News Details

Third quarter 2013 net income⁽¹⁾ per diluted share was $1.86
Operating earnings per diluted share grew 45 percent to an all-time high of $1.91

Third quarter 2013 return on equity excluding AOCI was 18.2 percent
Operating return on equity excluding AOCI was a record 19.4 percent

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP) today reported record third quarter 2013 results. Net income⁽¹⁾ in the quarter was $381 million, or $1.86 per diluted share, up from $174 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, a year ago. Operating earnings increased 36 percent to a record $392 million compared to $289 million a year ago, and operating earnings per diluted share increased 45 percent to $1.91.

Operating net revenues increased 7 percent to $2.7 billion. Adjusting for the exit of bank operations last year, revenues were up 8 percent. Revenue growth was driven by robust client net inflows, increased client activity and market appreciation. Higher asset levels and improved advisor productivity more than offset the impact of low interest rates.

Operating expenses increased 1 percent to $2.1 billion reflecting increased volume-related distribution expense offset by lower amortization of deferred acquisition costs (DAC) from the company’s annual review of insurance and annuity valuation assumptions and modeling changes (unlocking). The company’s ongoing expense discipline resulted in general and administrative expenses remaining essentially flat compared to a year ago even after normalizing for former banking operations.

Operating earnings growth was strong and reflected fee-based business growth and ongoing expense discipline. In addition, operating earnings included a non-cash benefit from unlocking in the current period compared to an unfavorable unlocking impact a year ago.

Return on shareholders’ equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) was 18.2 percent for the 12 months ended September 30, 2013. Operating return on equity excluding AOCI reached a record 19.4 percent at quarter end, a 400 basis point increase from a year ago.

The company continues to return capital to shareholders while maintaining a strong financial foundation. In the quarter, a total of $475 million was returned to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. During the past four quarters,129 percent of operating earnings was returned to shareholders.

“We had an excellent quarter with strong growth in revenue and record operating earnings,” said Jim Cracchiolo, chairman and chief executive officer. “We are building on the momentum we’ve experienced throughout the year; wealth management is producing strong results and assets under management are up across the firm.”

“With our financial strength and ability to generate free cash flow, we continue to invest in products, services and capabilities for our clients and advisors while returning significant capital to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. And we’re increasing return on equity, which is now above 19 percent – a record high for Ameriprise.”

⁽¹⁾ Net income represents net income from continuing operations attributable to Ameriprise Financial.

Third Quarter 2013 Summary

In the third quarter of the year, the company conducts its annual review of insurance and annuity valuation assumptions relative to current experience and management expectations. To the extent that expectations change as a result of this review, the company updates valuation assumptions and the impact is reflected as part of annual unlocking. With regard to operating earnings, unlocking benefitted third quarter 2013 results by $32 million after-tax compared to an unfavorable $48 million after-tax impact a year ago. The current quarter benefit primarily reflected the impact of expected higher interest rates and changes in assumed policyholder behavior.

The company believes the presentation of operating earnings best represents the economics of the business. Operating earnings, after-tax, exclude the consolidation of certain investment entities; net realized gains or losses; integration and restructuring charges; the market impact on variable annuity guaranteed living benefits net of hedges and related DAC and deferred sales inducement costs (DSIC) amortization; the market impact on indexed universal life benefits, net of hedges and related DAC amortization, unearned revenue amortization, and the reinsurance accrual; and income or loss from discontinued operations.

Taxes

The third quarter 2013 operating effective tax rate was 29.0 percent compared to 27.2 percent a year ago. The company estimates that its full-year 2013 operating effective tax rate will be approximately 28 percent.

Third Quarter 2013 Business Highlights

• Total assets under management and administration were $735 billion—an 8 percent increase from a year ago driven by Ameriprise advisor client net inflows and market appreciation.
• Advice & Wealth Management is delivering strong growth in assets and revenues through the combination of improved advisor productivity and experienced advisor recruiting.
  • Client assets grew 13 percent to a record $389 billion and total wrap assets increased 19 percent to $144 billion. Wrap net inflows remained strong, increasing 47 percent to $3.0 billion.
  • Advisor productivity continues to improve with good uptake in key initiatives to support advisors, including the new brokerage technology platform and the adoption of the company’s Confident Retirement approach. For the quarter, operating net revenue per advisor, excluding results from former banking operations, improved 16 percent to $110,000.
  • Experienced advisor recruiting remained strong, with 86 experienced advisors moving their practices to Ameriprise during the quarter and the recruiting pipeline remains solid.
  • The company re-launched its award-winning advertising campaign with Tommy Lee Jones, which highlights the firm’s reputation of strength and stability.
• Asset Management continues to broaden its global capabilities, maintain strong investment performance and increase AUM.
  • During the quarter, the company established investment teams from Columbia and Threadneedle in key global asset classes to offer clients greater access to the investment capabilities of both organizations. Third-party institutional, which is now managed globally, is making good progress.
  • The company offers a broad portfolio of high-performing funds, including 120 four- and five-star Morningstar-rated funds. Asset Management AUM increased 4 percent to $479 billion, which included $4.3 billion of net outflows in the quarter, driven by anticipated outflows from previously discussed sources.
• Annuities and Protection are performing well in a low interest rate environment with good sales growth and strong risk characteristics.
  • Life and health insurance cash sales grew 20 percent from a year ago, reflecting solid indexed universal life sales and expanded variable universal life sales.
  • Variable annuity cash sales increased 14 percent from a year ago.
  • Auto and Home policies in force grew 10 percent.
• Ameriprise continues to focus on the strength of its balance sheet and effective capital management.
  • The company issued $600 million of senior notes in the quarter primarily to retire existing debt.
  • The company made further enhancements to its effective variable annuity hedging program.
  • Excess capital remained over $2 billion after the return of $475 million to shareholders during the quarter through share repurchases and dividends.
  • The company repurchased 4.2 million shares of its common stock in the quarter for $370 million.

Segment Summaries

Advice & Wealth Management pretax operating earnings increased 29 percent to $153 million, reflecting robust revenue growth and expense controls. Earnings growth was particularly strong given $16 million of lower earnings from former banking operations and $18 million of lower earnings from spread narrowing.

Third quarter 2013 pretax operating margin was 14.2 percent compared to 12.4 percent a year ago and 14.1 percent sequentially. Former banking operations contributed 130 basis points to operating margin in the year ago quarter.

Operating net revenues grew 12 percent to $1.1 billion driven by asset growth in fee-based accounts from client inflows and market appreciation, as well as improved client activity.

Operating expenses increased 9 percent to $921 million as business growth resulted in higher distribution expenses. General and administrative expenses declined 3 percent, demonstrating ongoing expense discipline and the impact of ceasing former banking operations.

Total retail client assets grew 13 percent to $389 billion driven by client net inflows, client acquisition and market appreciation. Wrap net inflows increased 47 percent to $3.0 billion, and brokerage cash balances increased to $18.9 billion. The combination of asset growth and strong client activity drove a 16 percent increase in operating net revenue per advisor, excluding results from former banking operations.

Asset Management pretax operating earnings increased 15 percent to $178 million driven by equity market appreciation and expense management, partially offset by the impact of net outflows.

Third quarter 2013 adjusted net pretax operating margin was 40.0 percent compared to 37.6 percent a year ago and 36.2 percent in the prior quarter.

Operating net revenues grew 6 percent to $777 million, primarily driven by asset growth from market appreciation and a shift to higher fee retail assets at Threadneedle, partially offset by the impact of net outflows.

Operating expenses increased 4 percent to $599 million, reflecting higher distribution expenses from market growth. Overall, expenses remained well controlled, with general and administrative expenses essentially flat.

Assets under management grew 4 percent to $479 billion, reflecting market appreciation, partially offset by $4.3 billion of net outflows in the quarter. Outflows were largely driven by previously identified sources, including legacy insurance mandates, a rebalancing of share with former parent company affiliated distribution, outflows related to a subadvisor, and a share class change in the RIA channel. In addition, flows in the quarter reflected net outflows in fixed income portfolios, consistent with industry trends, which were offset by strong net inflows in U.K. and European retail portfolios and good traction in third-party U.S. institutional mandates.

Annuities pretax operating earnings in the quarter were $219 million compared to $91 million a year ago, reflecting new business growth and market appreciation, partially offset by fixed annuity spread compression. Unlocking and the market impact on DAC and DSIC in the quarter resulted in a net $73 million benefit in the current period compared to a net $46 million unfavorable impact a year ago. Adjusting for the impact of the noted items in both periods, earnings increased 7 percent despite the impact of low interest rates.

Variable annuity operating earnings were $185 million as equity market appreciation and favorable unlocking offset higher distribution expenses from business growth and market appreciation. The company recently announced product feature and fee changes for its in-force variable annuities with living benefit guarantees to reflect the market environment, including providing policyholders with additional investment options designed to improve volatility management.

Fixed annuity operating earnings were $34 million, down primarily due to $11 million of continued spread compression from low interest rates, partially offset by income accretion related to former bank assets transferred to the insurance company last year. The impact of unlocking was $1 million unfavorable in the current quarter compared to a $14 million benefit a year ago.

Variable annuity account balances grew 8 percent to $73 billion driven by market appreciation, partially offset by net outflows. Variable annuity net outflows in the quarter reflected the closed book of RiverSource annuities previously sold through third parties, partially offset by $88 million of net inflows in the Ameriprise channel. Variable annuity cash sales increased 14 percent from a year ago. Fixed annuity account balances declined 4 percent to $13.4 billion due to ongoing net outflows from low client demand given the interest rate environment.

Protection pretax operating earnings declined 16 percent to $75 million, primarily from elevated catastrophe losses in the quarter. Unlocking resulted in an $11 million unfavorable impact in the quarter compared to a $13 million unfavorable impact in the year-ago quarter.

Life and health cash sales increased 20 percent to $85 million from growth in indexed universal life insurance and continued improvement in variable universal life insurance sales. Overall claims experience continued to perform well and was within expectations.

Steady growth in auto and home policies continued, up 10 percent compared to a year ago.Catastrophe losses were elevated and totaled $15 million.

Corporate & Other pretax operating loss was $73 million for the quarter compared to a $57 million loss a year ago. Losses were higher primarily due to how the company accounts for the transfer of former bank assets. At the consolidated Ameriprise level, the bank-related impact in Corporate was offset by the associated incremental accretion income, primarily in the Annuities segment.

At Ameriprise Financial, we have been helping people feel confident about their financial future since 1894. With outstanding asset management, advisory and insurance capabilities and a nationwide network of 10,000 financial advisors, we have the strength and expertise to serve the full range of individual and institutional investors' financial needs. For more information, or to find an Ameriprise financial advisor, visit ameriprise.com.

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. offers financial planning services, investments, insurance and annuity products. Columbia Funds are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., member FINRA and managed by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. Threadneedle International Limited is an SEC- and FCA-registered investment adviser affiliate of Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC based in the U.K. Auto and home insurance is underwritten by IDS Property Casualty Insurance Company, or in certain states, Ameriprise Insurance Company, both in De Pere, WI. RiverSource insurance and annuity products are issued by RiverSource Life Insurance Company, and in New York only by RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York, Albany, New York. Only RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York is authorized to sell insurance and annuity products in the state of New York. These companies are all part of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. CA License #0684538. RiverSource Distributors, Inc. (Distributor), Member FINRA.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management’s plans, estimates and beliefs. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. Examples of such forward-looking statements include:

• the statement in this news release regarding the company’s assumption of expected higher interest rates and changes in assumed policyholder behavior;
• the statement in this news release that the issuance of $600 million of senior notes will be primarily used to retire existing debt;
• the statement in this news release that the company expects its full-year 2013 operating effective tax rate to be approximately 28 percent;
• statements of the company’s plans, intentions, positioning, expectations, objectives or goals, including those relating to asset flows, mass affluent and affluent client acquisition strategy, client retention and growth of our client base, financial advisor productivity, retention, recruiting and enrollments, the introduction, cessation, terms or pricing of new or existing products and services, acquisition integration, general and administrative costs, consolidated tax rate, return of capital to shareholders, and excess capital position and financial flexibility to capture additional growth opportunities;
• other statements about future economic performance, the performance of equity markets and interest rate variations and the economic performance of the United States and of global markets; and
• statements of assumptions underlying such statements.

The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “optimistic,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “likely,” “forecast,” “on pace,” “project” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements.

Such factors include, but are not limited to:

• conditions in the interest rate, credit default, equity market and foreign exchange environments, including changes in valuations, liquidity and volatility;
• changes in and the adoption of relevant accounting standards and securities rating agency standards and processes, as well as changes in the litigation and regulatory environment, including ongoing legal proceedings and regulatory actions, the frequency and extent of legal claims threatened or initiated by clients, other persons and regulators, and developments in regulation and legislation, including the rules and regulations implemented or to be implemented in connection with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;
• investment management performance and distribution partner and consumer acceptance of the company’s products;
• effects of competition in the financial services industry, including pricing pressure, the introduction of new products and services and changes in product distribution mix and distribution channels;
• changes to the company’s reputation that may arise from employee or advisor misconduct, legal or regulatory actions, perceptions of the financial services industry generally, improper management of conflicts of interest or otherwise;
• the company’s capital structure, including indebtedness, limitations on subsidiaries to pay dividends, and the extent, manner, terms and timing of any share or debt repurchases management may effect as well as the opinions of rating agencies and other analysts and the reactions of market participants or the company’s regulators, advisors, distribution partners or customers in response to any change or prospect of change in any such opinion;
• changes to the availability and cost of liquidity and the Company’s credit capacity that may arise due to shifts in market conditions, the Company’s credit ratings and the overall availability of credit;
• risks of default, capacity constraint or repricing by issuers or guarantors of investments the company owns or by counterparties to hedge, derivative, insurance or reinsurance arrangements or by manufacturers of products the company distributes, experience deviations from the company’s assumptions regarding such risks, the evaluations or the prospect of changes in evaluations of any such third parties published by rating agencies or other analysts, and the reactions of other market participants or the company’s regulators, advisors, distribution partners or customers in response to any such evaluation or prospect of changes in evaluation;
• experience deviations from the company’s assumptions regarding morbidity, mortality and persistency in certain annuity and insurance products, or from assumptions regarding market returns assumed in valuing or unlocking DAC and DSIC or market volatility underlying our valuation and hedging of guaranteed living benefit annuity riders, or from assumptions regarding anticipated claims and losses relating to our automobile and home insurance products;
• changes in capital requirements that may be indicated, required or advised by regulators or rating agencies;
• the impacts of the company’s efforts to improve distribution economics and to grow third-party distribution of its products;
• the ability to pursue and complete strategic transactions and initiatives, including acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, joint ventures and the development of new products and services;
• the ability to realize the financial, operating and business fundamental benefits of strategic transactions and initiatives the company has completed, is pursuing or may pursue in the future, which may be impacted by the ability to obtain regulatory approvals, the ability to effectively manage related expenses and by market, business partner and consumer reactions to such strategic transactions and initiatives;
• the ability and timing to realize savings and other benefits from re-engineering and tax planning;
• interruptions or other failures in our communications, technology and other operating systems, including errors or failures caused by third party service providers, interference or failures caused by third party attacks on our systems, or the failure to safeguard the privacy or confidentiality of sensitive information and data on such systems; and
• general economic and political factors, including consumer confidence in the economy and the financial industry, the ability and inclination of consumers generally to invest as well as their ability and inclination to invest in financial instruments and products other than cash and cash equivalents, the costs of products and services the company consumes in the conduct of its business, and applicable legislation and regulation and changes therein, including tax laws, tax treaties, fiscal and central government treasury policy, and policies regarding the financial services industry and publicly held firms, and regulatory rulings and pronouncements.

Management cautions the reader that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. There may also be other risks that management is unable to predict at this time that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Management undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements. The foregoing list of factors should be read in conjunction with the “Risk Factors” discussion under Part 1, Item 1A of and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 available at ir.ameriprise.com.

The financial results discussed in this news release represent past performance only, which may not be used to predict or project future results. The financial results and values presented in this news release and the below-referenced Statistical Supplement are based upon asset valuations that represent estimates as of the date of this news release and may be revised in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013. For information about Ameriprise Financial entities, please refer to the Third Quarter 2013 Statistical Supplement available at ir.ameriprise.com and the tables that follow in this news release.

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
Investor Relations:
Alicia A. Charity, 612-671-2080
alicia.a.charity@ampf.com
or
Chad J. Sanner, 612-671-4676
chad.j.sanner@ampf.com
or
Media Relations:
Paul W. Johnson, 612-671-0625
paul.w.johnson@ampf.com

Source: Ameriprise Financial, Inc.