes. 

See "Executive Summary" and "Liquidity and Capital Resources" contained herein in Item 7 and Notes 7 and 16 of the "Notes 
to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for discussion of the impact to our financial position and 
results of operations as a result of these changes.   

Federal tax laws and regulations are subject to change, and any such change could materially impact our federal taxes and 
reduce profitability as well as capital levels in our insurance subsidiaries.  We continually monitor federal tax legislative and 
regulatory developments to understand their potential impact on our profitability.  

16

For further discussion of regulation, refer to "Risk Factors" contained herein in Item 1A.

Geographic Areas

Adjusted operating revenue, which excludes net realized investment gains and losses, for our Unum International segment was 
approximately 6 percent of our consolidated adjusted operating revenue in 2019, 2018, and 2017.  As of December 31, 2019, 
total assets equaled approximately 6 percent of consolidated assets and total liabilities equaled approximately 5 percent of 
consolidated liabilities for our Unum International segment.  Fluctuations in the U.S. dollar relative to the local currencies of 
our Unum International segment will impact our reported operating results.  See "Risk Factors" contained herein in Item 1A and 
"Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" contained herein in Item 7A for further discussion of 
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.  See "Reporting Segments" contained herein in this Item 1; "Management's 
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained herein in Item 7; and Note 13 of the 
"Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion of Unum International's 
operating results.

Employees 

At December 31, 2019, we had approximately 10,300 full-time employees.   

Available Information

Our internet website address is www.unum.com.  We make available, free of charge, on or through our website our Annual 
Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed 
or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such material 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Information about our Executive Officers

Our executive officers, who are also executive officers of certain of our principal subsidiaries, were appointed by Unum 
Group's board of directors to serve until their successors are chosen and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. 

Name
Richard P. McKenney
Steven A. Zabel
Michael Q. Simonds
Elizabeth A. Ahmed
Timothy G. Arnold
Puneet Bhasin
Lisa G. Iglesias
Martha D. Leiper
Peter G. O'Donnell
Christopher W. Pyne

Age
51
51
46
45
57
57
54
57
53
50

Position
President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Executive Vice President, People and Communications
Executive Vice President, Voluntary Benefits and President, Colonial Life
Executive Vice President, Chief Information and Digital Officer
Executive Vice President, General Counsel
Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer
Executive Vice President, Unum International
Executive Vice President, Group Benefits

Mr. McKenney became President in April 2015 and Chief Executive Officer in May 2015.  He served as Executive Vice 
President and Chief Financial Officer from August 2009 until April 2015, having joined the Company in July 2009.  Before 
joining the Company, Mr. McKenney served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Sun Life Financial 
Inc., an international financial services company, from February 2007, having joined that company as Executive Vice President 
in September 2006.

Mr. Zabel became Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer in July 2019.  He previously served as Senior Vice 
President and President, Closed Block Operations from July 2015 to July 2019 and as Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Officer 
from August 2013 to July 2015.  Prior to joining the Company in August 2013, he served in various senior roles at Genworth 
Financial, Inc. from 2004, including Senior Vice President of Long-Term Care Insurance, Chief Financial Officer for Insurance 
Products, and Senior Vice President of Corporate Audit Services.  Before that, he was responsible for financial reporting and 
rating agency relationships at Americo Life, Inc. and managed life and health insurance audit engagements at Ernst & Young 
LLP.

17

Mr. Simonds was named Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer in February 2020.  Prior to that, he served as 
Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive Officer, Unum US from July 2013, after having served as Senior Vice 
President and Chief Operating Officer, Unum US from June 2012.  He previously served as Senior Vice President, Growth 
Operations, Unum US from July 2010, and as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Unum US from March 2008.  
Mr. Simonds originally joined a Unum Group predecessor company in 1994, left the Company in 2000 to pursue his MBA, and 
rejoined the Company in 2003 after serving as a consultant with McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm.

Ms. Ahmed was named Executive Vice President, People and Communications upon joining the Company in October 2018.  
She served as Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, AmTrust Financial Services, Inc., a multinational 
insurance holding company, from May 2015 to October 2018.  Prior to that, she served as Vice President of Human Resources 
at Equity Trust Company, a financial services company, from May 2012 to May 2015, and as Senior Vice President of Human 
Resources at PNC Bank, a diversified financial services institution, from August 2008 to May 2012.

Mr. Arnold was named Executive Vice President, Voluntary Benefits and President, Colonial Life in February 2020. Prior to 
that, he served as Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive Officer, Colonial Life from January 2015, and 
before that, as Executive Vice President, President, Colonial Life from July 2014.  He previously served as Senior Vice 
President, Sales and Marketing, Colonial Life from August 2012, as Senior Vice President, Chief Operations Officer, Colonial 
Life from July 2011, and as Senior Vice President, Integrated Underwriting, Unum US from May 2010.  Mr. Arnold originally 
joined a Unum Group predecessor company in 1985.

Mr. Bhasin was named Executive Vice President, Chief Information and Digital Officer after joining the Company in March 
2018.  He served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Operations and Recycling at Waste Management, Inc., a waste 
management environmental services provider, from November 2015 to March 2017.  While at Waste Management, he also 
served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Operations from November 2014, Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice 
President, Technology, Logistics and Customer Service from August 2012, and Senior Vice President and Chief Information 
Officer from December 2009.  

Ms. Iglesias was named Executive Vice President, General Counsel upon joining the Company in January 2015.  She served as 
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of WellCare Health Plans, Inc., a managed care company, from February 
2012 to December 2014, having first joined WellCare in February 2010 as Vice President, Securities and Assistant General 
Counsel.  Prior to that, she served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Nordstrom, Inc., a fashion specialty retailer, 
from 2007 to 2008, and as General Counsel and Secretary of Spherion Corporation, a recruiting and staffing company, from 
1999 to 2007.

Ms. Leiper was appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer of the Company in October 2019.  She joined the 
Company from USAA, a provider of financial services to the military community, where she served as Senior Vice President, 
Corporate Finance and Enterprise Money Movement from October 2016 to October 2019 and, before that, as Senior Vice 
President, Corporate Finance and Investments from May 2015 to September 2016 and Senior Vice President, Chief Investment 
Officer from May 2010 to May 2015.  Ms. Leiper previously worked at Unum Group (including predecessor companies) 
beginning in 1985, holding leadership roles of increasing responsibility, including Senior Vice President and Deputy Chief 
Investment Officer from January 2006 to May 2010.

Mr. O'Donnell was named Executive Vice President,Unum International in February 2020. Prior to that, he held the position of 
Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Unum International from October 2018 when the reporting segment was 
previously known as Unum UK.  He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer, Unum UK, from September 
2012, after having joined the Company as Unum Limited's Chief Financial Officer in 2010.  Prior to joining Unum Limited, Mr. 
O'Donnell served as Director of Group Finance at Prudential plc, an international financial services company, from May 2008 
to May 2010.  He served as Finance director at Royal & SunAlliance plc, an international financial services 
company, from May 2005 to May 2008.

Mr. Pyne was named Executive Vice President, Group Benefits in February 2020.  He previously served as Senior Vice 
President, Growth Operations and Distribution from June 2018 to January 2020 and as Senior Vice President, Sales and Client 
Management from June 2011 to June 2018.  Before that, Mr. Pyne held positions of increasing responsibility within the 
Company's U.S. distribution organization, including Vice President, Sales from January 2011 to May 2011 and Vice President, 
Managing Director from January 2008 to December 2010.  Mr. Pyne joined a Unum Group predecessor company in 1992. 

18

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS 

Overview

We face a wide range of risks, and our continued success depends on our ability to identify and appropriately manage our risk 
exposures.  Discussed below are factors that may adversely affect our business, results of operations, or financial condition.  
Any one or more of the following factors may cause our actual results for various financial reporting periods to differ materially 
from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company, including those in this 
document or made by us elsewhere, such as in earnings release investor calls, investor conference presentations, or press 
releases.  See "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" contained herein on page 1.

Market and Credit Risks

Sustained periods of low interest rates in the long-term investment market may adversely affect our reported net investment 
income and the discount rates used in reserving for our insurance products and projecting our pension obligations, which 
may adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.

Declines in interest rates and/or the continuance of the current level of low interest rates and yields on fixed income investments 
may cause the rates of return on our investment portfolio to decrease more than expected, leading to lower net investment 
income than assumed in the pricing and reserving for our insurance products.  An interest, or discount, rate is used in 
calculating reserves for our insurance products.  We set our GAAP reserve discount rate assumptions based on our current and 
expected future investment yield for assets supporting the reserves, considering current and expected future market conditions.  
If the discount rate assumed in our reserve calculations is higher than our future investment returns, our invested assets will not 
earn enough investment income to support our future claim payments.  In that case, the reserves may eventually be insufficient, 
resulting in the need to increase our reserves and/or contribute additional capital to our insurance subsidiaries, either of which 
could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.  Similarly, we are required to perform 
annual adequacy testing, that considers multiple interest rate scenarios, to ensure our statutory reserves continue to meet 
statutory requirements, which could also require a need to increase our statutory reserves and/or contribute additional capital. 

Our net periodic benefit costs and the value of our benefit obligations for our pension plans are determined based on a set of 
economic and demographic assumptions that represent our best estimate of future expected experience.  Major assumptions 
used in accounting for these plans include the expected discount (interest) rate and the long-term rate of return on plan assets.  
We set the discount rate assumption at the measurement date for each of our plans to reflect the yield of a portfolio of high 
quality fixed income corporate debt instruments matched against the timing and amounts of projected future benefits.  A lower 
discount rate increases the present value of benefit obligations and increases our costs.  Our expectations for the future 
investment returns on plan assets are based on a combination of historical market performance, current market conditions, and 
future capital market assumptions obtained from external consultants and economists.  The actual rate of return on plan assets is 
determined based on the fair value of the plan assets at the beginning and end of the measurement period.  Increases or 
decreases in long-term interest rates as well as equity market volatility will impact the fair value of our plan assets and may 
result in a decrease in the funded status of our pension plans and/or increased pension costs, which may adversely affect our 
results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity. 

Unfavorable economic or market conditions may result in lower sales, lower premium growth and persistency, higher claims 
incidence, unfavorable mortality, and longer claims duration, which may adversely affect our results of operations or 
financial condition. 

We are affected by conditions in the capital markets and the general economy, primarily in the United States, the United 
Kingdom, Poland, and to a lesser extent, the broader global financial markets.  Negative developments in the capital markets 
and/or the general economy could adversely affect our business and results of operations.  

In particular, factors such as unemployment levels, consumer confidence levels, consumer spending, business investment, 
government spending, the volatility and strength of the capital markets, inflation, pandemics, and the threat of terrorism all 
affect the business and economic environment and, ultimately, the amount and profitability of our businesses.  Given the nature 
of our products, in an economic environment characterized by higher unemployment, lower personal income, reduced consumer 
spending, and lower corporate earnings and investment, new product sales may be adversely affected.  Our premium growth 
may also be negatively impacted by lower premium growth from existing customers due to lower salary growth and lower 
growth in the number of employees covered under an existing policy.  In addition, during such periods we may experience 

19

higher claims incidence, longer claims duration, and/or an increase in policy lapses, any of which could have a material adverse 
effect on our results of operations or financial condition. 

In addition to interest rate risk as previously discussed, we are exposed to other risks related to our investment portfolio 
which may adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity. 

Default Risk

Our investment portfolio consists primarily of fixed maturity securities.  These securities are issued by both domestic and 
foreign entities and are backed either by collateral or the credit of the underlying issuer.  Factors such as an economic downturn 
or political change in the country of the issuer, a regulatory change pertaining to the issuer's industry, a significant deterioration 
in the cash flows of the issuer, unforeseen accounting irregularities or fraud committed by the issuer, widening risk spreads, 
ratings downgrades, a change in the issuer's marketplace or business prospects, or other events that adversely affect the issuers 
of these securities may result in the issuer defaulting on its obligations.     

Our mortgage loan portfolio has default risk.  Events or developments, such as economic conditions that impact the ability of 
tenants to pay their rents or limit the availability of refinancing, may have a negative effect on our mortgage loan portfolio.  
Events or developments that have a negative effect on any particular geographic region or sector may have a greater adverse 
effect on an investment portfolio to the extent that the portfolio is concentrated in that region or sector.  

A default results in the recognition of an impairment loss on the investment.  A default may also adversely affect our ability to 
collect principal and interest due to us.  The probability of credit downgrades and defaults increases when the fixed income 
markets experience periods of volatility and illiquidity.  

Credit Spread Risk

Our exposure to credit spreads, which is the yield above comparable U.S. Treasury securities, primarily relates to market price 
and cash flow variability associated with changes in credit spreads.  A widening of credit spreads may unfavorably impact the 
net unrealized gain or loss position of the investment portfolio and may adversely impact liquidity.  Credit spread tightening 
may reduce net investment income associated with new purchases of fixed income securities.  

Valuation Risk

We report our fixed maturity securities and certain other financial instruments at fair value.  Valuations may include inputs and 
assumptions that are less observable or require greater estimation, particularly during periods of market disruption, resulting in 
values which may be less than the value at which the investments may ultimately be sold.  Further, rapidly changing and 
unprecedented credit and equity market conditions could materially impact the valuation of securities as reported in our 
financial statements, and the period to period changes in value could vary significantly.  Decreases in value may have a material 
adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.   

We evaluate our investment portfolio for impairments.  There can be no assurance that we have accurately assessed the level of 
impairments taken.  Additional impairments may need to be taken in the future, and historical trends may not be indicative of 
future impairments.  Any event reducing the value of our securities other than on a temporary basis may have a material adverse 
effect on our business, results of operations, or financial condition.

Market Timing and Liquidity Risk

While we attempt to match our asset cash flows and durations with expected liability cash flows and durations to meet the 
funding requirements of our business, there may at times be a lack of appropriate investments in the market which can be 
acquired.  In particular, due to the long duration of our long-term care product, the timing of our investment cash flows do not 
match those of our maturing liabilities.  In addition, we may, in certain circumstances, need to sell investments due to changes 
in regulatory or capital requirements, changes in tax laws, rating agency decisions, and/or unexpected changes in liquidity 
needs.  There may also be a limited market for certain of our investments, such as our private placement fixed maturity 
securities, mortgage loans, and policy loans, which makes them more illiquid.  In periods of market volatility or disruption, 
other of our securities may also experience reduced liquidity.  If events occur wherein we need to sell securities in an 
unfavorable interest rate or credit environment or need to quickly sell securities which are illiquid, market prices may be lower 

20

than what we might realize under normal circumstances, with a resulting adverse effect on our results of operations, financial 
condition, or liquidity. 

Reinsurance may not be available or affordable, or reinsurers may be unwilling or unable to meet their obligations under 
our reinsurance contracts, which may adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.

As part of our overall risk management and capital management strategies, we purchase reinsurance for certain risks 
underwritten by our various businesses.  Market conditions beyond our control determine the availability and cost of 
reinsurance.  Any decrease in the amount of reinsurance will increase our risk of loss and may impact the level of capital 
requirements for our insurance subsidiaries, and any increase in the cost of reinsurance will, absent a decrease in the amount of 
reinsurance, reduce our results of operations.  Accordingly, we may be forced to incur additional expenses for reinsurance or 
may be unable to obtain sufficient reinsurance on acceptable terms, which may adversely affect our ability to write future 
business, result in the assumption of more risk with respect to the policies we issue, and increase our capital requirements.  The 
collectibility of our reinsurance recoverable is primarily a function of the solvency of the individual reinsurers.  We cannot 
provide assurance that our reinsurers will pay the reinsurance recoverables owed to us or that they will pay these recoverables 
on a timely basis.  The insolvency of a reinsurer or the inability or unwillingness of a reinsurer to comply with the terms of a 
reinsurance contract may have an adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.  

The effectiveness and utilization of our hedging programs may be affected by changes in the economic environment, 
changes in interest rates, capital market volatility, non-performance by our counterparties, changes in the level of required 
collateral, or regulation, which may adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity.

We use derivative financial instruments to help us manage certain risks related to our business operations, primarily foreign 
currency risk, interest rate risk, and risk related to matching duration for our assets and liabilities.  Factors associated with 
derivative financial instruments could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity.  
Ineffectiveness of our hedges due to changes in expected future events, such as the risk created by uncertainty in the economic 
environment or if our counterparties fail or refuse to honor their obligations under these derivative instruments, may have a 
material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.  Capital market turmoil may result in an increase in 
the risk of non-performance by our counterparties, many of which are financial institutions.  Non-performance by our 
counterparties may force us to unwind hedges, and we may be unable to replace the hedge, thereby leaving the risk unhedged.  
Under the terms of our hedging contracts, we are required to post collateral and to maintain a certain level of collateral, which 
may adversely affect our liquidity and could subject us to the credit risk of the counterparty to the extent it holds such collateral.  
Changes in regulations may have an adverse effect on our ability to execute hedging strategies due to the increased economic 
cost of derivatives, primarily as a result of more restrictive collateral requirements.  

We are monitoring the developments surrounding the transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) expected to 
occur in 2021.  We are continuing to evaluate the impact, if any, to our existing financial arrangements that extend past 2021 
which primarily includes investments, derivatives, and debt agreements.    

Currency translation could materially impact our reported operating results.

The functional currency of our U.K. and Polish operations is the British pound sterling and the Polish zloty, respectively.  
Fluctuations in exchange rates have an effect on our reported financial results, which may be unfavorably impacted when the 
functional currency weakens.  However, it is important to distinguish between translating and converting foreign currency.  
Except for a limited number of transactions, we do not actually convert our functional currency into dollars.  As a result, we 
view foreign currency translation as a financial reporting item and not a reflection of operations or profitability in the U.K or 
Poland.

See "Reserves for Policy and Contract Benefits" contained herein in Item 1, "Critical Accounting Estimates" included in 
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained herein in Item 7, "Interest 
Rate Risk" contained herein in Item 7A, and Notes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" 
contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion.

21

Insurance Risks 

Actual experience may differ from our reserve assumptions which may adversely affect our results of operations or financial 
condition.

Historical results may not be indicative of future performance due to, among other things, changes in our mix of business, re-
pricing of certain lines of business, or any number of economic cyclical effects on our business.  Reserves, whether calculated 
under GAAP or statutory accounting principles, do not represent an exact calculation of future benefit liabilities but are instead 
estimates made by us using actuarial and statistical procedures.  Actual experience may differ from our reserve assumptions.  
There can be no assurance that our reserves will be sufficient to fund our future liabilities in all circumstances.  Future loss 
development may require reserves to be increased, which would adversely affect earnings in current and future periods.  Life 
expectancies may continue to increase, which could lengthen the time a claimant receives disability or long-term care benefits 
and could result in a change in mortality assumptions and an increase in reserves for these and other long-tailed products.  
Adjustments to reserve amounts may also be required in the event of changes from the assumptions regarding future morbidity 
(which represents the incidence of claims and the rate of recovery, including the effects thereon of inflation and other societal 
and economic factors); premium rate increases; persistency; policy benefit offsets, including those for social security and other 
government-based welfare benefits; and interest rates used in calculating the reserve amounts, which could have a material 
adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.  

We provide a broad array of disability, long-term care, group life, and voluntary insurance products that are affected by 
many factors, and changes in any of those factors may adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, or 
liquidity. 

Disability Insurance

Disability insurance may be affected by a number of social, economic, governmental, competitive, and other factors.  Changes 
in societal attitudes, such as work ethic, motivation, or stability, can significantly affect the demand for and underwriting results 
from disability products.    

Both economic and societal factors can affect claim incidence and recoveries for disability insurance.  Claim incidence and 
claim recovery rates may be influenced by, among other factors, the rate of unemployment and consumer confidence.  Claim 
incidence and claim recovery rates may also be influenced by the emergence of new infectious diseases or illnesses.  Claim 
durations may be extended by medical improvements which could extend life expectancies.  The relationship between these and 
other factors and overall incidence is very complex and will vary due to contract design features and the degree of expertise 
within the insuring organization to price, underwrite, and adjudicate the claims.

Within the group disability market, pricing and renewal actions can be taken to react to higher claim rates.  However, these 
actions take time to implement, and there is a risk that the market will not sustain increased prices.  In addition, changes in 
economic and external conditions may not manifest themselves in claims experience for an extended period of time.  The 
pricing actions available in the individual disability market differ among product classes.  Our individual noncancelable 
disability policies, in which the policy is guaranteed to be renewable through the life of the policy at a fixed premium, do not 
permit us to adjust premiums on our in-force business.  Guaranteed renewable contracts that are not noncancelable can be re-
priced to reflect adverse experience, but rate changes cannot be implemented as quickly as in the group disability market.  

Long-term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance can be affected by a number of demographic, medical, economic, governmental, competitive, and 
other factors.  Because long-term care insurance is a relatively new product for the insurance industry and is long-duration in 
nature, there is not as much historical data as is available for our other products.  This creates a level of uncertainty in properly 
pricing the product and using appropriate assumptions when establishing reserves.  Long-term care insurance is guaranteed 
renewable and can be re-priced to reflect adverse experience, but the re-pricing is subject to regulatory approval by our states of 
domicile and may also be subject to approval by jurisdictions in which our policyholders reside.  The rate approval process can 
affect the length of time in which the re-pricing can be implemented, if at all, and the rate increases ultimately approved may be 
unfavorable relative to assumptions used to establish our reserves.  We monitor our own experience and industry studies 
concerning morbidity, mortality, and policyholder terminations to understand emerging trends.  Changes in actual experience 
relative to our expectations may adversely affect our profitability and reserves.  To the extent mortality improves for the general 
population, and life expectancies increase, the period for which a claimant receives long-term care benefits may lengthen and 
the associated impact of advanced aging of policyholders may cause an increase in claims incidence.  Medical advances may 

22

continue to have an impact on claim incidence and duration, both favorable and unfavorable.  Due to the long duration of the 
product, the timing and/or amount of our investment cash flows are difficult to match to those of our maturing liabilities.  
Sustained periods of low or declining interest rates could result in increases in reserves and adversely affect our results of 
operations.  

Group Life Insurance

Group life insurance may be affected by the characteristics of the employees insured, the amount of insurance employees may 
elect voluntarily, our risk selection process, our ability to retain employer groups with favorable risk characteristics, the 
geographical concentration of employees, and mortality rates.  Claim incidence may also be influenced by unexpected 
catastrophic events such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and pandemic health events, which may also affect the cost of and 
availability of reinsurance coverage.  

Voluntary Products

Voluntary products sold in the workplace may be affected by the characteristics of the employees insured, the level of employee 
participation and the amount of insurance the employees elect, our risk selection process, and our ability to retain employer 
groups with favorable risk characteristics.  Our voluntary life insurance products generally include interest sensitive forms of 
insurance which contain a guaranteed minimum interest crediting rate.  It is possible that our investment returns could be lower 
than the guaranteed crediting rate.  The non-life contracts are guaranteed renewable and can be repriced to reflect adverse 
experience, but rate changes cannot be implemented as quickly as for group disability and group life products. 

We have assets which may not be fully recoverable or realizable, which could adversely affect our results of operations or 
financial condition.

If our business does not perform well or as initially anticipated in our assumptions, we may be required to accelerate 
amortization or recognize an impairment loss on intangible assets or long-lived assets or to establish a valuation allowance 
against the deferred income tax asset. 

We have intangible assets such as deferred acquisition costs (DAC), value of business acquired (VOBA), and goodwill.  DAC 
and VOBA are amortized based primarily upon expected future premium income of the related insurance policies.  
Recoverability testing for DAC and VOBA is performed on an annual basis.  Insurance contracts are grouped on a basis 
consistent with our manner of acquiring, servicing, and measuring profitability of the contracts.  If recoverability testing 
indicates that either DAC and/or VOBA are not recoverable, the deficiency is charged to expense.   

Goodwill is not amortized, but on an annual basis, or more frequently if necessary, we review the carrying amount of goodwill 
for indications of impairment, considering in that review the financial performance and other relevant factors.  In accordance 
with accounting guidance, we test for impairment at either the operating segment level or one level below.  In addition, certain 
events including, but not limited to, a significant adverse change in legal factors or the business environment, an adverse action 
by a regulator or rating agency, or unanticipated competition would cause us to review goodwill for impairment more 
frequently than annually. 

Long-lived assets, including assets such as real estate and information technology software, also may require impairment testing 
to determine whether changes in circumstances indicate that we may be unable to recover the carrying amount.  

We assess our deferred tax assets to determine if they are realizable.  Factors in our determination include the performance of 
the business, including the ability to generate future taxable income.  If based on available information, it is more likely than 
not that the deferred income tax asset will not be realized, a valuation allowance is established with a corresponding charge to 
net income. 

Charges such as accelerated amortization, impairment losses, or the establishment of valuation allowances could have a 
material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. 

See "Critical Accounting Estimates" included in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 
Operations" contained herein in Item 7, and Note 13 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in 
Item 8 for further discussion. 

23

Operational Risks

A cyber attack or other security breach could disrupt our operations, result in the unauthorized disclosure or loss of 
confidential data, damage our reputation or relationships, and expose us to significant financial and legal liability, which 
may adversely affect our business, results of operations, or financial condition.

We store confidential information about our business and our policyholders, employees, agents and others on our information 
technology systems, including proprietary and personally identifiable information.  As part of our normal business operations, 
we use this information and engage third-party providers, including outsourcing, cloud computing, and other business partners, 
that store, access, process, and transmit such information on our behalf.  We devote significant resources and employ security 
measures to help protect our information technology systems and confidential information, and we have programs in place to 
detect, contain, and respond to information security incidents.  However, because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized 
access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and may be difficult to detect for long periods of 
time, we and our third-party providers may be unable to anticipate these techniques or implement adequate preventative 
measures.  In addition, hardware, software, or applications we develop or procure from third parties or through open source 
solutions may contain defects in design or manufacture or other problems that could unexpectedly compromise our information 
security.  Unauthorized parties, whether within or outside our company, may disrupt or gain access to our systems, or those of 
third parties with whom we do business, through human error, misfeasance, fraud, trickery, or other forms of deceit, including 
break-ins, use of stolen credentials, social engineering, phishing, or other cyber attacks, computer viruses, malicious codes, and 
similar means of unauthorized and destructive tampering.

We and our third-party providers have experienced and likely will continue to experience information security incidents from 
time to time.  Although known incidents have not had a material effect on our business or financial condition, there is no 
assurance that our security systems and measures will be able to prevent, mitigate, or remediate future incidents that could have 
such an effect.  A successful penetration or circumvention of the security of our information technology systems, or those of 
third parties with whom we do business, could cause serious negative consequences for us, including significant disruption of 
our operations, unauthorized disclosure or loss of confidential information, harm to our brand or reputation, loss of customers 
and revenues, violations of privacy and other laws, and exposure to litigation, monetary damages, regulatory enforcement 
proceedings, fines, and potentially criminal proceedings and penalties.  If we are unaware of the incident for some time after it 
occurs, our exposure could increase.  In addition, the costs to address or remediate systems disruptions or security threats or 
vulnerabilities, whether before or after an incident, could be significant.  As we continue to build our digital capabilities and 
focus on enhancing the customer experience, the amount of information that we retain and share with third parties, as well as 
our reliance on them, is likely to grow, increasing the cost to prevent data security breaches and the cost and potential 
consequences of such breaches.  An information technology systems failure could also interfere with our ability to comply with 
financial reporting and other regulatory requirements, exposing us to potential disciplinary action by regulators.  Further, 
successful cyber-attacks at other large financial institutions or other market participants, whether or not we are affected, could 
lead to a general loss of customer and investor confidence in financial institutions that could negatively affect us.

Although we have insurance against some cyber risks and attacks, we may be subject to litigation and financial losses that 
exceed our policy limits, are subject to deductibles or are not covered under any of our current insurance policies.  

The failure of our business recovery and incident management processes to resume our business operations in the event of a 
natural catastrophe, cyber attack, or other event could adversely affect our profitability, results of operations, or financial 
condition.

In the event of a disaster such as a natural catastrophe, an epidemic/pandemic, a cyber attack, cyber security breach or other 
information technology systems failure, a terrorist attack, or war, unanticipated problems with our disaster recovery systems 
could have a material adverse impact on our ability to conduct business and on our results of operations and financial condition, 
particularly if those problems affect our information technology systems and destroy valuable data or result in a significant 
failure of our internal control environment.  In addition, in the event that a significant number of our employees were 
unavailable in the event of a disaster, our ability to effectively conduct business could be severely compromised. 

The failure of our information technology and/or disaster recovery processes or systems for any reason could cause significant 
interruptions or malfunctions in our or our customers’ operations and result in the loss, theft, or failure to maintain the security, 
confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data, including personal information relating to our customers.  Such a failure could harm 
our reputation, subject us to regulatory sanctions, legal claims, and increased expenses, and lead to a loss of customers and 
revenues.

24

  
Our failure to develop digital capabilities or to effectively execute upgrades to or replacements of information technology 
systems could impair our ability to deliver on our growth initiatives or administer our business, which may adversely affect 
our business, results of operations, or financial condition. 

Our business plans increasingly rely on digital capabilities to meet or surpass customer expectations, simplify our operations, 
and deliver innovative product and service offerings.  If we are unable to effectively develop and offer digital capabilities that 
enhance our customers' experience, we may not fully achieve our strategic growth initiatives and may also experience the loss 
of existing business.  Although we believe we have information technology systems which adequately support our business 
needs, we continually upgrade our existing information technology systems and acquire or develop new systems to keep pace 
with the rapidly changing business and technology environment.  There are risks involved with upgrading or replacing 
information technology systems, including, but not limited to, data loss, data errors, and disruption to our operations.  We seek 
to monitor and control our exposure to the risks arising out of these activities through our risk control framework which 
encompasses a variety of reporting systems, internal controls, management review processes, and other mechanisms.    

Unum Group depends on funds from its subsidiaries to meet its obligations and pay dividends.  The ability of our 
subsidiaries to transfer funds to Unum Group may be impaired by adverse financial results or a change in capital 
requirements.  Accordingly, internal sources of capital and liquidity may not always be sufficient.  If we need to seek 
external capital, adverse market conditions may affect our access to capital or our cost of capital.

Unum Group is a holding company for insurance and other subsidiaries and has limited operations of its own.  Our insurance 
subsidiaries are subject to insurance laws and regulatory limitations on the payment of dividends and on other transfers of funds 
or other assets to affiliates, including to Unum Group.  The level of earnings and capital in our subsidiaries, as well as business 
conditions and rating agency considerations, could impact our insurance and other subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends or to 
make other transfers of funds to Unum Group, which could impair our ability to pay dividends to Unum Group's common 
stockholders, meet our debt and other payment obligations, and/or repurchase shares of Unum Group's common stock.  The use 
of funds held by Unum Group as consideration in any acquisition could affect our capital plan and render those funds 
unavailable for other corporate purposes.

A change in demand for our insurance products or an increase in the incidence of new claims or the duration of existing claims 
could negatively impact our cash flows from operations.  Deterioration in the credit market, which could delay our ability to sell 
our positions in certain of our fixed maturity securities in a timely manner, could also negatively impact our cash flows.  
Regulatory changes such as those discussed herein in this Item 1A may impose higher capital or reserve requirements on our 
insurance subsidiaries, increase collateral requirements for certain of our derivatives transactions, and/or implement other 
requirements which could unfavorably affect our liquidity.  Without sufficient liquidity, our ability to maintain and grow our 
operations would be limited.  If our internal sources of liquidity prove to be insufficient, we may be unable to successfully 
obtain additional financing and capital on favorable terms, or at all, which may adversely affect us.  

If our financial results are unfavorable, we may need to increase our capital in order to maintain our credit ratings or satisfy 
regulatory requirements.  Maintaining appropriate levels of statutory surplus is considered important not only by us but by 
insurance regulatory authorities in the U.S., the PRA in the U.K., the KNF in Poland, and the rating agencies that rate insurers' 
claims-paying abilities and financial strength.  Failure to maintain certain levels of statutory surplus could result in increased 
regulatory scrutiny, action by regulatory authorities, or a downgrade by the rating agencies.  Need for additional capital may 
limit a subsidiary's ability to distribute funds to our holding companies.

Obtaining financing for even a small amount of capital could be challenging in unfavorable market conditions and during 
periods of economic uncertainty.  The markets may exert downward pressure on availability of liquidity and credit capacity for 
certain issuers.  The availability of financing will depend on a variety of factors such as market conditions, the general 
availability of credit, the overall availability of credit to the financial services industry, our credit ratings and credit capacity, 
and the possibility that customers or lenders could develop a negative perception of our financial prospects.  Similarly, our 
access to funds may be impaired if regulatory authorities or rating agencies take negative actions against us.  Raising capital in 
unfavorable market conditions could increase our interest expense or negatively impact our shareholders through increased 
dilution of their common stock in Unum Group. 

We rely on our credit facilities as a potential source of liquidity.  Our right to borrow funds under these facilities is subject to 
financial covenants, negative covenants, and events of default.  Our ability to borrow under these facilities are also subject to 
the continued willingness and ability of the lenders to provide funds.  Our failure to comply with the covenants in the credit 
facilities or the failure of lenders to fund their lending commitments would restrict our ability to access these facilities when 
needed, with a resulting adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity. 

25

See "Regulation" contained herein in Item 1,"Liquidity and Capital Resources" included in "Management's Discussion and 
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained herein in Item 7, and Notes 8 and 15 of the "Notes to 
Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion.

Our risk management program may leave us exposed to unidentified or unanticipated risk, which could negatively affect our 
business. 

We have devoted significant resources to develop our enterprise risk management program, which has the objective of 
managing our strategic, market, credit, insurance, and operations risks, which ultimately impact our reputational risk.  However, 
our program may not be comprehensive, and our methods for monitoring and managing risk may not fully predict or mitigate 
future exposures.  In this case, there may be a negative impact to our business, results of operations, or financial condition.

See "Regulation" contained herein Item 1, "Critical Accounting Estimates" included in "Management's Discussion and Analysis 
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained herein in Item 7 and Notes 1, 7 and 14 of the "Notes to 
Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for additional information on legal proceedings.
See "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" contained herein in Item 7A for further information about 
our risk management program. 

General Risks 

We and our insurance subsidiaries are subject to extensive supervision and regulation.  Changes in laws and regulations 
that affect our industry or findings from examinations and investigations may affect the cost or demand for our products, 
increase capital and reserving requirements for our insurance subsidiaries, and adversely affect our profitability, liquidity, 
or growth.

Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to extensive supervision and regulation in the United States and abroad.  The primary 
purpose of insurance regulation is to protect policyholders, not stockholders.  To that end, applicable laws establish regulatory 
authorities, including state insurance departments in the United States, the PRA in the United Kingdom, and the KNF in Poland, 
with broad administrative powers over many aspects of the insurance business.  For example, our insurance subsidiaries may 
not be able to obtain or maintain necessary licenses, permits, authorizations, or accreditations, or may be able to do so only at 
great cost.  In addition, we and our insurance subsidiaries may not be able to comply fully with, or obtain appropriate 
exemptions from, the wide variety of laws and regulations applicable to insurance companies and insurance holding companies.  
These laws and regulations can be complex and subject to differing interpretations and are regularly re-examined.  Existing or 
future laws and regulations, and the manner in which they are interpreted or applied, may become more restrictive or otherwise 
adversely affect our operations.  For example, they may restrict or prohibit the payment of dividends by our subsidiaries to us, 
restrict transactions between subsidiaries and/or between us and our subsidiaries, and may require contributions of capital by us 
to our insurance subsidiaries even if we are otherwise in compliance with stated requirements.  Failure to comply with or to 
obtain appropriate exemptions under any applicable laws or regulations could result in restrictions on the ability of our 
insurance subsidiaries to do business in one or more of the jurisdictions in which they operate and could result in fines and other 
sanctions, which may have a material adverse effect on our business or results of operations.

Regulatory examinations or investigations could result in, among other things, an increase to reserving requirements, changes in 
our claims handling or other business practices, changes in procedures for the identification and payment to the states of 
benefits and other property that is not claimed by the owners, changes in the use and oversight of reinsurance, changes in 
governance and other oversight procedures, assessments by tax authorities or other governing agencies, fines, and other 
administrative action, which could injure our reputation, adversely affect our issuer credit ratings and financial strength ratings, 
place us at a competitive disadvantage in marketing or administering our products, impair our ability to sell or retain insurance 
policies, and/or have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.      

It is possible that there will be heightened oversight of insurers by regulatory authorities in the jurisdictions in which our 
insurance subsidiaries are domiciled and operate.  We cannot predict specific proposals that might be adopted, or what impact, 
if any, such proposals or, if enacted, such laws, could have on our business, results of operations, or financial condition.  For 
instance, the NAIC or state regulators may adopt further revisions to the RBC formula, the PRA may revise its capital adequacy 
requirements and minimum solvency margins, the IAIS may adopt capital requirements to which we could be subject, or rating 
agencies may incorporate higher capital thresholds into their quantitative analyses, thus requiring additional capital 
contributions by us to our insurance subsidiaries.  Increased financial services regulation, which could include activities 
undertaken by the NAIC and regulatory authorities in the U.K., Poland, and the EU may impose greater quantitative 

26

requirements, supervisory review, and disclosure requirements and may impact the business strategies, capital requirements, 
and profitability of our insurance subsidiaries.  The United Kingdom's Financial Ombudsman Service, which was established to 
help settle disputes between consumers and businesses providing financial services, and the FCA, which has rule-making, 
investigative, and enforcement powers to protect consumers, may hamper our ability to do business, which could have a 
material adverse effect on our U.K. operations.                      

Our financial statements are subject to the application of generally accepted accounting principles, in the United States, the 
United Kingdom, and Poland, which are periodically revised and/or expanded.  Accordingly, we are required to adopt new or 
revised accounting standards issued by recognized authoritative bodies within these countries, which may also be influenced by 
the International Accounting Standards Board.  Future accounting standards we adopt, including the U.S. Financial Accounting 
Standards Board's accounting standard update related to long-duration targeted improvements for insurance contracts, will 
change current accounting and disclosure requirements applicable to our financial statements.  Such changes may have a 
material effect on our reported results of operations or financial condition and may also impact the perception of our business 
by external stakeholders.   

We use affiliated captive reinsurers for the limited purpose of reinsuring risks attributable to specified policies issued or 
reinsured by our insurance subsidiaries in order to effectively manage risks in connection with certain blocks of our business as 
well as to enhance our capital efficiency.  If we were required to discontinue use of the captive reinsurers or to alter the 
structure of the captive reinsurance arrangements, our ability to maintain current RBC ratios and/or our capital deployment 
activities could be adversely affected.

Changes in U.S. programs such as healthcare reform, the emergence of paid family and medical leave legislation, and financial 
services sector reform may compete with or diminish the need or demand for our products, particularly as it may affect our 
ability to sell our products through employers or in the workplace.  The U.S. social security disability insurance program may 
not be sustainable, which may adversely affect the level of our disability claim payments and reserves.  Legislative changes 
related to pension funding requirements could negatively impact our cash flows from operations and our profitability.  

Changes in tax laws and other regulations or interpretations of such laws or regulations could unfavorably impact our corporate 
taxes.  In addition, changes in tax laws could make some of our products less attractive to consumers. 

On January 31, 2020, an official bill was passed formalizing the withdrawal of the U.K. from the EU.  The bill gives approval 
to an 11-month transition period, until December 31, 2020, to allow for further negotiations regarding the details of the future 
relationship.  Although we do not expect the withdrawal to have a significant direct impact on the underlying operations of our 
U.K. business, disruption and uncertainty associated with the withdrawal may continue to dampen economic growth in the 
U.K., and correspondingly, the earnings of our U.K. business.  We may experience volatility in the fair values of our 
investments in U.K. and EU-based issuers, but we do not expect a material increase in other-than-temporary impairments or 
defaults, nor do we believe this volatility will impact our ability to hold these investments.  We may also experience higher 
claims incidence in the near term, which is generally correlated to periods of economic uncertainty.  Additionally, it is possible 
that there are tax impacts associated with the exit such as revised or new tax regulations.  The continued dampening of growth 
due to the current disruption and uncertainty in the U.K. economy may lead to lower near-term sales and premium growth.  
There are currently no indications that capital requirements for our U.K. operations will change, but economic conditions may 
cause volatility in our solvency ratios.  Our reported consolidated financial results may continue to be impacted by fluctuations 
in the British pound sterling to dollar exchange rate.

Most group long-term and short-term disability plans we administer are governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security 
Act (ERISA).  Changes to ERISA enacted by Congress or through judicial interpretations may adversely affect the risk to us of 
managing employee benefit plans, increase the premiums associated with such plans, and ultimately affect their affordability 
and our profitability.

The insurance departments in jurisdictions wherein our insurance subsidiaries conduct business may limit our ability to obtain 
rate increases under guaranteed renewable contracts or could require changes in rates and/or benefits to meet minimum loss 
ratio requirements which could negatively impact the profitability of our products.  Many regulatory and governmental bodies 
have the authority to review our products and business practices and those of our agents and employees.  These regulatory or 
governmental bodies may bring regulatory or other legal actions against us if, in their view, our practices are improper.  These 
actions could result in substantial fines or restrictions on our business activities and could have a material adverse effect on our 
business or results of operations.  Determination by regulatory authorities that we have engaged in improper conduct may also 
adversely affect our defense of various lawsuits.

27

    
A decrease in our financial strength or issuer credit ratings may adversely affect our competitive position, our ability to 
hedge our risks, and our cost of capital or ability to raise capital, which may adversely affect our results of operations, 
financial condition, or liquidity.

We compete based in part on the financial strength ratings provided by rating agencies.  A downgrade of our financial strength 
ratings may adversely affect us and could potentially, among other things, adversely affect our relationships with distributors of 
our products and services and retention of our sales force, negatively impact persistency and new sales, and generally adversely 
affect our ability to compete.  A downgrade in the issuer credit rating assigned to Unum Group can be expected to adversely 
affect our cost of capital and our ability to raise additional capital.  If we are downgraded significantly, ratings triggers in our 
derivatives financial instrument contracts may result in our counterparties enforcing their option to terminate the derivative 
contracts.  Such an event may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or our ability to hedge our risks.

Competition may adversely affect our market share or profitability. 

All of our businesses are highly competitive.  We believe that the principal competitive factors affecting our business are price, 
the quality of our customer's experience regarding service and claims management, integrated product choices, enrollment 
capabilities, financial strength, and claims-paying ratings.  We compete for new product sales, the retention of existing 
business, and the ability to attract and retain independent agents and brokers to market our products, all of which affect our 
profitability.  All areas of the employee benefits markets are highly competitive due to the yearly renewable term nature of the 
group products and the large number of insurance companies offering products in this market.  There is a risk that our 
customers may be able to obtain more favorable terms or improved technology solutions from competitors in lieu of renewing 
coverage with us, particularly if industry pricing levels do not align with our view of adequate premium rates.  We are operating 
in a dynamic competitive environment of both traditional and non-traditional competitors, with changes in product offerings, 
enrollment capabilities, and technology solutions.  The level and intensity of competition may also grow due to existing 
competitors becoming more aggressive, and an increase in merger and acquisition activity which may result in larger 
competitors with greater financial resources.  There are many insurance companies which actively compete with us in our lines 
of business, and there is no assurance that we will be able to compete effectively against these companies and new competitors 
in the future. 

Events that damage our reputation may adversely affect our business, results of operations, or financial condition. 

There are many events which may harm our reputation, including, but not limited to, those discussed in this Item 1A regarding 
regulatory investigations, legal proceedings, and cyber or other information security incidents. 

In addition, being in the business of insurance, we are paid to accept certain risks.  Those who conduct business on our behalf, 
including executive officers and members of management, sales managers, investment professionals, and to some extent, 
independent agents and brokers, do so in part by making decisions that involve exposing us to risk.  These include decisions 
such as maintaining effective underwriting and pricing discipline, maintaining effective claim management and customer 
service performance, managing our investment portfolio and derivatives trading activities, delivering effective technology 
solutions, complying with established sales practices, executing our capital management strategy, exiting a line of business and/
or pursuing strategic growth initiatives, and other decisions.  Although we employ controls and procedures designed to monitor 
business decisions and prevent us from taking excessive risks or unintentionally failing to comply with internal policies and 
practices such that errors occur, there can be no assurance that these controls and procedures will be effective.  If our employees 
and business associates take excessive risks and/or fail to comply with internal policies and practices, the impact of those events 
may damage our market position and reputation. 

Depending on the severity of the damage to our reputation, we may be unable to effectively compete for new products or retain 
our existing business, which could adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.  Damage to our reputation 
may also hinder our ability to raise new capital and/or increase our cost of capital.  

Litigation and contingencies are common in our businesses and may result in financial losses and/or harm to our 
reputation. 

We are, and in the future may be, defendants in a number of litigation matters, and the outcome of this litigation is uncertain.  
Some of these proceedings have been brought on behalf of various alleged classes of complainants.  Plaintiffs in class action 
and other lawsuits against us may seek very large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive and treble damages.  An 
estimated loss is accrued when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably 
estimated.  An adverse outcome in one or more of these actions may, depending on the nature, scope and amount of the ruling, 

28

 
 
materially and adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition, encourage other litigation, and limit our ability 
to write new business, particularly if the adverse outcomes negatively impact certain of our ratings.

As part of our normal operations in managing claims, we are engaged in claim litigation where disputes arise as a result of a 
denial or termination of benefits.  Typically those lawsuits are filed on behalf of a single claimant or policyholder, and in some 
of these individual actions punitive damages are sought, such as claims alleging bad faith in the handling of insurance claims.  
For our general claim litigation, we maintain reserves based on experience to satisfy judgments and settlements in the normal 
course.  We expect that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to general claim litigation, after consideration of the reserves 
maintained, will not be material to our financial condition.  Nevertheless, given the inherent unpredictability of litigation, it is 
possible that an adverse outcome in certain claim litigation involving punitive damages may, from time to time, have a material 
adverse effect on our results of operations.  We are unable to estimate a range of reasonably possible punitive losses.

See "Reserves for Policy and Contract Benefits", "Competition", "Regulation" and "Ratings" contained herein in Item 1, 
"Executive Summary" and "Critical Accounting Estimates" included in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial 
Condition and Results of Operations" contained herein in Item 7, and Notes 1, 6, 7, and 14 of the "Notes to Consolidated 
Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion. 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES 

As of December 31, 2019, we owned approximately 2.3 million square feet of office space, comprised of five campuses located 
in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Portland, Maine; Columbia, South Carolina; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Dorking in the United 
Kingdom.  In addition, as of December 31, 2019, we leased approximately 0.2 million square feet of office space in Worcester, 
Massachusetts and approximately 0.7 million square feet in various other locations throughout the United States, the United 
Kingdom, Ireland, and Poland.  Substantially all of the properties owned or leased are used by one or more of all five reporting 
segments, depending on the location.  We believe our properties and facilities are suitable and adequate for current operations.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Refer to Note 14 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for information on legal 
proceedings.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not Applicable

29

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND 
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Common stock of Unum Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.  The stock symbol is UNM.  Quarterly dividends 
declared and paid per share of common stock are as follows:

2019
4th Quarter 
3rd Quarter
2nd Quarter
1st Quarter

2018
4th Quarter 
3rd Quarter
2nd Quarter
1st Quarter

$

$

0.285
0.285
0.260
0.260

0.260
0.260
0.230
0.230

Our board of directors has the authority to declare cash dividends on shares of our common stock.  In determining dividends, the 
board takes into account a number of factors including our financial condition and results of operations, regulatory limitations on 
the payment of dividends from subsidiaries, cash requirements, general economic conditions, and other factors the board may 
deem relevant.  For information on restrictions relating to our subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends to Unum Group and certain of 
its intermediate holding company subsidiaries, see "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Cash Available from Subsidiaries" 
contained herein in Item 7 and Note 16 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8.  For 
information relating to compensation plans under which Unum Group's equity securities are authorized for issuance, see Item 12 
contained herein.

As of February 14, 2020, there were 8,711 registered holders of common stock. 

The following table provides information about our share repurchase activity for the fourth quarter of 2019:

October 1 - October 31, 2019
November 1 - November 30, 2019
December 1 - December 31, 2019
        Total

(a) Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased

— $

1,089,613
2,263,839
3,353,452

(b) Average
Price Paid
per Share (1)
—
29.99
29.74

(c) Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced
Program (2)

(d) Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Program (2)

— $

1,089,613
2,263,839
3,353,452

616,184,199
583,507,160
516,184,221

(1)  The average price paid per share excludes the cost of commissions.

(2)  In May 2019, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $750 million of Unum Group's common stock 
through November 23, 2020. 

30

 
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

(in millions of dollars, except share data)

Income Statement Data

Revenue
Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss)
Other Income
Total Revenue

Benefits and Expenses
Benefits and Change in Reserves for Future Benefits1
Commissions
Interest and Debt Expense and Cost Related to Early 
Retirement of Debt2
Other Expenses3
Total Benefits and Expenses

Income Before Income Tax
Income Tax

Net Income

Balance Sheet Data

Assets

Long-term Debt

At or for the Year Ended December 31
2017

2018

2016

2015

2019

$ 9,365.6
2,435.3
(23.2)
221.2
11,998.9

$ 8,986.1
2,453.7
(39.5)
198.2
11,598.5

$ 8,597.1
2,451.7
40.3
197.7
11,286.8

$ 8,357.7
2,459.0
24.2
205.6
11,046.5

$ 8,082.4
2,481.2
(43.8)
211.5
10,731.3

7,496.2
1,122.7

8,020.4
1,108.4

204.7
1,793.2
10,616.8

167.3
1,674.6
10,970.7

1,382.1
281.8

627.8
104.4

7,055.7
1,060.8

159.9
1,606.4
9,882.8

1,404.0
409.8

6,941.8
1,026.7

166.0
1,564.3
9,698.8

1,347.7
416.3

6,782.8
996.3

152.8
1,561.1
9,493.0

1,238.3
371.2

$ 1,100.3

$

523.4

$

994.2

$

931.4

$

867.1

$ 67,013.4

$ 61,875.6

$ 64,013.1

$ 61,941.5

$ 60,563.6

$ 2,926.9

$ 2,971.3

$ 2,738.4

$ 2,999.4

$ 2,449.4

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Other Stockholders' Equity
Total Stockholders' Equity

$

37.3
9,927.7
$ 9,965.0

$

(814.2) $
9,436.0
$ 8,621.8

127.5
9,447.4
$ 9,574.9

$

(51.0) $

9,019.0
$ 8,968.0

16.1
8,647.8
$ 8,663.9

Per Share Data

Net Income
  Basic
  Assuming Dilution

Stockholders' Equity

Cash Dividends

$
$

$

$

5.25
5.24

49.10

1.09

$
$

$

$

2.38
2.38

40.19

0.98

$
$

$

$

4.39
4.37

43.02

0.86

$
$

$

$

3.96
3.95

39.02

0.77

$
$

$

$

3.51
3.50

35.96

0.70

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding
   Basic (000s)
   Assuming Dilution (000s)

209,728.9
209,854.4

219,635.6
220,058.6

226,492.4
227,335.2

235,445.7
235,979.2

246,986.7
247,854.7

31

1  Includes a reserve increase of $750.8 million in 2018 related to our long-term care closed block business.  See Note 6 of the 
"Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion of the 2018 reserve increase.

2  Includes cost related to early retirement of debt of $27.3 million in 2019.  See Note 8 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial 
Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion of the 2019 cost related to early retirement of debt.

3  Includes the net change in deferred acquisition costs as well as compensation expense and other expenses.

32

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF 
OPERATIONS

The discussion and analysis presented in this section should be read in conjunction with the "Cautionary Statement Regarding 
Forward-Looking Statements" included below the Table of Contents, "Risk Factors" included herein Item 1A, "Selected 
Financial Data" included herein this Item 6, and the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in Item 8.

Executive Summary

2019 Operating Performance and Capital Management 

For 2019, we reported net income of $1,100.3 million, or $5.24 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $523.4 
million, or $2.38 per diluted common share, in 2018.  Net income includes net realized investment gains and losses.  Included in 
our results for 2019 are costs related to the early retirement of debt of $27.3 million before tax and $21.6 million after tax, or 
$0.11 per diluted common share.  Included in our 2018 results is a reserve increase related to our long-term care block of 
business of $750.8 million before tax and $593.1 million after tax, or $2.70 per diluted common share.  Adjusting for these 
items, after-tax adjusted operating income for 2019 was $1,140.6 million, or $5.44 per diluted common share compared to 
$1,145.0 million, or $5.20 per diluted common share for 2018.  See "Long-term Care Reserve Increase, "Reconciliation of Non-
GAAP and Other Financial Measures," and "Consolidated Operating Results" contained herein in this Item 7 for further 
discussion and a reconciliation of these items.

Our Unum US segment reported an increase in adjusted operating income of 1.6 percent in 2019 compared to 2018, with growth 
in premium income, partially offset by lower net investment income and higher amortization of deferred acquisition costs.  The 
benefit ratio for our Unum US segment for 2019 was 66.9 percent, compared to 67.2 percent in 2018.  Unum US sales decreased 
0.4 percent in 2019 compared to 2018.  Persistency in our group product lines was stable while persistency in our supplemental 
and voluntary product lines was less favorable. 

Our Unum International segment reported a decrease in adjusted operating income of 5.3 percent in 2019 compared to 2018, as 
measured in U.S. dollars.  Our Unum UK line of business reported a decrease in adjusted operating income of 4.3 percent   
compared to 2018, as measured in local currency, due primarily to unfavorable benefits experience, partially offset by an 
increase in premium income and net investment income.  The benefit ratio for our Unum UK line of business was 76.7 percent in 
2019 compared to 74.4 percent in 2018.  Unum International sales, as measured in U.S. dollars, increased 14.9 percent in 2019 
compared to 2018.  Unum UK sales, as measured in local currency, increased 8.5 percent in 2019 compared to 2018.  Persistency 
was higher overall relative to the prior year.  

Our Colonial Life segment reported an increase in adjusted operating income of 2.8 percent in 2019 compared to 2018 due to 
growth in premium income, partially offset by higher amortization of deferred acquisition costs and lower net investment 
income.  The 2019 benefit ratio for Colonial Life was 51.3 percent, which was generally consistent with 51.4 percent in 2018.  
Colonial Life sales increased 0.8 percent in 2019 compared to 2018.  Persistency was lower relative to the prior year. 

Our Closed Block segment reported adjusted operating income of $137.7 million in 2019.  In 2018, our Closed Block segment 
reported a loss of $625.3 million.  Excluding the 2018 long-term care reserve increase, adjusted operating income for this 
segment was $125.5 million in 2018.  The increase in adjusted operating income in 2019 compared to 2018 was due primarily to 
an increase in net investment income and overall favorable benefits experience, partially offset by lower premium income.  The 
long-term care interest adjusted loss ratio for 2019 was not comparable to 2018 due to the update in our assumptions during the 
third quarter of 2018, but was within our range of expectations.  Benefits experience for individual disability was favorable in 
2019 compared to 2018 and remains within our expectations.  

Our net investment income yields continue to be pressured by the low interest rate environment as we maintain consistent credit 
quality in our invested asset portfolio.  The net unrealized gain on our fixed maturity securities was $6.4 billion at December 31, 
2019, compared to $2.7 billion at December 31, 2018, with the increase due primarily to a decline in U.S. Treasury rates and 
credit spreads during 2019.  The earned book yield on our investment portfolio was 5.00 percent for 2019 compared to a yield of 
5.15 percent for 2018. 

We believe our capital and financial positions are strong.  At December 31, 2019, the RBC ratio for our traditional U.S. 
insurance subsidiaries, calculated on a weighted average basis using the NAIC Company Action Level formula, was 
approximately 365 percent, which is in line with our expectations.  During 2019, we repurchased 12.3 million shares of Unum 
Group common stock under our share repurchase program, at a cost of approximately $400 million.  Our weighted average 

33

common shares outstanding, assuming dilution, equaled 209.9 million for 2019 compared to 220.1 million for 2018, reflecting 
our capital management strategy of returning capital to shareholders through repurchases of our common stock.  As of 
December 31, 2019, Unum Group and our intermediate holding companies held fixed maturity securities, short-term 
investments, and cash of $863 million.

2018 Long-term Care Reserve Increase

Policy reserves for our long-term care block of business are determined using the gross premium valuation method and, prior to 
the third quarter of 2018, were valued based on assumptions established as of December 31, 2014, the date of our last 
assumption update under loss recognition.  Gross premium valuation assumptions do not change after the date of loss recognition 
unless reserves are again determined to be deficient.  We undertake a review of policy reserve adequacy annually during the 
fourth quarter of each year, or more frequently if appropriate, using best estimate assumptions as of the date of the review.

During the third quarter of 2018, we completed our annual review of policy reserve adequacy, which incorporated our most 
recent experience and included a review of all assumptions.  The review utilized internal and external data and outside consulting 
firms for quality assurance and industry benchmarking.  Based on our analysis, during the third quarter of 2018, we updated our 
reserve assumptions and determined that our policy and claim reserves should be increased by $750.8 million, or $593.1 million 
after-tax, to reflect our current estimate of future benefit obligations.  This increase was primarily driven by the update to our 
liability and interest rate assumptions, particularly claims incidence and claim termination rates, which resulted in an increase to 
reserves of approximately $2.2 billion.  Partially offsetting the increase was the update to our assumptions for premium rate 
increases which decreased reserves approximately $1.4 billion, resulting in the net increase to reserves of $750.8 million.  See 
"Trends in Key Assumptions" contained herein in the "Critical Accounting Estimates" of this Item 7 for further discussion of the 
assumptions used in our long-term care reserve update.

2018 Acquisitions of Business

In November 2018, we acquired 100 percent of the shares and voting interests in Jaimini Health, Inc. (Jaimini Health), a dental 
health maintenance organization.  The acquisition of Jaimini Health will broaden our employee benefit dental offerings in the 
U.S., particularly in the state of California and is reported in our Unum US segment.  

In October 2018, we acquired 100 percent of the shares and voting interests in Pramerica Zycie TUiR S.A. (which we have 
subsequently renamed Unum Zycie TUiR S.A. and refer to as Unum Poland), a financial protection benefits provider in Poland.  
This acquisition will expand our European presence, which we believe to be an attractive market for financial protection 
benefits. 

In January 2018, we acquired 100 percent of the shares and voting interests in Leavelogic, Inc (Leavelogic), a leave management 
technology provider.  The acquisition of Leavelogic will enhance our current leave management offerings by providing tools for 
employers and employees to better manage the family leave process and is reported in our Unum US segment. 

See Note 13 of the " Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” contained herein in Item 8 for further details.

Unclaimed Death Benefits (UDB) Reserve Increase

Similar to other insurers, we were the subject of an examination by a third party acting on behalf of a number of state treasurers 
concerning our compliance with the unclaimed property laws of the participating states.  We cooperated fully with this 
examination and in the fourth quarter of 2017, we started the process to reach a Global Resolution Agreement with the third 
party regarding settlement of the examination, which we finalized in January of 2018.  Under the terms of the agreement, the 
third party acting on behalf of the signatory states compared insured data to the Social Security Administration's Death Master 
File to identify deceased insureds and contract holders where a valid claim has not been made.  During the fourth quarter of 
2017, we established reserves which reflected our estimate of the liability expected to be paid as we execute on the terms of the 
settlement.  Claim reserves were increased $18.5 million for Unum US group life, $8.1 million for Unum US voluntary life, and 
$12.4 million for Colonial Life voluntary life, for a total reserve increase of $39.0 million before tax and $25.4 million after tax. 

34

U.S. Tax Reform

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Federal government enacted a tax bill, H.R.1, An Act to Provide Reconciliation Pursuant to 
Titles II and V of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018, more commonly known as the Tax Cuts and 
Jobs Act (TCJA).  The TCJA, among other things, included a reduction to the U.S. corporate statutory tax rate from 35 percent 
to 21 percent and a tax on undistributed and previously untaxed foreign earnings and profits (Deemed Repatriation Tax) at 
reduced rates.  As a result of these changes, we recognized a tax benefit of $97.9 million in 2017 related to the revaluation of our 
net deferred tax liabilities associated with our U.S. operations to the newly enacted U.S. corporate tax rate and a tax expense of 
$66.4 million resulting from the Deemed Repatriation Tax.  See "Regulation" contained herein in Item 1 and Note 7 of the 
"Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further details.  

U.K. Referendum

On January 31, 2020, an official bill was passed formalizing the withdrawal of the U.K. from the EU.  The bill gives approval to 
an 11- month transition period, until December 31, 2020, to allow for further negotiations regarding the details of the future 
relationship.  We do not expect that the underlying operations of our U.K. business to be significantly impacted by the 
withdrawal but we may see some continued dampening of growth in the U.K. as well as earnings volatility due to the current 
disruption and uncertainty in the U.K. economy.  We may also experience volatility in the fair values of our investments in U.K. 
and EU-based issuers, but we do not expect a material increase in other-than-temporary impairments or defaults, nor do we 
believe this volatility will impact our ability to hold these investments.  There are currently no indications that capital 
requirements for our U.K. operations will change, but economic conditions may cause volatility in our solvency ratios.  Our 
reported consolidated financial results may continue to be impacted by fluctuations in the British pound sterling to dollar 
exchange rate.  See "Regulation" contained herein in Item 1, "Risk Factors" contained herein Item 1A, and "Unum International 
Segment" contained herein this Item 7.

Consolidated Company Outlook for 2020 

We believe our disciplined approach to providing financial protection products at the workplace puts us in a position of strength 
as we seek to capitalize on the growing and largely unfilled need for our products and services.  We believe the need for our 
products and services remains strong, and we intend to continue protecting our solid margins and returns through our pricing and 
risk management actions.  Our strategy is centered on growing our existing business, expanding our reach, and investing in our 
operations and technology to anticipate and respond to new market demands to meet the changing needs of our customers.

We expect a continuation of the positive operating trends in our core businesses during 2020, with solid premium growth, 
consistent risk management, and a continued focus on operational efficiencies. 

The low interest rate environment continues to place pressure on our profit margins by impacting net investment income yields 
as well as discount rates on our insurance liabilities.  Our reported consolidated financial results may also continue to be 
unfavorably impacted by political and economic uncertainty in the U.K., specifically lower interest rates, wage inflation, 
employer spending, and claims volatility.   

We continue to analyze and employ strategies that we believe will help us navigate the current environment and allow us to 
maintain solid operating margins and significant financial flexibility to support the needs of our businesses, while also 
continuing to return capital to our shareholders and exploring merger and acquisition opportunities to enhance our business lines.  
The continued strong labor market in the U.S. and the high level of consumer confidence will have positive impacts on our 
business.  We have substantial leverage to rising interest rates and an improving economy which generates payroll growth and 
wage inflation.  We believe that consistent operating results, combined with the implementation of strategic initiatives and the 
effective deployment of capital, will allow us to meet our long-term financial objectives.

Further discussion is included in "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures," "Consolidated Operating Results," 
"Segment Results," "Investments," and "Liquidity and Capital Resources" contained herein in this Item 7 and in the "Notes to 
Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8.

35

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures

We analyze our performance using non-GAAP financial measures.  A non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a 
company's performance, financial position, or cash flows that excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or 
included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.  The non-GAAP financial 
measure of "after-tax adjusted operating income" differs from net income as presented in our consolidated operating results and 
income statements prepared in accordance with GAAP due to the exclusion of net realized investment gains and losses and 
certain other items as specified in the reconciliations below.  We believe after-tax adjusted operating income is a better 
performance measure and better indicator of the profitability and underlying trends in our business.  

Realized investment gains or losses depend on market conditions and do not necessarily relate to decisions regarding the 
underlying business of our segments.  Our investment focus is on investment income to support our insurance liabilities as 
opposed to the generation of realized investment gains or losses.  Although we may experience realized investment gains or 
losses which will affect future earnings levels, a long-term focus is necessary to maintain profitability over the life of the 
business since our underlying business is long-term in nature, and we need to earn the interest rates assumed in calculating our 
liabilities.  

We may at other times exclude certain other items from our discussion of financial ratios and metrics in order to enhance the 
understanding and comparability of our operational performance and the underlying fundamentals.  We exclude these items as 
we believe them to be infrequent or unusual in nature, but this exclusion is not an indication that similar items may not recur and 
does not replace net income or net loss as a measure of our overall profitability. 

See "Executive Summary" contained herein in Item 7 and Notes 6, 7, 8, and 14 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial 
Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion regarding the impacts of the long-term care reserve increase, the 
TCJA, the unclaimed death benefit reserve increase, cost related to the early retirement of debt,  and the loss from a guaranty 
fund assessment, respectively.

A reconciliation of GAAP financial measures to our non-GAAP financial measures is as follows:

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018

2017

(in millions)
1,100.3
$

per share *
5.24
$

(in millions)
523.4
$

per share *
2.38
$

(in millions)
994.2
$

per share *
4.37
$

(18.7)

(0.09)

(28.5)

(0.12)

25.3

0.11

(21.6)

(0.11)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

(593.1)

(2.70)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

(13.4)

(0.06)

(25.4)

(0.11)

31.5

0.14

$

1,140.6

$

5.44

$

1,145.0

$

5.20

$

976.2

$

4.29

Net Income
Excluding:

Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss) 
(net of tax expense (benefit) of 
$(4.5); $(11.0); $15.0)

Cost Related to Early Retirement of 
Debt (net of tax benefit of $5.7; $-; 
$-)
Long-term Care Reserve Increase 
(net of tax benefit of $-; $157.7; $-)

Loss from Guaranty Fund 
Assessment (net of tax benefit of $-; 
$-; $7.2)

Unclaimed Death Benefits Reserve 
Increase (net of tax benefit of $-; $-; 
$13.6)

Net Tax Benefit from Impacts of 
TCJA

After-tax Adjusted Operating 
Income

* Assuming Dilution

36

We measure and analyze our segment performance on the basis of "adjusted operating revenue" and "adjusted operating income" 
or "adjusted operating loss", which differ from total revenue and income before income tax as presented in our consolidated 
statements of income due to the exclusion of net realized investment gains and losses and certain other items as specified in the 
reconciliations below.  These performance measures are in accordance with GAAP guidance for segment reporting, but they 
should not be viewed as a substitute for total revenue, income before income tax, or net income.  

A reconciliation of total revenue to "adjusted operating revenue" and income before income tax to "adjusted operating income" is 
as follows: 

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)
$

11,598.5

$

11,998.9

(23.2)
12,022.1

1,382.1

(23.2)
(27.3)
—
—
—
1,432.6

$

$

$

(39.5)
11,638.0

627.8

(39.5)
—
(750.8)
—
—
1,418.1

$

$

$

2017

11,286.8

40.3
11,246.5

1,404.0

40.3
—
—
(20.6)
(39.0)
1,423.3

Total Revenue
Excluding:

Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss)

Adjusted Operating Revenue

Income Before Income Tax
Excluding:

Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss)
Cost Related to Early Retirement of Debt
Long-term Care Reserve Increase
Loss from Guaranty Fund Assessment
Unclaimed Death Benefits Reserve Increase

Adjusted Operating Income

$

$

$

$

37

Critical Accounting Estimates

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with GAAP.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 
GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in our financial statements and accompanying 
notes.  Estimates and assumptions could change in the future as more information becomes known, which could impact the 
amounts reported and disclosed in our financial statements.  The accounting estimates deemed to be most critical to our financial 
position and results of operations are those related to reserves for policy and contract benefits, deferred acquisition costs, 
valuation of investments, pension and postretirement benefit plans, income taxes, and contingent liabilities.  For additional 
information, refer to our significant accounting policies in Note 1 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained 
herein in Item 8.

Reserves for Policy and Contract Benefits

Reserves for policy and contract benefits are our largest liabilities and represent claims that we estimate we will eventually pay 
to our policyholders.  The two primary categories of reserves are policy reserves for claims not yet incurred and claim reserves 
for claims that have been incurred or are estimated to have been incurred but not yet reported to us.  Reserves for policy and 
contract benefits equaled $43.7 billion and $43.3 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, or approximately 76.6 
percent and 81.3 percent of our total liabilities, respectively.  Reserves ceded to reinsurers were $7.2 billion at both December 
31, 2019 and 2018 and are reported as a reinsurance recoverable in our consolidated balance sheets.      

Policy Reserves 

Policy reserves are established in the same period we issue a policy and equal the difference between projected future policy 
benefits and future premiums, allowing a margin for expenses and profit.  These reserves relate primarily to our non-interest 
sensitive products, including our individual disability and voluntary benefits products in our Unum US segment; individual 
disability and life products in our Unum International segment; disability and cancer and critical illness policies in our Colonial 
Life segment; and individual disability, long-term care, and other products in our Closed Block segment.  The reserves are 
calculated based on assumptions that were appropriate at the date the policy was issued and are not subsequently modified unless 
the policy reserves become inadequate (i.e. loss recognition occurs).  

•
•

•

Persistency assumptions are based on our actual historical experience adjusted for future expectations.  
Claim incidence and claim resolution rate assumptions related to mortality and morbidity are based on actual experience 
or industry standards adjusted as appropriate to reflect our actual experience and future expectations.  
Discount rate assumptions are based on our current and expected net investment returns.  

In establishing policy reserves, we use assumptions that reflect our best estimate while considering the potential for adverse 
variances in actual future experience, which results in a total policy reserve balance that has an embedded reserve for adverse 
deviation.  We do not, however, establish an explicit and separate reserve as a provision for adverse deviation from our 
assumptions.

We perform loss recognition tests on our policy reserves annually, or more frequently if appropriate, using best estimate 
assumptions as of the date of the test, without a provision for adverse deviation.  We group the policy reserves for each major 
product line within a segment when we perform the loss recognition tests.  If the policy reserves determined using these best 
estimate assumptions are higher than our existing policy reserves net of any deferred acquisition cost balance, the existing policy 
reserves are increased or deferred acquisition costs are reduced to immediately recognize the deficiency.  Thereafter, the policy 
reserves for the product line are calculated using the same method we used for the loss recognition testing, referred to as the 
gross premium valuation method, wherein we use our best estimate as of the gross premium valuation (loss recognition) date 
rather than the initial policy issue date to determine the expected future claims, commissions, and expenses we will pay and the 
expected future gross premiums we will receive.     

Because the key policy reserve assumptions for policy persistency, mortality and morbidity, and discount rates are all locked in 
at policy issuance based on assumptions appropriate at that time, policy reserve assumptions are generally not changed due to a 
change in claim status from active to disabled subsequent to policy issuance.  Depending on the funding mechanism, a full policy 
reserve is held during disability reflecting continued funding of the full policy reserve during a disability claim, or a fractional 
policy reserve is held reflecting that the individual policyholder would need to recover before he or she can again generate future 
claims for a separate occurrence.  The policy reserves build up and release over time based on assumptions made at the time of 
policy issuance such that the reserve is eliminated as policyholders either reach the terminal age for coverage, die, or voluntarily 
lapse the policy.  Policy reserves for Unum US, Unum International, and Colonial Life products are determined using the net 

38

level premium method as prescribed by GAAP.  In applying this method, we use, as applicable by product type, morbidity and 
mortality incidence rate assumptions, claim resolution rate assumptions, and policy persistency assumptions, among others, to 
determine our expected future claim payments and expected future premium income.  We then apply an interest, or discount, rate 
to determine the present value of the expected future claims and claim expenses we will pay and the expected future premiums 
we will receive, with a provision for profit allowed.  

Policy reserves for our Closed Block segment include certain older policy forms for individual disability, individual and group 
long-term care, and certain other products, all of which are no longer actively marketed.  The reserves for individual disability 
and individual and group long-term care are determined using the gross premium valuation method.  Key assumptions are 
persistency, mortality and morbidity, claim incidence, claim resolution rates, commission rates, and maintenance expense rates.  
For long-term care, premium rate increases are also a key assumption.  We apply an interest, or discount, rate to determine the 
present value of the expected future claims, commissions, and expenses we will pay as well as the expected future premiums we 
will receive, with no provision for future profit.  The interest rate is based on our expected net investment returns on the 
investment portfolio supporting the reserves for these blocks of business.  Under the gross premium valuation method, we do not 
include an embedded provision for the risk of adverse deviation from these assumptions.  Gross premium valuation assumptions 
do not change after the date of loss recognition unless reserves are again determined to be deficient in the future.

Policy reserves for certain other products, excluding individual disability and individual and group long-term care, which are no 
longer actively marketed and are reported in our Closed Block segment represent $5.8 billion on a gross basis.  We have ceded 
$5.1 billion of reserves related to the other products, which are primarily comprised of policy reserves, to reinsurers.  The ceded 
reserve balance is reported in our consolidated balance sheets as a reinsurance recoverable.  We continue to service a block of 
group pension products, which we have not ceded, and the policy reserves for these products are based on expected mortality 
rates and retirement rates.  Expected future payments are discounted at interest rates reflecting the anticipated investment returns 
for the assets supporting the liabilities.

Claim Reserves

Claim reserves are established when a claim is incurred or is estimated to have been incurred but not yet reported (IBNR) to us 
and, as prescribed by GAAP, equals our long-term best estimate of the present value of the liability for future claim payments 
and claim adjustment expenses.  A claim reserve is based on actual known facts regarding the claim, such as the benefits 
available under the applicable policy, the covered benefit period, the age, and, as appropriate, the occupation and cause of 
disability of the claimant, as well as assumptions derived from our actual historical experience and expected future changes in 
experience for factors such as the claim duration, discount rate, and policy benefit offsets, including those for social security and 
other government-based welfare benefits.  Reserves for IBNR claims, similar to incurred claim reserves, include our assumptions 
for claim duration and discount rates, but because we do not yet know the facts regarding the specific claims, these reserves are 
also established based on historical incidence rate assumptions, including claim reporting patterns, the average cost of claims, 
and the expected volumes of incurred claims.  Our incurred claim reserves and IBNR claim reserves do not include any provision 
for the risk of adverse deviation from our assumptions.

Claim reserves, unlike policy reserves, are subject to revision as current claim experience and projections of future factors 
affecting claim experience change.  Each quarter we review our emerging experience to ensure that our claim reserves are 
appropriate.  If we believe, based on our actual experience and our view of future events, that our long-term assumptions need to 
be modified, we adjust our reserves accordingly with a charge or credit to our current period income.

Multiple estimation methods exist to establish claim reserve liabilities, with each method having its own advantages and 
disadvantages.  Available reserving methods utilized to calculate claim reserves include the tabular reserve method, the paid loss 
development method, the incurred loss development method, the count and severity method, and the expected claim cost method.  
No single method is better than the others in all situations and for all product lines.  The estimation methods we have chosen are 
those that we believe produce the most reliable reserves.

We use a tabular reserve methodology on reported claims for our Unum US group long-term disability and individual disability 
claims as well as for our Closed Block individual disability and group and individual long-term care claims.  Under the tabular 
reserve methodology, reserves for reported claims are based on certain characteristics of the actual reported claimants, such as 
age, length of time disabled, and medical diagnosis, as well as assumptions regarding claim duration, discount rate, and policy 
benefit offsets.  We believe the tabular reserve method is the most accurate to calculate long-term liabilities and allows us to use 
the most available known facts about each claim.  IBNR claim reserves for our long-term products are calculated using the count 
and severity method using historical patterns of the claims to be reported and the associated claim costs.  For Unum US group 
short-term disability products, an estimate of the value of future payments to be made on claims already submitted, as well as on 

39

IBNR claims, is determined in aggregate using a paid loss development method rather than on the individual claimant basis that 
we use for reported claims on long-term products.  The average length of time between the event triggering a claim under a 
policy and the final resolution of those claims is much shorter for these products than for our long-term liabilities and results in 
less estimation variability.     

Claim reserves for Unum US group life and accidental death and dismemberment products are related primarily to death claims 
reported but not yet paid, IBNR death claims, and a liability for waiver of premium benefits.  The death claim reserve is based on 
the actual face amount to be paid, the IBNR reserve is calculated using the paid loss development method, and the waiver of 
premium benefits reserve is calculated using the tabular reserve methodology.           

Claim reserves supporting the group and individual dental and vision products reported in our Unum US and Colonial Life 
segments have a short claim payout period.  As a result, the reserves, which primarily represent IBNR and a small amount of 
claims pending payment, are calculated using the paid loss development method.

Claim reserves supporting our Unum International segment are calculated using generally the same methodology that we use for 
Unum US disability and group term life reserves.  Claim reserves for our Unum UK group dependent life product are calculated 
using discounted cash flows, based on our assumptions for claim duration and discount rates.  The assumptions used in 
calculating claim reserves for this segment are based on standard country-specific industry experience, adjusted for our own 
experience. 

The majority of the Colonial Life segment lines of business have short-term benefits, which generally have less estimation 
variability than our long-term products because of the shorter claim payout period.  Our claim reserves for Colonial Life's lines 
of business are predominantly determined using the incurred loss development method based on our own experience.  The 
incurred loss development method uses the historical patterns of payments by loss date to predict future claim payments for each 
loss date.  Where the incurred loss development method may not be appropriate, we estimate the incurred claims using an 
expected claim cost per policy or other measure of exposure.  The key assumptions for claim reserves for the Colonial Life 
segment lines of business are the timing, rate, and amount of estimated future claim payments; and the estimated expenses 
associated with the payment of claims.  

40

The following table displays policy reserves, incurred claim reserves, and IBNR claim reserves by major product line, with the 
summation of the policy reserves and claim reserves shown both gross and net of the associated reinsurance recoverable.  
Incurred claim reserves represent the expected benefits payable under each incurred claim, along with other expenses associated 
with the payment of the claims.  IBNR claim reserves include provisions for incurred but not reported claims and a provision for 
reopened claims for our disability products.  The IBNR and reopened claim reserves for our disability products are developed 
and maintained in aggregate based on historical monitoring.  Impacting year over year comparability of policy and claim 
reserves in the following chart is the 2018 long-term care reserve increase.  See "Executive Summary" contained herein in this 
Item 7 and Note 6 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion.  

(in millions of dollars)

December 31, 2019

Gross

Claim Reserves

Policy 
Reserves

%

Incurred

IBNR

%

Total

Total 
Reinsurance 
Ceded

Total Net

Group Disability

$

—

— % $ 5,814.5

$

683.8

28.2 % $ 6,498.3

$

58.3

$ 6,440.0

Group Life and Accidental Death & 
Dismemberment

Individual Disability

Voluntary Benefits

Dental and Vision

Unum US Segment

59.9

499.0

1,700.1

—

0.3

2.4

8.2

—

721.1

1,391.1

45.8

—

234.2

140.3

51.4

15.4

4.1

6.6

0.4

0.1

1,015.2

2,030.4

1,797.3

15.4

6.2

217.2

26.1

0.2

1,009.0

1,813.2

1,771.2

15.2

2,259.0

10.9

7,972.5

1,125.1

39.4

11,356.6

308.0

11,048.6

Unum International Segment

186.5

0.9

1,986.4

110.0

Colonial Life Segment

2,229.0

10.8

297.4

113.2

Individual Disability

Long-term Care

Other

Closed Block Segment

258.8

9,864.6

5,847.9

15,971.3

1.3

47.8

28.3

77.4

8,724.1

2,045.2

177.6

10,946.9

172.7

232.0

120.5

525.2

9.1

1.8

38.5

9.9

1.3

49.7

2,282.9

87.6

2,195.3

2,639.6

6.2

2,633.4

9,155.6

1,669.4

7,486.2

12,141.8

44.7

12,097.1

6,146.0

5,133.1

1,012.9

27,443.4

6,847.2

20,596.2

Subtotal

$ 20,645.8

100.0 % $ 21,203.2

$ 1,873.5

100.0 %

43,722.5

7,249.0

36,473.5

Adjustment Related to Unrealized 
Investment Gains and Losses

5,803.1

424.7

5,378.4

Consolidated

$ 49,525.6

$

7,673.7

$ 41,851.9

41

December 31, 2018

Gross

Claim Reserves

Policy 
Reserves

%

Incurred

IBNR

%

Total

Total 
Reinsurance 
Ceded

Total Net

Group Disability

$

—

— % $ 5,900.0

$

670.8

28.4 % $ 6,570.8

$

71.0

$ 6,499.8

Group Life and Accidental Death & 
Dismemberment

Individual Disability

Voluntary Benefits

Dental and Vision

Unum US Segment

52.9

518.4

1,643.9

—

0.3

2.6

8.1

—

750.7

1,357.8

49.0

0.1

217.8

137.1

58.1

14.5

4.2

6.4

0.5

0.2

1,021.4

2,013.3

1,751.0

14.6

7.1

217.1

27.1

0.2

1,014.3

1,796.2

1,723.9

14.4

2,215.2

11.0

8,057.6

1,098.3

39.7

11,371.1

322.5

11,048.6

Unum International Segment

175.7

0.9

1,838.4

115.0

Colonial Life Segment

2,112.5

10.5

292.6

131.4

Individual Disability

Long-term Care

Other

Closed Block Segment

332.2

9,463.2

5,869.5

15,664.9

1.6

46.9

29.1

77.6

9,085.0

1,787.6

187.6

11,060.2

199.6

235.7

120.2

555.5

8.4

1.8

40.1

8.7

1.3

50.1

2,129.1

84.6

2,044.5

2,536.5

8.0

2,528.5

9,616.8

1,646.6

7,970.2

11,486.5

39.9

11,446.6

6,177.3

5,119.8

1,057.5

27,280.6

6,806.3

20,474.3

Subtotal

$ 20,168.3

100.0 % $ 21,248.8

$ 1,900.2

100.0 %

43,317.3

7,221.4

36,095.9

Adjustment Related to Unrealized 
Investment Gains and Losses

Consolidated

Key Assumptions

3,220.3

261.4

2,958.9

$ 46,537.6

$

7,482.8

$ 39,054.8

The calculation of policy and claim reserves involves numerous assumptions, but the primary assumptions used to calculate 
reserves are (1) the discount rate, (2) the claim resolution rate, and (3) the claim incidence rate for policy reserves and IBNR 
claim reserves.  Of these assumptions, our discount rate and claim resolution rate assumptions have historically had the most 
significant effects on our level of reserves because many of our product lines provide benefit payments over an extended period 
of time.      

1. The discount rate, which is used in calculating both policy reserves and incurred and IBNR claim reserves, is 
the interest rate that we use to discount future claim payments to determine the present value.  A higher 
discount rate produces a lower reserve.  If the discount rate is higher than our future investment returns, our 
invested assets will not earn enough investment income to support our future claim payments.  In this case, the 
reserves may eventually be insufficient.  We set our assumptions based on our current and expected future 
investment yield of the assets supporting the reserves, considering current and expected future market 
conditions.  If the investment yield on new investments that are purchased differs from the investment yield of 
the existing investment portfolio, the discount rate assumption on claims may be adjusted to reflect the impact 
of the new investment yield.

2. The claim resolution rate, used for both policy reserves and incurred and IBNR claim reserves, is the 

probability that a disability or long-term care claim will close due to recovery or death of the insured.  It is 
important because it is used to estimate how long benefits will be paid for a claim.  Estimated resolution rates 
that are set too high will result in reserves that are lower than they need to be to pay the claim benefits over 
time.  Claim resolution assumptions involve many factors, including the cause of disability, the policyholder's 
age, the type of contractual benefits provided, and the time since initial disability.  We primarily use our own 

42

claim experience to develop our claim resolution assumptions.  These assumptions are established for the 
probability of death and the probability of recovery from disability.  Our studies review actual claim resolution 
experience over a number of years, with more weight placed on our experience in the more recent years.  We 
also consider any expected future changes in claim resolution experience. 

3. The incidence rate, used for policy reserves and IBNR claim reserves, is the rate at which new claims are 

submitted to us.  The incidence rate is affected by many factors, including the age of the insured, the insured's 
occupation or industry, the benefit plan design, and certain external factors such as consumer confidence and 
levels of unemployment.  We establish our incidence assumption using a historical review of actual incidence 
results along with an outlook of future incidence expectations.     

Establishing reserve assumptions is complex and involves many factors.  Reserves, particularly for policies offering insurance 
coverage for long-term disabilities and long-term care, are dependent on numerous assumptions other than just those presented in 
the preceding discussion.  The impact of internal and external events, such as changes in claims operational procedures, 
economic trends such as the rate of unemployment and the level of consumer confidence, the emergence of new diseases, new 
trends and developments in medical treatments, and legal trends and legislative changes, including changes to social security and 
other government-based welfare benefits programs which provide policy benefit offsets, among other factors, will influence 
claim incidence rates, claim resolution rates, and claim costs.  In addition, for policies offering coverage for disability or long-
term care at advanced ages, the level and pattern of mortality rates at advanced ages will impact overall benefit costs.  Reserve 
assumptions differ by product line and by policy type within a product line.  Additionally, in any period and over time, our actual 
experience may have a positive or negative variance from our long-term assumptions, either singularly or collectively, and these 
variances may offset each other.  We test the overall adequacy of our reserves using all assumptions and with a long-term view 
of our expected experience over the life of a block of business rather than test just one or a few assumptions independently that 
may be aberrant over a short period of time.  Therefore, while it is possible to evaluate the sensitivity of overall adequacy results 
in our reserves based upon a change in each individual assumption, the actual impacts of changes to a variety of underlying 
assumptions must be considered in the aggregate by product line in order to judge the overall potential implications to reserve 
adequacy.  The following section presents an overview of our trend analysis for key assumptions and the results of variability in 
our assumptions, in aggregate, for the reserves which we believe are reasonably possible to have a material impact on our future 
financial results if actual claims yield a materially different amount than what we currently expect and have reserved for, either 
favorable or unfavorable.

Trends in Key Assumptions

Generally, we do not expect our mortality and morbidity claim incidence trends or our persistency trends to change significantly 
in the short-term, and to the extent that these trends do change, we expect those changes to be gradual over a longer period of 
time.  We have historically experienced an increase in our group long-term disability morbidity claim incidence trends during 
and following a recessionary period and believe claim incidence trends may continue to somewhat follow general economic 
conditions and demographics of the general workforce.  

Claim incidence rates for Unum US group long-term disability were generally consistent in 2019 compared to the prior year.

In 2019, both short-term and long-term interest rates decreased.  The long-term interest rates supporting the majority of our lines 
of business remain below historical norms.  The assumptions we used to discount reserves during this period were slightly lower 
for certain of our product lines.  Reserve discount rate assumptions for new policies and new claims are periodically adjusted to 
reflect our current and expected net investment returns.  Changes in our average discount rate assumptions tend to occur 
gradually over a longer period of time because of the long-duration investment portfolios which support the reserves for the 
majority of our lines of business.  

Our claim resolution rate assumption used in determining reserves is our expectation of the resolution rate we will experience 
over the life of the block of business and will vary from actual experience in any one period, both favorably and unfavorably.  
Claim resolution rates are very sensitive to operational and environmental changes and have a greater chance of significant 
variability in a shorter period of time than our other reserve assumptions.  These rates are reviewed on a quarterly basis for the 
death and recovery components separately.  Claim resolution rates in our Unum US group long-term disability product line and 
in our Closed Block individual disability product line have exhibited some variability over the last several years.  Relative to the 
resolution rate we expect to experience over the life of the block of business, actual quarterly rates during 2018 and 2019 have 
varied between +8 and -12 percent in our Closed Block individual disability line of business.  Actual quarterly rates during 2018 
and 2019 have varied by +3 and -3 percent in our Unum US group long-term disability line of business.  Claim resolution rates 

43

for our group long-term disability product line have generally exhibited an increasing trend.  On an annual basis for the years 
2017 to 2019, our overall claim resolution rates were fairly consistent with or slightly favorable to our long-term assumptions.  

We monitor and test our reserves for adequacy relative to all of our assumptions in the aggregate.  In our estimation, scenarios 
based on reasonably possible variations in each of our reserve assumptions, when modeled together in aggregate, could produce 
potential results as illustrated in the chart below.  The major contributor to the variance for both the Unum US group long-term 
disability line of business and the Closed Block individual disability line of business is the claim resolution rate.  

Unum US group long-term disability
Closed Block individual disability

Potential impact, positive or negative, of variations in reserve 
assumptions on our December 31, 2019 claim reserve balance
(in millions of dollars)

3.3%
2.6%

$205
$196

In addition to our Unum US group long-term disability and Closed Block individual disability lines of business, we consider 
variability in our reserve assumptions related to long-term care policy reserves.  These reserves are held under the gross premium 
valuation method with assumptions established during the third quarter of 2018, the date of the latest loss recognition.  
Assumptions for policy reserves do not change after the date of loss recognition unless reserves are again determined to be 
deficient.  As such, positive developments will result in the accumulation of reserve margin, while adverse developments would 
result in an additional reserve charge.  Policy reserves for long-term care are based upon a number of key assumptions, and each 
assumption has various factors which may impact the long-term outcome.  Key assumptions with respect to morbidity, mortality, 
claims incidence and resolutions, persistency, interest rates, and future premium rate increases must incorporate extended views 
of expectations for many years into the future.  Reserves are highly sensitive to these estimates. 

During the third quarter of 2018, we completed our annual review of policy reserve adequacy for our long-term care line of 
business, which incorporated our most recent experience and included a review of all assumptions.  The review utilized internal 
and external data and outside consulting firms for quality assurance and industry benchmarking.  Based on our analysis, we 
updated our reserve assumptions as discussed in the following paragraphs.  In addition, we have also included a sensitivity 
analysis for these assumptions for both favorable and unfavorable deviations applied throughout the entire life of the block.  This 
sensitivity analysis was completed as of the date of our assumption update announcement in the third quarter of 2018 and will 
not be updated unless reserves are again determined to be deficient in the future. 

• We updated our active policy termination assumptions, which are affected by both policyholder mortality and lapses.  We 

aligned our mortality assumptions with industry data based on a 2012 individual annuitant mortality industry table, adjusted 
for our experience in earlier policy durations.  We also lowered our lapse assumptions for individual policies based on 
emerging company experience, which resulted in an ultimate lapse rate of 0.25 percent.  A six percent unfavorable change in 
the active policy termination assumption would result in approximately a $330 million decrease to reserve margin and a six 
percent favorable change would result in approximately a $320 million increase to reserve margin.

• We updated our claims incidence assumptions to consider both the elevated claim levels that we have recently experienced 
as well as longer term experience based on our analysis of numerous claim factors, including variations by age, gender, 
product, premium funding method, and other factors.  A 2.5 percent unfavorable change in the claim incidence assumption 
would result in approximately a $290 million decrease to reserve margin and a 2.5 percent favorable change would result in 
approximately a $300 million increase to reserve margin. 

• We updated our claim termination assumptions, which are primarily affected by the death, and to a lesser extent, the 

recovery of the insured to largely reflect our experience.  A three percent unfavorable change in the claim termination 
assumption would result in approximately a $370 million decrease to reserve margin and a three percent favorable change 
would result in approximately a $360 million increase to reserve margin. 

• We have observed morbidity improvement in our own claims experience over a ten year period of approximately three 

percent per year, normalized for variables such as age and claim type.  However, we believe that a longer-term view is the 
best way to evaluate this type of improvement.  Accordingly, we updated our morbidity assumptions reflect minor 
improvement, one percent per year, including a partially offsetting assumption of 0.6 percent per year mortality 
improvement.  If no improvement occurs in the morbidity and mortality assumptions, reserve margin would decrease by 
approximately $1 billion.  If a three percent per year improvement in the morbidity and mortality assumptions occurs, 
reserve margin would increase by approximately $1.6 billion. 

44

• We updated our premium rate increase assumptions to reflect both our estimate of previously filed rate increases, informed 
by our historical approval rates, and our anticipated future rate filings.  The impact of the update to the premium rate 
increase assumptions resulted in approximately a $1.4 billion decrease to reserves, of which approximately $700 million 
relates to currently outstanding requests pending approval with the remaining $700 million related to future rate increase 
submissions, with a focus on group policies, that will be completed and filed during the next several quarters.  A ten percent 
change in the remaining premium rate increase success rate assumption would result in an approximately $140 million 
change in reserve margin depending on whether the change was favorable or unfavorable.

• We updated our discount rate assumption to reflect our expectation for the low interest rate environment to persist and our 
expected impact on future long-term care new money yield rates.  Our updated expectation for long-term care new money 
yield rates assumes a rate of 5.5 percent through 2021 and then a gradual increase to 6.25 percent by 2025, when we assume 
no further increase.  A 0.25 percent change in the new money yield rate assumption would result in an approximately $250 
million change in reserve margin depending on whether the change was favorable or unfavorable.  Alternatively, a 0.25 
percent change in the overall assumed discount rate, which includes the new money yield rate assumption, would impact the 
reserve margin within an approximate range of $450 million to $500 million, assuming all other factors held constant. 

Key assumptions and related impacts are also heavily interrelated in both their outcome and in their effects on reserves.  For 
example, changes in the view of morbidity and mortality might be mitigated by either potential future premium rate increases 
and/or morbidity improvements due to general improvement in health and/or medical breakthroughs.  There is potentially a wide 
range of outcomes for each assumption and in totality. 

We believe that these ranges provide a reasonable estimate of the possible changes in reserve balances for those product lines 
where we believe it is possible that variability in the assumptions, in the aggregate, could result in a material impact on our 
reserve levels, but we record our reserves based on our long-term best estimate.  Because these product lines have long-term 
claim payout periods, there is a greater potential for significant variability in claim costs, either positive or negative.  We closely 
monitor emerging experience and use these results to inform our view of long-term assumptions. 

Deferred Acquisition Costs (DAC) 

We defer incremental direct costs associated with the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts and amortize 
these costs over the life of the related policies.  Deferred costs include certain commissions, other agency compensation, 
selection and policy issue expenses, and field expenses.  Acquisition costs that do not vary with the production of new business, 
such as commissions on group products which are generally level throughout the life of the policy, are excluded from deferral.  

Approximately 89.4 percent of our DAC relates to non-interest sensitive products, and we amortize DAC for these products in 
proportion to the premium income we expect to receive over the life of the policies.  DAC related to interest sensitive policies is 
amortized over the lives of the policies in relation to the present value of estimated gross profits from surrender charges, 
mortality margins, investment returns, and expense margins.  Key assumptions used in developing the future amortization of 
DAC are persistency, premium income, and for our interest sensitive products, mortality margins and investment returns.  We 
use our own historical experience and expectation of the future performance of our businesses in determining our assumptions.  
For non-interest sensitive products, the estimated premium income in the early years of the amortization period is generally 
higher than in the later years due to the anticipated cumulative effect of policy persistency in the early years, which results in a 
greater proportion of the costs being amortized in the early years of the life of the policy.  Our key assumptions used to develop 
the future amortization of acquisition costs deferred during 2019 did not change materially from those used in 2018.  Generally, 
we do not expect our key assumptions to change significantly in the short-term, and to the extent that these trends do change, we 
expect those changes to be gradual over a longer period of time.  

45

The following are our current assumptions regarding the length of our amortization periods, the approximate DAC balance that 
remains at the end of years 3, 10, and 15 as a percentage of the cost initially deferred, and our DAC balances as of December 31, 
2019 and 2018.  

Certain prior year amounts were reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

Amortization
Period

Balance Remaining as a %
of Initial Deferral
Year 10

Year 3

Year 15

Unum US

Group Disability
Group Life and Accidental Death & 
Dismemberment
Supplemental and Voluntary:
   Individual Disability
   Voluntary Benefits
   Dental and Vision

Unum International

Unum UK

Group Long-term Disability
Group Life
Supplemental

Unum Poland

Colonial Life

Accident, Sickness, and Disability
Life
Cancer and Critical Illness

Totals

6

6

20
20
4

3
3
20
30

15
25
19

27%

26%

70%
54%
29%

0%
0%
58%
74%

44%
57%
61%

0%

0%

45%
19%
0%

0%
0%
12%
48%

11%
24%
24%

0%

0%

21%
7%
0%

0%
0%
2%
35%

0%
10%
10%

DAC Balances
at December 31

2019

2018

(in millions of dollars)

$

99.1

$

100.3

79.7

80.0

426.1
604.7
13.4

2.7
1.4
15.3
7.0

553.4
283.6
237.6

430.8
619.7
8.6

2.4
1.1
15.2
1.3

530.1
293.9
226.0

$ 2,324.0

$ 2,309.4

Amortization of DAC is adjusted to reflect actual experience for assumptions which deviate compared to the anticipated 
experience.  Any deviations from projections may result in a change to the rate of amortization in the period such events occur.  
As an example, for our non-interest sensitive products, we may experience accelerated amortization if policies terminate earlier 
than projected, or we may experience a slower rate of amortization if policies persist longer than projected.  Our actual 
experience has not varied materially from our assumptions during the last three years. 

See Note 1 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion of our DAC 
accounting policy.  

Fair Value of Investments 

All of our fixed maturity securities, which are classified as available-for-sale, and all of our unrestricted equity securities are 
reported at fair value.  Our derivative financial instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, 
are reported as either assets or liabilities and measured at fair value.  We report our investments in private equity partnerships at 
our share of the partnerships' net asset value per share or its equivalent (NAV), as a practical expedient for fair value. 

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between 
market participants at the measurement date and therefore represents an exit price, not an entry price.  The exit price objective 
applies regardless of our intent and/or ability to sell the asset or transfer the liability at the measurement date.  We generally use 
valuation techniques consistent with the market approach, and to a lesser extent, the income approach.  The market approach 

46

uses prices and other relevant information from market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities and the 
income approach converts future amounts, such as cash flows or earnings, to a single present amount, or a discounted amount.  
We believe the market approach valuation technique provides more observable data than the income approach, considering the 
types of investments we hold. 

The degree of judgment utilized in measuring the fair value of financial instruments generally correlates to the level of pricing 
observability.  Financial instruments with readily available active quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from 
actively quoted prices in active markets generally have more pricing observability and less judgment utilized in measuring fair 
value.  The market sources from which we obtain or derive the fair values of our assets and liabilities carried at market value 
include quoted market prices for actual trades, price quotes from third party pricing vendors, price quotes we obtain from outside 
brokers, discounted cash flow, and observable prices for similar publicly traded or privately traded issues that incorporate the 
credit quality and industry sector of the issuer.  Our fair value measurements could differ significantly based on the valuation 
technique and available inputs.

Inputs to valuation techniques refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants use in pricing assets or liabilities, 
including assumptions about risk, for example, the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value 
and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique.  We use observable and unobservable inputs in measuring the 
fair value of our financial instruments.  Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use 
in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from independent sources.  Unobservable inputs are 
inputs that reflect our own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability 
developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

Certain of our investments do not have readily determinable market prices and/or observable inputs or may at times be affected 
by the lack of market liquidity.  For these securities, we use internally prepared valuations, including valuations based on 
estimates of future profitability, to estimate the fair value.  We consider key assumptions, such as risk-free interest rates and risk 
premium adjustments, in the valuation of these types of securities.  Additionally, we may obtain prices from independent third-
party brokers to aid in establishing valuations for certain of these securities.  Key assumptions used by us to determine fair value 
for these securities include risk-free interest rates, risk premiums, performance of underlying collateral (if any), and other factors 
involving significant assumptions which may or may not reflect those of an active market.

As of December 31, 2019, approximately 9.9 percent of our fixed maturity securities were categorized as Level 1, 88.6 percent 
as Level 2, and 1.5 percent as Level 3.  Level 1 is the highest category of the three-level fair value hierarchy classification 
wherein inputs are unadjusted and represent quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.  The Level 2 
category includes assets or liabilities valued using inputs (other than those included in the Level 1 category) that are either 
directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the 
duration of the instrument's anticipated life.  The Level 3 category is the lowest category of the fair value hierarchy and reflects 
the judgment of management regarding what market participants would use in pricing assets or liabilities at the measurement 
date using unobservable inputs to extrapolate an estimated fair value.

Rapidly changing credit and equity market conditions can materially impact the valuation of securities, and the period to period 
changes in value can vary significantly.   

See Note 2 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8. 

47

Investment Impairments

One of the significant estimates related to investments is our impairment valuation.  In determining when a decline in fair value 
below amortized cost of a fixed maturity security is other than temporary, we evaluate the following factors: 

• Whether we expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security
• Whether we intend to sell the security or will be required to sell the security before the recovery of its amortized cost 

basis

The significance of the decline in value
The time period during which there has been a significant decline in value
Current and future business prospects and trends of earnings
The valuation of the security’s underlying collateral
Relevant industry conditions and trends relative to their historical cycles

• Whether the security is current as to principal and interest payments
•
•
•
•
•
• Market conditions
•
•
•
•
•

Rating agency and governmental actions
Bid and offering prices and the level of trading activity
Adverse changes in estimated cash flows for securitized investments
Changes in fair value subsequent to the balance sheet date
Any other key measures for the related security 

We evaluate available information, including the factors noted above, both positive and negative, in reaching our conclusions.  In 
particular, we also consider the strength of the issuer’s balance sheet, its debt obligations and near term funding requirements, 
cash flow and liquidity, the profitability of its core businesses, the availability of marketable assets which could be sold to 
increase liquidity, its industry fundamentals and regulatory environment, and its access to capital markets.  Although all 
available and applicable factors are considered in our analysis, our expectation of recovering the entire amortized cost basis of 
the security, whether we intend to sell the security, whether it is more likely than not we will be required to sell the security 
before recovery of its amortized cost, and whether the security is current on principal and interest payments are the most critical 
factors in determining whether impairments are other than temporary.  The significance of the decline in value and the length of 
time during which there has been a significant decline are also important factors, but we generally do not record an impairment 
loss based solely on these two factors, since often other more relevant factors will impact our evaluation of a security.

While determining other-than-temporary impairments is a judgmental area, we utilize a formal, well-defined, and disciplined 
process to monitor and evaluate our fixed income investment portfolio, supported by issuer specific research and documentation 
as of the end of each period.  The process results in a thorough evaluation of problem investments and the recording of losses on 
a timely basis for investments determined to have an other-than-temporary impairment.

We use a comprehensive rating system to evaluate the investment and credit risk of our mortgage loans and to identify specific 
properties for inspection and reevaluation.  Mortgage loans are considered impaired when, based on current information and 
events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.  
We establish an allowance for probable losses on mortgage loans based on a review of individual loans, considering the value of 
the underlying collateral, the value of which is periodically assessed.  Mortgage loans are not reported at fair value in our 
consolidated balance sheets unless the mortgage loan is considered impaired, in which case the impairment is recognized as a 
realized investment loss in our consolidated statements of income.

48

There are a number of significant risks inherent in the process of monitoring our investments for impairments and determining 
when and if an impairment is other than temporary.  These risks and uncertainties include the following possibilities:

•
•

•

•
•

•

The assessment of a borrower's ability to meet its contractual obligations will change. 
The economic outlook, either domestic or foreign, may be less favorable or may have a more significant impact on the 
borrower than anticipated, and as such, the investment may not recover in value. 
New information may become available concerning the security, such as disclosure of accounting irregularities, fraud, 
or corporate governance issues. 
Significant changes in credit spreads may occur in the related industry.
Significant increases in interest rates may occur and may not return to levels similar to when securities were initially 
purchased.
Adverse rating agency actions may occur.

See Notes 1 and 3 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8.

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans

We sponsor several defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit (OPEB) plans for our employees, including non-
qualified pension plans.  The U.S. qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans comprise the majority of our total 
benefit obligation and benefit cost.  We maintain a separate defined benefit plan for eligible employees in our U.K. operation.  
The U.S. defined benefit pension plans were closed to new entrants on December 31, 2013, the OPEB plan was closed to new 
entrants on December 31, 2012, and the U.K. plan was closed to new entrants on December 31, 2002.

Assumptions

Our net periodic benefit costs and the value of our benefit obligations for these plans are determined based on a set of economic 
and demographic assumptions that represent our best estimate of future expected experience.  Major assumptions used in 
accounting for these plans include the expected discount (interest) rate, the long-term rate of return on plan assets, and mortality 
rates.  We also use, as applicable, expected increases in compensation levels and a weighted average annual rate of increase in 
the per capita cost of covered benefits, which reflects a health care cost trend rate, and the U.K. pension plan also uses expected 
cost of living increases to plan benefits.

The assumptions chosen for our pension and OPEB plans are reviewed annually, using a December 31 measurement date for 
each of our plans unless we are required to perform an interim remeasurement.  The discount rate, expected long-term rate of 
return, and mortality rate assumptions have the most significant effect on our net periodic benefit costs associated with these 
plans.  In addition to the effect of changes in our assumptions, the net periodic cost or benefit obligation under our pension and 
OPEB plans may change due to factors such as plan amendments, actual experience being different from our assumptions, 
special benefits to terminated employees, and/or changes in benefits provided under the plans. 

•

•

Discount rate - This interest assumption is based on the yield derived from a portfolio of high quality fixed income 
corporate debt instruments that reasonably match the timing and amounts of projected future benefits for each of our 
retirement-related benefit plans.  The rate is determined at the measurement date.  A lower discount rate increases the 
present value of benefit obligations and increases our net periodic benefit cost.

Long-term rate of return - This assumption is selected from a range of probable return outcomes from an analysis of the 
asset portfolio.  The market-related value as it relates to our estimate of long-term rate of return equals the fair value of 
plan assets, determined as of the measurement date.  The return on plan assets recognizes all asset gains and losses, 
including changes in fair value, through the measurement date.  Our expectations for the future investment returns of 
the asset categories are based on a combination of historical market performance, evaluations of investment forecasts 
obtained from external consultants and economists, and current market yields.  The expected return for the total 
portfolio is calculated based on the plan's strategic asset allocation.  The actual rate of return on plan assets is 
determined based on the fair value of the plan assets at the beginning and the end of the period, adjusted for 
contributions and benefit payments.  A lower long-term rate of return on plan assets increases our net periodic benefit 
cost.  

Investment risk is measured and monitored on an ongoing basis through annual liability measurements, periodic asset/
liability studies, and quarterly investment portfolio reviews.  Risk tolerance is established through consideration of plan 
liabilities, plan funded status, and corporate financial condition.  We believe our investment portfolios are well 

49

diversified by asset class and sector, with no undue risk concentrations in any one category.  See Note 9 of the "Notes to 
Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion of the investment portfolios for our 
plans.

• Mortality rate - This assumption reflects our best estimate, as of the measurement date, of the life expectancies of plan 

participants in order to determine the expected length of time for benefit payments.  We derive our assumptions from 
industry mortality tables. 

The weighted average assumptions used in the measurement of our net periodic benefit costs for the years ended December 31 
are as follows: 

Assumption
Discount Rate
Expected Long-term Rate of Return on Plan Assets

2020
3.60 %
7.00 %

2019
4.40 %
7.00 %

2020
2.00 %
4.10 %

2019
2.90 %
4.30 %

2020
3.40 %
5.75 %

2019
4.40 %
5.75 %

Pension Benefits

U.S. Plans

U.K. Plan

OPEB

The following illustrates the sensitivity of the below items to a 50 basis point change in the discount rate or the expected long-
term rate of return on plan assets:

($ in millions)

Assumption
Discount Rate
Discount Rate
Expected Long-term Rate of Return on Plan Assets
Expected Long-term Rate of Return on Plan Assets

Benefit Obligation and Fair Value of Plan Assets

At or for the Year Ended December 31, 2019

 Net Periodic 
Benefit Cost, 
Before Tax

Benefit 
Obligation

Stockholders' 
Equity, After 
Tax

$

(3.7) $
3.8
(8.1)
8.1

(179.9) $
201.3
N/A
N/A

143.1
(160.1)
N/A
N/A

Change
+ 50 bp
-  50 bp
+ 50 bp
-  50 bp

During 2019, the fair value of plan assets in our U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan increased $145.1 million, or 10.0 
percent due to a favorable return on assets which resulted in a gain of approximately 19.4 percent, partially offset by the payment 
of benefits and expenses.  The fair value of plan assets in our U.K. pension plan increased £20.5 million, or 12.1 percent, due 
primarily to a favorable return on assets which resulted in a gain of approximately 14.2 percent.  Although our rate of return on 
plan assets for 2019 exceeded our assumptions used in the measurement of our net periodic benefit costs, we believe our 
assumptions appropriately reflect the impact of the current economic environment and our expectations for the future investment 
returns based on the plan's asset allocation.  

As of December 31, 2019, our pension and OPEB plans have an aggregate unrecognized net actuarial loss of $747.4 million and 
an unrecognized prior service credit of $2.1 million, which together represent the cumulative liability and asset gains and losses 
as well as the portion of prior service credits that have not been recognized in pension expense.  The unrecognized net actuarial 
loss for our pension plans, which is $758.5 million at December 31, 2019, will be amortized over the average remaining life 
expectancy of the plan, which is approximately 26 years for the U.S. plan and 32 years for the U.K. plan, to the extent that it 
exceeds the 10 percent corridor, as described below.  The unrecognized net actuarial gain of $11.1 million for our OPEB plan 
will be amortized over the average future working life of OPEB plan participants, estimated at three years, to the extent the gain 
is outside of the corridor.  The corridor for the pension and OPEB plans is established based on the greater of 10 percent of the 
plan assets or 10 percent of the benefit obligation.  At December 31, 2019, $484.8 million of the actuarial loss was outside of the 
corridor for the U.S. plans and £28.3 million was outside of the corridor for the U.K. plan.  At December 31, 2019, none of the 
actuarial gain was outside of the corridor for the OPEB plan.

The amortization of the unrecognized actuarial gain or loss and the unrecognized prior service credit is a component of our net 
periodic benefit cost and equaled $18.4 million, $22.1 million, and $19.6 million in 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

50

 
 
 
 
The fair value of plan assets in our U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan was $1,600.0 million at December 31, 2019, 
compared to $1,454.9 million at December 31, 2018.  The plan was in an underfunded position of $300.8 million and $294.2 
million at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.  This year-over-year change was due primarily to the 
increase in period benefit obligations due to the decrease in discount rate, partially offset by higher than expected asset returns.  

The fair value of plan assets in our U.K. pension plan was £190.7 million at December 31, 2019, compared to £170.2 million at 
December 31, 2018.  The U.K. pension plan was in an underfunded position of £3.1 million at December 31, 2019 and an 
overfunded position of £4.7 million at December 31, 2018.   This year-over-year change was due primarily to the increase in 
period benefit obligations due to the decrease in discount rate, partially offset by higher than expected asset returns.  

The fair value of plan assets in our OPEB plan was $9.9 million and $10.1 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  
These assets represent life insurance contracts to fund the life insurance benefit portion of our OPEB plan.  Our OPEB plan 
represents a non-vested, non-guaranteed obligation, and current regulations do not require specific funding levels for these 
benefits, which are comprised of retiree life, medical, and dental benefits.  It is our practice to use general assets to pay medical 
and dental claims as they come due in lieu of utilizing plan assets for the medical and dental benefit portions of our OPEB plan. 

See Note 9 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion.

Income Taxes 

We provide for federal, state, and foreign income taxes currently payable, as well as those deferred due to temporary differences 
between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities.  Our accounting for income taxes represents our best 
estimate of various events and transactions.  The calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the 
application of complex tax laws in a multitude of jurisdictions, both domestic and foreign.  The amount of income taxes we pay 
is subject to ongoing audits in various jurisdictions, and a material assessment by a governing tax authority could affect 
profitability.

We record a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.  
Significant judgment is required in determining valuation allowances.  In evaluating the ability to recover deferred tax assets, we 
consider all available positive and negative evidence including past operating results, the existence of cumulative losses in the 
most recent years, forecasted earnings, future taxable income, and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.  In the event we 
determine that we most likely will not be able to realize all or part of our deferred tax assets in the future, an increase to the 
valuation allowance is charged to earnings in the period such determination is made.  Likewise, if it is later determined that it is 
more likely than not that those deferred tax assets will be realized, the previously provided valuation allowance is reversed.

In establishing a liability for unrecognized tax benefits, assumptions are made in determining whether, and to what extent, a tax 
position may be sustained.  GAAP prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement 
recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns.  The evaluation of a tax 
position is a two step process.  The first step is to determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained 
upon examination based on the technical merits of the position.  The second step is to measure a position that satisfies the 
recognition threshold at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate 
settlement.  Tax positions that previously failed to meet the more likely than not threshold but that now satisfy the recognition 
threshold are recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is met.  Previously recognized 
tax positions that no longer meet the more likely than not recognition threshold are derecognized in the first subsequent financial 
reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met.  If a previously recognized tax position is settled for an amount that is 
different from the amount initially measured, the difference will be recognized as a tax benefit or expense in the period the 
settlement is effective.

Changes in tax laws, tax regulations, or interpretations of such laws or regulations, could have an impact on our provision for 
income tax and our effective tax rate, which could significantly affect the amounts reported in our financial statements.  The 
TCJA did not significantly change our process for evaluating the above items.  

In connection with the TCJA, we recognized a tax benefit of $97.9 million in 2017 related to the revaluation of our net deferred 
tax liabilities associated with our U.S. operations to the newly enacted U.S. corporate tax rate and a tax expense of $66.4 million 
resulting from the tax on undistributed and previously untaxed foreign earnings and profits.  During 2018, we continued to refine 
our calculations during the one-year measurement period after the enactment date as allowed by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 
118 and increased our provisional Repatriation Tax estimate by $11.5 million to $77.9 million.  

51

 
See "Regulation" contained herein in Item 1.  See Note 7 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein 
in Item 8. 

Contingent Liabilities

On a quarterly basis, we review relevant information with respect to litigation and contingencies to be reflected in our 
consolidated financial statements.  An estimated loss is accrued when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the 
amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.  It is possible that our results of operations or cash flows in a particular period 
could be materially affected by an ultimate unfavorable outcome of pending litigation or regulatory matters depending, in part, 
on our results of operations or cash flows for the particular period.  See Note 14 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial 
Statements" contained herein in Item 8.

Accounting Developments

For information on new accounting standards and the impact, if any, on our financial position or results of operations, see Note 1 
of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8.

52

Consolidated Operating Results 

(in millions of dollars)

Revenue
Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss)
Other Income
Total Revenue

Benefits and Expenses
Benefits and Change in Reserves for Future Benefits
Commissions
Interest and Debt Expense
Cost Related to Early Retirement of Debt
Deferral of Acquisition Costs
Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs
Compensation Expense
Other Expenses
Total Benefits and Expenses

2019

$

9,365.6
2,435.3
(23.2)
221.2
11,998.9

7,496.2
1,122.7
177.4
27.3
(658.6)
609.9
898.3
943.6
10,616.8

Year Ended December 31
2018

% Change

% Change

2017

4.2 % $
(0.7)
41.3
11.6
3.5

8,986.1
2,453.7
(39.5)
198.2
11,598.5

4.5 % $
0.1
(198.0)
0.3
2.8

8,597.1
2,451.7
40.3
197.7
11,286.8

(6.5)
1.3
6.0
N.M.

(1.4)
7.9
1.4
5.9
(3.2)

8,020.4
1,108.4
167.3
—
(668.0)
565.5
885.9
891.2
10,970.7

13.7
4.5
4.6
—
6.4
7.3
3.9
4.2
11.0

7,055.7
1,060.8
159.9
—
(628.0)
527.1
852.3
855.0
9,882.8

1,404.0
409.8

Income Before Income Tax 
Income Tax

1,382.1
281.8

120.1
169.9

627.8
104.4

(55.3)
(74.5)

Net Income

$

1,100.3

110.2

$

523.4

(47.4)

$

994.2

N.M. = not a meaningful percentage

Fluctuations in exchange rates, particularly between the British pound sterling and the U.S. dollar for our U.K. operations, have 
an effect on our consolidated financial results.  In periods when the pound weakens relative to the preceding period, translating 
pounds into dollars decreases current period results relative to the prior period.  In periods when the pound strengthens, 
translating pounds into dollars increases current period results relative to the prior period.  

The weighted average pound/dollar exchange rate for our Unum UK line of business was 1.279, 1.336, and 1.290 for the years 
ended 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.  If the 2018 and 2017 results for our U.K. operations had been translated at the 2019 
exchange rate, our adjusted operating revenue by segment would have been lower by approximately $28 million and $5 million 
in 2018 and 2017, respectively.  Additionally, our adjusted operating income would have been lower by approximately $5 
million and $1 million in 2018 and 2017, respectively.  However, it is important to distinguish between translating and 
converting foreign currency.  Except for a limited number of transactions, we do not actually convert pounds into dollars.  As a 
result, we view foreign currency translation as a financial reporting item and not a reflection of operations or profitability in the 
U.K. 

We continued to report year-over-year premium growth in 2019 and 2018 in each of our principal operating business segments, 
driven by growth in the in-force block resulting from higher prior period sales growth, the continued expansion of our dental and 
vision products, the addition of our Unum Poland product, and generally stable persistency.  Premium income continues to 
decline, as expected, in our Closed Block segment. 

Net investment income was slightly lower in 2019 relative to 2018 due to lower miscellaneous investment income and a decline 
in the yield on invested assets, partially offset by an increase in the level of invested assets.  Net investment income in 2018 was 
generally consistent with 2017, with an increase in the level of invested assets and higher miscellaneous investment income, 
offset by a decline in the yield on invested assets.

53

 
 
We recognized $25.3 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturity securities in net realized investment 
gains and losses in 2019 compared to $17.5 million and $8.1 million in 2018 and 2017, respectively.  Also included in net 
realized investment gains and losses were changes in the fair value of an embedded derivative in a modified coinsurance 
arrangement, which resulted in realized gains (losses) of $8.3 million, $(15.2) million, and $30.8 million in 2019, 2018, and 
2017, respectively.  See Notes 3 and 4 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further 
discussion.

Other income increased in 2019 compared to 2018 due primarily to growth in our fee-based service products in our Unum US 
segment, which include leave management services and administrative services only (ASO) business.

Overall benefits experience was favorable in 2019 relative to the prior periods, with a consolidated benefit ratio of 80.0 percent 
in 2019 compared to 89.3 percent in 2018 and 82.1 percent in 2017.  Excluding the 2018 long term care reserve increase and the 
2017 unclaimed death benefits reserve increase, the benefit ratios for 2018 and 2017 were 80.9 percent and 81.6 percent, 
respectively.  The underlying benefits experience for each of our operating business segments is discussed more fully in 
"Segment Results" contained herein in this Item 7.  

Commissions increased year-over-year in 2019 and 2018 driven primarily by sales growth.  The deferral of acquisition costs was 
lower during 2019 relative to 2018 due primarily to a shift in product mix that resulted in lower first-year commissions and a 
lower corresponding deferral of acquisition costs in the Unum US supplemental and voluntary product line.  The deferral of 
acquisition costs was higher in 2018 relative to 2017 driven primarily by overall sales growth.  Growth in the level of the 
deferred asset in our Unum US and Colonial Life segments resulted in higher amortization of deferred acquisition costs year-
over-year in 2019 and 2018.  Also contributing to the increase in the amortization of deferred acquisition costs in 2019 was a 
higher level of policy terminations experienced in the Unum US voluntary benefits product line and the impact of the prospective 
unlocking for future experience relative to assumptions in certain of our Colonial life products.  

Cost related to early retirement of debt includes costs associated with the purchase and retirement of $433.1 million aggregate 
liquidation/principal amount of our outstanding capital and debt securities.  Interest and debt expense increased year-over-year in 
2019 and 2018 due primarily to a higher level of outstanding debt.  See Note 8 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial 
Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion.  

Other expenses, including compensation expense, increased in each of the years presented above due to operational investments 
in our business which was balanced with our continued focus on expense management and operating efficiencies.  Included in 
other expenses for 2017 is a $20.6 million loss from a guaranty fund assessment related to an unaffiliated insurer that was 
declared insolvent. 

Our effective income tax rate for 2019 was 20.4 percent, compared to 16.6 percent in 2018 and 29.2 percent in 2017.  Our 2019 
and 2018 effective tax rates differed from the U.S. statutory rate of 21 percent due to favorable tax credits, with additional 
favorable adjustments in 2018 related to our prior year tax return.  The TCJA was enacted in December 2017 and stipulated a 
reduction of the U.S. statutory rate from 35 percent to 21 percent effective in 2018.  Our effective tax rate for 2017 was 
favorably impacted by the enactment of the TCJA, which reduced the net deferred tax liability and was partially offset by the 
Deemed Repatriation Tax.  

54

Consolidated Sales Results

Shown below are sales results for our three principal operating business segments. 

(in millions)

Unum US

Unum International

Colonial Life

2019
$ 1,110.1

Year Ended December 31
2018

% Change

% Change

2017

(0.4)% $ 1,114.6

(1.3)% $ 1,129.0

$

$

100.0

14.9 % $

87.0

1.3 % $

85.9

566.0

0.8 % $

561.3

8.0 % $

519.7

Sales shown in the preceding chart generally represent the annualized premium income on new sales which we expect to 
receive and report as premium income during the next 12 months following or beginning in the initial quarter in which the sale 
is reported, depending on the effective date of the new sale.  Sales do not correspond to premium income reported as revenue in 
accordance with GAAP.  This is because new annualized sales premiums reflect current sales performance and what we expect 
to recognize as premium income over a 12 month period, while premium income reported in our financial statements is reported 
on an "as earned" basis rather than an annualized basis and also includes renewals and persistency of in-force policies written in 
prior years as well as current new sales.

Sales, persistency of the existing block of business, employment and salary growth, and the effectiveness of a renewal program 
are indicators of growth in premium income.  Trends in new sales, as well as existing market share, also indicate the potential 
for growth in our respective markets and the level of market acceptance of price levels and new product offerings.  Sales results 
may fluctuate significantly due to case size and timing of sales submissions.

See "Segment Results" as follows for a discussion of sales by segment.

55

 
 
Segment Results

Our reporting segments are comprised of the following: Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, Closed Block, and 
Corporate.  Financial information for each of our reporting segments is as follows.  

In describing our results, we may at times note certain items and exclude the impact on financial ratios and metrics to enhance 
the understanding and comparability of our operational performance and the underlying fundamentals, but this exclusion is not 
an indication that similar items may not recur.  We also measure and analyze our segment performance on the basis of "adjusted 
operating revenue" and "adjusted operating income" or "adjusted operating loss", which differ from total revenue and income 
before income tax as presented in our consolidated statements of income due to the exclusion of net realized investment gains 
and losses and certain other items.  These performance measures are in accordance with GAAP guidance for segment reporting, 
but they should not be viewed as a substitute for total revenue, income before income tax, or net income.  See "Reconciliation of 
Non-GAAP Financial Measures" contained herein in this Item 7.

Unum US Segment

The Unum US segment is comprised of group long-term and short-term disability insurance, which includes our medical stop-
loss product as well as our fee-based leave management services and ASO business, group life and accidental death and 
dismemberment products, and supplemental and voluntary lines of business, which are comprised of individual disability, 
voluntary benefits, and dental and vision products. 

56

Unum US Operating Results

Shown below are financial results for the Unum US segment.  In the sections following, financial results and key ratios are also 
presented for the major lines of business within the segment. 

(in millions of dollars, except ratios)

Adjusted Operating Revenue
Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Other Income
Total

Benefits and Expenses
Benefits and Change in Reserves for Future Benefits 
Commissions
Deferral of Acquisition Costs
Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs
Other Expenses
Total

Income Before Income Tax and Net Realized 
Investment Gains and Losses

UDB Reserve Increase
Adjusted Operating Income

Operating Ratios (% of Premium Income):

Benefit Ratio 
Benefit Ratio Excluding UDB Reserve Increase
Other Expense Ratio
Income Ratio
Adjusted Operating Income Ratio 

N.M. = not a meaningful percentage

2019

$

6,016.6
739.4
142.8
6,898.8

Year Ended December 31
2018

% Change

% Change

2017

4.9 % $
(5.0)
20.5
4.0

5,736.4
778.7
118.5
6,633.6

5.4 % $
(4.0)
4.7
4.2

5,443.5
811.2
113.2
6,367.9

4,022.1
628.5
(334.5)
344.0
1,207.6
5,867.7

4.3
1.3
(2.8)
9.2
3.1
4.4

3,856.5
620.6
(344.0)
315.1
1,170.8
5,619.0

4.4
5.0
5.7
7.3
3.4
4.3

3,693.4
590.8
(325.5)
293.6
1,132.7
5,385.0

1,031.1
—
1,031.1

$

1.6
—
1.6

1,014.6
—
1,014.6

$

3.2
N.M.
0.5

$

982.9
26.6
1,009.5

66.9 %

20.1 %

17.1 %

67.2 %

20.4 %

17.7 %

67.8 %
67.4 %
20.8 %
18.1 %
18.5 %

57

 
 
Unum US Group Disability Operating Results

Shown below are financial results and key performance indicators for Unum US group disability.

(in millions of dollars, except ratios)

Adjusted Operating Revenue
Premium Income

Group Long-term Disability
Group Short-term Disability

Total Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Other Income
Total

2019

$

1,823.1
768.8
2,591.9
401.5
133.8
3,127.2

Year Ended December 31
2018

% Change

% Change

2017

3.2 % $
8.8
4.8
(7.2)
22.8
3.7

1,766.2
706.3
2,472.5
432.7
109.0
3,014.2

0.9 % $
10.4
3.5
(6.0)
10.9
2.2

1,749.6
639.8
2,389.4
460.5
98.3
2,948.2

Benefits and Expenses
Benefits and Change in Reserves for Future Benefits
Commissions
Deferral of Acquisition Costs
Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs
Other Expenses
Total

1,927.9
193.8
(49.5)
50.7
672.1
2,795.0

2.5
3.9
2.7
13.4
9.8
4.5

1,880.7
186.5
(48.2)
44.7
612.2
2,675.9

2.9
2.5
2.8
12.0
4.3
3.3

1,828.5
181.9
(46.9)
39.9
587.0
2,590.4

Adjusted Operating Income

$

332.2

(1.8)

$

338.3

(5.4)

$

357.8

Operating Ratios (% of Premium Income):

Benefit Ratio
Other Expense Ratio
Adjusted Operating Income Ratio

Persistency:

Group Long-term Disability
Group Short-term Disability

74.4 %
25.9 %
12.8 %

90.7 %
89.8 %

76.1 %
24.8 %
13.7 %

90.9 %
87.2 %

76.5 %
24.6 %
15.0 %

89.9 %
86.6 %

58

 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2018

Premium income increased compared to 2018, driven primarily by growth in the in-force block resulting from higher prior 
period sales and higher persistency in the group short-term disability product line.  Net investment income was lower relative to 
2018 due to lower miscellaneous investment income, a decline in yield on invested assets, and a lower level of invested assets.  
Other income increased relative to 2018 due to growth in our fee-based service products, which include our leave management 
services and ASO business.

Benefits experience was favorable compared to 2018 due primarily to favorable claim recovery experience in our group long-
term disability product line, partially offset by higher claims incidence in both our group long-term and short-term disability 
product lines.

Commissions and the deferral of acquisition costs were higher compared to 2018 due to sales growth.  The amortization of 
deferred acquisition costs increased relative to 2018 due to growth in the level of the deferred asset.  Our other expense ratio for 
2019 increased compared to 2018 due primarily to an increase in operational investments in our business and growth in our fee-
based service products, which was balanced with our continued focus on expense management and operating efficiencies.

We had goodwill of $8.9 million at December 31, 2019, none of which is currently believed to be at risk for future impairment. 

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017

Premium income increased compared to 2017, driven primarily by growth in the in-force block due to higher prior period sales 
and improved persistency.  Net investment income was lower relative to 2017 due to a decrease in the level of invested assets 
and a decline in yield on invested assets, partially offset by higher miscellaneous investment income. 

Benefits experience was favorable compared to 2017 due primarily to favorable claim recovery experience in our group long-
term disability product line, partially offset by higher claims incidence in certain of our group short-term disability products.

Commissions and the deferral of acquisition costs were higher compared to 2017 due to prior period sales growth.  The 
amortization of deferred acquisition costs increased relative to 2017 due to growth in the level of the deferred asset.  Our other 
expense ratio for 2018 increased compared to 2017 due primarily to an increase in operational investments in our business 
balanced with our continued focus on expense management and operating efficiencies.

59

Unum US Group Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Operating Results

Shown below are financial results and key performance indicators for Unum US group life and accidental death and 
dismemberment. 

Year Ended December 31
2018

% Change

% Change

2017

4.9 % $
6.0
5.0
0.8
(42.6)
4.7

1,583.7
156.3
1,740.0
106.5
4.7
1,851.2

7.9 % $
6.0
7.7
(3.1)
(2.1)
7.0

1,467.5
147.5
1,615.0
109.9
4.8
1,729.7

6.2
4.7
(1.0)
6.1
(2.6)
5.0

2.5
—
2.5

1,237.7
141.1
(38.2)
35.9
214.6
1,591.1

5.8
7.5
5.5
12.5
(1.3)
5.1

1,169.8
131.3
(36.2)
31.9
217.4
1,514.2

260.1
—
260.1

$

20.7

N.M.

11.2

$

215.5
18.5
234.0

71.1 %

12.3 %

14.9 %

91.2 %
89.9 %

72.4 %
71.3 %
13.5 %
13.3 %
14.5 %

88.0 %
87.2 %

(in millions of dollars, except ratios)

Adjusted Operating Revenue
Premium Income

Group Life
Accidental Death & Dismemberment

Total Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Other Income
Total

Benefits and Expenses
Benefits and Change in Reserves for Future Benefits
Commissions
Deferral of Acquisition Costs
Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs
Other Expenses
Total

2019

$

1,662.0
165.7
1,827.7
107.4
2.7
1,937.8

1,314.1
147.7
(37.8)
38.1
209.0
1,671.1

Income Before Income Tax and Net Realized 
Investment Gains and Losses
UDB Reserve Increase
Adjusted Operating Income 

266.7
—
266.7

$

Operating Ratios (% of Premium Income):

Benefit Ratio 
Benefit Ratio Excluding UDB Reserve Increase
Other Expense Ratio
Income Ratio
Adjusted Operating Income Ratio

Persistency:
Group Life
Accidental Death & Dismemberment

N.M. = not a meaningful percentage

71.9 %

11.4 %

14.6 %

90.6 %
89.9 %

60

 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2018

Premium income increased compared to 2018 due to growth in the in-force block resulting from prior period sales growth.  Net 
investment income was slightly higher in 2019 compared to 2018 due to a higher level of invested assets, partially offset by 
lower miscellaneous income and a decline in yield on invested assets.

Benefits experience was unfavorable compared to 2018 due primarily to a higher average claim size in the group life product 
line.

Commissions were higher compared to 2018 due to prior period sales growth.  The deferral of acquisition costs was generally 
consistent with 2018.  The amortization of deferred acquisition costs increased relative to 2018 due to growth in the level of the 
deferred asset.  The other expense ratio improved compared to 2018 due to our continued focus on expense management and 
operating efficiencies balanced with operational investments in our business.

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017

Premium income increased compared to 2017 with growth in the in-force block due to prior period sales growth and favorable 
persistency.  Net investment income was lower compared to 2017 due to a decline in yield on invested assets, partially offset by 
an increase in the level of invested assets and higher miscellaneous investment income.

Benefits experience was favorable compared to 2017 due to the previously discussed 2017 reserve increase for unclaimed death 
benefits in our group life product line and favorable 2018 experience in our accidental death and dismemberment product line.  
Excluding the 2017 reserve increase, benefits experience was generally consistent with 2017.  

Commissions and the deferral of acquisition costs were higher compared to 2017 due to prior period sales growth.  The 
amortization of deferred acquisition costs increased relative to 2017 due to growth in the level of the deferred asset.  The other 
expense ratio improved compared to 2017 due to growth in premium income and a continued focus on expense management and 
operating efficiencies balanced with continued investment in the growth of our business.

61

Unum US Supplemental and Voluntary Operating Results

Shown below are financial results and key performance indicators for Unum US supplemental and voluntary product lines.

(in millions of dollars, except ratios)

Adjusted Operating Revenue
Premium Income

Individual Disability
Voluntary Benefits
Dental and Vision
Total Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Other Income
Total

Benefits and Expenses
Benefits and Change in Reserves for Future Benefits
Commissions
Deferral of Acquisition Costs
Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs
Other Expenses
Total

$

2019

440.7
910.2
246.1
1,597.0
230.5
6.3
1,833.8

780.1
287.0
(247.2)
255.2
326.5
1,401.6

Year Ended December 31
2018

% Change

% Change

2017

3.6 % $
1.6
21.4
4.8
(3.8)
31.3
3.7

425.4
895.7
202.8
1,523.9
239.5
4.8
1,768.2

1.2 % $
5.5
19.6
5.9
(0.5)
(52.5)
4.6

420.2
849.4
169.5
1,439.1
240.8
10.1
1,690.0

5.7
(2.0)
(4.0)
8.8
(5.1)
3.7

738.1
293.0
(257.6)
234.5
344.0
1,352.0

6.2
5.5
6.3
5.7
4.8
5.6

695.1
277.6
(242.4)
221.8
328.3
1,280.4

Income Before Income Tax and Net Realized Investment 
Gains and Losses
UDB Reserve Increase
Adjusted Operating Income 

$

432.2
—
432.2

3.8
—
3.8

416.2
—
416.2

$

1.6
N.M.

(0.4)

$

409.6
8.1
417.7

Operating Ratios (% of Premium Income):

Benefit Ratios:
Individual Disability
Voluntary Benefits
Voluntary Benefits Excluding UDB Reserve Increase
Dental and Vision
Other Expense Ratio
Income Ratio
Adjusted Operating Income Ratio

Persistency:

Individual Disability
Voluntary Benefits
Dental and Vision

N.M. = not a meaningful percentage

50.9 %
41.8 %

71.1 %
20.4 %

27.1 %

89.8 %
73.2 %
82.6 %

62

50.6 %
42.8 %

68.5 %
22.6 %

27.3 %

90.3 %
75.9 %
84.5 %

47.2 %
44.6 %
43.6 %
69.6 %
22.8 %
28.5 %
29.0 %

91.0 %
77.5 %
85.4 %

 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2018

Premium income increased compared to 2018 driven by prior period sales growth and the continued expansion of our dental and 
vision product line, partially offset by unfavorable persistency.  Net investment income was lower compared to 2018 due to 
lower miscellaneous investment income and a decline in yield on invested assets, partially offset by an increase in the level of 
invested assets.  

Benefits experience for the individual disability product line was slightly less favorable compared to 2018 due to less favorable 
mortality experience, mostly offset by lower claims incidence and favorable claim recovery experience.  Benefits experience for 
voluntary benefits was favorable compared to 2018 due primarily to the release of active life reserves resulting from a higher 
level of policy terminations during 2019.  Benefits experience for the dental and vision product line was unfavorable compared 
to 2018 driven by higher claims utilization.

Commissions and the deferral of acquisition costs were lower in 2019 compared to 2018 due primarily to a shift in product mix 
that resulted in lower first-year commissions and a lower corresponding deferral of acquisition costs, partially offset by higher 
sales in the dental and vision product line.  The amortization of deferred acquisition costs increased in 2019 relative to 2018 due 
primarily to the impact of a higher level of policy terminations, particularly in the voluntary benefits product line.  Our other 
expense ratio improved relative to 2018 due to growth in premium income and our continued focus on expense management and 
operating efficiencies balanced with operational investments in our business.

We had goodwill of $271.1 million at December 31, 2019, none of which is currently believed to be at risk for future 
impairment. 

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017 

Premium income increased compared to 2017 driven by higher sales, including dental and vision where we continue to expand 
its distribution, partially offset by unfavorable persistency.  Net investment income was slightly lower compared to 2017 due to a 
decline in yield on invested assets and lower miscellaneous investment income, partially offset by a higher level of invested 
assets.  Other income declined relative to 2017 due to the expected decline in surrender fees as our interest sensitive life products 
mature.

Benefits experience for the individual disability product line compared to 2017 was less favorable due to a reserve release of 
$19.5 million resulting from our 2017 annual reserve adequacy update that did not recur and unfavorable 2018 claims activity, 
partially offset by favorable mortality experience.  Benefits experience for voluntary benefits was favorable compared to 2017 
due primarily to the previously discussed 2017 reserve increase for unclaimed death benefits.  Excluding this reserve increase, 
benefits experience was favorable across most of our voluntary product lines.  Benefits experience for the dental and vision 
product line was favorable compared to 2017 and was within our expectations.

Commissions and the deferral of acquisition costs were higher compared to 2017 due primarily to sales growth.  The 
amortization of deferred acquisition costs increased year over year due to growth in the level of the deferred asset.  Our other 
expense ratio improved relative to 2017 due to growth in premium income and our continued focus on expense management and 
operating efficiencies balanced with an increase in operational investments in our business. 

63

Sales

(in millions of dollars)

Sales by Product
Group Disability and Group Life and AD&D

Group Long-term Disability
Group Short-term Disability
Group Life and AD&D
Subtotal

Supplemental and Voluntary

Individual Disability
Voluntary Benefits
Dental and Vision
Subtotal
Total Sales

Sales by Market Sector
Group Disability and Group Life and AD&D

Core Market (< 2,000 employees)
Large Case Market
Subtotal

Supplemental and Voluntary
Total Sales

2019

$

241.5
159.2
258.3
659.0

75.9
300.6
74.6
451.1
$ 1,110.1

Year Ended December 31
2018

% Change

% Change

2017

240.8
162.5
310.5
713.8

67.9
292.5
54.8
415.2
$ 1,129.0

1.2 % $

(14.6)
(9.0)
(6.9)

13.7
3.6
26.6
8.3
(1.3)

(0.9)% $
14.8
(8.5)
(0.9)

243.8
138.7
282.4
664.9

(1.7)
(0.8)
7.5
0.3
(0.4)

77.2
303.1
69.4
449.7
$ 1,114.6

$

370.8
288.2
659.0
451.1
$ 1,110.1

(6.2)% $
6.8
(0.9)
0.3
(0.4)

395.1
269.8
664.9
449.7
$ 1,114.6

(5.2)% $
(9.1)
(6.9)
8.3
(1.3)

416.9
296.9
713.8
415.2
$ 1,129.0

Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2018 

Group sales declined slightly compared to 2018 due to lower new customer sales in both the core market, which we define as 
employee groups with fewer than 2,000 employees, and the large case market, partially offset by higher sales to existing 
customers in both the core and large case markets and growth in our medical stop-loss product.  The sales mix in the group 
market sector for 2019 was approximately 56 percent core market and 44 percent large case market.

Individual disability sales, which are primarily concentrated in the multi-life market, decreased compared to 2018 due to lower 
sales to new customers.  Voluntary benefits sales decreased slightly compared to 2018, primarily driven by lower sales to new 
customers in the core market, partially offset by higher sales to new customers in the large case market.  Dental and vision sales 
increased compared to 2018 driven by higher sales to both new and existing customers.

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017

Group sales decreased compared to 2017 due to lower sales to new and existing customers in both the core and large case market 
segments.  The sales mix in the group market sector for 2018 was approximately 59 percent core market and 41 percent large 
case market. 

Individual disability sales increased compared to 2017 due to higher sales to both new and existing customers.  Voluntary 
benefits sales increased compared to 2017, primarily driven by higher sales to existing customers in both the core and large case 
markets, partially offset by lower sales to new customers in the large case market.  Dental and vision sales increased compared to 
2017 driven by higher sales to both new and existing customers resulting from continued expansion.

64

 
 
Segment Outlook

We remain committed to offering consumers a broad set of financial protection benefit products at the worksite.  During 2020, 
we will continue to invest in a unique customer experience defined by simplicity, empathy, and deep industry expertise through 
the re-design of our processes and the increased utilization of digital capabilities and technology to enhance enrollment, 
underwriting, and claims processing.  In addition, we will continue to focus on the expansion of our portfolio of products.  In 
particular, we believe our significant investment in leave management services will allow for substantial growth opportunities, 
particularly with larger employers, and stronger persistency in our core products.  With respect to smaller employers, we will 
continue to enhance our distribution model and provide comprehensive consumer-focused products.  We believe our active client 
management and differentiated integrated customer experience across our product lines, underpinned by strong risk 
management, will continue to enable us to grow our market.

We anticipate stable adjusted operating income growth and continued underlying profitability in 2020, with disciplined sales and 
premium growth, consistent risk management, and a continued focus on operational efficiency.  The low interest rate 
environment continues to place pressure on our profit margins by impacting net investment income yields as well as discount 
rates on our insurance liabilities.  Our net investment income may continue to be unfavorably impacted by fluctuations in 
miscellaneous investment income.  As part of our continued pricing discipline and our reserving methodology, we continuously 
monitor emerging interest rate experience and adjust our pricing and reserve discount rates, as appropriate.  We expect that our 
underwriting results in 2020 will continue at a level generally consistent with 2019.  We continuously monitor key indicators to 
assess our risks and attempt to adjust our business plans accordingly.

65

Unum International Segment 

The Unum International segment is comprised of our operations in both the United Kingdom and Poland.  Our Unum UK 
products include insurance for group long-term disability, group life, and supplemental lines of business, which includes dental, 
individual disability, and critical illness products.  Our Unum Poland products include insurance for individual and group life 
with accident and health riders.  Unum International's products are sold primarily through field sales personnel and independent 
brokers and consultants. 

Operating Results

Shown below are financial results and key performance indicators for the Unum International segment.  Certain prior year 
amounts were reclassified to conform to current year presentation.   

(in millions of dollars, except ratios)

Adjusted Operating Revenue
Premium Income
Unum UK

Group Long-term Disability
Group Life
Supplemental
Unum Poland*
Total Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Other Income
Total

Benefits and Expenses
Benefits and Change in Reserves for Future Benefits
Commissions
Deferral of Acquisition Costs
Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs
Other Expenses
Total

$

2019

353.4
115.7
89.5
71.9
630.5
122.5
0.6
753.6

469.8
48.7
(12.8)
7.1
132.9
645.7

Year Ended December 31
2018

% Change

% Change

2017

(1.5)% $
4.4
9.5
N.M.

10.8
4.5
50.0
9.8

11.9
24.6
58.0
(13.4)
17.1
12.8

358.9
110.8
81.7
17.4
568.8
117.2
0.4
686.4

419.8
39.1
(8.1)
8.2
113.5
572.5

5.5 % $
7.5
17.4

N.M.

10.9
(2.5)
(42.9)
8.3

9.9
10.1
15.7
(9.9)
10.5
9.6

340.3
103.1
69.6
—
513.0
120.2
0.7
633.9

381.9
35.5
(7.0)
9.1
102.7
522.2

Adjusted Operating Income 

$

107.9

(5.3)

$

113.9

2.0

$

111.7

* Results reflect activity subsequent to the October 1, 2018 acquisition of Unum Poland.  See "2018 Acquisitions of Business" 
contained in "Executive Summary" herein in this Item 7 for further discussion.  
N.M. = not a meaningful percentage

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currencies of Unum UK and Unum Poland are the British pound sterling and Polish zloty, respectively.  Premium 
income, net investment income, claims, and expenses are received or paid in the functional currency, and we hold functional 
currency-denominated assets to support functional currency-denominated policy reserves and liabilities.  We translate functional 
currency-denominated financial statement items into dollars for our consolidated financial reporting.  We translate income 
statement items using an average exchange rate for the reporting period, and we translate balance sheet items using the exchange 
rate at the end of the period.  We report unrealized foreign currency translation gains and losses in accumulated other 
comprehensive income in our consolidated balance sheets.

Fluctuations in exchange rates have an effect on Unum International's reported financial results and our consolidated financial 
results. In periods when the functional currency strengthens relative to the preceding period, translation increases current period 

66

 
 
 
results relative to the prior period.  In periods when the functional currency weakens, translation decreases current period results 
relative to the prior period.  

Goodwill

We had total goodwill of $44.0 million for the Unum International segment at December 31, 2019, none of which is currently 
believed to be at risk for future impairment.

Unum UK Operating Results

Shown below are financial results and key performance indicators for the Unum UK product lines in functional currency.

(in millions of pounds, except ratios)

Adjusted Operating Revenue
Premium Income

Group Long-term Disability
Group Life
Supplemental

Total Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Other Income
Total

Benefits and Expenses
Benefits and Change in Reserves for Future Benefits
Commissions
Deferral of Acquisition Costs
Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs
Other Expenses
Total

£

2019

276.8
90.7
70.0
437.5
90.5
0.2
528.2

335.5
28.6
(5.4)
5.4
83.7
447.8

Year Ended December 31
2018

% Change

% Change

2.9 % £
9.3
14.2
5.9
4.6
N.M.
5.7

9.1
5.5
8.0
(11.5)
4.4
7.7

269.0
83.0
61.3
413.3
86.5
—
499.8

307.4
27.1
(5.0)
6.1
80.2
415.8

1.9 % £
3.8
13.7
3.9
(7.3)

N.M.
1.6

3.8
(1.8)
(7.4)
(12.9)
0.6
2.6

2017

264.0
80.0
53.9
397.9
93.3
0.5
491.7

296.2
27.6
(5.4)
7.0
79.7
405.1

Adjusted Operating Income

£

80.4

(4.3)

£

84.0

(3.0)

£

86.6

Weighted Average Pound/Dollar Exchange Rate

1.279

1.336

1.290

Operating Ratios (% of Premium Income):

Benefit Ratio
Other Expense Ratio
Adjusted Operating Income Ratio

Persistency:

Group Long-term Disability
Group Life
Supplemental

N.M. = not a meaningful percentage

74.4 %
19.4 %
20.3 %

87.8 %
88.5 %
93.1 %

74.4 %
20.0 %
21.8 %

87.4 %
84.1 %
91.0 %

76.7 %
19.1 %
18.4 %

89.9 %
89.0 %
89.9 %

67

 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2018 

Premium income was higher compared to 2018 due to higher overall persistency, sales growth, and the impact of rate increases 
in the group long-term disability product line.

Net investment income was higher compared to 2018 due to higher miscellaneous investment income resulting from a higher 
than normal level of bond calls, and a higher level of invested assets, partially offset by a lower yield on fixed-rate bonds and 
lower investment income from inflation index-linked bonds, which we invest in to support the claim reserves associated with 
certain of our group policies that provide for inflation-linked increases in benefits. The decrease in net investment income 
attributable to these index-linked bonds was offset by a decrease in the reserves for future claim payments related to the inflation 
index-linked group long-term disability and group life policies.

Benefits experience was unfavorable relative to 2018 due to unfavorable mortality experience and a reduction in the claim 
reserve discount rate to recognize the impact on future portfolio yields from the higher than normal level of bond calls  
experienced during 2019, partially offset by lower inflation-linked increases in benefits related to our group products.

Commissions and the deferral of acquisition costs were higher relative to 2018 due to higher sales.  The amortization of 
acquisition costs was lower in 2019 compared to 2018 due to a decline in the level of the deferred asset.  The other expense ratio 
was lower relative to 2018 due to higher premiums and our continued focus on expense management.

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017 

Premium income increased compared to 2017 due primarily to growth in the in-force block driven by higher persistency and rate 
increases in our group long-term disability product line.

Net investment income decreased compared to 2017 due primarily to a lower yield on our fixed-rate bonds, partially offset by a 
higher level of invested assets and higher investment income from inflation index-linked bonds.  The increase in net investment 
income attributable to these index-linked bonds was offset by an increase in the reserves for future claim payments related to 
inflation index-linked group long-term disability and group life policies.

Benefits experience was consistent with 2017 as favorable claims recoveries in our group long-term disability product line were 
offset by unfavorable claims activity in our group life and supplemental product lines and the impact of inflation-linked increases 
in benefits.

Commissions and the deferral of acquisition costs decreased relative to 2017 due to lower sales.  The amortization of acquisition 
costs was lower in 2018 compared to 2017 due to a decline in the deferred asset.  The other expense ratio was lower relative to 
2017 due to higher premiums and our continued focus on expense management and operating efficiencies.

68

Sales 

Certain prior year amounts below were reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

(in millions of dollars and pounds)

Unum International Sales by Product
Unum UK

Group Long-term Disability
Group Life
Supplemental
Unum Poland*
Total Sales

Unum International Sales by Market Sector
Unum UK

Group Long-term Disability and Group Life
Core Market (< 500 employees)
Large Case Market

Subtotal
Supplemental
Unum Poland*
Total Sales

Unum UK Sales by Product
Group Long-term Disability
Group Life
Supplemental
Total Sales

Unum UK Sales by Market Sector
Group Long-term Disability and Group Life

Core Market (< 500 employees)
Large Case Market
Subtotal
Supplemental
Total Sales

2019

43.2
24.3
19.5
13.0
100.0

38.2
29.3
67.5
19.5
13.0
100.0

33.7
19.0
15.1
67.8

29.9
22.8
52.7
15.1
67.8

$

$

$

$

£

£

£

£

Year Ended December 31
2018

% Change

% Change

(3.4)% $
13.0
12.1

N.M.

14.9

$

4.4 % $
(1.0)
2.0
12.1

N.M.

14.9

$

0.6 % £
17.3
18.0
8.5

£

8.3 % £
3.2
6.0
18.0
8.5

£

44.7
21.5
17.4
3.4
87.0

36.6
29.6
66.2
17.4
3.4
87.0

33.5
16.2
12.8
62.5

27.6
22.1
49.7
12.8
62.5

(5.1)% $
(11.9)
20.8

N.M.
1.3

$

20.4 % $
(28.0)
(7.4)
20.8

N.M.
1.3

$

(8.5)% £
(14.3)
13.3
(6.4)

£

16.9 % £
(30.7)
(10.5)
13.3
(6.4)

£

2017

47.1
24.4
14.4
—
85.9

30.4
41.1
71.5
14.4
—
85.9

36.6
18.9
11.3
66.8

23.6
31.9
55.5
11.3
66.8

* Results reflect activity subsequent to the October 1, 2018 acquisition of Unum Poland.  See "2018 Acquisitions of Business" 
contained in "Executive Summary" herein in this Item 7 for further discussion.
N.M. = not a meaningful percentage

69

 
The following discussion of sales results relates only to our Unum UK product lines and is based on functional currency.

Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2018 

Group long-term disability sales were generally consistent with 2018, with higher sales to new customers in the core market, 
which we define as employee groups with fewer than 500 employees, mostly offset by a decline in sales to both new and existing 
customers in our large case market. 

Group life sales were higher in 2019 compared to 2018 due to an increase in sales to new and existing customers in both our core 
and large case markets. 

Supplemental sales were higher in 2019 compared to 2018 due primarily to higher sales in the group critical illness product line.

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017 

Group long-term disability sales decreased compared to 2017 due to lower sales to new customers in the large case market, 
partially offset by higher sales to both new and existing customers in our core market and higher sales to existing customers in 
our large case market.

Group life sales decreased compared to 2017 due to lower sales to new and existing customers in our large case market, partially 
offset by an increase in sales to new and existing customers in our core market.

Supplemental sales increased compared to 2017 due primarily to an increase in the group critical illness product line, partially 
offset by a decline in dental product sales.

Segment Outlook

We are committed to driving growth in the Unum International segment and will build on the capabilities that we believe will 
generate growth and profitability in our businesses.  Within our Unum UK line of business, expanding our group long-term 
disability market position remains a priority.  In addition, we will continue to focus on increasing participation levels in the large 
case segment while also developing new distribution and services to reach new small case clients.  We will also continue the 
implementation of price increases and will maintain our disciplined sales approach.  Within our Unum Poland line of business, 
we will leverage our U.S. and U.K. expertise to grow existing distribution channels and expand our current product offerings.  
We continue to invest in digital capabilities, technology, and product enhancements which we believe will drive sustainable 
growth.

Negotiations following the recent withdrawal of the U.K. from the EU will continue to generate uncertainty in the U.K. 
economy.  This uncertainty may continue to pressure our growth expectations in the near-term and may also lead to a higher rate 
of claim incidence, lower levels of claim recoveries, or lower claim discount rates, however, we believe we are well positioned 
to capitalize on future growth opportunities as these negotiations are resolved and the operating environment improves.  As part 
of our continued pricing discipline and our reserving strategy, we continuously monitor emerging interest rate experience and 
adjust our pricing and reserve discount rates, as appropriate.  We will likely continue to experience volatility in net investment 
income and our benefit ratio due to fluctuations in the level of inflation in the U.K., however, we do not expect this to have a 
significant impact on adjusted operating income.  There are no indications currently that capital requirements for our U.K. 
operations will change due to the recent withdrawal of the U.K. from the EU, but economic conditions may in the near term 
cause volatility in our solvency ratios.  We continuously monitor key indicators to assess our risks and attempt to adjust our 
business plans accordingly to respond to external challenges.

70

Colonial Life Segment 

The Colonial Life segment includes insurance for accident, sickness, and disability products, which includes our dental and 
vision products, life products, and cancer and critical illness products issued primarily by Colonial Life & Accident Insurance 
Company and marketed to employees, on both a group and an individual basis, at the workplace through an independent 
contractor agency sales force and brokers.

Operating Results

Shown below are financial results and key performance indicators for the Colonial Life segment.

(in millions of dollars, except ratios)

Adjusted Operating Revenue
Premium Income

Accident, Sickness, and Disability
Life
Cancer and Critical Illness

Total Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Other Income
Total

Benefits and Expenses
Benefits and Change in Reserves for Future Benefits
Commissions
Deferral of Acquisition Costs
Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs
Other Expenses
Total

$

2019

973.4
351.6
360.0
1,685.0
148.0
3.4
1,836.4

865.0
364.5
(311.3)
258.8
314.9
1,491.9

Year Ended December 31
2018

% Change

% Change

2017

4.7 % $
7.1
4.0
5.1
(2.1)
183.3
4.6

929.3
328.4
346.1
1,603.8
151.2
1.2
1,756.2

5.1 % $
9.3
5.9
6.1
4.3
9.1
6.0

884.2
300.4
326.8
1,511.4
144.9
1.1
1,657.4

4.9
—
(1.5)
6.9
3.2
5.0

824.9
364.6
(315.9)
242.2
305.2
1,421.0

4.6
5.8
6.9
7.9
7.9
5.7

788.6
344.5
(295.5)
224.4
282.8
1,344.8

Income Before Income Tax and Net Realized Investment 
Gains and Losses

UDB Reserve Increase
Adjusted Operating Income

344.5
—
344.5

$

2.8
—
2.8

335.2
—
335.2

$

7.2
N.M.
3.1

$

312.6
12.4
325.0

Operating Ratios (% of Premium Income):

Benefit Ratio 
Benefit Ratio Excluding UDB Reserve Increase
Other Expense Ratio
Income Ratio
Adjusted Operating Income Ratio 

Persistency:

Accident, Sickness, and Disability
Life
Cancer and Critical Illness

N.M. = not a meaningful percentage

51.3 %

18.7 %

20.4 %

73.2 %
83.4 %
80.6 %

71

51.4 %

19.0 %

20.9 %

74.2 %
83.6 %
82.4 %

52.2 %
51.4 %
18.7 %
20.7 %
21.5 %

75.1 %
84.4 %
82.7 %

 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2018

Premium income increased compared to 2018 as a result of growth in the in-force block resulting from prior period sales growth, 
which includes the expansion of our dental and vision products, offset partially by lower persistency.  Net investment income 
decreased relative to the prior year due to a lower yield on invested assets and lower miscellaneous investment income, partially 
offset by an increase in the level of invested assets.

Benefits experience was generally consistent with 2018, with favorable experience in the life line of business mostly offset by 
unfavorable experience in the accident, sickness, and disability and cancer and critical illness product lines.  

Commissions and the deferral of acquisition costs were generally consistent with 2018 due to stable sales results relative to the 
prior year.  The amortization of deferred acquisition costs increased compared to the prior year due primarily to overall growth in 
the level of the deferred asset and the impact of the prospective unlocking for future experience relative to assumptions for our 
interest-sensitive voluntary life products.  The other expense ratio improved relative to 2018 due to an increase in premium 
income and our continued focus on expense management and operating efficiencies.

We had goodwill of $27.7 million at December 31, 2019, none of which is currently believed to be at risk for future impairment. 

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017

Premium income increased compared to 2017 as a result of sales growth.  Net investment income increased relative to 2017 due 
to an increase in the level of invested assets and higher miscellaneous investment income, partially offset by a decline in yield on 
invested assets.

Benefits experience was favorable compared to 2017 due to the previously discussed 2017 reserve increase for unclaimed death 
benefits.  Excluding this reserve increase, benefits experience was consistent with 2017. 

Commissions and the deferral of acquisition costs were higher relative to 2017 due to sales growth.  The amortization of deferred 
acquisition costs increased compared to 2017 due primarily to growth in the level of the deferred asset.  The other expense ratio 
was higher relative to 2017 due to costs related to our territory expansion initiatives, investments in our business, and the roll-out 
of our dental and vision products.

72

Sales

(in millions of dollars)

Sales by Product
Accident, Sickness, and Disability
Life
Cancer and Critical Illness
Total Sales

Sales by Market Sector
Commercial

Core Market (< 1,000 employees)
Large Case Market
Subtotal 
Public Sector
Total Sales

2019

354.4
122.7
88.9
566.0

345.7
81.4
427.1
138.9
566.0

$

$

$

$

Year Ended December 31
2018

% Change

% Change

2017

(0.2)% $
9.7
(5.8)
0.8

$

355.0
111.9
94.4
561.3

9.8 % $
3.9
6.3
8.0

$

323.2
107.7
88.8
519.7

(0.9)% $
(14.8)
(3.9)
18.9
0.8

$

349.0
95.5
444.5
116.8
561.3

11.3 % $

5.1
9.9
1.3
8.0

$

313.5
90.9
404.4
115.3
519.7

Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2018 

Commercial market sales decreased primarily due to lower new customer account sales in both the core market, which we define 
as accounts with fewer than 1,000 employees, and the large case market, partially offset by higher existing customer account 
sales in the core market and the continued expansion of our dental and vision products.  The increase in our public sector market 
for 2019 was driven by an increase in both new and existing customer account sales.  The number of new accounts and average 
new case size decreased 4.5 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively, in 2019 compared to 2018.

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017 

Sales were higher in 2018 compared to 2017 due to growth in both new and existing customer account sales and the expansion of 
our dental and vision products.  Commercial market sales increased primarily due to higher new and existing customer account 
sales in the core market and higher existing sales in the large case market.  The slight increase in our public sector market for 
2018 was primarily driven by an increase in existing customer account sales, partially offset by a decrease in new account sales.  
The number of new accounts increased 9.8 percent in 2018 compared to 2017, while the average new case size decreased 4.0 
percent.

Segment Outlook

We remain committed to providing employees and their families with simple, modern, and personal benefit solutions.  During 
2020, we will continue to focus on expanding our distribution system through the growth and development of our agency sales 
force and establishing effective broker partnerships.  We will also continue to invest in new solutions and digital capabilities to 
enhance the customer experience for our business partners and further improve productivity.  We will continue to focus on 
accelerating growth in our business through territory growth, persistency investments, and increased participation rates.  We 
believe our distribution system, customer service capabilities, the continued expansion of our new dental products, and ability to 
serve all market sizes position us well for future growth.  

We expect stable adjusted operating income growth in 2020, with sales and premium growth, consistent benefits experience, and 
a continued focus on operational efficiency balanced with our continued investments in future growth.  The lower interest rate 
environment will continue to have an unfavorable impact on our profit margins, and volatility in miscellaneous investment 
income is likely to continue.  While we believe our underlying profitability will remain strong, current economic conditions and 
increasing competition in the voluntary workplace market are seen as external risks to achievement of our business plans.  We 
continuously monitor key indicators to assess our risks and attempt to adjust our business plans accordingly.

73

 
 
Closed Block Segment

The Closed Block segment consists of group and individual long-term care, individual disability, and other insurance products 
no longer actively marketed.  We discontinued offering individual long-term care in 2009 and group long-term care in 2012.  
Individual disability in this segment generally consists of policies we sold prior to the mid-1990s and entirely discontinued 
selling in 2004.  Other insurance products include group pension, individual life and corporate-owned life insurance, reinsurance 
pools and management operations, and other miscellaneous product lines.  

Operating Results

Shown below are financial results and key performance indicators for the Closed Block segment.  

(in millions of dollars, except ratios)

Adjusted Operating Revenue
Premium Income
Long-term Care 
Individual Disability
All Other

Total Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Other Income
Total

Benefits and Expenses
Benefits and Change in Reserves for Future Benefits
Commissions
Interest and Debt Expense
Other Expenses
Total

$

2019

651.6
374.3
7.6
1,033.5
1,404.9
71.3
2,509.7

2,139.3
81.0
5.3
146.4
2,372.0

Year Ended December 31
2018

% Change

% Change

$

0.5
(11.1)%
(5.0)
(4.0)
2.0
(5.4)
(0.8)

(26.7)
(3.7)
(23.2)
1.2
(24.8)

648.3
420.8
8.0
1,077.1
1,377.1
75.4
2,529.6

2,919.2
84.1
6.9
144.7
3,154.9

$

(0.1)
(10.8)%
(8.0)
(4.6)
1.7
(5.5)
(1.3)

33.2
(6.6)
3.0
(3.9)
29.3

2017

648.7
471.8
8.7
1,129.2
1,354.0
79.8
2,563.0

2,191.8
90.0
6.7
150.6
2,439.1

Income (Loss) Before Income Tax and Net Realized 
Investment Gains and Losses
Long-term Care Reserve Increase
Adjusted Operating Income

137.7
—
137.7

$

N.M.
N.M.
9.7

$

(625.3)
750.8
125.5

N.M.
N.M.
1.3

$

123.9
—
123.9

Interest Adjusted Loss Ratios:

Long-term Care
Long-term Care Excluding Reserve Increase
Individual Disability

Operating Ratios (% of Premium Income):

Other Expense Ratio
Income (Loss) Ratio 
Adjusted Operating Income Ratio 

Persistency:

Long-term Care
Individual Disability

N.M. = not a meaningful percentage

88.1 %

78.8 %

14.2 %

13.3 %

95.7 %
88.1 %

74

206.8 %
91.0 %
80.4 %

13.4 %
(58.1)%
11.7 %

95.8 %
88.3 %

91.1 %

82.4 %

13.3 %

11.0 %

95.9 %
89.6 %

 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2018 

Premium income for long-term care was generally consistent with the prior year, with rate increases offsetting policy 
terminations.  We continue to file requests with various state insurance departments for premium rate increases on certain of our 
individual and group long-term care policies which reflect assumptions as of the date of filings.  In states for which a rate 
increase is submitted and approved, we routinely provide customers options for coverage changes or other approaches that might 
fit their current financial and insurance needs.  Premium income for individual disability decreased compared to 2018 due to 
policy terminations and maturities.  

Net investment income was higher relative to 2018 primarily due to an increase in the level of invested assets, partially offset by 
lower miscellaneous investment income.  Other income, which includes the underlying results and associated net investment 
income of certain blocks of individual disability reinsured business, continues to decline due to expected terminations and 
maturities.

The interest adjusted loss ratio for long-term care, excluding the previously discussed reserve increase, was not comparable to 
2018 due to the update in our assumptions during the third quarter of 2018, but was generally consistent with our expectations 
during 2019.  Individual disability benefits experience was favorable relative to 2018 driven by overall favorable claims activity.  

The other expense ratio was higher than 2018 due to the expected decline in premium income for individual disability, partially 
offset by our continued focus on expense management and operating efficiencies.

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017 

Premium income for long-term care was generally consistent with the prior year, with rate increases offsetting policy 
terminations.  Premium income for individual disability decreased compared to 2017 due to policy terminations and maturities.   

Net investment income was higher relative to 2017 primarily due to an increase in the level of invested assets and higher 
miscellaneous investment income, partially offset by a decline in yield on invested assets.  Other income declined due to 
expected terminations and maturities.

The interest adjusted loss ratio for long-term care, excluding the previously discussed reserve increase, was not comparable to 
2017 due to the update in our assumptions during the third quarter of 2018, but was generally consistent with our expectations in 
the second half of 2018, with an interest adjusted loss ratio of 85.4 percent.  Individual disability benefits experience was 
favorable relative to 2017 due primarily to lower claims incidence and a lower average size of new claims.  

The other expense ratio was slightly higher than 2017 due to the expected decline in premium income for individual disability, 
partially offset by our continued focus on expense management and operating efficiencies.

75

Segment Outlook

During 2020, we will continue to execute on our well-defined strategy of implementing long-term care premium rate increases, 
efficient capital management, improved financial analysis, and operational effectiveness.  We will continue to explore structural 
options to enhance financial flexibility.  Despite continued anticipated premium rate increases in our long-term care business, we 
expect overall premium income and adjusted operating revenue to decline over time as these closed blocks of business wind 
down.  We will likely experience volatility in net investment income due to fluctuations of miscellaneous investment income and 
the increased allocation towards alternative assets in the long-term care product line portfolio.  We continuously monitor key 
indicators to assess our risks and attempt to adjust our business plans accordingly.

Profitability of our long-tailed products is affected by claims experience related to mortality and morbidity, resolutions, 
investment returns, premium rate increases, and persistency.  We believe that the interest adjusted loss ratios for long-term care 
and the individual disability lines of business will be relatively flat over the long term, but these product lines may continue to 
experience quarterly volatility, particularly in the near term for our long-term care product lines as our claim block matures and 
as we continue the implementation of premium rate increases.  Specific to our long-term care line of business, which is in loss 
recognition and should report levels of benefits plus operating expenses that equal the gross premium reported, we expect the 
long term interest adjusted loss ratio to be in the 85 to 90 percent range with some quarterly volatility.  Claim resolution rates, 
which measure the resolution of claims from recovery, deaths, settlements, and benefit expirations, are very sensitive to 
operational and external factors and can be volatile.  Our claim resolution rate assumption used in determining reserves is our 
expectation of the resolution rate we will experience over the life of the block of business and will vary from actual experience in 
any one period.  It is possible that variability in any of our reserve assumptions, including, but not limited to, interest rates, 
mortality, morbidity, resolutions, premium rate increases, benefit change elections, and persistency, could result in a material 
impact on the adequacy of our reserves, including adjustments to reserves established under loss recognition. 

76

Corporate Segment

The Corporate segment includes investment income on corporate assets not specifically allocated to a line of business, interest 
expense on corporate debt other than non-recourse debt, and certain other corporate income and expenses not allocated to a line 
of business. 

Operating Results 

(in millions of dollars)

Adjusted Operating Revenue
Net Investment Income
Other Income
Total

Interest, Debt, and Other Expenses

Loss Before Income Tax and Net Realized Investment 
Gains and Losses
Cost Related to Early Retirement of Debt
Loss from Guaranty Fund Assessment
Adjusted Operating Loss

N.M. = not a meaningful percentage

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018

% Change

% Change

2017

$

$

20.5
3.1
23.6

(30.5)% $
14.8
(26.7)

29.5
2.7
32.2

37.9 % $
(6.9)
32.5

21.4
2.9
24.3

239.5

17.8

203.3

6.1

191.7

(215.9)
27.3
—
(188.6)

(26.2)

N.M.

—
(10.2)

$

(171.1)
—
—
(171.1)

(2.2)
—
N.M.

(16.6)

$

(167.4)
—
20.6
(146.8)

Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2018 

Net investment income was lower in 2018 due primarily to both a lower yield and a lower level of invested assets. 

Interest, debt, and other expenses were higher in 2019 relative to 2018, driven primarily by costs related to the early retirement 
of debt, higher pension costs, and a higher level of outstanding debt, partially offset by acquisition and restructuring costs in 
2018 that did not recur.  See "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Debt” contained herein in Item 7 for further discussion.

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017 

Net investment income was higher relative to 2017 due primarily to an increase in the level of invested assets and a higher yield.    

Interest and other expenses were higher relative to 2017 due primarily to a higher level of outstanding debt, a higher overall rate 
of interest, increased acquisition-related expenses, and certain restructuring costs.  Interest and other expenses for 2017 includes 
a $20.6 million loss incurred in 2017 from a guaranty fund assessment related to an unaffiliated insurer that was declared 
insolvent.  See Note 14 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion on 
the loss from a guaranty fund assessment.

Segment Outlook

We expect to continue to generate excess capital on an annual basis through the statutory earnings in our insurance subsidiaries 
and believe we are well positioned with flexibility to preserve our capital strength while also continuing to return capital to our 
shareholders.  

77

 
 
 
 
 
Investments

Overview

Our investment portfolio is well diversified by type of investment and industry sector.  We have established an investment 
strategy that we believe will provide for adequate cash flows from operations and allow us to hold our securities through periods 
where significant decreases in fair value occur.  We believe our emphasis on risk management in our investment portfolio, 
including credit and interest rate management, has positioned us well and generally reduced the volatility in our results.  

We have a formal investment policy that includes overall quality and diversification objectives and establishes limits by asset 
class, investment rating, and single issuer.  The majority of our investments are in investment-grade publicly traded securities.  
This ensures the desired liquidity and preserves the capital value of our portfolios, although due to the long-term nature of our 
insurance liabilities we are also able to invest in less liquid investments to obtain superior returns within the limits of our 
investment policy.  Our asset mix guidelines and limits are established by us, reviewed by the risk and finance committee of 
Unum Group's board of directors, and approved by the boards of directors of our insurance subsidiaries.  We review our policies 
and guidelines annually, or more frequently if deemed necessary, and recommend adjustments as appropriate. 

See "Critical Accounting Estimates" contained herein in this Item 7 for further discussion of our valuation of investments.

Fixed Maturity Securities

The fair values and associated unrealized gains and losses of our fixed maturity securities portfolio, by industry classification, 
are as follows:

(in millions of dollars)

Fixed Maturity Securities - By Industry Classification
As of December 31, 2019

Fair Value of 
Fixed 
Maturity 
Securities 
with Gross 
Unrealized 
Loss

Gross 
Unrealized 
Loss

Fair Value of 
Fixed 
Maturity 
Securities 
with Gross 
Unrealized 
Gain

Gross 
Unrealized 
Gain

Net 
Unrealized 
Gain

Classification

Basic Industry
Capital Goods
Communications
Consumer Cyclical
Consumer Non-Cyclical
Energy
Financial Institutions
Mortgage/Asset-Backed
Sovereigns
Technology
Transportation
U.S. Government Agencies and 
Municipalities

Public Utilities
Total

$

Fair Value
3,298.9
4,418.7
3,069.3
1,518.7
7,256.7
4,775.4
3,799.3
1,478.7
1,017.7
1,898.8
2,414.2

$

$

331.2
578.5
519.7
170.4
985.2
654.7
434.8
100.9
174.2
147.4
316.0

$

94.8
63.9
81.7
42.3
250.0
290.9
46.4
50.1
69.4
34.7
54.2

4,765.1
7,732.2
47,443.7

$

$

655.9
1,295.5
6,364.4

$

441.5
205.3
1,725.2

$

78

9.8
0.7
1.0
1.9
20.0
26.7
0.5
0.4
1.0
12.5
0.8

7.7
8.2
91.2

$

$

3,204.1
4,354.8
2,987.6
1,476.4
7,006.7
4,484.5
3,752.9
1,428.6
948.3
1,864.1
2,360.0

4,323.6
7,526.9
45,718.5

$

$

341.0
579.2
520.7
172.3
1,005.2
681.4
435.3
101.3
175.2
159.9
316.8

663.6
1,303.7
6,455.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
The following two tables show the length of time our investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities 
had been in a gross unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2019 and at the end of the prior four quarters.  The relationships 
of the current fair value to amortized cost are not necessarily indicative of the fair value to amortized cost relationships for the 
securities throughout the entire time that the securities have been in an unrealized loss position nor are they necessarily indicative 
of the relationships after December 31, 2019.  The decrease in the unrealized loss on fixed maturity securities during 2019 was 
due to a decrease in both U.S. Treasury rates and credit spreads.  

Unrealized Loss on Investment-Grade Fixed Maturity Securities 
Length of Time in Unrealized Loss Position

(in millions of dollars)

Fair Value < 100% >= 70% of Amortized Cost

December 31 September 30

June 30

March 31

2019

2018
December 31

<= 90 days
> 90 <= 180 days
> 180 <= 270 days
> 270 days <= 1 year
> 1 year <= 2 years
> 2 years <= 3 years
> 3 years
Sub-total

Fair Value < 70% >= 40% of Amortized Cost

<= 90 days
> 90 <= 180 days
> 180 <= 270 days
> 270 days <= 1 year
> 1 year <= 2 years
Sub-total

$

$

13.8
2.0
—
—
3.8
2.8
0.8
23.2

—
0.3
—
—
—
0.3

$

4.3
1.9
—
3.1
6.6
1.5
—
17.4

—
—
—
0.3
—
0.3

$

3.8
—
0.6
2.4
30.6
8.2
0.2
45.8

—
—
1.6
—
11.1
12.7

$

3.0
3.4
7.4
24.0
97.0
27.1
0.7
162.6

—
1.6
—
—
11.1
12.7

52.1
36.0
90.2
200.0
94.5
50.5
1.7
525.0

1.6
—
—
—
2.9
4.5

Total

$

23.5

$

17.7

$

58.5

$

175.3

$

529.5

79

 
 
Unrealized Loss on Below-Investment-Grade Fixed Maturity Securities
Length of Time in Unrealized Loss Position

(in millions of dollars)

Fair Value < 100% >= 70% of Amortized Cost

December 31 September 30

June 30

March 31

2019

2018
December 31

<= 90 days
> 90 <= 180 days
> 180 <= 270 days
> 270 days <= 1 year
> 1 year <= 2 years
> 2 years <= 3 years
> 3 years
Sub-total

Fair Value < 70% >= 40% of Amortized Cost

> 90 <= 180 days
> 180 <= 270 days
> 1 year <= 2 years
> 2 years <= 3 years
> 3 years
Sub-total

Fair Value < 40% of Amortized Cost

> 3 years
Sub-total

Total

$

$

0.5
3.1
5.1
0.9
17.5
1.3
13.7
42.1

—
15.1
—
—
10.5
25.6

—
—

$

5.1
10.3
1.5
0.9
31.0
0.3
5.2
54.3

12.0
—
—
12.7
21.6
46.3

—
—

$

6.1
1.3
1.4
6.3
26.3
—
22.6
64.0

—
—
—
11.7
14.2
25.9

—
—

$

1.0
2.1
3.8
1.3
29.1
10.6
28.8
76.7

—
—
—
—
7.2
7.2

12.6
12.6

39.7
19.0
11.1
52.8
27.1
4.8
31.6
186.1

—
—
0.7
11.3
17.8
29.8

11.0
11.0

$

67.7

$

100.6

$

89.9

$

96.5

$

226.9

At December 31, 2019, we held two below-investment grade fixed maturity securities with a gross unrealized loss greater than 
$10.0 million.  One security is related to a global pharmaceutical company and had a fair value of $65.3 million and a gross 
unrealized loss of $11.7 million.  The other security is related to a global business process automation company and had a fair 
value of $8.1 million and a gross unrealized loss of $11.9 million. We intend to and have the ability to continue to hold these 
securities to recovery of amortized cost and believe that the declines in fair value are temporary.

During the third quarter of 2019, we recognized an other-than-temporary impairment loss of $20.8 million on fixed maturity 
securities issued by a specialty pharmaceutical company.  The company has a high level of debt, has experienced some 
operational issues, and is facing fines and potentially a large litigation expense, which led to our decision to no longer hold these 
securities to recovery of amortized cost.  At the time of the impairment loss, these securities had been in an unrealized loss 
position for a period of more than three years. 

During the second quarter of 2019, we recognized a realized loss of $15.6 million on the sale of securities of a U.S. based oil and 
natural gas producer.  The company has been impacted by the significant decline in energy prices, a high level of debt, and an 
inability to complete certain asset sales.  At the time of disposition, these securities had been in an unrealized loss position for a 
period of greater than three years.  

We had no individual realized investment losses of $10.0 million or greater from other-than-temporary impairments during 2018 
or 2017 and no individual realized investment losses of $10.0 million or greater from the sale of fixed maturity securities during 
2018 or 2017. 

80

 
 
At December 31, 2019, our mortgage/asset-backed securities had an average life of 6.30 years, effective duration of 4.13 years, 
and a weighted average credit rating of AAA.  The mortgage/asset-backed securities are valued on a monthly basis using 
valuations supplied by the brokerage firms that are dealers in these securities as well as independent pricing services.  One of the 
risks involved in investing in mortgage/asset-backed securities is the uncertainty of the timing of cash flows from the underlying 
loans due to prepayment of principal with the possibility of reinvesting the funds in a lower interest rate environment.  We use 
models which incorporate economic variables and possible future interest rate scenarios to predict future prepayment rates.  The 
timing of prepayment cash flows may also cause volatility in our recognition of investment income.  We recognize investment 
income on these securities using a constant effective yield based on projected prepayments of the underlying loans and the 
estimated economic life of the securities.  Actual prepayment experience is reviewed periodically, and effective yields are 
recalculated when differences arise between prepayments originally projected and the actual prepayments received and currently 
projected.  The effective yield is recalculated on a retrospective basis, and the adjustment is reflected in net investment income.

As of December 31, 2019, the amortized cost and fair value of our below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities was 
$3,071.4 million and $3,188.5 million, respectively.  Below-investment-grade securities are inherently riskier than investment-
grade securities since the risk of default by the issuer, by definition and as exhibited by bond rating, is higher.  Also, the 
secondary market for certain below-investment-grade issues can be highly illiquid.  Additional downgrades may occur, but we 
do not anticipate any liquidity problems resulting from our investments in below-investment-grade securities, nor do we expect 
these investments to adversely affect our ability to hold our other investments to maturity. 

Fixed Maturity Securities - Foreign Exposure

Our investments in issuers in foreign countries are chosen for specific portfolio management purposes, including asset and 
liability management and portfolio diversification across geographic lines and sectors to minimize non-market risks.  In our 
approach to investing in fixed maturity securities, specific investments within approved countries and industry sectors are 
evaluated for their market position and specific strengths and potential weaknesses.  For each security, we consider the political, 
legal, and financial environment of the sovereign entity in which an issuer is domiciled and operates.  The country of domicile is 
based on consideration of the issuer's headquarters, in addition to location of the assets and the country in which the majority of 
sales and earnings are derived.  We do not have exposure to foreign currency risk, as the cash flows from these investments are 
either denominated in currencies or hedged into currencies to match the related liabilities.  We continually evaluate our foreign 
investment risk exposure.

Mortgage Loans

Our mortgage loan portfolio was $2,397.0 million and $2,295.0 million on an amortized cost basis at December 31, 2019 and 
2018, respectively.  Our mortgage loan portfolio is comprised entirely of commercial mortgage loans.  Our mortgage loan 
portfolio is well diversified geographically and among property types.  The incidence of problem mortgage loans and foreclosure 
activity continues to be low.  Due to conservative underwriting, we expect the level of problem loans to remain low.  We held no 
impaired mortgage loans at December 31, 2019.  We held one impaired mortgage loan at December 31, 2018 with a net 
realizable value of $3.4 million, net of a valuation allowance of $0.2 million.  During the first quarter of 2019, the impaired 
mortgage loan was settled, and we recognized an additional loss of $0.1 million.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We use derivative financial instruments primarily to manage reinvestment, duration, foreign currency, and credit risks.  
Historically, we have utilized current and forward interest rate swaps and options on forward interest rate swaps and U.S. 
Treasury rates, current and forward currency swaps, forward treasury locks, currency forward contracts, forward contracts on 
specific fixed income securities, and credit default swaps.  Credit exposure on derivatives is limited to the value of those 
contracts in a net gain position, including accrued interest receivable less collateral held.  At December 31, 2019, we had no 
credit exposure on derivatives.  We held $24.0 million of cash collateral from our counterparties at December 31, 2019.  The 
carrying value of fixed maturity securities posted as collateral to our counterparties was $28.6 million at December 31, 2019.  
We had no cash collateral posted to our counterparties at December 31, 2019.  We believe that our credit risk is mitigated by our 
use of multiple counterparties, all of which have an investment-grade credit rating, and by our use of cross-collateralization 
agreements.

81

Other

Our exposure to non-current investments, defined as foreclosed real estate and invested assets which are delinquent as to interest 
and/or principal payments, totaled $30.5 million and $36.0 million on a fair value basis at December 31, 2019 and 2018, 
respectively. 

See Notes 3 and 4 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion of our 
investments and our derivative financial instruments.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview 

Our liquidity requirements are met primarily by cash flows provided from operations, principally in our insurance subsidiaries.  
Premium and investment income, as well as maturities and sales of invested assets, provide the primary sources of cash.  Debt 
and/or securities offerings provide additional sources of liquidity.  Cash is applied to the payment of policy benefits, costs of 
acquiring new business (principally commissions), operating expenses, and taxes, as well as purchases of new investments.  

We have established an investment strategy that we believe will provide for adequate cash flows from operations.  We attempt to 
match our asset cash flows and durations with expected liability cash flows and durations to meet the funding requirements of 
our business.  However, deterioration in the credit market may delay our ability to sell our positions in certain of our fixed 
maturity securities in a timely manner and adversely impact the price we receive for such securities, which may negatively 
impact our cash flows.  Furthermore, if we experience defaults on securities held in the investment portfolios of our insurance 
subsidiaries, this will negatively impact statutory capital, which could reduce our insurance subsidiaries' capacity to pay 
dividends to our holding companies.  A reduction in dividends to our holding companies could force us to seek external 
financing to avoid impairing our ability to pay dividends to our stockholders or meet our debt and other payment obligations. 

Our policy benefits are primarily in the form of claim payments, and we have minimal exposure to the policy withdrawal risk 
associated with deposit products such as individual life policies or annuities.  A decrease in demand for our insurance products or 
an increase in the incidence of new claims or the duration of existing claims could negatively impact our cash flows from 
operations.  However, our historical pattern of benefits paid to revenues is generally consistent, even during cycles of economic 
downturns, which serves to minimize liquidity risk.

The liquidity requirements of the holding company Unum Group include common stock dividends, interest and debt service, 
acquisitions, and ongoing investments in our businesses.  Unum Group's liquidity requirements are met by assets held by Unum 
Group and our intermediate holding companies, dividends from primarily our insurance subsidiaries, and issuance of common 
stock, debt, or other capital securities and borrowings from existing credit facilities, as needed.  As of December 31, 2019, Unum 
Group and our intermediate holding companies held fixed maturity securities, short-term investments, and cash of $863 million.  
Fixed maturity securities consisted primarily of mortgage/asset-backed securities with an average maturity of 4.4 years.  Short-
term investments consisted primarily of commercial paper.  No significant restrictions exist on our ability to use or access funds 
in any of our U.S. or foreign intermediate holding companies.  Dividends repatriated from our foreign subsidiaries are eligible 
for 100 percent exemption from U.S. income tax but may be subject to withholding tax and/or tax on foreign currency gain or 
loss.  

As part of our capital deployment strategy, we repurchase shares of Unum Group's common stock, as authorized by our board of 
directors.  Our current share repurchase program was approved by our board of directors in May 2019 and authorizes the 
repurchase of up to $750 million of common stock through November 2020, with the pace of repurchase activity to depend upon 
various factors such as the level of available cash, alternative uses for cash, and our stock price.  This new authorization replaced 
the previous authorization of $750 million that was scheduled to expire in November 2019.  During 2019, we repurchased 12.3 
million shares at a cost of approximately $400 million.  The dollar value of shares remaining under the current repurchase 
program was approximately $516 million at December 31, 2019.  See Note 10 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial 
Statements" contained herein in Item 8. 

Cash Available from Subsidiaries 

Unum Group and certain of its intermediate holding company subsidiaries depend on payments from subsidiaries to pay 
dividends to stockholders, to pay debt obligations, and/or to pay expenses.  These payments by our insurance and non-insurance 

82

subsidiaries may take the form of dividends, operating and investment management fees, and/or interest payments on loans from 
the parent to a subsidiary.  

Restrictions under applicable state insurance laws limit the amount of dividends that can be paid to a parent company from its 
insurance subsidiaries in any 12-month period without prior approval by regulatory authorities.  For life insurance companies 
domiciled in the U.S., that limitation generally equals, depending on the state of domicile, either ten percent of an insurer's 
statutory surplus with respect to policyholders as of the preceding year end or the statutory net gain from operations, excluding 
realized investment gains and losses, of the preceding year.  The payment of dividends to a parent company from a life insurance 
subsidiary is generally further limited to the amount of unassigned funds.    

Certain of our domestic insurance subsidiaries cede blocks of business to Northwind Reinsurance Company (Northwind Re) and 
Fairwind Insurance Company (Fairwind), both of which are affiliated captive reinsurance subsidiaries domiciled in the United 
States with Unum Group as the ultimate parent.  The ability of Northwind Re and Fairwind to pay dividends to their respective 
parent companies will depend on their satisfaction of applicable regulatory requirements and on the performance of the business 
reinsured by Northwind Re and Fairwind. 

The ability of Unum Group and certain of its intermediate holding company subsidiaries to continue to receive dividends from 
their insurance subsidiaries also depends on additional factors such as RBC ratios and capital adequacy and/or solvency 
requirements, funding growth objectives at an affiliate level, and maintaining appropriate capital adequacy ratios to support 
desired ratings. The RBC ratios for our U.S. insurance subsidiaries at December 31, 2019 are in line with our expectations and 
are significantly above the level that would require state regulatory action.

Unum Group and/or certain of its intermediate holding company subsidiaries may also receive dividends from our U.K. 
subsidiaries, the payment of which may be subject to applicable insurance company regulations and capital guidance in the U.K. 
Unum Limited is subject to the requirements of Solvency II, an EU directive, which prescribes capital requirements and risk 
management standards for the European insurance industry.  Our European holding company is also subject to the Solvency II 
requirements relevant to insurance holding companies, while its subsidiaries (the Unum European Economic Area (EEA) 
Group), which includes Unum Limited, are subject to group supervision under Solvency II. The Unum EEA Group received 
approval from the U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority to use its own internal model for calculating regulatory capital and also 
received approval for certain associated regulatory permissions including transitional relief as the Solvency II capital regime 
continues to be implemented.  There are currently no indications that capital requirements for the Unum EEA Group will change 
as a result of the U.K.'s exit from the EU, but economic conditions may in the near term cause volatility in our solvency ratios.

The payment of dividends to the parent company from our subsidiaries also requires the approval of the individual subsidiary's 
board of directors.

The amount available during 2019 for the payment of ordinary dividends from Unum Group's traditional U.S. insurance 
subsidiaries, which excludes our captive reinsurers, was approximately $995 million, of which $956.1 million was declared and 
paid.  The amount available during 2019 from Unum Limited was approximately £140 million, of which £25.0 million was 
declared and paid to one of our U.K. holding companies.  During 2019, Northwind Re paid dividends of $52.8 million to 
Northwind Holdings.  Fairwind paid no dividends during 2019.

During 2020, we intend to maintain a level of capital in our insurance subsidiaries above the applicable capital adequacy 
requirements and minimum solvency margins.  Although we may not utilize the entire amount of available dividends, based on 
applicable restrictions under current law, approximately $1,035 million is available, without prior approval by regulatory 
authorities, during 2020 for the payment of dividends from Unum Group's traditional U.S. insurance subsidiaries, which 
excludes our captive reinsurers.  Approximately £180 million is available for the payment of dividends from Unum Limited 
during 2020, subject to regulatory approval.

Insurance regulatory restrictions do not limit the amount of dividends available for distribution from non-insurance subsidiaries 
except where the non-insurance subsidiaries are held directly or indirectly by an insurance subsidiary and only indirectly by 
Unum Group.

83

Funding for Employee Benefit Plans

We made contributions of $68.2 million and £3.4 million to our U.S. and U.K. defined contribution plans, respectively, in 2019 
and expect to make contributions of approximately $75 million and £4 million during 2020.  We made a de minimis amount of 
contributions to our U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan and no contribution to our U.K. defined benefit pension plan 
during 2019.  We do not expect to make any contributions to either plan during 2020.  We have met all minimum pension 
funding requirements set forth by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.  We have estimated our future funding 
requirements under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 and under applicable U.K. law and do not believe that any future funding 
requirements will cause a material adverse effect on our liquidity.  See Note 9 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial 
Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion of our employee benefit plans. 

Debt

There are no significant financial covenants associated with any of our outstanding debt obligations.  We continually monitor our 
debt covenants to ensure we remain in compliance.  We have not observed any current trends that would cause a breach of any 
debt covenants. 

Maturities, Purchases, and Retirement of Debt

Northwind Holdings made principal payments on its floating rate, senior secured non-recourse notes of $60.0 million in each of 
2019, 2018, and 2017.  

During 2019 we purchased and retired (i) $22.8 million aggregate liquidation amount of our 7.405% capital securities due 2038; 
(ii) $30.3 million aggregate principal amount of our 7.190% medium-term notes due 2028; (iii) $30.0 million aggregate principal 
amount of our 7.250% senior notes due 2028; and (iv) $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 3.000% senior notes due 
2021.

In 2018, our $200.0 million 7.00% senior unsecured notes matured.

In 2017, we purchased and retired the remaining $3.4 million of principal on our senior secured floating rate notes acquired 
through our purchase of Starmount.

Issuance of Debt 

In September 2019, we issued $450.0 million of 4.500% senior notes due 2049.  The notes are callable at or above par and rank 
equally in the right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. 

In June 2019, we issued $400.0 million of 4.000% senior notes due 2029.  The notes are callable at or above par and rank equally 
in the right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

In 2018, we issued $300.0 million of 6.25% junior subordinated notes due 2058.  The notes are redeemable at or above par on or 
after June 15, 2023 and rank equally in the right of payment with our other junior subordinated debt securities.

Credit Facilities

In April 2019, we amended the terms of our existing five-year unsecured revolving credit facility, increasing it from $400.0 
million to $500.0 million.  The credit facility, which was previously set to expire in 2021, was extended through April 2024.  
Under the terms of the amended agreement, we may request that the credit facility be increased up to $700.0 million, up from the 
previous amount of $600.0 million.  We also may request, on up to two occasions, that the lenders' commitment termination 
dates be extended by one year.  The credit facility provides for the issuance of letters of credit subject to certain terms and 
limitations.  At December 31, 2019, letters of credit totaling $0.6 million had been issued from the credit facility, but there were 
no borrowed amounts outstanding.

Also in April 2019, we separately entered into a three-year, $100.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility with a different 
syndicate of lenders, which is set to expire in April 2022.  Under the terms of the agreement, we may request that the credit 
facility be increased up to $140.0 million.  We also may request that the lenders' commitment termination dates be extended by 
one year.  The credit facility provides for the issuance of letters of credit subject to certain terms and limitations.  At 

84

December 31, 2019, there have been no letters of credit issued from the credit facility and there were no borrowed amounts 
outstanding.

Borrowings under the credit facilities are for general corporate uses and are subject to financial covenants, negative covenants, 
and events of default that are customary.  The two primary financial covenants include limitations based on our leverage ratio 
and consolidated net worth.  We are also subject to covenants that limit subsidiary indebtedness.  The credit facilities provide for 
borrowings at an interest rate based either on the prime rate or LIBOR.

Shelf Registration

We filed a shelf registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2017 to issue various types of securities, including 
common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, depository shares, stock purchase contracts, units and warrants.  The shelf 
registration enables us to raise funds from the offering of any securities covered by the shelf registration as well as any 
combination thereof, subject to market conditions and our capital needs.

See Note 8 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for additional information on our 
debt.

Commitments

The following table summarizes contractual obligations and our reinsurance recoverable by period as of December 31, 2019:

(in millions of dollars)

Payments Due

Short-term Debt

Long-term Debt

Total

In 1 Year or 
Less

After 1 Year 
up to 3 Years

After 3 Years 
up to 5 Years

After 5 
Years

$

416.6

$

416.6

$

— $

— $

—

5,774.2

153.9

307.8

648.6

4,663.9

Policyholder Liabilities

45,686.1

4,778.9

7,371.3

5,540.7

27,995.2

Pension and OPEB

633.3

19.4

37.9

Miscellaneous Liabilities

1,215.5

786.3

265.4

Operating Leases

135.2

26.6

Purchase Obligations

684.0

647.6

43.0

33.5

37.2

8.8

14.1

2.7

538.8

155.0

51.5

0.2

Total

Receipts Due

$

54,544.9

$

6,829.3

$

8,058.9

$

6,252.1

$

33,404.6

Reinsurance Recoverable

$

7,961.6

$

347.4

$

650.4

$

656.0

$

6,307.8

Short-term and long-term debt includes contractual principal and interest payments and therefore exceeds the amount shown in 
the consolidated balance sheets.

Policyholder liability maturities and the related reinsurance recoverable represent the projected payout of the current in-force 
policyholder liabilities and the expected cash inflows from reinsurers for liabilities ceded and therefore incorporate uncertainties 

85

as to the timing and amount of claim payments.  We utilize extensive liability modeling to project future cash flows from the in-
force business.  The primary assumptions used to project future cash flows are claim incidence rates for mortality and morbidity, 
claim resolution rates, persistency rates, and interest rates.  These cash flows are discounted to determine the current value of the 
projected claim payments.  The timing and amount of payments on policyholder liabilities may vary significantly from the 
projections above.

Pensions and OPEB commitments relate to our defined benefit pension and postretirement plans for our employees, including 
our non-qualified pension plan.  Pension plan obligations, other than the non-qualified plan, represent our contributions to the 
pension plans and are projected based on the expected future minimum contributions as required under current U.S. and U.K. 
legislative funding requirements.  Non-qualified pension plan and other postretirement benefit obligations represent the expected 
benefit payments related to these plans which we expect to pay, as incurred, from our general assets.

Miscellaneous liabilities include commissions due and accrued, deferred compensation liabilities, contingent considerations, 
state premium taxes payable, amounts due to reinsurance companies, legally binding commitments to fund investments, 
obligations to return unrestricted cash collateral to our securities lending and derivative counterparties, and various other 
liabilities that represent contractual obligations.  Obligations where the timing of the payment is uncertain are included in the one 
year or less category.  

See "Critical Accounting Estimates" contained herein in this Item 7 and Notes 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 15 of the "Notes to Consolidated 
Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for additional information on our various commitments and obligations.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Purchase obligations include commitments of $629.8 million to fund certain of our investments.  These are included in the 
preceding table based on the expiration date of the commitments.  The funds are due upon satisfaction of contractual notice from 
appropriate external parties and may or may not be funded.  Also included are obligations with outside parties for computer data 
processing services, software maintenance agreements, and consulting services.  The aggregate obligation remaining under these 
agreements was $54.2 million at December 31, 2019. 

As part of our regular investing strategy, we receive collateral from unaffiliated third parties through transactions which include 
both securities lending and short-term agreements to purchase securities with the agreement to resell them at a later specified 
date.  For both types of transactions, we require that a minimum of 102 percent of the fair value of the securities loaned or 
securities purchased under repurchase agreements be maintained as collateral.  Generally, cash is received as collateral under 
these agreements.  In the event that securities are received as collateral, we are not permitted to sell or re-post them.  We also 
post our fixed maturity securities as collateral to unaffiliated third parties through transactions including both securities lending 
and short-term agreements to sell securities with the agreement to repurchase them at a later specified date.  See "Transfers of 
Financial Assets" as follows for further discussion. 

To help limit the credit exposure of derivatives, we enter into master netting agreements with our counterparties whereby 
contracts in a gain position can be offset against contracts in a loss position.  We also typically enter into bilateral, cross-
collateralization agreements with our counterparties to help limit the credit exposure of the derivatives.  These agreements 
require the counterparty in a loss position to submit acceptable collateral with the other counterparty in the event the net loss 
position meets or exceeds an agreed upon amount.  Credit exposure on derivatives is limited to the value of those contracts in a 
net gain position, including accrued interest receivable less collateral held.  At December 31, 2019, we had no credit exposure on 
derivatives.  We held cash collateral from our counterparties of $24.0 million at December 31, 2019 and had posted fixed 
maturity securities with a carrying value of $28.6 million as collateral to our counterparties.    

See Notes 3 and 4 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for additional information. 

Transfers of Financial Assets 

Our investment policy permits us to lend fixed maturity securities to unaffiliated financial institutions in short-term securities 
lending agreements, which increases our investment income with minimal risk.  We account for all of our securities lending 
agreements and repurchase agreements as secured borrowings.  As of December 31, 2019, we did not hold cash collateral from 
securities lending agreements.  The average balance for securities lending agreements which were collateralized by cash during 
the year ended December 31, 2019 was $1.9 million, and the maximum amount outstanding at any month end was $5.9 million.  
In addition, at December 31, 2019, we had $186.5 million of off-balance sheet securities lending agreements which were 
collateralized by securities that we were neither permitted to sell nor control.  The average balance of these off-balance sheet 

86

transactions during the year ended December 31, 2019 was $189.5 million, and the maximum amount outstanding at any month 
end was $274.5 million.

To manage our cash position more efficiently, we may enter into repurchase agreements with unaffiliated financial institutions.  
We generally use repurchase agreements as a means to finance the purchase of invested assets or for short-term general business 
purposes until projected cash flows become available from our operations or existing investments.  We had no repurchase 
agreements outstanding at December 31, 2019, nor did we utilize any repurchase agreements during 2019.  Our use of 
repurchase agreements and securities lending agreements can fluctuate during any given period and will depend on our liquidity 
position, the availability of long-term investments that meet our purchasing criteria, and our general business needs. 

Certain of our U.S. insurance subsidiaries are members of regional Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB).  As of December 31, 
2019, we owned $18.5 million of FHLB common stock and had no outstanding advances from the regional FHLBs.

See Note 3 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for additional information. 

Consolidated Cash Flows

(in millions of dollars)

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net Cash Used by Investing Activities
Net Cash Used by Financing Activities
Net Change in Cash and Bank Deposits

Operating Cash Flows

Year Ended December 31
2018

2017

2019

$

$

$

1,741.6
(1,393.5)
(358.0)

(9.9) $

1,536.5
(930.1)
(589.8)
16.6

$

$

1,164.1
(499.3)
(687.8)
(23.0)

Operating cash flows are primarily attributable to the receipt of premium and investment income, offset by payments of claims, 
commissions, expenses, and income taxes.  Premium income growth is dependent not only on new sales, but on policy renewals 
and growth of existing business, renewal price increases, and persistency.  Investment income growth is dependent on the growth 
in the underlying assets supporting our insurance reserves and capital and on the earned yield.  The level of commissions and 
operating expenses is attributable to the level of sales and the first year acquisition expenses associated with new business as 
well as the maintenance of existing business.  The level of paid claims is affected partially by the growth and aging of the block 
of business and also by the general economy, as previously discussed in the operating results by segment.

The variance in the change in insurance reserves and liabilities to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating 
activities as reported in our consolidated statements of cash flows for 2018 was due primarily to the 2018 reserve increase for our 
long-term care line of business.

Investing Cash Flows 

Investing cash inflows consist primarily of the proceeds from the sales and maturities of investments.  Investing cash outflows 
consist primarily of payments for purchases of investments.  Our investment strategy is to match the cash flows and durations of 
our assets with the cash flows and durations of our liabilities to meet the funding requirements of our business.  When market 
opportunities arise, we may sell selected securities and reinvest the proceeds to improve the yield and credit quality of our 
portfolio.  We may at times also sell selected securities and reinvest the proceeds to improve the duration matching of our assets 
and liabilities and/or re-balance our portfolio.  As a result, sales before maturity may vary from period to period.  The sale and 
purchase of short-term investments is influenced by proceeds received from issuance of debt, our securities lending program, and 
by the amount of cash which is at times held in short-term investments to facilitate the availability of cash to fund the purchase 
of appropriate long-term investments, repay maturing debt, and/or to fund our capital deployment program.  Our cash flows for  
2018 include cash outflows, net of cash acquired, of $145.4 million related to all of our acquisitions during the year.  

See Notes 3 and 13 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further information.

87

Financing Cash Flows

Financing cash flows consist primarily of borrowings and repayments of debt, repurchase of common stock, and dividends paid 
to stockholders. 

During 2019, we purchased and retired $433.1 million aggregate liquidation/principal amount of our outstanding capital and debt 
securities, including debt repurchase costs of $25.9 million for a total cash outflow of $459.0 million.  During 2018, our $200.0 
million 7.00% senior unsecured notes matured.  During 2017, we purchased and retired the remaining $3.4 million of principal 
on our senior secured floating rate notes acquired through our purchase of Starmount.  During each of the years 2019, 2018, and 
2017 we made principal payments of $60.0 million on our senior secured non-recourse notes issued by Northwind Holdings.

During 2019, we issued $450.0 million of 4.50% senior notes due 2049 and $400.0 million of 4.00% senior notes due 2029 and 
received total proceeds of $841.9 million.  During 2018, we issued $300.0 million of 6.25% junior subordinated notes due 2058 
and received total proceeds of $290.7 million.

Cash used to repurchase shares of Unum Group's common stock during 2019, 2018, and 2017 was $400.3 million, $356.2 
million, and $401.8 million, respectively.  During 2019, 2018, and 2017 we paid dividends of $229.2 million, $215.6 million, 
and $196.0 million, respectively, to holders of Unum Group's common stock.

See "Debt" contained herein in this Item 7, and Notes 8 and 10 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained 
herein in Item 8 for further information.

Ratings 

AM Best, Fitch, Moody's, and S&P are among the third parties that assign issuer credit ratings to Unum Group and financial 
strength ratings to our insurance subsidiaries.  We compete based in part on the financial strength ratings provided by rating 
agencies.  A downgrade of our financial strength ratings can be expected to adversely affect us and could potentially, among 
other things, adversely affect our relationships with distributors of our products and services and retention of our sales force, 
negatively impact persistency and new sales, particularly large case group sales and individual sales, and generally adversely 
affect our ability to compete.  A downgrade in the issuer credit rating assigned to Unum Group can be expected to adversely 
affect our cost of capital or our ability to raise additional capital.

The table below reflects the outlook as well as the issuer credit ratings for Unum Group and the financial strength ratings for 
each of our traditional insurance subsidiaries as of the date of this filing. 

Outlook

Issuer Credit Ratings

Financial Strength Ratings

Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company
Provident Life and Casualty Insurance Company
Unum Life Insurance Company of America
First Unum Life Insurance Company
Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company
The Paul Revere Life Insurance Company
Starmount Life Insurance Company
Unum Insurance Company
Unum Limited

NR = not rated

AM Best
Stable

Fitch
Negative

Moody's
Stable

S&P
Stable

bbb

BBB

Baa2

BBB

A
A
A
A
A
A
A-
A-
NR

A
A
A
A
A
A
NR
A
NR

A2
NR
A2
A2
A2
A2
NR
A2
NR

A
NR
A
A
A
A
NR
NR
A-

We maintain an ongoing dialogue with the four rating agencies that evaluate us in order to inform them of progress we are 
making regarding our strategic objectives and financial plans as well as other pertinent issues.  A significant component of our 

88

communications involves our annual review meeting with each of the four agencies.  We hold other meetings throughout the 
year regarding our business, including, but not limited to, quarterly updates. 

AM Best, Fitch, Moody's, and S&P affirmed their ratings for our domestic insurance subsidiaries and issuer credit ratings for 
Unum Group during 2019.  There have been no other changes in any of the rating agencies' outlooks or ratings during 2019 or in 
2020 prior to the date of this filing.

Agency ratings are not directed toward the holders of our securities and are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold our 
securities.  Each rating is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization, and each rating 
should be regarded as an independent assessment, not conditional on any other rating.  Given the dynamic nature of the ratings 
process, changes by these or other rating agencies may or may not occur in the near-term.  Based on our ongoing dialogue with 
the rating agencies concerning our insurance risk profile, our financial flexibility, our operating performance, and the quality of 
our investment portfolio, we do not expect any negative actions from any of the four rating agencies related to either Unum 
Group's current issuer credit ratings or the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries.  However, in the event that we 
are unable to meet the rating agency specific guideline values to maintain our current ratings, including but not limited to 
maintenance of our capital management metrics at the threshold values stated and maintenance of our financial flexibility and 
operational consistency, we could be placed on a negative credit watch, with a potential for a downgrade to both our issuer credit 
ratings and our financial strength ratings.

See "Ratings" contained herein in Item 1 and "Risk Factors" contained herein in Item 1A for further discussion. 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are subject to various market risk exposures, including interest rate risk and foreign exchange rate risk.  The following 
discussion regarding our risk management activities includes forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties.  
Estimates of future performance and economic conditions are reflected assuming certain changes in market rates and prices were 
to occur (sensitivity analysis).  Caution should be used in evaluating our overall market risk from the information presented 
below, as actual results may differ.  See "Risk Factors" contained herein in Item 1A, "Investments" contained herein in Item 7, 
and Notes 2, 3, and 4 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for further discussion of the 
qualitative aspects of market risk, including derivative financial instrument activity. 

Interest Rate Risk 

Our exposure to interest rate changes results from our holdings of financial instruments such as fixed rate investments, 
derivatives, and interest sensitive liabilities.  Fixed rate investments include fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans, policy 
loans, and short-term investments.  Fixed maturity securities include U.S. and foreign government bonds, securities issued by 
government agencies, public utility bonds, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities, and redeemable preferred stock, all of 
which are subject to risk resulting from interest rate fluctuations.  Certain of our financial instruments, fixed maturity securities 
and derivatives, are carried at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets.  The fair value of these financial instruments may be 
adversely affected by changes in interest rates.  A rise in interest rates may decrease the net unrealized gain related to these 
financial instruments, but may improve our ability to earn higher rates of return on new purchases of fixed maturity securities.  
Conversely, a decline in interest rates may increase the net unrealized gain, but new securities may be purchased at lower rates of 
return.  Although changes in fair value of fixed maturity securities and derivatives due to changes in interest rates may impact 
amounts reported in our consolidated balance sheets, these changes will not cause an economic gain or loss unless we sell 
investments, terminate derivative positions, determine that an investment is other than temporarily impaired, or determine that a 
derivative instrument is no longer an effective hedge.    

Other fixed rate investments, such as mortgage loans and policy loans, are carried at amortized cost and unpaid balances, 
respectively, rather than fair value in our consolidated balance sheets.  These investments may have fair values substantially 
higher or lower than the carrying values reflected in our balance sheets.  A change in interest rates could impact our financial 
position if we sold our mortgage loan investments at times of low market value.  A change in interest rates would not impact our 
financial position at repayment of policy loans, as ultimately the cash surrender values or death benefits would be reduced for the 
carrying value of any outstanding policy loans.  Carrying amounts for short-term investments approximate fair value, and we 
believe we have minimal interest rate risk exposure from these investments.

We believe that the risk of being forced to liquidate investments or terminate derivative positions is minimal, primarily due to the 
level of capital at our insurance subsidiaries, the level of cash and marketable securities at our holding companies, and our 
investment strategy which we believe provides for adequate cash flows to meet the funding requirements of our business.  We 

89

may in certain circumstances, however, need to sell investments due to changes in regulatory or capital requirements, changes in 
tax laws, rating agency decisions, and/or unexpected changes in liquidity needs.  

Although our policy benefits are primarily in the form of claim payments and we therefore have minimal exposure to the policy 
withdrawal risk associated with deposit products such as individual life policies or annuities, the fair values of liabilities under 
all insurance contracts are taken into consideration in our overall management of interest rate risk, which minimizes exposure to 
changing interest rates through the matching of investment cash flows with amounts due under insurance contracts.  Changes in 
interest rates and individuals' behavior affect the amount and timing of asset and liability cash flows.  We actively monitor our 
asset and liability cash flow match and our asset and liability duration match to manage interest rate risk.  Due to the long 
duration of our long-term care product, the timing of our investment cash flows do not match those of our maturing liabilities.  
We model and test asset and liability portfolios to improve interest rate risk management and net yields.  Testing the asset and 
liability portfolios under various interest rate and economic scenarios enables us to choose what we believe to be the most 
appropriate investment strategy, as well as to limit the risk of disadvantageous outcomes.  We use this analysis in determining 
hedging strategies and utilizing derivative financial instruments.  We use current and forward interest rate swaps, options on 
forward interest rate swaps, and forward treasury locks to hedge interest rate risks and to match asset durations and cash flows 
with corresponding liabilities.

Debt is not carried at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets.  If we modify or replace existing debt instruments at current 
market rates, we may incur a gain or loss on the transaction.  We believe our debt-related risk to changes in interest rates is 
relatively minimal.  In the near term, we expect that our need for external financing is small, but changes in our business could 
increase our need.  

We measure our financial instruments' market risk related to changes in interest rates using a sensitivity analysis.  This analysis 
estimates potential changes in fair values as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 based on a hypothetical immediate increase of 100 
basis points in interest rates from year end levels.  The selection of a 100 basis point immediate parallel change in interest rates 
should not be construed as our prediction of future market events, but only as an illustration of the potential effect of such an 
event.

The hypothetical potential changes in fair value of our financial instruments at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are shown as 
follows: 

Notional 
Amount of 
Derivatives

December 31, 2019

Hypothetical

Fair Value

FV + 100 BP

Change in 
FV

$

$

$

$

47,443.7
2,556.3
420.8

$

43,612.8
2,391.5
389.7

(3,830.9)
(164.8)
(31.1)

(5,441.1) $
(3,239.0)

(2,626.8) $
(2,940.1)

2,814.3
298.9

(7.2) $
0.1
(22.8)

(36.5) $
(0.1)
(22.7)

(29.3)
(0.2)
0.1

(in millions of dollars)

Assets

Fixed Maturity Securities (1)
Mortgage Loans
Policy Loans, Net of Reinsurance Ceded

Liabilities

Unrealized Adjustment to Reserves, Net of Reinsurance Ceded 
and Deferred Acquisition Costs (2)
Long-term Debt

Derivatives (1)

Swaps
Forwards
Embedded Derivative in Modified Coinsurance Arrangement

$

872.5
8.9

90

(in millions of dollars)

Assets

Fixed Maturity Securities (1)
Mortgage Loans
Policy Loans, Net of Reinsurance Ceded

Liabilities

Unrealized Adjustment to Reserves, Net of Reinsurance Ceded 
and Deferred Acquisition Costs (2)
Long-term Debt

Notional 
Amount of 
Derivatives

December 31, 2018

Hypothetical

Fair Value

FV + 100 BP

Change in 
FV

$

$

$

43,011.7
2,317.4
381.8

39,532.1
2,179.6
354.2

$

(3,479.6)
(137.8)
(27.6)

(2,986.8) $
(3,069.2)

(470.7) $

(2,866.2)

2,516.1
203.0

Derivatives (1)

Swaps
Embedded Derivative in Modified Coinsurance Arrangement

$

799.2

$

(7.1) $

(31.1)

(29.1) $
(32.5)

(22.0)
(1.4)

(1)  These financial instruments are carried at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets.  Changes in fair value resulting 
from changes in interest rates may affect the fair value at which the item is reported in our consolidated balance sheets.  The 
corresponding offsetting change is reported in other comprehensive income or loss, net of income tax, except for changes in 
the fair value of derivatives accounted for as fair value hedges or derivatives not designated as hedging instruments, the 
offset of which is reported as a component of net realized investment gain or loss.

(2)  The adjustment to reserves and deferred acquisition costs for unrealized investment gains and losses reflects the 
adjustments to policyholder liabilities and deferred acquisition costs that would be necessary if the unrealized investment 
gains and losses related to the fixed maturity securities had been realized.  Changes in this adjustment are also reported as a 
component of other comprehensive income or loss, net of income tax.  

The effect of a change in interest rates on asset prices was determined using a duration implied methodology for corporate bonds 
and government and government agency securities whereby the duration of each security was used to estimate the change in 
price for the security assuming an increase of 100 basis points in interest rates.  The effect of a change in interest rates on the 
mortgage-backed securities was estimated using a mortgage analytic system which takes into account the impact of changing 
prepayment speeds resulting from a 100 basis point increase in interest rates on the change in price of the mortgage-backed 
securities.  These hypothetical prices were compared to the actual prices for the period to compute the overall change in market 
value.  The changes in the fair values shown in the chart above for all other items were determined using discounted cash flow 
analyses.  Because we actively manage our investments and liabilities, actual changes could be less than those estimated above. 

We remain in an environment of low interest rates, which continues to place pressure on our profit margins as we invest cash 
flows to support our businesses.  We estimate that we will have approximately $1.9 billion of investable cash flows in 2020.  
Assuming interest rates and credit spreads remain constant throughout 2021 at the January 2020 market levels, our net 
investment income would decrease by an immaterial amount in both 2020 and 2021 as a result of the investment of cash flows at 
levels below our current expectations.  This interest rate scenario does not give consideration to the effect of other factors which 
could impact these results, such as changes in the bond market and changes in hedging strategies and positions, nor does it 
consider the potential change to our discount rate reserve assumptions and any mitigating factors such as pricing adjustments.  In 
addition, a continued low or declining interest rate environment may also result in an increase in the net periodic benefit costs for 
our pension plans, but we do not believe it would materially affect net income in 2020 or 2021.

91

Foreign Currency Risk 

The functional currency of our U.K. operations is the British pound sterling.  The functional currency of our operations in Poland 
is the Polish zloty.  We are exposed to foreign currency risk arising from fluctuations in the British pound sterling and Polish 
zloty to U.S. dollar exchange rates primarily as they relate to the translation of the financial results of our U.K. and Polish 
operations.  Fluctuations in exchange rates have an effect on our reported financial results.  We do not hedge against the possible 
impact of this risk.  Because we do not actually convert our functional currency into dollars except for a limited number of 
transactions, we view foreign currency translation as a financial reporting issue and not a reflection of operations or profitability 
in our U.K. or Polish operations.  

Assuming the pound to dollar exchange rate decreased 10 percent from the December 31, 2019 and 2018 levels, stockholders' 
equity as reported in U.S. dollars would have been lower by approximately $68 million and $62 million, respectively.  Assuming 
the pound to dollar average exchange rate decreased 10 percent from the actual average exchange rates for 2019 and 2018, 
adjusted operating income, as reported in U.S. dollars, would have decreased approximately $10 million and $11 million, 
respectively.  Our Polish operations are currently not a significant portion of our overall operations and any changes in the dollar 
exchange rate would not represent a material impact to our reported financial results in U.S. dollars.   

Dividends paid by Unum Limited are generally held at our U.K. finance subsidiary or our U.K. holding company.  If these funds 
are repatriated to our U.S. holding company, we would at that time be subject to foreign currency risk as the value of the 
dividend, when converted into U.S. dollars, would be dependent upon the foreign exchange rate at the time of conversion. 

We are also exposed to foreign currency risk related to certain foreign investment securities denominated in local currencies.  
We use foreign currency interest rate swaps to hedge or minimize the foreign exchange risk associated with these instruments.  

See "Risk Factors" contained herein in Item 1A and "Consolidated Operating Results" and "Unum International Segment" 
contained herein in Item 7 for further information concerning foreign currency translation.

Risk Management

Effectively taking and managing risks is essential to the success of our Company.  To facilitate this effort, we have a formal 
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program, with a framework comprising the following key components: 

•
•
•
•
•
•

Risk-aware culture and governance
Risk appetite policy
Risk identification and prioritization
Risk and capital modeling
Risk management activities 
Risk reporting

Our ERM framework is the ongoing system of people, processes, and tools across our Company under which we intend to 
function consistently and collectively to identify and assess risks and opportunities, to manage all material risks within our risk 
appetite, and to contribute to strategic decision making.  With the goal of maximizing shareholder value, the primary objectives 
of our ERM framework are to support Unum Group in meeting its operational and financial objectives, maintaining liquidity, 
optimizing capital, and protecting franchise value.

Risk-Aware Culture and Governance

We employ a risk management model under which risk-based decisions are made daily on a local level.  To achieve long-term 
success, we believe risk management must be the responsibility of all employees.  The individual and collective decisions of our 
employees play a key role in successfully managing our overall risk profile.  We strive for a culture of integrity, commitment, 
and accountability and we believe these values allow our employees to feel comfortable identifying issues as well as taking 
ownership for addressing potential problems.  

Our employees have an obligation to report issues that they believe will have a material financial, reputational, or regulatory 
impact to the Company.  We offer several channels for employees to report their issues or concerns and encourage employees to 
use the channel that is most appropriate for their situation.  We recommend that an employee initially discuss their concerns with 
their manager; however, if that channel is not appropriate an employee may use any of the other reporting channels available.  

92

 
 
By employing various approaches, we have established a culture that supports candid discussion and reporting of risks while 
empowering our employees to take ownership for risk management.

Our culture is reinforced by our system of risk governance.  We employ a multi-layered risk control system.  Our three lines of 
defense model is depicted below.

1st Line: Own and Manage

2nd Line: Oversee

3rd Line: Independent Assurance

Business processes and procedures 
employed throughout the Company 
through which management assumes 
and monitors significant risks

Management committees chartered 
with oversight of activities within the 
1st and 2nd lines of defense, 
mitigation of substantial exposures, 
and management of emerging risks

Independent assurance on the 
effectiveness of governance, risk 
management, and internal control 
performed by internal audit and the 
board of directors

Business units are primarily responsible for managing their principal risks.  Our risk committees and other management 
committees serve risk and control functions responsible for providing risk oversight, or the second line of risk control.  Our 
internal audit team provides periodic independent reviews and assurance activities serving as our third line of risk control. 

In addition, our board has an active role, as a whole and through its committees, in overseeing management of our risks.  The 
board is responsible for the oversight of strategic risk and regularly reviews information regarding our capital, liquidity, and 
operations, as well as the risks associated with each.  The risk and finance committee of the board is responsible for oversight of 
our risk management process, including financial risk, operational risk, and any other risk not specifically assigned to another 
board committee.  It also is responsible for oversight of risks associated with investments, capital and financing plans and 
activities, and related financial matters, including matters pertaining to our Closed Block segment.  The audit committee of the 
board is responsible for oversight of risks relating to financial reporting risk and certain operational risks.  Cyber-related 
operational risk is the joint responsibility of the risk and finance committee and the audit committee.  The human capital 
committee of the board is responsible for oversight of risks relating to our compensation plans and programs.  The regulatory 
compliance committee of the board is responsible for oversight of risks related to regulatory, compliance, policy, and legal 
matters, both current and emerging, and whether of a local, state, federal, or international nature.  While each committee is 
responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of such risks, the entire board is regularly informed 
through committee reports about such risks in addition to the risk information it receives directly. 

Our executive risk management committee is responsible for overseeing our enterprise-wide risk management program.  The 
chief risk officer, who is a member of the executive risk management committee, has primary responsibility for our ERM 
program and is supported by corporate risk committees and by the risk committees of our operating segments. 

Operating segment risk committees for Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, and Closed Block are responsible for 
oversight of risks specific to their businesses.  These committees are responsible for identifying, measuring, reporting, and 
managing strategic insurance and operational risks within their respective areas, consistent with enterprise risk management 
guidance.  Corporate risk committees and other management committees oversee the operational, global technology services, 
investment, and capital management risks on a corporate level.  

Risk Appetite Policy

Our risk appetite policy describes the types of risks we are willing to take, as well as the amount of enterprise risk exposure we 
deem acceptable in pursuit of our goals, with an objective of clearly defining boundaries for our risk-taking activities. 

The starting point of our philosophy and approach to our ERM strategy is our corporate strategy.  In contrast to many multi-line 
peer companies, we do not offer retirement savings, traditional medical benefits, or property and casualty insurance.  Our 
corporate strategy is focused on providing group, individual, and voluntary benefits, either as stand-alone products or combined 
with other coverages, that create comprehensive benefits solutions for employers.  We have market leadership positions in the 
product lines we offer and believe this combination of focused expertise and experience is a competitive advantage and forms the 
foundation of our approach to risk management.

We believe our sound and consistent business practices, strong internal compliance program, and comprehensive risk 
management strategy enable us to operate efficiently and to identify and address potential areas of risk in our business.  We take 
and manage risks to achieve our business and strategic objectives, and our risk appetite statement sets boundaries for risk-taking 
activities that link earnings, capital, and operational processes, as well as summarizes our most material risk limits and controls.  

93

We monitor our risk profile against our established risk tolerance and limits.  Risks falling outside our risk tolerance and limits 
are reported to the applicable governance group, where decisions are made pertaining to acceptance of the risk or implementation 
of remediation plans or corrective actions as deemed appropriate by that governance group.

Risk Identification and Prioritization

Risk identification and prioritization is an ongoing process, whereby we identify and assess our risk positions and exposures, 
including notable risk events.  Additionally, we identify emerging risks and analyze how material future risks might affect us.  
Knowing the potential risks we face, allows us to monitor and manage their potential effects including adjusting our strategies as 
appropriate and holding capital levels which provide financial flexibility.  Risk and other management committees have primary 
responsibility for identifying and prioritizing risks within their respective areas.

We face a wide range of risks, and our continued success depends on our ability to identify and appropriately manage our risk 
exposures.  For additional information on certain risks that may adversely affect our business, operating results, or financial 
condition see "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" contained herein on page 1 and "Risk Factors" 
contained herein in Item 1A.

Risk Modeling and Controls

We assess material risks, including how they affect us and how individual risks interrelate, to provide valuable information to 
management in order that they may effectively manage our risks.  We use qualitative and quantitative approaches to assess 
existing and emerging risks and to develop mitigating strategies to limit our exposure to both.

We utilize stress testing and scenario analysis for risk management and to shape our business, financial, and strategic planning 
activities.  Both are key components of our risk appetite policy and play an important role in monitoring, assessing, managing, 
and mitigating our primary risk exposures. 

In particular, stress testing of our capital and liquidity management strategies enables us to identify areas of high exposure, 
assess mitigating actions, develop contingency plans, and guide decisions around our target capital and liquidity levels.  For 
example, we periodically perform stress tests on certain categories of assets or liabilities to support development of capital and 
liquidity risk contingency plans.  These tests help ensure that we have a buffer to support our operations in uncertain times and 
financial flexibility to respond to market opportunities.  Stress testing is also central to reserve adequacy testing, cash flow 
testing, and asset and liability management. 

In addition, we aim to constantly improve our capital modeling techniques and methodologies that are used to determine a level 
of capital that is commensurate with our risk profile and to ensure compliance with evolving regulatory and rating agency 
requirements.  Our capital modeling reflects appropriate aggregation of risks and diversification benefits resulting from our mix 
of products and business units.

Our internal capital modeling and allocation aids us in making significant business decisions including strategic planning, capital 
management, risk limit determination, reinsurance purchases, hedging activities, asset allocation, pricing, and corporate 
development.

Risk Management Activities

We accept and manage market, credit, insurance, operational and strategic risks in accordance with our corporate strategy, 
investment policy, and annual business plans.  The following fundamental principles are embedded in our risk management 
efforts across our Company. 

• We believe in the benefits of specialization and a focused business strategy.  We seek profitable risk-taking in areas 

where we have established risk management skills and capabilities.

• We seek to manage our exposure to insurance risk through a combination of prudent underwriting with effective risk 

selection, maintaining pricing discipline, sound reserving practices, claims operational effectiveness, and selective use 
of reinsurance.  Detailed underwriting guidelines and claim policies are tools used to manage our insurance risk 
exposure.  We also monitor exposures against internally prescribed limits, and we diversify to reduce potential 
concentration risk and volatility.

• We maintain a detailed set of investment policies and guidelines, including fundamental credit analysis, that are used to 

manage our credit risk exposure and diversify our risks across asset classes and issuers.

94

• We value the importance of managing cyber-related risks, and have policies and procedures in place to help protect 

•

against insider trading and allow for timely disclosure of material cybersecurity events.  
Finally, we foster a risk-aware culture that embeds our corporate values and our code of conduct in our daily operations 
and preserves our reputation with customers and other key stakeholders.  We monitor a composite set of operational risk 
metrics that measure operating effectiveness from the customer perspective.

Risk Reporting

Regular internal and external risk reporting is an integral part of our ERM framework.  Internally, ERM reports are a standard 
part of our quarterly senior management and board meetings.  The reports summarize our existing and emerging risk exposures, 
as well as report against the tolerances and limits defined by our risk appetite policy.  

Externally, we are subject to a number of regulatory and rating agency risk examinations, and risk reports are often included.  
Annually, we file our Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA) summary report with the applicable insurance regulators for 
our U.S. insurance subsidiaries.  This report provides strong evidence of the strengths of our ERM framework, measurement 
approaches, key assumptions utilized in assessing our risks, and prospective solvency assessments under both normal and 
stressed conditions.  See "Regulation" contained herein in Item 1 for additional information regarding the ORSA.

95

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm  

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Unum Group

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Unum Group and subsidiaries (the Company) as of 
December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity and 
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes and financial statement 
schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(a)(2) (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements").  In our 
opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at 
December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the consolidated results of operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the 
period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.  

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 
(PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in 
Internal Control -Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission 
(2013 framework) and our report dated February 18, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on 
the Company's financial statements based on our audits.  We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are 
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable 
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB.  Those standards require that we plan and perform 
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due 
to error or fraud.  Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial 
statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks.  Such procedures included 
examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  Our audits also 
included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the 
overall presentation of the financial statements.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that 
was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are 
material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The 
communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken 
as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit 
matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

96

Description of the 
Matter

Reserves for Long Term Care Policy and Contract Benefits

The Company’s reserves for individual and group long-term care policy and contract benefits are 
$12.1 billion of the $47.8 billion of Reserves for Future Policy and Contract Benefits on the 
consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019.  The two primary categories of long-term care 
reserves are policy reserves for claims not yet incurred and claim reserves for claims that have been 
incurred or are estimated to have been incurred but not yet reported. Notes 1 and 6 to the 
consolidated financial statements describe the accounting for these reserves. 

Policy reserves are established based on a gross premium valuation method to estimate the 
difference between projected future policy benefits and future premiums utilizing assumptions 
established as of the most recent loss recognition.  Claim reserves are established based on a tabular 
reserve methodology representing assumptions reflecting the best estimate of the present value of 
the liability for future claim payments and claim adjustment expenses.  Management is required to 
evaluate its long-term care reserves each period to determine if a reserve deficiency exists.  There is 
significant uncertainty in estimating long-term care reserves given the extended period over which 
claims are paid and sensitivity of the estimate to assumptions, including morbidity, mortality, claims 
incidence and resolutions, persistency, interest rates, and future premium rate increases.

Auditing the long-term care policy and contract benefits reserves was complex due to the highly 
judgmental nature of the significant assumptions including morbidity, mortality, claims incidence 
and resolutions, persistency, interest rates and future premium rate increases used in the 
measurement process.  The significant judgment and the sensitivity of the estimate to these 
assumptions can have a material effect on the valuation of the liability.

How We Addressed the 
Matter in Our Audit

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of the 
Company’s internal controls over the long-term care reserves process, including controls over the 
review and approval of assumptions which incorporate the Company’s most recent experience. 

To test long-term care policy and contract benefits liability we performed audit procedures, with the 
assistance of our actuarial specialists, that included, among others, an evaluation of the 
methodologies applied by management’s actuarial specialists with those methods used in prior 
periods.  We evaluated the significant assumptions used by management in determining the policy 
and claims reserves by comparing the significant assumptions, including expected morbidity, 
mortality, claims incidence and resolutions, persistency, interest rates, and future premium rate 
increases to historical assumptions, prior actual experience, policyholder experience studies 
performed by management, available industry information, observable market data, or 
management’s estimates of prospective changes in these assumptions.  In addition, we performed a 
review of the historical results of the development of the estimate, assessed management’s annual 
reserve adequacy test, and performed an independent recalculation of policy and contract benefit 
reserves for a sample of contracts which we compared to the actuarial model used by management.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1999. 

Chattanooga, Tennessee
February 18, 2020 

97

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Assets

Investments

Fixed Maturity Securities - at fair value (amortized cost: $41,079.3; $40,275.2)
Mortgage Loans
Policy Loans
Other Long-term Investments
Short-term Investments

$

Total Investments

Other Assets

Cash and Bank Deposits
Accounts and Premiums Receivable
Reinsurance Recoverable
Accrued Investment Income
Deferred Acquisition Costs
Goodwill
Property and Equipment
Deferred Income Tax
Other Assets

December 31

2019
2018
(in millions of dollars)

$

47,443.7
2,397.0
3,779.5
844.2
1,294.5
55,758.9

84.1
1,602.9
4,780.7
693.0
2,324.0
351.7
534.1
—
884.0

43,011.7
2,295.0
3,729.9
702.9
968.1
50,707.6

94.0
1,615.5
4,662.4
690.6
2,309.4
350.3
546.9
109.9
789.0

Total Assets

$

67,013.4

$

61,875.6

 See notes to consolidated financial statements.

98

 
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - Continued 

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Liabilities

Policy and Contract Benefits
Reserves for Future Policy and Contract Benefits
Unearned Premiums
Other Policyholders’ Funds
Income Tax Payable
Deferred Income Tax
Short-term Debt
Long-term Debt
Other Liabilities

December 31

2019
2018
(in millions of dollars)

$

$

1,745.5
47,780.1
363.9
1,599.7
256.7
95.4
399.7
2,926.9
1,880.5

1,695.7
44,841.9
363.3
1,594.8
24.0
—
—
2,971.3
1,762.8

Total Liabilities

57,048.4

53,253.8

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities - Note 14

Stockholders' Equity

Common Stock, $0.10 par

Authorized: 725,000,000 shares
Issued: 305,813,326 and 305,104,548 shares

Additional Paid-in Capital
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Retained Earnings
Treasury Stock - at cost: 102,876,514 and 90,551,513 shares

Total Stockholders' Equity

30.6
2,348.1
37.3
10,728.7
(3,179.7)

30.5
2,321.7
(814.2)
9,863.1
(2,779.3)

9,965.0

8,621.8

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

$

67,013.4

$

61,875.6

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

99

 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Revenue

Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Realized Investment Gain (Loss)

Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Loss on Fixed Maturity 
Securities

Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss), Excluding Other-Than-
Temporary Impairment Loss on Fixed Maturity Securities

Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss)

Other Income

Total Revenue

Benefits and Expenses

Benefits and Change in Reserves for Future Benefits
Commissions
Interest and Debt Expense
Cost Related to Early Retirement of Debt
Deferral of Acquisition Costs
Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs
Compensation Expense
Other Expenses

Total Benefits and Expenses

Income Before Income Tax 

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Current
Deferred

Total Income Tax Expense

Net Income

Net Income Per Common Share

Basic
Assuming Dilution

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

100

Year Ended December 31
2019
2017
2018
(in millions of dollars, except share data)

$

$

9,365.6
2,435.3

$

8,986.1
2,453.7

8,597.1
2,451.7

(25.3)

(17.5)

(8.1)

2.1
(23.2)
221.2
11,998.9

7,496.2
1,122.7
177.4
27.3
(658.6)
609.9
898.3
943.6
10,616.8

(22.0)
(39.5)
198.2
11,598.5

8,020.4
1,108.4
167.3
—
(668.0)
565.5
885.9
891.2
10,970.7

48.4
40.3
197.7
11,286.8

7,055.7
1,060.8
159.9
—
(628.0)
527.1
852.3
855.0
9,882.8

1,382.1

627.8

1,404.0

274.8
7.0
281.8

227.4
(123.0)
104.4

401.3
8.5
409.8

1,100.3

$

523.4

$

994.2

5.25
5.24

$
$

2.38
2.38

$
$

4.39
4.37

$

$
$

 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) 

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

2019

Net Income

$

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Change in Net Unrealized Gain on Securities Before Adjustment 
(net of tax expense (benefit) of $757.0; $(614.2); $328.1)
Change in Adjustment to Deferred Acquisition Costs and Reserves 
for Future Policy and Contract Benefits, Net of Reinsurance (net 
of tax expense (benefit) of $(511.7); $371.7; $(245.0))

Change in Net Gain on Hedges (net of tax benefit of $17.0; $8.2; 
$24.4)

Change in Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment (net of tax 
expense (benefit) of $0.2; $(0.6); $—)

Change in Unrecognized Pension and Postretirement Benefit 
Costs (net of tax expense (benefit) of $(9.3); $17.0; $(8.3))

Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)
$

523.4

$

1,100.3

2017

994.2

2,870.9

(2,314.5)

721.7

(1,942.6)

1,411.8

(554.5)

(62.8)

23.6

(37.6)
851.5

(31.7)

(50.7)

60.9
(924.2)

(45.2)

99.5

(43.0)
178.5

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

$

1,951.8

$

(400.8) $

1,172.7

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

101

 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Common Stock
Balance at Beginning of Year
Common Stock Activity

Balance at End of Year

Additional Paid-in Capital
Balance at Beginning of Year
Common Stock Activity

Balance at End of Year

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance at Beginning of Year

Adjustment to Adopt Accounting Standard Update - Note 1

Balance at Beginning of Year, as Adjusted
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Balance at End of Year

Retained Earnings
Balance at Beginning of Year

Adjustment to Adopt Accounting Standard Update - Note 1

Balance at Beginning of Year, as Adjusted

Net Income
Dividends to Stockholders (per common share: $1.09; $0.98; $0.86)

Balance at End of Year

Treasury Stock
Balance at Beginning of Year

Purchases of Treasury Stock

Balance at End of Year

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)

2017

$

$

30.5
0.1
30.6

$

30.5
—
30.5

30.4
0.1
30.5

2,321.7
26.4
2,348.1

2,303.3
18.4
2,321.7

2,272.8
30.5
2,303.3

(814.2)
—
(814.2)
851.5
37.3

9,863.1
(3.4)
9,859.7
1,100.3
(231.3)
10,728.7

127.5
(17.5)
110.0
(924.2)
(814.2)

9,542.2
14.5
9,556.7
523.4
(217.0)
9,863.1

(51.0)
—
(51.0)
178.5
127.5

8,744.0
—
8,744.0
994.2
(196.0)
9,542.2

(2,779.3)
(400.4)
(3,179.7)

(2,428.6)
(350.7)
(2,779.3)

(2,028.2)
(400.4)
(2,428.6)

Total Stockholders' Equity at End of Year

$

9,965.0

$

8,621.8

$

9,574.9

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

102

 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 

Unum Group and Subsidiaries 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net Income
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by 
Operating Activities

Change in Receivables
Change in Deferred Acquisition Costs
Change in Insurance Reserves and Liabilities
Change in Income Taxes
Change in Other Accrued Liabilities
Non-cash Components of Net Investment Income
Net Realized Investment (Gain) Loss
Depreciation
Other, Net

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Proceeds from Sales of Fixed Maturity Securities
Proceeds from Maturities of Fixed Maturity Securities
Proceeds from Sales and Maturities of Other Investments
Purchase of Fixed Maturity Securities
Purchase of Other Investments
Net Sales (Purchases) of Short-term Investments
Net Decrease in Payables for Collateral on Investments
Acquisition of Business (Net of Cash Acquired)
Net Purchases of Property and Equipment
Other, Net

Net Cash Used by Investing Activities

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Short-term Debt Repayment
Issuance of Long-term Debt
Long-term Debt Repayment
Cost Related to Early Retirement of Debt
Issuance of Common Stock
Repurchase of Common Stock
Dividends Paid to Stockholders
Other, Net

Net Cash Used by Financing Activities

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Bank Deposits

Cash and Bank Deposits at Beginning of Year

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)

2017

$

1,100.3

$

523.4

$

994.2

37.5
(48.7)
376.1
248.2
51.3
(237.9)
23.2
110.1
81.5
1,741.6

955.2
2,401.0
363.5
(4,022.4)
(568.5)
(267.6)
(104.1)
—
(150.9)
0.3
(1,393.5)

—
841.9
(493.1)
(25.9)
6.1
(400.3)
(229.2)
(57.5)
(358.0)

(9.9)

94.0

(4.7)
(102.5)
1,193.1
(39.1)
(10.1)
(211.1)
39.5
101.4
46.6
1,536.5

642.5
2,815.4
454.0
(3,861.7)
(623.2)
200.5
(268.1)
(145.4)
(144.1)
—
(930.1)

(200.0)
290.7
(60.0)
—
4.6
(356.2)
(215.6)
(53.3)
(589.8)

16.6

77.4

(101.8)
(100.9)
441.9
25.6
14.6
(200.1)
(40.3)
103.4
27.5
1,164.1

436.3
2,560.8
257.9
(2,808.5)
(474.3)
(356.4)
(9.8)
—
(105.3)
—
(499.3)

—
—
(63.5)
—
10.8
(401.8)
(196.0)
(37.3)
(687.8)

(23.0)

100.4

Cash and Bank Deposits at End of Year

$

84.1

$

94.0

$

77.4

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

103

 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Unum Group and its subsidiaries (the Company) 
have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).  Such accounting principles 
differ from statutory accounting principles (see Note 16).  Intercompany transactions have been eliminated. 

Description of Business:  We are a leading provider of financial protection benefits in the United States, the United Kingdom, 
and Poland.  Our products include disability, life, accident, critical illness, dental and vision, and other related services.  We 
market our products primarily through the workplace. 

We have three principal operating business segments: Unum US, Unum International, and Colonial Life.  Our other reporting 
segments are Closed Block and Corporate.  See Note 13 for further discussion of our operating segments.    

Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and 
assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.  Such estimates and assumptions 
could change in the future as more information becomes known, which could impact the amounts reported and disclosed herein.

Fixed Maturity Securities: Fixed maturity securities include long-term bonds and redeemable preferred stocks.  Our fixed 
maturity securities are classified as available-for-sale and reported at fair value.  Changes in the fair value of available-for-sale 
fixed maturity securities, except for amounts related to other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings, are 
reported as a component of other comprehensive income.  These amounts are net of income tax and valuation adjustments to 
deferred acquisition costs and reserves for future policy and contract benefits which would have been recorded had the related 
unrealized gain or loss on these securities been realized.

Interest income is recorded as part of net investment income when earned, using an effective yield method giving effect to 
amortization of premium and accretion of discount.  Included within fixed maturity securities are mortgage-backed and asset-
backed securities.  We recognize investment income on these securities using a constant effective yield based on projected 
prepayments of the underlying loans and the estimated economic life of the securities.  Actual prepayment experience is 
reviewed periodically, and effective yields are recalculated when differences arise between prepayments originally projected and 
the actual prepayments received and currently projected.  The effective yield is recalculated on a retrospective basis, and the 
adjustment is reflected in net investment income.  For fixed maturity securities on which collection of investment income is 
uncertain, we discontinue the accrual of investment income and recognize investment income when interest and dividends are 
received.  Payment terms specified for fixed maturity securities may include a prepayment penalty for unscheduled payoff of the 
investment.  Prepayment penalties are recognized as investment income when received.

In determining when a decline in fair value below amortized cost of a fixed maturity security is other than temporary, we 
evaluate available information, both positive and negative, in reaching our conclusions.  In particular, we consider the strength of 
the issuer's balance sheet, its debt obligations and near-term funding requirements, cash flow and liquidity, the profitability of its 
core businesses, the availability of marketable assets which could be sold to increase liquidity, its industry fundamentals and 
regulatory environment, and its access to capital markets.  Although all available and applicable factors are considered in our 
analysis, our expectation of recovering the entire amortized cost basis of the security, whether we intend to sell the security, 
whether it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost, and whether 
the security is current on principal and interest payments are the most critical factors in determining whether impairments are 
other than temporary.  The significance of the decline in value and the length of time during which there has been a significant 
decline are also important factors, but we generally do not record an impairment loss based solely on these two factors, since 
often other more relevant factors will impact our evaluation of a security.  

If we determine that the decline in value of an investment is other than temporary, the investment is written down to fair value, 
and an impairment loss is recognized in the current period, either in earnings or in both earnings and other comprehensive 
income, as applicable.  Other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturity securities which we intend to sell or more 
likely than not will be required to sell before recovery in value are recognized in earnings and equal the entire difference between 
the security's amortized cost basis and its fair value.  For securities which we do not intend to sell and it is not more likely than 
not that we will be required to sell before recovery in value, other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings 
generally represent the difference between the amortized cost of the security and the present value of our best estimate of cash 
flows expected to be collected, discounted using the effective interest rate implicit in the security at the date of acquisition.  For 
fixed maturity securities for which we have recognized an other-than-temporary impairment loss through earnings, if through 

104

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

subsequent evaluation there is a significant increase in expected cash flows, the difference between the new amortized cost basis 
and the cash flows expected to be collected is accreted as net investment income over the remaining life of the investment.  See 
Notes 2 and 3.  

Mortgage Loans:  Mortgage loans are generally held for investment and are carried at amortized cost less an allowance for 
probable losses.  Interest income is accrued on the principal amount of the loan based on the loan's contractual interest rate.  
Prepayment penalties are recognized as investment income when received.  For mortgage loans on which collection of interest 
income is uncertain, we discontinue the accrual of interest and recognize it in the period when an interest payment is received.  
We typically do not resume the accrual of interest on mortgage loans on nonaccrual status until there are significant 
improvements in the underlying financial condition of the borrower.  We consider a loan to be delinquent if full payment is not 
received in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan.  

We evaluate each of our mortgage loans individually for impairment and assign an internal credit quality rating based on a 
comprehensive rating system used to evaluate the credit risk of the loan.  Although all available and applicable factors are 
considered in our analysis, loan-to-value and debt service coverage ratios are the most critical factors in determining impairment.  
If we determine that it is probable we will be unable to collect all amounts due under the contractual terms of a mortgage 
loan, we establish an allowance for credit loss.  If we expect to foreclose on the property, the amount of the allowance typically 
equals the excess carrying value of the mortgage loan over the fair value of the underlying collateral.  If we expect to retain the 
mortgage loan until payoff, the allowance equals the excess carrying value of the mortgage loan over the expected future cash 
flows of the loan.  Additions and reductions to our allowance for credit losses on mortgage loans are reported as a component of 
net realized investment gains and losses.  We do not purchase mortgage loans with existing credit impairments.  See Note 3.

Policy Loans: Policy loans are presented at unpaid balances directly related to policyholders.  Interest income is accrued on the 
principal amount of the loan based on the loan's contractual interest rate.  Included in policy loans are $3,490.6 million and 
$3,449.3 million of policy loans ceded to reinsurers at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. 

Other Long-term Investments: Other long-term investments are comprised primarily of tax credit partnerships, private equity 
partnerships, and real estate.

Tax credit partnerships in which we have invested were formed for the purpose of investing in the construction and rehabilitation 
of low-income housing.  Because the partnerships are structured such that there is no return of principal, the primary sources of 
investment return from our tax credit partnerships are tax credits and tax benefits derived from passive losses on the investments, 
both of which may exhibit variability over the life of the investment.  These partnerships are accounted for using either the 
proportional or the effective yield method, depending primarily on whether the tax credits are guaranteed through a letter of 
credit, a tax indemnity agreement, or another similar arrangement.  Tax credits received from these partnerships are reported in 
our consolidated statements of income as either a reduction of premium tax or a reduction of income tax.  The amortization of 
the principal amount invested in these partnerships is reported as a component of either premium tax or income tax.  

Our investments in private equity partnerships are passive in nature and represent funds that are primarily invested in private 
credit, private equity, and real assets.  We account for our investments in these partnerships using either the equity method or at 
fair value through net income depending on the level of ownership and the degree of our influence over partnership operating 
and financial policies.  For investments in partnerships accounted for under the equity method, we report our investments at our 
share of the partnership's net asset value (NAV) and record our portion of partnership earnings as a component of net investment 
income.  For investments in partnerships accounted for at fair value through net income, we also report our investments at our 
share of the partnership's NAV as a practical expedient for fair value with increases or decreases recorded as a component of net 
investment income.  Distributions received from the funds arise from income generated by the underlying investments as well as 
the liquidation of the underlying investments and there is generally not a public market for these investments. 

Real estate is primarily comprised of property held for the production of income and property held for sale.  Property held for the 
production of income is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and any write-downs to fair value for impairment losses.  
Depreciation is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset.  A review for impairment is made 
whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.  An impairment loss is recognized 
when the carrying value of the property exceeds the expected undiscounted cash flows generated from the property, at which 
point the carrying value is written down to an estimated fair value.  Real estate held for sale is carried at the lower of depreciated 

105

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

cost or fair value less estimated selling costs and is not further depreciated once classified as such.  Our real estate balance was 
$90.5 million and $43.4 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and the associated accumulated depreciation was 
$49.8 million and $10.3 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. 

See Notes 2 and 3 for further discussion of our other long-term investments.

Short-term Investments: Short-term investments are carried at cost.  Short-term investments include investments maturing 
within one year of purchase, such as corporate commercial paper and U.S. Treasury bills, bank term deposits, and other cash 
accounts and cash equivalents earning interest. 

Cash and Bank Deposits: Cash and bank deposits include cash on hand and non-interest bearing cash and deposit accounts.  

Derivative Financial Instruments: Derivative financial instruments (including certain derivative instruments embedded in other 
contracts) are recognized as either other long-term investments or other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets and are 
reported at fair value.  The accounting for a derivative depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a 
hedging relationship, and further, on the type of hedging relationship.  To qualify for hedge accounting, at the inception of the 
hedging transaction, we formally document the risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedging transaction, 
as well as the designation of the hedge as either a fair value hedge or a cash flow hedge.  Included in this documentation is how 
the hedging instrument is expected to hedge the designated risk(s) related to specific assets or liabilities on the balance sheet or 
to specific forecasted transactions as well as a description of the method that will be used to retrospectively and prospectively 
assess the hedging instrument's effectiveness.  

A derivative designated as a hedging instrument must be assessed as being highly effective in offsetting the designated risk(s) of 
the hedged item.  Hedge effectiveness is formally assessed at inception and periodically throughout the life of the designated 
hedging relationship, using qualitative and quantitative methods.  Qualitative methods include comparison of critical terms of the 
derivative to the hedged item.  Quantitative methods include regression or other statistical analysis of changes in fair value or 
cash flows associated with the hedge relationship.

Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a fair value hedge and changes in the fair value of the hedged item 
attributable to the risk being hedged are recognized in earnings as a component of net realized investment gain or loss during the 
period of change in fair value.  For gains or losses on the derivative instrument that are excluded from the assessment of hedge 
effectiveness, those gains and losses are recognized in other comprehensive income or loss and amortized into earnings in the 
same income statement line as the related hedged item.  The gain or loss on the termination of a fair value hedge is recognized in 
earnings as a component of net realized investment gain or loss during the period in which the termination occurs.  When interest 
rate swaps are used in hedge accounting relationships, periodic settlements are recorded in the same income statement line as the 
related settlements of the hedged items.

Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge are reported in other comprehensive income and 
reclassified into earnings and reported on the same income statement line item as the hedged item and in the same period or 
periods during which the hedged item affects earnings.  The gain or loss on the termination of an effective cash flow hedge is 
reported in other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings and reported on the same income statement line item as 
the hedged item and in the same period or periods during which the hedged item affects earnings.

Gains or losses on the termination of ineffective fair value or cash flow hedges are reported in earnings as a component of net 
realized investment gain or loss.  In the event a hedged item is disposed of or the anticipated transaction being hedged is no 
longer likely to occur, we will terminate the related derivative and recognize the gain or loss on termination in current earnings 
as a component of net realized investment gain or loss.  In the event a hedged item is disposed of subsequent to the termination 
of the hedging transaction, we reclassify any remaining gain or loss on the hedge out of accumulated other comprehensive 
income into earnings as a component of the same income statement line item wherein we report the gain or loss on disposition of 
the hedged item.   

For a derivative not designated as a hedging instrument, changes in the fair value of the derivative, together with the payment of 
periodic fees, if applicable, are recognized in earnings as a component of net realized investment gain or loss during the period of 
change in fair value.  

106

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

Cash flow activity from the settlement of derivative contracts is reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows as a 
component of proceeds from sales and maturities of other investments.

In our consolidated balance sheets, we do not offset fair value amounts recognized for derivatives executed with the same 
counterparty under a master netting agreement and fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral or the 
obligation to return cash collateral arising from those master netting agreements.  See Notes 2, 3, and 4. 

Fair Value Measurement: Certain assets and liabilities are reported at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets and in our 
notes to our consolidated financial statements.  We define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to 
transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  Therefore, fair value 
represents an exit price, not an entry price.  The exit price objective applies regardless of our intent and/or ability to sell the asset 
or transfer the liability at the measurement date.  Assets or liabilities with readily available actively quoted prices or for which 
fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices in active markets generally have more pricing observability and less 
judgment utilized in measuring fair value.  When actively quoted prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted prices 
in markets that are not active, quoted prices for similar but not identical assets or liabilities, or other observable inputs.  If 
observable inputs are not available, unobservable inputs and/or adjustments to observable inputs requiring management 
judgment are used to determine fair value.  We categorize our assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value into a three-
level hierarchy, based on the significance of the inputs.  The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to inputs which are 
unadjusted and represent quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to 
unobservable inputs (Level 3).  See Note 2.  

Realized Investment Gains and Losses: Realized investment gains and losses are reported as a component of revenue in the 
consolidated statements of income and are based upon specific identification of the investments sold.  See Note 3.

Deferred Acquisition Costs: Incremental direct costs associated with the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance 
contracts have been deferred.  Such costs include commissions, other agency compensation, certain selection and policy issue 
expenses, and certain field expenses.  Acquisition costs that do not vary with the production of new business, such as 
commissions on group products which are generally level throughout the life of the policy, are excluded from deferral.  Deferred 
acquisition costs are subject to recoverability testing at the time of policy issue and loss recognition testing in subsequent years.

Deferred acquisition costs related to non-interest sensitive policies are amortized in proportion to the premium income we expect 
to receive over the lives of the policies.  Deferred acquisition costs related to interest sensitive policies are amortized over the 
lives of the policies in relation to the present value of estimated gross profits from surrender charges, mortality margins, 
investment returns, and expense margins.  Deviations from projections result in a change to the rate of amortization in the period 
during which such events occur.  Generally, the amortization periods for these policies approximate the estimated lives of the 
policies.

For certain products, policyholders can elect to modify product benefits, features, rights, or coverages by exchanging a contract 
for a new contract or by amendment, endorsement, or rider to a contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a 
contract.  These transactions are known as internal replacement transactions.  Internal replacement transactions wherein the 
modification does not substantially change the policy are accounted for as continuations of the replaced contracts.  Unamortized 
deferred acquisition costs from the original policy continue to be amortized over the expected life of the new policy, and the 
costs of replacing the policy are accounted for as policy maintenance costs and expensed as incurred.  Internal replacement 
transactions, principally on group contracts, that result in a policy that is substantially changed are accounted for as an 
extinguishment of the original policy and the issuance of a new policy.  Unamortized deferred acquisition costs on the original 
policy that was replaced are immediately expensed, and the costs of acquiring the new policy are capitalized and amortized in 
accordance with our accounting policies for deferred acquisition costs. 

Loss recognition is performed on an annual basis, or more frequently if appropriate, using best estimate assumptions as to future 
experience as of the date of the test.  Insurance contracts are grouped for each major product line within a segment when we 
perform the loss recognition tests.  If loss recognition testing indicates that deferred acquisition costs are not recoverable, the 
deficiency is charged to expense.    

107

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

Goodwill: Goodwill is the excess of the amount paid to acquire a business over the fair value of the net assets acquired.  We 
review the carrying amount of goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount might not be recoverable.  Goodwill impairment testing compares the fair value 
of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill.  The fair values of the reporting units are determined using 
discounted cash flow models.  The critical estimates necessary in determining fair value are projected earnings and the discount 
rate.  We set our discount rate assumption based on an expected risk adjusted cost of capital.  If the fair value of the reporting 
unit to which the goodwill relates is less than the carrying amount of the unamortized goodwill, the impairment charge is 
determined by calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and 
liabilities.  The carrying amount of goodwill is then reduced with a corresponding charge to expense. 

Property and Equipment: Property and equipment is reported at cost less accumulated depreciation, which is calculated on the 
straight-line method over the estimated useful life.  The accumulated depreciation for property and equipment was $1,195.3 
million and $1,151.8 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. 

Value of Business Acquired: Value of business acquired represents the present value of future profits recorded in connection 
with the acquisition of a block of insurance policies.  The asset is amortized based upon expected future premium income for 
non-interest sensitive insurance policies and estimated future gross profits from surrender charges, mortality margins, investment 
returns, and expense margins for interest sensitive insurance policies.  The value of business acquired, which is included in other 
assets in our consolidated balance sheets, was $88.7 million and $96.7 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  
The accumulated amortization for value of business acquired was $144.1 million and $133.0 million as of December 31, 2019 
and 2018, respectively.  

The amortization of value of business acquired, which is included in other expenses in the consolidated statements of income, 
was $7.1 million, $6.4 million, and $4.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.  We 
periodically review the carrying amount of value of business acquired using the same methods used to evaluate deferred 
acquisition costs.

Policy and Contract Benefits: Policy and contract benefits represent amounts paid and expected to be paid based on reported 
losses and estimates of incurred but not reported losses for non-interest sensitive life and accident and health products.  For 
interest sensitive products, benefits are the amounts paid and expected to be paid on insured claims in excess of the 
policyholders' policy fund balances.

Reserves for Policy and Contract Benefits: Policy reserves represent future policy and contract benefits for claims not yet 
incurred.  Policy reserves for non-interest sensitive life and accident and health products are determined using the net level 
premium method.  The reserves are calculated based upon assumptions as to interest, persistency, morbidity, and mortality that 
were appropriate at the date of issue.  Discount rate assumptions are based on actual and expected net investment returns.  
Persistency assumptions are based on our actual historical experience adjusted for future expectations.  Claim incidence and 
claim resolution rate assumptions related to morbidity and mortality are based on actual experience or industry standards 
adjusted as appropriate to reflect our actual experience and future expectations.  The assumptions vary by plan, year of issue, and 
policy duration and include a provision for adverse deviation. 

Policy reserves for group single premium annuities are developed on a net single premium method.  The reserves are calculated 
based on assumptions as to interest, mortality, and retirement that were appropriate at the date of issue.  Mortality assumptions 
are based upon industry standards adjusted as appropriate to reflect our actual experience and future expectations.  The 
assumptions vary by year of issue.

Policy reserves for interest sensitive products are principally policyholder account values.

Policy reserves require ongoing loss recognition testing.  We perform loss recognition tests on our policy reserves annually, or 
more frequently if appropriate, using best estimate assumptions as of the date of the test, without a provision for adverse 
deviation.  We group the policy reserves for each major product line within a segment when we perform the loss recognition 
tests.  If the policy reserves determined using these best estimate assumptions are higher than our existing policy reserves net of 
any deferred acquisition cost balance, the existing policy reserves are increased or deferred acquisition costs are reduced to 

108

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

immediately recognize the deficiency.  This becomes the new basis for policy reserves going forward, subject to future loss 
recognition testing.

Claim reserves represent future policy and contract benefits for claims that have been incurred or are estimated to have been 
incurred but not yet reported to us.  Our claim reserves relate primarily to disability and long-term care policies and are 
calculated based on assumptions as to interest and claim resolution rates that are currently appropriate.  Claim resolution rate 
assumptions are based on our actual experience.  The interest rate assumptions used for discounting claim reserves are based on 
projected portfolio yield rates, after consideration for defaults and investment expenses, for the assets supporting the liabilities 
for the various product lines.  Unlike policy reserves for which assumptions are generally established and locked in at the time of 
policy issuance, claim reserves are subject to revision as current claim experience and projections of future factors affecting 
claim experience change.  Claim reserves do not include a provision for adverse deviation.  See Note 6.

Policyholders Funds: Policyholders' funds represent customer deposits plus interest credited at contract rates.  We control 
interest rate risk by investing in quality assets which have an aggregate duration that closely matches the expected duration of the 
liabilities.

Income Tax: Deferred taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and 
liabilities for financial statement purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.  Deferred taxes have been measured 
using enacted statutory income tax rates and laws that are currently in effect.  We record adjustments to our deferred taxes 
resulting from tax rate changes through income as of the date of enactment.  We record deferred tax assets for tax positions taken 
in the U.S. and other tax jurisdictions based on our assessment of whether a position is more likely than not to be sustained upon 
examination based solely on its technical merits.  A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets when it is more 
likely than not that an amount will not be realized.  We follow an aggregate portfolio approach to release disproportionate tax 
effects from accumulated other comprehensive income upon disposal of an entire business segment's portfolio.  See Note 7.  

Short-term and Long-term Debt: Debt is generally carried at the unpaid principal balance, net of unamortized discount or 
premium and deferred debt issuance costs.  Short-term debt consists of debt due within the next twelve months, including that 
portion of debt otherwise classified as long-term.  The amortization of the original issue discount or premium as well as deferred 
debt issuance costs are recognized as a component of interest expense over the period the debt is expected to be outstanding.  
The carrying amount of long-term debt that is part of a fair value hedge program includes an adjustment to reflect the effect of 
the change in fair value attributable to the risk being hedged.  Net interest settlements for fair value hedges on our long-term debt 
are recognized as a component of interest expense.  See Note 8.

Right-of-Use Asset (ROU) and Lease Liability:  ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for a specified lease 
term and are included in other assets in our consolidated balance sheet.  Lease liabilities represent the present value of lease 
payments that we are obligated to pay arising from a lease and are included in other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheet. 

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception through a formal process that evaluates our right to control the use of an 
identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration.  We account for the lease and non-lease components of our 
building leases separately and have elected to use the available practical expedient to account for the lease and non-lease 
components of our equipment leases as a single component.  All of our leases are classified as operating, none of which are 
classified as short-term leases.  For each operating lease, we calculate a lease liability at commencement date based on the 
present value of lease payments over the lease term and a corresponding ROU asset, adjusted for lease incentives.

We consider the likelihood of renewal in determining the lease terms for the calculation of the ROU asset and lease liability.  As 
most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate of interest, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information 
available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments.  We use the implicit rate of interest when 
readily determinable.

Operating lease cost is calculated on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is included in other expenses in our 
consolidated statements of income.  We amortize the ROU asset over the lease term on a pattern determined by the difference 
between the straight-line lease liability expense and the accretion of the imputed interest calculated on the lease liability.  See 
Note 15.

109

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

Treasury Stock and Retirement of Common Stock: Treasury stock is reflected as a reduction of stockholders' equity at cost.  
When shares are retired, the par value is removed from common stock, and the excess of the repurchase price over par is 
allocated between additional paid-in capital and retained earnings.  See Note 10.

Revenue Recognition: Our non-interest sensitive life and accident and health products are long-duration contracts, and premium 
income is recognized as revenue when due from policyholders.  If the contracts are experience rated, the estimated ultimate 
premium is recognized as revenue over the period of the contract.  The estimated ultimate premium, which is revised to reflect 
current experience, is based on estimated claim costs, expenses, and profit margins.

For interest sensitive products, the amounts collected from policyholders are considered deposits, and only the deductions during 
the period for cost of insurance, policy administration, and surrenders are included in revenue.  Policyholders' funds represent 
funds deposited by contract holders and are not included in revenue.

Fees from our leave management services and administrative-services only (ASO) business are reported as other income when 
services are rendered. 

Reinsurance: We routinely enter into reinsurance agreements with other insurance companies to spread risk and thereby limit 
losses from large exposures.  For each of our reinsurance agreements, we determine if the agreement provides indemnification 
against loss or liability relating to insurance risk in accordance with applicable accounting standards.  If we determine that a 
reinsurance agreement does not expose the reinsurer to a reasonable possibility of a significant loss from insurance risk, we 
record the agreement using the deposit method of accounting.  

Reinsurance activity is accounted for on a basis consistent with the terms of the reinsurance contracts and the accounting used 
for the original policies issued.  Premium income and benefits and change in reserves for future benefits are presented in our 
consolidated statements of income net of reinsurance ceded.  Ceded liabilities for policy and contract benefits, future policy and 
contract benefits, and unearned premiums are reported on a gross basis in our consolidated balance sheets, as are ceded policy 
loans.  Our reinsurance recoverable includes the balances due from reinsurers under the terms of the reinsurance agreements for 
these ceded balances as well as settlement amounts currently due.

Where applicable, gains or losses on reinsurance transactions are deferred and amortized into earnings based upon expected 
future premium income for non-interest sensitive insurance policies and estimated future gross profits for interest sensitive 
insurance policies.  The deferred gain on reinsurance included in other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets at 
December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $8.5 million and $12.5 million, respectively.

Under ceded reinsurance agreements wherein we are not relieved of our legal liability to our policyholders, if the assuming 
reinsurer is unable to meet its obligations, we remain contingently liable.  We evaluate the financial condition of reinsurers and 
monitor concentration of credit risk to minimize this exposure.  We may also require assets in trust, letters of credit, or other 
acceptable collateral to support our reinsurance recoverable balances.  In the event that reinsurers do not meet their obligations to 
us under the terms of the reinsurance agreements, certain amounts reported in our reinsurance recoverable could become 
uncollectible, in which case the reinsurance recoverable balances are stated net of allowances for uncollectible reinsurance.  See 
Note 12.

Premium Tax Expense: Premium tax expense is included in other expenses in the consolidated statements of income.  For the 
years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, premium tax expense was $170.1 million, $155.8 million, and $158.0 million, 
respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation: The cost of stock-based compensation is generally measured based on the grant-date fair value of 
the award.  The Black-Scholes options valuation model is used for estimating the fair value of stock options, and the Monte-
Carlo valuation model is used for estimating the fair value of performance share units.  Restricted stock units are valued based on 
the fair value of common stock at the grant date.  Stock-based awards are expensed over the requisite service period, or for 
performance share units over the requisite service period, or remaining service period, if and when it becomes probable that the 
performance conditions will be satisfied, with an offsetting increase to additional paid-in capital in stockholders' equity.  
Forfeitures of stock-based awards are recognized as they occur.  See Note 11.

110

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

Earnings Per Share: We compute basic earnings per share by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common 
shares outstanding for the period.  Earnings per share assuming dilution is computed by dividing net income by the weighted 
average number of shares outstanding for the period plus the shares representing the dilutive effect of stock-based awards.  In 
computing earnings per share assuming dilution, only potential common shares resulting from stock-based awards that are 
dilutive (those that reduce earnings per share) are included.  We use the treasury stock method to account for the effect of 
outstanding stock options and nonvested stock awards on the computation of earnings per share assuming dilution.  See Note 10.

Translation of Foreign Currency: Revenues and expenses of our foreign operations are translated at average exchange rates.  
Assets and liabilities are translated at the rate of exchange on the balance sheet dates.  The translation gain or loss is generally 
reported in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income tax.  We do not provide for deferred taxes to the extent 
unremitted foreign earnings are deemed permanently invested.

Accounting for Participating Individual Life Insurance: Participating policies issued by one of our subsidiaries prior to its 
1986 conversion from a mutual to a stock life insurance company will remain participating as long as the policies remain in-
force.  A Participation Fund Account (PFA) was established for the benefit of all such individual participating life and annuity 
policies and contracts.  The assets of the PFA provide for the benefit, dividend, and certain expense obligations of the 
participating individual life insurance policies and annuity contracts.  The assets of the PFA were $311.2 million and $301.2 
million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

111

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

Accounting Updates Adopted in 2019:

Accounting 
Standards 
Codification 
(ASC)

ASC 220 
"Income 
Statement - 
Reporting 
Comprehensive 
Income"

ASC 310 
"Receivables - 
Nonrefundable 
Fees and Other 
Costs"

ASC 718 
"Compensation - 
Stock 
Compensation"

Description

This update allowed entities to make an accounting 
policy election to reclassify the disproportionate tax 
effects arising as a result of the recognition of the 
enactment of the tax bill, H.R.1, An Act to Provide 
Reconciliation Pursuant to Titles II and V of the 
Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 
2018, more commonly known as the Tax Cuts and 
Jobs Act (TCJA) from accumulated other 
comprehensive income to retained earnings.  Tax 
effects that are disproportionate in accumulated other 
comprehensive income for reasons other than the 
TCJA may not be reclassified.  This update required 
additional disclosures on whether an entity elects to 
reclassify the disproportionate tax effects and its 
policy for releasing tax effects from accumulated other 
comprehensive income.

Date of 
Adoption

Effect on Financial 
Statements

January 1, 2019 The adoption of this update 

expanded certain of our 
disclosures but had no impact 
on our financial position or 
results of operations because 
we did not make the optional 
accounting policy election to 
reclassify the 
disproportionate tax effects 
resulting from the TCJA from 
accumulated other 
comprehensive income to 
retained earnings.  

This update shortened the amortization period to the 
earliest call date for certain callable debt securities 
held at a premium.  This update did not impact 
securities held at a discount.  

January 1, 2019 The adoption of this update 

did not have a material 
impact on our financial 
position or results of 
operations.

January 1, 2019 The adoption of this update 

did not have an impact on our 
financial position or results of 
operations. 

This update generally aligned the accounting guidance 
for share-based payments issued to non-employees 
with guidance for share-based payments issued to 
employees.  Specifically, the update required non-
employee share-based payments to be measured using 
the grant date fair value of the equity instruments that 
an entity is obligated to issue when the good has been 
delivered or the service has been rendered rather than 
being remeasured through the performance completion 
date.  Additionally, for non-employee share-based 
payments that contain performance conditions, the 
update changed the criteria regarding the recognition 
of compensation cost to when achievement of a 
performance condition is probable rather than upon 
actual achievement of the performance condition.  

112

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

ASC

ASC 842 
"Leases"

Description

This update changed the accounting for leases, 
requiring lessees to report most leases on their balance 
sheets, regardless of whether the lease is classified as a 
finance lease or an operating lease.  For lessees, the 
initial lease liability is equal to the present value of 
lease payments, and a corresponding asset, adjusted 
for certain items, is also recorded.  Expense 
recognition for lessees remained similar to previous 
accounting requirements for capital and operating 
leases.  For lessors, the guidance modified the 
classification criteria and the accounting for sales-type 
and direct financing leases.  The guidance was applied 
using a modified retrospective approach through a 
cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings at 
the beginning of the period of adoption.  In addition, 
the package of practical expedients available to leases 
that commenced prior to the date of adoption was 
applied.

Date of 
Adoption

Effect on Financial 
Statements

January 1, 2019 See the summary table below 

for the financial statement 
impacts of this modified 
retrospective adoption on our 
financial statement line items 
at January 1, 2019.  In 
addition, see Note 15 for the 
additional disclosures 
required by the update.

Summary of Financial Statement Impacts of Accounting Updates Adopted in 2019:

Adjustments due to ASC 842
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Assets

Other Assets
Deferred Income Tax

Liabilities

Other Liabilities
Income Tax Payable

Stockholders' Equity
Retained Earnings

Balance at 
December 31, 2018

Balance at 
January 1, 2019
(in millions of dollars)

Effect of Change

$

$

789.0
109.9

$

906.7
109.5

1,762.8
24.0

1,884.8
22.7

117.7
(0.4)

122.0
(1.3)

9,863.1

9,859.7

(3.4)

113

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

Accounting Updates Adopted in 2018:

ASC
ASC 230 
"Statement of 
Cash Flows"

Description
This update provided clarifying guidance intended to 
reduce the diversity in practice in how certain cash 
receipts and cash payments are presented and 
classified in the statement of cash flows.  The update 
addressed eight specific cash flow issues that relate to 
various types of transactions.  The guidance was 
applied retrospectively.

Effect on Financial 
Date of 
Adoption
Statements
January 1, 2018 The adoption of this update 

resulted in the reclassification 
of certain cash inflows 
between investing activities 
and operating activities 
within our consolidated 
statements of cash flows.  
The reclassification primarily 
related to cash distributions 
from equity method investees 
and the bifurcation of those 
distributions as either returns 
on investment or returns of 
investment which resulted in 
a reclassification of cash 
inflows from investing 
activities to operating 
activities.  The remaining 
portion of the reclassification 
related to the receipt of 
proceeds from corporate-
owned life insurance benefits 
which resulted in a 
reclassification of cash 
inflows from operating 
activities to investing 
activities.  The adoption of 
this update had no effect on 
our financial position or 
results of operations.

ASC 606 
"Revenue from 
Contracts with 
Customers"

These updates superseded virtually all existing 
guidance regarding the recognition of revenue from 
customers.  Specifically excluded from the scope of 
these updates are insurance contracts, although our 
fee-based service products are included within the 
scope.  Our fee-based service products, which are 
primarily sold in our Unum US segment, are reported 
in other income within our consolidated statements of 
income and represent less than one percent of our total 
revenue.  The core principle of this guidance is that 
revenue recognition should depict the transfer of 
goods or services to customers in an amount that 
reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to 
be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  
Accordingly, we continue to recognize revenue for 
these fee-based service products as services are 
rendered.

January 1, 2018 The adoption of these updates 
did not have an impact on our 
financial position or results of 
operations and did not result 
in expanded disclosures due 
to the immaterial nature of 
our fee-based service 
products relative to our 
overall business.   

114

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

ASC
ASC 715 
"Compensation - 
Retirement 
Benefits"

Description
This update required the service cost component of net 
periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs to be 
included as a component of compensation costs in an 
entity's statement of income.  Other components of net 
periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs are 
required to be presented separately from the service 
cost along with a disclosure identifying the line items 
in which these costs are presented in the statement of 
income.  The amendments in this update were applied 
retrospectively or prospectively depending on the 
specific requirement of the update.

Effect on Financial 
Date of 
Statements
Adoption
January 1, 2018 The adoption of this update 

resulted in the reclassification 
of service cost from the other 
expenses line item to the 
compensation expense line 
item on our consolidated 
statements of income but had 
no effect on our financial 
position or results of 
operations.  We elected to use 
the practical expedient for the 
retrospective application of 
this update. 

ASC 740 
"Income 
Taxes"               

This update eliminated the exception that required the 
tax effect of intra-entity asset transfers other than 
inventory to be deferred until the transferred asset is 
sold to a third party or otherwise recovered through 
use.  It required recognition of tax expense from the 
sale of the asset in the seller’s tax jurisdiction when 
the transfer occurs, even though the pre-tax effects of 
that transaction are eliminated in consolidation.  

January 1, 2018 The adoption of this update 

did not have an impact on our 
financial position or results of 
operations. 

ASC 815 
"Derivatives and 
Hedge 
Accounting"

This update provided targeted improvements to 
accounting for hedging activities for both nonfinancial 
and financial risk components, aligns the recognition 
and presentation of the effects of the hedging 
instrument and the hedged item in the financial 
statements, eases certain documentation and 
effectiveness assessment requirements, and enhances 
transparency through expanded disclosures.  The 
amended presentation and disclosure guidance was 
adopted prospectively.  Early adoption was permitted.

January 1, 2018 We elected to early adopt this 
update.  The adoption of this 
update did not have an impact 
on our financial position or 
results of operations; 
however, it expanded our 
disclosures.  This update also 
simplified hedge 
documentation requirements 
and expanded available 
hedging strategies.

115

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

ASC
ASC 825 
"Financial 
Instruments - 
Overall"

Description
This update changed the accounting and disclosure 
requirements for certain financial instruments.  These 
changes include a requirement to measure equity 
investments, other than those that result in 
consolidation or are accounted for under the equity 
method, at fair value through net income unless the 
investment qualifies for certain practicability 
exceptions.  In addition, the update clarified guidance 
related to the valuation allowance assessment when 
recognizing deferred tax assets resulting from 
unrealized losses on available-for-sale fixed maturity 
securities.  Changes also included the modification of 
certain disclosures around the fair value of financial 
instruments, including the requirement for separate 
presentation of financial assets and liabilities by 
measurement category, as well as the elimination of 
certain disclosures around methods and significant 
assumptions used to estimate fair value.  The guidance 
was applied using a modified retrospective approach 
through a cumulative-effect adjustment to 
accumulated other comprehensive income with a 
corresponding adjustment to retained earnings as of 
the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.

Effect on Financial 
Date of 
Statements
Adoption
January 1, 2018 The adoption of this update 

resulted in a cumulative-
effect reduction to 
accumulated other 
comprehensive income of 
$17.5 million with a 
corresponding increase to 
retained earnings of $14.5 
million, a decrease to other 
long-term investments of $3.8 
million, and a decrease to 
deferred income tax liability 
of $0.8 million.

116

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

Accounting Updates Adopted in 2017:

ASC
ASC 944 "Financial 
Services - 
Insurance"

Description
This update changed the disclosure requirements for 
certain insurance contracts.  These changes included a 
requirement to disclose the rollforward of the liability for 
unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses in both 
interim and annual reporting periods for long-duration and 
short-duration insurance contracts.  Additional claims 
disclosures were also required for short-duration contracts.  
The guidance was applied retrospectively.

Date of 
Adoption
January 1, 2016 
for annual 
reporting period 
disclosures and 
January 1, 2017 
for interim 
reporting period 
disclosures.

Effect on Financial 
Statements
The adoption of this 
update expanded our 
interim reporting period 
disclosures but had no 
effect on our financial 
position or results of 
operations.  The annual 
reporting period 
disclosure requirements 
were only applicable to 
our individual dental 
products, which we 
deem immaterial, and 
therefore did not alter 
our annual disclosures.

ASC 718 
"Compensation - 
Stock 
Compensation"

This update changed the accounting and disclosure 
requirements for certain aspects of share-based payments 
to employees.  The update required all income tax effects 
of stock-based compensation awards to be recognized in 
the income statement when the awards vest or are settled.  
The update also allows an employer to repurchase more of 
an employee's shares than it can today for tax withholding 
purposes without triggering liability accounting and to 
make a policy election to account for forfeitures as they 
occur.  Additionally, the update required reclassification 
of tax-related cash flows resulting from share-based 
payments to be classified as operating activities instead of 
financing activities on the statement of cash flows.  
Transition guidance for the amendments varied between 
the retrospective, modified retrospective, and prospective 
methods depending on the specific requirement of the 
update. 

January 1, 2017 The adoption of this 
update did not have a 
material effect on our 
financial position or 
results of operations.  
The impact of the 
update reduced our 
effective income tax 
rate by a de minimis 
amount for the year 
ended December 31, 
2017.  During periods 
in which the vesting 
date fair value differs 
from the grant date fair 
value of certain stock-
based compensation 
awards, we may 
experience volatility in 
the income tax 
recognized in our 
results of operations.  
The amendment related 
to the reclassification of 
tax-related cash flows 
in our consolidated 
statements of cash 
flows has been applied 
prospectively.

117

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

Accounting Updates Outstanding:

ASC
ASC 326 "Financial 
Instruments - Credit 
Losses"

ASC 350 
"Intangibles - 
Goodwill and 
Other"

Description
This update amends the guidance on the impairment of 
financial instruments.  The update adds an impairment 
model known as the current expected credit loss model 
that is based on expected losses rather than incurred 
losses and will generally result in earlier recognition of 
allowances for losses.  The current expected credit loss 
model applies to financial instruments such as mortgage 
loans, fixed maturity securities classified as held-to-
maturity, and certain receivables.  The update also 
modifies the other-than-temporary impairment model 
used for available-for-sale fixed maturity securities such 
that credit losses are recognized as an allowance rather 
than as a reduction in the amortized cost of the security.  
The reversal of previously recognized credit losses on 
available-for-sale fixed maturity securities is allowed 
under specified circumstances.  Additional disclosures 
will also be required, including information used to 
develop the allowance for losses.  The guidance is to be 
applied to most instruments in scope using a modified 
retrospective approach through a cumulative-effect 
adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the 
period of adoption.  For available-for-sale fixed maturity 
securities, the update is applied prospectively.  Other-
than-temporary impairment losses recognized on 
available-for-sale fixed maturity securities prior to 
adoption of the update cannot be reversed.  Early 
adoption is permitted.

This update eliminates the requirement to calculate the 
implied fair value of goodwill (the second step in the 
current two-step test) to measure a goodwill impairment 
charge.  Instead, entities should perform the goodwill 
impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting 
unit with its carrying amount and recognize an 
impairment charge for the excess of the carrying amount 
over the fair value, with the loss not to exceed the total 
amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.  The 
guidance is to be applied prospectively, with early 
adoption permitted for goodwill impairment tests 
performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017.

Effect on Financial 
Statements

Date of 
Adoption
January 1, 2020 We have determined 
that this guidance is 
primarily applicable to 
our mortgage loan 
investments and 
reinsurance 
recoverables. 
The adoption of this 
update will result in the 
recognition of an 
allowance for expected 
credit losses on these 
applicable balances, 
with a corresponding 
immaterial cumulative-
effect decrease to 
retained earnings.  The 
adoption of this update 
will also expand our 
disclosures and modify 
the presentation of 
certain line items in our 
financial statements.

January 1, 2020 The adoption of this 

update will not have a 
material effect on our 
financial position or 
results of operations.

118

Date of 
Adoption
December 31, 
2018 for the 
removal and 
modification of 
certain 
disclosures and 
January 1, 2020 
for the addition 
of certain 
disclosures.

Effect on Financial 
Statements
We elected to early 
adopt the removal and 
modification of 
disclosures, as 
permitted by the update.  
We have elected to 
delay the adoption of 
the additional 
disclosures until the 
effective date.  The 
adoption of this update 
will modify our 
disclosures but will not 
have an impact on our 
financial position or 
results of operations.

December 31, 
2020

The adoption of this 
update will modify our 
disclosures but will not 
have an impact on our 
financial position or 
results of operations.

January 1, 2021 We have not yet 

determined the 
expected impact on our 
financial position or 
results of operations.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

ASC
ASC 820 "Fair 
Value 
Measurement"

ASC 715 
"Compensation - 
Retirement Benefits"

ASC 740 "Income 
Taxes"

Description
This update amended the fair value measurement guidance 
by removing or clarifying certain existing disclosure 
requirements, while also adding new disclosure 
requirements.  Specifically, this update removed certain 
disclosures related to Level 1 and Level 2 transfers and 
removed the discussion regarding valuation processes of 
Level 3 fair value measurements.  The update modifies 
guidance related to investments in certain entities that 
calculate net asset value to explicitly require disclosure 
regarding timing of liquidation of the investee's assets and 
timing of redemption restrictions.  The update adds 
disclosures around the changes in unrealized gains and 
losses in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 
3 investments held at the end of the reporting period and 
adds disclosures regarding certain unobservable inputs on 
Level 3 fair value measurements.  The guidance is to be 
applied retrospectively or prospectively depending on the 
specific requirement of the update.  Entities are permitted 
to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures and 
may delay adoption of the additional disclosures until their 
effective date.

This update amends the defined benefit pension and other 
postretirement benefit guidance by removing or clarifying 
certain existing disclosure requirements, while also adding 
new disclosure requirements.  Specifically, this update 
removes the requirement to disclose the effects of a one-
percentage point change in the assumed healthcare cost 
trend and the requirement to disclose amounts in 
accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be 
recognized as part of net periodic benefit cost of the next 
year.  This update adds a requirement to describe the 
reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes 
in the benefit obligation for the period.  The update also 
clarifies that the projected benefit obligation (PBO) and 
accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) and fair value of 
plan assets are to be disclosed for plans with PBOs or 
ABOs in excess of plan assets. The guidance is to be 
applied retrospectively and early adoption is permitted.

The amendments in this update simplify the accounting for 
income taxes by removing certain exceptions in the 
guidance related to the following: 1. losses in continuing 
operations when there is income in other items, 2. foreign 
subsidiaries becoming equity method investments and vice 
versa, and 3. year-to-date interim period losses exceeding 
anticipated loss for the year. The amendments also 
simplify the accounting for income taxes related to the 
following: 1. franchise taxes partially based on income, 2. 
step up in the tax basis of goodwill, 3. allocation of tax 
expense to entities not subject to tax, 4. enacted changes in 
tax law or rates in interim periods, and 5. employee stock 
ownership programs and investments in qualified 
affordable housing projects accounted for using the equity 
method.

119

Date of 
Adoption
January 1, 2022 We are currently 

Effect on Financial 
Statements

evaluating the impact of 
the update and expect 
that the adoption may 
have a material impact 
on our financial 
position and results of 
operations.  The update 
will also significantly 
expand our disclosures.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued   

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued

ASC
ASC 944 "Financial 
Services - 
Insurance"

Description
This update significantly amends the accounting and 
disclosure requirements for long-duration insurance 
contracts.  These changes include a requirement to review, 
and if necessary, update cash flow assumptions used to 
measure the liability for future policy benefits for 
traditional and limited-payment contracts at least annually, 
with changes recognized in earnings.  In addition, an 
entity will be required to update the discount rate 
assumption at each reporting date using a yield that is 
reflective of an upper-medium grade fixed-income 
instrument, with changes recognized in other 
comprehensive income.  These changes result in the 
elimination of the provision for risk of adverse deviation 
and premium deficiency (or loss recognition) testing.  The 
update also requires that an entity measure all market risk 
benefits associated with deposit contracts at fair value, 
with changes recognized in earnings except for the portion 
attributable to a change in the instrument-specific credit 
risk, which is to be recognized in other comprehensive 
income.  This update also simplifies the amortization of 
deferred acquisition costs by requiring amortization on a 
constant level basis over the expected term of the related 
contracts.  Deferred acquisition costs are required to be 
written off for unexpected contract terminations but are no 
longer subject to an impairment test.  Significant 
additional disclosures will also be required, which include 
disaggregated rollforwards of certain liability balances and 
the disclosure of qualitative and quantitative information 
about expected cash flows, estimates, and assumptions.  
The application of this guidance will vary based upon the 
specific requirements of the update but will generally 
result in either a modified retrospective or full 
retrospective approach with changes applied as of the 
beginning of the earliest period presented.  Early adoption 
is permitted.

120

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments

Fair Value Measurements for Financial Instruments Carried at Fair Value

We report fixed maturity securities, which are classified as available-for-sale securities, derivative financial instruments, and 
unrestricted equity securities at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets.  We report our investments in private equity 
partnerships at our share of the partnerships' net asset value per share or its equivalent (NAV) as a practical expedient for fair 
value.  See Note 1.

The degree of judgment utilized in measuring the fair value of financial instruments generally correlates to the level of pricing 
observability.  Financial instruments with readily available active quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from 
actively quoted prices in active markets generally have more pricing observability and less judgment utilized in measuring fair 
value.  An active market for a financial instrument is a market in which transactions for an asset or a similar asset occur with 
sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.  A quoted price in an active market 
provides the most reliable evidence of fair value and should be used to measure fair value whenever available.  Conversely, 
financial instruments rarely traded or not quoted have less observability and are measured at fair value using valuation 
techniques that require more judgment.  Pricing observability is generally impacted by a number of factors, including the type of 
financial instrument, whether the financial instrument is new to the market and not yet established, the characteristics specific to 
the transaction, and overall market conditions.

We classify financial instruments in accordance with a fair value hierarchy consisting of three levels based on the observability 
of valuation inputs:

•

•

•

Level 1 - the highest category of the fair value hierarchy classification wherein inputs are unadjusted and represent 
quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

Level 2 - valued using inputs (other than prices included in Level 1) that are either directly or indirectly observable for 
the asset or liability through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the 
instrument's anticipated life.

Level 3 - the lowest category of the fair value hierarchy and reflects the judgment of management regarding what 
market participants would use in pricing assets or liabilities at the measurement date.  Financial assets and liabilities 
categorized as Level 3 are generally those that are valued using unobservable inputs to extrapolate an estimated fair 
value.

Valuation Methodologies of Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value

Valuation techniques used for assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value are generally categorized into three types.  The 
market approach uses prices and other relevant information from market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or 
liabilities.  The income approach converts future amounts, such as cash flows or earnings, to a single present amount, or a 
discounted amount.  The cost approach is based upon the amount that currently would be required to replace the service capacity 
of an asset, or the current replacement cost.

We use valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient data are available that can be 
obtained without undue cost and effort.  In some cases, a single valuation technique will be appropriate (for example, when 
valuing an asset or liability using quoted prices in an active market for identical assets or liabilities).  In other cases, multiple 
valuation techniques will be appropriate.  If we use multiple valuation techniques to measure fair value, we evaluate and weigh 
the results, as appropriate, considering the reasonableness of the range indicated by those results.  A fair value measurement is 
the point within that range that is most representative of fair value in the circumstances.

The selection of the valuation method(s) to apply considers the definition of an exit price and depends on the nature of the asset 
or liability being valued.  For assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value, we generally use valuation techniques consistent 
with the market approach, and to a lesser extent, the income approach.  We believe the market approach provides more 
observable data than the income approach, considering the type of investments we hold.  Our fair value measurements could 
differ significantly based on the valuation technique and available inputs.  When using a pricing service, we obtain the vendor's 
pricing documentation to ensure we understand their methodologies.  We periodically review and approve the selection of our 

121

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued

pricing vendors to ensure we are in agreement with their current methodologies.  When markets are less active, brokers may rely 
more on models with inputs based on the information available only to the broker.  Our internal investment management 
professionals, which include portfolio managers and analysts, monitor securities priced by brokers and evaluate their prices for 
reasonableness based on benchmarking to available primary and secondary market information.  In weighing a broker quote as 
an input to fair value, we place less reliance on quotes that do not reflect the result of market transactions.  We also consider the 
nature of the quote, particularly whether it is a bid or market quote.  If prices in an inactive market do not reflect current prices 
for the same or similar assets, adjustments may be necessary to arrive at fair value.  When relevant market data is unavailable, 
which may be the case during periods of market uncertainty, the income approach can, in suitable circumstances, provide a more 
appropriate fair value.  During 2019, we have applied valuation approaches and techniques on a consistent basis to similar assets 
and liabilities and consistent with those approaches and techniques used at year end 2018.

Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities

We use observable and unobservable inputs in measuring the fair value of our fixed maturity and equity securities.  For securities 
categorized as Level 1, fair values equal active Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE) pricing or unadjusted broker 
market maker prices.  For securities categorized as Level 2 or Level 3, inputs that may be used in valuing each class of securities 
at any given time period are disclosed below.  Actual inputs used to determine fair values will vary for each reporting period 
depending on the availability of inputs which may, at times, be affected by the lack of market liquidity. 

Instrument

Level 2
Observable Inputs

Level 3
Unobservable Inputs

United States Government and Government Agencies and Authorities

Valuation Method

Principally the market approach

Not applicable

Valuation 
Techniques / Inputs

Prices obtained from external pricing services

States, Municipalities, and Political Subdivisions

Valuation Method

Principally the market approach

Principally the market approach

Valuation 
Techniques / Inputs

Prices obtained from external pricing services

Analysis of similar bonds, adjusted for 
comparability

Relevant reports issued by analysts and rating 
agencies
Audited financial statements

Foreign Governments
Valuation Method

Valuation 
Techniques / Inputs

Public Utilities

Principally the market approach

Principally the market approach

Prices obtained from external pricing services

Analysis of similar bonds, adjusted for 
comparability

Non-binding broker quotes
Call provisions

Valuation Method

Principally the market and income approaches

Principally the market and income approaches

Valuation 
Techniques / Inputs

Prices obtained from external pricing services

Change in benchmark reference

122

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued

Instrument

Public Utilities - Continued

Level 2
Observable Inputs

Level 3
Unobservable Inputs

Non-binding broker quotes

Benchmark yields

Analysis of similar bonds, adjusted for 
comparability
Discount for size - illiquidity

Transactional data for new issuances and 
secondary trades
Security cash flows and structures

Volatility of credit

Lack of marketability

Recent issuance / supply

Audited financial statements

Security and issuer level spreads

Security creditor ratings/maturity/capital 
structure/optionality
Public covenants

Comparative bond analysis

Relevant reports issued by analysts and rating 
agencies

Mortgage/Asset-Backed Securities

Valuation Method

Principally the market and income approaches

Principally the market approach

Valuation 
Techniques / Inputs

Prices obtained from external pricing services

Non-binding broker quotes

Security cash flows and structures

Underlying collateral

Prepayment speeds/loan performance/
delinquencies
Relevant reports issued by analysts and rating 
agencies
Audited financial statements

Analysis of similar bonds, adjusted for 
comparability
Prices obtained from external pricing services

All Other Corporate Bonds

Valuation Method

Principally the market and income approaches

Principally the market and income approaches

Valuation 
Techniques / Inputs

Prices obtained from external pricing services

Change in benchmark reference

Discount for size - illiquidity

Volatility of credit

Lack of marketability

Prices obtained from external pricing services

Non-binding broker quotes

Benchmark yields

Transactional data for new issuances and 
secondary trades
Security cash flows and structures
Recent issuance / supply
Security and issuer level spreads
Security creditor ratings/maturity/capital 
structure/optionality

123

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued

Instrument

All Other Corporate Bonds - Continued

Level 2
Observable Inputs

Level 3
Unobservable Inputs

Public covenants

Comparative bond analysis

Relevant reports issued by analysts and rating 
agencies
Audited financial statements

Redeemable Preferred Stocks

Valuation Method

Principally the market approach

Principally the market approach

Valuation 
Techniques / Inputs

Non-binding broker quotes

Financial statement analysis

Benchmark yields
Comparative bond analysis
Call provisions
Relevant reports issued by analysts and rating 
agencies
Audited financial statements

Equity Securities

Valuation Method

Principally the market approach

Principally the market and income approaches

Valuation 
Techniques / Inputs

Prices obtained from external pricing services

Financial statement analysis

Non-binding broker quotes

The management of our investment portfolio includes establishing pricing policy and reviewing the reasonableness of sources 
and inputs used in developing pricing.  We review all prices that vary between multiple pricing vendors by a threshold that is 
outside a normal market range for the asset type.  In the event we receive a vendor's market price that does not appear reasonable 
based on our market analysis, we may challenge the price and request further information about the assumptions and 
methodologies used by the vendor to price the security.  We may change the vendor price based on a better data source such as 
an actual trade.  We also review all prices that did not change from the prior month to ensure that these prices are within our 
expectations.  The overall valuation process for determining fair values may include adjustments to valuations obtained from our 
pricing sources when they do not represent a valid exit price.  These adjustments may be made when, in our judgment and 
considering our knowledge of the financial conditions and industry in which the issuer operates, certain features of the financial 
instrument require that an adjustment be made to the value originally obtained from our pricing sources.  These features may 
include the complexity of the financial instrument, the market in which the financial instrument is traded, counterparty credit 
risk, credit structure, concentration, or liquidity.  Additionally, an adjustment to the price derived from a model typically reflects 
our judgment of the inputs that other participants in the market for the financial instrument being measured at fair value would 
consider in pricing that same financial instrument.  In the event an asset is sold, we test the validity of the fair value determined 
by our valuation techniques by comparing the selling price to the fair value determined for the asset in the immediately 
preceding month end reporting period.

Certain of our investments do not have readily determinable market prices and/or observable inputs or may at times be affected 
by the lack of market liquidity.  For these securities, we use internally prepared valuations, including valuations based on 
estimates of future profitability, to estimate the fair value.  Additionally, we may obtain prices from independent third-party 
brokers to aid in establishing valuations for certain of these securities.  Key assumptions used by us to determine fair value for 

124

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued

these securities include risk free interest rates, risk premiums, performance of underlying collateral (if any), and other factors 
involving significant assumptions which may or may not reflect those of an active market.

The parameters and inputs used to validate a price on a security may be adjusted for assumptions about risk and current market 
conditions on a quarter to quarter basis, as certain features may be more significant drivers of valuation at the time of pricing.  
Changes to inputs in valuations are not changes to valuation methodologies; rather, the inputs are modified to reflect direct or 
indirect impacts on asset classes from changes in market conditions.

At December 31, 2019, approximately 9.9 percent of our fixed maturity securities were valued using active trades from TRACE 
pricing or broker market maker prices for which there was current market activity in that specific security (comparable to 
receiving one binding quote).  The prices obtained were not adjusted, and the assets were classified as Level 1.

The remaining 90.1 percent of our fixed maturity securities were valued based on non-binding quotes or other observable and 
unobservable inputs, as discussed below:

•

•

•

77.0 percent of our fixed maturity securities were valued based on prices from pricing services that generally use 
observable inputs such as prices for securities or comparable securities in active markets in their valuation techniques.  
These assets were classified as Level 2. 

9.1 percent of our fixed maturity securities were valued based on one or more non-binding broker quotes, if validated by 
observable market data.  When only one price is available, it is used if observable inputs and analysis confirms that it is 
appropriate.  These assets, for which we were able to validate the price using other observable market data, were 
classified as Level 2.

4.0 percent of our fixed maturity securities were valued based on prices of comparable securities, internal models, or 
pricing services or other non-binding quotes with no other observable market data.  These assets were classified as 
either Level 2 or Level 3, with the categorization dependent on whether there was other observable market data.  

Derivatives

Fair values for derivatives other than embedded derivatives in modified coinsurance arrangements are based on market quotes or 
pricing models and represent the net amount of cash we would have paid or received if the contracts had been settled or closed as 
of the last day of the period.  We analyze credit default swap spreads relative to the average credit spread embedded within the 
LIBOR-setting syndicate in determining the effect of credit risk on our derivatives' fair values.  If net counterparty credit risk for 
a derivative asset is determined to be material and is not adequately reflected in the LIBOR-based fair value obtained from our 
pricing sources, we adjust the valuations obtained from our pricing sources.  For purposes of valuing net counterparty risk, we 
measure the fair value of a group of financial assets and financial liabilities on the basis of the price that would be received to 
sell a net long position or transfer a net short position for a particular risk exposure in an orderly transaction between market 
participants at the measurement date under current market conditions.  In regard to our own credit risk component, we adjust the 
valuation of derivative liabilities wherein the counterparty is exposed to our credit risk when the LIBOR-based valuation of our 
derivatives obtained from pricing sources does not effectively include an adequate credit component for our own credit risk. 

Fair values for our embedded derivative in a modified coinsurance arrangement are estimated using internal pricing models and 
represent the hypothetical value of the duration mismatch of assets and liabilities, interest rate risk, and third party credit risk 
embedded in the modified coinsurance arrangement.

We consider transactions in inactive markets to be less representative of fair value.  We use all available observable inputs when 
measuring fair value, but when significant unobservable inputs are used, we classify these assets or liabilities as Level 3.

Private Equity Partnerships

Our private equity partnerships represent funds that are primarily invested in private credit, private equity, and real assets, as 
described below.  Distributions received from the funds arise from income generated by the underlying investments as well as 
the liquidation of the underlying investments.  There is generally not a public market for these investments.  

125

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued

The following tables present additional information about our private equity partnerships, including commitments for additional 
investments which may or may not be funded:

Investment Category

Fair Value
(in millions of dollars)

December 31, 2019

Redemption Term / 
Redemption Notice

Unfunded Commitments
(in millions of dollars)

Private Credit

(a) $

223.6 Not redeemable

$

Total Private Credit

Private Equity

Real Assets

Total Real Assets

(b)

(c)

Initial 2 year lock on each 
new investment / Quarterly 
after 2 year lock with 90 
days notice

39.6
263.2

149.3 Not redeemable

173.8 Not redeemable
30.4 Quarterly / 90 days notice
204.2

Total Partnerships

$

616.7

$

152.6

0.1
152.7

166.8

130.6
25.0
155.6

475.1

Investment Category

Fair Value

(in millions of dollars)

December 31, 2018
Redemption Term / 
Redemption Notice

Unfunded Commitments

(in millions of dollars)

Private Credit

(a) $

168.6 Not redeemable

$

Total Private Credit

Private Equity

Real Assets

Total Real Assets

(b)

(c)

Total Partnerships

$

Initial 2 year lock on each 
new investment / Quarterly 
after 2 year lock with 90 
days notice

25.7

194.3

128.3 Not redeemable

131.0 Not redeemable

30.2 Quarterly / 90 days notice

161.2

483.8

126

$

99.5

10.3

109.8

169.5

106.0

—

106.0

385.3

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued

(a) Private Credit - The limited partnerships described in this category employ various investment strategies, generally 

providing direct lending or other forms of debt financing including first-lien, second-lien, mezzanine, and subordinated 
loans.  The limited partnerships have credit exposure to corporates, physical assets, and/or financial assets within a 
variety of industries (including manufacturing, healthcare, energy, business services, technology, materials, and retail) 
in North America and, to a lesser extent, outside of North America.  As of December 31, 2019, the estimated remaining 
life of the investments that do not allow for redemptions is approximately 43 percent in the next 3 years, 25 percent 
during the period from 3 to 5 years, 30 percent during the period from 5 to 10 years, and 2 percent during the period 
from 10 to 15 years.

(b) Private Equity - The limited partnerships described in this category employ various strategies generally investing in 

controlling or minority control equity positions directly in companies and/or assets across various industries (including 
manufacturing, healthcare, energy, business services, technology, materials, and retail), primarily in private markets 
within North America and, to a lesser extent, outside of North America.  As of December 31, 2019, the estimated 
remaining life of the investments that do not allow for redemptions is approximately 34 percent in the next 3 years, 21 
percent during the period from 3 to 5 years, 42 percent during the period from 5 to 10 years, and 3 percent during the 
period from 10 to 15 years. 

(c) Real Assets - The limited partnerships described in this category employ various strategies, which include investing in 

the equity and/or debt financing of physical assets, including infrastructure (energy, power, water/wastewater, 
communications), transportation (including airports, ports, toll roads, aircraft, railcars) and real estate in North America, 
Europe, South America, and Asia.  As of December 31, 2019, the estimated remaining life of the investments that do 
not allow for redemptions is approximately 1 percent in the next 3 years, 20 percent during period from 3 to 5 years, 70 
percent during the period from 5 to 10 years, and 9 percent during the period from 10 to 15 years.

127

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued

The following tables present information about financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis by fair value 
level, based on the observability of the inputs used:

Level 1

Level 2

December 31, 2019
Level 3
(in millions of dollars)

NAV

Total

$

412.8

$

988.9

$

— $

— $

1,401.7

—
—
171.1
—
4,114.4
—
4,698.3

3,321.6
995.9
7,546.5
1,444.6
27,695.5
39.6
42,032.6

—
—
—
—
—
—

27.0
0.5
27.5
28.0
—
55.5

41.8
21.8
14.6
34.1
600.5
—
712.8

—
—
—
4.6
—
4.6

—
—
—
—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—
616.7
616.7

3,363.4
1,017.7
7,732.2
1,478.7
32,410.4
39.6
47,443.7

27.0
0.5
27.5
32.6
616.7
676.8

$

4,698.3

$

42,088.1

$

717.4

$

616.7

$

48,120.5

Assets
Fixed Maturity Securities

United States Government and 
Government Agencies and Authorities
States, Municipalities, and Political 
Subdivisions
Foreign Governments
Public Utilities
Mortgage/Asset-Backed Securities
All Other Corporate Bonds
Redeemable Preferred Stocks
Total Fixed Maturity Securities

Other Long-term Investments

Derivatives

Foreign Exchange Contracts

       Credit Default Swaps
Total Derivatives

Equity Securities
Private Equity Partnerships
Total Other Long-term Investments
Total Financial Instrument Assets Carried at 
Fair Value

Liabilities
Other Liabilities
Derivatives

Interest Rate Swaps
Foreign Exchange Contracts
Embedded Derivative in Modified 
Coinsurance Arrangement
Total Derivatives

$

— $
—

—
—

$

0.6
34.0

—
34.6

— $
—

22.8
22.8

— $
—

—
—

Total Financial Instrument Liabilities Carried 
at Fair Value

$

— $

34.6

$

22.8

$

— $

0.6
34.0

22.8
57.4

57.4

128

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued

Level 1

Level 2

December 31, 2018
Level 3
(in millions of dollars)

NAV

Total

$

513.4

$

1,301.0

$

— $

— $

1,814.4

—
—
286.4
—
4,232.1
—
5,031.9

2,424.2
952.3
7,041.7
1,582.7
23,026.1
18.8
36,346.8

—
—
—
—
—
—

30.4
0.5
30.9
24.6
—
55.5

—
31.4
84.7
—
1,495.8
21.1
1,633.0

—
—
—
4.6
—
4.6

—
—
—
—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—
483.8
483.8

2,424.2
983.7
7,412.8
1,582.7
28,754.0
39.9
43,011.7

30.4
0.5
30.9
29.2
483.8
543.9

$

5,031.9

$

36,402.3

$

1,637.6

$

483.8

$

43,555.6

Assets
Fixed Maturity Securities

United States Government and 
Government Agencies and Authorities
States, Municipalities, and Political 
Subdivisions
Foreign Governments
Public Utilities
Mortgage/Asset-Backed Securities
All Other Corporate Bonds
Redeemable Preferred Stocks
Total Fixed Maturity Securities

Other Long-term Investments

Derivatives

Foreign Exchange Contracts
Credit Default Swaps
Total Derivatives

Equity Securities
Private Equity Partnerships
Total Other Long-term Investments
Total Financial Instrument Assets Carried at 
Fair Value

Liabilities
Other Liabilities
Derivatives

Interest Rate Swaps
Foreign Exchange Contracts
Embedded Derivative in Modified 
Coinsurance Arrangement
Total Derivatives

$

— $
—

—
—

$

5.2
32.8

—
38.0

— $
—

31.1
31.1

— $
—

—
—

Total Financial Instrument Liabilities Carried 
at Fair Value

$

— $

38.0

$

31.1

$

— $

5.2
32.8

31.1
69.1

69.1

129

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued

Changes in assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) are as 
follows:

Year Ended December 31, 2019

Total Realized and
Unrealized Investment
Gains (Losses) Included in

Fair Value 
Beginning
of Year

Earnings

Other
Comprehensive
Income or Loss Purchases

Sales

Into

Out of

Level 3 Transfers

Fair 
Value 
End of
Year

(in millions of dollars)

Fixed Maturity Securities

States, Municipalities, 
and Political 
Subdivisions
Foreign Governments
Public Utilities
Mortgage/Asset-Backed 
Securities
All Other Corporate 
Bonds
Redeemable Preferred 
Stocks

Total Fixed Maturity 
Securities

Equity Securities
Embedded Derivative in 
Modified Coinsurance 
Arrangement

$

— $

31.4
84.7

—

1,495.8

21.1

1,633.0

4.6

— $
—
—

—

—

—

—

—

(31.1)

8.3

2.8
0.6
0.8

(2.7)

(3.1)

—

$

13.3
—
—

—

$ — $ 25.7
—
6.0

(10.2)
—

$

— $ 41.8
21.8
—
14.6
(76.9)

—

36.8

—

34.1

93.0

(86.0)

190.6

(1,089.8)

600.5

—

—

—

(21.1)

—

(1.6)

106.3

(96.2)

259.1

(1,187.8)

712.8

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

4.6

(22.8)

130

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued

Year Ended December 31, 2018

Total Realized and
Unrealized Investment
Gains (Losses) Included in

Fair Value 
Beginning
of Year

Earnings

Other
Comprehensive
Income or Loss Purchases

Sales

Into

Out of

Level 3 Transfers

Fair 
Value 
End of
Year

(in millions of dollars)

— $
—

(1.4) $
(2.3)

— $ — $ 32.8
39.0
—
—

$

— $ 31.4
84.7

(159.7)

Fixed Maturity Securities
Foreign Governments
Public Utilities
All Other Corporate 
Bonds
Redeemable Preferred 
Stocks

Total Fixed Maturity 
Securities

Equity Securities
Embedded Derivative in 
Modified Coinsurance 
Arrangement

$

— $

207.7

1,150.1

22.8

1,380.6

1.1

5.8

—

5.8

—

(15.9)

(15.2)

(118.1)

95.1

(148.7)

968.6

(457.0) 1,495.8

(1.7)

—

—

—

—

21.1

(123.5)

95.1

(148.7) 1,040.4

(616.7) 1,633.0

—

—

3.5

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

4.6

(31.1)

131

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued

Realized and unrealized investment gains and losses presented in the preceding tables represent gains and losses only for the 
time during which the applicable financial instruments were classified as Level 3.  The transfers between levels resulted 
primarily from a change in observability of three inputs used to determine fair values of the securities transferred: 
(1) transactional data for new issuance and secondary trades, (2) broker/dealer quotes and pricing, primarily related to changes in 
the level of activity in the market and whether the market was considered orderly, and (3) comparable bond metrics from which 
to perform an analysis.  For fair value measurements of financial instruments that were transferred either into or out of Level 3, 
we reflect the transfers using the fair value at the beginning of the period.  We believe this allows for greater transparency, as all 
changes in fair value that arise during the reporting period of the transfer are disclosed as a component of our Level 3 
reconciliation.  Gains (losses) which are included in earnings and are attributable to the change in fair value of assets or liabilities 
valued using significant unobservable inputs and still held at each year end were $8.3 million and $(15.2) million for the years 
ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  These amounts relate entirely to the change in fair value of an embedded 
derivative in a modified coinsurance arrangement and are reported as a component of realized investment gains and losses.

The table below provides quantitative information regarding the significant unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value 
measurements derived from internal models.  Certain securities classified as Level 3 are excluded from the table below due to 
limitations in our ability to obtain the underlying inputs used by external pricing sources.

Fair Value

Valuation 
Method

December 31, 2019

Unobservable Input
(in millions of dollars)

Range/Weighted Average

Fixed Maturity Securities

All Other Corporate Bonds - 
Private

$

119.2 Market Approach

Lack of Marketability
Volatility of Credit
Market Convention

Equity Securities - Private

4.6 Market Approach Market Convention

4.56% - 4.56% / 4.56%
0.35% - 17.68% / 2.2%
Priced at Par

(a)
(b)
(c)
(c) Priced at Cost or Owner's 

Equity

Embedded Derivative in Modified 
Coinsurance Arrangement

(22.8)

Discounted Cash 
Flows

Projected Liability Cash 
Flows

(d) Actuarial Assumptions

Fair Value

Valuation 
Method

Fixed Maturity Securities

All Other Corporate Bonds - 
Private

$

148.5 Market Approach

December 31, 2018

Unobservable Input
(in millions of dollars)

Lack of Marketability
Volatility of Credit
Market Convention

Equity Securities - Private

4.6 Market Approach Market Convention

Range/Weighted Average

(a)
(b)
(c)

(c)

0.25% - 0.25% / 0.25%
0.25% - 10.99% / 1.0%
Priced at Par
Priced at Cost or Owner's 
Equity

Embedded Derivative in Modified 
Coinsurance Arrangement

(31.1)

Discounted Cash 
Flows

Projected Liability Cash 
Flows

(d) Actuarial Assumptions

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Represents basis point adjustments to apply a discount due to the illiquidity of an investment
Represents basis point adjustments for credit-specific factors
Represents a decision to price based on par value, cost, or owner's equity when limited data is available
Represents various actuarial assumptions required to derive the liability cash flows including incidence, termination, and lapse 
rates

132

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued

Isolated increases in unobservable inputs other than market convention will result in a lower fair value measurement, whereas 
isolated decreases will result in a higher fair value measurement.  The unobservable input for market convention is not sensitive 
to input movements.  The projected liability cash flows used in the fair value measurement of our Level 3 embedded derivative 
are based on expected claim payments.  If claim payments increase, the projected liability cash flows will increase, resulting in a 
decrease in the fair value of the embedded derivative.  Decreases in projected liability cash flows will result in an increase in the 
fair value of the embedded derivative.

Fair Value Measurements for Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value

The methods and assumptions used to estimate fair values of financial instruments not carried at fair value are discussed as 
follows:

Mortgage Loans: Fair values are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses and interest rates currently being offered for 
similar loans to borrowers with similar credit ratings and maturities.  Loans with similar characteristics are aggregated for 
purposes of the calculations. 

Policy Loans: Fair values for policy loans, net of reinsurance ceded, are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses and 
interest rates currently being offered to policyholders with similar policies.  Carrying amounts for ceded policy loans, which 
equal $3,490.6 million and $3,449.3 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, approximate fair value and are 
reported on a gross basis in our consolidated balance sheets.  A change in interest rates for ceded policy loans will not impact our 
financial position because the benefits and risks are fully ceded to reinsuring counterparties.

Miscellaneous Long-term Investments: Carrying amounts for tax credit partnerships equal the unamortized balance of our 
contractual commitments and approximate fair value.  Our shares of FHLB common stock are carried at cost, which 
approximates fair value. 

Long-term Debt: Fair values for long-term debt are obtained from independent pricing services or discounted cash flow analyses 
based on current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. 

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) Funding Agreements: Funding agreements with the FHLB represent cash advances used for 
the purpose of investing in fixed maturity securities.  Carrying amounts approximate fair value.

Unfunded Commitments to Investment Partnerships: Unfunded equity commitments represent amounts that we have committed 
to fund certain investment partnerships.  These commitments are legally binding, subject to the partnerships meeting specified 
conditions.  Carrying amounts of these financial instruments approximate fair value.

133

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued

The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our financial instruments not measured at fair 
value and indicates the level in the fair value hierarchy of the estimated fair value measurement based on the observability of the 
inputs used:

December 31, 2019

Estimated Fair Value

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3
(in millions of dollars)

Total

Carrying 
Value

— $
—

$

2,556.3
—

— $

3,911.4

$

2,556.3
3,911.4

2,397.0
3,779.5

—

18.5

58.4

76.9

76.9

— $

2,574.8

$

3,969.8

$

6,544.6

$

6,253.4

1,712.8

$

1,526.2

$

— $

3,239.0

$

2,926.9

Assets
Mortgage Loans
Policy Loans
Other Long-term Investments

Miscellaneous Long-term Investments

Total Financial Instrument Assets Not 
Carried at Fair Value

Liabilities
Long-term Debt
Other Liabilities

$

$

$

Unfunded Commitments

—

1.9

—

1.9

1.9

Total Financial Instrument Liabilities Not 
Carried at Fair Value

$

1,712.8

$

1,528.1

$

— $

3,240.9

$

2,928.8

134

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued

December 31, 2018

Estimated Fair Value

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3
(in millions of dollars)

Total

Carrying 
Value

— $
—

$

2,317.4
—

— $

3,831.1

$

2,317.4
3,831.1

2,295.0
3,729.9

—

24.1

91.5

115.6

115.6

— $

2,341.5

$

3,922.6

$

6,264.1

$

6,140.5

1,429.8

$

1,639.4

$

— $

3,069.2

$

2,971.3

—

—

104.0

2.3

—

—

104.0

104.0

2.3

2.3

1,429.8

$

1,745.7

$

— $

3,175.5

$

3,077.6

Assets
Mortgage Loans
Policy Loans
Other Long-term Investments

Miscellaneous Long-term Investments

Total Financial Instrument Assets Not 
Carried at Fair Value

Liabilities
Long-term Debt
Payables for Collateral on Investments

$

$

$

FHLB Funding Agreements

Other Liabilities

Unfunded Commitments

Total Financial Instrument Liabilities Not 
Carried at Fair Value

$

The carrying values of financial instruments such as short-term investments, cash and bank deposits, accounts and premiums 
receivable, accrued investment income, securities lending agreements, and short-term debt approximate fair value due to the 
short-term nature of the instruments.  As such, these financial instruments are not included in the above chart.

Fair values for insurance contracts other than investment contracts are not required to be disclosed.  However, the fair values of 
liabilities under all insurance contracts are taken into consideration in our overall management of interest rate risk, which seeks 
to minimize exposure to changing interest rates through the matching of investment maturities with amounts due under insurance 
contracts.

135

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 3 - Investments

Fixed Maturity Securities

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, all fixed maturity securities were classified as available-for-sale.  The amortized cost and fair 
values of securities by security type are shown as follows:

United States Government and Government Agencies and 
Authorities
States, Municipalities, and Political Subdivisions
Foreign Governments
Public Utilities
Mortgage/Asset-Backed Securities
All Other Corporate Bonds
Redeemable Preferred Stocks
Total Fixed Maturity Securities

United States Government and Government Agencies and 
Authorities
States, Municipalities, and Political Subdivisions
Foreign Governments
Public Utilities
Mortgage/Asset-Backed Securities
All Other Corporate Bonds
Redeemable Preferred Stocks
Total Fixed Maturity Securities

Amortized
Cost

1,246.1
2,863.1
843.5
6,436.7
1,377.8
28,273.1
39.0
41,079.3

Amortized
Cost

1,702.1
2,121.5
825.8
6,626.2
1,523.8
27,436.8
39.0
40,275.2

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

December 31, 2019

Gross
Gross
Unrealized
Unrealized
Gain
Loss
(in millions of dollars)

156.0
507.6
175.2
1,303.7
101.3
4,211.2
0.6
6,455.6

$

$

0.4
7.3
1.0
8.2
0.4
73.9
—
91.2

December 31, 2018

Gross
Gross
Unrealized
Unrealized
Gain
Loss
(in millions of dollars)

123.2
307.1
162.7
850.0
67.2
1,981.6
1.1
3,492.9

$

$

10.9
4.4
4.8
63.4
8.3
664.4
0.2
756.4

$

$

$

$

Fair
Value

1,401.7
3,363.4
1,017.7
7,732.2
1,478.7
32,410.4
39.6
47,443.7

Fair
Value

1,814.4
2,424.2
983.7
7,412.8
1,582.7
28,754.0
39.9
43,011.7

136

 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 3 - Investments - Continued

The following charts indicate the length of time our fixed maturity securities have been in a gross unrealized loss position.

December 31, 2019

Less Than 12 Months
Gross
Unrealized
Loss
(in millions of dollars)

Fair
Value

Fair
Value

12 Months or Greater
Gross
Unrealized
Loss

110.2
331.0
69.4
168.3
47.0
579.1
1,305.0

$

$

0.4
7.3
1.0
2.6
0.4
29.1
40.8

$

$

— $
0.3
—
37.0
3.1
379.8
420.2

$

—
—
—
5.6
—
44.8
50.4

December 31, 2018

Less Than 12 Months
Gross
Unrealized
Loss
(in millions of dollars)

Fair
Value

Fair
Value

12 Months or Greater
Gross
Unrealized
Loss

68.8
183.2
58.4
740.1
81.5
9,240.2
18.8
10,391.0

$

$

1.7
2.1
3.8
31.3
1.2
462.2
0.2
502.5

$

$

212.5
65.0
12.0
325.7
201.6
1,704.9
—
2,521.7

$

$

9.2
2.3
1.0
32.1
7.1
202.2
—
253.9

United States Government and Government Agencies and 
Authorities
States, Municipalities, and Political Subdivisions
Foreign Governments
Public Utilities
Mortgage/Asset-Backed Securities
All Other Corporate Bonds
Total Fixed Maturity Securities

United States Government and Government Agencies and 
Authorities
States, Municipalities, and Political Subdivisions
Foreign Governments
Public Utilities
Mortgage/Asset-Backed Securities
All Other Corporate Bonds
Redeemable Preferred Stocks
Total Fixed Maturity Securities

$

$

$

$

137

 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 3 - Investments - Continued

The following is a distribution of the maturity dates for fixed maturity securities.  The maturity dates have not been adjusted for 
possible calls or prepayments.

December 31, 2019

Total
Amortized 
Cost

Unrealized Gain Position

Unrealized Loss Position

Gross Gain

Fair Value

Gross Loss

Fair Value

1 year or less
Over 1 year through 5 years
Over 5 years through 10 years
Over 10 years

Mortgage/Asset-Backed Securities
Total Fixed Maturity Securities

1 year or less
Over 1 year through 5 years
Over 5 years through 10 years
Over 10 years

Mortgage/Asset-Backed Securities
Total Fixed Maturity Securities

$

$

$

$

821.5
6,286.2
13,570.8
19,023.0
39,701.5
1,377.8
41,079.3

Total
Amortized 
Cost

1,073.3
6,267.5
12,573.4
18,837.2
38,751.4
1,523.8
40,275.2

$

$

$

$

14.5
456.5
1,688.3
4,195.0
6,354.3
101.3
6,455.6

14.5
300.6
795.0
2,315.6
3,425.7
67.2
3,492.9

(in millions of dollars)
$

$

832.6
6,423.4
14,881.3
22,152.6
44,289.9
1,428.6
45,718.5

$

$

0.2
41.7
14.6
34.3
90.8
0.4
91.2

$

$

3.2
277.6
363.2
1,031.1
1,675.1
50.1
1,725.2

December 31, 2018

Unrealized Gain Position

Unrealized Loss Position

Gross Gain

Fair Value

Gross Loss

Fair Value

(in millions of dollars)
$

$

1,020.1
5,186.9
6,812.7
15,779.7
28,799.4
1,299.6
30,099.0

$

$

8.4
80.2
303.9
355.6
748.1
8.3
756.4

$

$

59.3
1,301.0
6,251.8
5,017.5
12,629.6
283.1
12,912.7

The following chart depicts an analysis of our fixed maturity security portfolio between investment-grade and below-investment-
grade categories as of December 31, 2019:

Investment-Grade
Below-Investment-Grade
Total Fixed Maturity Securities

$

$

44,255.2
3,188.5
47,443.7

$

Fair Value

Gross 
Unrealized 
Gain
(in millions of dollars)
$

$

6,270.8
184.8
6,455.6

$

Gross Unrealized Loss

Percent of Total 
Gross 
Unrealized Loss

Amount

23.5
67.7
91.2

25.8 %
74.2
100.0 %

The unrealized losses on investment-grade fixed maturity securities principally relate to changes in interest rates or changes in 
market or sector credit spreads which occurred subsequent to the acquisition of the securities.  Below-investment-grade fixed 
maturity securities are generally more likely to develop credit concerns than investment-grade securities.  At December 31, 2019, 
the unrealized losses in our below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities were generally due to credit spreads in certain 
industries or sectors and, to a lesser extent, credit concerns related to specific securities.  For each specific security in an 
unrealized loss position, we believe that there are positive factors which mitigate credit concerns and that the securities for which 
we have not recorded an other-than-temporary impairment will recover in value.

138

 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 3 - Investments - Continued

As of December 31, 2019, we held 109 individual investment-grade fixed maturity securities and 38 individual below-
investment-grade fixed maturity securities that were in an unrealized loss position, of which 19 investment-grade fixed maturity 
securities and 24 below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities had been in an unrealized loss position continuously for over 
one year. 

In determining when a decline in fair value below amortized cost of a fixed maturity security is other than temporary, we 
evaluate the following factors:

• Whether we expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security
• Whether we intend to sell the security or will be required to sell the security before the recovery of its amortized cost 

basis

The significance of the decline in value
The time period during which there has been a significant decline in value
Current and future business prospects and trends of earnings
The valuation of the security's underlying collateral
Relevant industry conditions and trends relative to their historical cycles

• Whether the security is current as to principal and interest payments
•
•
•
•
•
• Market conditions
•
•
•
•
•

Rating agency and governmental actions
Bid and offering prices and the level of trading activity
Adverse changes in estimated cash flows for securitized investments
Changes in fair value subsequent to the balance sheet date
Any other key measures for the related security

While determining other-than-temporary impairments is a judgmental area, we utilize a formal, well-defined, and disciplined 
process to monitor and evaluate our fixed income investment portfolio, supported by issuer specific research and documentation 
as of the end of each period.  The process results in a thorough evaluation of problem investments and the recording of losses on 
a timely basis for investments determined to have an other-than-temporary impairment.

We held no fixed maturity securities as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, for which a portion of an other-than-temporary 
impairment was recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income. 

At December 31, 2019, we had commitments of $98.7 million to fund private placement fixed maturity securities, the amount of 
which may or may not be funded.  

Variable Interest Entities

We invest in variable interests issued by variable interest entities.  These investments include tax credit partnerships, private 
equity partnerships, and special purpose entities.  For those variable interests that are not consolidated in our financial 
statements, we are not the primary beneficiary because we have neither the power to direct the activities that are most significant 
to economic performance nor the responsibility to absorb a majority of the expected losses.  The determination of whether we are 
the primary beneficiary is performed at the time of our initial investment and at the date of each subsequent reporting period.

As of December 31, 2019, the carrying amount of our variable interest entity investments that are not consolidated in our 
financial statements was $675.1 million, comprised of $58.4 million of tax credit partnerships and $616.7 million of private 
equity partnerships.  At December 31, 2018, the carrying amount of our variable interest entity investments that are not 
consolidated in our financial statements was $575.3 million, comprised of $91.5 million of tax credit partnerships and $483.8 
million of private equity partnerships.  These variable interest entity investments are reported as other long-term investments in 
our consolidated balance sheets.

139

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 3 - Investments - Continued

The Company invests in tax credit partnerships primarily for the receipt of income tax credits and tax benefits derived from 
passive losses on the investments.  Amounts recognized in the consolidated statements of income are as follows:

Income Tax Credits
Amortization, Net of Tax
Income Tax Benefit

2019

$

$

37.8
(25.2)
12.6

$

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)
$

$

41.4
(28.1)
13.3

$

2017

41.8
(23.2)
18.6

Contractually, we are a limited partner in these tax credit partnerships, and our maximum exposure to loss is limited to 
the carrying value of our investment, which includes $1.9 million of unfunded unconditional commitments at December 31, 
2019.  See Note 2 for commitments to fund private equity partnerships.

As of December 31, 2018, we were the sole beneficiary of a special purpose entity which was consolidated in our financial 
statements.  This entity was a securitized asset trust that contained a highly rated bond for principal protection which we 
contributed into the trust at the time it was established.  There were no restrictions on the asset held in this trust, and the trust was 
free to dispose of the asset at any time.  The fair value of the bond was $156.7 million as of December 31, 2018 and was reported 
as a component of fixed maturity securities in our consolidated balance sheets.  During the fourth quarter of 2019, the bond 
matured and the trust was dissolved.

Mortgage Loans

Our mortgage loan portfolio is well diversified by both geographic region and property type to reduce risk of concentration.  All 
of our mortgage loans are collateralized by commercial real estate.  When issuing a new loan, our general policy is not to exceed 
a loan-to-value ratio, or the ratio of the loan balance to the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral, of 75 percent.  We 
update the loan-to-value ratios at least every three years for each loan, and properties undergo a general inspection at least every 
two years.  Our general policy for newly issued loans is to have a debt service coverage ratio greater than 1.25 times on a 
normalized 25 year amortization period.  We update our debt service coverage ratios annually.

140

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 3 - Investments - Continued

Mortgage loans by property type and geographic region are presented below.

December 31

2019

2018

Carrying
Amount

(in millions of dollars)

Percent of
Total

Carrying
Amount

Percent of
Total

$

$

$

$

608.8
623.6
549.3
567.5
47.8
2,397.0

28.9
184.5
329.2
215.4
509.2
114.3
246.6
268.2
500.7
2,397.0

25.4 % $
26.0
22.9
23.7
2.0

100.0 % $

1.2 % $
7.7
13.7
9.0
21.2
4.8
10.3
11.2
20.9
100.0 % $

491.0
635.6
604.2
519.5
44.7
2,295.0

45.9
160.6
354.4
190.3
485.2
105.5
240.6
242.7
469.8
2,295.0

21.4 %
27.7
26.3
22.6
2.0
100.0 %

2.0 %
7.0
15.4
8.3
21.1
4.6
10.5
10.6
20.5
100.0 %

Property Type
     Apartment
     Industrial
     Office
     Retail
Other

Total

Region
     New England
     Mid-Atlantic
     East North Central
     West North Central
     South Atlantic
     East South Central
     West South Central
     Mountain
     Pacific
Total

We evaluate each of our mortgage loans individually for impairment and assign an internal credit quality rating based on a 
comprehensive rating system used to evaluate the credit risk of the loan.  The factors we use to derive our internal credit ratings 
may include the following:

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Loan-to-value ratio
Debt service coverage ratio based on current operating income
Property location, including regional economics, trends and demographics
Age, condition, and construction quality of property
Current and historical occupancy of property
Lease terms relative to market
Tenant size and financial strength
Borrower's financial strength
Borrower's equity in transaction
Additional collateral, if any

Although all available and applicable factors are considered in our analysis, loan-to-value and debt service coverage ratios are 
the most critical factors in determining whether we will initially issue the loan and also in assigning values and determining 
impairment.  We assign an overall rating to each loan using an internal rating scale of AA (highest quality) to B (lowest quality).  
We review and adjust, as needed, our internal credit quality ratings on an annual basis.  This review process is performed more 
frequently for mortgage loans deemed to have a higher risk of delinquency.  

141

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 3 - Investments - Continued

Mortgage loans, sorted by the applicable credit quality indicators, are as follows:

Internal Rating
     A
     BBB
     BB
Total

Loan-to-Value Ratio
     <= 65%
     > 65% <= 75%
     > 75% <= 85%
     > 85%
Total

December 31

2019

2018

(in millions of dollars)

485.6
1,911.4
—
2,397.0

1,215.1
1,053.0
91.4
37.5
2,397.0

$

$

$

$

477.5
1,814.1
3.4
2,295.0

1,204.8
1,049.1
11.8
29.3
2,295.0

$

$

$

$

There were no troubled debt restructurings during 2019 or 2017.  We had one mortgage loan which was modified in a troubled 
debt restructuring during the second quarter of 2018.  The loan had a principal balance of $3.6 million prior to the restructuring, 
wherein the terms of the loan were modified to reduce monthly payments to interest-only at the current note rate and to permit a 
discounted payoff by September 2018.  At time of restructuring, we recorded an allowance for credit losses on mortgage loans 
and recognized an impairment loss of $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2018.  The payoff of the loan did not occur in 
September 2018 and the loan was considered impaired as of December 31, 2018.  The loan was settled during the first quarter of 
2019 resulting in an additional loss of $0.1 million.  At December 31, 2019, we held no mortgage loans that were greater than 90 
days past due regarding principal and/or interest payments.

We had no realized losses on loan foreclosures for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

There have been no changes to our accounting policies or methodology from the prior period regarding estimating the allowance 
for credit losses on our mortgage loans.  There was no activity in the allowance for credit losses for the years ended 
December 31, 2019, 2018 or 2017 other than the impairment losses and associated release of the allowance related to the 
previously discussed 2018 troubled debt restructuring. 

Our average investment in impaired mortgage loans was $0.6 million and $2.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 
and 2018, respectively.  We did not hold any impaired mortgage loans for the year ended December 31, 2017.  We did not 
recognize any interest income during 2019, 2018 or 2017 on mortgage loans subsequent to impairment.

At December 31, 2019, we had commitments of $56.0 million to fund certain commercial mortgage loans, the amount of which 
may or may not be funded.      

Transfers of Financial Assets

To manage our cash position more efficiently, we may enter into repurchase agreements with unaffiliated financial institutions.  
We generally use repurchase agreements as a means to finance the purchase of invested assets or for short-term general business 
purposes until projected cash flows become available from our operations or existing investments.  Our repurchase agreements 
are typically outstanding for less than 30 days.  We post collateral through our repurchase agreement transactions whereby the 
counterparty commits to purchase securities with the agreement to resell them to us at a later, specified date.  The fair value of 
collateral posted is generally 102 percent of the cash received.     

142

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 3 - Investments - Continued

Our investment policy also permits us to lend fixed maturity securities to unaffiliated financial institutions in short-term 
securities lending agreements.  These agreements increase our investment income with minimal risk.  Our securities lending 
policy requires that a minimum of 102 percent of the fair value of the securities loaned be maintained as collateral.  We may 
receive cash and/or securities as collateral under these agreements.  Cash received as collateral is typically reinvested in short-
term investments.  If securities are received as collateral, we are not permitted to sell or re-post them.

As of December 31, 2019, the carrying amount of fixed maturity securities loaned to third parties under our securities lending 
program was $176.4 million, for which we received collateral in the form of securities of $186.5 million.  As of December 31, 
2018, the carrying amount of fixed maturity securities loaned to third parties under our securities lending program was $164.1 
million, for which we received collateral in the form of cash and securities of $0.1 million and $171.4 million, respectively.  We 
had no outstanding repurchase agreements at December 31, 2019 or 2018.

The remaining contractual maturities of our securities lending agreements disaggregated by class of collateral pledged are as 
follows:

Borrowings

All Other Corporate Bonds

Gross Amount of Recognized Liability for Securities Lending Transactions

Amounts Related to Agreements Not Included in Offsetting Disclosure Contained 
Herein

December 31

2019
2018
Overnight and Continuous
(in millions of dollars)

$

$

— $
—

— $

0.1
0.1

—

Certain of our U.S. insurance subsidiaries are members of regional FHLBs.  Membership, which requires that we purchase a 
minimum amount of FHLB common stock on which we receive dividends, provides access to low-cost funding.  Advances 
received from the FHLB are used for the purchase of fixed maturity securities.  Additional common stock purchases may be 
required, based on the amount of funds we borrow from the FHLBs.  The carrying value of common stock owned, collateral 
posted, and advances received are as follows:

Carrying Value of FHLB Common Stock
Advances from FHLB

Carrying Value of Collateral Posted to FHLB

Fixed Maturity Securities
Commercial Mortgage Loans

Total Carrying Value of Collateral Posted to FHLB

Offsetting of Financial Instruments

December 31

2019

2018

(in millions of dollars)

18.5

$
— $

182.1
164.4
346.5

$

$

24.1
104.0

219.8
179.9
399.7

$
$

$

$

We enter into master netting agreements with each of our derivatives counterparties.  These agreements provide for conditional 
rights of set-off upon the occurrence of an early termination event.  An early termination event is considered a default, and it 
allows the non-defaulting party to offset its contracts in a loss position against any gain positions or payments due to the 
defaulting party.  Under our agreements, default type events are defined as failure to pay or deliver as contractually agreed, 
misrepresentation, bankruptcy, or merger without assumption.  See Note 4 for further discussion of collateral related to our 
derivative contracts.

143

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 3 - Investments - Continued

We have securities lending agreements with unaffiliated financial institutions that post collateral to us in return for the use of our 
fixed maturity securities.  A right of set-off exists that allows us to keep and apply collateral received in the event of default by 
the counterparty.  Default within a securities lending agreement would typically occur if the counterparty failed to return the 
securities borrowed from us as contractually agreed.  In addition, if we default by not returning collateral received, the 
counterparty has a right of set-off against our securities or any other amounts due to us.  

Shown below are our financial instruments that either meet the accounting requirements that allow them to be offset in our 
balance sheets or that are subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement.  Our accounting policy is to 
not offset these financial instruments in our balance sheets.  Net amounts disclosed below have been reduced by the amount of 
collateral pledged to or received from our counterparties.

December 31, 2019

Gross Amount
of Recognized
Financial
Instruments

Gross Amount
Offset in
Balance Sheet

Gross Amount Not
Offset in Balance Sheet
Financial
Instruments

Cash
Collateral

Net Amount
Presented in
Balance Sheet
(in millions of dollars)

Net
Amount

Financial Assets:
Derivatives
Securities Lending

Total

Financial Liabilities:

Derivatives

Financial Assets:
Derivatives
Securities Lending

Total

Financial Liabilities:

Derivatives
Securities Lending

Total

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

27.5
176.4
203.9

$

$

— $
—
— $

27.5
176.4
203.9

$

$

(4.0) $

(176.4)
(180.4) $

(23.5) $
—
(23.5) $

—
—
—

34.6

$

— $

34.6

$

(31.3) $

— $

3.3

December 31, 2018

Gross Amount
of Recognized
Financial
Instruments

Gross Amount
Offset in
Balance Sheet

Gross Amount Not
Offset in Balance Sheet
Financial
Instruments

Cash
Collateral

Net Amount
Presented in
Balance Sheet
(in millions of dollars)

Net
Amount

30.9
164.1
195.0

38.0
0.1
38.1

$

$

$

$

(6.9) $

(164.0)
(170.9) $

(24.0) $
(0.1)
(24.1) $

(33.2) $
(0.1)
(33.3) $

— $
—
— $

—
—
—

4.8
—
4.8

30.9
164.1
195.0

38.0
0.1
38.1

$

$

$

$

— $
—
— $

— $
—
— $

144

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 3 - Investments - Continued

Net Investment Income

Net investment income reported in our consolidated statements of income is as follows: 

2019

Fixed Maturity Securities
Derivatives
Mortgage Loans
Policy Loans
Other Long-term Investments
Equity Securities1
Private Equity Partnerships2
Other

Short-term Investments
Gross Investment Income

Less Investment Expenses
Less Investment Income on Participation Fund Account Assets

Net Investment Income

$

$

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)
$

$

2,213.6
73.4
103.3
19.9

2,239.7
66.1
110.1
18.6

5.6
31.7
3.7
29.0
2,480.2
32.1
12.8
2,435.3

$

(0.2)
36.0
8.4
23.7
2,502.4
35.2
13.5
2,453.7

$

2017

2,271.8
56.4
104.2
17.9

1.5
25.5
10.0
11.3
2,498.6
32.8
14.1
2,451.7

1 The net unrealized gain recognized in net investment income for the year ended December 31, 2019 related to equity securities 
still held at December 31, 2019 was $3.3 million.  The net unrealized loss recognized in net investment income for the year 
ended December 31, 2018 related to equity securities still held at December 31, 2018 was $3.9 million.

2 The net unrealized gain recognized in net investment income for the year ended December 31, 2019 related to private equity 
partnerships still held at December 31, 2019 was $6.8 million.  The net unrealized gain recognized in net investment income for 
the year ended December 31, 2018 related to private equity partnerships still held at December 31, 2018 was $7.1 million.

Realized Investment Gain and Loss

Realized investment gains and losses are as follows:

Fixed Maturity Securities
Gross Gains on Sales
Gross Losses on Sales
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Loss

Mortgage Loans and Other Invested Assets

Gross Gains on Sales
Gross Losses on Sales
Impairment Loss

Embedded Derivative in Modified Coinsurance Arrangement
All Other Derivatives
Foreign Currency Transactions
Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss)

145

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)

2017

$

$

$

22.9
(32.6)
(25.3)

4.6
(0.3)
—
8.3
(0.1)
(0.7)
(23.2) $

$

9.7
(15.2)
(17.5)

0.5
—
(1.4)
(15.2)
0.3
(0.7)
(39.5) $

13.8
(4.4)
(8.1)

9.4
(0.2)
(0.9)
30.8
(0.1)
—
40.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 4 - Derivative Financial Instruments

Purpose of Derivatives

We are exposed to certain risks relating to our ongoing business operations.  The primary risks managed by using derivative 
instruments are interest rate risk, risk related to matching duration for our assets and liabilities, foreign currency risk, and credit 
risk.  Historically, we have utilized current and forward interest rate swaps, current and forward currency swaps, forward 
benchmark interest rate locks, currency forward contracts, forward contracts on specific fixed income securities, and credit 
default swaps.  Transactions hedging interest rate risk are primarily associated with our individual and group long-term care and 
individual and group disability products.  All other product portfolios are periodically reviewed to determine if hedging 
strategies would be appropriate for risk management purposes.  We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative 
purposes.

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges and used to reduce our exposure to interest rate and duration risk are as follows:

•

•

Interest rate swaps are used to hedge interest rate risks and to improve the matching of assets and liabilities.  An interest 
rate swap is an agreement in which we agree with other parties to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference 
between fixed rate and variable rate interest amounts.  We use interest rate swaps to hedge the anticipated purchase of 
fixed maturity securities thereby protecting us from the potential adverse impact of declining interest rates on the 
associated policy reserves.  We also use interest rate swaps to hedge the potential adverse impact of rising interest rates 
in anticipation of issuing fixed rate long-term debt.

Forward benchmark interest rate locks are used to minimize interest rate risk associated with the anticipated purchase 
or disposal of fixed maturity securities or debt.  A forward benchmark interest rate lock is a derivative contract without 
an initial investment where we and the counterparty agree to purchase or sell a specific benchmark interest rate fixed 
maturity bond at a future date at a pre-determined price.

Derivatives designated as fair value hedges and used to reduce our exposure to interest rate and duration risk are as follows:

•

Interest rate swaps are used to effectively convert certain of our fixed rate securities into floating rate securities which 
are used to fund our floating rate long-term debt.  Under these swap agreements, we receive a variable rate of interest 
and pay a fixed rate of interest.  Additionally, we use interest rate swaps to effectively convert certain fixed rate, long-
term debt into floating rate long-term debt.  Under these swap agreements, we receive a fixed rate of interest and pay a 
variable rate of interest.

Derivatives designated as either cash flow or fair value hedges and used to reduce our exposure to foreign currency risk are as 
follows:

•

Foreign currency interest rate swaps are used to hedge the currency risk of certain foreign currency-denominated fixed 
maturity securities owned for portfolio diversification.  Under these swap agreements, we agree to pay, at specified 
intervals, fixed rate foreign currency-denominated principal and interest payments in exchange for fixed rate payments 
in the functional currency of the operating segment. 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments and used to reduce our exposure to foreign currency risk, credit losses on 
securities owned, and interest rate risk are as follows: 

•

Foreign currency interest rate swaps previously designated as hedges were used to hedge the currency risk of certain 
foreign currency-denominated fixed maturity securities owned for portfolio diversification.  These derivatives were 
effective hedges prior to novation to a new counterparty.  In conjunction with the novation, these derivatives were de-
designated as hedges.  We agree to pay, at specified intervals, fixed rate foreign currency-denominated principal and 
interest payments in exchange for fixed rate payments in the functional currency of the operating segment.  We hold 
offsetting swaps wherein we agree to pay fixed rate principal and interest payments in the functional currency of the 
operating segment in exchange for fixed rate foreign currency-denominated payments.

146

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 4 - Derivative Financial Instruments - Continued

•

•

•

Credit default swaps are used as economic hedges against credit risk but do not qualify for hedge accounting.  A credit 
default swap is an agreement in which we agree with another party to pay, at specified intervals, a fixed-rate fee in 
exchange for insurance against a credit event on a specific investment.  If a defined credit event occurs, our 
counterparty may either pay us a net cash settlement, or we may surrender the specific investment to them in exchange 
for cash equal to the full notional amount of the swap.  Credit events typically include events such as bankruptcy, 
failure to pay, or certain types of debt restructuring.  

Interest rate swap was used to effectively convert certain of our floating rate, long-term debt into fixed rate long-term 
debt.  Under this swap agreement, we received a variable rate of interest and paid a fixed rate of interest.

Foreign currency forward contracts are used to minimize foreign currency risk.  A foreign currency forward is a 
derivative without an initial investment where we and the counterparty agree to exchange a specific amount of 
currencies, at a specific exchange rate, on a specific date.  We use these forward contracts to hedge the currency risk 
arising from foreign-currency denominated securities.

Derivative Risks

The basic types of risks associated with derivatives are market risk (that the value of the derivative will be adversely impacted by 
changes in the market, primarily the change in interest and exchange rates) and credit risk (that the counterparty will not perform 
according to the terms of the contract).  The market risk of the derivatives should generally offset the market risk associated with 
the hedged financial instrument or liability.  To help limit the credit exposure of the derivatives, we enter into master netting 
agreements with our counterparties whereby contracts in a gain position can be offset against contracts in a loss position.  We 
also typically enter into bilateral, cross-collateralization agreements with our counterparties to help limit the credit exposure of 
the derivatives.  These agreements require the counterparty in a loss position to submit acceptable collateral with the other 
counterparty in the event the net loss position meets or exceeds an agreed upon amount.  Credit exposure on derivatives is 
limited to the value of those contracts in a net gain position, including accrued interest receivable less collateral held.  At 
December 31, 2019, we had no credit exposure on derivatives.  Our credit exposure on derivatives was $0.9 million at 
December 31, 2018.  The table below summarizes the nature and amount of collateral received from and posted to our derivative 
counterparties. 

Carrying Value of Collateral Received from Counterparties

Cash

Carrying Value of Collateral Posted to Counterparties

Fixed Maturity Securities

See Note 3 for further discussion of our master netting agreements.

December 31

2019

2018

(in millions of dollars)

$

$

24.0

28.6

$

$

24.0

33.4

The majority of our derivative instruments contain provisions that require us to maintain specified issuer credit ratings and 
financial strength ratings.  Should our ratings fall below these specified levels, we would be in violation of the provisions, and 
our derivatives counterparties could terminate our contracts and request immediate payment.  The aggregate fair value of all 
derivative instruments with credit risk-related contingent features that were in a liability position was $34.6 million and $38.0 
million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

147

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 4 - Derivative Financial Instruments - Continued

Derivative Transactions

The table below summarizes, by notional amounts, the activity for each category of derivatives.  The notional amounts represent 
the basis upon which our counterparty pay and receive amounts are calculated.

Swaps

Receive
Variable/Pay
Fixed

Receive
Fixed/Pay
Fixed

Receive
Fixed/Pay
Variable

Credit 
Default

Forwards

Total

Balance at December 31, 2016

$

Additions
Terminations

Balance at December 31, 2017

Additions
Terminations

Balance at December 31, 2018

Additions
Terminations
Foreign Currency

Balance at December 31, 2019

$

Cash Flow Hedges

$

105.5
—
57.5
48.0
—
48.0
—
—
—
—
— $

616.5
26.4
106.4
536.5
78.1
76.4
538.2
171.3
98.4
—
611.1

(in millions of dollars)
$

$

250.0
—
—
250.0
—
—
250.0
—
—
—
250.0

$

$

70.0
—
—
70.0
11.0
70.0
11.0
—
—
0.4
11.4

$

$

10.0
65.7
75.7
—
47.4
47.4
—
382.4
373.1
(0.4)
8.9

$

$

1,052.0
92.1
239.6
904.5
136.5
241.8
799.2
553.7
471.5
—
881.4

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, we had $213.5 million and $286.4 million, respectively, notional amount of receive fixed, 
pay fixed, open current and forward foreign currency interest rate swaps to hedge fixed income foreign currency-denominated 
securities.  

During the third quarter of 2019, we entered into a $350.0 million notional forward benchmark interest rate lock in order to 
hedge the interest rate risk associated with the cash flows related to the tender offer and early redemption of certain of our debt 
securities.  We terminated the interest rate lock during 2019 and recognized a loss of $0.5 million that was reported with the $5.3 
million tender premium as a cost related to the early retirement of debt in our statement of income.  See Note 8 for further 
discussion of the tender offer and early redemption of certain of our debt securities.

As of December 31, 2019, we expect to amortize approximately $76.2 million of net deferred gains on derivative instruments 
during the next twelve months.  This amount will be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings 
and reported on the same income statement line item as the hedged item.  The income statement line items that will be affected 
by this amortization are net investment income and interest and debt expense.  Additional amounts that may be reclassified from 
accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings to offset the earnings impact of foreign currency translation of hedged 
items are not estimable.

As of December 31, 2019, we are hedging the variability of future cash flows associated with forecasted transactions through the 
year 2045.

Fair Value Hedges

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, we had $249.4 million and $78.1 million notional amount of receive fixed, pay fixed, open 
current and forward foreign currency interest rate swaps to hedge fixed income foreign currency-denominated securities. 

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, we had $250.0 million notional amount of receive fixed, pay variable interest rate swaps to 
hedge the changes in the fair value of certain fixed rate long-term debt.  These swaps effectively convert the associated fixed rate 

148

 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 4 - Derivative Financial Instruments - Continued

long-term debt into floating rate debt and provide for a better matching of interest rates with our short-term investments, which 
have frequent interest rate resets similar to a floating rate security.  

The following table summarizes the carrying amount of hedged assets and liabilities and the related cumulative basis adjustments 
related to our fair value hedges:

Carrying Amount of Hedged Assets (Liabilities)

Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging 
Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of 
the Hedged Assets (Liabilities)

December 31, 2019

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2019

December 31, 2018

(in millions of dollars)

Fixed maturity securities:

Receive fixed functional 
currency interest, pay 
fixed foreign currency 
interest

Long-term Debt

$

$

239.4

$

56.2

$

(249.2) $

(244.4) $

1.1

0.6

$

$

(2.7)

5.1

For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, $2.0 million and $2.5 million, respectively, of the derivative instruments' gain 
was excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.  There were no instances wherein we discontinued fair value hedge 
accounting due to a hedged firm commitment no longer qualifying as a fair value hedge.

Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, we held $148.2 million and $173.7 million, respectively, notional amount of receive fixed, 
pay fixed, foreign currency interest rate swaps.  These derivatives are not designated as hedges, and as such, changes in fair 
value related to these derivatives are reported in earnings as a component of net realized investment gain or loss. 

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, we held $11.4 million and $11.0 million, respectively, notional amount of single name 
credit default swaps.  We entered into these swaps in order to mitigate the credit risk associated with specific securities owned. 

As of December 31, 2019, we held $8.9 million notional amount of foreign currency forwards to mitigate the foreign currency 
risk associated with specific securities owned.

As of December 31, 2016, we held $3.5 million notional amount of receive variable, pay fixed interest rate swap acquired 
through our purchase of Starmount during 2016.  This swap effectively converted Starmount's floating rate long-term debt into 
fixed rate debt.  During 2017, we purchased and retired the debt and terminated the interest rate swap.  We recorded a loss of 
$0.1 million on the swap termination in our consolidated statements of income as a component of net realized investment gains 
and losses.  See Note 8.

We have an embedded derivative in a modified coinsurance arrangement for which we include in our realized investment gains 
and losses a calculation intended to estimate the value of the option of our reinsurance counterparty to cancel the reinsurance 
contract with us.  However, neither party can unilaterally terminate the reinsurance agreement except in extreme circumstances 
resulting from regulatory supervision, delinquency proceedings, or other direct regulatory action.  Cash settlements or collateral 
related to this embedded derivative are not required at any time during the reinsurance contract or at termination of the 
reinsurance contract.  There are no credit-related counterparty triggers, and any accumulated embedded derivative gain or loss 
reduces to zero over time as the reinsured business winds down.  

149

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 4 - Derivative Financial Instruments - Continued

Locations and Amounts of Derivative Financial Instruments

The following tables summarize the location and fair values of derivative financial instruments, as reported in our consolidated 
balance sheets.   

December 31, 2019

Derivative Assets

Derivative Liabilities

Balance Sheet
Location

Fair
Value
(in millions of dollars)

Balance Sheet
Location

Fair
Value

Designated as Hedging Instruments
Cash Flow Hedges

Foreign Exchange Contracts

Other L-T Investments

$

19.4 Other Liabilities

$

6.6

Fair Value Hedges

Interest Rate Swaps
Foreign Exchange Contracts

Total Fair Value Hedges

Other L-T Investments
Other L-T Investments

— Other Liabilities
7.6 Other Liabilities
7.6

Total Designated as Hedging Instruments

$

27.0

Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Credit Default Swaps
Foreign Exchange Contracts
Embedded Derivative in Modified 
Coinsurance Arrangement

Total Not Designated as Hedging 
Instruments

Other L-T Investments
Other L-T Investments

0.5 Other Liabilities
— Other Liabilities

Other L-T Investments

— Other Liabilities

0.6
5.0
5.6

12.2

—
22.4

22.8

$

$

$

0.5

$

45.2

150

 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 4 - Derivative Financial Instruments - Continued

December 31, 2018

Derivative Assets

Derivative Liabilities

Balance Sheet
Location

Fair
Value
(in millions of dollars)

Balance Sheet
Location

Fair
Value

Designated as Hedging Instruments
Cash Flow Hedges

Foreign Exchange Contracts

Other L-T Investments

$

25.0 Other Liabilities

$

7.9

Fair Value Hedges
   Interest Rate Swaps

Foreign Exchange Contracts

Total Fair Value Hedges

Total Designated as Hedging Instruments

Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Credit Default Swaps
Foreign Exchange Contracts
Embedded Derivative in Modified 
Coinsurance Arrangement

Total Not Designated as Hedging 
Instruments

Other L-T Investments
Other L-T Investments

Other L-T Investments
Other L-T Investments

Other L-T Investments

— Other Liabilities
5.4 Other Liabilities
5.4

30.4

0.5 Other Liabilities
— Other Liabilities

— Other Liabilities

5.2
0.4
5.6

13.5

—
24.5

31.1

$

$

0.5

$

55.6

$

$

$

151

 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 4 - Derivative Financial Instruments - Continued

The following tables summarize the location of gains and losses of derivative financial instruments designated as hedging 
instruments, as reported in our consolidated statements of income. 

Total Income and Expense Presented in the Consolidated Statements 
of Income of Which Hedged Items are Recorded

$

2,435.3

$

(23.2) $

177.4

Year Ended December 31, 2019

Net Investment 
Income

Net Realized 
Investment 
Gain (Loss)
(in millions of dollars)

Interest and 
Debt Expense

Gain (Loss) on Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
Interest Rate Swaps:

Hedged items
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

Foreign Exchange Contracts:

Hedged items
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

Gain (Loss) on Fair Value Hedging Relationships
Interest Rate Swaps:

Hedged items
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

Foreign Exchange Contracts

Hedged items
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

294.6
74.3

14.8
(2.0)

—
—

2.9
1.9

(1.6)
9.3

1.4
(1.4)

(4.5)
4.5

3.8
(3.8)

30.4
2.4

—
—

14.3
2.5

—
—

152

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 4 - Derivative Financial Instruments - Continued

Total Income and Expense Presented in the Consolidated Statements 
of Income of Which Hedged Items are Recorded

$

2,453.7

$

(39.5) $

167.3

Year Ended December 31, 2018

Net Investment 
Income

Net Realized 
Investment 
Gain (Loss)
(in millions of dollars)

Interest and 
Debt Expense

Gain (Loss) on Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
Interest Rate Swaps:

Hedged items
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

Foreign Exchange Contracts:

Hedged items
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

Gain (Loss) on Fair Value Hedging Relationships
Interest Rate Swaps:

Hedged items
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

Foreign Exchange Contracts

Hedged items
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

310.3
67.1

18.1
(0.9)

1.0
(0.5)

0.6
0.5

0.1
(0.3)

1.5
(1.5)

0.1
(0.1)

(2.7)
2.7

38.4
2.3

—
—

14.3
1.8

—
—

Year Ended December 31, 2017

Net Investment 
Income

Net Realized 
Investment 
Gain (Loss)
(in millions of dollars)

Interest and 
Debt Expense

Total Income and Expense Presented in the Consolidated Statements 
of Income of Which Hedged Items are Recorded

$

2,451.7

$

40.3

$

159.9

Gain (Loss) on Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
Interest Rate Swaps:

Hedged items
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

Foreign Exchange Contracts:

Hedged items
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

Gain (Loss) on Fair Value Hedging Relationships
Interest Rate Swaps:

Hedged items
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

153

321.1
60.4

21.7
(1.2)

4.8
(3.2)

2.5
0.2

8.9
(9.2)

(1.7)
1.7

44.9
2.2

—
—

14.3
(0.6)

 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 4 - Derivative Financial Instruments - Continued

The following table summarizes the location of gains and losses of derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow 
hedging instruments, as reported in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). 

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)

2017

Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on 
Derivatives
Interest Rate Swaps and Forwards
Foreign Exchange Contracts

Total

$

$

(0.1) $
(6.1)
(6.2) $

(0.1) $
16.9
16.8

$

(0.1)
(23.0)
(23.1)

The following table summarizes the location of gains and losses on our derivatives not designated as hedging instruments, as 
reported in our consolidated statements of income.

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)

2017

Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss)

Credit Default Swaps
Interest Rate Swaps
Foreign Exchange Contracts
Embedded Derivative in Modified Coinsurance Arrangement
Total

$

$

(0.1) $
—
—
8.3
8.2

$

(0.3) $
(0.3)
0.9
(15.2)
(14.9) $

(0.4)
(0.1)
0.4
30.8
30.7

154

 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 5 - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) 

Components of our accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), after tax, and related changes are as follows: 

Net 
Unrealized 
Gain (Loss) 
on Securities

Net Gain on 
Hedges

Foreign 
Currency 
Translation 
Adjustment

Unrecognized 
Pension and 
Postretirement 
Benefit Costs

Total

(in millions of dollars)

Balance at December 31, 2016

$

440.6

$

327.5

$

(354.0) $

(465.1) $

(51.0)

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) 
Before Reclassifications

Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated 
Other Comprehensive Income or Loss
Net Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Balance at December 31, 2017

Adjustment to Adopt Accounting Standard 
Update - Note 1

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) 
Before Reclassifications
Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated 
Other Comprehensive Income or Loss
Net Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Balance at December 31, 2018

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) 
Before Reclassifications
Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated 
Other Comprehensive Income or Loss
Net Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Balance at December 31, 2019

$

176.7

(14.7)

99.5

(55.9)

205.6

(9.5)
167.2
607.8

(17.5)

(920.3)

17.6
(902.7)
(312.4)

894.1

34.2
928.3
615.9

(30.5)
(45.2)
282.3

—

16.8

(48.5)
(31.7)
250.6

—
99.5
(254.5)

—

(50.7)

—
(50.7)
(305.2)

12.9
(43.0)
(508.1)

—

43.6

17.3
60.9
(447.2)

(0.2)

23.6

(52.0)

(62.6)
(62.8)
187.8

$

—
23.6
(281.6) $

14.4
(37.6)
(484.8) $

$

(27.1)
178.5
127.5

(17.5)

(910.6)

(13.6)
(924.2)
(814.2)

865.5

(14.0)
851.5
37.3

The net unrealized gain (loss) on securities consists of the following components:  

December 31

2019

2018

January 1
2018

December 31

2017

2016

(in millions of dollars)

Change for the Year Ended 
December 31
2018

2017

2019

Fixed Maturity Securities
Other Investments

$ 6,364.4
—

$ 2,736.5
—

$ 5,665.2
—

$ 5,677.3
14.4

$ 4,664.6
(22.7)

$ 3,627.9
—

$(2,928.7) $ 1,012.7
37.1

—

Deferred Acquisition Costs

(62.7)

(27.9)

(51.4)

(51.4)

(38.9)

(34.8)

23.5

(12.5)

Reserves for Future Policy 
and Contract Benefits
Reinsurance Recoverable
Income Tax
Total

(5,803.1)
424.7
(307.4)
615.9

$

(3,220.3)
261.4
(62.1)
$ (312.4) $

(5,094.7)
375.8
(304.6)
590.3

(5,094.7)
375.8
(313.6)
607.8

$

(4,253.2)
321.3
(230.5)
440.6

$

(2,582.8)
163.3
(245.3)
928.3

$

1,874.4
(114.4)
242.5
$ (902.7) $

(841.5)
54.5
(83.1)
167.2

155

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 5 - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Continued

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were recognized in our consolidated statements of 
income as follows:

Net Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Securities
Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss)

Gain (Loss) on Sales of Securities and Other Invested Assets
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Loss

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Total

Net Gain on Hedges
Net Investment Income

Gain on Interest Rate Swaps and Forwards
Loss on Foreign Exchange Contracts

Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss)

Gain on Interest Rate Swaps
Loss on Foreign Exchange Contracts

Interest and Debt Expense

Loss on Interest Rate Swaps
Loss on Forward 

Income Tax Expense
Total

Unrecognized Pension and Postretirement Benefit Costs
Other Expenses

Amortization of Net Actuarial Loss
Amortization of Prior Service Credit

Income Tax Benefit
Total

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)

2017

$

$

$

$

$

$

(18.0) $
(25.3)
(43.3)
(9.1)
(34.2) $

(4.8) $
(17.5)
(22.3)
(4.7)
(17.6) $

$

73.6
0.8

$

65.9
(1.1)

8.8
(1.3)

(2.1)
(0.5)
79.3
16.7
62.6

$

(18.6) $
0.2
(18.4)
(4.0)
(14.4) $

0.2
(1.5)

(2.1)
—
61.4
12.9
48.5

$

(22.3) $
0.2
(22.1)
(4.8)
(17.3) $

22.7
(8.1)
14.6
5.1
9.5

59.0
(1.2)

0.2
(9.2)

(2.0)
—
46.8
16.3
30.5

(20.3)
0.7
(19.6)
(6.7)
(12.9)

156

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 6 - Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses

Changes in the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses are as follows:  

2019

Balance at January 1
   Less Reinsurance Recoverable
Net Balance at January 1

$

23,149.0
2,227.3
20,921.7

23,222.0
2,182.0
21,040.0

2018
(in millions of dollars)
$

$

2017

23,249.5
2,163.6
21,085.9

Incurred Related to
   Current Year
   Prior Years
      Interest
      All Other Incurred
      Foreign Currency
Total Incurred

Paid Related to
   Current Year
   Prior Years
Total Paid

Net Balance at December 31
   Plus Reinsurance Recoverable
Balance at December 31

6,113.2

5,832.3

5,422.9

1,036.5
(274.1)
76.0
6,951.6

1,049.8
(106.2)
(110.7)
6,665.2

1,089.7
(158.2)
167.5
6,521.9

(2,532.4)
(4,511.0)
(7,043.4)

(2,354.7)
(4,428.8)
(6,783.5)

(2,156.9)
(4,410.9)
(6,567.8)

20,829.9
2,246.8
23,076.7

$

20,921.7
2,227.3
23,149.0

$

21,040.0
2,182.0
23,222.0

$

The majority of the net balances are related to disability claims with long-tail payouts on which interest earned on assets backing 
liabilities is an integral part of pricing and reserving.  Interest accrued on prior year reserves has been calculated on the opening 
reserve balance less one-half of the year’s claim payments relative to prior years at our average reserve discount rate for the 
respective periods.

"Incurred Related to Prior Years - All Other Incurred" shown in the preceding chart includes the reserve adjustments as 
discussed in the following paragraphs, which impact the comparability between the years presented.  Excluding those 
adjustments, the variability exhibited year over year is primarily caused by the level of claim resolutions in the period relative to 
the long-term expectations reflected in the reserves.  Our claim resolution rate assumption used in determining reserves is our 
expectation of the resolution rate we will experience over the life of the block of business and will vary from actual experience in 
any one period, both favorably and unfavorably.

2018 Long-term Care Reserve Increase

Policy reserves for our long-term care block of business are determined using the gross premium valuation method and, prior to 
the third quarter of 2018, were valued based on assumptions established as of December 31, 2014, the date of our last 
assumption update under loss recognition.  Gross premium valuation assumptions do not change after the date of loss recognition 
unless reserves are again determined to be deficient.  We undertake a review of policy reserve adequacy annually during the 
fourth quarter of each year, or more frequently if appropriate, using best estimate assumptions as of the date of the review. 

157

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 6 - Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses

During the third quarter of 2018, we completed our annual review of policy reserve adequacy, which incorporated our most 
recent experience and included a review of all assumptions, including active policy terminations, claims incidence, claim 
terminations, morbidity, premium rate increases, and new money yield rates.  The review utilized internal and external data and 
outside consulting firms for quality assurance and industry benchmarking.  Based on our analysis, during the third quarter of 
2018, we updated our reserve assumptions and determined that our policy and claim reserves should be increased by $750.8 
million, or $593.1 million after tax, to reflect our current estimate of future benefit obligations.  This increase was primarily 
driven by the update to our liability and interest rate assumptions, particularly claims incidence and claim termination rates, 
which resulted in an increase to reserves of approximately $2.2 billion.  Partially offsetting the increase was the update to our 
assumptions for premium rate increases which decreased reserves approximately $1.4 billion, resulting in the net increase to 
reserves of $750.8 million.  Of this amount, approximately $236 million was related to our liability for unpaid claims and claims 
adjustment expenses, which can be primarily attributed to prior year incurred claims, thereby impacting the results shown in the 
preceding chart.

2017 Unclaimed Death Benefits Reserve Increase

Similar to other insurers, we were the subject of an examination by a third party acting on behalf of a number of state treasurers 
concerning our compliance with the unclaimed property laws of the participating states.  We cooperated fully with this 
examination and in the fourth quarter of 2017, we started the process to reach a Global Resolution Agreement with the third 
party regarding settlement of the examination, which we finalized in January of 2018.  Under the terms of the agreement, the 
third party acting on behalf of the signatory states compared insured data to the Social Security Administration's Death Master 
File to identify deceased insureds and contract holders where a valid claim has not been made.  During the fourth quarter of 
2017, we established reserves which reflect our estimate of the liability expected to be paid as we execute on the terms of the 
settlement.  Claim reserves were increased $18.5 million for Unum US group life, $8.1 million for Unum US voluntary life, and 
$12.4 million for Colonial Life voluntary life, for a total reserve increase of $39.0 million before tax.  The reserves established 
were attributed to prior years incurred claims, thereby impacting the results shown in the preceding chart.

Reconciliation

A reconciliation of policy and contract benefits and reserves for future policy and contract benefits as reported in our 
consolidated balance sheets to the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses is as follows:

Policy and Contract Benefits
Reserves for Future Policy and Contract Benefits
Total
Less:
   Life Reserves for Future Policy and Contract Benefits
   Accident and Health Active Life Reserves

Adjustment Related to Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses

$

$

December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)
$

$

1,695.7
44,841.9
46,537.6

2019

1,745.5
47,780.1
49,525.6

8,435.7
12,210.1
5,803.1
23,076.7

$

8,330.9
11,837.4
3,220.3
23,149.0

$

2017

1,605.2
45,601.6
47,206.8

8,231.3
10,658.8
5,094.7
23,222.0

The adjustment related to unrealized investment gains and losses reflects the changes that would be necessary to policyholder 
liabilities if the unrealized investment gains and losses related to the corresponding available-for-sale securities had been 
realized.  Changes in this adjustment are reported as a component of other comprehensive income or loss. 

158

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 7 - Income Tax

Total income tax expense (benefit) is allocated as follows:

2019

Net Income
Stockholders' Equity - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

$

Change in Net Unrealized Gain on Securities Before Adjustment

757.0

(614.2)

Change in Adjustment to Deferred Acquisition Costs and Reserves for 
Future Policy and Contract Benefits, Net of Reinsurance 
Change in Net Gain on Hedges
Change in Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
Change in Unrecognized Pension and Postretirement Benefit Costs

Total

(511.7)
(17.0)
0.2
(9.3)
501.0

$

371.7
(8.2)
(0.6)
17.0
(129.9) $

$

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)
$

104.4

$

281.8

2017

409.8

328.1

(245.0)
(24.4)
—
(8.3)
460.2

A reconciliation of the income tax provision at the U.S. federal statutory rate to the income tax rate as reported in our 
consolidated statements of income is as follows.  Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year
reporting. 

Statutory Income Tax
U.S. Deferred Tax Liability Remeasurement
Deemed Repatriation Tax on Foreign Earnings and Profit (E&P)
Tax Exempt Income
Tax Credits
Policyholder Reserves
Other Items, Net
Effective Tax

Year Ended December 31
2018

2017

2019

21.0 %
—
—
(0.5)
(1.1)
—
1.0
20.4 %

21.0 %
—
1.8
(1.3)
(2.4)
(2.4)
(0.1)
16.6 %

35.0 %
(7.0)
4.7
(0.8)
(1.5)
—
(1.2)
29.2 %

159

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 7 - Income Tax - Continued

Our net deferred tax asset (liability) consists of the following:

Deferred Tax Asset

   Reserves

   Employee Benefits

   Other

Gross Deferred Tax Asset

   Less: Valuation Allowance

Net Deferred Tax Asset

Deferred Tax Liability

   Deferred Acquisition Costs

   Fixed Assets 

   Invested Assets

   Intangible Assets

   Other

December 31

2019

2018

(in millions of dollars)

$

1,154.6

$

201.6

19.4

1,375.6

28.3

1,347.3

115.6

58.5

1,213.7

21.4

33.5

Gross Deferred Tax Liability
Net Deferred Tax Asset (Liability)

$

1,442.7

(95.4) $

668.5

179.5

17.7

865.7

18.4

847.3

129.7

56.2

493.4

24.0

34.1

737.4
109.9

160

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 7 - Income Tax - Continued

Our consolidated statements of income include amounts subject to both domestic and foreign taxation.  The income and 
related tax expense (benefit) are as follows.  The federal statutory rates used were 21 percent for 2019 and 2018 and 35 percent 
for 2017: 

Income Before Tax
   Domestic
   Foreign
   Total

Current Tax Expense (Benefit)
   Federal
   State and Local
   Foreign
   Total

Deferred Tax Expense (Benefit)
   Federal
   State and Local
   Foreign
   Total

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)

2017

$

$

$

$

$

$

1,289.5
92.6
1,382.1

273.6
1.3
(0.1)
274.8

(9.5)
(0.1)
16.6
7.0

$

$

$

492.6
135.2
627.8

194.6
(0.6)
33.4
227.4

(114.6)
(0.2)
(8.2)
(123.0)

1,289.0
115.0
1,404.0

374.9
0.4
26.0
401.3

14.2
(0.3)
(5.4)
8.5

Total Tax Expense

$

281.8

$

104.4

$

409.8

161

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 7 - Income Tax - Continued

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Federal government enacted the TCJA, which reduced the federal corporate tax rate from 35 
percent to 21 percent effective January 1, 2018.  Although the TCJA's 21 percent corporate tax rate became effective on January 
1, 2018, we are required to adjust deferred tax assets and liabilities through continuing operations on the date of enactment.  As a 
result, in 2017, we recorded an income tax benefit of $97.9 million for the TCJA's corporate tax rate reduction and an income tax 
expense of $66.4 million for the deemed repatriation transition tax on accumulated foreign E&P.

TCJA brought a large number of complex changes to many areas of the tax code.  The Securities and Exchange Commission 
issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (SAB 118) allowing a one-year measurement period after the enactment date of TCJA 
to finalize the calculation and record the related tax impacts.  We finalized and recorded adjustments to our initial estimates 
during 2018.  As a result of guidance from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), we recorded additional deemed repatriation 
transition tax on accumulated foreign E&P of $11.5 million, for a total of $77.9 million.  We recorded no other material changes 
to our calculations of the impact of the TCJA during the one-year measurement period after the enactment period as allowed by 
SAB 118.

Effective January 1, 2018, the TCJA created a U.S. shareholder tax on certain foreign subsidiary income above a routine equity 
return on tangible depreciable business assets, or a tax on Global Intangible Low-taxed Income (GILTI).  The Financial 
Accounting Standards Board has provided additional guidance to address the accounting effects of GILTI, requiring companies 
to elect to either recognize deferred taxes related to GILTI or include in tax expense in the period incurred.  We have elected to 
treat GILTI as a period cost.

Under the TCJA, a modified territorial tax system was adopted that required a one-time Deemed Repatriation Tax on 
accumulated foreign E&P.  Future repatriation of foreign E&P subject to the one-time Deemed Repatriation Tax will not be 
subject to further U.S. taxation other than tax on foreign currency translation gain or loss.  As of December 31, 2019, our plans 
for the future repatriations of cash from our foreign subsidiaries include only the amount of capital above that which is required 
by Solvency II.  The remainder of our investment in our foreign subsidiaries is indefinitely reinvested and we have not recorded 
any deferred taxes on the approximately $0.7 billion of the excess of the U.S. GAAP carrying values over the tax basis of 
investments in our foreign subsidiaries. 

Our consolidated statements of income include the following changes in unrecognized tax benefits.  Certain prior year amounts 
have been reclassified to conform to current year reporting.  

2019

December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)
$

$

Balance at Beginning of Year
Increases (Decreases) for Tax Positions Related to Prior Years
Increases (Decreases) for Tax Positions Related to Current Year
Settlements with Tax Authorities
Lapse of the Applicable Statute of Limitations
Balance at End of Year
Less Tax Attributable to Temporary Items Included Above

$

262.2
(21.1)
—
—
(0.1)
241.0
(127.1)

1.4
261.5
—
—
(0.7)
262.2
(148.2)

Total Unrecognized Tax Benefits That if Recognized Would Affect the 
Effective Tax Rate

$

113.9

$

114.0

$

2017

1.5
0.3
—
—
(0.4)
1.4
—

1.4

During 2018, we recorded $261.1 million gross unrecognized tax benefits for a policyholder reserves position taken on our 2017 
federal tax return, which if recognized, would decrease our tax expense by $112.9 million.  The balances of unrecognized tax 
benefits for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such 
deductibility are $127.1 million and $148.2 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  It is reasonably possible that 
this item could reverse in the next 12 months following review by the IRS.  We recognize interest expense and penalties, if 
applicable, related to unrecognized tax benefits in tax expense.  We recognized $12.8 million of interest expense related to 
unrecognized tax benefits during 2019 and a de minimis amount in 2018 and 2017.  We held corresponding liabilities related to 
this interest expense in our consolidated balance sheets.

162

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 7 - Income Tax - Continued

We file federal and state income tax returns in the United States and in foreign jurisdictions.  Tax years subsequent to 2014 
remain subject to examination by the IRS.  Tax years subsequent to 2015 remain subject to examination by the IRS for the 
subsidiaries not included in the consolidated tax return.  All other major foreign jurisdictions remain subject to examination for 
tax years subsequent to 2017 with the exception of Poland for which tax years subsequent to 2013 remain subject to 
examination.  We believe sufficient provision has been made for all potential adjustments for years that are not closed by the 
statute of limitations in all major tax jurisdictions and that any such adjustments would not have a material adverse effect on our 
financial position, liquidity, or results of operations.

We file state income tax returns in nearly every state in the United States.  Tax years subsequent to 2014 remain subject to 
examination depending on the statute of limitation established by the various states, which is generally three to four years.  Tax 
years subsequent to 2010 remain subject to examination in California.   

We have accumulated federal net operating loss carryforwards of $10.6 million and $6.5 million as of December 31, 2019 and 
2018, respectively.  Current year net operating losses relate to subsidiaries not yet included in the consolidated U.S. federal tax 
return and are not expected to expire unused.  Our federal capital loss carryforward, also related to subsidiaries not included in 
the consolidated U.S. federal return, was $0.7 million at both December 31, 2019 and 2018 and is expected to be utilized by the 
time it expires in 2022.  We have net operating loss carryforwards for state and local income tax of approximately $183 million, 
most of which is expected to expire unused between 2020 and 2039.

We record valuation allowances to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.  Our 
valuation allowance was $28.3 million and $18.4 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, the majority of which related to our 
cumulative deferred state income tax benefits.  The de minimis remaining amount of our valuation allowance relates to 
unrealized tax losses on buildings which we own and occupy in the U.K.  We recorded a decrease in our valuation allowance in 
2018 of $1.9 million and an increase of $9.9 million during 2019, primarily in other comprehensive income.

Total income taxes paid net of refunds during 2019, 2018, and 2017 were $35.1 million, $139.7 million, and $377.0 million, 
respectively.

163

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 8 - Debt

Debt consists of the following: 

Long-term Debt
Outstanding Principal
   Senior Secured Notes issued 2007
   Senior Notes issued 1998
   Senior Notes issued 2002
   Senior Notes issued 2010
   Senior Notes issued 2012 and 2016
   Senior Notes issued 2014
   Senior Notes issued 2015
   Senior Notes issued 2016
   Senior Notes issued 2019
   Senior Notes issued 2019
   Medium-term Notes issued 1990 - 1996
   Junior Subordinated Debt Securities issued 1998
   Junior Subordinated Debt Securities issued 2018
Fair Value Hedge Adjustment
Less:

Unamortized Net Premium
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs

Total Long-term Debt   

Short-term Debt
Outstanding Principal

Senior Notes issued 2010

Less Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs
Total Short-term Debt

Interest Rates

Maturities

December 31

2019
2018
(in millions of dollars)

$

Variable
6.750 - 7.250%
7.375%
5.625%
5.750%
4.000%
3.875%
3.000%
4.000%
4.500%
7.000 - 7.190%
7.405%
6.250%

2037
2028
2032
2020
2042
2024
2025
2021
2029
2049
2023 - 2028
2038
2058

5.625%

2020

$

80.0
335.8
39.5
—
500.0
350.0
275.0
—
400.0
450.0
20.5
203.7
300.0
(0.6)

140.0
365.8
39.5
400.0
500.0
350.0
275.0
350.0
—
—
50.8
226.5
300.0
(5.1)

8.4
(35.4)
2,926.9

9.6
(30.8)
2,971.3

400.0
(0.3)
399.7

—
—
—

Total Debt

$

3,326.6

$

2,971.3

Collateralized debt is comprised of our senior secured notes and ranks highest in priority, followed by unsecured notes, which 
consist of senior notes and medium-term notes, followed by junior subordinated debt securities.  The medium-term notes are 
non-callable and the junior subordinated debt securities are callable under limited, specified circumstances.  The remaining debt 
is callable and may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time. 

The aggregate contractual principal maturities are $400.0 million in 2020, $2.0 million in 2023, $350.0 million in 2024, and 
$2,602.5 million thereafter.

Senior Secured Notes

In 2007, Northwind Holdings, LLC (Northwind Holdings), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Unum Group, issued $800.0 million of 
insured, senior secured notes (the Northwind notes) in a private offering.  The Northwind notes bear interest at a floating rate 
equal to the three-month LIBOR plus 0.78%.  

164

  
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 8 - Debt - Continued

Northwind Holdings’ ability to meet its obligations to pay principal, interest, and other amounts due on the Northwind notes will 
be dependent principally on its receipt of dividends from Northwind Reinsurance Company (Northwind Re), the sole subsidiary 
of Northwind Holdings.  Northwind Re reinsured the risks attributable to specified individual disability insurance policies issued 
by or reinsured by Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company, Unum Life Insurance Company of America, and The Paul 
Revere Life Insurance Company (collectively, the ceding insurers) pursuant to separate reinsurance agreements between 
Northwind Re and each of the ceding insurers.  The ability of Northwind Re to pay dividends to Northwind Holdings will 
depend on its satisfaction of applicable regulatory requirements and the performance of the reinsured policies.  

Recourse for the payment of principal, interest and other amounts due on the Northwind notes is limited to the collateral for the 
Northwind notes and the other assets, if any, of Northwind Holdings.  The collateral consists of a first priority, perfected security 
interest in (a) the debt service coverage account (DSCA) that Northwind Holdings is required to maintain in accordance with the 
indenture pursuant to which the Northwind notes were issued (the Northwind indenture), (b) the capital stock of Northwind Re 
and the dividends and distributions on such capital stock, and (c) Northwind Holdings' rights under the transaction documents 
related to the Northwind notes to which Northwind Holdings is a party.  At December 31, 2019, the amount in the DSCA was 
$64.3 million.  None of Unum Group, the ceding insurers, Northwind Re, or any other affiliate of Northwind Holdings is an 
obligor or guarantor with respect to the Northwind notes.  

Northwind Holdings is required to repay a portion of the outstanding principal under the Northwind notes at par on the quarterly 
scheduled payment dates under the Northwind notes in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) a targeted amortization amount as 
defined in the Northwind indenture and (ii) the amount of the remaining available funds in the DSCA minus an amount equal to 
the minimum balance that is required to be maintained in the DSCA under the Northwind indenture, provided that Northwind 
Holdings has sufficient funds available to pay its other expenses, including interest payments on the Northwind notes, and to 
maintain the minimum balance in the DSCA as required under the Northwind indenture.  Northwind Holdings made principal 
payments on the Northwind notes of $60.0 million in each of 2019, 2018, and 2017.

In 2017, we purchased and retired the remaining $3.4 million of principal on our senior secured floating rate notes acquired 
through our purchase of Starmount Life Insurance Company.  In conjunction with this retirement, we also terminated the interest 
rate swap associated with the hedge of these notes and recorded a $0.1 million loss in our consolidated statements of income as a 
component of net realized investment gains and losses.  See Note 4 for further discussion on the interest rate swap.

Unsecured Notes

During 2019 we purchased and retired (i) $30.3 million aggregate principal amount of our 7.190% medium-term notes due 2028; 
(ii) $30.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 7.250% senior notes due 2028; and (iii) $350.0 million aggregate principal 
amount of our 3.000% senior notes due 2021.

In September 2019, we issued $450.0 million of 4.500% senior notes due 2049.  The notes are callable at or above par and rank 
equally in the right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

In June 2019, we issued $400.0 million of 4.000% senior notes due 2029.  The notes are callable at or above par and rank 
equally in the right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

In July 2018, our $200.0 million 7.000% senior unsecured notes matured.

Fair Value Hedges 

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, we had $250.0 million notional amount of an interest rate swap which effectively converts 
certain of our unsecured senior notes into floating rate debt.  Under this agreement, we receive a fixed rate of interest and pay a 
variable rate of interest, based off of three-month LIBOR.  See Note 4 for further information on the interest rate swap.   

165

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 8 - Debt - Continued

Junior Subordinated Debt Securities

In May 2018, we issued $300.0 million of 6.250% junior subordinated notes due 2058.  The notes are redeemable at or above par 
on or after June 15, 2023 and rank equally in the right of payment with our other junior subordinated debt securities.

In 1998, Provident Financing Trust I (the Trust), a 100 percent-owned finance subsidiary of Unum Group, issued $300.0 million 
of 7.405% capital securities due 2038 in a public offering.  These capital securities are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by 
Unum Group, have a liquidation value of $1,000 per capital security, and have a mandatory redemption feature under certain 
circumstances.  In connection with the capital securities offering, Unum Group issued to the Trust 7.405% junior subordinated 
deferrable interest debentures due 2038.  The Trust is a variable interest entity of which Unum Group is not the primary 
beneficiary.  Accordingly, the capital securities issued by the Trust are not included in our consolidated financial statements and 
our liability represents the junior subordinated debt securities owed to the trust which is recorded in long-term debt.  The sole 
assets of the Trust are the junior subordinated debt securities.  The retirement of any liquidation amount regarding the capital 
securities by the Trust results in a corresponding retirement of principal amount of the junior subordinated debt securities.  

During 2019, the Trust purchased and retired $22.8 million aggregate liquidation amount of the 7.405% capital securities due 
2038, which resulted in our purchase and retirement of a corresponding principal amount of our 7.405% junior subordinated debt 
securities due 2038.

Cost Related to Early Retirement of Debt

During 2019, we incurred costs of $27.3 million related to the early retirement of certain of our unsecured notes and junior 
subordinated debt securities as previously discussed.

Interest Paid

Interest paid on long-term and short-term debt and related securities during 2019, 2018, and 2017 was $172.9 million, $167.3 
million, and $154.4 million, respectively.  

Credit Facilities

In April 2019, we amended the terms of our existing five-year unsecured revolving credit facility, increasing it from $400.0 
million to $500.0 million.  The credit facility, which was previously set to expire in 2021, was extended through April 2024.  
Under the terms of the amended agreement, we may request that the credit facility be increased up to $700.0 million, up from the 
previous amount of $600.0 million.  We also may request, on up to two occasions, that the lenders' commitment termination 
dates be extended by one year.  The credit facility provides for the issuance of letters of credit subject to certain terms and 
limitations.  At December 31, 2019, letters of credit totaling $0.6 million had been issued from the credit facility, but there were 
no borrowed amounts outstanding.

Also in April 2019, we separately entered into a three-year, $100.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility with a different 
syndicate of lenders, which is set to expire in April 2022.  Under the terms of the agreement, we may request that the credit 
facility be increased up to $140.0 million.  We also may request that the lenders' commitment termination dates be extended by 
one year.  The credit facility provides for the issuance of letters of credit subject to certain terms and limitations.  At 
December 31, 2019, there have been no letters of credit issued from the credit facility and there were no borrowed amounts 
outstanding.

Borrowings under the credit facilities are for general corporate uses and are subject to financial covenants, negative covenants, 
and events of default that are customary.  The two primary financial covenants include limitations based on our leverage ratio 
and consolidated net worth.  We are also subject to covenants that limit subsidiary indebtedness.  The credit facilities provide for 
borrowings at an interest rate based either on the prime rate or LIBOR.

166

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans

Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit (OPEB) Plans

We sponsor several defined benefit pension and OPEB plans for our employees, including non-qualified pension plans.  The 
U.S. qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans comprise the majority of our total benefit obligation and benefit 
cost.  We maintain a separate defined benefit plan for eligible employees in our U.K. operation.  The U.S. defined benefit 
pension plans were closed to new entrants on December 31, 2013, the OPEB plan was closed to new entrants on December 31, 
2012, and the U.K. plan was closed to new entrants on December 31, 2002.

Amendments to Pension Plan

In 2017, we amended our U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan by modifying the qualified pre-retirement survivor annuity 
form of payment for married participants from a 67 percent joint and survivor annuity to a 100 percent joint and survivor benefit 
to the participant's spousal beneficiary in the event a participant pre-deceased prior to reaching pension eligibility and 
affirmatively electing a form of benefit.  This amendment became effective January 1, 2018.  As a result of this amendment, we 
recognized an increase in the net pension liability of $7.6 million, with a corresponding prior service cost included in 
accumulated other comprehensive income.

U.S. Pension Plan Annuity Purchases 

On December 26, 2019, we purchased a group annuity contract which transferred a portion of our U.S. qualified defined benefit 
pension plan obligation to a third party.  Under the transaction, which was funded with plan assets, we transferred the 
responsibility for pension benefits and annuity administration for approximately 1,900 retirees or their beneficiaries receiving 
less than $350 in monthly benefit payments from the plan.  This transfer resulted in a reduction in our U.S. qualified defined 
benefit pension plan obligation of $59.5 million at December 31, 2019 and is reflected in the Benefits and Expenses Paid line 
item within the following table regarding changes in our benefit obligation.  

On January 2, 2020, in a separate transaction, we purchased a second group annuity contract which transferred an additional 
portion of our U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan obligation to the same third party.  Under the transaction, which was 
funded with plan assets, we transferred the responsibility for pension benefits and annuity administration for approximately 600 
retirees or their beneficiaries receiving between $350 and $500 in monthly benefit payments from the plan.  This transfer will 
reduce our 2020 U.S. qualified benefit pension plan obligation by approximately $44.0 million.  

Amortization Period of Actuarial Gain or Loss and Prior Service Cost or Credit

Because all participants in the U.S. and U.K. pension plans are considered inactive, we amortize the net actuarial loss and prior 
service credit for these plans over the average remaining life expectancy of the plans.  As of December 31, 2019, the estimate of 
the average remaining life expectancy of the plans was approximately 26 years for the U.S. plan and 32 years for U.K. plan. 

167

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Continued

The following table provides the changes in the benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets and the funded status of the plans. 

Pension Benefits

U.S. Plans

U.K. Plan

OPEB

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

(in millions of dollars)

Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit Obligation at Beginning of Year
Service Cost
Interest Cost
Plan Participant Contributions
Actuarial (Gain) Loss
Benefits and Expenses Paid

Plan Amendment

Change in Foreign Exchange Rates

Benefit Obligation at End of Year

$ 1,933.3
10.9
83.3
—
225.7

$ 2,136.9
9.1
79.8
—
(210.3)

(146.3)

(82.2)

—

—

—
$ 2,106.9

—
$ 1,933.3

Accumulated Benefit Obligation at December 31

$ 2,106.9

$ 1,933.3

Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets
Fair Value of Plan Assets at Beginning of Year
Actual Return on Plan Assets
Employer Contributions
Plan Participant Contributions
Benefits and Expenses Paid
Change in Foreign Exchange Rates
Fair Value of Plan Assets at End of Year

$ 1,454.9
282.7
8.7
—
(146.3)
—
$ 1,600.0

$ 1,582.6
(53.6)
8.1
—
(82.2)
—
$ 1,454.9

Underfunded (Overfunded) Status

$

506.9

$

478.4

$

$

$

$

$

$

211.0
—
6.1
—
34.9

(4.8)

—

9.7
256.9

253.1

217.0
31.0
—
—
(4.8)
9.6
252.8

4.1

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

243.8
—
5.9
—
(18.9)

(7.3)

0.3

(12.8)
211.0

$

125.9
—
5.3
0.2
7.0

(11.2)

—

—
127.2

$

$

139.5
—
4.9
0.2
(7.6)

(11.1)

—

—
125.9

205.0 N/A

N/A

253.5
(16.0)
—
—
(7.3)
(13.2)
217.0

$

$

10.1
0.2
10.6
0.2
(11.2)
—
9.9

(6.0) $

117.3

$

$

$

10.5
0.1
10.4
0.2
(11.1)
—
10.1

115.8

168

 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Continued

The amounts recognized in our consolidated balance sheets for our pension and OPEB plans at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are 
as follows. 

Pension Benefits

U.S. Plans

U.K. Plan

OPEB

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

Current Liability
Noncurrent Liability
Noncurrent Asset
Underfunded (Overfunded) Status

$

7.7
499.2
—
$ 506.9

$

7.3
471.1
—
$ 478.4

(in millions of dollars)
— $
$
4.1
—
4.1

1.5
— $
115.8
—
—
(6.0)
(6.0) $ 117.3

$

$

$

1.6
114.2
—
$ 115.8

Unrecognized Pension and Postretirement Benefit Costs
   Net Actuarial Gain (Loss)
   Prior Service Credit (Cost)

   Income Tax
Total Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive 
Income (Loss)

$ (695.4) $ (672.6) $

(0.7)
(696.1)
240.7

(0.7)
(673.3)
236.0

(63.1) $
(0.3)
(63.4)
14.5

(48.9) $
(0.3)
(49.2)
11.9

11.1
3.1
14.2
5.3

$

20.9
3.3
24.2
3.2

$ (455.4) $ (437.3) $

(48.9) $

(37.3) $

19.5

$

27.4

The following table provides the changes recognized in other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 
2018. 

Pension Benefits

U.S. Plans

2019

2018

U.K. Plan

2019

2018
(in millions of dollars)

OPEB

2019

2018

$

(437.3) $

(495.3) $

(37.3) $

(34.7) $

27.4

$

21.9

20.2
(43.0)

—
—
4.7

21.7
52.1

—
—
(15.8)

0.9
(15.1)

—
—
2.6

0.6
(3.2)

—
(0.3)
0.3

(2.5)
(7.3)

(0.2)
—
2.1

—
7.2

(0.2)
—
(1.5)

$

(455.4) $

(437.3) $

(48.9) $

(37.3) $

19.5

$

27.4

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income 
(Loss) at Beginning of Year
Net Actuarial Gain (Loss)

Amortization
All Other Changes

Prior Service Credit (Cost)

Amortization
Plan Amendment
Change in Income Tax
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income 
(Loss) at End of Year

Plan Assets

The objective of our U.S. pension and OPEB plans is to maximize long-term return, within acceptable risk levels, in a manner 
that is consistent with the fiduciary standards of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), while maintaining 
sufficient liquidity to pay current benefits and expenses.  

Our U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan assets include a diversified blend of domestic, international, global, and 
emerging market equity securities, fixed income securities, opportunistic credit securities, real estate investments, alternative 
investments, and cash equivalents.  Equity securities are comprised of funds and individual securities that are benchmarked 
against the respective indices specified below.  International and global equity funds may allocate a certain percentage of assets 
to forward currency contracts.  Fixed income securities include U.S. government and agency asset-backed securities, corporate 
investment-grade bonds, private placement securities, and bonds issued by states or other municipalities.  Opportunistic credits 

169

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Continued

consist of investments in funds that hold varied fixed income investments purchased at depressed values with the intention to 
later sell those investments for a gain.  Real estate investments consist primarily of funds that hold commercial real estate 
investments.  Alternative investments, which include private equity direct investments, private equity funds of funds, and hedge 
funds of funds, utilize proprietary strategies that are intended to have a low correlation to the U.S. stock market.  Prohibited 
investments include, but are not limited to, unlisted securities, options, short sales, and investments in securities issued by Unum 
Group or its affiliates.  The invested asset classes, asset types, and benchmark indices for our U.S. qualified defined benefit 
pension plan is as follows.  We target approximately 36 percent to equity securities, 40 percent to fixed income securities, and 24 
percent to opportunistic credits, alternative, and real estate investments.

Asset Class

Asset Type

Benchmark Indices

Equity Securities

Collective funds; 
Individual holdings

Standard & Poor's 500; Russell 2000 Value and Growth; Morgan Stanley 
Capital International (MSCI) Europe Australasia Far East Small Cap; MSCI 
Emerging Markets; MSCI World and World Minimum Volatility; FTSE 
RAFI All-World Low Volatility 

Fixed Income

Individual holdings Bloomberg Barclays Long Government/Corporate Index

Opportunistic Credits

Collective fund

Real Estate

Collective fund

Alternative Investments 
(Hedge and Private 
Equity)

Fund of funds; 
Direct investments

Custom Index
National Council of Real Estate Investment Fund Open-end Diversified Core 
Equity Index

Hedge Fund Research Institute Fund of Funds; Russell 2000

Assets for our U.K. pension plan are primarily invested in a pooled diversified growth fund.  This fund invests in assets such as 
global equities, hedge funds, commodities, below-investment-grade fixed income securities, and currencies.  The objectives of 
the fund are to generate capital appreciation over the course of a complete economic and market cycle and to deliver equity-like 
returns in the medium-to-long term while maintaining approximately two thirds of the volatility of equity markets.  Performance 
of this fund is measured against the U.K. inflation rate plus four percent.  The remaining assets in the U.K. plan are invested in 
leveraged interest rate and inflation gilt funds of varying durations designed to broadly match the interest rate and inflation 
sensitivities of the plan's liabilities.  The current target allocation for the assets is 65 percent diversified growth assets and 35 
percent interest rate and inflation gilt funds.  There are no categories of investments that are specifically prohibited by the U.K. 
plan, but there are general guidelines that ensure prudent investment action is taken.  Such guidelines include the prevention of 
the plan from using derivatives for speculative purposes and limiting the concentration of risk in any one type of investment. 

Assets for the OPEB plan are invested in life insurance contracts issued by one of our insurance subsidiaries.  The assets support 
life insurance benefits payable to certain former retirees covered under the OPEB plan.  The terms of these contracts are 
consistent in all material respects with those the subsidiary offers to unaffiliated parties that are similarly situated.  There are no 
categories of investments specifically prohibited by the OPEB plan.    

We believe our investment portfolios are well diversified by asset class and sector, with no undue risk concentrations in any one 
category.

170

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Continued

The categorization of fair value measurements by input level for the invested assets in our U.S. pension plans is shown below.  
The carrying values of investment-related receivables and payables approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of the 
securities and are not included in the following chart.  Investments valued using net asset value (NAV) as a practical expedient 
are not required to be categorized by input level, but these investments are included as follows to reconcile to total invested 
assets. 

December 31, 2019

Quoted Prices
in Active Markets
for Identical Assets 
(Level 1)

Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

NAV as a 
Practical 
Expedient

Total

(in millions of dollars)

$

— $

Invested Assets
Equity Securities:
U.S. Large Cap
U.S. Small Cap
Global
International
Emerging Markets

Fixed Income Securities:

U.S. Government and Agencies
Corporate
State and Municipal Securities

Opportunistic Credits
Real Estate
Alternative Investments:

Private Equity Direct Investments
Private Equity Funds of Funds

Cash Equivalents
Total Invested Assets

$

— $
—
—
—
—

—
391.1
2.5
—
—

—
—
—
393.6

$

— $
—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—
—

—
—
—
— $

95.2
24.8
299.1
28.3
50.4

—
—
—
196.5
108.4

57.7
38.4
—
898.8

$

$

95.2
47.8
299.1
28.3
50.4

199.0
391.1
2.5
196.5
108.4

57.7
38.4
82.4
1,596.8

23.0
—
—
—

199.0
—
—
—
—

—
—
82.4
304.4

$

171

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Continued

December 31, 2018

Quoted Prices
in Active 
Markets for 
Identical Assets
(Level 1)

Significant 
Other 
Observable 
Inputs 
(Level 2) 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

NAV as a 
Practical 
Expedient

Total

(in millions of dollars)

Invested Assets
Equity Securities:
U.S. Large Cap
U.S. Small Cap
Global
International
Emerging Markets

Fixed Income Securities:

U.S. Government and Agencies
Corporate
State and Municipal Securities

Opportunistic Credits
Real Estate
Alternative Investments:

Private Equity Direct Investments
Private Equity Funds of Funds
Hedge Funds of Funds

Cash Equivalents
Total Invested Assets

$

$

— $

18.9
—
—
—

257.4
—
—
—
—

—
—
—
39.2
315.5

$

— $
—
—
—
—

—
311.2
5.7
—
—

—
—
—
—
316.9

$

— $
—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—
— $

83.0
—
290.3
24.6
44.1

—
—
—
192.0
102.8

53.5
34.0
0.1
—
824.4

$

$

83.0
18.9
290.3
24.6
44.1

257.4
311.2
5.7
192.0
102.8

53.5
34.0
0.1
39.2
1,456.8

Level 1 investments consist of individual holdings that are valued based on unadjusted quoted prices from active markets for 
identical securities.  Level 2 investments consist of individual holdings that are valued using observable inputs through market 
corroborated pricing.  

Certain equity, opportunistic credit, and real estate investments are valued based on the NAV of the underlying holdings.  We 
made no adjustments to the NAV for 2019 or 2018.  These investments have no unfunded commitments and no specific 
redemption restrictions.   

Alternative investments are valued based on NAV in a period ranging from one month to one quarter in arrears.  We evaluate the 
need for adjustments to the NAV based on market conditions and discussions with fund managers in the period subsequent to the 
valuation date and prior to issuance of the financial statements.  We made no adjustments to the NAV for 2019 or 2018.  The 
private equity direct investments and private equity funds of funds generally cannot be redeemed by investors.  Distributions of 
capital from the sale of underlying fund assets may occur at any time, but are generally concentrated between five and eight 
years from the formation of the fund. 

172

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Continued

The categorization of fair value measurements by input level for the invested assets in our U.K. pension plan is shown below.  
Investments valued using NAV as a practical expedient are not required to be categorized by input level, but these investments 
are included as follows to reconcile to total invested assets.

December 31, 2019

Quoted Prices 
in Active 
Markets for 
Identical Assets  
(Level 1)

Significant 
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

NAV as a 
Practical 
Expedient

Total

(in millions of dollars)

Plan Assets
Diversified Growth Assets
Fixed Interest and Index-linked Securities
Cash Equivalents
Total Plan Assets

$

$

— $

89.6
0.2
89.8

$

— $
—
—
— $

— $
—
—
— $

163.0
—
—
163.0

$

$

163.0
89.6
0.2
252.8

December 31, 2018

Quoted Prices
in Active 
Markets for 
Identical Assets
(Level 1)

Significant 
Other 
Observable 
Inputs 
(Level 2) 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

NAV as a 
Practical 
Expedient 

Total

(in millions of dollars)

Plan Assets
Diversified Growth Assets
Fixed Interest and Index-linked Securities
Cash Equivalents
Total Plan Assets

$

$

— $

81.3
2.7
84.0

$

— $
—
—
— $

— $
—
—
— $

133.0
—
—
133.0

$

$

133.0
81.3
2.7
217.0

Level 1 fixed interest and index-linked securities consist of individual funds that are valued based on unadjusted quoted prices 
from active markets for identical securities.  Diversified growth assets are valued based on the NAV of the underlying holdings.  
We made no adjustments to the NAV for 2019 or 2018.  These investments have no unfunded commitments and no specific 
redemption restrictions.   

173

 
 
 
 
    
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Continued

The categorization of fair value measurements by input level for the assets in our OPEB plan is as follows:

Quoted Prices
in Active Markets
for Identical Assets
(Level 1)

December 31, 2019

Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
(in millions of dollars)

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

Total

Assets
Life Insurance Contracts

$

— $

— $

9.9

$

9.9

December 31, 2018

Quoted Prices
in Active Markets
for Identical Assets
(Level 1)

Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
(in millions of dollars)

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

Total

Assets
Life Insurance Contracts

$

— $

— $

10.1

$

10.1

The fair value is represented by the actuarial present value of future cash flows of the contracts.

Changes in our OPEB plan assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) 
during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:

Year Ended December 31, 2019

Beginning
of Year

Actual Return 
on Plan Assets

Contributions

Net Benefits and 
Expenses Paid

End of Year

(in millions of dollars)

Life Insurance Contracts

$

10.1

$

0.2

$

10.8

$

(11.2) $

9.9

Year Ended December 31, 2018

Beginning
of Year

Actual Return 
on Plan Assets

Contributions

Net Benefits and 
Expenses Paid

End of Year

(in millions of dollars)

Life Insurance Contracts

$

10.5

$

0.1

$

10.6

$

(11.1) $

10.1

For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the actual return on plan assets relates solely to investments still held at the 
reporting date.  There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 during 2019 or 2018.  

174

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Continued

Measurement Assumptions

We use a December 31 measurement date for each of our plans.  The weighted average assumptions used in the measurement of 
our benefit obligations as of December 31 and our net periodic benefit costs for the years ended December 31 are as follows: 

Benefit Obligations
   Discount Rate
   Rate of Compensation Increase

Net Periodic Benefit Cost
   Discount Rate
   Expected Return on Plan Assets
   Rate of Compensation Increase

Pension Benefits

U.S. Plans

U.K. Plan

OPEB

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

3.60 %
N/A

4.40 %
N/A

2.00 %
2.90 %

2.90 %
3.70 %

3.40 %
N/A

4.40 %
N/A

4.40 %
7.00 %
N/A

3.80 %
6.75 %
N/A

2.90 %
4.30 %
3.70 %

2.50 %
3.90 %
3.70 %

4.40 %
5.75 %
N/A

3.70 %
5.75 %
N/A

We set the discount rate assumption annually for each of our retirement-related benefit plans at the measurement date to 
reflect the yield on a portfolio of high quality fixed income corporate debt instruments matched against the projected cash 
flows for future benefits.  

Our long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption is selected from a range of probable return outcomes from an analysis of 
the asset portfolio.  Our expectations for the future investment returns of the asset categories are based on a combination of 
historical market performance, evaluations of investment forecasts obtained from external consultants and economists, and 
current market yields.  The methodology underlying the return assumption includes the various elements of the expected return 
for each asset class such as long-term rates of return, volatility of returns, and the correlation of returns between various asset 
classes.  The expected return for the total portfolio is calculated based on the plan's strategic asset allocation.  Investment risk is 
measured and monitored on an ongoing basis through annual liability measurements, periodic asset/liability studies, and 
quarterly investment portfolio reviews.  Risk tolerance is established through consideration of plan liabilities, plan funded status, 
and corporate financial condition.  

Our mortality rate assumption reflects our best estimate, as of the measurement date, of the life expectancies of plan participants 
in order to determine the expected length of time for benefit payments.  We derive our assumptions from industry mortality 
tables. 

The expected return assumption for the life insurance reserve for our OPEB plan is based on full investment in fixed income 
securities with an average book yield of 4.74 percent and 4.73 percent in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The rate of compensation increase assumption for our U.K. pension plan is generally based on periodic studies of compensation 
trends.

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the annual rates of increase in the per capita cost of covered postretirement health care benefits 
assumed for the next calendar year are 6.50 percent and 7.00 percent, respectively, for benefits payable to both retirees prior to 
Medicare eligibility as well as Medicare eligible retirees.  The rates are assumed to change gradually to 5.00 percent by 2024 for 
measurement at December 31, 2019 and remain at that level thereafter.  The annual rates of increase in the per capita cost of 
covered postretirement health benefits do not apply to retirees whose postretirement health care benefits are provided through an 
exchange.    

175

 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Continued

Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The following table provides the components of the net periodic benefit cost (credit) for the years ended December 31. 

Pension Benefits

U.S. Plans
2018

2017

2019

Service Cost
Interest Cost
Expected Return on Plan Assets
Amortization of:
   Net Actuarial Loss (Gain)
   Prior Service Credit
Total Net Periodic Benefit Cost

$ 10.9
83.3
(99.4)

$

9.1
79.8
(104.5)

$

7.9
84.5
(103.1)

20.2
—
$ 15.0

21.7
—
6.1

19.6
(0.3)
8.6

$

$

2019

U.K. Plan
2018
(in millions of dollars)

2017

OPEB
2018

2017

2019

$ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ —
5.9
(0.6)

4.9
(0.6)

5.3
(0.6)

6.1
(8.9)

6.2
(8.8)

5.9
(8.9)

0.9
—

0.6
—
$ (1.9) $ (2.4) $ (1.9) $

0.7
—

(2.5)
(0.2)
2.0

$

—
(0.2)
4.1

$

—
(0.4)
4.9

The service cost component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost is included as a component of compensation 
expense in our consolidated statements of income.  All other components of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost 
are included in other expenses.

A one percent increase or decrease in the assumed health care cost trend rate at December 31, 2019 would have increased 
(decreased) the service cost and interest cost by a de minimis amount, respectively, and the postretirement benefit obligation by 
$0.5 million and $(0.5) million, respectively.

The unrecognized net actuarial loss and the prior service credit included in accumulated other comprehensive income and 
expected to be amortized and included in net periodic pension cost during 2020 is $19.8 million and $0.2 million before tax, 
respectively. 

Benefit Payments

The following table provides expected benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate. 

Pension Benefits

U.S. Plans

U.K. Plan

(in millions of dollars)

$

Year
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025-2029

114.9 * $
74.3
77.9
81.6
85.7
495.7

5.5
5.9
6.0
6.2
6.8
39.0

Gross

$

$

11.6
11.2
10.6
10.0
9.5
40.8

OPEB

Subsidy 
Payments

Net

$

0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2

11.5
11.1
10.5
9.9
9.4
40.6

*Includes the previously noted group annuity contract purchased on January 2, 2020

176

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Continued

Funding Policy

The funding policy for our U.S. qualified defined benefit plan is to contribute annually an amount at least equal to the minimum 
annual contribution required under ERISA and other applicable laws, but generally not greater than the maximum amount that 
can be deducted for federal income tax purposes.  We had no regulatory contribution requirements for our U.S. qualified defined 
benefit plan in 2019 and made a de minimis amount of voluntary contributions during 2019.  We do not expect to make any 
contributions in 2020.  The funding policy for our U.S. non-qualified defined benefit pension plan is to contribute the amount of 
the benefit payments made during the year.  Our expected return on plan assets and discount rate will not affect the cash 
contributions we are required to make to our U.S. pension plan because such contributions are determined under the minimum 
funding requirements as set forth in ERISA. 

We made no contributions to our U.K. plan during 2019, nor do we expect to make any contributions in 2020, either voluntary or 
those required to meet the minimum funding requirements under U.K. legislation. 

Our OPEB plan represents a non-vested, non-guaranteed obligation, and current regulations do not require specific funding 
levels for these benefits, which are comprised of retiree life, medical, and dental benefits.  It is our practice to use general 
assets to pay medical and dental claims as they come due in lieu of utilizing plan assets for the medical and dental benefit 
portions of our OPEB plan.

Defined Contribution Plans

We offer a 401(k) plan to all eligible U.S. employees under which a portion of employee contributions is matched.  We match 
dollar-for-dollar up to 5.0 percent of base salary and any recognized sales and performance-based incentive compensation for 
employee contributions into the plan.  We also make an additional non-elective contribution of 4.5 percent of earnings for all 
eligible employees and a separate transition contribution for eligible employees who met certain age and years of service criteria 
as of December 31, 2013.  The 401(k) plan remains in compliance with ERISA guidelines and continues to qualify for a “safe 
harbor” from annual discrimination testing.

We also offer a defined contribution plan to all eligible U.K. employees under which a portion of employee contributions is 
matched.  We match two pounds for every one pound on the first 1.0 percent of employee contributions into the plan and match 
additional employee contributions pound-for-pound up to 5.0 percent of base salary.  We also make an additional non-elective 
contribution of 6.0 percent of base salary for all eligible employees who met certain age and years of service criteria as of March 
31, 2016.

During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, we recognized costs of $77.3 million, $72.7 million, and $78.4 
million, respectively, for our U.S. defined contribution plan.  We recognized costs of $4.4 million in 2019 and $4.2 million in 
both 2018 and 2017 for our U.K. defined contribution plan.

177

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equity and Earnings Per Common Share

Earnings Per Common Share

Net income per common share is determined as follows:

Numerator

Net Income

Denominator (000s)

Year Ended December 31
2017
2018
2019
(in millions of dollars, except share data)

$

1,100.3

$

523.4

$

994.2

Weighted Average Common Shares - Basic
Dilution for Assumed Exercises of Stock Options and Nonvested Stock 
Awards

Weighted Average Common Shares - Assuming Dilution

209,728.9

219,635.6

226,492.4

125.5
209,854.4

423.0
220,058.6

842.8
227,335.2

Net Income Per Common Share

Basic
Assuming Dilution

$
$

5.25
5.24

$
$

2.38
2.38

$
$

4.39
4.37

We compute basic earnings per share by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for 
the period.  In computing earnings per share assuming dilution, we include potential common shares that are dilutive (those that 
reduce earnings per share).  We use the treasury stock method to account for the effect of outstanding stock options, nonvested 
restricted stock units, and nonvested performance share units on the computation of diluted earnings per share.  Potential 
common shares not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact would be antidilutive, 
approximated 1.1 million, 0.6 million, and 0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.  
See Note 11 for further discussion of our stock-based compensation plans.  

Common Stock

Our board of directors has authorized the repurchase of Unum Group's common stock under the following repurchase programs: 

Authorized Repurchase Amount
Remaining Repurchase Amount at Year End 2019

$
$

Share Repurchase Program Authorized During
May 2018
May 2017
May 2019
(in millions of dollars)
$
— $

750.0
516.2

750.0

$
$

750.0
—

The May 2019 share repurchase program has an expiration date of November 23, 2020.

178

 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equity and Earnings Per Common Share - Continued

Common stock repurchases, which are accounted for using the cost method and classified as treasury stock until otherwise 
retired, were as follows:

Shares Repurchased
Cost of Shares Repurchased (1)

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions)

2017

12.3
400.4

$

8.7
350.7

$

8.2
400.4

$

(1) Includes commissions of $0.4 million, $0.7 million, and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 
2017, respectively.

Preferred Stock

Unum Group has 25.0 million shares of preferred stock authorized with a par value of $0.10 per share.  No preferred stock has 
been issued to date.

Note 11 - Stock-Based Compensation

Description of Stock Plans

Under the Stock Incentive Plan of 2017 (the 2017 Plan), up to 17 million shares of common stock are available for awards to our 
employees, officers, consultants, and directors.  Awards may be in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted 
stock, restricted stock units, performance share units, and other stock-based awards.  Each full-value award, defined as any 
award other than a stock option or stock appreciation right, is counted as 1.76 shares.  The exercise price for stock options issued 
cannot be less than the fair value of the underlying common stock as of the grant date.  Stock options generally have a term of 
eight years after the date of grant and fully vest after three years.  At December 31, 2019, approximately 13.9 million shares 
were available for future grants under the 2017 Plan.

Under the Stock Incentive Plan of 2012 (the 2012 Plan), which was terminated in May 2017 for the purposes of any further 
grants, up to 20 million shares of common stock were available for awards to our employees, officers, consultants, and directors.  
Awards could be in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance share 
units, and other stock-based awards.  Each full-value award, defined as any award other than a stock option or stock appreciation 
right, is counted as 1.76 shares.  Awards granted before the termination of the 2012 Plan remain outstanding in accordance with 
the plan's terms.  Stock options generally have a term of eight years after the date of grant and fully vest after three years.  

Under the Stock Incentive Plan of 2007 (the 2007 Plan), which was terminated in May 2012 for purposes of any further grants, 
up to 35 million shares of common stock were available for awards to our employees, officers, consultants, and directors.  
Awards could be in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance share 
units, and other stock-based awards.  Each full-value award, defined as any award other than a stock option or stock appreciation 
right, is counted as 2.7 shares.  Awards granted before the termination of the 2007 Plan remain outstanding in accordance with 
the plan's terms.  Stock options generally have a term of eight years after the date of grant and fully vest after three years.  

We issue new shares of common stock for all of our stock plan vestings and exercises. 

179

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 11 - Stock-Based Compensation - Continued

Performance Share Units (PSUs)

Activity for PSUs classified as equity is as follows:

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

Granted
Vested
Forfeited

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

Shares
(000s)

Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

$

283
205
(117)
(34)
337

51.33
41.57
55.31
50.40
44.11

During 2019, 2018, and 2017, we issued PSUs with a weighted average grant date fair value per share of $41.57, $44.19, and 
$51.37, respectively.  Vesting for the PSUs occurs at the end of a three-year period and is contingent upon our achievement of 
prospective company performance goals and our total shareholder return relative to a board-approved peer group during the 
three-year period.  Actual performance, including modification for relative total shareholder return, may result in the ultimate 
award of 40 to 180 percent of the initial number of PSUs issued, with the potential for no award if company performance goals 
are not achieved during the three-year period.  Forfeitable dividend equivalents on PSUs are accrued in the form of additional 
PSUs.  

PSU shares in the preceding table represent aggregate initial target awards and accrued dividend equivalents and do not reflect 
potential increases or decreases resulting from the application of the performance factor determined after the end of the 
performance periods.  At December 31, 2019, the three-year performance period for the 2017 PSU grant was completed and the 
related shares vested, but the performance factor had not yet been applied.  The performance factor will be applied during the 
first quarter of 2020, with distribution of the stock thereafter.  Granted and vested amounts in the preceding table also include an 
adjustment to reflect the application of the performance factor to the 2016 PSU grant, which occurred during the first quarter of 
2019.  

At December 31, 2019, we had approximately $5.8 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to PSUs that will be 
recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.  The estimated compensation expense is adjusted for actual performance 
experience and is recognized ratably during the service period, or remaining service period, if and when it becomes probable that 
the performance conditions will be satisfied.  Compensation cost for PSUs subject to accelerated vesting at the date of retirement 
eligibility is recognized over the implicit service period.

The fair value of PSUs is estimated on the date of initial grant using the Monte-Carlo simulation model.  Key assumptions used 
to value PSUs granted during the years shown are as follows:

Year Ended December 31
2018

2017

2019

Expected Volatility (based on our and our peer group historical daily stock prices)
Expected Life (equals the performance period)
Risk Free Interest Rate (based on U.S. Treasury yields at the date of grant)

23 %
3.0 years
2.53 %

24 %
3.0 years
2.32 %

24 %
3.0 years
1.52 %

180

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 11 - Stock-Based Compensation - Continued

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

Activity for RSUs classified as equity is as follows:

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

Granted
Vested
Forfeited

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

Shares
(000s)

Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

$

827
753
(487)
(49)
1,044

44.62
37.07
40.77
42.66
41.06

During 2019, 2018, and 2017, we issued RSUs with a weighted average grant date fair value per share of $37.07, $47.76, and 
$48.92, respectively.  RSUs vest over a one to three-year service period, beginning at the date of grant, and the compensation 
cost is recognized ratably during the vesting period.  Forfeitable dividend equivalents on RSUs are accrued in the form of 
additional RSUs.  Compensation cost for RSUs subject to accelerated vesting at the date of retirement eligibility is recognized 
over the implicit service period.  

The total fair value of shares vested during 2019, 2018, and 2017 was $19.5 million, $18.1 million, and $13.3 million, 
respectively.  At December 31, 2019, we had $20.0 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to RSUs that will be 
recognized over a weighted average period of 0.9 years.

Stock Options

Stock option activity is summarized as follows:

Shares
(000s)

Weighted Average
Exercise Price

Remaining
Contractual Term
(in years)

Intrinsic
Value
(in millions)

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

Exercised

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

Exercisable at December 31, 2019

$

105
(31)
74

74

$

24.41
25.18
24.09

24.09

0.7

0.7

$

$

0.4

0.4

All outstanding stock options at December 31, 2019 have vested.  Stock options vest over a one to three-year service period, 
beginning at the date of grant, and the compensation cost is recognized ratably during the vesting period.  Compensation cost for 
stock options subject to accelerated vesting at the date of retirement eligibility is recognized over the implicit service period.  At 
December 31, 2019, we had no unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options.  

The intrinsic value of options exercised in 2019, 2018, and 2017 was $0.3 million, $0.7 million, and $10.0 million, respectively.  
There were no stock options granted or vested in the years 2017 through 2019.  

181

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 11 - Stock-Based Compensation - Continued

Expense

Compensation expense for the stock plans, as reported in our consolidated statements of income, is as follows:

Performance Share Units
Restricted Stock Units
Other
Total Compensation Expense, Before Income Tax

Total Compensation Expense, Net of Income Tax

2019

$

$

$

5.0
21.0
0.6
26.6

22.7

$

$

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)
$

$

2017

11.5
17.5
0.5
29.5

19.5

6.8
19.0
0.5
26.3

20.9

$

$

Cash received under all share-based payment arrangements for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 was $6.1 
million, $4.6 million, and $10.8 million, respectively. 

Note 12 - Reinsurance 

Thirteen major companies account for approximately 93 percent of our reinsurance recoverable at December 31, 2019, and all 
are rated A or better by either A.M. Best Company (AM Best) or Standard & Poor's Ratings Services (S&P), or are fully 
securitized by letters of credit or investment-grade fixed maturity securities held in trust.  Approximately six percent of our 
reinsurance recoverable relates to business reinsured either with companies rated A- or better by AM Best or S&P, with overseas 
entities with equivalent ratings or backed by letters of credit or trust agreements, or through reinsurance arrangements wherein 
we retain the assets in our general account.  The remaining one percent of our reinsurance recoverable is held by companies 
either rated below A- by AM Best or S&P, or not rated.

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)
$

$

9,576.3
116.5
(327.2)
9,365.6

$

$

9,171.1
142.6
(327.6)
8,986.1

$

$

650.1

667.2

2017

8,677.2
230.0
(310.1)
8,597.1

655.4

Reinsurance data is as follows: 

Direct Premium Income
Reinsurance Assumed
Reinsurance Ceded
Net Premium Income

Ceded Benefits and Change in Reserves for Future Benefits

$

$

$

182

 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 13 - Segment Information

We have three principal operating business segments: Unum US, Unum International, and Colonial Life.  Our other segments are 
Closed Block and Corporate.

The Unum US segment is comprised of group long-term and short-term disability insurance, which includes our medical stop-
loss product as well as our fee-based leave management services and ASO business, group life and accidental death and 
dismemberment products, and supplemental and voluntary lines of business, which are comprised of individual disability, 
voluntary benefits, and dental and vision products.  These products are marketed through our field sales personnel who work in 
conjunction with independent brokers and consultants.

The Unum International segment is comprised of our operations in both the United Kingdom and Poland.  Our Unum UK 
products include insurance for group long-term disability, group life, and supplemental lines of business which include dental, 
individual disability, and critical illness products.  Our Unum Poland products include insurance for individual and group life 
with accident and health riders.  Unum International's products are sold primarily through field sales personnel and independent 
brokers and consultants. 

The Colonial Life segment includes insurance for accident, sickness, and disability products, which includes our dental and 
vision products, life products, and cancer and critical illness products marketed to employees, on both a group and an individual 
basis, at the workplace through an independent contractor agency sales force and brokers.  

The Closed Block segment consists of group and individual long-term care, individual disability, and other insurance products 
no longer actively marketed.  We discontinued offering individual long-term care in 2009 and group long-term care in 2012.  
Individual disability in this segment generally consists of policies we sold prior to the mid-1990s and entirely discontinued 
selling in 2004.  Other insurance products include group pension, individual life and corporate-owned life insurance, reinsurance 
pools and management operations, and other miscellaneous product lines.

The Corporate segment includes investment income on corporate assets not specifically allocated to a line of business, interest 
expense on corporate debt other than non-recourse debt, and certain other corporate income and expenses not allocated to a line 
of business.  

Acquisitions of Business 

On November 1, 2018, we acquired 100 percent of the shares and voting interests in Jaimini Health, Inc. (Jaimini Health), a 
dental health maintenance organization.  The acquisition of Jaimini Health will broaden our employee benefit dental offerings in 
the U.S., particularly in the state of California, and is reported in our Unum US segment.  

On October 1, 2018, we acquired 100 percent of the shares and voting interests in Unum Poland, a financial protection benefits 
provider in Poland.  This acquisition will expand our European presence, which we believe to be an attractive market for 
financial protection benefits. 

On January 1, 2018, we acquired 100 percent of the shares and voting interests in Leavelogic, Inc (Leavelogic), a leave 
management technology provider.  The acquisition of Leavelogic will enhance our current leave management offerings by 
providing tools for employers and employees to better manage the family leave process and is reported in our Unum US 
segment. 

Aggregate revenues for all three acquired entities totaled approximately $61 million in 2017.  Aggregate assets were valued at 
approximately $344 million as of the respective acquisition dates and were primarily comprised of bonds, short-term 
investments, and intangible assets attributable to the value of business acquired, the value of distribution networks, and licenses.  
Aggregate liabilities were valued at approximately $206 million as of the respective acquisition dates and were primarily 
comprised of outstanding claim liabilities, reserves for future claims, and income tax liabilities.  The aggregate purchase price for 
all three transactions was approximately $151 million and exceeded the fair value of the identifiable net assets by 
approximately $13 million, which was identified as goodwill, primarily attributable to the value of adding individual and group 
financial protection products in Poland to our current employee benefit offerings and the value of enhancing our technology 
capabilities around our leave management offerings.  The goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes except upon 
disposition of the acquired entities.  These acquisitions, the results of which are included in our consolidated financial statements 

183

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 13 - Segment Information - Continued

for the periods subsequent to the respective dates of acquisition, did not have a material impact on revenue or results of 
operations for 2018.

Segment information is as follows:

Certain prior year amounts were reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

Premium Income

Unum US

Group Disability
Group Long-term Disability
Group Short-term Disability
Group Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment
Group Life
Accidental Death & Dismemberment
Supplemental and Voluntary
Individual Disability
Voluntary Benefits
Dental and Vision

Unum International

Unum UK 
Group Long-term Disability
Group Life
Supplemental
Unum Poland

Colonial Life

Accident, Sickness, and Disability
Life
Cancer and Critical Illness

Closed Block

Long-term Care
Individual Disability
All Other

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)

2017

$

$

1,823.1
768.8

$

1,766.2
706.3

1,662.0
165.7

440.7
910.2
246.1
6,016.6

353.4
115.7
89.5
71.9
630.5

973.4
351.6
360.0
1,685.0

651.6
374.3
7.6
1,033.5

1,583.7
156.3

425.4
895.7
202.8
5,736.4

358.9
110.8
81.7
17.4
568.8

929.3
328.4
346.1
1,603.8

648.3
420.8
8.0
1,077.1

1,749.6
639.8

1,467.5
147.5

420.2
849.4
169.5
5,443.5

340.3
103.1
69.6
—
513.0

884.2
300.4
326.8
1,511.4

648.7
471.8
8.7
1,129.2

Total Premium Income

$

9,365.6

$

8,986.1

$

8,597.1

184

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 13 - Segment Information - Continued

Unum US

Unum 
International

Colonial 
Life

Closed 
Block
(in millions of dollars)

Corporate

Total

— $

20.5
3.1
23.6

9,365.6
2,435.3
221.2
$ 12,022.1

(188.6) $
$
172.1
$
1.7

1,432.6
177.4
727.5

— $

29.5
2.7
32.2

8,986.1
2,453.7
198.2
$ 11,638.0

(171.1) $
$
160.4
$
1.0

1,418.1
167.3
673.8

— $

21.4
2.9
24.3

8,597.1
2,451.7
197.7
$ 11,246.5

(146.8) $
$
153.2
$
0.9

1,423.3
159.9
636.1

Year Ended December 31, 2019

Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Other Income
Adjusted Operating Revenue

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)
Interest and Debt Expense
Depreciation and Amortization

Year Ended December 31, 2018

Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Other Income
Adjusted Operating Revenue

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)
Interest and Debt Expense
Depreciation and Amortization

Year Ended December 31, 2017

Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Other Income
Adjusted Operating Revenue

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)
Interest and Debt Expense
Depreciation and Amortization

$

$

$
$
$

$

$

$
$
$

$

$

$
$
$

$

$

$
$
$

$

$

$
$
$

$

$

$
$
$

6,016.6
739.4
142.8
6,898.8

$

$

630.5
122.5
0.6
753.6

$

$

1,685.0
148.0
3.4
1,836.4

$

$

1,033.5
1,404.9
71.3
2,509.7

1,031.1

$
— $
$

422.8

107.9

$
— $
$

18.7

344.5

$
— $
$

276.6

137.7
5.3
7.7

5,736.4
778.7
118.5
6,633.6

$

$

568.8
117.2
0.4
686.4

$

$

1,603.8
151.2
1.2
1,756.2

$

$

1,077.1
1,377.1
75.4
2,529.6

1,014.6

$
— $
$

389.6

113.9

$
— $
$

17.6

335.2

$
— $
$

257.3

125.5
6.9
8.3

5,443.5
811.2
113.2
6,367.9

$

$

513.0
120.2
0.7
633.9

$

$

1,511.4
144.9
1.1
1,657.4

$

$

1,129.2
1,354.0
79.8
2,563.0

325.0

$
— $
$

239.9

123.9
6.7
6.7

1,009.5

$
— $
$

371.3

111.7

$
— $
$

17.3

185

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 13 - Segment Information - Continued

Unum US

Unum
International

Colonial
Life
(in millions of dollars)

Total

Deferred Acquisition Costs

Year Ended December 31, 2019

Beginning of Year
Capitalization
Amortization

Adjustment Related to Unrealized Investment Gains and 
Losses
Foreign Currency
End of Year

Year Ended December 31, 2018

Beginning of Year
Capitalization
Amortization
Adjustment Related to Unrealized Investment Gains and 
Losses
Foreign Currency
End of Year

Year Ended December 31, 2017

Beginning of Year
Capitalization
Amortization

Adjustment Related to Unrealized Investment Gains and 
Losses
Foreign Currency
End of Year

$

$

$

$

$

$

1,239.4
334.5
(344.0)

(6.9)
—
1,223.0

1,205.4
344.0
(315.1)

5.1
—
1,239.4

1,176.5
325.5
(293.6)

(3.0)
—
1,205.4

$

$

$

$

$

$

Assets
Unum US
Unum International
Colonial Life
Closed Block
Corporate
Total Assets

20.0
12.8
(7.1)

—
0.7
26.4

21.3
8.1
(8.2)

—
(1.2)
20.0

21.4
7.0
(9.1)

—
2.0
21.3

$

$

$

$

$

$

1,050.0
311.3
(258.8)

(27.9)
—
1,074.6

957.9
315.9
(242.2)

18.4
—
1,050.0

896.3
295.5
(224.4)

(9.5)
—
957.9

$

$

$

$

$

$

2,309.4
658.6
(609.9)

(34.8)
0.7
2,324.0

2,184.6
668.0
(565.5)

23.5
(1.2)
2,309.4

2,094.2
628.0
(527.1)

(12.5)
2.0
2,184.6

December 31

2019
2018
(in millions of dollars)

$

$

18,586.3
3,869.1
4,629.0
37,008.7
2,920.3
67,013.4

$

$

17,510.9
3,426.8
4,237.9
34,527.6
2,172.4
61,875.6

Revenue is primarily derived from sources in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Poland.  There are no material 
revenues or assets attributable to foreign operations other than those reported in our Unum International segment. 

186

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 13 - Segment Information - Continued

We report goodwill in our Unum US, Unum International, and Colonial Life segments, which are the segments expected to 
benefit from the originating business combinations.  At December 31, 2019 and 2018 goodwill was $351.7 million and $350.3 
million, respectively, with $280.0 million attributable to Unum US in each year, $44.0 million and $42.6 million, respectively, 
attributable to Unum International, and $27.7 million attributable to Colonial Life in each year. 

Stockholders' equity is allocated to the operating segments on the basis of an internal allocation formula that reflects the volume 
and risk components of each operating segment's business and aligns allocated equity with our target capital levels for regulatory 
and rating agency purposes.  We modify this formula periodically to recognize changes in the views of capital requirements.

We measure and analyze our segment performance on the basis of "adjusted operating revenue" and "adjusted operating income" 
or "adjusted operating loss", which differ from total revenue and income before income tax as presented in our consolidated 
statements of income due to the exclusion of net realized investment gains and losses and certain other items specified in the 
reconciliations below.  We believe adjusted operating revenue and adjusted operating income or loss are better performance 
measures and better indicators of the revenue and profitability and underlying trends in our business.  These performance 
measures are in accordance with GAAP guidance for segment reporting, but they should not be viewed as a substitute for total 
revenue, income before income tax, or net income.  

Realized investment gains or losses depend on market conditions and do not necessarily relate to decisions regarding the 
underlying business of our segments.  Our investment focus is on investment income to support our insurance liabilities as 
opposed to the generation of realized investment gains or losses.  Although we may experience realized investment gains or 
losses which will affect future earnings levels, a long-term focus is necessary to maintain profitability over the life of the 
business since our underlying business is long-term in nature, and we need to earn the interest rates assumed in calculating our 
liabilities.  

We may at other times exclude certain other items from our discussion of financial ratios and metrics in order to enhance the 
understanding and comparability of our operational performance and the underlying fundamentals.  We exclude these items as 
we believe them to be infrequent or unusual in nature, but this exclusion is not an indication that similar items may not recur and 
does not replace net income or net loss as a measure of our overall profitability.

See Notes 6, 8, and 14 for further discussion regarding the impacts of the long-term care reserve increase, the cost related to 
early retirement of debt, the unclaimed death benefit reserve increase, and the loss from a guaranty fund assessment, 
respectively.

187

 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 13 - Segment Information - Continued

A reconciliation of total revenue to "adjusted operating revenue" and income before income tax to "adjusted operating income" is 
as follows:

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)
$

11,598.5

$

2019

11,998.9

(23.2)
12,022.1

1,382.1

(23.2)
—
(27.3)
—
—
1,432.6

$

$

$

(39.5)
11,638.0

627.8

(39.5)
(750.8)
—
—
—
1,418.1

$

$

$

2017

11,286.8

40.3
11,246.5

1,404.0

40.3
—
—
(20.6)
(39.0)
1,423.3

Total Revenue
Excluding:

Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss)

Adjusted Operating Revenue

Income Before Income Tax
Excluding:

Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss)
Long-term Care Reserve Increase
Cost Related to Early Retirement of Debt
Loss from Guaranty Fund Assessment
Unclaimed Death Benefit Reserve Increase

Adjusted Operating Income

$

$

$

$

188

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 14 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

Contingent Liabilities

We are a defendant in a number of litigation matters that have arisen in the normal course of business.  Further, state insurance 
regulatory authorities and other federal and state authorities regularly make inquiries and conduct investigations concerning our 
compliance with applicable insurance and other laws and regulations.  Given the complexity and scope of our litigation and 
regulatory matters, it is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of all pending investigations or legal proceedings or provide 
reasonable estimates of potential losses, except if noted in connection with specific matters.

In some of these matters, no specified amount is sought.  In others, very large or indeterminate amounts, including punitive and 
treble damages, are asserted.  There is a wide variation of pleading practice permitted in the United States courts with respect to 
requests for monetary damages, including some courts in which no specified amount is required and others which allow the 
plaintiff to state only that the amount sought is sufficient to invoke the jurisdiction of that court.  Further, some jurisdictions 
permit plaintiffs to allege damages well in excess of reasonably possible verdicts.  Based on our extensive experience and that of 
others in the industry with respect to litigating or resolving claims through settlement over an extended period of time, we 
believe that the monetary damages asserted in a lawsuit or claim bear little relation to the merits of the case, or the likely 
disposition value.  Therefore, the specific monetary relief sought is not stated.

Unless indicated otherwise in the descriptions below, reserves have not been established for litigation and contingencies.  An 
estimated loss is accrued when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably 
estimated.

Claims Handling Matters

We and our insurance subsidiaries, in the ordinary course of our business, are engaged in claim litigation where disputes arise as 
a result of a denial or termination of benefits.  Most typically these lawsuits are filed on behalf of a single claimant or 
policyholder, and in some of these individual actions punitive damages are sought, such as claims alleging bad faith in the 
handling of insurance claims.  For our general claim litigation, we maintain reserves based on experience to satisfy judgments 
and settlements in the normal course.  We expect that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to general claim litigation, after 
consideration of the reserves maintained, will not be material to our consolidated financial condition.  Nevertheless, given the 
inherent unpredictability of litigation, it is possible that an adverse outcome in certain claim litigation involving punitive 
damages could, from time to time, have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations in a period, depending 
on the results of operations for the particular period.

From time to time class action allegations are pursued where the claimant or policyholder purports to represent a larger number 
of individuals who are similarly situated.  Since each insurance claim is evaluated based on its own merits, there is rarely a single 
act or series of actions which can properly be addressed by a class action.  Nevertheless, we monitor these cases closely and 
defend ourselves appropriately where these allegations are made.

Miscellaneous Matters

Similar to other insurers, we were the subject of an examination by a third party acting on behalf of a number of state treasurers 
concerning our compliance with the unclaimed property laws of the participating states.  We cooperated fully with this 
examination and in the fourth quarter of 2017, we started the process to reach a Global Resolution Agreement with the third 
party regarding settlement of the examination, which we finalized in January of 2018.  Under the terms of the agreement, the 
third party acting on behalf of the signatory states compared insured data to the Social Security Administration's Death Master 
File to identify deceased insureds and contract holders where a valid claim has not been made.  During the fourth quarter of 
2017, we established reserves which reflect our estimate of the liability expected to be paid as we execute on the terms of the 
settlement.  We also are cooperating with a Delaware Market Conduct examination involving the same issue, which is currently 
inactive.  The legal and regulatory environment around unclaimed death benefits continues to evolve.  It is possible that the 
current settlement and/or similar investigations by other state jurisdictions may result in payments to beneficiaries, the payment 
of abandoned funds under state law, and/or administrative penalties, the total of which may be in excess of the reserves 
established.

189

 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 14 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities - Continued

In 2009, a Pennsylvania-based insurance company and its affiliates were ordered into rehabilitation, and the Pennsylvania 
Insurance Commissioner, who was appointed as the Rehabilitator, filed petitions for liquidation with the Commonwealth Court 
of Pennsylvania.  Under Pennsylvania law, payment of covered claims and other related insurance obligations are provided, 
within prescribed limits, by state guaranty associations.  These guaranty associations assess fees to meet these obligations on 
insurance companies that sell insurance within the state, which are generally based on a company's pro rata portion of average 
premiums written or received for several years prior to the insolvency.  In March 2017, a formal order of liquidation was issued, 
and as such, we were subject to an assessment by those guaranty associations that are responsible for policyholder claims, and 
accordingly accrued, in the first quarter of 2017, an estimated loss contingency.  We continue to submit payment to satisfy this 
assessment as requests for payment are received from the guaranty associations.

Securities Class Actions:  Three alleged securities class action lawsuits have been filed against Unum Group and individual 
defendants as follows:

•

•

•

On June 13, 2018, an alleged securities class action lawsuit entitled Cynthia Pittman v. Unum Group, Richard 
McKenney, John McGarry, and Daniel Waxenberg was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District 
of Tennessee.  The plaintiff seeks to represent purchasers of Unum Group publicly traded securities between January 
31, 2018 and May 2, 2018.  The plaintiff alleges the Company caused its shares to trade at artificially high levels by 
failing to disclose information about the rate of long-term care policy terminations and long-term care claim incidence 
resulting in misleading statements about capital management plans and long-term care reserves.  The complaint asserts 
claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and seeks 
compensatory damages in an amount to be proven at trial.  The Company strongly denies these allegations and will 
vigorously defend the litigation.  

On July 13, 2018, an alleged securities class action lawsuit entitled Scott Cunningham v. Unum Group, Richard 
McKenney, John McGarry, and Daniel Waxenberg was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District 
of Tennessee.  The allegations, class period, and damages claimed mirror those in the Pittman matter.  The Company 
strongly denies these allegations and will vigorously defend the litigation.

On July 25, 2018, an alleged securities class action lawsuit entitled City of Taylor Police and Fire Retirement System v. 
Unum Group, Richard McKenney, John McGarry, Steve Zabel, and Daniel Waxenberg was filed in the United States 
District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.  The plaintiff seeks to represent purchasers of Unum Group 
publicly traded securities between October 27, 2016 and May 1, 2018.  The allegations and damages claimed mirror 
those in the Pittman matter.  The Company strongly denies these allegations and will vigorously defend the litigation.

On November 9, 2018, the court consolidated the Pittman, Cunningham, and City of Taylor Police and Fire Retirement System
cases into one matter entitled In re Unum Group Securities Litigation, appointed a lead plaintiff and lead plaintiff’s counsel, and
directed the plaintiff to file a consolidated amended complaint. On January 15, 2019, the plaintiff filed a consolidated amended
complaint asserting claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder
and seeks compensatory damages in an amount to be proven at trial as well as costs, expenses, and attorney’s fees. On March
18, 2019, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint. On November 4, 2019 the court heard
oral argument on the motion. We are awaiting the court’s ruling.

These lawsuits are in a very preliminary stage, the outcome is uncertain, and the Company is unable to estimate a range of 
reasonably possible losses.  Reserves have not been established for these matters.  Although we believe these claims lack merit, 
an adverse outcome in one or more of these actions could, depending on the nature, scope, and amount of the ruling, materially 
adversely affect our consolidated results of operations in a period.

Note 15 - Leases

We lease certain buildings and equipment under various noncancellable operating lease agreements.  In addition, we have sub-
lease agreements on a limited number of our building lease agreements.  The majority of our building leases and sub-leases 
expire within a five to ten year period and we generally have the option to renew at the end of the lease term for an additional 
five to ten year period at the fair rental value at the time of renewal.  The majority of our equipment leases expire within a one to 

190

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 15 - Leases - Continued

three year period and we generally have the option to renew at the end of the lease term for an additional one to three year period 
at the fair rental value at the time of renewal. 

We do not have any lease agreements or sub-lease agreements that contain variable lease payments.  In addition, we do not have 
lease agreements or sub-lease agreements that contain residual value guarantees or impose any restrictions or covenants with the 
lessors.

Operating lease information is as follows:

Lease Cost

Operating Lease Cost
Sublease Income
Total Lease Cost

Other Information
Cash Paid for Amounts Included in the Measurement of Lease Liabilities
Weighted-Average Remaining Lease Term
Weighted-Average Discount Rate

Year Ended December 31, 2019
(in millions of dollars)

$

$

$

29.4
(1.9)
27.5

28.9
7 years
4.60 %

Operating lease cost as calculated prior to the adoption of ASC 842 was $29.2 million and $27.5 million for the years ended 
December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

As of December 31, 2019, aggregate undiscounted minimum net lease payments and the reconciliation to our lease liability are 
as follows:

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 and Thereafter
Total
Less Imputed Interest
Lease Liability

As of December 31, 2019, the right-of-use asset was $108.6 million.

$

$

26.6
23.1
19.9
14.1
10.9
40.6
135.2
20.5
114.7

191

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 16 - Statutory Financial Information

Statutory Net Income, Capital and Surplus, and Dividends  

Statutory net income for U.S. life insurance companies is reported in conformity with statutory accounting principles prescribed 
by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and adopted by applicable domiciliary state laws.  The 
commissioners of the states of domicile have the right to permit other specific practices that may deviate from prescribed 
practices.  Our traditional U.S. life insurance subsidiaries have no prescribed or permitted statutory accounting practices that 
differ materially from statutory accounting principles prescribed by the NAIC. 

Certain of our traditional U.S. life insurance subsidiaries cede blocks of business to Northwind Re and Fairwind Insurance 
Company (Fairwind), both of which are affiliated captive reinsurance subsidiaries (captive reinsurers) domiciled in the United 
States, with Unum Group as the ultimate parent.  These captive reinsurers were established for the limited purpose of reinsuring 
risks attributable to specified policies issued or reinsured by our life insurance subsidiaries. 

Fairwind, which is domiciled in the state of Vermont, is required to follow GAAP in accordance with Vermont reporting 
requirements for pure captive insurance companies, unless the commissioner permits the use of some other basis of accounting.  
Fairwind has permission from Vermont to follow accounting practices that are generally consistent with current NAIC statutory 
accounting principles for its insurance reserves and invested assets supporting reserves.  All other assets and liabilities are 
accounted for in accordance with GAAP, as prescribed by Vermont, which includes the full recognition of deferred tax assets 
which are more likely than not to be realized.  Statutory accounting principles have a stricter limitation for the recognition of 
deferred tax assets.  The impact of following the prescribed and permitted practices of Vermont rather than statutory accounting 
principles prescribed by the NAIC resulted in higher capital and surplus for Fairwind of approximately $194 million and $137 
million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 respectively.  Included in the 2018 results for Fairwind was the assumed portion of 
the statutory impact of the long-term care reserve increase from Unum America.  Included in the 2017 results for Fairwind was 
the revaluation of the deferred tax asset at the new corporate rate of 21 percent resulting from the enactment of TCJA.  
Northwind Re has no material state prescribed accounting practices that differ from statutory accounting principles prescribed by 
the NAIC. 

The operating results and capital and surplus of our traditional U.S. life insurance subsidiaries and our captive reinsurers, 
prepared in accordance with prescribed or permitted accounting practices of the NAIC or states of domicile, are presented 
separately below. 

Combined Net Income (Loss)

Traditional U.S. Life Insurance Subsidiaries
Captive Reinsurers

Combined Net Gain (Loss) from Operations
Traditional U.S. Life Insurance Subsidiaries
Captive Reinsurers

Combined Capital and Surplus

Traditional U.S. Life Insurance Subsidiaries
Captive Reinsurers

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)

2017

982.1
$
(122.5) $

953.0
$
(109.6) $

807.4
(137.1)

1,027.2
$
(108.4) $

959.8
$
(110.9) $

812.4
(143.1)

$
$

$
$

December 31

2019
2018
(in millions of dollars)

$
$

3,644.4
1,908.3

$
$

3,572.7
1,766.2

192

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 16 - Statutory Financial Information - Continued

Solvency II, a European Union directive prescribes capital requirements and risk management standards for the European 
insurance industry.  As derived from the most recent annual financial statements based on Solvency II requirements, regulatory 
net income and own funds available of our United Kingdom insurance subsidiary, Unum Limited, were £36.8 million and £584.1 
million, respectively.

Risk-based capital (RBC) standards for U.S. life insurance companies are prescribed by the NAIC.  The domiciliary states of our 
U.S. insurance subsidiaries have all adopted a version of the RBC model formula of the NAIC, which prescribes a system for 
assessing the adequacy of statutory capital and surplus for all life and health insurers.  The basis of the system is a risk-based 
formula that applies prescribed factors to the various risk elements in a life and health insurer's business to report a minimum 
capital requirement proportional to the amount of risk assumed by the insurer.  The life and health RBC formula is designed to 
measure annually (i) the risk of loss from asset defaults and asset value fluctuations, (ii) the risk of loss from adverse mortality 
and morbidity experience, (iii) the risk of loss from mismatching of asset and liability cash flow due to changing interest rates, 
and (iv) business risks.  The formula is used as an early warning tool to identify companies that are potentially inadequately 
capitalized.  State insurance laws grant insurance regulators the authority to require various actions by, or take various actions 
against, insurers whose total adjusted capital does not meet or exceed certain RBC levels.  The total adjusted capital of each of 
our U.S. insurance subsidiaries at December 31, 2019 is in excess of those RBC levels.

Restrictions under applicable state insurance laws limit the amount of dividends that can be paid to a parent company from its 
insurance subsidiaries in any 12-month period without prior approval by regulatory authorities.  For life insurance companies 
domiciled in the U.S., that limitation generally equals, depending on the state of domicile, either ten percent of an insurer's 
statutory surplus with respect to policyholders as of the preceding year end or the statutory net gain from operations, excluding 
realized investment gains and losses, of the preceding year.  The payment of dividends to a parent company from a life insurance 
subsidiary is generally further limited to the amount of unassigned funds. 

Based on the restrictions under current law, approximately $1,035 million is available, without prior approval by regulatory 
authorities, during 2020 for the payment of dividends to Unum Group from its traditional U.S. life insurance subsidiaries.  The 
ability of our captive insurers to pay dividends to their respective parent companies will depend on their satisfaction of 
applicable regulatory requirements and on the performance of the business reinsured. 

We also have the ability to receive dividends from our foreign subsidiaries, primarily in the U.K., for which the payment may be 
subject to applicable insurance company regulations and capital guidance.  We have £180.0 million available for the payment of 
dividends from Unum Limited during 2020, subject to regulatory approval. 

Deposits 

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, our U.S. insurance subsidiaries had on deposit with U.S. regulatory authorities securities with a 
book value of $135.2 million and $155.7 million, respectively, held for the protection of policyholders.  

193

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Note 17 - Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)

The following is a summary of our unaudited quarterly results of operations for 2019 and 2018: 

Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss)
Total Revenue
Income Before Income Tax
Net Income
Net Income Per Common Share

Basic
Assuming Dilution

Premium Income
Net Investment Income
Net Realized Investment Gain (Loss)
Total Revenue
Income (Loss) Before Income Tax
Net Income (Loss)
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

Basic
Assuming Dilution

$

$

2019

4th

3rd

2nd

1st

(in millions of dollars, except share data)

$

2,352.6
616.3
9.2
3,034.6
377.4
296.2

1.44
1.44

$

2,331.2
599.4
(26.2)
2,960.0
299.4
242.0

1.16
1.16

2018

$

2,343.1
624.9
(7.3)
3,016.7
352.0
281.2

1.33
1.33

2,338.7
594.7
1.1
2,987.6
353.3
280.9

1.31
1.31

4th

3rd

2nd

1st

(in millions of dollars, except share data)

$

2,263.3
608.6
(41.4)
2,880.8
309.7
249.1

1.15
1.15

$

2,251.8
619.2
6.7
2,927.8
(377.8)
(284.7)

(1.30)
(1.30)

$

2,221.0
623.6
(2.6)
2,890.3
354.8
285.5

1.29
1.29

2,250.0
602.3
(2.2)
2,899.6
341.1
273.5

1.23
1.23

Items affecting the comparability of our financial results are as follows: 

•
•
•

Fourth quarter of 2019 cost related to the early retirement of debt of $2.1 million before tax and $1.7 million after tax.
Third quarter of 2019 cost related to the early retirement of debt of $25.2 million before tax and $19.9 million after tax.
Third quarter of 2018 reserve increase of $750.8 million before tax and $593.1 million after tax related to long-term 
care.

See Notes 6 and 8 for further discussion of the above items.

194

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL 
DISCLOSURE

None

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial 
Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of the end of the period covered by this report.  We evaluated those controls 
based on the 2013 Internal Control - Integrated Framework from the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway 
Commission.  Based on that evaluation, these officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of 
December 31, 2019.  

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, during the quarter ended December 31, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably 
likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as 
defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  The Company's internal control over 
financial reporting encompasses the processes and procedures management has established to (i) maintain records that, in 
reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the Company's transactions and dispositions of assets; (ii) provide reasonable 
assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. 
generally accepted accounting principles; (iii) provide reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures are appropriately 
authorized; and (iv) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or 
disposition of the Company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  In addition, 
any projection of the evaluation of effectiveness to future periods is subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate 
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

We assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal 
Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and 
concluded that, as of December 31, 2019, we maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.

Attestation Report of the Company's Registered Public Accounting Firm

Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited our consolidated financial statements 
included herein, audited the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as of December 31, 2019, and issued 
the attestation report included as follows.

195

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Unum Group

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Unum Group and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December  31, 2019, based on
criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria).
In our opinion, Unum Group and subsidiaries (the Company)
maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December  31, 2019, based on the
COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December  31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated
statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2019, and the related notes and financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(a)(2) and our report
dated February 18, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying “Management’s Annual
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting”. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all
material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material
weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and
performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a
reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures
that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and
dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and
expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the
company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also,
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Chattanooga, Tennessee
February 18, 2020

196

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None

197

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 

Directors and Executive Officers

PART III

The information required by this Item with respect to directors is included under the caption "Information About the Board of 
Directors," sub-caption "Director Nominees," in our definitive proxy statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and 
is incorporated herein by reference.

The information required by this Item with respect to our executive officers is included under the caption "Information about our 
Executive Officers" contained herein in Item 1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Corporate Governance

Our internet website address is www.unum.com.  We have adopted corporate governance guidelines, a code of conduct 
applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees, and charters for the audit, human capital, governance, risk and finance 
and regulatory compliance committees of our board of directors in accordance with the requirements of the New York Stock 
Exchange (NYSE).  In addition, our board of directors has adopted a code of ethics applicable to our chief executive officer and 
certain senior financial officers in accordance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  These 
documents are available free of charge on our website and in print at the request of any shareholder from the Office of the 
Corporate Secretary, Unum Group, 1 Fountain Square, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37402, or by calling toll-free 1-800-718-8824.  
We will post on our website amendments to or waivers from any provision of our code of conduct and our code of ethics, as 
required by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the listing standards of the NYSE.

The information required by this Item with respect to compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act is included under the 
caption "Ownership of Company Securities," sub-caption "Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports," in our definitive proxy statement 
for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information required by this Item with respect to a code of ethics for our chief executive officer and certain senior financial 
officers is included under the caption "Board and Committee Governance," sub-caption "Codes of Conduct and Ethics," in our 
definitive proxy statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information required by this Item with respect to the audit committee and audit committee financial experts is included 
under the caption "Board and Committee Governance," sub-captions "Committees of the Board" , "Committee Responsibilities" 
and "Audit Committee," in our definitive proxy statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated 
herein by reference.  In addition, information relating to the procedures by which our shareholders may recommend nominees to 
our board of directors is included under the caption "Corporate Governance," sub-caption "Process for Selecting and Nominating 
Directors," in our definitive proxy statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by 
reference.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this Item with respect to executive compensation and compensation committee matters is included 
under the caption "Information About the Board of Directors," sub-caption "Director Compensation," under the caption "Board 
and Committee Governance," sub-caption "Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation," and under the 
captions "Compensation Discussion and Analysis," "Compensation Committee Report," "Compensation Tables," and "Post-
Employment Compensation" in our definitive proxy statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated 
herein by reference.

198

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED 
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS                        

The information required by this Item with respect to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is 
included under the captions "Ownership of Company Securities" and "Security Ownership of Certain Shareholders" in our 
definitive proxy statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.  

The information required by this Item with respect to equity compensation plan information is included under the caption 
"Equity Compensation Plan Information" in our definitive proxy statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is 
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE 

The information required by this Item with respect to certain relationships and related transactions and director independence is 
included under the caption "Information About the Board of Directors," sub-caption "Director Independence" and under the 
caption "Board and Committee Governance, " sub-caption "Related Party Transactions and Policy," in our definitive proxy 
statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this Item with respect to fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP in 2019 and 2018 and our audit 
committee's pre-approval policies and procedures is included under the caption "Items to Be Voted On," sub-captions 
"Independent Auditor Fees" and "Policy for Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services," in our definitive proxy statement 
for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

199

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

PART IV

(a) List of Documents filed as part of this report:

   Page

(1) Financial Statements

The following report and consolidated financial statements of Unum Group and Subsidiaries are included in 
Item 8.

Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Income for the three years ended December 31, 2019
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three years ended December 31, 2019
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the three years ended December 31, 2019
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three years ended December 31, 2019
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(2) Financial Statement Schedules

Summary of Investments - Other than Investments in Related Parties

I.
II. Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
III. Supplementary Insurance Information
IV. Reinsurance
V. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Schedules not referred to have been omitted as inapplicable or because they are not required by Regulation 
S-X.

(3) Exhibits

Index to Exhibits

96
98
100
101
102
103
104

201
202
208
210
211

212

200

SCHEDULE I--SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS - 
OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES
as of December 31, 2019
Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Type of Investment

Cost or 
Amortized 
Cost (1)

Amount 
shown on the 
balance sheet

Fair Value
(in millions of dollars)

Fixed Maturity Securities:
   Bonds
      United States Government and Government Agencies and Authorities
      States, Municipalities, and Political Subdivisions
      Foreign Governments
      Public Utilities
      Mortgage/Asset-Backed Securities
      All Other Corporate Bonds
   Redeemable Preferred Stocks
              Total Fixed Maturity Securities

$

Mortgage Loans
Policy Loans
Other Long-term Investments
      Derivatives
      Equity Securities
      Miscellaneous Long-term Investments
Short-term Investments

$

$

1,401.7
3,363.4
1,017.7
7,732.2
1,478.7
32,410.4
39.6
$ 47,443.7

1,246.1
2,863.1
843.5
6,436.7
1,377.8
28,273.1
39.0
41,079.3

2,397.0
3,779.5

—
32.6
748.8
1,294.5

1,401.7
3,363.4
1,017.7
7,732.2
1,478.7
32,410.4
39.6
47,443.7

2,397.0
3,779.5

27.5 (2)
32.6
784.1 (3)

1,294.5

Total Investments

$

49,331.7

$

55,758.9

(1)

The amortized cost for fixed maturity securities and mortgage loans represents original cost reduced by repayments, write-
downs from other-than-temporary declines in fair value, amortization of premiums, and/or accretion of discounts. 

(2)

Derivatives are carried at fair value. 

(3)

The difference between amortized cost and carrying value primarily results from changes in the partnership owner's equity 
since acquisition. 

201

SCHEDULE II--CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

Unum Group (Parent Company)

BALANCE SHEETS

Assets
Fixed Maturity Securities - at fair value (amortized cost: $122.3; $139.0)
Other Long-term Investments
Short-term Investments
Investment in Subsidiaries
Deferred Income Tax
Other Assets
Total Assets

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Liabilities
Short-term Debt
Long-term Debt
Pension and Postretirement Benefits
Other Liabilities
Total Liabilities

Stockholders' Equity
Common Stock
Additional Paid-in Capital
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Retained Earnings
Treasury Stock
Total Stockholders' Equity

$

$

$

December 31

2019
2018
(in millions of dollars)

$

$

$

125.6
35.2
604.4
12,820.9
122.7
488.9
14,197.7

399.7
2,846.9
624.2
361.9
4,232.7

30.6
2,348.1
37.3
10,728.7
(3,179.7)
9,965.0

135.9
38.8
285.2
11,383.6
116.7
446.9
12,407.1

—
2,831.3
594.2
359.8
3,785.3

30.5
2,321.7
(814.2)
9,863.1
(2,779.3)
8,621.8

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

$

14,197.7

$

12,407.1

See notes to condensed financial information.

202

SCHEDULE II--CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Continued)

Unum Group (Parent Company)

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

2019

$

Cash Dividends from Subsidiaries
Other Income
Total Revenue

Interest and Debt Expense
Cost Related to Early Retirement of Debt
Other Expenses
Total Expenses

Income of Parent Company Before Income Tax
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Income of Parent Company
Equity in Undistributed Earnings (Loss) of Subsidiaries

Net Income

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)
$

$

1,089.4
63.9
1,153.3

1,135.4
66.6
1,202.0

173.2
27.3
53.4
253.9

899.4
(21.5)

920.9
179.4

161.4
—
53.4
214.8

987.2
(1.7)

988.9
(465.5)

1,100.3

523.4

851.5

(924.2)

2017

830.2
66.6
896.8

154.2
—
37.1
191.3

705.5
115.3

590.2
404.0

994.2

178.5

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

$

1,951.8

$

(400.8) $

1,172.7

See notes to condensed financial information.

203

SCHEDULE II--CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Continued)

Unum Group (Parent Company)

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

2019

Year Ended December 31
2018
(in millions of dollars)
$

1,052.1

$

1,000.0

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

$

Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Proceeds from Maturities of Fixed Maturity Securities
Proceeds from Sales and Maturities of Other Investments
Purchase of Fixed Maturity Securities
Purchase of Other Investments
Net Sales (Purchases) of Short-term Investments
Cash Distributions to Subsidiaries
Net Purchases of Property and Equipment
Acquisition of Business
Cash Used by Investing Activities

Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Short-term Debt Repayment
Issuance of Long-term Debt
Long-term Debt Repayment
Cost Related to Early Retirement of Debt
Issuance of Common Stock
Repurchase of Common Stock
Dividends Paid to Stockholders
Other, Net
Cash Used by Financing Activities

16.6
5.6
—
—
(309.0)
(389.0)
(85.9)
—
(761.7)

—
841.9
(433.1)
(25.9)
6.1
(400.3)
(229.2)
(3.7)
(244.2)

52.5
—
(47.9)
(22.3)
192.6
(530.8)
(73.2)
(146.1)
(575.2)

(200.0)
290.7
—
—
4.6
(356.2)
(215.6)
(9.3)
(485.8)

2017

740.6

194.3
35.2
(121.2)
—
(99.9)
(79.5)
(83.3)
—
(154.4)

—
—
—
—
10.8
(401.8)
(196.0)
0.2
(586.8)

Decrease in Cash

$

(5.9) $

(8.9) $

(0.6)

See notes to condensed financial information.

204

SCHEDULE II--CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Continued)

Unum Group (Parent Company)

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and 
notes thereto of Unum Group and subsidiaries.  

Note 2 - Debt

Debt consists of the following:

Long-term Debt 
Outstanding Principal 
   Senior Notes issued 1998 
   Senior Notes issued 2002
   Senior Notes issued 2010
   Senior Notes issued 2012 and 2016
   Senior Notes issued 2014
   Senior Notes issued 2015
   Senior Notes issued 2016
   Senior Notes issued 2019
   Senior Notes issued 2019
   Medium-term Notes issued 1990 - 1996
   Junior Subordinated Debt Securities issued 1998
   Junior Subordinated Debt Securities issued 2018
Fair Value Hedge Adjustment
Less:

Unamortized Net Premium
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs

Total Long-term Debt   

Short-term Debt
Outstanding Principal
Senior Notes issued 2010
Less Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs
Total Short-term Debt

Interest Rates

Maturities

$

6.750 - 7.250%
7.375%
5.625%
5.750%
4.000%
3.875%
3.000%
4.000%
4.500%
7.000 - 7.190%
7.405%
6.250%

2028
2032
2020
2042
2024
2025
2021
2029
2049
2023 - 2028
2038
2058

5.625%

2020

December 31

2019
2018
(in millions of dollars)

$

335.8
39.5
—
500.0
350.0
275.0
—
400.0
450.0
20.5
203.7
300.0
(0.6)

365.8
39.5
400.0
500.0
350.0
275.0
350.0
—
—
50.8
226.5
300.0
(5.1)

8.4
(35.4)
2,846.9

9.6
(30.8)
2,831.3

400.0
(0.3)
399.7

—
—
—

Total Debt

$

3,246.6

$

2,831.3

The medium-term notes are non-callable.  The junior subordinated debt securities are callable under limited, specified 
circumstances.  The remaining debt is callable and may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time.  The aggregate contractual 
principal maturities are $400.0 million in 2020, $2.0 million in 2023, $350.0 million in 2024, and $2,522.5 million thereafter.

205

SCHEDULE II--CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Continued)

Unum Group (Parent Company)

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION - CONTINUED

Unsecured Notes

During 2019 we purchased and retired (i) $30.3 million aggregate principal amount of our 7.190% medium-term notes due 2028; 
(ii) $30.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 7.250% senior notes due 2028; and (iii) $350.0 million aggregate principal 
amount of our 3.000% senior notes due 2021.

In September 2019, we issued $450.0 million of 4.500% senior notes due 2049.  The notes are callable at or above par and rank 
equally in the right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

In June 2019, we issued $400.0 million of 4.000% senior notes due 2029.  The notes are callable at or above par and rank 
equally in the right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

In July 2018, our $200.0 million 7.000% senior unsecured notes matured. 

Fair Value Hedges

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, we had $250.0 million notional amount of an interest rate swap which effectively converts 
certain of our unsecured senior notes into floating rate debt.  Under this agreement, we receive a fixed rate of interest and pay a 
variable rate of interest, based off of the three-month LIBOR.  

Junior Subordinated Debt Securities

In May 2018, we issued $300.0 million of 6.250% junior subordinated notes due 2058.  The notes are redeemable at or above 
par on or after June 15, 2023 and rank equally in the right of payment with our other junior subordinated debt securities.

In 1998, Provident Financing Trust I (the Trust), a 100 percent-owned finance subsidiary of Unum Group, issued $300.0 million 
of 7.405% capital securities due 2038 in a public offering.  These capital securities are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by 
Unum Group, have a liquidation value of $1,000 per capital security, and have a mandatory redemption feature under certain 
circumstances.  In connection with the capital securities offering, Unum Group issued to the Trust 7.405% junior subordinated 
deferrable interest debentures due 2038.  The Trust is a variable interest entity of which Unum Group is not the primary 
beneficiary.  Accordingly, the capital securities issued by the Trust are not included in the consolidated financial statements of 
Unum Group and subsidiaries and our liability represents the junior subordinated debt securities owed to the trust which is 
recorded in long-term debt.  The sole assets of the Trust are the junior subordinated debt securities.  The retirement of any 
liquidation amount regarding the capital securities by the Trust results in a corresponding retirement of principal amount of the 
junior subordinated debt securities.  

During 2019, the Trust purchased and retired $22.8 million aggregate liquidation amount of the 7.405% capital securities due 
2038, which resulted in our purchase and retirement of a corresponding principal amount of our 7.405% junior subordinated debt 
securities due 2038. 

Cost Related to Early Retirement of Debt

During 2019, we incurred costs of $27.3 million related to the early retirement of certain of our unsecured notes and junior 
subordinated debt securities as previously discussed.

Interest Paid

Interest paid on long-term and short-term debt and related securities during 2019, 2018, and 2017 was $168.4 million, $161.4 
million, and $148.7 million, respectively.  

206

Credit Facilities

In April 2019, we amended the terms of our existing five-year unsecured revolving credit facility, increasing it from 
$400.0 million to $500.0 million.  The credit facility, which was previously set to expire in 2021, was extended through April 
2024.  Under the terms of the amended agreement, we may request that the credit facility be increased up to $700.0 million, up 
from the previous amount of $600.0 million.  We also may request, on up to two occasions, that the lenders' commitment 
termination dates be extended by one year.  The credit facility provides for the issuance of letters of credit subject to certain 
terms and limitations.  At December 31, 2019, letters of credit totaling $0.6 million had been issued from the credit facility, but 
there were no borrowed amounts outstanding.

Also in April 2019, we separately entered into a three-year, $100.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility with a different 
syndicate of lenders, which is set to expire in April 2022.  Under the terms of the agreement, we may request that the credit 
facility be increased up to $140.0 million.  We also may request that the lenders' commitment termination dates be extended by 
one year.  The credit facility provides for the issuance of letters of credit subject to certain terms and limitations.  At December 
31, 2019, there have been no letters of credit issued from the credit facility and there were no borrowed amounts outstanding.

Borrowings under the credit facilities are for general corporate uses and are subject to financial covenants, negative covenants, 
and events of default that are customary.  The two primary financial covenants include limitations based on our leverage ratio 
and consolidated net worth.  We are also subject to covenants that limit subsidiary indebtedness.  The credit facilities provide for 
borrowings at an interest rate based either on the prime rate or LIBOR.

207

SCHEDULE III--SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Segment

Deferred 
Acquisition 
Costs

Reserves for 
Future Policy 
Contract 
Benefits

Unearned 
Premiums

Policy and 
Contract 
Benefits

(in millions of dollars)

December 31, 2019

Unum US
Unum International
Colonial Life
Closed Block
   Total

December 31, 2018

Unum US
Unum International
Colonial Life
Closed Block
   Total

$

$

$

$

1,223.0
26.4
1,074.6
—
2,324.0

1,239.4
20.0
1,050.0
—
2,309.4

$

$

$

$

11,367.8
2,566.6
2,477.2
31,368.5
47,780.1

10,840.9
2,340.5
2,330.2
29,330.3
44,841.9

$

$

$

$

46.0
129.9
36.8
151.2
363.9

47.2
123.3
36.3
156.5
363.3

$

$

$

$

1,117.5
157.3
189.4
281.3
1,745.5

1,091.5
115.6
206.2
282.4
1,695.7

208

SCHEDULE III--SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION (Continued)

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

(continued from preceding page)

Segment

Premium 
Income

Net 
Investment 
Income1

Benefits 
and Change 
in Reserves 
for Future 
Benefits2
(in millions of dollars)

Amortization 
of Deferred 
Acquisition 
Costs

All Other 
Expenses3

Premiums 
Written4

December 31, 2019

Unum US
Unum International
Colonial Life
Closed Block
Corporate
   Total

December 31, 2018

Unum US
Unum International
Colonial Life
Closed Block
Corporate
   Total

December 31, 2017

Unum US
Unum International
Colonial Life
Closed Block
Corporate
   Total

$ 6,016.6
630.5
1,685.0
1,033.5
—
$ 9,365.6

$ 5,736.4
568.8
1,603.8
1,077.1
—
$ 8,986.1

$ 5,443.5
513.0
1,511.4
1,129.2
—
$ 8,597.1

$

$

$

$

$

$

739.4
122.5
148.0
1,404.9
20.5
2,435.3

778.7
117.2
151.2
1,377.1
29.5
2,453.7

811.2
120.2
144.9
1,354.0
21.4
2,451.7

$

$

$

$

$

$

4,022.1
469.8
865.0
2,139.3
—
7,496.2

3,856.5
419.8
824.9
2,919.2
—
8,020.4

3,693.4
381.9
788.6
2,191.8
—
7,055.7

$

$

$

$

$

$

344.0
7.1
258.8
—
—
609.9

315.1
8.2
242.2
—
—
565.5

293.6
9.1
224.4
—
—
527.1

$

$

$

$

$

$

1,501.6
168.8
368.1
232.7
239.5
2,510.7

1,447.4
144.5
353.9
235.7
203.3
2,384.8

1,398.0
131.2
331.8
247.3
191.7
2,300.0

$

$

$

4,073.9
443.7
1,249.6
1,020.8
—

3,873.0
455.5
1,277.3
1,065.7
—

3,701.3
404.2
1,210.6
1,109.8
—

1 Net investment income is allocated based upon segmentation.  Each segment has its own specifically identified assets and 
receives the investment income generated by those assets.

2 Included in 2018 is a reserve charge of $750.8 million in the Closed Block segment related to our long-term care business.  
Included in 2017 are unclaimed death benefits reserve increases of $26.6 million in Unum US and $12.4 million in Colonial 
Life.

 3 Includes commissions, interest and debt expense, cost related to early retirement of debt, deferral of acquisition costs, 
compensation expense, and other expenses.  Where not directly attributable to a segment, expenses are generally allocated based 
on activity levels, time information, and usage statistics.  Included in 2017 is a loss contingency accrual for a guaranty fund 
assessment of $20.6 million in Corporate. 

4 Excludes life insurance.

209

SCHEDULE IV--REINSURANCE

Unum Group and Subsidiaries

Gross 
Amount

Ceded to 
Other 
Companies

Assumed 
from Other 
Companies

(in millions of dollars)

Percentage 
Amount 
Assumed to 
Net

Net Amount

Year Ended December 31, 2019

Life Insurance in Force

$ 990,371.0

$

41,669.8

$

1,018.4

$ 949,719.6

0.1 %

Premium Income:
   Life Insurance
   Accident, Health, and Other Insurance
      Total

Year Ended December 31, 2018

$

$

2,549.7
7,026.6
9,576.3

$

$

137.2
190.0
327.2

$

$

8.2
108.3
116.5

$

$

2,420.7
6,944.9
9,365.6

0.3 %
1.6 %
1.2 %

Life Insurance in Force

$ 937,300.8

$

40,902.8

$

1,089.3

$ 897,487.3

0.1 %

Premium Income:
   Life Insurance
   Accident, Health, and Other Insurance
      Total

Year Ended December 31, 2017

$

$

2,442.1
6,729.0
9,171.1

$

$

138.2
189.4
327.6

$

$

8.7
133.9
142.6

$

$

2,312.6
6,673.5
8,986.1

0.4 %
2.0 %
1.6 %

Life Insurance in Force

$ 887,857.2

$

36,545.0

$

1,045.8

$ 852,358.0

0.1 %

Premium Income:
   Life Insurance
   Accident, Health, and Other Insurance
      Total

$

$

2,272.7
6,404.5
8,677.2

$

$

135.7
174.4
310.1

$

$

10.2
219.8
230.0

$

$

2,147.2
6,449.9
8,597.1

0.5 %
3.4 %
2.7 %

210

SCHEDULE V--VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

Unum Group and Subsidiaries 

Description

Year Ended December 31, 2019

Balance at 
Beginning 
of Year

Additions 
Charged to 
Costs and 
Expenses

Additions 
Charged to 
Other 

Accounts1 Deductions2

Balance at 
End of Year

(in millions of dollars)

Real Estate reserve (deducted from other long-term 
investments) 

Allowance for doubtful accounts (deducted from 
accounts and premiums receivable) 

Year Ended December 31, 2018

Real Estate reserve (deducted from other long-term 
investments) 

Allowance for doubtful accounts (deducted from 
accounts and premiums receivable) 

Year Ended December 31, 2017

Real Estate reserve (deducted from other long-term 
investments) 

Allowance for doubtful accounts (deducted from 
accounts and premiums receivable) 

$

$

$

$

$

$

1.5

$

— $

— $

1.2

$

0.3

9.9

$

5.3

$

0.1

$

6.9

$

8.4

4.2

$

0.6

$

— $

3.3

$

1.5

6.4

$

5.6

$

— $

2.1

$

9.9

4.2

$

— $

— $

— $

4.2

6.2

$

2.3

$

0.1

$

2.2

$

6.4

1 Additions charged to other accounts are comprised of amounts related to fluctuations in the foreign currency exchange rate.

2 Deductions include amounts deemed to reduce exposure of probable losses, amounts deemed uncollectible, and amounts 
related to fluctuations in the foreign currency exchange rate. 

See Notes 3 and 7 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained herein in Item 8 for a discussion of the 
mortgage loan allowance for credit losses and the deferred tax asset valuation allowance not included in the amounts reported 
above.

211

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

With regard to applicable cross-references in this report, our current, quarterly and annual reports dated on or after May 1, 2003 
are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under File No. 1-11294 and such reports dated prior to May 1, 2003 are 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under File No. 1-11834, except as otherwise noted below.  Our registration 
statements have the file numbers noted wherever such statements are identified below.

(3.1)

(3.2)

(4.1)

(4.2)

(4.3)

(4.4)

(4.5)

(4.6)

(4.7)

(4.8)

(4.9)

(4.10)

(4.11)

(4.12)

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Unum Group, effective May 24, 2018 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 3.1 of our Form 8-K filed on May 25, 2018).

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Unum Group, effective February 19, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 
3.1 of Unum Group's Form 8-K filed on February 22, 2019).

Indenture for Senior Debt Securities dated as of March 9, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our 
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-100953) filed on November 1, 2002).

Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 18, 2002, between Unum Group and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as 
Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of our Form 8-K filed on June 21, 2002).

Indenture for Senior Debt Securities between Unum Group and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. 
as Trustee dated as of September 30, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of our Form 8-K filed on 
September 30, 2009).

Form of 5.625% Senior Note due 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our Form 8-K filed on September 
15, 2010).

Indenture for Senior Debt Securities, dated as of August 23, 2012, between Unum Group and The Bank of New York 
Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of our Form 8-K filed on August 
23, 2012).

Form of 5.75% Senior Note due 2042 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our Form 8-K filed on August 23, 
2012).

Form of 4.000% Senior Note due 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our Form 8-K filed on March 14, 
2014).

Form of 3.875% Senior Note due 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our Form 8-K filed on November 
5, 2015).

Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities, dated as of May 29, 2018, between Unum Group and The Bank of New 
York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of Unum Group’s Form 8-K 
filed on May 29, 2018).

Form of 6.250% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2058 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Unum Group's 
Form 8-K filed on May 29, 2018).

Form of 4.000% Senior Notes due 2029 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Unum Group's Form 8-K filed 
on June 13, 2019).

Form of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2049 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Unum Group's Form 8-K filed 
on September 11, 2019).

Certain instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt securities of our company and our subsidiaries are omitted 
pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K.  We hereby undertake to furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission, 
upon request, copies of any such instruments.

(10.1)

(10.2)

(10.3)

(10.4)

(10.5)

Agreement between Provident Companies, Inc. and certain subsidiaries and American General Corporation and 
certain subsidiaries dated as of December 8, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of Provident 
Companies Inc.'s Form 10-Q for fiscal quarter ended September 30, 1998).

Form of Change in Control Severance Agreement, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of our 
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008). *

Form of Change in Control Severance Agreement, effective April 25, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 
of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014). *

Form of Change in Control Severance Agreement, effective January 1, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 
10.4 of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014). *

Form of Change in Control Severance Agreement, effective August 14, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 
10.5 of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018). *

212

(10.6)

(10.7)

(10.8)

(10.9)

Unum Group Supplemental Pension Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2010 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.6 of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013). *

First Amendment to the Unum Group Supplemental Pension Plan, effective as of June 17, 2013 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.7 of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013). *

Second Amendment to the Unum Group Supplemental Pension Plan, effective as of December 31, 2013 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013). *

Third Amendment to the Unum Group Supplemental Pension Plan, effective as of January 1, 2013 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.8 of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015). *

(10.10) Administrative Reinsurance Agreement between Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company and Reassure 

America Life Insurance Company dated to be effective July 1, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our 
Form 8-K filed on March 2, 2001).

(10.11) Unum Group Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan of 2004, as amended (incorporated 

by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008). *

(10.12) California Settlement Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Form 8-K filed on October 3, 

2005).

(10.13) Amendment to Regulatory Settlement Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Form 8‑ K filed 

on October 3, 2005).

(10.14) Unum Group Stock Incentive Plan of 2007, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 of our Form 10-

K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008). *

(10.15) Severance Pay Plan for Executive Vice Presidents (EVPs). *

(10.16) Unum Group Stock Incentive Plan of 2012 (incorporated by reference to Appendix A of our Definitive Proxy 

Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 12, 2012). *

(10.17) Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for awards under the Unum Group Stock Incentive Plan of 2012 

(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of our Form 10-Q filed on May 2, 2013). *

(10.18) Unum Group Non-Qualified Defined Contribution Retirement Plan, effective January 1, 2014 (incorporated by 

reference to Exhibit 10.31 of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013). *

(10.19) Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2019, among Unum Group, as Borrower, the Lenders 
named therein, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, L/C Agent, Fronting Bank and 
Swingline Lender (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our form 10-Q filed on July 31, 2019). 

(10.20) Letter Agreement with Richard P. McKenney, dated January 30, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of 

our Form 8-K filed on February 3, 2015). *

(10.21) Severance Agreement between Unum Group and Richard P. McKenney, dated effective as of April 1, 2015 

(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Form 8-K filed on February 3, 2015). *

(10.22) Amended and Restated Aircraft Time-Sharing Agreement between Unum Group and Richard P. McKenney, dated as 
of August 9, 2019. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Form 10-Q filed on October 30, 2019).

(10.23) Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement with Employee for awards in 2017 under the Unum Group Stock 
Incentive Plan of 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 
December 31, 2016). *

(10.24) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with Employee for awards in 2017 under the Unum Group Stock Incentive 

Plan of 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 
2016). *

(10.25) Unum Group Stock Incentive Plan of 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A of Unum Group's definitive proxy 

statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 13, 2017). * 

(10.26) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with Non-Employee Director for awards under the Unum Group Stock 

Incentive Plan of 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Unum Group's Form 8-K filed on May 25, 
2017). *

(10.27) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with Employee for awards in 2017 under the Unum Group Stock Incentive 
Plan of 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Unum Group's Form 8-K filed on May 25, 2017). *

(10.28) Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement with Employee for awards in 2017 under the Unum Group Stock 
Incentive Plan of 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Unum Group's Form 8-K filed on May 25, 
2017). *

213

(10.29) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with Employee in U.S. for awards in 2018 under the Unum Group Stock 
Incentive Plan of 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 of Unum Group's Form 10-K for the fiscal year 
ended December 31, 2017). *

(10.30) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with Employee in U.K. for awards in 2018 under the Unum Group Stock 
Incentive Plan of 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 of Unum Group's Form 10-K for the fiscal year 
ended December 31, 2017). *

(10.31) Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement with Employee in U.S. for awards in 2018 under the Unum Group Stock 

Incentive Plan of 2017. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 of Unum Group's Form 10-K for the fiscal year 
ended December 31, 2017). *

(10.32) Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement with Employee in U.K. for awards in 2018 under the Unum Group 

Stock Incentive Plan of 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 of Unum Group's Form 10-K for the fiscal 
year ended December 31, 2017). *

(10.33) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with Employee in U.S. for awards in 2019 under the Unum Group Stock 
Incentive Plan of 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 of Unum Group’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year 
ended December 31, 2018). *

(10.34) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with Employee in U.K. for awards in 2019 under the Unum Group Stock 
Incentive Plan of 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 of Unum Group’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year 
ended December 31, 2018). *

(10.35) Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement with Employee in U.S. for awards in 2019 under the Unum Group Stock 

Incentive Plan of 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 of Unum Group’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year 
ended December 31, 2018). *

(10.36) Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement with Employee in U.K. for awards in 2019 under the Unum Group 

Stock Incentive Plan of 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 of Unum Group’s Form 10-K for the fiscal 
year ended December 31, 2018). *

(10.37) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with Employee in U.S. for awards in 2020 under the Unum Group Stock 

Incentive Plan of 2017. *

(10.38) Form of Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with Employee in U.S. for awards in 2020 under the Unum 

Group Stock Incentive Plan of 2017. *

(10.39) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with Employee in U.K. for awards in 2020 under the Unum Group Stock 

Incentive Plan of 2017. *

(10.40) Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement with Employee in U.S. for awards in 2020 under the Unum Group Stock 

Incentive Plan of 2017. *

(10.41) Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement with Employee in U.K. for awards in 2020 under the Unum Group 

Stock Incentive Plan of 2017. *

(10.42) Annual Incentive Plan of Unum Group, as amended effective January 1, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 

10.1 of Unum Group's Form 10-Q filed on October 25, 2018).

(21)

(23)

(24)

Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Power of Attorney.

214

(31.1)

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(31.2)

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(32.1)

(32.2)

(101)

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

The following financial statements from Unum Group's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended 
December 31, 2019, filed on February 18, 2020, formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) 
Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), (iv) 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (vi) the Notes to 
Consolidated Financial Statements, (vii) Financial Statement Schedules.

(104)

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

___________

*

Management contract or compensatory plan required to be filed as an exhibit to this form pursuant to Item 15(c) of 
Form 10-K.

215

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

SIGNATURES 

Unum Group

(Registrant)

By:

/s/ Richard P. McKenney

Richard P. McKenney

President and Chief Executive Officer

Date:

February 18, 2020

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons
on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name

Title

Date

/s/ Richard P. McKenney

Richard P. McKenney

President and Chief Executive Officer

and a Director (principal executive officer)

February 18, 2020

/s/ Steven A. Zabel

Steven A. Zabel

/s/ Daniel J. Waxenberg

Daniel J. Waxenberg

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

February 18, 2020

(principal financial officer)

Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer

February 18, 2020

(principal accounting officer)

216

Name

*

Theodore H. Bunting, Jr.

Susan L. Cross

Susan D. DeVore

*

*

*

Joseph J. Echevarria

Cynthia L. Egan

Kevin T. Kabat

Timothy F. Keaney

Gloria C. Larson

*

*

*

*

*

Ronald P. O'Hanley

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Title

Date

February 18, 2020

February 18, 2020

February 18, 2020

February 18, 2020

February 18, 2020

February 18, 2020

February 18, 2020

February 18, 2020

February 18, 2020

*

Director

February 18, 2020

Francis J. Shammo

* By: /s/ J. Paul Jullienne

J. Paul Jullienne

Attorney-in-Fact

February 18, 2020

217

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Richard P. McKenney, certify that: 

1.  I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Unum Group; 

2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact 
necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading 
with respect to the period covered by this report; 

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all 
material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods 
presented in this report; 

4.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and 
procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined 
in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed 
under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is 
made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; 

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be 
designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the 
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our 
conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this 
report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the 
registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially 
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over 
financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons 
performing the equivalent functions): 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting 
which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial 
information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the 
registrant's internal control over financial reporting. 

Date: February 18, 2020

/s/  Richard P. McKenney
Richard P. McKenney
President and Chief Executive Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to 
Unum Group and will be retained by Unum Group and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon 
request. 

 
 
 
EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Steven A. Zabel, certify that:

1.  I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Unum Group; 

2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact 
necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading 
with respect to the period covered by this report; 

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all 
material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods 
presented in this report; 

4.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and 
procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined 
in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed 
under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is 
made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be 
designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the 
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our 
conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this 
report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the 
registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially 
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over 
financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons 
performing the equivalent functions): 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting 
which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial 
information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the 
registrant's internal control over financial reporting. 

Date: February 18, 2020

/s/ Steven A. Zabel
Steven A. Zabel
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to 
Unum Group and will be retained by Unum Group and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon 
request. 

 
 
EXHIBIT 32.1

STATEMENT OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
OF UNUM GROUP
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
§ 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Unum Group (the Company) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2019 
as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), the undersigned, Richard P. McKenney, 
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that: 

1.  The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and 

2.  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of 
operations of the Company. 

Date: February 18, 2020

/s/  Richard P. McKenney
Richard P. McKenney
President and Chief Executive Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to 
Unum Group and will be retained by Unum Group and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon 
request. 

 
 
EXHIBIT 32.2

STATEMENT OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
OF UNUM GROUP
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
§ 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Unum Group (the Company) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2019 
as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), the undersigned, Steven A. Zabel, 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted 
pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that: 

1.  The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and 

2.  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of 
operations of the Company. 

Date: February 18, 2020

/s/ Steven A. Zabel
Steven A. Zabel
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to 
Unum Group and will be retained by Unum Group and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon 
request. 

 
 
 
 
Corporate Directory (as of April 1, 2020) 

Board of Directors 

Theodore H. Bunting, Jr. 
Retired Group President, 
Utility Operations 
Entergy Corporation 

Cynthia L. Egan 
Retired President, 
Retirement Plan Services 
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.

Richard P. McKenney 
President and Chief Executive Officer, 
Unum Group 

Susan L. Cross 
Former Executive Vice President and 
Global Chief Actuary, 
XL Group Ltd 

Susan D. DeVore 
Chief Executive Officer 
Premier, Inc. 

Kevin T. Kabat 
Chairman of the Board  
of Unum Group 
Retired Chief Executive Officer, 
Fifth Third Bancorp 

Timothy F. Keaney 
Former Vice Chairman, 
The Bank of New York Mellon 
Corporation 

Joseph J. Echevarria 
Retired Chief Executive Officer 
Deloitte LLP 

Gloria C. Larson 
Retired President, 
Bentley University 

Executive Officers 

Ronald P. O’Hanley 
Chairman and President  
and Chief Executive Officer, 
State Street Corporation 

Francis J. Shammo 
Former Chief Financial Officer, 
Verizon Communications, Inc. 

Richard P. McKenney 
President and Chief Executive Officer 

Timothy G. Arnold 
Executive Vice President, Voluntary  
Benefits and President, Colonial Life 

Peter G. O’Donnell 
Executive Vice President, 
Unum International 

Steven A. Zabel 
Executive Vice President,  
Chief Financial Officer 

Michael Q. Simonds 
Executive Vice President, 
Chief Operating Officer 

Liz Ahmed 
Executive Vice President,  
People and Communications 

2019 Form 10-K 

Puneet Bhasin 
Executive Vice President, 
Chief Information and Digital Officer 

Christopher W. Pyne 
Executive Vice President, 
Group Benefits 

Lisa G. Iglesias 
Executive Vice President,  
General Counsel 

Martha D. Leiper 
Executive Vice President, 
Chief Investment Officer 

Our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 is included in this Annual Report in its entirety with the 
exception of certain exhibits. All of the exhibits may be obtained by accessing our filings with the U.S. Securities and 
Exchange Commission, which are available on our investor relations website under the “SEC Filings” heading at 
www.investors.unum.com. In addition, shareholders may request a free copy of any exhibit by contacting the Office of the 
Corporate Secretary as referenced above. 

Shareholder Information 

Corporate Offices 

Principal Subsidiaries 

Contact Information 

1 Fountain Square 
Chattanooga, TN 37402 
423 294 1011 

2211 Congress Street 
Portland, ME 04122 
207 575 2211 

1200 Colonial Life Blvd. 
Columbia, SC 29210 
803 798 7000 

Milton Court 
Dorking, Surrey RH4 3LZ 
England 
011 44 1306 887766 

1 Mercantile Street 
Worcester, MA 01608 
774 437 4441 

Stock Performance 

The accompanying graph 
shows a five-year 
comparison of the 
cumulative total returns on 
our common stock, the S&P 
500 Index, and the S&P Life 
& Health Index, assuming a 
hypothetical 
$100 investment in our 
common stock and in each 
index on December 31, 2014, 
including the reinvestment of 
all dividends. Past 
performance is not an 
indication of future results 

Provident Life and  
Accident Insurance Company 
Chattanooga, Tennessee 

Unum Life Insurance  
Company of America 
Portland, Maine 

Colonial Life & Accident 
Insurance Company  
Columbia, South Carolina 

Unum Limited 
Dorking, England 

The Paul Revere  
Life Insurance Company 
Worcester, Massachusetts 

First Unum  
Life Insurance Company 
New York, New York 

Investor Relations 
Thomas A.H. White 
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations 
1 Fountain Square 
Chattanooga, TN 37402 
423 294 8996 

Office of the Corporate Secretary 
J. Paul Jullienne
Corporate Secretary
1 Fountain Square
Chattanooga, TN 37402
800 718 8824

Transfer Agent 
Computershare Trust Company, N.A. 
P.O. Box 43078 
Providence, RI 02940-3078 
800 446 2617 

Common Stock Information 
Common stock of Unum Group is traded 
on the New York Stock Exchange. 
The stock symbol is UNM. 

Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Return

$250 

$200 

$150 

$100 

$50 

$-

Unum Group

S&P 500

2014

$100 

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

$98.65  $133.31  $169.54  $92.86 

$95.27 

$100 

$115.26  $129.05  $157.22  $150.33  $197.66 

S&P Life and Health Index

$100 

$95.51  $119.26  $138.85  $110.01  $135.51 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unum Group

1 Fountain Square 

Chattanooga, TN 37402

www.unum.com