Consultation · TTSEC · 27 Jun 2005
The Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission proposes a regulatory framework to bring deferred annuity and savings plans sponsored by non-insurance entities under its jurisdiction. The document argues that these hybrid vehicles constitute investment contracts rather than insurance products, thereby qualifying as securities subject to registration and continuous disclosure requirements. It outlines the legal basis for this classification using international precedents and details the necessary compliance steps for plan sponsors and investment managers.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
THE REGULATORY TREATMENT OF
DEFERRED TAX ANNUITY/SAVING PLANS SPONSORED
BY NON-INSURANCE COMPANIES
(FOR PUBLIC COMMENT)
Disclosure, Registration & Corporate Finance
July 6, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. 2
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 3
What are Deferred Annuity/Savings Plans?................................................................... 3
The Structure of Deferred Annuity Plans ...................................................................... 4
Fixed Annuity Plans........................................................................................................ 4
Variable Annuity............................................................................................................. 4
Combination Annuity...................................................................................................... 4
Annuity Purchase Options ............................................................................................... 5
Single Payment Deferred Annuity.................................................................................. 5
Single Payment Immediate Annuity ............................................................................... 5
Periodic Payment Deferred Annuity............................................................................... 6
Annuity Payout Options................................................................................................... 6
Life Only/Straight Life ................................................................................................... 6
Life with Period Certain.................................................................................................. 6
Joint With Last Survivor................................................................................................. 6
Legal Arguments for the Registration Deferred Annuity Plans................................... 7
The Law on Annuity Contracts: Investment vs. Insurance Contracts ............................ 7
Definition of a Security................................................................................................. 10
Deferred Annuity/Saving Plans Registered by the Commission ................................ 10
Deferred Annuity Plans currently in existence and not registered by the Commission 11
The Registration and Disclosure Regime for Deferred Annuity/Savings Plans........ 12
Registration and Disclosure ........................................................................................... 13
Registration via Prospectus........................................................................................... 13
Registration of the Investment Manager under the SIA ............................................... 13
Registration of the Plan Sponsor as a Reporting Issuer of Securities........................... 14
Continuous Reporting Requirements............................................................................ 14
Corporate Finance......................................................................................................... 14
Bibliography .................................................................................................................... 15
INTRODUCTION
Deferred Annuity/Savings Plans sponsored by non-insurance companies have posed a unique challenge for the regulatory authorities of Trinidad and Tobago. These hybrid insurance/savings vehicles have virtually escaped the regulatory net owing to the fact that they are neither covered by the Insurance Act of 1980 nor the Financial Institutions Act of 1993. In the case of the Insurance Act, 1980, the regulator, the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, supervises only those plans that are issued by licensed insurance companies. In the case of the Financial Institutions Act, 1993, the businesses of the plan sponsors are regulated from a prudential viewpoint. However, the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago does not regulate the plans to ensure that there is full and complete disclosure to investors of all facts that are material to their investment decision. The transaction structure constitutes an arrangement in which individuals enter into a contract under which periodic payments (contributions) are held in trust and are invested or otherwise applied by the entity for the purpose of providing an annuity for life commencing at maturity of each contract. It is in essence a saving plan for retirement with a tax incentive. Each contribution by the investor is treated as a deferred annuity contribution and is allowed as a tax deduction under Section 28 of the Income Tax Act. This paper purposes to provide a framework for the registration and continuous disclosure regime for Deferred Annuity/Savings plans that are sponsored by non-insurance entities. The sections that follow will address the following topics:
i) the definition and varying forms of Deferred Annuity/Savings Plans; ii) the legal argument for registration of the Plans as securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“the Commission”); iii) Deferred Annuity Plans currently in existence and not registered by the Commission; iv) the structure and content of the prospectus and other documents constituting the plan; and v) a plan of action for ensuring compliance by existing unregistered Plans. WHAT ARE DEFERRED ANNUITY/SAVINGS PLANS? A deferred annuity is a contract between an individual and an insurance company or financial institution, which delays the payments of income, installment, or a lump sum until the investor (or annuitant) elects to receive them. During the life of the contract, the annuitant contributes an agreed amount of money on a periodic basis to the plan. On maturity, where the contract is with an insurance company, the insurance company provides an annuity for the remainder of the individual’s life i.e. it provides a series of fixed payments which are paid over the specified period. Where the contract is made between an individual and a financial institution, the annuitant still provides funds periodically to the plan, but on maturity the capital contributions and income generated are used to purchase an annuity from a recognized insurance company.
Deferred Annuity Plans may be either approved or unapproved. Approval in this case means approval from the Board of Inland Revenue (“BIR”) to allow the payments made by the individual to be deducted on his tax return for the relevant period. Conversely, unapproved plans do not have this tax incentive feature and payments made under these plans obtain no tax relief in the relevant period. THE STRUCTURE OF DEFERRED ANNUITY PLANS Generally, annuity plans may be classified into three (3) basic types that are designed to meet the different objectives of an investor. These classifications are:
(i) Fixed annuity
(ii) Variable annuity
(iii) Combination annuity
While all three types allow the investor's money to grow tax deferred or not, the type of investments made and how the money is invested by the trustee/manager will vary among them. FIXED ANNUITY PLANS A fixed annuity offers investors a guaranteed rate of return regardless of whether or not the investment portfolio can produce the guaranteed rate. If the performance of the portfolio falls below the rate that was guaranteed, the sponsoring entity is liable for any shortfall. Since fixed annuities offer investors a guaranteed return, the money invested by the sponsoring entity will be used to purchase conservative investments whose historical performance is predictable enough so that a guaranteed rate can be offered to investors. VARIABLE ANNUITY An investor seeking to achieve a higher rate of return may elect to purchase a variable annuity. Variable annuity plans seek to obtain a higher rate of return by investing in stocks, bonds, or mutual fund units. These securities traditionally offer higher rates of return than more conservative investments. A variable annuity does not offer the investor a guaranteed rate of return and the investor places all or a substantial portion of his principal at risk. The plan may provide for investment in one of two methods:
A combination annuity has a fixed portion that offers a guaranteed rate and a variable portion that tries to achieve a higher rate of return. Most combination annuities will allow the investor to move money between the fixed and variable portions of the contract.
Table 1 - Comparison of Features of Fixed and Variable Annuity Plans
Feature Fixed Annuity Plan Variable Annuity Plan Payment Received Guaranteed/Fixed Mary Vary in Amount Return Guaranteed Minimum No Guarantee and Return may vary Investment Risk Assumed by Sponsor Assumed by Investor Portfolio Real Estate, Mortgages and Fixed Income Securities Stocks, Bonds or Mutual Fund Shares Portfolio Held in Genera Account Separate Account Inflation Subject to Inflation Resistant to Inflation It should be noted that the Trinidad and Tobago market has not reached the stage where it has offered varying investment profiles to different investors. Although not currently in existence, the market for these securities may evolve to include the characteristics mentioned above. ANNUITY PURCHASE OPTIONS An investor may purchase an annuity contract in one of three (3) ways. They are:
(i) Single payment deferred annuity
(ii) Single payment immediate annuity
(iii) Periodic payment deferred annuity
SINGLE PAYMENT DEFERRED ANNUITY
With a single payment deferred annuity, the investor funds the contract completely with one payment and defers receiving payments from the contract until some point in the future usually after retirement. SINGLE PAYMENT IMMEDIATE ANNUITY
With a single payment immediate annuity, the investor funds the contract completely with one payment and begins receiving payments from the contract immediately, normally within 60 days. PERIODIC PAYMENT DEFERRED ANNUITY With a periodic payment annuity the investor purchases the annuity by making regularly scheduled payments into the contract. This is known as the accumulation stage. During the accumulation stage the terms are flexible and if the investor misses a payment there is no penalty. ANNUITY PAYOUT OPTIONS An investor in an annuity has the choice of taking a lump sum distribution or receiving scheduled payments from the contract. If the investor decides to annuitize the contract and receive scheduled payments, once the payout option is selected, it may not be changed. The following is a list of typical payout options in order from the largest monthly payment to the smallest. They are:
(iv) Life only / straight life
(v) Life with period certain
(vi) Joint with last survivor
LIFE ONLY/STRAIGHT LIFE
This payout option will give the annuitant the largest periodic payment from the contract and the investor will receive payments from the contract for their entire life. However, when the investor dies there are no additional benefits paid to their estate. If an investor has accumulated a large sum of money in the contract and dies unexpectedly shortly after annuitizing the contract, the insurance company keeps the money in their account. LIFE WITH PERIOD CERTAIN A life with period certain pay out option will pay out from the contract to the investor or to their estate for the life of the annuitant, or for the period certain whichever is longer. If an investor selects a ten-year period certain when they annuitize the contract and the investor lives for twenty years, payments will cease upon the death of the annuitant. However, if the same investor died only two years after annuitizing the contract payments would go to their estate for another eight years. JOINT WITH LAST SURVIVOR When an investor selects a joint with last survivor option, the annuity is jointly owned by more than one party and payments will continue until the last owner of the contract dies. For example, if a husband and wife are receiving payments from an annuity under a joint with last survivor option, and the husband dies, payments will continue to the wife for the rest of her life. The payments received by the wife could be at the same rate as when the husband was alive or at a reduced rate depending upon the contract. The monthly payments will initially be based on the life expectancy of the youngest annuitant.
LEGAL ARGUMENTS FOR THE REGISTRATION DEFERRED ANNUITY PLANS In the United States, the courts have determined that deferred annuity plans may be categorized as “investment contracts” and made subject to regulation under the Securities Act, 1933, if they meet criteria established in two landmark cases decided by the US Supreme Court – S.E.C. v. W. J. Howey and Co. and State of Hawaii v. Hawaii Market Center Inc. In the first of these cases, S.E.C. v. W. J. Howey Co. (1946), the US Supreme Court devised the “common enterprise” test. The test requires:
(i) The existence of a contract, transaction or scheme whereby a person invests; (ii) That the investment be in a common enterprise; and (iii) That the person is led to expect profits solely from the efforts of a promoter or third party. Problems that arose concerning the application of the common enterprise test due to a mechanical focus on the word “solely” and the need for broader interpretation to give effect to the purpose of the US securities legislation led to the enunciation of the “risk capital” test in State of Hawaii v. Hawaii Market Center Inc (1971). This test requires that:
(i) The offeree must furnish initial value;
(ii) A portion of the initial value must be subject to the risks of the enterprise; (iii) The furnishing of initial value was induced by promises or representations leading to reasonable expectation or understanding that a benefit above initial value will accrue; and (iv) The offeree does not have the right to exercise practical and actual control over the managerial decisions of the enterprise. The Supreme Court of Canada has adopted the principles set out in both SEC v. W. J. Howey and Co. and State of Hawaii v. Hawaii Market Center Inc. in Pacific Coast Coin Exchange v. Ontario Securities Commission (1971) stating among other things that:
(i) the definition of “security” in the Securities Act of 1933 was similar to the definition in the Ontario Securities Act; (ii) both definitions referred to an “investment contract”; and (iii) the purpose of the legislation is the same. THE LAW ON ANNUITY CONTRACTS: INVESTMENT VS. INSURANCE CONTRACTS The decisions of the United States Supreme Court in the cases of S.E.C. v. Variable Annuity Life Insurance Co., S.E.C. v. United Benefit Life Insurance Co. and Peoria Union Stock Yards Co. v. Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co., provide the principles for distinguishing deferred annuity plans from insurance products.
United States Supreme Court. SEC vs. Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company Limited 359 U.S. 65, 79 S. Ct. 618, 3 L.Ed.2d 640 (1959). Argued: January 15, 1959. Decided: March 23, 1959. United States Supreme Court. SEC vs. United Benefit Life Insurance Company Limited 387 U.S. 202, 87 S. Ct. 1557, 18 L.Ed.2d 673 (1967). Argued: April 10, 1967. Decided: May 22, 1967.
United States Supreme Court. SEC vs. United Benefit Life Insurance Company Limited 387 U.S. 202, 87 S. Ct. 1557, 18 L.Ed.2d 673 (1967). Argued: April 10, 1967. Decided: May 22, 1967.
DEFINITION OF A SECURITY
The Trinidad and Tobago Securities Industry Act, 1995 (“the Act”) defines a “security” as follows:
“… any document evidencing ownership or any interest in the capital or debt, property, profits, earnings or royalties of any enterprise or proposed enterprise and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes any- (a) bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness; (b) share, stock, unit, unit certificate, participation certificate or certificate of share or interest; (c) instrument commonly known as security; (d) instrument or document constituting evidence of any interest or participation in- (i) a profit sharing agreement; (ii) a trust; (iii)an oil, natural gas or mining lease, claim or royalty or other mineral right; or (e) right to acquire or dispose of anything specified in paragraphs (a) to (d); but does not include- (f) currency; (g) a cheque, bill of exchange or bank letter of credit; (h) a certificate or document constituting evidence of any interest in a deposit account with- (i) a financial institution; (ii) a credit union within the meaning of the Co-operative Societies Act; (iii)an insurance company; (iv)a contract of insurance issued by an issuer” Although this definition does not refer to deferred annuity plans specifically, it employs the term “profit sharing agreement”, a broad catch-all term whose current legal interpretation subsumes arrangements referred to as “investment contracts”. Given the existence of this catch-all term therefore makes it possible to adopt the principles above on the same terms espoused in the Pacific Coast Coin Exchange v. Ontario Securities Commission (1971) case. DEFERRED ANNUITY/SAVING PLANS REGISTERED BY THE COMMISSION Three (3) deferred annuity plans have been registered with the Commission to date. Table 2 (below) provides the main features of each plan.
Table 2 - Deferred Annuity/Savings Plans Registered by the Commission
First Citizens Bank Limited
The Retirement Provider • Tax deductible contributions;
Contributions are pooled and invested in deposit certificates or
interest bearing certificates in any bank, the equity market or other investments that the Trustee may think fit;
interest received varies according to the performance of the
portfolio;
Purchase of annuity upon maturity;
Insurance Coverage for members to the extent of Accumulation.
The First Citizens Bank
Group Retirement Provider
Monthly contributions from employer in respect of employees held
in trust;
Can be used as tax deductible;
Upon Maturity, a percentage of the contributions goes towards an
annuity to be purchased with an Insurance Company, the remaining percentage can be accessed. DEFERRED ANNUITY PLANS CURRENTLY IN EXISTENCE AND NOT REGISTERED BY THE COMMISSION
Table 3 (below) provides information with respect to the features of a number of deferred annuity/saving
plans that are not regulated by the Commission.
Table 3 - Main Features of Plans Not Currently Registered by the Commission
RBTT Bank Limited
Future Cash • Tax deductible; contributions can be made annually, semi annually, quarterly etc;
Individual contributions are pooled together and invested in the
bond and the equity markets;
Interest received varies according to the performance of the
portfolio;
A beneficiary can be appointed;
Maturity date is between 50-70 yrs ;
At maturity, 100% of interest accumulated and 25% of
contributions made can be accessed;
75% of the accumulated contributions is used as a pension fund
100% of contributions cannot be accessed.
Republic Bank Limited
TISP • Monthly contributions to be held in trust;
Can be used as tax deductible;
Upon maturity, a percentage of the contributions goes towards an
annuity to be purchased with an Insurance Company, the remaining percentage can be accessed. Equity TISP • Contributions are invested in stocks and shares to purchase units, the value of which varies per day, according to trading on the Stock Exchange;
Investments in equity TISP can be transferred to TISP.
Corporate TISP • The contributor is an employer, who will make contributions on behalf of employees;
REGISTRATION AND DISCLOSURE
REGISTRATION VIA PROSPECTUS
The Registration process would begin with the submission of a draft prospectus and the legal documentation constituting the plan. At a minimum the submission must include:
(i) Prospectus
(ii) Legal documentation and managerial agreements constituting the Plan.
(iii) Rules of the Plan (if the Plan has a tax incentive, the Rules must be approved by the Board of Inland Revenue.) (iv) Copy of Offer Document In the preparation of the prospectus for the issue, the sponsor shall be guided by disclosures required in Prospectus Guidelines for Public Offerings issued in accordance with Section 6(b) of the Act. The prospectus shall indicate at a minimum:
REGISTRATION OF THE PLAN SPONSOR AS A REPORTING ISSUER OF SECURITIES The plan sponsor shall be registered as a reporting issuer and will be required to satisfy the stipulations of Section 66 in respect of the class of securities issued. CONTINUOUS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS The requirement for reporting by the Plan Sponsor recognizes that the Plan Sponsor is in most cases responsible for record keeping with respect to the Plans. He receives the funds and makes distributions to investors as necessary and is best positioned to report on the status of the Plan. The Plan Sponsor or any other person designated as a reporting issuer, with respect to the securities issued under the Plan, shall provide the Commission with:
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Canadian Securities Association. “Guidelines for Capital Accumulation Plans”. CSA Staff Notice 81-
312. Joint Forum of Market Regulators. May, 2004.
United States Securities and Exchange Commission. “Investor Tips - Variable Annuities: What You Should Know”. US SEC Website FAQ: http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/varannty.htm. United States Supreme Court. SEC vs. Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company Limited 359 U.S. 65, 79 S. Ct. 618, 3 L.Ed.2d 640 (1959). Argued: January 15, 1959. Decided: March 23, 1959. United States Supreme Court. SEC vs. United Benefit Life Insurance Company Limited 387 U.S. 202, 87 S. Ct. 1557, 18 L.Ed.2d 673 (1967). Argued: April 10, 1967. Decided: May 22, 1967. United States Supreme Court. Peoria Union Stock Yards Co. v. Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co., 698 F.2d 320 (7th Cir. 1983). (1983).
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