AFLAC INCORPORATED
 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-K
 
     
(Mark One)
[X]
  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
      For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007
or
[ ]
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
      For the transition period from            to           
 
Commission File Number: 001-07434
 
(AFLAC LOGO)
 
Aflac Incorporated
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     
Georgia   58-1167100
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
1932 Wynnton Road, Columbus, Georgia   31999
(Address of principal executive offices)   (ZIP Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 706.323.3431
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
     
Title of each class
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.10 Par Value
  New York Stock Exchange
    Tokyo 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.  þ Yes  o 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.  o Yes  þ No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     þ Yes  o No
 
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
 
     
Large accelerated filer þ
  Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer  o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  o Yes  þ No
 
 
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2007, was $24,641,178,453.
 
 
The number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding at February 22, 2008, with $.10 par value, was 474,754,948.
 
Documents Incorporated By Reference
 
Certain information contained in the Notice and Proxy Statement for the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 5, 2008, is incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.


 

 
Aflac Incorporated
Annual Report on Form 10-K
For the Year Ended December 31, 2007

Table of Contents
 
         
       
Page
       
  Business.   I-1
  Risk Factors.   I-16
  Unresolved Staff Comments.   I-21
  Properties.   I-21
  Legal Proceedings.   I-21
  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.   I-21
         
       
  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.   II-1
  Selected Financial Data.   II-4
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.   II-6
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.   II-43
  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.   II-44
  Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.   II-101
  Controls and Procedures.   II-101
  Other Information.   II-101
         
       
  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.   III-1
  Executive Compensation.   III-1
  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.   III-1
  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.   III-2
  Principal Accounting Fees and Services.   III-2
         
       
  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.   IV-1


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PART I
 
ITEM 1.  BUSINESS.
 
We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This report includes certain forward-looking information that is based on current expectations and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. For details on forward-looking information, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A), Part II, Item 7, of this report.
 
Aflac Incorporated qualifies as a large accelerated filer within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 12b-2. Our Internet address is aflac.com. The information on the Company’s Web site is not incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 10-K. We make available, free of charge on our Web site, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments thereto as soon as reasonably practicable after those forms have been electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
 
General Description
 
Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) was incorporated in 1973 under the laws of the state of Georgia. Aflac Incorporated is a general business holding company and acts as a management company, overseeing the operations of its subsidiaries by providing management services and making capital available. Its principal business is supplemental health and life insurance, which is marketed and administered through its subsidiary, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), which operates in the United States (Aflac U.S.) and as a branch in Japan (Aflac Japan). Most of Aflac’s policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Our insurance operations in the United States and our branch in Japan service the two markets for our insurance business.
 
We believe Aflac is the world’s leading underwriter of individually issued policies marketed at worksites. We continue to diversify our product offerings in both Japan and the United States. Aflac Japan sells supplemental insurance products, including cancer life plans, general medical indemnity plans, medical/sickness riders, care plans, living benefit life plans, ordinary life insurance plans and annuities. Aflac U.S. sells supplemental insurance products, including accident/disability plans, cancer expense plans, short-term disability plans, sickness and hospital indemnity plans, hospital intensive care plans, fixed-benefit dental plans, vision care plans, long-term care plans, and life insurance products.
 
We are authorized to conduct insurance business in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, several U.S. territories and Japan. Aflac Japan accounted for 71% of the Company’s total revenues in 2007, 72% in 2006 and 74% in 2005. The percentage of total assets attributable to Aflac Japan was 82% at both December 31, 2007 and 2006. For additional information, see Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
 
Results of Operations
 
For information on our results of operations and financial information by segment, see MD&A and Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.


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Foreign Currency Translation
 
For information regarding the effect of currency fluctuations on our business, see the Foreign Currency Translation and Currency Risk sections of MD&A and Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
 
Insurance Premiums
 
The growth of earned premiums is directly affected by the change in premiums in force and by the change in weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rates. Consolidated earned premiums were $13.0 billion in 2007, $12.3 billion in 2006, and $12.0 billion in 2005. For additional information on the composition of earned premiums by segment, see Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report. The following table presents the changes in annualized premiums in force for Aflac’s insurance business for the years ended December 31.
 
                                 
   
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005        
   
Annualized premiums in force, beginning of year
  $  13,195     $  12,415     $  12,604          
New sales, including conversions
    2,532       2,433       2,426          
Change in unprocessed new sales
    (78 )     (56 )     (67 )        
Premiums lapsed and surrendered
    (1,715 )     (1,589 )     (1,483 )        
Other
    30       79       58          
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    406       (87 )     (1,123 )        
 
 
Annualized premiums in force, end of year
  $ 14,370     $ 13,195     $ 12,415          
 
 
 
Insurance - Japan
 
We translate Aflac Japan’s annualized premiums in force into dollars at the respective end-of-period exchange rates. Changes in annualized premiums in force are translated at weighted-average exchange rates. The following table presents the changes in annualized premiums in force for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.
 
                                                     
 
    In Dollars     In Yen      
 
(In millions of dollars and billions of yen)   2007     2006     2005     2007     2006     2005      
 
Annualized premiums in force,
beginning of year
  $  9,094     $  8,705     $  9,230       1,083       1,028       962      
New sales, including conversions
    974       1,010       1,167       115       117       129      
Change in unprocessed new sales
    (78 )     (56 )     (67 )     (9 )     (6 )     (8 )    
Premiums lapsed and surrendered
    (472 )     (463 )     (470 )     (56 )     (54 )     (52 )    
Other
    (64 )     (15 )     (32 )     (7 )     (2 )     (3 )    
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    406       (87 )     (1,123 )     -       -       -      
 
 
Annualized premiums in force,
end of year
  $ 9,860     $ 9,094     $ 8,705       1,126       1,083       1,028      
 
 
 
For further information regarding Aflac Japan’s financial results, sales and the Japanese economy, see the Aflac Japan section of MD&A in this report.


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Insurance - U.S.
 
The following table presents the changes in annualized premiums in force for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.
 
                             
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005      
 
Annualized premiums in force, beginning of year
  $  4,101     $  3,711     $  3,374      
New sales, including conversions
    1,558       1,423       1,259      
Premiums lapsed
    (1,243 )     (1,127 )     (1,012 )    
Other
    94       94       90      
 
 
Annualized premiums in force, end of year
  $ 4,510     $ 4,101     $ 3,711      
 
 
 
For further information regarding Aflac’s U.S. financial results and sales, see the Aflac U.S. section of MD&A in this report.
 
Insurance Products - Japan
 
Aflac Japan’s insurance products are designed to help consumers pay for medical and nonmedical costs that are not reimbursed under Japan’s national health insurance system. Changes in Japan’s economy and an aging population have put increasing pressure on Japan’s national health care system. As a result, more costs are being shifted to Japanese consumers, who in turn have become increasingly interested in insurance products that help them manage those costs. Aflac Japan has responded to this consumer need by enhancing existing products and developing new products.
 
Aflac Japan’s stand-alone medical product, EVER, offers a basic level of hospitalization coverage with an affordable premium. Since its initial introduction in 2002, we have expanded our suite of EVER product offerings. We added to our medical product portfolio in February 2007 with EVER Paid Up, a product that allows policyholders to choose to pay higher premium payments on the front end so they will be payment-free at either age 60 or 65. In August 2007, we introduced Gentle EVER, which helps consumers who may have a health condition that would exclude them from purchasing the other EVER products. We believe that there is an attractive market for this type of medical product in Japan. We also believe Gentle EVER will be an effective means for us to extend our reach to new consumers and further segment the medical market. We continue to believe that the entire medical category will remain an important part of our product portfolio in Japan.
 
The cancer life insurance plans we offer in Japan provide a lump-sum benefit upon initial diagnosis of internal cancer and a fixed daily benefit for hospitalization and outpatient services related to cancer as well as surgical, convalescent and terminal care benefits. These plans differ from Aflac U.S. cancer plans in that the Japanese policies may also provide death benefits and cash surrender values. In September 2007, we introduced a new product called Cancer Forte. This is the first major revision we have made to our cancer product since we introduced 21st Century Cancer in 2001. Responding to requests for enhanced outpatient coverage for cancer treatment, Cancer Forte pays outpatient benefits for 60 days, compared with 30 days for our previous plans. It also incorporates two new features. First, if a policyholder is diagnosed with cancer for the first time, we pay that policyholder an annuity from the second year through the fifth year after diagnosis. This is in addition to the traditional upfront first-occurrence benefit. The second new benefit is called “Premier Support,” where Aflac arranges for a third party to provide policyholders with counseling and doctor referral services upon their cancer diagnosis. In 2006, we designed a new cancer product for distribution by


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Dai-ichi Life that is customized for their market. In addition, our Rider MAX product provides accident and medical/sickness benefits as a rider to our cancer life policy.
 
The life products that we offer in Japan provide death benefits and cash surrender values. These products are available as stand-alone policies and riders. Some plans have features that allow policyholders to convert a portion of their life insurance to medical, nursing care, or fixed annuity benefits at a predetermined age.
 
We also offer traditional fixed-income annuities and care policies. For additional information on Aflac Japan’s products and composition of sales, see the Aflac Japan section of MD&A in this report.
 
Insurance Products - U.S.
 
We design our U.S. insurance products to provide supplemental coverage for people who already have major medical or primary insurance coverage. Our policies are portable and pay regardless of other insurance. Benefits are paid in cash directly to policyholders, therefore they have the opportunity to use this cash to cover expenses of their choosing. Our health insurance plans are guaranteed-renewable for the lifetime of the policyholder (to age 70 for short-term disability policies). We cannot cancel guaranteed-renewable coverage, but we can increase premium rates on existing policies on a uniform, nondiscriminatory basis by class of policy in response to adverse experience. Any premium rate increases are subject to state regulatory approval. We have had minimal rate increase activity in the last five years.
 
Aflac U.S. offers an accident and disability policy to protect against losses resulting from accidents. The accident portion of the policy includes lump-sum benefits for accidental death, dismemberment and specific injuries as well as fixed benefits for hospital confinement. Optional disability riders are also available. Short-term disability policies provide disability benefits with a variety of elimination and benefit period options. The longest such benefit period offered is two years.
 
Our U.S. cancer plans are designed to provide insurance benefits for medical and nonmedical costs that are not covered by major medical insurance. Benefits include a first-occurrence benefit that pays an initial amount when internal cancer is first diagnosed; a fixed amount for each day an insured is hospitalized for cancer treatment; fixed amounts for radiation, chemotherapy and surgery; and a wellness benefit applicable toward certain diagnostic tests. In August 2007, we introduced our newest cancer product, Maximum DifferenceSM. This new cancer indemnity plan incorporates coverage for medical advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and the many new ways cancer patients may now receive their care. Maximum Difference allows customization of coverage to fit varying needs and budgets.
 
Our hospital indemnity products provide fixed daily benefits for hospitalization due to accident or sickness. In 2005, we introduced a new version of our hospital indemnity plan. Indemnity benefits for inpatient and outpatient surgeries, as well as various other diagnostic expenses, are also available. Our sickness indemnity plan provides a fixed daily benefit for hospitalization due to sickness and fixed amounts for physician services for accident or sickness.
 
Aflac U.S. offers a specified health event policy that gives consumers three benefit and premium levels from which they may select. One of the levels combines the specified health event policy with


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our intensive care plan. By leveraging administrative efficiencies, consumers can purchase the combined coverage for less than purchasing the policies separately.
 
Aflac U.S. offers term and whole life policies sold through payroll deduction at the worksite and various term and whole life policies on a direct basis. In early 2006, we introduced a revised life insurance portfolio called the Life Protector Series. This product line offers term policies with varying duration options and a new whole life policy with additional benefits, including an increased face value option. These revisions greatly enhanced the product category and contributed to its success in the marketplace.
 
We also offer a series of fixed-benefit dental policies, providing various levels of benefits for dental procedures, including checkups and cleanings. Plan features include a renewal guarantee, no deductible and no network restrictions.
 
Aflac U.S. offers Vision NowSM, which provides benefits for serious eye health conditions and loss of sight. Vision Now includes coverage for corrective eye materials and exam benefits.
 
We also offer other health insurance products including tax qualified and non-qualified long-term care plans. For additional information on Aflac’s U.S. products and composition of sales, see the Aflac U.S. section of MD&A in this report.
 
Distribution - Japan
 
We sell our products primarily through two distribution channels: independent corporate/individual agencies and affiliated corporate agencies.
 
The independent corporate agencies and individual agencies that sell our products give us better access to workers at the vast number of small businesses in Japan. Agents’ activities are primarily focused on insurance sales, with customer service support provided by the Aflac Contact Center. Independent corporate agencies and individual agencies contributed 56% of total new annualized premium sales in 2007, 58% in 2006 and 57% in 2005. Affiliated corporate agencies are formed when companies establish subsidiary businesses to sell our insurance products to their employees, suppliers and customers. These agencies help us reach employees at large worksites, including 89% of the companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Affiliated corporate agencies contributed 36% of total new annualized premium sales in 2007, compared with 33% in 2006 and 35% in 2005. During 2007, we recruited approximately 3,200 new sales agencies. As of December 31, 2007, Aflac Japan was represented by more than 18,400 sales agencies with more than 100,800 licensed sales associates. We believe that new agencies will continue to be attracted to Aflac Japan’s high commissions, superior products, customer service and strong brand image.
 
To improve the overall effectiveness of our sales force, we continued to employ New Associates Basic Training, which we launched in November 2006. This six-month training curriculum combines classroom and field training to improve agents’ face-to-face consultation skills, with particular emphasis on the direct market and small- to medium-sized companies. Our training is also continuing to steer affiliated agencies to replace passive, or “pull” sales tactics, like direct mailings and newspaper ads, with active, or “push” techniques that involve more follow-up calls and face-to-face sales consultations. By the end of 2007, we had trained approximately 3,300 newly recruited sales associates through this new training program.


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Aflac Service Shops encourage face-to-face sales techniques through convenient locations and knowledgeable sales associates. By the end of 2007, we had 604 Aflac Service Shops throughout Japan. To continue to enhance the level of service we offer, we began an “e-learning” system that is combined with a series of internal seminars aimed at providing a one-year training program to service shops. In addition to individual agencies and independent corporate agencies, affiliated corporate agencies have also seen the benefits and opened service shops.
 
We continued to reach consumers through our strategic marketing alliance with Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company (Dai-ichi Life). We believe our alliance has been one of the most successful partnerships in the insurance industry. In 2007, Dai-ichi Life sold approximately 244,000 of our market-leading cancer life policies, compared with 269,700 policies in 2006 and 277,700 policies in 2005, enabling Dai-ichi Life to retain its distinction as the number two seller of cancer insurance behind only Aflac.
 
We also spent 2007 preparing for new distribution opportunities, including sales through banks. Although we have sold our products to employees of banks since our entry into Japan in 1974, December 2007 marked the first time it was permissible for banks to sell third sector insurance products to their customers. We have been preparing for this new sales channel since 2004 and we believe we are well-positioned in the banking sector. By the end of January 2008, we had agreements with 41 banks to market Aflac’s products through more than 3,300 branches nationwide.
 
Another distribution opportunity for Aflac was announced in November 2007 when Japan Post Network Co. selected Aflac Japan as the provider of cancer insurance to be sold through Japan’s vast post office network. Japan Post Network Co. operates the 24,000 post offices located throughout Japan, providing a significant opportunity for us to reach new consumers.
 
For additional information on Aflac Japan’s distribution, see the Aflac Japan section of MD&A in this report.
 
Distribution - U.S.
 
Our U.S. sales force comprises sales associates who are independent contractors licensed to sell accident and health insurance. Many are also licensed to sell life insurance. Sales associates are paid commissions based on first-year and renewal premiums from their sales of insurance products. In addition to receiving commissions on personal production, district, regional and state sales coordinators may also receive override commissions and incentive bonuses. Most associates’ efforts are principally focused on selling supplemental insurance at the worksite. Administrative personnel in Georgia, New York, and Nebraska handle policyholder service functions, including issuance of policies, premium collection, payment notices and claims.
 
We concentrate on marketing our products at the worksite. This method offers policies to individuals through employment, trade and other associations. This manner of marketing is distinct from the group insurance sales approach in that our policies are individually underwritten and premiums are generally paid by the employee. Additionally, Aflac policies are portable, meaning that individuals may retain their full insurance coverage upon separation from employment or such affiliation, generally at the same premium. We collect a major portion of premiums on such sales through payroll deduction or other forms of centralized billing. Worksite marketing enables a sales


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associate to reach a greater number of prospective policyholders and lowers distribution costs, compared with individually marketed business.
 
During the past several years, we have enhanced and increased the size of our distribution system. We recruited more than 24,200 new sales associates in 2007, which resulted in a 4.2% increase in licensed agents at the end of the year, compared with 2006. However, increasing our sales force means more than just recruiting people. Over the last two years, we have shifted our focus to growing the number of average weekly producers, which measures high-quality, consistent, capable producers who make solid, consistent contributions to sales. On a weekly basis, the average number of U.S. associates actively producing business rose 6.0% to more than 10,900 in 2007.
 
For new sales associates, we continued to implement the New Associate Training Cycle, which combines classroom instruction and online learning through Aflac University® with field training. The New Associate Training Cycle also includes LEASE training (Larger Earnings by Acquiring Smaller Employers), which helps new sales associates jumpstart their sales careers with an easily transferable guide for approaching smaller businesses.
 
In addition to training sales associates, we extended our training of both new and veteran sales force management. Sales associates who exhibit leadership potential are invited to participate in our national Coordinator in Training (CIT) program. The CIT program concentrates on developing potential leaders’ skills so they have a better chance to succeed as a district sales coordinator, the first level of Aflac’s sales force management. For district and regional sales coordinators, we refined and expanded the use of coordinator accreditation programs. We also began developing an accreditation curriculum that will be rolled out in 2008 for state sales coordinators, our highest level of sales management. Like the accreditation for regional sales coordinators, this new program will emphasize the management of managers. We believe our efforts to increase the size and capability of our field force will translate into a higher proportion of successful producing sales associates in the future.
 
For additional information on Aflac’s U.S. distribution, see the Aflac U.S. section of MD&A in this report.
 
Competition - Japan
 
In 1974, Aflac was granted an operating license to sell life insurance in Japan, making Aflac the second non-Japanese life insurance company to gain direct access to the Japanese insurance market. Through 1981, we faced limited competition for cancer life insurance policy sales. However, Japan has experienced two periods of deregulation since we entered the market. The first came in the early 1980s, when nine mid-sized insurers, including domestic and foreign, were allowed to sell cancer insurance products for the first time. In 2001, all life and non-life insurers were allowed to sell stand-alone cancer and medical insurance products as well as other stand-alone health insurance products. As a result, the number of insurance companies offering stand-alone cancer and medical insurance has more than doubled since the market was deregulated in 2001. However, based on our growth of annualized premiums in force and agencies, we do not believe that our market-leading position has been significantly impacted by increased competition. Furthermore, we believe the continued development and maintenance of operating efficiencies will allow us to offer affordable products that appeal to consumers.


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Aflac has had substantial success selling cancer life policies in Japan, with 14 million cancer life policies in force as of December 31, 2007. We believe we will remain a leading provider of cancer life insurance coverage in Japan, principally due to our experience in the market, low-cost operations, unique marketing system (see Distribution - Japan above) and product expertise.
 
We have also experienced substantial success selling medical insurance in Japan. While other companies have recognized the opportunities that we have seen in the medical insurance market and offered new products, we believe our products stand out as a tremendous value to consumers. Aflac Japan continued to be the number one seller of stand-alone medical insurance in the life insurance industry in terms of policy sales throughout the year.
 
Competition - U.S.
 
Approximately 1,000 life insurance companies are licensed in the United States. We compete against several insurers on a national basis plus other insurers regionally. We believe our policies and premium rates, as well as the commissions paid to our sales associates, are competitive with those offered by other companies providing similar types of insurance. However, we believe our U.S. business is distinct from our competitors because of our product focus, distribution system, and brand awareness. For many of the other companies that sell supplemental insurance, it represents a secondary business. For us, it is our primary business. We also believe that our growing distribution system of independent sales associates expands our business opportunities, while our advertising campaigns have increased our name awareness and consumer understanding of our brand message.
 
Private insurers and voluntary and cooperative plans, such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield, provide insurance for hospitalization and medical expenses. Much of this insurance is sold on a group basis. The federal and state governments also pay substantial costs of medical treatment through various programs. Such major medical insurance generally covers a substantial amount of the medical expenses incurred by an insured as a result of accident and disability, cancer or other major illnesses. Aflac’s policies are designed to provide coverage that supplements major medical insurance and may also be used to defray nonmedical expenses. Thus, we do not compete directly with major medical insurers. However, the scope of major medical coverage offered by other insurers does represent a potential limitation on the market for our products. Accordingly, expansion of coverage by other insurers or governmental programs could adversely affect our business opportunities. Conversely, any reduction of coverage, or increased deductibles and copayments, by other insurers or governmental programs could favorably affect our business opportunities.
 
Investments and Investment Results
 
Net investment income was $2.3 billion in 2007, $2.2 billion in 2006 and $2.1 billion in 2005. Growth of net investment income during the last three years has been impacted by the low level of investment yields for new money in both Japan and the United States. In particular, Japan’s life insurance industry has contended with low investment yields for a number of years. Although the Bank of Japan ended its zero-interest-rate policy in 2006, market yields on long-duration fixed maturity securities which we primarily purchase in Japan did not increase measurably during the year.


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Investments - Japan
 
The following table presents the composition of total investments, at amortized cost, and cash for Aflac Japan ($47.8 billion in 2007 and $42.5 billion in 2006) as of December 31.
 
                     
Composition of Securities by Sector
 
    2007     2006      
 
Debt securities, at amortized cost:
                   
Banks/financial institutions
    44.7 %     44.6 %    
Government and guaranteed
    18.3       19.8      
Municipalities
    .1       .1      
Public utilities
    8.4       8.0      
Collateralized debt obligations
    .9       .3      
Sovereign and supranational
    8.3       8.8      
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
    1.1       .8      
Other corporate
    17.4       16.7      
 
 
Total debt securities
    99.2       99.1      
Equity securities and other
    .1       .1      
Cash and cash equivalents
    .7       .8      
 
 
Total investments and cash
    100.0 %     100.0 %    
 
 
 
Yen-denominated debt securities accounted for 93% of Aflac Japan’s total debt securities at both December 31, 2007 and 2006.
 
Funds available for investment include cash flows from operations, which include investment income, and funds generated from bond swaps, maturities and redemptions. Aflac Japan purchased debt security investments totaling approximately 699.1 billion yen in 2007 (approximately $6.0 billion), 687.9 billion yen in 2006 (approximately $5.9 billion), and 873.4 billion yen in 2005 (approximately $7.8 billion). Equity security purchases were immaterial during the three-year period ended December 31, 2007. The following table presents the composition of debt security purchases for the years ended December 31.
 
                             
Composition of Purchases by Sector
 
    2007     2006     2005      
 
Debt security purchases, at cost:
                           
Banks/financial institutions
    35.3 %     36.3 %     46.8 %    
Government and guaranteed
    24.4       23.6       43.9      
Municipalities
    -       .1       -      
Public utilities
    8.6       9.2       2.3      
Collateralized debt obligations
    4.6       2.5       -      
Sovereign and supranational
    3.0       8.9       .2      
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
    2.2       3.5       .4      
Other corporate
    21.9       15.9       6.4      
 
 
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %    
 
 


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The distributions by credit rating of Aflac Japan’s purchases of debt securities for the years ended December 31, based on acquisition cost, were as follows:
 
                             
Composition of Purchases by Credit Rating
 
    2007     2006     2005      
 
AAA
    18.0 %     9.7 %     1.7 %    
AA
    48.5       53.7       50.1      
A
    29.6       33.4       43.6      
BBB
    3.9       3.2       4.6      
 
 
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %    
 
 
 
The distributions of debt securities owned by Aflac Japan by credit rating were as follows:
 
                                     
Composition by Credit Rating
 
    December 31, 2007   December 31, 2006    
 
    Amortized
  Fair
  Amortized
  Fair
   
    Cost   Value   Cost   Value    
 
AAA
    5.3 %     5.3 %     4.8 %     4.8 %    
AA
    48.2       49.5       37.9       39.0      
A
    28.7       28.2       38.0       37.6      
BBB
    15.9       15.5       16.6       16.4      
BB or lower
    1.9       1.5       2.7       2.2      
 
 
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %    
 
 
 
The increase in Aflac Japan’s holding of AAA and AA rated holdings compared with December 31, 2006, resulted from purchases and credit rating upgrades by rating agencies; the offset was a corresponding decrease in the A rated holdings. The decline in BB or lower rated securities resulted from credit rating upgrades.


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Investments - U.S.
 
The following table presents the composition of total investments, at amortized cost, and cash for Aflac U.S. ($7.2 billion in 2007 and $7.1 billion in 2006) as of December 31.
 
                     
Composition of Securities by Sector
 
    2007     2006      
 
Debt securities, at amortized cost:
                   
Banks/financial institutions
    39.6 %     44.0 %    
Government and guaranteed
    3.9       4.8      
Municipalities
    1.1       .8      
Public utilities
    9.2       9.4      
Collateralized debt obligations
    .9       .2      
Sovereign and supranational
    3.7       3.3      
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
    3.9       3.2      
Other corporate
    35.4       29.6      
 
 
Total debt securities
    97.7       95.3      
Cash and cash equivalents
    2.3       4.7      
 
 
Total investments and cash
    100.0 %     100.0 %    
 
 
 
Funds available for investment include cash flows from operations, which include investment income, and funds generated from bond swaps, maturities and redemptions. Aflac U.S. purchased debt security investments totaling approximately $1.0 billion in 2007, and $1.2 billion in both 2006 and 2005. The following table presents the composition of debt security purchases for the years ended December 31.
 
                             
Composition of Purchases by Sector
 
    2007     2006     2005      
 
Debt security purchases, at cost:
                           
Banks/financial institutions
    18.8 %     54.9 %     36.0 %    
Government and guaranteed
    1.0       6.5       14.1      
Municipalities
    2.5       2.5       .1      
Public utilities
    3.1       4.6       3.9      
Collateralized debt obligations
    5.0       .8       -      
Sovereign and supranational
    2.9       -       2.4      
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
    12.8       5.4       9.9      
Other corporate
    53.9       25.3       33.6      
 
 
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %    
 
 
 
The change in the allocation of purchases by sector from year to year is based on diversification objectives, relative value and availability of investment opportunities.


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The distributions by credit rating of Aflac’s U.S. purchases of debt securities for the years ended December 31, based on acquisition cost, were as follows:
 
                             
Composition of Purchases by Credit Rating
 
    2007     2006     2005      
 
AAA
    20.5 %     15.1 %     33.8 %    
AA
    18.7       26.1       17.4      
A
    33.2       42.9       37.4      
BBB
    27.6       15.9       11.4      
 
 
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %    
 
 
 
The increase in purchases of BBB rated securities in 2007 was due to widening credit spreads during the year. As a result, in 2007 we purchased selected BBB rated securities that offered greater relative investment value.
 
The distributions of debt securities owned by Aflac U.S. by credit rating were as follows:
 
                                     
Composition by Credit Rating
 
    December 31, 2007   December 31, 2006    
 
    Amortized
  Fair
  Amortized
  Fair
   
    Cost   Value   Cost   Value    
 
AAA
    13.0 %     12.4 %     11.8 %     10.9 %    
AA
    17.6       17.7       17.0       17.0      
A
    44.3       44.6       47.5       48.2      
BBB
    23.5       23.9       21.6       22.0      
BB or lower
    1.6       1.4       2.1       1.9      
 
 
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %    
 
 
 
For additional information on the composition of our investment portfolios and investment results, see the Investments and Cash section in MD&A and Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
 
Regulation - Japan
 
The financial and business affairs of Aflac Japan are subject to examination by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA). Aflac Japan files annual reports and financial statements for the Japanese insurance operations based on a March 31 fiscal year end, prepared in accordance with Japanese regulatory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the FSA. Japanese regulatory basis earnings are determined using accounting principles that differ materially from U.S. GAAP. Under Japanese regulatory accounting practices, policy acquisition costs are charged off immediately; deferred income tax liabilities are recognized on a different basis; policy benefit and claim reserving methods and assumptions are different; the carrying value of securities transferred to held-to-maturity is different; policyholder protection corporation obligations are not accrued; and premium income is recognized on a cash basis. Reconciliations of the net assets of the Japan


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branch on a U.S. GAAP basis to net assets determined on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis as of December 31 were as follows:
 
                     
 
(In millions)   2007     2006      
 
Aflac Japan net assets on GAAP basis
  $  6,044     $  5,740      
Elimination of deferred policy acquisition costs
    (4,269 )     (3,857 )    
Adjustment to income tax liabilities
    1,993       1,746      
Adjustment to policy liabilities
    (839 )     (239 )    
Adjustment of unrealized gains and other adjustments to carrying value of debt securities
    (184 )     (532 )    
Elimination of policyholder protection corporation liability
    151       175      
Reduction in premiums receivable
    (93 )     (91 )    
Other, net
    (349 )     (331 )    
 
 
Aflac Japan net assets on Japanese regulatory accounting basis
  $ 2,454     $ 2,611      
 
 
 
The FSA maintains a solvency standard, which is used by Japanese regulators to monitor the financial strength of insurance companies. Aflac Japan’s solvency margin continues to significantly exceed regulatory minimums. A portion of Aflac Japan’s annual earnings, as determined on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis, may be repatriated each year to Aflac U.S. after complying with solvency margin provisions and satisfying various conditions imposed by Japan’s regulatory authorities for protecting policyholders. These repatriated profits represent a portion of Aflac Japan’s after-tax earnings reported to the FSA on a March 31 fiscal year basis. If needed, we may elect not to repatriate profits to Aflac U.S. or to repatriate a reduced amount to strengthen Aflac Japan’s solvency margin. In addition, the FSA may not allow profit repatriations or other transfers of funds to Aflac U.S. if they would cause Aflac Japan to lack sufficient financial strength for the protection of Japanese policyholders. We do not expect these requirements to adversely affect the funds available for profit repatriations. Nor do we expect these requirements to adversely affect the funds available for payments of allocated expenses to Aflac U.S. and management fees to the Parent Company.
 
At the end of 2006, Aflac Japan, along with the entire life insurance industry, began a review of the last five years of paid claims to determine if those claims were paid fully and accurately. In April 2007, Aflac Japan reported the findings of its review to the FSA. In October 2007, the insurance industry updated its data for underpaid claims. The updated data for the industry included an increase in the number of cases and yen amount of underpayment compared to the data that was first reported in April, primarily a result of a type of underpayment where companies did not notify policyholders of their potential eligibility for additional benefit payments which the policyholders did not claim in their original filings. Our initial estimate for that type of underpayment was fairly accurate and the number of cases was very small. In the fourth quarter we reported 26,700 cases of delayed interest payments on cash surrender values, which on average was 75 yen per case (approximately $.66 per case using the December 31, 2007, period-end exchange rate). In total for the five-year period, we reported 1.9 billion yen (approximately $16.8 million using the December 31, 2007, exchange rate) of underpaid claims in April, and we revised the amount to 2.1 billion yen (approximately $18.4 million using the December 31, 2007 exchange rate) in October. We are using this review to identify process changes that will help ensure that payment errors such as these are not repeated. The financial impact of paying the claims that were in error was immaterial to our operations and has been provided for in our 2007 and 2006 financial statements as applicable.


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The Japanese insurance industry has a policyholder protection corporation that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. For additional information regarding the policyholder protection fund, see the Policyholder Protection Corporation section of MD&A and Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
 
In October 2005, legislation aimed at privatizing Japan’s postal system (Japan Post) was enacted into law. The privatization laws split Japan Post into four entities that began operating in October 2007. The four entities are Japan Post Service Co., Ltd.; Japan Post Network Co., Ltd.; Japan Post Bank Co., Ltd.; and Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd. The entire privatization process is scheduled to be completed by October 2017. In addition to the normal FSA approval process, the law requires that new product offerings by the Japan Post financial entities must undergo a special review by Japan’s Postal Privatization Committee and approval by Japan’s Prime Minister and the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications. In November 2007, Japan Post Network Co. selected Aflac Japan as its provider of cancer insurance and coordinator of administrative support for third sector products. Japan Post Network Co. operates the 24,000 post offices located throughout Japan. Japan Post has not yet established a specific time frame for sales to commence. Being selected as the administrative support coordinator for third sector products means that Aflac will work with Japan Post Network Co. on creating new infrastructure for not only Aflac’s product(s), but all third sector products, including such functions as administrative workflow, IT systems, and logistics for delivering sales materials. The infrastructure will deal with a wide range of issues such as acceptance of policy application and maintenance forms, payment of premiums, and providing Japan Post Network Co. with data on performance of every post office and employee, including new policies sold and policies in force.
 
Our branch in Japan is also subject to regulation and supervision in the United States (see Regulation - U.S.). For additional information regarding Aflac Japan’s operations and regulations, see the Aflac Japan section of MD&A and Notes 2 and 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
 
Regulation - U.S.
 
The Parent Company and its insurance subsidiaries are subject to state regulations in the United States as an insurance holding company system. Such regulations generally provide that transactions between companies within the holding company system must be fair and equitable. In addition, transfers of assets among such affiliated companies, certain dividend payments from insurance subsidiaries, and material transactions between companies within the system are subject to prior notice to, or approval by, state regulatory authorities.
 
Like all U.S. insurance companies, Aflac is subject to regulation and supervision in the jurisdictions in which they do business. In general, the insurance laws of the various jurisdictions establish supervisory agencies with broad administrative powers relating to, among other things:
 
  •  granting and revoking licenses to transact business
  •  regulating trade practices
  •  licensing of agents
  •  approval of policy forms and premium rates
  •  standards of solvency and maintenance of specified policy benefit reserves and minimum loss ratio requirements
  •  capital requirements


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  •  limitations on dividends to shareholders
  •  the nature of and limitations on investments
  •  deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders
  •  filing of financial statements prepared in accordance with statutory insurance accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities
  •  periodic examinations of the market conduct, financial, and other affairs of insurance companies
 
Additionally, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) continually reviews regulatory matters and recommends changes and revisions for adoption by state legislators and insurance departments.
 
The NAIC uses a risk-based capital formula relating to insurance risk, business risk, asset risk and interest rate risk to facilitate identification by insurance regulators of inadequately capitalized insurance companies based upon the types and mix of risk inherent in the insurer’s operations. The formulas for determining the amount of risk-based capital specify various weighting factors that are applied to financial balances or various levels of activity based on the perceived degree of risk. Regulatory compliance is determined by a ratio of a company’s regulatory total adjusted capital to its authorized control level risk-based capital as defined by the NAIC. Companies below specific trigger points or ratios are classified within certain levels, each of which requires specified corrective action. The levels are company action, regulatory action, authorized control, and mandatory control. Aflac’s NAIC risk-based capital ratio remains high and reflects a very strong capital and surplus position.
 
For further information concerning Aflac U.S. operations, regulation and dividend restrictions, see the Aflac U.S. section of MD&A and Notes 2 and 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
 
Employees
 
As of December 31, 2007, Aflac Japan had 3,704 employees and Aflac U.S. had 4,344 employees. We consider our employee relations to be excellent.
 
Other Operations
 
Our other operations include the Parent Company and a printing subsidiary. These operations had 310 employees as of December 31, 2007. We consider our relations with these employees to be excellent. For additional information on our other operations, see the Other Operations section of MD&A.


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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
 
Risk Factors
 
We face a wide range of risks, and our continued success depends on our ability to identify, prioritize and appropriately manage our enterprise risk exposures. Readers should carefully consider each of the following risks and all of the other information set forth in this Form 10-K. These risks and other factors may affect forward-looking statements, including those in this document or made by the Company elsewhere, such as in earnings release webcasts, investor conference presentations or press releases. The risks and uncertainties described herein may not be the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business. If any of the following risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, there could be a material impact on the Company.
 
We operate in an industry that is subject to ongoing changes.
 
We operate in a competitive environment and in an industry that is subject to ongoing changes from market pressures brought about by customer demands, legislative reform, marketing practices and changes to health care and health insurance delivery. These factors require us to anticipate market trends and make changes to differentiate our products and services from those of our competitors. We also face the potential of competition from existing or new companies that have not historically been in the supplemental health insurance industry. Failure to anticipate market trends and/or to differentiate our products and services can affect our ability to retain or grow profitable lines of business.
 
Our concentration of business in Japan poses risks to our operations.
 
Our operations in Japan accounted for 71%, 72%, and 74% of our total revenues for 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively, and 82% of our total assets at both December 31, 2007 and 2006. As a result, weakness in Japan’s economy could adversely affect our business. The weak economy in Japan that emerged in the early 1990s resulted in a challenging marketing environment for Aflac Japan, with declining available investment yields for new investments and decreased consumer confidence. Although the Japanese economy has been growing in recent years, the ability to sustain such expansion remains uncertain.
 
Japanese currency translation risk could materially impact reported operating results.
 
Due to the size of Aflac Japan, where our functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on our reported financial position and results of operations. In periods when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars causes fewer dollars to be reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars causes more dollars to be reported.
 
Aflac Japan’s premiums and most of its investment income are received in yen. Claims and expenses are paid in yen, and we primarily purchase yen-denominated assets to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are translated into dollars for financial reporting purposes. However, it is important to distinguish between translating and converting foreign currency. Except for a limited number of transactions, we do not


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actually convert yen into dollars. As a result, we view foreign currency translation as a financial reporting issue for Aflac and not an economic event to our Company or shareholders.
 
General market conditions affect investments and investment income.
 
We have substantial investment portfolios that support our policy liabilities. Low levels of interest rates on investments, such as those experienced in the United States and Japan during recent years, have negatively impacted the level of investment income earned by the Company. Slower investment income growth will occur if a low-interest-rate environment persists.
 
Financial market conditions can also affect our realized and unrealized investment gains or losses. During periods of rising interest rates, the fair values of our investments will decline. Conversely, during periods of falling interest rates, the fair values of our investments will rise. However, should significant amounts of unrealized gains/losses occur because of changes in market yields, we would not expect to realize significant gains or losses due to our ability and intent to hold the securities to maturity or recovery of value.
 
Availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments could adversely affect our profits.
 
We attempt to match the duration of our assets with the duration of our liabilities. At December 31, 2007, the average duration of Aflac Japan’s policy liabilities was approximately 14 years and the average duration of its yen-denominated debt securities was approximately 13 years. When our debt securities mature, there is a risk that the proceeds will be reinvested at a yield below that of the interest required for the accretion of policy liabilities. If this occurs, Aflac Japan’s business would be adversely affected.
 
Concentration of our investment portfolios in any particular sector of the economy may have an adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.
 
The concentration of our investment portfolios in any particular industry, group of related industries or geographic sector could have an adverse effect on our investment portfolios and, consequently, on our results of operations and financial position. Events or developments that have a negative impact on any particular industry, group of related industries or geographic sector may have a greater adverse effect on the investment portfolios to the extent that the portfolios are concentrated rather than diversified.
 
If future policy benefits, claims or expenses exceed those anticipated in establishing premiums and reserves, our financial results would be adversely affected.
 
We establish and carry, as a liability, reserves based on estimates of how much will be required to pay for future benefits and claims. We calculate these reserves using various assumptions and estimates, including premiums we will receive over the assumed life of the policy; the timing, frequency and severity of the events covered by the insurance policy; and the investment returns on the assets we purchase with a portion of our net cash flow from operations. These assumptions and estimates are inherently uncertain. Accordingly, we cannot determine with precision the ultimate amounts that we will pay for, or the timing of payment of, actual benefits and claims or whether the assets supporting the policy liabilities will grow to the level we assume prior to payment of benefits or claims. If our actual experience is different from our assumptions or estimates, our reserves may prove inadequate. As a result, we would incur a charge to earnings in the period in which we determine such a shortfall exists. This estimation process is a critical accounting policy for the Company.


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Our operating subsidiaries provide cash flow to the Parent Company.
 
Aflac Incorporated is a holding company and has no direct operations or no significant assets other than the stock of its subsidiaries. Because we conduct our operations through our operating subsidiaries, we depend on those entities for dividends and other payments to generate the funds necessary to meet our financial obligations. There is no assurance that the earnings from, or other available assets of, our operating subsidiaries will be sufficient to make distributions to us to enable us to operate.
 
Extensive regulation can impact profitability and growth.
 
Aflac’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to complex laws and regulations that are administered and enforced by a number of governmental authorities, including state insurance regulators, the SEC, the NAIC, the FSA, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in Japan, the U.S. Department of Justice, state attorneys general, and the Internal Revenue Service, each of which exercises a degree of interpretive latitude. Consequently, we are subject to the risk that compliance with any particular regulator’s or enforcement authority’s interpretation of a legal or regulatory issue may not result in compliance with another regulator’s or enforcement authority’s interpretation of the same issue, particularly when compliance is judged in hindsight. There is also a risk that any particular regulator’s or enforcement authority’s interpretation of a legal or regulatory issue may change over time to our detriment. In addition, changes in the overall legal or regulatory environment may, even absent any particular regulator’s or enforcement authority’s interpretation of an issue changing, cause us to change our views regarding the actions we need to take from a legal or regulatory risk management perspective, thus necessitating changes to our practices that may, in some cases, limit our ability to grow or otherwise negatively impact the profitability of our business.
 
The primary purpose of insurance company regulation supervision is the protection of insurance policyholders, rather than investors. The extent of regulation varies, but generally is governed by state statutes in the United States and by the FSA and the MOF in Japan. These systems of supervision and regulation cover, among other things:
  •  standards of establishing and setting premium rates and the approval thereof
  •  standards of minimum capital requirements and solvency margins, including risk-based capital measures
  •  restrictions on, limitations on and required approval of certain transactions between our insurance subsidiaries and their affiliates, including management fee arrangements
  •  restrictions on the nature, quality and concentration of investments
  •  restrictions on the types of terms and conditions that we can include in the insurance policies offered by our primary insurance operations
  •  limitations on the amount of dividends that insurance subsidiaries can pay or foreign profits that can be repatriated
  •  the existence and licensing status of the Company under circumstances where it is not writing new or renewal business
  •  certain required methods of accounting
  •  reserves for unearned premiums, losses and other purposes


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  •  assignment of residual market business and potential assessments for the provision of funds necessary for the settlement of covered claims under certain policies provided by impaired, insolvent or failed insurance companies
  •  administrative practices requirements
  •  imposition of fines and other sanctions
 
Sales of our products and services are dependent on our ability to attract, retain and support a network of qualified sales associates.
 
Our sales could be adversely affected if our sales networks deteriorate or if we do not adequately provide support, training and education for our existing network. Competition exists for sales associates with demonstrated ability. We compete with other insurers and financial institutions primarily on the basis of our products, compensation, support services and financial rating. An inability to attract and retain qualified sales associates could have a material adverse effect on sales and our results of operations and financial condition. Our sales associates are independent contractors and may sell products of our competitors. If our competitors offer products that are more attractive than ours, or pay higher commissions than we do, these sales associates may concentrate their efforts on selling our competitors’ products instead of ours.
 
Success of our business depends in part on effective information technology systems and on continuing to develop and implement improvements in technology; certain significant multiyear strategic information technology projects are currently in process.
 
Our business depends in large part on our technology systems for interacting with employers, policyholders and sales associates, and our business strategy involves providing customers with easy-to-use products to meet their needs. Some of our information technology systems and software are older, legacy-type systems that are less efficient and require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain or upgrade to current standards (including adequate business continuity procedures). While we are in a continual state of upgrading and enhancing Aflac business systems, changes are always challenging in a complex integrated environment. Aflac uses proven techniques, controls and standards to minimize the risk associated with a changing technical environment. We are currently developing new systems to keep pace with continuing changes in information processing technology, evolving industry and regulatory standards, and customer demands. Our success is dependent in large part on maintaining or improving the effectiveness of existing systems and continuing to develop and enhance information systems that support our business processes in a cost-efficient manner.
 
Changes in accounting standards issued by the FASB or other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect our financial statements.
 
Our financial statements are subject to the application of generally accepted accounting principles in both the United States and Japan, which are periodically revised and/or expanded. Accordingly, we are required to adopt new or revised accounting standards issued by recognized authoritative bodies, including the FASB. It is possible that future accounting standards we are required to adopt could change the current accounting treatment that we apply to our consolidated financial statements and that such changes could have a material adverse effect on our results and financial condition.


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Any decrease in our financial strength ratings may have an adverse effect on our competitive position.
 
Financial strength ratings are important factors in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies and generally have an effect on an insurance company’s business. On an ongoing basis, rating agencies review the financial performance and condition of insurers and could downgrade or change the outlook on an insurer’s ratings due to, for example, a change in an insurer’s statutory capital; a change in a rating agency’s determination of the amount of risk-adjusted capital required to maintain a particular rating; an increase in the perceived risk of an insurer’s investment portfolio; a reduced confidence in management; or other considerations that may or may not be under the insurer’s control. Because all of our ratings are subject to continual review, the retention of these ratings cannot be assured. A multilevel downgrade in any of these ratings could have a material adverse effect on agent recruiting and retention, sales, competitiveness, and the marketability of our products impacting our liquidity, operating results and financial condition.
 
We face risks related to litigation.
 
We are a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. Members of our senior legal and financial management teams review litigation on a quarterly and annual basis. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, we believe the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. However, litigation could adversely affect us because of the costs of defending these cases, costs of settlement or judgments against us or because of changes in our operations that could result from litigation.
 
Managing key executive succession is critical to our success.
 
We would be adversely affected if we fail to adequately plan for succession of our senior management and other key executives. While we have succession plans and employment arrangements with certain key executives, these do not guarantee that the services of these executives will be available to us.
 
We also face other risks that could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition, which include:
  •  any requirement to restate financial results in the event of inappropriate application of accounting principles
  •  any event that could damage our reputation
  •  failure of our processes to prevent and detect unethical conduct of employees
  •  a significant failure of internal controls over financial reporting
  •  failure of our prevention and control systems related to employee compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements
  •  failure of corporate governance policies and procedures


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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
 
Aflac owns land and buildings that comprise two primary campuses located in Columbus, Georgia. These campuses include buildings that serve as our worldwide headquarters and house administrative support functions for our U.S. operations. Aflac also leases administrative office space in Georgia, New York, and Nebraska. In 2005, we announced a multiyear building project for additional office space in Columbus, Georgia. The initial phase was completed in 2007 and provides additional space for administrative support functions. The next phase of the expansion, to be completed in 2009, will house our Information Technology group.
 
In Tokyo, Japan, Aflac has two primary campuses. The first campus includes a building, owned by Aflac, for the customer call center, Information Technology departments, and training facility. It also includes a leased property, which houses our policy administration and customer service departments. The second campus comprises leased space, which serves as our Japan branch headquarters and houses administrative support functions for the Japan branch. Aflac also leases additional office space in Tokyo, along with regional offices located throughout the country.
 
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
 
We are a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. Members of our senior legal and financial management teams review litigation on a quarterly and annual basis. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, we believe the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
 
ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
 
There were no matters submitted to the security holders for a vote during the quarter ended December 31, 2007.


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Executive Officers of the Registrant
 
         
NAME
 
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION*
  AGE
Daniel P. Amos
  Chairman, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac; Chief Executive Officer, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac; President, Aflac until January 2007   56
         
Paul S. Amos II
  President, Aflac, since January 2007; Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Operations, Aflac, since February 2006; Executive Vice President, U.S. Operations, Aflac, from January 2005 until January 2007; State Sales Coordinator- Georgia North until December 2004   32
         
Yuji Arai
  Senior Vice President and Principal Financial Officer, Aflac Japan, since January 2005; Vice President, Financial Division, Aflac Japan, from January 2002 until January 2005; Vice President, Investments and Investment Analysis, Aflac Japan, until January 2005   45
         
Susan R. Blanck
  Senior Vice President, Corporate Actuary, Aflac, since January 2006; Senior Vice President, Deputy Corporate Actuary, Aflac, from March 2004 until January 2006; Vice President, Associate Actuary, Aflac, until March 2004   41
         
Kriss Cloninger III
  President, Aflac Incorporated; Chief Financial Officer, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac; Treasurer, Aflac Incorporated; Executive Vice President, Aflac   60
         
Rebecca C. Davis
  Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Aflac, since October 2004; Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Aflac, until October 2004   57
         
Martin A. Durant III
  Senior Vice President, Corporate Finance, Aflac Incorporated, since July 2006; Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Carmike Cinemas, Inc., until March 2006   59
         
Jun Isonaka
  Senior Vice President, Sales, Aflac Japan, since December 2006; Vice President, Contact Center, Aflac Japan, from January 2006 to January 2007; Vice President, Territory Director, Northeast Territory, Aflac Japan, from January 2005 to January 2006; Vice President, Customer Service Division, Information Division and Operation Division, Aflac Japan, until January 2005   50
         
Kenneth S. Janke Jr.
  Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, Aflac Incorporated   49
         
W. Jeremy Jeffery
  Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, Aflac, since January 2007; Senior Vice President, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Aflac, from October 2005 until January 2007; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley, until October 2005   57


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NAME
 
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION*
  AGE
Akitoshi Kan
  Chairman, Aflac Japan, since July 2007; President, Aflac Japan, from April 2005 until July 2007; Chairman, Aflac International, Inc., since January 2005; Chief Operating Officer, Aflac Japan, from January 2005 until July 2007; Executive Vice President, U.S. Internal Operations, Aflac, until January 2005   59
         
Ronald E. Kirkland
  Senior Vice President, Director of Sales, Aflac, since January 2005; Vice President, West Territory Director, Aflac, from October 2004 until January 2005; State Sales Coordinator- Missouri, Aflac, until October 2004   63
         
Charles D. Lake II
  Vice Chairman, Aflac Japan, since April 2005; President, Aflac Japan, from January 2003 until April 2005   46
         
Joey M. Loudermilk
  Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac; Director, Legal and Governmental Relations, Aflac   54
         
Hidefumi Matsui
  Chairman, Aflac Japan, until July 2007   63
         
Takaaki Matsumoto
  First Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing and Sales, Aflac Japan, since January 2007; Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing, Aflac Japan, from February 2006 to January 2007; Vice President, Aflac Japan, from January 2005 to February 2006; General Manager, East Japan Claims Department, Aflac Japan, until January 2005   59
         
Ralph A. Rogers Jr.
  Senior Vice President, Financial Services, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac; Chief Accounting Officer, Aflac Incorporated and Aflac; Treasurer, Aflac   59
         
Audrey Tillman
  Executive Vice President, Director of Corporate Services, Aflac Incorporated, since January 2008; Senior Vice President, Director of Corporate Services, Aflac Incorporated, from October 2006 until January 2008; Senior Vice President, Director of Human Resources, Aflac Incorporated, until October 2006   43
         
Tohru Tonoike
  President and Chief Operating Officer, Aflac Japan, since July 2007; Deputy President, Aflac Japan, from February 2007 until July 2007; President and Representative Director, The Dai-ichi Kangyo Asset Management Co., Ltd., from April 2005 until February 2007; Advisor, Dai- ichi Kangyo Asset Management Co., Ltd., from April 2005 until May 2005; Managing Executive Officer, Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd., from April 2004 until April 2005; Executive Officer, Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd., from April 2002 until April 2004   57


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NAME
 
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION*
  AGE
Teresa White
  Senior Vice President and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Aflac Incorporated, since March 2007; Senior Vice President, Sales Support and Administration, Aflac, from October 2004 until March 2007; Vice President, Client Services, Aflac, until October 2004   41
         
Hiroshi Yamauchi
  First Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Aflac Japan, since January 2005; First Senior Vice President, Director of Operations, Aflac Japan, from January 2004 until January 2005; First Senior Vice President, Director of Operations and Customer Service Division, Aflac Japan, from January 2003 until January 2004   56
 
* Unless specifically noted, the respective executive officer has held the occupation(s) set forth in the table for at least the last five years. Each executive officer is appointed annually by the board of directors and serves until his or her successor is chosen and qualified, or until his or her death, resignation or removal.

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PART II
 
ITEM 5.   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
 
Market Information
 
Aflac Incorporated’s common stock is principally traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. Our stock is also listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The quarterly high and low market prices for the Company’s common stock, as reported on the principal exchange market for the two years ended December 31, were as follows:
 
                                 
Quarterly Common Stock Prices  
   
            2007   High     Low        
   
        4th Quarter   $  63.91     $  55.77          
        3rd Quarter     57.44       50.19          
        2nd Quarter     54.00       47.00          
        1st Quarter     49.37       45.18          
 
 
 
                                 
   
            2006   High     Low        
   
        4th Quarter   $  46.20     $  42.50          
        3rd Quarter     46.85       41.63          
        2nd Quarter     49.29       44.40          
        1st Quarter     49.40       44.72          
 
 
 
Holders
 
As of February 22, 2008, there were approximately 80,697 holders of record of the Company’s common stock.
 
Dividends Paid
 
                                 
   
          2007     2006        
   
        4th Quarter   $  .205     $  .16          
        3rd Quarter     .205       .13          
        2nd Quarter     .205       .13          
        1st Quarter     .185       .13          
 
 
 
In January 2008, the board of directors declared the first quarter 2008 cash dividend of $.24 per share. The dividend is payable on March 3, 2008, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 20, 2008. We expect comparable dividends to continue to be paid in future periods. For information concerning dividend restrictions, see the Capital Resources and Liquidity section of the MD&A and Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements presented in this report.


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Stock Performance Graph
 
The following graph compares the five-year performance of the Company’s common stock to the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) and the Standard & Poor’s Life and Health Insurance Index (S&P Life and Health). The Standard & Poor’s Life and Health Insurance Index includes: Aflac Incorporated, Lincoln National Corporation, MetLife Inc., Principal Financial Group Inc., Prudential Financial Inc., Torchmark Corporation and Unum Group.
 
(GRAPH)
 
                                                 
Performance Graph Index
 
December 31,  
    2002     2003     2004     2005     2006     2007  
Aflac Incorporated
    100.00       121.22       134.79       158.69       159.16       220.02  
S&P 500
    100.00       128.68       142.69       149.70       173.34       182.87  
S&P Life & Health Insurance
    100.00       127.09       155.24       190.18       221.59       245.97  
                                                 
 
Copyright © 2008 Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
 
www.researchdatagroup.com/S&P.htm


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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
During the fourth quarter of 2007, we repurchased shares of Aflac stock as follows:
 
                                 
 
            (c) Total
   
            Number
  (d) Maximum
            of Shares
  Number of
            Purchased
  Shares that
            as Part of
  May Yet Be
    (a) Total
      Publicly
  Purchased
    Number of
  (b) Average
  Announced
  Under the
    Shares
  Price Paid
  Plans or
  Plans or
            Period   Purchased   Per Share   Programs   Programs
 
October 1 - October 31
    308,033     $  62.07       308,033       27,274,430  
November 1 - November 30
    1,703,510       60.57       1,703,510       25,570,920  
December 1 - December 31
    -       -       -       25,570,920  
 
 
Total
    2,011,543     $ 60.80       2,011,543       25,570,920  
 
 
The 25,570,920 shares available for purchase relate to a 30,000,000 share repurchase authorization by the Board of Directors and announced in February 2006. In January 2008, the Board authorized the purchase of an additional 30,000,000 shares of our common stock.


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ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
 
                                             
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Years Ended December 31,
 
(In millions, except for share and per-share amounts)   2007     2006     2005     2004     2003      
 
Revenues:
                                           
Premiums, principally supplemental health insurance
  $ 12,973     $ 12,314     $ 11,990     $ 11,302     $ 9,921      
Net investment income
    2,333       2,171       2,071       1,957       1,787      
Realized investment gains (losses)
    28       79       262       (12 )     (301 )    
Other income
    59       52       40       34       40      
 
 
Total revenues
    15,393       14,616       14,363       13,281       11,447      
 
 
Benefits and expenses:
                                           
Benefits and claims
    9,285       9,016       8,890       8,482       7,529      
Expenses
    3,609       3,336       3,247       3,026       2,720      
 
 
Total benefits and expenses
    12,894       12,352       12,137       11,508       10,249      
 
 
Pretax earnings
    2,499       2,264       2,226       1,773       1,198      
Income taxes
    865       781       743       507       430      
 
 
Net earnings
  $ 1,634     $ 1,483     $ 1,483 (1)   $ 1,266 (2)   $ 768      
 
 
Share and Per-Share Amounts
                                   
 
 
Net earnings (basic)
  $ 3.35     $ 2.99     $ 2.96 (1)   $ 2.49 (2)   $ 1.50      
Net earnings (diluted)
    3.31       2.95       2.92 (1)     2.45 (2)     1.47      
Cash dividends paid
    .80       .55       .44       .38       .30      
Cash dividends declared
    .615       .735       .44       .38       .30      
Weighted-average common shares used for basic EPS (In thousands)
    487,869       495,614       500,939       507,333       513,220      
Weighted-average common shares used for diluted EPS (In thousands)
    493,971       501,827       507,704       516,421       522,138      
 
 
Supplemental Data
                                           
 
 
Yen/dollar exchange rate at year-end (yen)
    114.15       119.11       118.07       104.21       107.13      
Weighted-average yen/dollar
exchange rate (yen)
    117.93       116.31       109.88       108.26       115.95      
 
 
(1) Includes a benefit of $34 ($.07 per basic and diluted share) for the release of a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets in 2005
 
(2) Includes a benefit of $128 ($.25 per basic and diluted share) for the release of the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets and a benefit of $3 ($.01 per basic and diluted share) for the Japanese pension obligation transfer in 2004


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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
December 31,
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005     2004     2003
 
Assets:
                                     
Investments and cash
  $  57,056     $  51,972     $  48,989     $  51,955     $  44,050
Other
    8,749       7,833       7,372       7,371       6,914
 
 
Total assets
  $ 65,805     $ 59,805     $ 56,361     $ 59,326     $ 50,964
 
 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:
                                     
Policy liabilities
  $ 50,676     $ 45,440     $ 42,329     $ 43,556     $ 39,240
Notes payable
    1,465       1,426       1,395       1,429       1,409
Income taxes
    2,531       2,462       2,577       2,445       2,187
Other liabilities
    2,338       2,136       2,133       4,320       1,480
Shareholders’ equity
    8,795       8,341       7,927       7,576       6,648
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 65,805     $ 59,805     $ 56,361     $ 59,326     $ 50,964
 
 


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ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
 
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
 
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” to encourage companies to provide prospective information, so long as those informational statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. We desire to take advantage of these provisions. This report contains cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected herein, and in any other statements made by Company officials in communications with the financial community and contained in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information and relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. Furthermore, forward-looking information is subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. In particular, statements containing words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “goal,” “objective,” “may,” “should,” “estimate,” “intends,” “projects,” “will,” “assumes,” “potential,” “target” or similar words as well as specific projections of future results, generally qualify as forward-looking. Aflac undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements.
 
We caution readers that the following factors, in addition to other factors mentioned from time to time, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements:
  •  legislative and regulatory developments, including changes to health care and health insurance delivery
  •  assessments for insurance company insolvencies
  •  competitive conditions in the United States and Japan
  •  new product development and customer response to new products and new marketing initiatives
  •  ability to attract and retain qualified sales associates and employees
  •  ability to repatriate profits from Japan
  •  changes in U.S. and/or Japanese tax laws or accounting requirements
  •  credit and other risks associated with Aflac’s investment activities
  •  significant changes in investment yield rates
  •  fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates
  •  deviations in actual experience from pricing and reserving assumptions including, but not limited to, morbidity, mortality, persistency, expenses and investment yields
  •  level and outcome of litigation
  •  downgrades in the Company’s credit rating
  •  changes in rating agency policies or practices
  •  subsidiary’s ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company
  •  ineffectiveness of hedging strategies
  •  catastrophic events
  •  general economic conditions in the United States and Japan, including increased uncertainty in the U.S. and international financial markets


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COMPANY OVERVIEW
 
Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) primarily sell supplemental health and life insurance in the United States and Japan. The Company’s insurance business is marketed and administered through American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), which operates in the United States (Aflac U.S.) and as a branch in Japan (Aflac Japan). Most of Aflac’s policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Our insurance operations in the United States and our branch in Japan service the two markets for our insurance business.
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is intended to inform the reader about matters affecting the financial condition and results of operations of Aflac Incorporated and its subsidiaries for the three-year period ended December 31, 2007. As a result, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements and notes.
 
This MD&A is divided into four primary sections. In the first section, we discuss our critical accounting estimates. We then follow with a discussion of the results of our operations on a consolidated basis and by segment. The third section presents an analysis of our financial condition as well as a discussion of market risks of financial instruments. We conclude by addressing the availability of capital and the sources and uses of cash in the Capital Resources and Liquidity section.
 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
 
We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates based on currently available information when recording transactions resulting from business operations. The estimates that we deem to be most critical to an understanding of Aflac’s results of operations and financial condition are those related to investments, deferred policy acquisition costs and policy liabilities. The preparation and evaluation of these critical accounting estimates involve the use of various assumptions developed from management’s analyses and judgments. The application of these critical accounting estimates determines the values at which 94% of our assets and 84% of our liabilities are reported and thus have a direct effect on net earnings and shareholders’ equity. Subsequent experience or use of other assumptions could produce significantly different results.
 
Investments
 
Aflac’s investments in debt and equity securities include both publicly issued and privately issued securities. For privately issued securities, we receive pricing data from external sources that take into account each security’s credit quality and liquidity characteristics. We also routinely review our investments that have experienced declines in fair value to determine if the decline is other than temporary. These reviews are performed with consideration of the facts and circumstances of an issuer in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 59, Accounting for Non-Current Marketable Equity Securities; Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities; Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Staff Position 115-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments and related guidance. The identification of distressed investments,


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the determination of fair value if not publicly traded, and the assessment of whether a decline is other than temporary involve significant management judgment and require evaluation of factors, including but not limited to:
  •  percentage decline in value and the length of time during which the decline has occurred
  •  recoverability of principal and interest
  •  market conditions
  •  ability to hold the investment to maturity
  •  review of the issuer’s overall operating performance
  •  rating agency opinions and actions regarding the issuer’s credit standing
  •  adverse changes in the issuer’s availability of production resources, revenue sources and technological conditions
  •  adverse changes in the issuer’s economic, regulatory or political environment
 
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Policy Liabilities
 
Aflac’s products are generally long-duration fixed-benefit indemnity contracts. As such, those products are accounted for under the requirements of SFAS No. 60, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises. We make estimates of certain factors that affect the profitability of our business to match expected policy benefits and deferrable acquisition costs with expected policy premiums. These assumptions include persistency, morbidity, mortality, investment yields and expenses. If actual results match the assumptions used in establishing policy liabilities and the deferral and amortization of acquisition costs, profits will emerge as a level percentage of earned premiums. However, because actual results will vary from the assumptions, profits as a percentage of earned premiums will vary from year to year.
 
We measure the adequacy of our policy reserves and recoverability of deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC) annually by performing gross premium valuations on our business. Our testing indicates that our insurance liabilities are adequate and that our DAC is recoverable.
 
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
 
Under the requirements of SFAS No. 60, certain costs of acquiring new business are deferred and amortized over the policy’s premium payment period in proportion to anticipated premium income. Future amortization of DAC is based upon our estimates of persistency, interest and future premium revenue generally established at the time of policy issuance. However, the unamortized balance of DAC reflects actual persistency. As presented in the following table, the ratio of unamortized DAC to annualized premiums in force has been relatively stable for Aflac U.S. over the last three years. The ratio of unamortized DAC to annualized premiums in force has shown a slight upward trend for Aflac Japan for the last three years. This trend is a result of a greater proportion of our annualized premiums being under the alternative commission schedule, which pays a higher commission on first-year premiums and lower commissions on renewal premiums. This schedule is very popular with our new agents as it helps them with cash flow for personal and business needs as they build their business. While this has resulted in a higher unamortized DAC balance, the overall cost to the company has been reduced.


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Deferred Policy Acquisition Cost Ratios
 
    Aflac Japan     Aflac U.S.      
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005     2007     2006     2005      
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
  $  4,269     $  3,857     $  3,624     $  2,385     $  2,168     $  1,966      
Annualized premiums in force
    9,860       9,094       8,705       4,510       4,101       3,711      
Deferred policy acquisition costs as a percentage of annualized premiums in force
    43.3 %     42.4 %     41.6 %     52.9 %     52.9 %     53.0 %    
 
 
 
Policy Liabilities
 
The following table provides details of policy liabilities by segment and in total as of December 31.
 
               
Policy Liabilities
 
(In millions)   2007     2006
 
U.S. segment:
             
Future policy benefits
  $ 4,958     $ 4,391
Unpaid policy claims
    856       816
Other policy liabilities
    165       158
 
 
Total U.S. policy liabilities
  $ 5,979     $ 5,365
 
 
Japan segment:
             
Future policy benefits
  $  40,715     $  36,447
Unpaid policy claims
    1,599       1,574
Other policy liabilities
    2,380       2,051
 
 
Total Japan policy liabilities
  $ 44,694     $ 40,072
 
 
Consolidated:
             
Future policy benefits
  $ 45,675     $ 40,841
Unpaid policy claims
    2,455       2,390
Other policy liabilities
    2,546       2,209
 
 
Total consolidated policy liabilities
  $ 50,676     $ 45,440
 
 
 
Our policy liabilities, which are determined in accordance with SFAS No. 60 and Actuarial Standards of Practice, include two primary components: future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, which accounted for 90% and 5% of total policy liabilities as of December 31, 2007, respectively.
 
Future policy benefits provide for claims that will occur in the future and are generally calculated as the present value of future expected benefits to be incurred less the present value of future expected net benefit premiums. We calculate future policy benefits based on assumptions of morbidity, mortality, persistency and interest. These assumptions are generally established at the time a policy is issued. The assumptions used in the calculations are closely related to those used in developing


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the gross premiums for a policy. As required by GAAP, we also include a provision for adverse deviation, which is intended to accommodate adverse fluctuations in actual experience.
 
Unpaid policy claims include those claims that have been incurred and are in the process of payment as well as an estimate of those claims that have been incurred but have not yet been reported to us. We compute unpaid policy claims on a non-discounted basis using statistical analyses of historical claims payments, adjusted for current trends and changed conditions. We update the assumptions underlying the estimate of unpaid policy claims regularly and incorporate our historical experience as well as other data that provides information regarding our outstanding liability.
 
Our insurance products provide fixed-benefit amounts per occurrence that are not subject to medical-cost inflation. Furthermore, our business is widely dispersed in both the United States and Japan. This geographic dispersion and the nature of our benefit structure mitigate the risk of a significant unexpected increase in claims payments due to epidemics and events of a catastrophic nature. Claims incurred under Aflac’s policies are generally reported and paid in a relatively short time frame. The unpaid claims liability is sensitive to morbidity assumptions, in particular, severity and frequency of claims. Severity is the ultimate size of a claim, and frequency is the number of claims incurred. Our claims experience is primarily related to the demographics of our policyholders.
 
As a part of our established financial reporting and accounting practices and controls, we perform actuarial reviews of our policyholder liabilities on an ongoing basis and reflect the results of those reviews in our results of operations and financial condition as required by GAAP.
 
Our fourth quarter 2007 review indicated that we needed to strengthen the liability for two closed blocks of business, primarily due to better-than-expected persistency. In Japan, we strengthened our future policy benefits liability by $18 million for a closed block of dementia policies. In the United States, we strengthened our future policy benefits liability by $8 million for a closed block of small-face-amount life insurance coverage.
 
Our 2006 analysis of recent cancer claims experience indicated that the overall duration of cancer outpatient treatments had lengthened. Because our reserving methods are designed to fully accrue each cancer outpatient treatment as of the date of initial treatment, we increased our estimate of the Aflac U.S. unpaid policy claims liability by $28 million in December 2006. This change in estimate was reflected in 2006 earnings. If we had been using the new claims factors to produce our claim liability estimates at the end of 2005, the increase for 2006 would have been $9 million.
 
In 2006, our review also indicated that our policyholder liabilities were fairly stated in the aggregate; however, the components of policyholder liabilities (the unpaid policy claims liability and the future policy benefits liability) needed to be refined. As a result of our review, we took the actions described below.
 
During the fourth quarter of 2006, we transferred $170 million of the Aflac U.S. unpaid policy claims liability to the future policy benefits liability for our accident/disability, short-term disability, dental and specified health event lines of business.
 
For the accident/disability line of business, a very small portion of the benefits in one of our policy forms required a future policy benefits liability to be accumulated. This amount was insignificant to our financial position in any year. However, to provide for this obligation, we approximated this liability


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amount as part of the unpaid policy claims liability. We determined that it was appropriate to modify our calculation method to determine the future policy benefits liability for that benefit separately from our unpaid policy claims liability and to move this liability of $25 million into the future policy benefits liability.
 
For one of our short-term disability policy forms, we determined that a selection factor assumption that should have applied to the future claim costs was not reflected in the calculation of the future policy benefits liability. We began using the calculation including the selection factor in the fourth quarter of 2006. We use a total liability approach to determine the unpaid policy claims liability for that line of business. For this reason, the underestimated amount of the future policy benefits liability, approximately $50 million, was accounted for in prior periods in the unpaid policy claims liability. As a result, we transferred $50 million from the unpaid policy claims liability into the future policy benefits liability for that line of business.
 
For our dental and specified health event product lines, both of which are recently introduced product lines with limited actual claims experience, we refined the reserving methodology. For this reason, we had determined our policy liabilities for these two product lines using a total liability approach. This approach utilized expectations of claims costs and impact of underwriting based largely on the product pricing assumptions. As we developed experience on the dental and specified health event product lines, we modified our assumptions as to the impact of underwriting selection. Our experience has shown that the underwriting selection impact is greater than we had anticipated in our original pricing. In addition, for our dental plan, we also modified our assumption of the impact of various benefit waiting periods for that plan to reflect the larger-than-anticipated impact of the waiting periods. Both of these changes in assumptions resulted in 2006 claims being lower than anticipated in the original pricing assumptions for these two products. Thus, our unpaid claims liability was lower than we originally estimated. However, our analysis also showed that the future claim cost curve would be steeper than we originally anticipated. Thus, we expected more future claims than we previously estimated and increased our liability for future policy benefits accordingly. For this reason, in the fourth quarter of 2006, we modified our methodology to use a combination of claim cost expectations and claim completion factors to calculate the unpaid policy claims liability for these two product lines. As a result, the modification in methodology resulted in a transfer from the unpaid policy claims liability of approximately $95 million to the future policy benefits liability.
 
Also during the fourth quarter of 2006, we transferred $85 million from Aflac Japan’s unpaid policy claims liability to its future policy benefits liability. This transfer primarily related to a continued decline in current period claims caused by changes to health care delivery in Japan and had no effect on net earnings. Our 2006 claims review indicated that we have experienced a continued decline in the average number of in-hospital days associated with cancer treatment periods in Japan. We believe the average number of days per hospital visit declined primarily due to changes in financial incentives provided to hospitals by the government-sponsored health care system in Japan to shorten the average hospital stay. However, our claims statistics also indicated that the declines in the average number of days per hospitalization have generally been offset by an increase in the frequency of future hospitalizations associated with the treatment of cancer. As a result, we reflected the increased number of future hospitalizations per claimant in our future policy benefit liability. More hospitalizations per claimant will result in a larger amount of expected future claims and an increase in our liability for future policy benefits. Meanwhile, we are paying less for current period claims, and therefore have a smaller unpaid claims liability.


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In computing the estimate of unpaid policy claims, we consider many factors, including the benefits and amounts available under the policy; the volume and demographics of the policies exposed to claims; and internal business practices, such as incurred date assignment and current claim administrative practices. We monitor these conditions closely and make adjustments to the liability as actual experience emerges. Claim levels are generally stable from period to period; however, fluctuations in claim levels may occur. In calculating the unpaid policy claim liability, we do not calculate a range of estimates. The following table shows the expected sensitivity of the unpaid policy claims liability as of December 31, 2007, to changes in severity and frequency of claims. For the years 2005 through 2007, and before the effect of the fourth quarter 2006 adjustments noted above, our assumptions changed on average by approximately 1% in total, and we believe that a variation in assumptions in a range of plus or minus 1% in total is reasonably likely to occur.
 
                                         
Sensitivity of Unpaid Policy Claims Liability  
   
(In millions)   Total Severity  
   
    Decrease
    Decrease
          Increase
    Increase
 
Total Frequency   by 2%     by 1%     Unchanged     by 1%     by 2%  
   
Increase by 2%
  $  -     $  16     $  32     $  49     $  66  
Increase by 1%
    (16 )     -       16       33       49  
Unchanged
     (32 )      (16 )     -       16       32  
Decrease by 1%
    (48 )     (32 )      (16 )     -       16  
Decrease by 2%
    (63 )     (48 )     (32 )      (16 )     -  
 
 
 
The growth of the future policy benefits liability is the result of the aging of our in-force block of business and the addition of new business. In addition, the growth in 2006 was moderately impacted by the previously discussed transfer of $170 million at Aflac U.S. and $85 million at Aflac Japan from the unpaid policy claims liability to the future policy benefits liability. These two transfers accounted for less than 1% of the increase in the aggregate. The table below reflects the growth of future policy benefits liability for the years ended December 31.
 
                         
Future Policy Benefits
 
(In millions of dollars and billions of yen)   2007     2006     2005  
 
Aflac U.S.
  $ 4,958     $ 4,391     $ 3,780  
Growth rate
    12.9 %     16.2 %     12.7 %
 
 
Aflac Japan
  $  40,715     $  36,447     $  34,071  
Growth rate
    11.7 %     7.0 %     (5.4 )%
 
 
Consolidated
  $ 45,675     $ 40,841     $ 37,853  
Growth rate
    11.8 %     7.9 %     (3.8 )%
 
 
Yen/dollar exchange rate (end of period)
    114.15       119.11       118.07  
 
 
Aflac Japan (in yen)
    4,648       4,341       4,023  
Growth rate
    7.1 %     7.9 %     7.2 %
 
 


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New Accounting Pronouncements
 
During the last three years, various accounting standard-setting bodies have been active in soliciting comments and issuing statements, interpretations and exposure drafts. For information on new accounting pronouncements and the impact, if any, on our financial position or results of operations, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following table is a presentation of items impacting net earnings and net earnings per diluted share for the years ended December 31.
 
                                                 
Items Impacting Net Earnings
 
    In Millions     Per Diluted Share
 
    2007     2006     2005     2007     2006     2005 
 
Net earnings
  $  1,634     $  1,483     $  1,483     $  3.31     $  2.95     $  2.92  
Items impacting net earnings,
net of tax:
                                               
Realized investment gains (losses)
    19       51       167       .04       .10       .33  
Impact from SFAS 133
    2       -       (10 )     -       -       (.02 )
Release of valuation allowance on deferred tax assets
    -       -       34       -       -       .07  
 
 
 
Realized Investment Gains and Losses
 
Our investment strategy is to invest in investment-grade fixed-income securities to provide a reliable stream of investment income, which is one of the drivers of the Company’s profitability. We do not purchase securities with the intent of generating capital gains or losses. However, investment gains and losses may be realized as a result of changes in the financial markets and the creditworthiness of specific issuers, tax planning strategies, and/or general portfolio maintenance and rebalancing. The realization of investment gains and losses is independent of the underwriting and administration of our insurance products, which are the principal drivers of our profitability.
 
In 2007, we realized pretax gains of $28 million (after-tax, $19 million, or $.04 per diluted share) primarily as a result of securities sold or redeemed in the normal course of business. In 2006, we realized pretax gains of $79 million (after-tax, $51 million, or $.10 per diluted share) primarily as a result of bond swaps and the liquidation of equity securities held by Aflac U.S. In 2005, we realized pretax gains of $262 million (after-tax, $167 million, or $.33 per diluted share) primarily as a result of bond swaps. We began our bond-swap program in the second half of 2005 and concluded it in the first half of 2006. These bond swaps took advantage of tax loss carryforwards and also resulted in an improvement in overall portfolio credit quality and investment income.
 
Impact from SFAS 133
 
We entered into cross-currency swap agreements to effectively convert our dollar-denominated senior notes, which mature in 2009, into a yen-denominated obligation (see Notes 4 and 7 of the


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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements). The effect of issuing fixed-rate, dollar-denominated debt and swapping it into fixed-rate, yen-denominated debt has the same economic impact on Aflac as if we had issued yen-denominated debt of a like amount. However, the accounting treatment for cross-currency swaps is different from issuing yen-denominated Samurai and Uridashi notes. SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended (SFAS 133), requires that the change in the fair value of the interest rate component of the cross-currency swaps, which does not qualify for hedge accounting, be reflected in net earnings. This change in fair value is determined by relative dollar and yen interest rates and has no cash impact on our results of operations. At maturity, the fair value will equal initial contract fair value, and the cumulative impact of gains and losses from the changes in fair value of the interest component will be zero. We have the ability and intent to retain the cross-currency swaps until their maturity. The impact from SFAS 133 includes the change in fair value of the interest rate component of the cross-currency swaps, which does not qualify for hedge accounting, and is included in other income.
 
We have also issued yen-denominated Samurai and Uridashi notes. We have designated these notes as a hedge of our investment in Aflac Japan. If the value of these yen-denominated notes and the notional amounts of the cross-currency swaps exceed our investment in Aflac Japan, we would be required to recognize the foreign currency effect on the excess, or ineffective portion, in net earnings. The ineffective portion would be included in the impact from SFAS 133. These hedges were effective during the three-year period ended December 31, 2007; therefore, there was no impact on net earnings.
 
We have entered into interest rate swap agreements related to the 20 billion yen variable interest rate Uridashi notes and have designated the swap agreements as a hedge of the variability of the debt cash flows. The notional amounts and terms of the swaps match the principal amount and terms of the variable interest rate Uridashi notes, and the swaps had no value at inception. SFAS 133 requires that the change in the fair value of the swap contracts be recorded in other comprehensive income so long as the hedge is deemed effective. Any ineffectiveness would be recognized in net earnings (other income) and would be included in the impact from SFAS 133. These hedges were effective during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006; therefore, there was no impact on net earnings. See Notes 1, 4 and 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
 
Nonrecurring Items
 
We received regulatory approval for a change in the allocation of expenses under the management fee agreement between Aflac and the Parent Company in 2005. This enabled the Parent Company to fully utilize its tax-basis, non-life operating losses and therefore release the valuation allowance on the associated deferred tax assets, resulting in a benefit of $34 million ($.07 per diluted share) in 2005. The tax benefit was included as a reduction to income tax expense in the 2005 consolidated statements of earnings.
 
Foreign Currency Translation
 
Aflac Japan’s premiums and most of its investment income are received in yen. Claims and expenses are paid in yen, and we primarily purchase yen-denominated assets to support yen-denominated policy liabilities. These and other yen-denominated financial statement items are translated into dollars for financial reporting purposes. We translate Aflac Japan’s yen-denominated


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income statement into dollars using an average exchange rate for the reporting period, and we translate its yen-denominated balance sheet using the exchange rate at the end of the period. However, it is important to distinguish between translating and converting foreign currency. Except for a limited number of transactions, we do not actually convert yen into dollars.
 
Due to the size of Aflac Japan, where our functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on our reported results. In periods when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars results in fewer dollars being reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars results in more dollars being reported. Consequently, yen weakening has the effect of suppressing current year results in relation to the prior year, while yen strengthening has the effect of magnifying current year results in relation to the prior year. As a result, we view foreign currency translation as a financial reporting issue for Aflac and not an economic event to our Company or shareholders. Because changes in exchange rates distort the growth rates of our operations, management evaluates Aflac’s financial performance, excluding the impact of foreign currency translation.
 
Income Taxes
 
Our combined U.S. and Japanese effective income tax rate on pretax earnings was 34.6% in 2007, 34.5% in 2006, and 33.4% in 2005. Total income taxes were $865 million in 2007, compared with $781 million in 2006 and $743 million in 2005. Japanese income taxes on Aflac Japan’s results account for most of our consolidated income tax expense. Our 2005 income tax rate was lower than normal primarily as a result of the release of the valuation allowance for non-life losses discussed previously. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
 
Earnings Guidance
 
We communicate earnings guidance in this report based on the growth in net earnings per diluted share. However, certain items that cannot be predicted or that are outside of management’s control may have a significant impact on actual results. Therefore, our comparison of net earnings includes certain assumptions to reflect the limitations that are inherent in projections of net earnings. In comparing year-over-year results, we exclude the effect of realized investment gains and losses, the impact from SFAS 133 and nonrecurring items. We also assume no impact from foreign currency translation on the Aflac Japan segment and the Parent Company’s yen-denominated interest expense for a given year in relation to the prior year.
 
Subject to the preceding assumptions, our objective for 2007 was to increase net earnings per diluted share by 15% to 16% over 2006. We reported 2007 net earnings per diluted share of $3.31. Adjusting that number for realized investment gains ($.04 per diluted share), the impact from SFAS 133 (nil per diluted share) and foreign currency translation (a loss of $.02 per diluted share), we met our objective for the year.
 
Our objective for 2008 is to increase net earnings per diluted share by 13% to 15% over 2007, on the basis described above. If we achieve this objective, the following table shows the likely results for 2008 net earnings per diluted share, including the impact of foreign currency translation using various yen/dollar exchange rate scenarios.


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2008 Net Earnings Per Share (EPS) Scenarios*
 
Weighted-Average
           
Yen/Dollar
  Net Earnings Per
  % Growth
  Yen Impact
Exchange Rate   Diluted Share   Over 2007   on EPS
 
  105.00     $  3.92 - 3.98       19.9 - 21.7 %   $  .22  
  110.00       3.83 - 3.89       17.1 - 19.0       .13  
  115.00       3.75 - 3.81       14.7 - 16.5       .05  
  117.93 **     3.70 - 3.76       13.1 - 15.0       -  
  120.00       3.67 - 3.73       12.2 - 14.1       (.03 )
  125.00       3.60 - 3.66       10.1 - 11.9       (.10 )
 
 
 * Excludes realized investment gains/losses, impact from SFAS 133 and nonrecurring items in 2008 and 2007
** Actual 2007 weighted-average exchange rate
 
INSURANCE OPERATIONS
 
Aflac’s insurance business consists of two segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. Aflac Japan, which operates as a branch of Aflac, is the principal contributor to consolidated earnings. GAAP financial reporting requires that a company report financial and descriptive information about operating segments in its annual financial statements. Furthermore, we are required to report a measure of segment profit or loss, certain revenue and expense items, and segment assets.
 
We measure and evaluate our insurance segments’ financial performance using operating earnings on a pretax basis. We define segment operating earnings as the profits we derive from our operations before realized investment gains and losses, the impact from SFAS 133, and nonrecurring items. We believe that an analysis of segment pretax operating earnings is vitally important to an understanding of the underlying profitability drivers and trends of our insurance business. Furthermore, because a significant portion of our business is conducted in Japan, we believe it is equally important to understand the impact of translating Japanese yen into U.S. dollars.
 
We evaluate our sales efforts using new annualized premium sales. Total new annualized premium sales, which include new sales and the incremental increase in premiums due to conversions, represent the premiums that we would collect over a 12-month period, assuming the policies remain in force. For Aflac Japan, total new annualized premium sales are determined by applications written during the reporting period. For Aflac U.S., total new annualized premium sales are determined by applications that are accepted during the reporting period. Premium income, or earned premiums, is a financial performance measure that reflects collected or due premiums that have been earned ratably on policies in force during the reporting period.


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AFLAC JAPAN SEGMENT
 
Aflac Japan Pretax Operating Earnings
 
Changes in Aflac Japan’s pretax operating earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac Japan.
 
                             
Aflac Japan Summary of Operating Results
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005      
 
 
Premium income
  $ 9,037     $ 8,762     $ 8,745      
Net investment income:
                           
Yen-denominated investment income
    1,102       1,064       1,111      
Dollar-denominated investment income
    699       624       524      
 
 
Net investment income
    1,801       1,688       1,635      
Other income
    27       25       31      
 
 
Total operating revenues
   10,865      10,475      10,411      
 
 
Benefits and claims
    6,935       6,847       6,898      
Operating expenses:
                           
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    318       285       284      
Insurance commissions
    850       859       892      
Insurance and other expenses
    941       832       822      
 
 
Total operating expenses
    2,109       1,976       1,998      
 
 
Total benefits and expenses
    9,044       8,823       8,896      
 
 
Pretax operating earnings*
  $ 1,821     $ 1,652     $ 1,515      
 
 
Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate
    117.93       116.31       109.88      
 
 
 
                                                 
    In Dollars     In Yen
 
Percentage change over previous year:   2007     2006     2005     2007     2006     2005 
 
 
Premium income
    3.1 %     .2 %     4.5 %     4.3 %     5.9 %     6.3 %
Net investment income
    6.7       3.2       5.0       8.0       9.0       7.0  
Total operating revenues
    3.7       .6       4.7       4.9       6.3       6.6  
Pretax operating earnings*
    10.2       9.1       9.9       11.8       15.4       11.5  
 
 
*See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.
 
The percentage increases in premium income reflect the growth of premiums in force. The increases in annualized premiums in force in yen of 3.9% in 2007, 5.4% in 2006 and 6.8% in 2005, reflect the high persistency of Aflac Japan’s business and the sales of new policies. Annualized premiums in force at December 31, 2007, were 1.13 trillion yen, compared with 1.08 trillion yen in 2006 and 1.03 trillion yen in 2005. Annualized premiums in force, translated into dollars at respective year-end exchange rates, were $9.9 billion in 2007, $9.1 billion in 2006, and $8.7 billion in 2005.
 
Aflac Japan maintains a portfolio of dollar-denominated and reverse-dual currency securities (yen-denominated debt securities with dollar coupon payments). Dollar-denominated investment income from these assets accounted for approximately 39% of Aflac Japan’s investment income in 2007, compared with 37% in 2006 and 32% in 2005. In years when the yen strengthens in relation to the


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dollar, translating Aflac Japan’s dollar-denominated investment income into yen lowers growth rates for net investment income, total operating revenues, and pretax operating earnings in yen terms. In years when the yen weakens, translating dollar-denominated investment income into yen magnifies growth rates for net investment income, total operating revenues, and pretax operating earnings in yen terms. On a constant currency basis, dollar-denominated investment income accounted for approximately 39% of Aflac Japan’s investment income during 2007, compared with 36% in 2006 and 32% in 2005. The following table illustrates the effect of translating Aflac Japan’s dollar-denominated investment income and related items into yen by comparing certain segment results with those that would have been reported had yen/dollar exchange rates remained unchanged from the prior year.
 
                                                 
Aflac Japan Percentage Changes Over Prior Year
(Yen Operating Results)
 
    Including Foreign
  Excluding Foreign
    Currency Changes   Currency Changes**
 
    2007   2006   2005   2007   2006   2005 
 
 
Net investment income
    8.0 %     9.0 %     7.0 %     7.4 %     6.8 %     6.3 %
Total operating revenues
    4.9       6.3       6.6       4.9       6.0       6.4  
Pretax operating earnings*
    11.8       15.4       11.5       11.3       13.3       10.8  
 
 
*See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.
**Amounts excluding foreign currency changes on dollar-denominated items were determined using the same yen/dollar exchange rate for the current year as each respective prior year.
 
The following table presents a summary of operating ratios for Aflac Japan.
 
                         
 
Ratios to total revenues in dollars:   2007   2006   2005 
 
 
Benefits and claims
    63.8 %     65.4 %     66.2 %
Operating expenses:
                       
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    2.9       2.7       2.7  
Insurance commissions
    7.8       8.2       8.6  
Insurance and other expenses
    8.7       7.9       8.0  
 
 
Total operating expenses
    19.4       18.8       19.3  
Pretax operating earnings*
    16.8       15.8       14.5  
 
 
*See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.
 
The benefit ratio has declined over the past several years, reflecting the impact of newer products and riders with lower loss ratios. We have also experienced favorable claim trends in our major product lines. We expect the improvement in the benefit ratio to continue as we shift to newer products and riders and benefit from the impact of favorable claim trends. However, this improvement is partially offset by the effect of low investment yields, which impacts our profit margin by reducing the spread between investment yields and required interest on policy reserves (see table and discussion in the Interest Rate Risk section of this MD&A). We expect the operating expense ratio to increase modestly in 2008. Due to improvement in the benefit ratio, the pretax operating profit margin expanded to 16.8% in 2007. We expect continued expansion in the profit margin in 2008.


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Aflac Japan Sales
 
As discussed last year, we expected sales to decline in the first half of 2007 and to be flat to up 4% in the second half. Consistent with our expectations, Aflac Japan’s total new annualized premium sales in yen declined 6.9% in the first six months of 2007 but increased 2.5% in the last six months of 2007, resulting in an overall decrease of 2.4% for the full year, compared with 2006. The sales decline primarily reflected industrywide weakness in the market for stand-alone medical insurance as well as continued declines in the sales of Rider MAX and ordinary life products. The following table presents Aflac Japan’s total new annualized premium sales for the years ended December 31.
 
                                                 
   
    In Dollars     In Yen  
   
(In millions of dollars
                                   
and billions of yen)   2007     2006     2005     2007     2006     2005   
   
Total new annualized
premium sales
  $  974     $  1,010     $  1,167       114.6       117.5       128.8  
Percentage change
over prior year
    (3.5 ) %     (13.5 ) %     3.0  %     (2.4 ) %     (8.8 ) %     5.1  %
 
 
 
The following table details the contributions to total new annualized premium sales by major product for the years ended December 31.
 
                         
 
    2007   2006   2005 
 
Medical policies
       33 %        33 %     37 %
Cancer life
    33       28       26  
Ordinary life
    22       23       18  
Rider MAX
    7       10       11  
Other
    5       6       8  
 
 
Total
    100 %     100 %     100 %
 
 
 
Cancer insurance was our top-selling product category for Aflac Japan in 2007 with sales rising 12.9% over 2006. We expect cancer insurance sales to remain strong in part because of the successful introduction of Cancer Forte, which is the first major revision we have made to our cancer product category in six years. With Cancer Forte, we increased outpatient benefits. In addition to our traditional first-occurrence benefit, this product also pays an annuity to a newly diagnosed patient from the second year through the fifth year following diagnosis. It also assists policyholders with counseling and doctor referral services through a third party upon diagnosis of the disease. Our cancer life policies are also marketed by Dai-ichi Mutual Life and in June 2006, Dai-ichi Life began selling a new cancer product customized for their market. In 2007, Dai-ichi Life sold nearly 244,000 of our market-leading cancer life policies, enabling Dai-ichi Life to retain its distinction as the number two seller of cancer insurance behind only Aflac Japan. We are convinced that the affordable cancer products Aflac Japan provides will continue to be an important part of our product portfolio.
 
Medical sales decreased 3.8% in 2007. However, as the year progressed, medical sales improved, primarily resulting from the success of Gentle EVER, our new nonstandard medical product that was introduced in August 2007. With continued cost pressure on Japan’s health care system, we expect the need for medical products will continue to rise in the future and we remain encouraged


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about the outlook for the medical insurance market. Although the market is very competitive, Aflac Japan remained the number one seller of stand-alone medical insurance in Japan in 2007. We believe that our number one position benefits us in the marketplace. As a result, we continue to believe that the medical category will be an important part of our product portfolio.
 
We believe that there is still a strong need for our products in Japan. Our objective is to increase sales 3% to 7% in 2008, including contributions from our new distribution channels which we expect to gradually increase throughout the year (see the Japanese Regulatory Environment section of this MD&A for further discussion regarding these distribution channels).
 
Aflac Japan Investments
 
Growth of investment income in yen is affected by available cash flow from operations, timing of and yields on new investments, and the effect of yen/dollar exchange rates on dollar-denominated investment income. Aflac Japan has invested in privately issued securities to secure higher yields than Japanese government or other public corporate bonds would have provided, while still adhering to prudent standards for credit quality. All of our privately issued securities are rated investment grade at the time of purchase. These securities are generally issued with standard documentation for medium-term note programs and have appropriate covenants.
 
The following table presents the results of Aflac Japan’s investment activities for the years ended December 31.
 
                         
 
    2007   2006    2005  
 
 
New money yield - yen only
    3.05 %     3.10 %     2.95 %
New money yield - blended
    3.38       3.33       3.19  
Return on average invested assets, net
of investment expenses
    4.06       4.11       4.14  
 
 
 
At December 31, 2007, the yield on Aflac Japan’s investment portfolio, including dollar-denominated investments, was 4.02%, compared with 4.14% a year ago. See the Investments and Cash section of this MD&A for additional information.
 
Japanese Economy
 
The Bank of Japan’s January 2008 Monthly Report of Recent Economic & Financial Developments stated that Japan’s economy is expanding moderately. Private consumption has been steady, while household income has increased moderately. Business investment in plant and equipment has continued to trend upward against the background of high corporate profits. However, mainly due to the drop in housing investment, the pace of growth for Japan’s economy has been slowing. Housing investment is expected to recover gradually, and business investment in plant and equipment and private consumption are likely to increase due to high corporate profits and the moderate rise in household income. However, public investment is projected to be on a downtrend. The report projected that Japan’s economy is expected to continue expanding moderately, however at a slow pace. We believe that although the Japanese economy has been growing in recent years, the ability to sustain such expansion remains uncertain.


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Japan’s system of compulsory public health care insurance provides medical coverage to every Japanese citizen. These public medical expenditures are covered by a combination of premiums paid by insureds and their employers, taxes and copayments from the people who receive medical service. However, given Japan’s aging population, the resources available to these publicly funded social insurance programs have come under increasing pressure. As a result, copayments and other out-of-pocket expenses have been rising and affecting more people. We believe higher out-of-pocket expenses will lead consumers to purchase more supplemental medical insurance. Many insurance companies have recognized the opportunities for selling supplemental medical insurance in Japan and have launched new products in recent years. However, we believe our favorable cost structure compared with other insurers makes us a very effective competitor. In addition, we believe our brand, customer service and financial strength also benefit our market position.
 
Japanese Regulatory Environment
 
Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) adopted new mortality tables for reserving newly underwritten policies effective April 2007. These new tables reflect recent improvements in survival rates in Japan and have generally resulted in a decrease in policy premiums for death benefit products and an increase in premium rates for third sector (health) products and annuities. We reflected the impact of the new mortality table in our product pricing for the first sector (life) products effective April 2007. For the third sector, the revised tables were reflected in our product pricing effective September 2007.
 
Additionally, the FSA has implemented a new rule for third sector product reserving. The new reserving rule was effective April 1, 2007. Under the new rule, we are required to conduct stress testing of our reserves using a prescribed method that incorporates actual morbidity. The results of the tests and their relation to our reserves determine whether reserve strengthening is required. This new reserve requirement will not impact our GAAP financial statements, and we currently estimate that adoption of this requirement will not have a material impact on our 2007 FSA-based financial statements or on our product pricing.
 
At the end of 2006, Aflac Japan, along with the entire life insurance industry, began a review of the last five years of paid claims to determine if those claims were paid fully and accurately. In April 2007, Aflac Japan reported the findings of its review to the FSA. In October 2007, the insurance industry updated its data for underpaid claims. The updated data for the industry included an increase in the number of cases and yen amount of underpayment compared to the data that was first reported in April, primarily a result of a type of underpayment where companies did not notify policyholders of their potential eligibility for additional benefit payments, which the policyholders did not claim in their original claim filings. Our initial estimate for that type of underpayment was fairly accurate and the number of cases was very small. In the fourth quarter we reported 26,700 cases of delayed interest payments on cash surrender values, which on average was 75 yen per case (approximately $.66 per case using the December 31, 2007, period-end exchange rate). In total for the five-year period, we reported 1.9 billion yen (approximately $16.8 million using the December 31, 2007, period-end exchange rate) of underpaid claims in April, and we revised the amount to 2.1 billion yen (approximately $18.4 million using the December 31, 2007, period-end exchange rate) in October. We are using this review to identify process changes that will help ensure that payment errors such as these are not repeated. The financial impact of paying the claims that were in error was immaterial to our operations and has been provided for in our 2007 and 2006 financial statements as applicable.


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We expect that our distribution system will continue to evolve in Japan. Regulatory changes that took effect in December 2007 enable banks to sell our products to their customers. We believe that it will take time for momentum to build in the bank channel for selling third sector products. However, our strong brand as the leading seller of cancer and medical insurance products in Japan and our extensive, long-standing relationships with more than 60% of Japan’s banks place us in a strong position to sell through this new channel. By the end of January 2008, we had agreements with 41 banks to market Aflac’s products through more than 3,300 branches nationwide.
 
In October 2005, legislation aimed at privatizing Japan’s postal system (Japan Post) was enacted into law. The privatization laws split Japan Post into four entities that began operating in October 2007. The four entities are Japan Post Service Co., Ltd.; Japan Post Network Co., Ltd.; Japan Post Bank Co., Ltd.; and Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd. In November 2007, Japan Post Network Co. selected Aflac Japan as its provider of cancer insurance to be sold through Japan’s vast post office network. Japan Post Network Co. operates the 24,000 post offices located throughout Japan, providing a significant opportunity for us to reach new consumers.


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AFLAC U.S. SEGMENT
 
Aflac U.S. Pretax Operating Earnings
 
Changes in Aflac U.S. pretax operating earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac U.S.
 
                             
Aflac U.S. Summary of Operating Results
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005      
 
Premium income
  $  3,936     $  3,552     $  3,245      
Net investment income
    500       465       421      
Other income
    10       10       10      
 
 
Total operating revenues
    4,446       4,027       3,676      
 
 
Benefits and claims
    2,350       2,169       1,991      
Operating expenses:
                           
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    323       290       258      
Insurance commissions
    481       444       410      
Insurance and other expenses
    600       539       492      
 
 
Total operating expenses
    1,404       1,273       1,160      
 
 
Total benefits and expenses
    3,754       3,442       3,151      
 
 
Pretax operating earnings*
  $ 692     $ 585     $ 525      
 
 
Percentage change over previous year:
                           
 
 
Premium income
    10.8 %     9.5 %     10.6 %    
Net investment income
    7.5       10.4       6.5      
Total operating revenues
    10.4       9.5       10.0      
Pretax operating earnings*
    18.3       11.4       5.6      
 
 
* See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.
 
The percentage increases in premium income reflect the growth of premiums in force. The increases in annualized premiums in force of 10.0% in 2007, 10.5% in 2006, and 10.0% in 2005 were favorably affected by increased sales at the worksite primarily through cafeteria plans and a slight improvement in the persistency of several products. Annualized premiums in force at December 31 were $4.5 billion in 2007, compared with $4.1 billion in 2006 and $3.7 billion in 2005. Net investment income is expected to be flat for 2008 compared with 2007 due to the transfer of approximately $450 million to the Parent Company from Aflac U.S. to support the expected increase in share repurchases in 2008.


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The following table presents a summary of operating ratios for Aflac U.S.
 
                             
 
Ratios to total revenues:   2007     2006     2005      
 
Benefits and claims
    52.9 %     53.9 %     54.2 %    
Operating expenses:
                           
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    7.3       7.2       7.0      
Insurance commissions
    10.8       11.0       11.2      
Insurance and other expenses
    13.4       13.4       13.3      
 
 
Total operating expenses
    31.5       31.6       31.5      
Pretax operating earnings*
    15.6       14.5       14.3      
 
 
* See the Insurance Operations section of this MD&A for our definition of segment operating earnings.
 
After several years of trending upward, the benefit ratio declined in 2007 and 2006, primarily reflecting favorable claim cost trends on our major product lines. We expect the benefit ratio, operating expense ratio, and pretax operating profit margin to remain relatively stable in 2008.
 
Aflac U.S. Sales
 
For 2007, total new annualized premium sales increased 9.5%, which was at the upper end of our objective of 6% to 10% growth for the year. An administrative change in the timing of agents’ production credit for delay-bill policy conversions accelerated approximately $8 million of conversion premiums from the first quarter of 2008 to the fourth quarter of 2007. Excluding the impact of the change in conversion processing, total new annualized premium sales were up 8.9% for 2007. The following table presents Aflac’s U.S. total new annualized premium sales for the years ended December 31.
 
                             
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005      
 
Total new annualized premium sales
  $  1,558     $  1,423     $  1,259      
Increase over prior year
    9.5 %     13.1 %     6.1 %    
 
 
 
Our objective for 2008 is to increase total new annualized premium sales by 8% to 12%.
 
The following table details the contributions to total new annualized premium sales by major product category for the years ended December 31.
 
                             
 
    2007     2006     2005      
 
Accident/disability coverage
    51 %     52 %     51 %    
Cancer expense insurance
    18       17       19      
Hospital indemnity products
    14       12       11      
Fixed-benefit dental coverage
    6       6       8      
Other
    11       13       11      
 
 
Total
    100 %     100 %     100 %    
 
 
 
Total new annualized premium sales for accident/disability, our leading product category, increased 7.1% in 2007, while cancer expense insurance increased 11.1% and our hospital indemnity category increased 19.9%, compared with 2006.


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One aspect of our growth strategy is the continued enhancement of our product line. In August 2007, Aflac U.S. introduced a new cancer product, Maximum Difference. This new cancer indemnity plan incorporates coverage for medical advances in cancer prevention, diagnostics, treatment and the many new ways cancer patients may now receive their care. Maximum Difference allows customization of coverage to fit varying needs and budgets.
 
Another aspect of our growth strategy is our focus on growing and improving our U.S. sales force, and we were encouraged to see continued expansion in 2007. We recruited more than 24,200 new sales associates in 2007, resulting in more than 71,200 licensed sales associates at December 31, 2007, a 4.2% increase compared with 2006. Over the last two years, our primary focus has been on increasing the number of average weekly producers, which measures producers who make solid, consistent contributions to sales. On a weekly basis, the average number of U.S. associates actively producing business rose 6.0% to more than 10,900 in 2007. Our focus on average weekly producers as both a reporting and management metric provides for a more active management of our sales associates and allows our sales management to monitor progress and needs on a real-time basis.
 
Aflac U.S. Investments
 
The following table presents the results of Aflac’s U.S. investment activities.
 
                             
 
    2007   2006    2005     
 
New money yield
    6.44 %     6.44 %     6.16 %    
Return on average invested assets, net
of investment expenses
    6.79       6.86       6.54      
 
 
 
At December 31, 2007, the portfolio yield on Aflac’s U.S. portfolio was 7.00%, compared with 7.15% a year ago. See the Investments and Cash section of this MD&A for additional information.
 
OTHER OPERATIONS
 
Corporate operating expenses consist primarily of personnel compensation, benefits and facilities expenses. Corporate expenses, excluding investment income, were $56 million in 2007, $57 million in 2006, and $56 million in 2005. Investment income included in reported corporate expenses was $31 million in 2007, $16 million in 2006, and $14 million in 2005.


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ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
 
Our financial condition has remained strong in the functional currencies of our operations during the last two years. The yen/dollar exchange rate at the end of each period is used to translate yen-denominated balance sheet items to U.S. dollars for reporting purposes. The exchange rate at December 31, 2007, was 114.15 yen to one dollar, or 4.3% stronger than the December 31, 2006, exchange rate of 119.11. The stronger yen increased reported investments and cash by $1.9 billion, total assets by $2.1 billion, and total liabilities by $2.1 billion, compared with the amounts that would have been reported for 2007 if the exchange rate had remained unchanged from December 31, 2006.
 
Market Risks of Financial Instruments
 
Because we invest in fixed-income securities, our financial instruments are exposed primarily to two types of market risks: currency risk and interest rate risk.
 
Currency Risk
 
The functional currency of Aflac Japan’s insurance operation is the Japanese yen. All of Aflac Japan’s premiums, claims and commissions are received or paid in yen, as are most of its investment income and other expenses. Furthermore, most of Aflac Japan’s investments, cash and liabilities are yen-denominated. When yen-denominated securities mature or are sold, the proceeds are generally reinvested in yen-denominated securities. Aflac Japan holds these yen-denominated assets to fund its yen-denominated policy obligations. In addition, Aflac Incorporated has yen-denominated notes payable and cross-currency swaps related to its dollar-denominated senior notes.
 
Although we generally do not convert yen into dollars, we do translate financial statement amounts from yen into dollars for financial reporting purposes. Therefore, reported amounts are affected by foreign currency fluctuations. We report unrealized foreign currency translation gains and losses in other comprehensive income.
 
On a consolidated basis, we attempt to minimize the exposure of shareholders’ equity to foreign currency translation fluctuations. We accomplish this by investing a portion of Aflac Japan’s investment portfolio in dollar-denominated securities, by the Parent Company’s issuance of yen-denominated debt and by the use of cross-currency swaps (see the Hedging Activities section of this MD&A for additional information). As a result, the effect of currency fluctuations on our net assets is mitigated. The dollar values of our yen-denominated net assets, which are subject to foreign currency translation fluctuations for financial reporting purposes, are summarized as follows (translated at end-of-period exchange rates) for the years ended December 31:
 
                     
 
(In millions)   2007     2006      
 
Aflac Japan yen-denominated net assets
  $ 2,415     $ 2,317      
Parent Company yen-denominated net liabilities
   (1,496 )    (1,434 )    
 
 
Consolidated yen-denominated net assets subject to
foreign currency translation fluctuations
  $ 919     $ 883      
 
 


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The following table demonstrates the effect of foreign currency fluctuations by presenting the dollar values of our yen-denominated assets and liabilities, and our consolidated yen-denominated net asset exposure at selected exchange rates as of December 31.
 
                                                 
Dollar Value of Yen-Denominated Assets and Liabilities
at Selected Exchange Rates
 
(In millions)        2007        2006
 
Yen/dollar exchange rates
    99.15       114.15 *     129.15       104.11       119.11 *     134.11  
 
 
Yen-denominated financial instruments:
                                               
Assets:
                                               
Securities available for sale:
                                               
Fixed maturities
    $23,190       $20,143       $17,803       $21,712       $18,978       $16,856  
Perpetual debentures
    4,218       3,664       3,238       4,246       3,711       3,296  
Equity securities
    25       22       20       29       25       22  
Securities held to maturity:
                                               
Fixed maturities
    19,341       16,799       14,848       15,404       13,464       11,958  
Perpetual debentures
    4,588       3,985       3,522       4,565       3,990       3,544  
Cash and cash equivalents
    369       321       284       383       335       297  
Other financial instruments
    60       52       46       32       28       25  
 
 
Subtotal
    51,791       44,986       39,761       46,371       40,531       35,998  
 
 
Liabilities:
                                               
Notes payable
    1,169       1,015       898       1,117       976       868  
Cross-currency swaps
    560       487       430       534       467       414  
Japanese policyholder
protection corporation
    174       151       133       200       175       155  
 
 
Subtotal
    1,903       1,653       1,461       1,851       1,618       1,437  
 
 
Net yen-denominated financial instruments
    49,888       43,333       38,300       44,520       38,913       34,561  
Other yen-denominated assets
    6,310       5,480       4,844       5,550       4,852       4,309  
Other yen-denominated liabilities
     (55,140 )      (47,894 )      (42,331 )      (49,060 )      (42,882 )      (38,086 )
 
 
Consolidated yen-denominated net assets subject to foreign currency fluctuation
    $ 1,058       $  919       $  813       $ 1,010       $  883       $  784  
 
 
* Actual year-end exchange rate
 
We are exposed to economic currency risk only when yen funds are actually converted into dollars. This primarily occurs when we repatriate funds from Aflac Japan to Aflac U.S., which is done annually. The exchange rates prevailing at the time of repatriation will differ from the exchange rates prevailing at the time the yen profits were earned. These repatriations have not been greater than 80% of Aflac Japan’s prior-year earnings determined in accordance with standards established by the FSA. A portion of the repatriation may be used to service Aflac Incorporated’s yen-denominated notes payable with the remainder converted into dollars.


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Interest Rate Risk
 
Our primary interest rate exposure is to the impact of changes in interest rates on the fair value of our investments in debt securities. We use modified duration analysis, which measures price percentage volatility, to estimate the sensitivity of fair values to interest rate changes on debt securities we own. For example, if the current duration of a debt security is 10, then the fair value of that security will increase by approximately 10% if market interest rates decrease by 100 basis points, assuming all other factors remain constant. Likewise, the fair value of the debt security will decrease by approximately 10% if market interest rates increase by 100 basis points, assuming all other factors remain constant.
 
The estimated effect of potential increases in interest rates on the fair values of debt securities we own, notes payable, cross-currency swaps and our obligation to the Japanese policyholder protection corporation as of December 31 follows:
 
                                 
Sensitivity of Fair Values of Financial Instruments
to Interest Rate Changes
 
    2007   2006
 
        +100
      +100
    Fair
  Basis
  Fair
  Basis
(In millions)   Value   Points   Value   Points
 
Debt securities:
                               
Fixed-maturity securities:
                               
Yen-denominated
  $ 36,314     $ 32,151     $ 32,328     $ 28,712  
Dollar-denominated
    10,388       9,505       9,845       9,033  
Perpetual debentures:
                               
Yen-denominated
    7,598       6,889       7,735       6,965  
Dollar-denominated
    431       395       698       653  
 
 
Total debt securities
  $  54,731     $  48,940     $  50,606     $  45,363  
 
 
Notes payable*
  $ 1,452     $ 1,415     $ 1,421     $ 1,386  
 
 
Cross-currency and interest rate swap liabilities
  $ 35     $ 27     $ 7     $ 5  
 
 
Japanese policyholder protection corporation
  $ 151     $ 151     $ 175     $ 175  
 
 
* Excludes capitalized lease obligations
 
Changes in the interest rate environment impact the fair value of our debt securities and, as a result, directly affect the balance of unrealized gains or losses for a given period in relation to a prior period. Decreases in market yields generate unrealized gains and increases in market yields generate unrealized losses. However, we would not expect to realize a majority of those unrealized gains or losses because we have the intent and ability to hold such securities to maturity or recovery of value. For additional information on unrealized losses on debt securities, see Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


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We attempt to match the duration of our assets with the duration of our liabilities. The following table presents the approximate duration of our yen-denominated assets and liabilities, along with premiums, as of December 31.
 
         
 
(In years)   2007   2006
 
 
Yen-denominated debt securities
  13   13
Policy benefits and related expenses to be paid in future years
  14   13
Premiums to be received in future years on policies in force
  10   10
 
 
 
The following table shows a comparison of average required interest rates for future policy benefits and investment yields, based on amortized cost, for the years ended December 31.
 
                                                 
Comparison of Interest Rates for Future Policy Benefits
and Investment Yields
(Net of Investment Expenses)
 
    2007   2006   2005
 
    U.S.   Japan*   U.S.   Japan*   U.S.   Japan*
 
Policies issued during year:
                                               
Required interest on policy reserves
    5.50 %     2.74 %     5.50 %     2.77 %     5.50 %     2.88 %
New money yield on investments
    6.40       3.11       6.40       3.12       6.11       3.01  
Policies in force during year:
                                               
Required interest on policy reserves
    6.20       4.63       6.28       4.71       6.36       4.79  
Return on average invested assets
    6.79       3.83       6.86       3.88       6.54       3.92  
 
 
* Represents yen-denominated investments for Aflac Japan that support policy obligations and therefore excludes Aflac Japan’s annuities, and dollar-denominated investments and related investment income
 
In response to low interest rates in the United States, we lowered our required interest assumption for newly issued products to 5.5% in 2005. In Japan, we lowered our required interest assumption for some newly issued products to 2.5% in 2005. However, the majority of Japan’s newly issued products have a required interest assumption of 3.0%. We continue to monitor the spread between our new money yield and the required interest assumption for newly issued products in both the United States and Japan and will re-evaluate those assumptions as necessary.
 
Over the next two years, we have yen-denominated securities that will mature with yields in excess of Aflac Japan’s current net investment yield of 3.83%. These securities total $1.9 billion at amortized cost and have an average yield of 5.70%. Currently, when our debt securities mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that of the interest required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years. As a result, securities that mature may contribute to a decline in our overall portfolio yield. However, adding riders to our older policies has helped offset the negative investment spread. Despite negative investment spreads, adequate overall profit margins still exist in Aflac Japan’s aggregate block of business because of profits that have emerged from changes in the mix of business and favorable experience from mortality, morbidity and expenses.


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Investments and Cash
 
Our investment philosophy is to maximize investment income while emphasizing liquidity, safety and quality. Our investment objective, subject to appropriate risk constraints, is to fund policyholder obligations and other liabilities in a manner that enhances shareholders’ equity. We seek to achieve this objective through a diversified portfolio of fixed-income investments that reflects the characteristics of the liabilities it supports. Aflac invests primarily within the debt securities markets.
 
The following table details investment securities by segment as of December 31.
 
                                 
Investment Securities by Segment
 
    Aflac Japan     Aflac U.S.
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2007     2006  
 
Securities available for sale, at fair value:
                               
Fixed maturities
  $  23,532     $  22,044     $  6,874 *   $  6,659 *
Perpetual debentures
    3,764       3,935       331       473  
Equity securities
    22       25       -       -  
 
 
Total available for sale
    27,318       26,004       7,205       7,132  
 
 
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost:
                               
Fixed maturities
    16,799       13,464       20       19  
Perpetual debentures
    3,985       3,990       -       -  
 
 
Total held to maturity
    20,784       17,454       20       19  
 
 
Total investment securities
  $ 48,102     $ 43,458     $ 7,225     $ 7,151  
 
 
* Excludes investment-grade, available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities held by the Parent Company of $105 in 2007 and $102 in 2006.
 
We have investments in both publicly and privately issued securities. However, the status of issuance should not be viewed as an indicator of liquidity or as a limitation on the determination of fair value. The outstanding amount of a particular issuance, as well as the level of activity in a particular issuance and market conditions, including credit events and the interest rate environment, affect liquidity regardless of type of issuance. We routinely assess the fair value of all of our investments. This process includes evaluating quotations provided by outside securities pricing sources and/or compiled using data provided by external debt and equity market sources, as described more fully in Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The following table details investment securities by type of issuance as of December 31.


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Investment Securities by Type of Issuance
 
    2007   2006
 
    Amortized
  Fair
  Amortized
  Fair
(In millions)   Cost   Value   Cost   Value
 
Publicly issued securities:
                               
Fixed maturities
  $  15,986     $  16,919     $  15,092     $  16,269  
Perpetual debentures
    173       157       173       176  
Equity securities
    13       19       13       22  
 
 
Total publicly issued
    16,172       17,095       15,278       16,467  
 
 
Privately issued securities:
                               
Fixed maturities
    30,232       29,783       25,490       25,905  
Perpetual debentures
    8,084       7,872       8,158       8,256  
Equity securities
    3       3       3       3  
 
 
Total privately issued
    38,319       37,658       33,651       34,164  
 
 
Total investment securities
  $ 54,491     $ 54,753     $ 48,929     $ 50,631  
 
 
 
Privately issued securities accounted for 70.3% of total debt securities, at amortized cost, at December 31, 2007, compared with 68.8% at December 31, 2006. Privately issued securities held by Aflac Japan at amortized cost accounted for $36.0 billion, or 66.0%, of total debt securities at December 31, 2007, compared with $31.3 billion, or 64.0%, of total debt securities at December 31, 2006. Reverse-dual currency debt securities accounted for $11.1 billion, or 29.2%, of total privately issued securities at December 31, 2007, compared with $9.7 billion, or 28.9%, of total privately issued securities at December 31, 2006. Aflac Japan has invested in privately issued securities to secure higher yields than those available from Japanese government bonds. Aflac Japan’s investments in yen-denominated privately issued securities consist primarily of non-Japanese issuers and have longer maturities, thereby allowing us to improve our asset/liability matching and our overall investment returns. Most of our privately issued securities are issued under medium-term note programs and have standard documentation, except when internal credit analysis indicates that additional protective and/or event-risk covenants are required.
 
Our investment activities expose us to credit risk, which is a consequence of extending credit and/or carrying investment positions. However, we continue to adhere to prudent standards for credit quality. We accomplish this by considering our product needs and overall corporate objectives, in addition to credit risk. In evaluating the initial rating, we look at the overall senior issuer rating, the explicit rating for the actual issue or the rating for the security class, and, where applicable, the appropriate designation from the Securities Valuation Office (SVO) of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). All of our securities have ratings from either a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or the SVO of the NAIC. In addition, we perform extensive internal credit reviews to ensure that we are consistent in applying rating criteria for all of our securities. In light of recent market activity surrounding the subprime lending market, we have performed a review of our investment portfolio. We have no direct investment exposure to the subprime lending market and have not identified any material indirect exposure to that market.
 
We use specific criteria to judge the credit quality of both existing and prospective investments. Furthermore, we use several methods to monitor these criteria, including credit rating services and


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internal credit analysis. The distributions by credit rating of our purchases of debt securities for the years ended December 31, based on acquisition cost, were as follows:
 
                         
Composition of Purchases by Credit Rating
 
    2007     2006     2005  
 
AAA
    18.4 %     10.6 %     6.1 %
AA
    44.1       48.9       45.5  
A
    30.2       35.1       42.9  
BBB
    7.3       5.4       5.5  
 
 
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
 
 
 
The increase in securities purchased in the AAA rated category is primarily due to the purchase of U.S. Treasury bills by Aflac Japan prior to repatriating profits to Aflac U.S. in the third quarter of 2007.
 
The distributions of debt securities we own, by credit rating, were as follows:
 
                                 
Composition by Credit Rating
 
    December 31, 2007   December 31, 2006
 
    Amortized
  Fair
  Amortized
  Fair
    Cost   Value   Cost   Value
 
AAA
    6.3 %     6.2 %     5.8 %     5.7 %
AA
    44.3       45.3       35.0       35.8  
A
    30.7       30.4       39.4       39.2  
BBB
    16.8       16.6       17.2       17.2  
BB or lower
    1.9       1.5       2.6       2.1  
 
 
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
 
 
 
The increase in AAA and AA rated holdings compared with December 31, 2006, resulted from purchases and credit rating upgrades by rating agencies; the offset was a corresponding decrease in the A rated holdings. The decline in BB or lower rated securities resulted from the upgrade of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from below investment grade to investment grade during the second quarter of 2007.
 
In the event of a credit rating downgrade to below-investment-grade status, we do not automatically liquidate our position. However, if the security is in the held-to-maturity portfolio, we immediately transfer it to the available-for-sale portfolio so that the security’s fair value and its unrealized gain or loss are reflected on the balance sheet.
 
Once we designate a security as below investment grade, we intensify our monitoring of the issuer. We do not automatically recognize an impairment if the security’s amortized cost exceeds its fair value. Our investment management starts by reviewing its credit analysis. Included in this process are an evaluation of the issuer, its current credit and liquidity posture, its operations and an assessment of the future prospects for the issuer. We then obtain fair value information from at least three independent pricing sources. Upon determining the fair value, we move our focus to an analysis of whether the decline in fair value, if any, is other than temporary. For securities with an amortized cost in excess of fair value, investment management then reviews the issue based on our impairment policy to determine if the investment should be impaired and/or liquidated. The assessment of


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whether a decline is other than temporary requires significant management judgment and is discussed more fully in the Critical Accounting Estimates section of this MD&A. Securities classified as below investment grade as of December 31 were as follows:
 
                                                 
Below-Investment-Grade Securities
 
    2007   2006
 
    Par
  Amortized
  Fair
  Par
  Amortized
  Fair
(In millions)   Value   Cost   Value   Value   Cost   Value
 
Ahold
  $ 310     $ 311     $ 272     $ 299     $ 300     $ 245  
Ford Motor Credit
    263       263       215       252       252       229  
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
    *       *       *       252       252       229  
CSAV
    210       210       143       201       201       145  
BAWAG
    123       123       90       118       118       103  
Ford Motor Company
    111       122       93       111       122       100  
Tennessee Gas Pipeline
    *       *       *       31       30       35  
International Securities Trading Corp.
    20       -       -       *     *     *
Patrick Family Housing (Patrick AFB)
    4       1       1       *     *     *
Aloha Utilities Inc. 
    2       2       1       *     *     *
 
 
Total
  $  1,043     $  1,032     $  815     $  1,264     $  1,275     $  1,086  
 
 
* Investment grade at respective reporting date
 
Occasionally a debt security will be split rated. This occurs when one rating agency rates the security as investment grade while another rating agency rates the same security as below investment grade. Our policy is to review each issue on a case-by-case basis to determine if a split-rated security should be classified as investment grade or below investment grade. Our review includes evaluating the issuer’s credit position as well as current market pricing and other factors, such as the issuer’s or security’s inclusion on a credit rating downgrade watch list. Split-rated securities as of December 31, 2007, represented .7% of total debt securities at amortized cost and were as follows:
 
                                     
Split-Rated Securities
 
    Amortized
  Moody’s
  S&P
  Fitch
  Investment-Grade
(In millions)   Cost   Rating   Rating   Rating   Status
 
Signum (Ahold)
  $  280       Baa3       BB+       BB+     Below Investment Grade
Tennessee Gas Pipeline
    31       Baa3       BB       BBB-     Investment Grade
Union Carbide Corp. 
    15       Ba2       BBB-       BBB     Investment Grade
Ahold Finance USA Inc. 
    15       Baa3       BB+       BB+     Below Investment Grade
Oncor Electric Delivery
    11       Ba1       BBB-       BBB-     Investment Grade
Bell Canada
    9       Baa1       BB+       BB-     Investment Grade
 
 


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The following table provides details on amortized cost, fair value and unrealized gains and losses for our investments in debt securities by investment-grade status as of December 31, 2007.
 
                                         
 
    Total
  Total
  Percent
  Gross
  Gross
    Amortized
  Fair
  of Fair
  Unrealized
  Unrealized
(In millions)   Cost   Value   Value   Gains   Losses
 
Available-for-sale securities:
                                       
Investment-grade securities
  $  32,639     $  33,791       61.7 %   $  1,968     $ 816  
Below-investment-grade securities
    1,032       815       1.5       2       219  
Held-to-maturity securities:
                                       
Investment-grade securities
    20,804       20,125       36.8       408       1,087  
 
 
Total
  $ 54,475     $ 54,731       100.0 %   $ 2,378     $  2,122  
 
 
 
The following table presents an aging of securities in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2007.
 
                                                                 
Aging of Unrealized Losses
 
                Six Months
   
            Less than Six Months   to 12 Months   Over 12 Months
             
    Total
  Total
                       
    Amortized
  Unrealized
  Amortized
  Unrealized
  Amortized
  Unrealized
  Amortized
  Unrealized
(In millions)   Cost   Loss   Cost   Loss   Cost   Loss   Cost   Loss
 
Available-for-sale securities:
                                                               
Investment-grade securities
  $ 11,899     $ 816     $ 1,060     $ 38     $ 4,080     $ 240     $ 6,759     $ 538  
Below-investment-
grade securities
    999       219       -       -       -       -       999       219  
Held-to-maturity
securities:
                                                               
Investment-grade securities
    13,613       1,087       1,583       58       3,624       161       8,406       868  
 
 
Total
  $  26,511     $  2,122     $  2,643     $  96     $  7,704     $  401     $  16,164     $  1,625  
 
 
 
The following table presents a distribution of unrealized losses by magnitude as of December 31, 2007.
 
                                                                 
Percentage Decline From Amortized Cost
 
            Less than 20%   20% to 50%   Greater than 50%
             
    Total
  Total
                       
    Amortized
  Unrealized
  Amortized
  Unrealized
  Amortized
  Unrealized
  Amortized
  Unrealized
(In millions)   Cost   Loss   Cost   Loss   Cost   Loss   Cost   Loss
 
Available-for-sale securities:
                                                               
Investment-grade
securities
  $ 11,899     $ 816     $ 11,172     $ 646     $ 727     $ 170     $ -     $ -  
Below-investment-
grade securities
    999       219       569       92       430       127       -       -  
Held-to-maturity securities:
                                                               
Investment-grade securities
    13,613       1,087       12,732       795       705       198       176       94  
 
 
Total
  $  26,511     $  2,122     $  24,473     $  1,533     $  1,862     $  495     $  176     $  94  
 
 


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The following table presents the 10 largest unrealized loss positions in our portfolio as of December 31, 2007.
 
                             
 
    Credit
  Amortized
  Fair
  Unrealized
(In millions)   Rating   Cost   Value   Loss
 
SLM Corp. 
  BBB   $  294     $  150     $  144  
CSAV
  BB     210       143       67  
Nordea Bank
  AA     350       290       60  
KBC Group
  A     235       183       52  
Credit Suisse Group
  A     531       482       49  
Ford Motor Credit
  B     263       215       48  
Ahold
  BB     311       272       39  
Erste Bank
  A     394       357       37  
Royal Bank of Scotland
  AA     279       243       36  
BAWAG
  BB     123       90       33  
 
 
 
The fair value of our investments in debt securities can fluctuate as a result of changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and credit issues. Declines in fair value noted above resulted from changes in interest rates, yen/dollar exchange rates, and issuer credit status, as well as increasing risk premiums. However, we believe that it would be inappropriate to recognize impairment charges because we believe the changes in fair value are temporary. Based on our evaluation and analysis of specific issuers in accordance with our impairment policy, impairment charges recognized in 2007 were $23 million, before taxes. Impairment charges in 2006 and 2005 were immaterial.
 
Realized losses on debt securities, as a result of sales and impairment charges, were as follows for the year ended December 31, 2007:
 
                 
Realized Losses on Debt Securities
 
        Realized
(In millions)   Proceeds   Loss
 
Investment-grade securities, length of consecutive unrealized loss:
               
Less than six months
  $ 163     $ 1  
Six months to 12 months
    52       3  
Over 12 months
    60       2  
Below-investment-grade securities, length of consecutive unrealized loss:
               
Less than six months
    -       20  
Over 12 months
    -       2  
 
 
Total
  $  275     $  28  
 
 
 
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $1.6 billion, or 2.7% of total investments and cash, as of December 31, 2007, compared with $1.2 billion, or 2.3%, at December 31, 2006.
 
For additional information concerning our investments, see Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


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Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
 
The following table presents deferred policy acquisition costs by segment for the years ended December 31.
 
                     
 
(In millions)   2007     2006      
 
Aflac Japan
  $  4,269     $  3,857      
Aflac U.S.
    2,385       2,168      
 
 
Total
  $ 6,654     $ 6,025      
 
 
Increase over prior year
    10.4 %     7.8 %    
 
 
 
Aflac Japan’s deferred policy acquisition costs increased 10.7% (6.1% increase in yen). The stronger yen at year-end increased reported deferred policy acquisition costs by $178 million. Deferred policy acquisition costs of Aflac U.S. increased 10.0%. The increase in deferred policy acquisition costs was primarily driven by total new annualized premium sales.
 
Policy Liabilities
 
The following table presents policy liabilities by segment for the years ending December 31.
 
                     
 
(In millions)   2007     2006      
 
Aflac Japan
  $  44,694     $  40,072      
Aflac U.S.
    5,979       5,365      
Other business segments
    3       3      
 
 
Total
  $ 50,676     $ 45,440      
 
 
Increase over prior year
    11.5 %     7.3 %    
 
 
 
Aflac Japan’s policy liabilities increased 11.5% (6.9% increase in yen). The stronger yen at year-end increased reported policy liabilities by $1.9 billion. Policy liabilities of Aflac U.S. increased 11.4%. The increase in total policy liabilities is the result of the growth and aging of our in-force business.
 
Notes Payable
 
Notes payable totaled $1.5 billion at December 31, 2007, compared with $1.4 billion at December 31, 2006. The ratio of debt to total capitalization (debt plus shareholders’ equity, excluding the unrealized gains and losses on investment securities) was 15.6% as of December 31, 2007, compared with 17.2% a year ago. See Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
 
Benefit Plans
 
Aflac U.S. and Aflac Japan have various benefit plans. For additional information on our U.S. and Japanese plans, see Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


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Policyholder Protection Corporation
 
The Japanese insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. In 2005, legislation was enacted extending the framework of the Life Insurance Policyholder Protection Corporation (LIPPC), which included government fiscal measures supporting the LIPPC through March 2009. These measures do not contemplate additional industry assessments through March 2009 absent an event requiring LIPPC funds. The likelihood and timing of future assessments, if any, cannot be determined at this time.
 
Hedging Activities
 
Aflac has limited hedging activities. Our primary exposure to be hedged is our investment in Aflac Japan, which is affected by changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate. To mitigate this exposure, we have taken the following courses of action. First, Aflac Japan maintains a portfolio of dollar-denominated securities, which serve as an economic currency hedge of a portion of our investment in Aflac Japan. Second, we have designated the Parent Company’s yen-denominated liabilities (Samurai and Uridashi notes payable and cross-currency swaps) as a hedge of our investment in Aflac Japan. If the total of these yen-denominated liabilities is equal to or less than our net investment in Aflac Japan, the hedge is deemed to be effective and the related exchange effect is reported in the unrealized foreign currency component of other comprehensive income. Should these yen-denominated liabilities exceed our investment in Aflac Japan, the portion of the hedge that exceeds our investment in Aflac Japan would be deemed ineffective. As required by SFAS No. 133, we would then recognize the foreign exchange effect on the ineffective portion in net earnings (other income). We estimate that if the ineffective portion was 10 billion yen, we would report a foreign exchange gain/loss of approximately $1 million for every one yen weakening/strengthening in the end-of-period yen/dollar exchange rate. At December 31, 2007, our hedge was effective with yen-denominated assets exceeding yen-denominated liabilities by 105.2 billion yen, compared with 105.4 billion yen at December 31, 2006.
 
We have interest rate swap agreements related to the 20 billion yen variable interest rate Uridashi notes. By entering into these contracts, we have been able to lock in our interest rate at 1.52% in yen. We have designated these interest rate swaps as a hedge of the variability in our interest cash flows associated with the variable interest rate Uridashi notes. The notional amounts and terms of the swaps match the principal amount and terms of the variable interest rate Uridashi notes, and the swaps had no value at inception. Changes in the fair value of the swap contracts are recorded in other comprehensive income. The fair value of these swaps and related changes in fair value were immaterial during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
 
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
As of December 31, 2007, we had no material unconditional purchase obligations that were not recorded on the balance sheet. Additionally, we had no material letters of credit, standby letters of credit, guarantees or standby repurchase obligations.


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CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY
 
Aflac provides the primary sources of liquidity to the Parent Company through dividends and management fees. Aflac paid dividends to the Parent Company in the amount of $1.4 billion in 2007, compared with $665 million in 2006 and $526 million in 2005. During 2007, Aflac paid $80 million to the Parent Company for management fees, compared with $68 million in 2006 and $73 million in 2005. The primary uses of cash by the Parent Company are shareholder dividends and our share repurchase program. The Parent Company’s sources and uses of cash are reasonably predictable. For additional information, see the Financing Activities section of this MD&A.
 
The Parent Company also accesses debt security markets to provide additional sources of capital. Capital is primarily used to fund business expansion and capital expenditures. We have a Shelf Registration Statement (SRS) on file with Japanese regulatory authorities to issue up to 100 billion yen of yen-denominated Samurai notes in Japan. In June 2007, the Parent Company issued 30 billion yen of yen-denominated Samurai notes from this SRS. If issued, the remaining 70 billion yen (approximately $613 million using the December 31, 2007, period-end exchange rate) of yen-denominated Samurai notes will not be available to U.S. persons. We also have an SRS on file with Japanese regulatory authorities to issue up to 100 billion yen of Uridashi notes in Japan. In September 2006, the Parent Company issued 45 billion yen of yen-denominated Uridashi notes from this SRS. If issued, the remaining 55 billion yen (approximately $482 million using the December 31, 2007, period-end exchange rate) of yen-denominated Uridashi notes will not be available to U.S. persons. We believe outside sources for additional debt and equity capital, if needed, will continue to be available. For additional information, see Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
The principal sources of cash for our insurance operations are premiums and investment income. The primary uses of cash by our insurance operations are policy claims, commissions, operating expenses, income taxes and payments to the Parent Company for management fees and dividends. Both the sources and uses of cash are reasonably predictable.
 
When making an investment decision, our first consideration is based on product needs. Our investment objectives provide for liquidity through the purchase of investment-grade debt securities. These objectives also take into account duration matching; and, because of the long-term nature of our business, we have adequate time to react to changing cash flow needs.
 
As a result of policyholder aging, claims payments are expected to gradually increase over the life of a policy. Therefore, future policy benefit reserves are accumulated in the early years of a policy and are designed to help fund future claims payments. We expect our future cash flows from premiums and our investment portfolio to be sufficient to meet our cash needs for benefits and expenses.


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The following table presents the estimated payments by period of our major contractual obligations as of December 31, 2007. We translated our yen-denominated obligations using the December 31, 2007, exchange rate. Actual future payments as reported in dollars will fluctuate with changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate.
 
                                                 
Distribution of Payments by Period
 
            Less
           
      Total
  Total
  Than
  One to
  Four to
  After
(In millions)     Liability*   Payments   One Year   Three Years   Five Years   Five Years
 
Future policy benefits liability
  $  45,675     $  229,269     $  7,014     $  13,949     $  13,412     $  194,894  
Unpaid policy claims liability
    2,455       2,455       1,866       363       128       98  
Long-term debt - principal
    1,457       1,457       -       800       569       88  
Long-term debt - interest
    5       72       22       29       14       7  
Policyholder protection corporation
    151       151       23       51       59       18  
Operating service agreements
    N/A **     606       96       178       149       183  
Operating lease obligations
    N/A **     145       46       35       21       43  
Capitalized lease obligations
    8       8       3       4       1       -  
 
 
Total contractual obligations
  $ 49,751     $ 234,163     $ 9,070     $ 15,409     $ 14,353     $ 195,331  
 
 
 * Liability amounts are those reported on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2007.
** Not applicable
Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits in the amount of $34 million have been excluded from the tabular disclosure above because the timing of cash payment is not reasonably estimable.
 
The distribution of payments for future policy benefits is an estimate of all future benefit payments for policies in force as of December 31, 2007. These projected values contain assumptions for future policy persistency, mortality and morbidity. The distribution of payments for unpaid policy claims includes assumptions as to the timing of policyholders reporting claims for prior periods and the amount of those claims. Actual amounts and timing of both future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims payments may differ significantly from the estimates above. We anticipate that the future policy benefit liability of $45.7 billion at December 31, 2007, along with future net premiums and investment income, will be sufficient to fund future policy benefit payments.
 
Consolidated Cash Flows
 
We translate cash flows for Aflac Japan’s yen-denominated items into U.S. dollars using weighted-average exchange rates. In years when the yen weakens, translating yen into dollars causes fewer dollars to be reported. When the yen strengthens, translating yen into dollars causes more dollars to be reported. The following table summarizes consolidated cash flows by activity for the years ended December 31.
 
                             
Consolidated Cash Flows by Activity
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005      
 
Operating activities
  $ 4,656     $ 4,397     $ 4,433      
Investing activities
   (3,654 )    (4,057 )    (6,692 )    
Financing activities
    (655 )     (434 )     (196 )    
Exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents
    13       -       (61 )    
 
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 360     $ (94 )   $ (2,516 )    
 
 


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Operating Activities
 
The following table summarizes operating cash flows by source for the years ended December 31.
 
                             
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005      
 
Aflac Japan
  $  3,573     $  3,437     $  3,691      
Aflac U.S. and other operations
    1,083       960       742      
 
 
Total
  $ 4,656     $ 4,397     $ 4,433      
 
 
 
We expect cash provided by operating activities in the future to decline as a result of increased U.S. federal tax payments. U.S. cash tax payments are expected to increase in 2008 because we fully utilized our remaining tax credit carryforwards. Future cash provided by operating activities will also be reduced by the payout of lump-sum benefits to policyholders on a closed block of business. The majority of these benefit payouts will begin in 2008 and will conclude in 2012. We anticipate paying out approximately $450 million over the five-year period.
 
Investing Activities
 
Operating cash flow is primarily used to purchase debt securities to meet future policy obligations. The following table summarizes investing cash flows by source for the years ended December 31.
 
                             
Net Cash Used by Investing Activities
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005      
 
Aflac Japan
  $  (3,231 )   $  (3,372 )   $  (3,574 )    
Aflac U.S. and other operations
    (423 )     (685 )     (3,118 )    
 
 
Total
  $ (3,654 )   $ (4,057 )   $ (6,692 )    
 
 
 
Cash used by investing activities for Aflac U.S. and other operations in 2005 included the January 2005 return of cash collateral from the security lending activities of Aflac U.S. at the end of 2004 (approximately $2.6 billion).
 
Prudent portfolio management dictates that we attempt to match the duration of our assets with the duration of our liabilities. Currently, when our debt securities mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years. However, the long-term nature of our business and our strong cash flows provide us with the ability to minimize the effect of mismatched durations and/or yields identified by various asset adequacy analyses. When market opportunities arise, we dispose of selected debt securities that are available for sale to improve the duration matching of our assets and liabilities, improve future investment yields, and/or rebalance our portfolio. As a result, dispositions before maturity can vary significantly from year to year. Dispositions before maturity were approximately 4% of the annual average investment portfolio of debt securities available for sale during the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with 7% in 2006 and 11% in 2005. Dispositions before maturity in 2006 and 2005 were impacted by the bond swaps we executed from the third quarter of 2005 through the second quarter of 2006.


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Financing Activities
 
Consolidated cash used by financing activities was $655 million in 2007, $434 million in 2006 and $196 million in 2005. In June 2007, we received $242 million in connection with the Parent Company’s issuance of yen-denominated Samurai notes, and we paid $242 million in connection with the maturity of the 2002 Samurai notes. In June 2006, the Parent Company paid $355 million in connection with the maturity of the 2001 Samurai notes. In September 2006, the Parent Company received $382 million from its issuance of yen-denominated Uridashi notes. In October 2005, we paid $261 million in connection with the maturity of the 2000 Samurai notes. In July 2005, the Parent Company received $360 million from its issuance of yen-denominated Samurai notes. Cash returned to shareholders through treasury stock purchases and dividends was $979 million in 2007, compared with $728 million in 2006 and $647 million in 2005.
 
The following tables present a summary of treasury stock activity during the years ended December 31.
 
                   
Treasury Stock Purchased
 
(In millions of dollars and thousands of shares)   2007   2006   2005 
 
Treasury stock purchases
  $ 606   $ 470   $ 438 
 
 
Shares purchased:
                 
Open market
   11,073    10,265    10,000 
Other
    559     55     245 
 
 
Total shares purchased
    11,632     10,320     10,245 
 
 
                   
Treasury Stock Issued
 
(In millions of dollars and thousands of shares)   2007   2006   2005 
 
Stock issued from treasury
  $ 47   $ 42   $ 50 
 
 
Shares issued
   2,723    2,783    3,637 
 
 
 
On February 4, 2008, we entered into an agreement for an accelerated share repurchase (ASR) program with an affiliate of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch). Under the agreement, we purchased 12.5 million shares of our outstanding common stock at $60.58 per share for a total purchase price of $757 million. The repurchase was funded with internal capital. The shares were acquired as a part of previously announced share repurchase authorizations by our board of directors and will be held in treasury. Under the agreement, Merrill Lynch plans to purchase shares of our common stock in the open market from time to time until it has acquired a number of shares equivalent to the number of shares we purchased from Merrill Lynch. At the end of this period, we may receive, or may be required to remit, a purchase price adjustment based upon the volume weighted-average price of our common stock during the ASR program period. Under the terms of the ASR we may elect to receive or pay any settlement amount in cash or shares of our common stock at our option. The completion and settlement of the ASR program is expected to occur during the second quarter of 2008, although the settlement may occur before the second quarter at Merrill Lynch’s option.


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Cash dividends paid in 2007 of $.80 per share increased 45.5% over 2006. The 2006 dividend paid of $.55 per share increased 25.0% over 2005. The following table presents the sources of dividends to shareholders for the years ended December 31.
 
                       
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005 
 
Dividends paid in cash
  $  373     $  258     $  209 
Dividends declared but not paid
    (91 )     91      
Dividends through issuance of treasury shares
    19       15       11 
 
 
Total dividends to shareholders
  $ 301     $ 364     $ 220 
 
 
 
Regulatory Restrictions
 
Aflac is domiciled in Nebraska and is subject to its regulations. The Nebraska insurance department imposes certain limitations and restrictions on payments of dividends, management fees, loans and advances by Aflac to the Parent Company. The Nebraska insurance statutes require prior approval for dividend distributions that exceed the greater of the net gain from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. In addition, the Nebraska insurance department must approve service arrangements and other transactions within the affiliated group of companies. These regulatory limitations are not expected to affect the level of management fees or dividends paid by Aflac to the Parent Company. A life insurance company’s statutory capital and surplus is determined according to rules prescribed by the NAIC, as modified by the insurance department in the insurance company’s state of domicile. Statutory accounting rules are different from GAAP and are intended to emphasize policyholder protection and company solvency.
 
The continued long-term growth of our business may require increases in the statutory capital and surplus of our insurance operations. Aflac’s insurance operations may secure additional statutory capital through various sources, such as internally generated statutory earnings or equity contributions by the Parent Company from funds generated through debt or equity offerings. The NAIC’s risk-based capital (RBC) formula is used by insurance regulators to help identify inadequately capitalized insurance companies. The RBC formula quantifies insurance risk, business risk, asset risk and interest rate risk by weighing the types and mixtures of risks inherent in the insurer’s operations. Aflac’s RBC ratio remains high and reflects a very strong capital and surplus position. Currently, the NAIC has ongoing regulatory initiatives relating to revisions to the RBC formula as well as numerous initiatives covering insurance products, investments, and other actuarial and accounting matters. We believe that we will continue to maintain a strong RBC ratio and statutory capital and surplus position in future periods.
 
In addition to limitations and restrictions imposed by U.S. insurance regulators, Japan’s FSA may not allow profit repatriations or other transfers from Aflac Japan if they would cause Aflac Japan to lack sufficient financial strength for the protection of policyholders. The FSA maintains its own solvency standard. Aflac Japan’s solvency margin ratio significantly exceeds regulatory minimums.
 
Payments are made from Aflac Japan to the Parent Company for management fees and to Aflac U.S. for allocated expenses and remittances of earnings. During 2007, Aflac Japan paid $32 million to the Parent Company for management fees, compared with $25 million in 2006 and $28 million in 2005. Expenses allocated to Aflac Japan were $33 million in 2007, $32 million in 2006 and $30 million in


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2005. During 2007, Aflac Japan remitted profits of $567 million (67.8 billion yen) to Aflac U.S., compared with $442 million (50.0 billion yen) in 2006 and $374 million (41.2 billion yen) in 2005. For additional information on regulatory restrictions on dividends, profit repatriations and other transfers, see Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Rating Agencies
 
Aflac is rated AA by both Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings and Aa2 (Excellent) by Moody’s for financial strength. A.M. Best rates Aflac as A+ (Superior) for financial strength and operating performance. Aflac Incorporated’s senior debt, Samurai notes, and Uridashi notes are rated A by Standard & Poor’s, A+ by Fitch Ratings, and A2 by Moody’s.
 
Other
 
In January 2008, the board of directors declared the first quarter 2008 cash dividend of $.24 per share. The dividend is payable on March 3, 2008, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 20, 2008. In 2006, the board of directors authorized the purchase of 30.0 million shares of our common stock. As of December 31, 2007, approximately 25.6 million shares were available for purchase under the 2006 share repurchase authorization. In January 2008, the Board authorized the purchase of an additional 30.0 million shares of our common stock.
 
For information regarding commitments and contingent liabilities, see Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
ITEM 7A.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
 
The information required by Item 7A is incorporated by reference from the Market Risks of Financial Instruments section of MD&A in Part II, Item 7, of this report.


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ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
 
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our evaluation under this framework, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2007.
 
KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, which is included herein.
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
The shareholders and board of directors of Aflac Incorporated:
 
We have audited Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Aflac Incorporated’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 conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 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, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
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


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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.
 
In our opinion, Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity, cash flows, and comprehensive income for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, and our report dated February 28, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
 
(-s- KPMG LLP)
 
Atlanta, Georgia
February 28, 2008


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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
The shareholders and board of directors of Aflac Incorporated:
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity, cash flows, and comprehensive income for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted the provisions of Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements, as of January 1, 2006. Additionally, as discussed in Notes 1 and 12 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R), as of December 31, 2006.
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 28, 2008, expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
(-s- KPMG LLP)
 
Atlanta, Georgia
February 28, 2008


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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Years Ended December 31,
 
                             
 
(In millions, except for share and per-share amounts)   2007     2006     2005      
 
 
Revenues:
                           
Premiums, principally supplemental health insurance
  $ 12,973     $ 12,314     $ 11,990      
Net investment income
    2,333       2,171       2,071      
Realized investment gains (losses)
    28       79       262      
Other income
    59       52       40      
 
 
Total revenues
    15,393       14,616       14,363      
 
 
Benefits and expenses:
                           
Benefits and claims
    9,285       9,016       8,890      
Acquisition and operating expenses:
                           
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    640       574       542      
Insurance commissions
    1,331       1,303       1,302      
Insurance expenses
    1,491       1,337       1,281      
Interest expense
    27       19       23      
Other operating expenses
    120       103       99      
 
 
Total acquisition and operating expenses
    3,609       3,336       3,247      
 
 
Total benefits and expenses
    12,894       12,352       12,137      
 
 
Earnings before income taxes
    2,499       2,264       2,226      
 
 
Income tax expense:
                           
Current
    548       419       499      
Deferred
    317       362       278      
Release of valuation allowance on deferred tax assets
    -       -       (34 )    
 
 
Total income taxes
    865       781       743      
 
 
Net earnings
  $ 1,634     $ 1,483     $ 1,483      
 
 
Net earnings per share:
                           
Basic
  $ 3.35     $ 2.99     $ 2.96      
Diluted
    3.31       2.95       2.92      
 
 
Weighted-average outstanding common shares used in computing earnings per share (In thousands):
                           
Basic
   487,869      495,614      500,939      
Diluted
    493,971       501,827       507,704      
 
 
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31,
 
               
 
(In millions)   2007     2006
 
Assets:
             
Investments and cash:
             
Securities available for sale, at fair value:
             
Fixed maturities (amortized cost $29,399 in 2007
and $27,099 in 2006)
  $  30,511     $  28,805
Perpetual debentures (amortized cost $4,272 in 2007
and $4,341 in 2006)
    4,095       4,408
Equity securities (cost $16 in 2007 and 2006)
    22       25
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost:
             
Fixed maturities (fair value $16,191 in 2007 and $13,369 in 2006)
    16,819       13,483
Perpetual debentures (fair value $3,934 in 2007 and $4,024 in 2006)
    3,985       3,990
Other investments
    61       58
Cash and cash equivalents
    1,563       1,203
 
 
Total investments and cash
    57,056       51,972
Receivables, primarily premiums
    732       535
Accrued investment income
    561       538
Deferred policy acquisition costs
    6,654       6,025
Property and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation
    496       458
Other
    306       277
 
 
Total assets
  $ 65,805     $ 59,805
 
 
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
(continued)


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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)
December 31,
 
                 
 
(In millions, except for share and per-share amounts)   2007     2006 
 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:
               
Liabilities:
               
Policy liabilities:
               
Future policy benefits
  $  45,675     $  40,841  
Unpaid policy claims
    2,455       2,390  
Unearned premiums
    693       645  
Other policyholders’ funds
    1,853       1,564  
 
 
Total policy liabilities
    50,676       45,440  
Notes payable
    1,465       1,426  
Income taxes
    2,531       2,462  
Payables for return of cash collateral on loaned securities
    808       807  
Other
    1,530       1,329  
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 13)
               
 
 
Total liabilities
    57,010       51,464  
 
 
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Common stock of $.10 par value. In thousands:
authorized 1,000,000 shares; issued 658,604 shares in 2007 and 655,715 shares in 2006
    66       66  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,054       895  
Retained earnings
    10,637       9,304  
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
               
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains
    129       54  
Unrealized gains on investment securities
    874       1,450  
Pension liability adjustment
    (69 )     (78 )
Treasury stock, at average cost
    (3,896 )     (3,350 )
 
 
Total shareholders’ equity
    8,795       8,341  
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 65,805     $ 59,805  
 
 
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
Years Ended December 31,
 
                         
(In millions, except for per-share amounts)   2007     2006   2005 
 
 
Common stock:
                       
Balance, beginning of year
  $ 66     $ 65     $ 65  
Exercise of stock options
    -       1       -  
 
 
Balance, end of year
    66       66       65  
 
 
Additional paid-in capital:
                       
Balance, beginning of year
    895       791       676  
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits
    74       32       54  
Share-based compensation
    39       34       32  
Gain on treasury stock reissued
    46       38       29  
 
 
Balance, end of year
    1,054       895       791  
 
 
Retained earnings:
                       
Balance, beginning of year
    9,304       8,048       6,785  
Cumulative effect of change - adoption of SAB 108
    -       139       -  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    -       (2 )     -  
Net earnings
    1,634       1,483       1,483  
Dividends to shareholders ($.615 per share in 2007, $.735 per share in 2006, and $.44 per share in 2005)
    (301 )     (364 )     (220 )
 
 
Balance, end of year
   10,637       9,304       8,048  
 
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
                       
Balance, beginning of year
    1,426       1,957       2,611  
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during year, net of income taxes
    75       (23 )     (145 )
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities during year, net of income taxes
    (576 )     (467 )     (500 )
Pension liability adjustment during year, net of income taxes
    9       3       (9 )
Adoption of SFAS 158, net of income taxes
    -       (44 )     -  
 
 
Balance, end of year
    934       1,426       1,957  
 
 
Treasury stock:
                       
Balance, beginning of year
    (3,350 )     (2,934 )    (2,561 )
Purchases of treasury stock
    (606 )     (470 )     (438 )
Cost of shares issued
    60       54       65  
 
 
Balance, end of year
   (3,896 )    (3,350 )     (2,934 )
 
 
Total shareholders’ equity
  $ 8,795     $ 8,341     $ 7,927  
 
 
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31,
 
                             
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005       
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                           
Net earnings
  $ 1,634     $ 1,483     $ 1,483      
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
                           
Change in receivables and advance premiums
    (176 )     (41 )     (43 )    
Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs
    (454 )     (474 )     (461 )    
Increase in policy liabilities
    3,194       3,304       3,311      
Change in income tax liabilities
    421       180       351      
Realized investment (gains) losses
    (28 )     (79 )     (262 )    
Other, net
    65       24       54      
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    4,656       4,397       4,433      
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                           
Proceeds from investments sold or matured:
                           
Securities available for sale:
                           
Fixed maturities sold
    1,261       2,358       3,465      
Fixed maturities matured or called
    1,552       553       743      
Perpetual debentures sold
    194       1       35      
Equity securities sold
    -       57       -      
Securities held to maturity:
                           
Fixed maturities matured or called
    45       172       212      
Perpetual debentures matured or called
    140       -       -      
Costs of investments acquired:
                           
Securities available for sale:
                           
Fixed maturities
    (3,848 )     (4,402 )     (5,523 )    
Perpetual debentures
    -       -       (710 )    
Securities held to maturity:
                           
Fixed maturities
    (2,920 )     (2,963 )     (2,661 )    
Cash received as collateral on loaned securities, net
    (23 )     193       (2,237 )    
Additions to property and equipment, net
    (46 )     (23 )     (16 )    
Other, net
    (9 )     (3 )     -      
 
 
Net cash used by investing activities
  $  (3,654 )   $  (4,057 )   $  (6,692 )    
 
 
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
(continued)


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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)
Years Ended December 31,
 
                         
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
Purchases of treasury stock
  $ (606 )   $ (470 )   $ (438 )
Proceeds from borrowings
    242       382       360  
Principal payments under debt obligations
    (247 )     (377 )     (269 )
Dividends paid to shareholders
    (373 )     (258 )     (209 )
Change in investment-type contracts, net
    210       217       257  
Treasury stock reissued
    47       42       50  
Other, net
    72       30       53  
 
 
Net cash used by financing activities
    (655 )     (434 )     (196 )
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    13       -       (61 )
 
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    360       (94 )     (2,516 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    1,203       1,297       3,813  
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $  1,563     $  1,203     $  1,297  
 
 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information - See Note 14
 
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


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Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Years Ended December 31,
 
                         
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005 
 
Net earnings
  $  1,634     $  1,483     $  1,483  
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss) before
income taxes:
                       
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
                       
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during year
    (8 )     (12 )     44  
Unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities:
                       
Unrealized holding gains (losses) during year
    (848 )     (642 )     (538 )
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings
    (28 )     (79 )     (262 )
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives:
                       
Unrealized holding gains (losses) during year
    (1 )     -       -  
Pension liability adjustment during year
    14       5       (13 )
 
 
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
before income taxes
    (871 )     (728 )     (769 )
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)
    (379 )     (241 )     (115 )
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes
    (492 )     (487 )     (654 )
 
 
Total comprehensive income
  $ 1,142     $ 996     $ 829  
 
 
See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Description of Business: Aflac Incorporated (the Parent Company) and its subsidiaries (the Company) primarily sell supplemental health and life insurance in the United States and Japan. The Company’s insurance business is marketed and administered through American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), which operates in the United States (Aflac U.S.) and as a branch in Japan (Aflac Japan). Most of Aflac’s policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Our insurance operations in the United States and our branch in Japan service the two markets for our insurance business. Aflac Japan accounted for 71% of the Company’s total revenues in 2007, 72% in 2006 and 74% in 2005, and 82% of total assets at both December 31, 2007 and 2006.
 
Basis of Presentation: We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates when recording transactions resulting from business operations based on currently available information. The most significant items on our balance sheet that involve a greater degree of accounting estimates and actuarial determinations subject to changes in the future are the valuation of investments, deferred policy acquisition costs, and liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims. These accounting estimates and actuarial determinations are sensitive to market conditions, investment yields, mortality, morbidity, commission and other acquisition expenses, and terminations by policyholders. As additional information becomes available, or actual amounts are determinable, the recorded estimates will be revised and reflected in operating results. Although some variability is inherent in these estimates, we believe the amounts provided are adequate.
 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Parent Company, its majority-owned subsidiaries and those entities required to be consolidated under applicable accounting standards. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
 
Translation of Foreign Currencies: The functional currency of Aflac Japan’s insurance operations is the Japanese yen. We translate our yen-denominated financial statement accounts into U.S. dollars as follows. Assets and liabilities are translated at end-of-period exchange rates. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are translated at the exchange rate on the trade date of each transaction. Other revenues, expenses and cash flows are translated using average exchange rates for the year. The resulting currency translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. We include in earnings the realized currency exchange gains and losses resulting from transactions. Realized currency exchange gains and losses were immaterial during the three-year period ended December 31, 2007.
 
Aflac Japan maintains an investment portfolio of dollar-denominated securities on behalf of Aflac U.S. The functional currency for these investments is the U.S. dollar. The related investment income and realized/unrealized investment gains and losses are also denominated in U.S. dollars.
 
We have designated the yen-denominated Uridashi and Samurai notes issued by the Parent Company and the cross-currency swaps as a hedge of our investment in Aflac Japan (see the section in this note titled, “Derivatives”). Outstanding principal and related accrued interest on these items are


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translated into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates. Currency translation adjustments are recorded through other comprehensive income and are included in accumulated other comprehensive income.
 
Insurance Revenue and Expense Recognition: The supplemental health and life insurance policies we issue are classified as long-duration contracts. The contract provisions generally cannot be changed or canceled during the contract period; however, we may adjust premiums for supplemental health policies issued in the United States within prescribed guidelines and with the approval of state insurance regulatory authorities.
 
Insurance premiums for health and life policies are recognized ratably as earned income over the premium payment periods of the policies. When revenues are reported, the related amounts of benefits and expenses are charged against such revenues, so that profits are recognized in proportion to premium revenues during the period the policies are expected to remain in force. This association is accomplished by means of annual additions to the liability for future policy benefits and the deferral and subsequent amortization of policy acquisition costs.
 
The calculation of deferred policy acquisition costs and the liability for future policy benefits requires the use of estimates based on sound actuarial valuation techniques. For new policy issues, we review our actuarial assumptions and deferrable acquisition costs each year and revise them when necessary to more closely reflect recent experience and studies of actual acquisition costs. For policies in force, we evaluate deferred policy acquisition costs by major product groupings to determine that they are recoverable from future revenues. Any resulting adjustment is charged against net earnings.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, money market instruments and other debt instruments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased.
 
Investments: Our debt securities include fixed-maturity securities and perpetual debentures, which are classified as either held to maturity or available for sale. Securities classified as held to maturity are securities that we have the ability and intent to hold to maturity or redemption and are carried at amortized cost. All other debt securities and our equity securities are classified as available for sale and are carried at fair value. If the fair value is higher than the amortized cost for debt securities, or the purchase cost for equity securities, the excess is an unrealized gain, and if lower than cost, the difference is an unrealized loss.
 
The net unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale, plus the unamortized unrealized gains and losses on debt securities transferred to the held-to-maturity portfolio, less related deferred income taxes, are recorded through other comprehensive income and included in accumulated other comprehensive income.
 
Amortized cost of debt securities is based on our purchase price adjusted for accrual of discount, or amortization of premium. The amortized cost of debt securities we purchase at a discount will equal the face or par value at maturity. Debt securities that we purchase at a premium will have an amortized cost equal to face or par value at maturity or the call date, if applicable. Interest is reported as income when earned and is adjusted for amortization of any premium or discount.
 
Our investments in qualifying special purpose entities (QSPEs) are accounted for as fixed-maturity or perpetual securities. All of our investments in QSPEs are held in our available-for-sale portfolio.


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For the collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) held in our fixed-maturity securities portfolio, we recognize income using a constant effective yield, which is based on anticipated prepayments and the estimated economic life of the securities. When estimates of prepayments change, the effective yield is recalculated to reflect actual payments to date and anticipated future payments. The net investment in CMO securities is adjusted to the amount that would have existed had the new effective yield been applied at the time of acquisition. This adjustment is reflected in net investment income.
 
We use the specific identification method to determine the gain or loss from securities transactions and report the realized gain or loss in the consolidated statements of earnings.
 
Our credit analysts/research personnel routinely monitor and evaluate the difference between the amortized cost and fair value of our investments. Additionally, credit analysis and/or credit rating issues related to specific investments may trigger more intensive monitoring to determine if a decline in fair value is other than temporary. For investments with a fair value below amortized cost, the process includes evaluating the length of time and the extent to which amortized cost exceeds fair value and the financial condition, operations, credit and liquidity posture, and future prospects of the issuer, among other factors, in determining the potential recovery in fair value or principal. This process is not exact and requires consideration of risks such as credit risk, which to a certain extent can be controlled, and interest rate risk, which cannot be controlled. Therefore, if an investment’s amortized cost exceeds its fair value solely due to changes in interest rates, impairment may not be appropriate. If, after monitoring and analyses, management believes that a decline in fair value is other than temporary, we adjust the amortized cost of the security and report a realized loss in the consolidated statements of earnings.
 
We lend fixed-maturity securities to financial institutions in short-term security lending transactions. These securities continue to be carried as investment assets on our balance sheet during the terms of the loans and are not reported as sales. We receive cash or other securities as collateral for such loans. For loans involving unrestricted cash collateral, the collateral is reported as an asset with a corresponding liability for the return of the collateral. For loans collateralized by securities, the collateral is not reported as an asset or liability.
 
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs: The costs of acquiring new business are deferred and amortized with interest over the premium payment periods in proportion to the ratio of annual premium income to total anticipated premium income. Anticipated premium income is estimated by using the same mortality, persistency and interest assumptions used in computing liabilities for future policy benefits. In this manner, the related acquisition expenses are matched with revenues. Deferred costs include the excess of current-year commissions over ultimate renewal-year commissions and certain direct and allocated policy issue, underwriting and marketing expenses. All of these costs vary with and are primarily related to the production of new business.
 
Policy Liabilities: Future policy benefits represent claims that are expected to occur in the future and are computed by a net level premium method using estimated future investment yields, persistency and recognized morbidity and mortality tables modified to reflect our experience, including a provision for adverse deviation. These assumptions are generally established at the time a policy is issued.


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Unpaid policy claims are estimates computed on an undiscounted basis using statistical analyses of historical claims experience adjusted for current trends and changed conditions. The ultimate liability may vary significantly from such estimates. We regularly adjust these estimates as new claims experience emerges and reflect the changes in operating results in the year such adjustments are made.
 
Income Taxes: Income tax provisions are generally based on pretax earnings reported for financial statement purposes, which differ from those amounts used in preparing our income tax returns. Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and income tax basis of assets and liabilities, based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which we expect the temporary differences to reverse.
 
Derivatives: We have limited activity with derivative financial instruments. We do not use them for trading purposes, nor do we engage in leveraged derivative transactions. At December 31, 2007, our only outstanding derivative contracts were interest rate swaps related to our 20 billion yen variable interest rate Uridashi notes and cross-currency swaps related to our $450 million senior notes (see Notes 4 and 7).
 
We document all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as our risk-management objectives for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes linking derivatives that are designated as hedges to specific assets or liabilities on the balance sheet. We also assess, both at inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives and nonderivatives used in hedging activities are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged items. The assessment of hedge effectiveness determines the noncash accounting treatment of changes in fair value.
 
We have designated our cross-currency swaps as a hedge of the foreign currency exposure of our investment in Aflac Japan. We include the fair value of the cross-currency swaps in either other assets or other liabilities on the balance sheet. We report the changes in fair value of the foreign currency portion of our cross-currency swaps in other comprehensive income. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate component are reflected in other income in the consolidated statements of earnings.
 
We have designated our interest rate swaps as a hedge of the variability of the interest cash flows associated with the variable interest rate Uridashi notes. We include the fair value of the interest rate swaps in either other assets or other liabilities on the balance sheet. We report the changes in fair value of the interest rate swaps in other comprehensive income as long as they are deemed effective. Should any portion of the swap be deemed ineffective, that value would be reported in other income in the consolidated statements of earnings.
 
Policyholder Protection Corporation and State Guaranty Association Assessments: In Japan, the government has required the insurance industry to contribute to a policyholder protection corporation. We recognize a charge for our estimated share of the industry’s obligation once it is determinable. We review the estimated liability for policyholder protection corporation contributions on an annual basis and report any adjustments in Aflac Japan’s expenses.
 
In the United States, each state has a guaranty association that supports insolvent insurers operating in those states. To date, our state guaranty association assessments have not been material.


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Treasury Stock: Treasury stock is reflected as a reduction of shareholders’ equity at cost. We use the weighted-average purchase cost to determine the cost of treasury stock that is reissued. We include any gains and losses in additional paid-in capital when treasury stock is reissued.
 
Earnings Per Share: We compute basic earnings per share (EPS) by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of unrestricted shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period plus the shares representing the dilutive effect of share-based awards.
 
New Accounting Pronouncements: In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements - an amendment of ARB No. 51 (SFAS 160). The purpose of SFAS 160 is to improve relevance, comparability, and transparency of the financial information in consolidated financial statements of reporting entities that hold noncontrolling interests in one or more subsidiaries. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008, with earlier adoption prohibited. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have any effect on our financial position or results of operations.
 
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (SFAS 159). SFAS 159 allows entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The majority of the provisions of this standard apply only to entities that elect the fair value option (FVO). The FVO may be applied to eligible items on an instrument-by-instrument basis; is irrevocable unless a new election date occurs; and may only be applied to an entire financial instrument, and not portions thereof. This standard requires a business enterprise to report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the FVO has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, with earlier application permitted under limited circumstances. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.
 
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R) (SFAS 158). We adopted the recognition and measurement date provisions of this standard effective December 31, 2006. In the consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity for the year ended December 31, 2006, we included in 2006 other comprehensive income, a cumulative transition adjustment, net of income taxes, of $44 million from the adoption of SFAS 158. This cumulative effect adjustment was properly included in the rollforward of accumulated other comprehensive income for the year, but it should not have been included in other comprehensive income for the year. Total comprehensive income for the year, not including the transition adjustment for SFAS 158, was $996 million. Management concluded that the transition adjustment was not material to the financial statements taken as a whole. We have adjusted other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2006, to properly reflect the transition adjustment as a direct charge to accumulated other comprehensive income. The effect of recording the transition adjustment through other comprehensive income and the subsequent adjustment to reflect the amounts as a direct charge to accumulated other comprehensive income did not have any impact on the consolidated statements of earnings, the consolidated balance sheets, the consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity or the consolidated statements of cash flows for any periods presented.


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In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This standard applies to other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, the FASB having previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the relevant measurement attribute. Accordingly, SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements. Where applicable, this standard codifies related guidance within GAAP. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, with earlier application encouraged under limited circumstances. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.
 
In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. The provisions of FIN 48 clarify the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The evaluation of a tax position in accordance with FIN 48 is a two-step process. Under the first step, the enterprise determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The second step is measurement, whereby a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, with earlier application encouraged. We adopted the provisions of this standard effective January 1, 2007. The adoption of this standard did not have any impact on our financial position or results of operations (see Note 8).
 
In September 2005, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) issued Statement of Position (SOP) 05-1, Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection with Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts (SOP 05-1). SOP 05-1 provides accounting guidance on internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts other than those specifically described in SFAS No. 97, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments. SOP 05-1 is effective for internal replacements occurring in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, with earlier adoption encouraged. Retrospective application of this SOP to previously issued financial statements is not permitted. We adopted the provisions of this statement effective January 1, 2007. We have determined that certain of our policy modifications in both the United States and Japan that were previously accounted for as a continuation of existing coverage will be considered internal replacements that are substantially changed as contemplated by SOP 05-1 and will be accounted for as the extinguishment of the affected policies and the issuance of new contracts. The adoption of this statement increased net earnings by $6 million, or $.01 per diluted share, and was insignificant to our financial position and results of operations.
 
Recent accounting pronouncements not discussed above are not applicable to our business.


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Securities and Exchange Commission Guidance: In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 (SAB 108). SAB 108 addresses quantifying the financial statement effects of misstatements, specifically, how the effects of uncorrected errors from prior years must be considered in quantifying misstatements in current year financial statements. Under the provisions of SAB 108, a reporting entity must quantify and evaluate errors using a balance sheet approach and an income statement approach. After considering all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors, if either approach results in a misstatement that is material, a reporting entity’s financial statements must be adjusted. SAB 108 applies to SEC registrants and is effective for fiscal years ending after November 15, 2006. In the course of evaluating balance sheet amounts in accordance with the provisions of SAB 108, we identified the following amounts that we adjusted for as of January 1, 2006: a tax liability in the amount of $87 million related to deferred tax asset valuation allowances that were not utilized; a tax liability in the amount of $45 million related to various provisions for taxes that were not utilized; and a litigation liability in the amount of $11 million related to provisions for various pending lawsuits that were not utilized. These liabilities were recorded in immaterial amounts prior to 2004 over a period ranging from 10 to 15 years. However, using the dual evaluation approach prescribed by SAB 108, correction of the above amounts would be material to 2006 earnings. In accordance with the provisions of SAB 108, the following amounts, net of tax where applicable, have been reflected as an opening adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2006: a reduction of tax liabilities in the amount of $132 million; a reduction of litigation reserves in the amount of $11 million; and a reduction in deferred tax assets in the amount of $4 million. These three adjustments resulted in a net addition to retained earnings in the amount of $139 million.


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2. BUSINESS SEGMENT AND FOREIGN INFORMATION
 
The Company consists of two reportable insurance business segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S., both of which sell individual supplemental health and life insurance.
 
Operating business segments that are not individually reportable are included in the “Other business segments” category. We do not allocate corporate overhead expenses to business segments. We evaluate and manage our business segments using a financial performance measure called pretax operating earnings. Our definition of operating earnings excludes the following items from net earnings on an after-tax basis: realized investment gains/losses, the impact from SFAS 133, and nonrecurring items. We then exclude income taxes related to operations to arrive at pretax operating earnings. Information regarding operations by segment for the years ended December 31 follows:
 
                         
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005 
 
Revenues:
                       
Aflac Japan:
                       
Earned premiums:
                       
Cancer life
  $ 4,937     $ 4,923     $ 5,147  
Other accident and health
    2,928       2,755       2,577  
Life insurance
    1,172       1,084       1,021  
Net investment income
    1,801       1,688       1,635  
Other income
    27       25       31  
 
 
Total Aflac Japan
    10,865       10,475       10,411  
 
 
Aflac U.S.:
                       
Earned premiums:
                       
Accident/disability
    1,785       1,580       1,424  
Cancer expense
    1,114       1,041       982  
Other health
    885       801       721  
Life insurance
    152       130       118  
Net investment income
    500       465       421  
Other income
    10       10       10  
 
 
Total Aflac U.S.
    4,446       4,027       3,676  
 
 
Other business segments
    37       42       39  
 
 
Total business segments
    15,348       14,544       14,126  
Realized investment gains (losses)
    28       79       262  
Corporate
    116       87       74  
Intercompany eliminations
    (99 )     (94 )     (99 )
 
 
Total revenues
  $  15,393     $  14,616     $  14,363  
 
 


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(In millions)   2007     2006     2005 
 
Pretax earnings:
                       
Aflac Japan
  $ 1,821     $ 1,652     $ 1,515 *
Aflac U.S.
    692       585       525  
Other business segments
    -       5       -  
 
 
Total business segments
    2,513       2,242       2,040  
Interest expense, noninsurance operations
    (21 )     (17 )     (20 )
Corporate and eliminations
    (25 )     (40 )     (41 )
 
 
Pretax operating earnings
    2,467       2,185       1,979  
Realized investment gains (losses)
    28       79       262  
Impact from SFAS 133
    4       -       (15 )
 
 
Total earnings before income taxes
  $  2,499     $  2,264     $  2,226  
 
 
Income taxes applicable to pretax operating earnings
  $ 854     $ 753     $ 687  
Effect of foreign currency translation on operating earnings
    (11 )     (39 )     (8 )
 
 
*Includes charges of $46 in 2005 related to the write-down of previously capitalized systems development costs for Aflac Japan’s administration system.
 
Assets as of December 31 were as follows:
 
                 
 
(In millions)   2007     2006 
 
Assets:
               
Aflac Japan
  $ 54,153     $ 48,850  
Aflac U.S.
    10,415       10,249  
Other business segments
    117       110  
 
 
Total business segments
    64,685       59,209  
Corporate
    10,364       10,023  
Intercompany eliminations
    (9,244 )     (9,427 )
 
 
Total assets
  $  65,805     $  59,805  
 
 


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Yen-Translation Effects: The following table shows the yen/dollar exchange rates used for or during the periods ended December 31. Exchange effects were calculated using the same yen/dollar exchange rate for the current year as for each respective prior year.
 
                         
 
    2007     2006     2005    
 
Statements of Earnings:
                       
Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate
    117.93       116.31       109.88  
Yen percent strengthening (weakening)
    (1.4 )%     (5.5 )%     (1.5 )%
Exchange effect on net earnings (millions)
  $ (10 )   $ (41 )   $ (16 )
 
 
 
                     
 
    2007     2006        
 
Balance Sheets:
                   
Yen/dollar exchange rate at December 31
    114.15       119.11      
Yen percent strengthening (weakening)
    4.3 %     (.9 )%    
Exchange effect on total assets (millions)
  $ 2,102     $ (400 )    
Exchange effect on total liabilities (millions)
    2,063       (392 )    
 
 
 
Aflac Japan maintains a portfolio of dollar-denominated securities, which serves as an economic currency hedge of a portion of our investment in Aflac Japan. We have designated the Parent Company’s yen-denominated notes payable and cross-currency swaps as a hedge of our investment in Aflac Japan. The dollar values of our yen-denominated net assets, which are subject to foreign currency translation fluctuations for financial reporting purposes, are summarized as follows at December 31 (translated at end-of-period exchange rates):
 
                 
 
(In millions)   2007     2006 
 
Aflac Japan net assets
  $ 6,087     $ 5,782  
Aflac Japan dollar-denominated net assets
    (3,672 )     (3,465 )
 
 
Aflac Japan yen-denominated net assets
    2,415       2,317  
Parent Company yen-denominated net liabilities
    (1,496 )     (1,434 )
 
 
Consolidated yen-denominated net assets subject to foreign currency translation fluctuations
  $ 919     $ 883  
 
 
 
Transfers of funds from Aflac Japan: Aflac Japan makes payments to the Parent Company for management fees and to Aflac U.S. for allocated expenses and profit repatriations. Information on transfers for each of the years ended December 31 is shown below. See Note 11 for information concerning restrictions on transfers from Aflac Japan.
 
                       
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005
 
Management fees
  $ 32     $ 25     $ 28
Allocated expenses
    33       32       30
Profit repatriation
    567       442       374
 
 
Total transfers from Aflac Japan
  $  632     $  499     $  432
 
 


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Policyholder Protection Corporation: The total liability accrued for our obligations to the Japanese Life Insurance Policyholder Protection Corporation (LIPPC) was $151 million (17.2 billion yen) at December 31, 2007, compared with $175 million (20.8 billion yen) a year ago. The obligation is payable in semi-annual installments through 2013.
 
Property and Equipment: The costs of buildings, furniture and equipment are depreciated principally on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives (maximum of 45 years for buildings and 10 years for furniture and equipment). Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred; expenditures for betterments are capitalized and depreciated. Classes of property and equipment as of December 31 were as follows:
 
                         
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005 
 
Property and equipment:
                       
Land
  $ 120     $ 118     $ 119  
Buildings
    403       379       361  
Equipment
    244       224       226  
 
 
Total property and equipment
    767       721       706  
Less accumulated depreciation
    271       263       258  
 
 
Net property and equipment
  $  496     $  458     $  448  
 
 
 
Receivables: Receivables consist primarily of monthly insurance premiums due from individual policyholders or their employers for payroll deduction of premiums. At December 31, 2007, $395 million, or 53.9% of total receivables, were related to Aflac Japan’s operations, compared with $221 million, or 41.4%, at December 31, 2006.


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3.  INVESTMENTS
 
The amortized cost for debt securities, cost for equity securities and the fair values of these investments at December 31 are shown in the following table.
 
                                 
 
    2007
 
    Cost or
  Gross
  Gross
   
    Amortized
  Unrealized
  Unrealized
  Fair
(In millions)   Cost   Gains   Losses   Value
 
Securities available for sale, carried at fair value:
                               
Fixed maturities:
                               
Yen-denominated:
                               
Government and guaranteed
  $ 8,438     $ 621     $ 36     $ 9,023  
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
    272       6       -       278  
Public utilities
    1,741       162       31       1,872  
Sovereign and supranational
    751       54       31       774  
Banks/financial institutions
    3,814       228       112       3,930  
Other corporate
    4,406       131       271       4,266  
 
 
Total yen-denominated
    19,422       1,202       481       20,143  
 
 
Dollar-denominated:
                               
Government
    376       7       1       382  
Municipalities
    128       3       5       126  
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
    502       6       14       494  
Collateralized debt obligations
    92       -       16       76  
Public utilities
    1,007       73       13       1,067  
Sovereign and supranational
    424       80       2       502  
Banks/financial institutions
    3,157       165       106       3,216  
Other corporate
    4,291       302       88       4,505  
 
 
Total dollar-denominated
    9,977       636       245       10,368  
 
 
Total fixed maturities
    29,399       1,838       726       30,511  
 
 
Perpetual debentures:
                               
Yen-denominated:
                               
Primarily banks/financial institutions
    3,812       123       271       3,664  
Dollar-denominated:
                               
Banks/financial institutions
    460       9       38       431  
 
 
Total perpetual debentures
    4,272       132       309       4,095  
 
 
Equity securities
    16       7       1       22  
 
 
Total securities available for sale
  $  33,687     $  1,977     $  1,036     $  34,628  
 
 


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    2007
 
    Cost or
  Gross
  Gross
   
    Amortized
  Unrealized
  Unrealized
  Fair
(In millions)   Cost   Gains   Losses   Value
 
Securities held to maturity, carried at amortized cost:
                               
Fixed maturities:
                               
Yen-denominated:
                               
Government
  $ 175     $ -     $ 1     $ 174  
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
    43       -       -       43  
Collateralized debt obligations
    403       -       79       324  
Public utilities
    1,937       18       66       1,889  
Sovereign and supranational
    3,069       78       69       3,078  
Banks/financial institutions
    8,976       85       644       8,417  
Other corporate
    2,196       92       42       2,246  
 
 
Total yen-denominated
    16,799       273       901       16,171  
 
 
Dollar-denominated:
                               
Government
    20       -       -       20  
 
 
Total dollar-denominated
    20       -       -       20  
 
 
Total fixed maturities
    16,819       273       901       16,191  
 
 
Perpetual debentures:
                               
Yen-denominated:
                               
Banks/financial institutions
    3,985       135       186       3,934  
 
 
Total perpetual debentures
    3,985       135       186       3,934  
 
 
Total securities held to maturity
  $  20,804     $  408     $  1,087     $  20,125  
 
 


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    2006
 
    Cost or
  Gross
  Gross
   
    Amortized
  Unrealized
  Unrealized
  Fair
(In millions)   Cost   Gains   Losses   Value
 
Securities available for sale, carried at fair value:
                               
Fixed maturities:
                               
Yen-denominated:
                               
Government and guaranteed
  $ 8,286     $ 733     $ 48     $ 8,971  
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
    190       1       1       190  
Public utilities
    1,575       165       14       1,726  
Sovereign and supranational
    794       57       22       829  
Banks/financial institutions
    3,482       292       50       3,724  
Other corporate
    3,547       173       183       3,537  
 
 
Total yen-denominated
    17,874       1,421       318       18,977  
 
 
Dollar-denominated:
                               
Government
    431       3       10       424  
Municipalities
    105       4       -       109  
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
    356       3       6       353  
Collateralized debt obligations
    20       -       -       20  
Public utilities
    921       87       6       1,002  
Sovereign and supranational
    394       74       -       468  
Banks/financial institutions
    3,329       229       21       3,537  
Other corporate
    3,669       305       59       3,915  
 
 
Total dollar-denominated
    9,225       705       102       9,828  
 
 
Total fixed maturities
    27,099       2,126       420       28,805  
 
 
Perpetual debentures:
                               
Yen-denominated:
                               
Primarily banks/financial institutions
    3,656       197       143       3,710  
Dollar-denominated:
                               
Banks/financial institutions
    685       25       12       698  
 
 
Total perpetual debentures
    4,341       222       155       4,408  
 
 
Equity securities
    16       9       -       25  
 
 
Total securities available for sale
  $  31,456     $  2,357     $  575     $  33,238  
 
 


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    2006
 
    Cost or
  Gross
  Gross
   
    Amortized
  Unrealized
  Unrealized
  Fair
(In millions)   Cost   Gains   Losses   Value
 
Securities held to maturity, carried at amortized cost:
                               
Fixed maturities:
                               
Yen-denominated:
                               
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
  $ 42     $ -     $ -     $ 42  
Collateralized debt obligations
    134       -       2       132  
Public utilities
    1,567       31       50       1,548  
Sovereign and supranational
    2,783       90       35       2,838  
Banks/financial institutions
    6,913       98       336       6,675  
Other corporate
    2,025       112       22       2,115  
 
 
Total yen-denominated
    13,464       331       445       13,350  
 
 
Dollar-denominated:
                               
Government
    19       -       -       19  
 
 
Total dollar-denominated
    19       -       -       19  
 
 
Total fixed maturities
    13,483       331       445       13,369  
 
 
Perpetual debentures:
                               
Yen-denominated:
                               
Banks/financial institutions
    3,990       156       122       4,024  
 
 
Total perpetual debentures
    3,990       156       122       4,024  
 
 
Total securities held to maturity
  $  17,473     $  487     $  567     $  17,393  
 
 
 
The components of net investment income for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
 
                         
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005 
 
Fixed-maturity securities
  $ 1,936     $ 1,782     $ 1,693  
Perpetual debentures
    372       387       378  
Equity securities and other
    2       2       1  
Short-term investments and cash equivalents
    45       20       20  
 
 
Gross investment income
    2,355       2,191       2,092  
Less investment expenses
    22       20       21  
 
 
Net investment income
  $  2,333     $  2,171     $  2,071  
 
 
 
Investment exposures, which individually exceeded 10% of shareholders’ equity as of December 31, were as follows:
 
                                                 
 
    2007   2006
 
    Credit
  Amortized
  Fair
  Credit
  Amortized
  Fair
(In millions)   Rating   Cost   Value   Rating   Cost   Value
 
Japan National Government
    AA     $  8,000     $  8,583       AA     $  7,849     $  8,536  
 
 


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Privately issued securities held by Aflac Japan at amortized cost accounted for $36.0 billion, or 66.0%, of total debt securities at December 31, 2007, compared with $31.3 billion, or 64.0%, of total debt securities at December 31, 2006. Total privately issued securities, at amortized cost, accounted for $38.3 billion, or 70.3%, of total debt securities as of December 31, 2007, compared with $33.6 billion, or 68.8%, at December 31, 2006. Of the total privately issued securities, reverse-dual currency debt securities (principal payments in yen, interest payments in dollars) accounted for $11.1 billion, or 29.2%, at amortized cost as of December 31, 2007, compared with $9.7 billion, or 28.9%, at amortized cost as of December 31, 2006.
 
At December 31, 2007, we owned below-investment-grade debt securities in the amount of $1.0 billion at amortized cost ($815 million at fair value), or 1.9% of total debt securities, compared with $1.3 billion at amortized cost ($1.1 billion at fair value), or 2.6% of total debt securities a year ago. Each of the below-investment-grade securities was investment-grade at the time of purchase and was subsequently downgraded by credit rating agencies. These securities are held in the available-for-sale portfolio.
 
As of December 31, 2007, $67 million, at fair value, of Aflac Japan’s debt securities had been pledged to Japan’s policyholder protection corporation. At December 31, 2007, debt securities with a fair value of $13 million were on deposit with regulatory authorities in the United States and Japan. We retain ownership of all securities on deposit and receive the related investment income.
 
Information regarding realized and unrealized gains and losses from investments for the years ended December 31 follows:
 
                         
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005 
 
Realized investment gains (losses) on securities:
                       
Debt securities:
                       
Available for sale:
                       
Gross gains from sales
  $ 40     $ 67     $ 284  
Gross losses from sales
    (6 )     (34 )     (22 )
Net gains (losses) from redemptions
    17       4       (1 )
Impairment losses
    (22 )     -       -  
 
 
Total debt securities
    29       37       261  
 
 
Equity securities:
                       
Gross gains from sales
    -       43       1  
Impairment losses
    (1 )     (1 )     -  
 
 
Total equity securities
    (1 )     42       1  
 
 
Total realized investment gains (losses)
  $ 28     $ 79     $ 262  
 
 
Changes in unrealized gains (losses):
                       
Debt securities:
                       
Available for sale
  $ (838 )   $ (624 )   $ (697 )
Transferred to held to maturity
    (35 )     (52 )     (113 )
Equity securities
    (3 )     (45 )     11  
 
 
Change in unrealized gains (losses)
  $  (876 )   $  (721 )   $  (799 )
 
 


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In 2007, we realized pretax gains of $28 million (after-tax, $19 million, or $.04 per diluted share) primarily as a result of securities sold or redeemed in the normal course of business. In 2006, we realized pretax gains of $79 million (after-tax, $51 million, or $.10 per diluted share) primarily as a result of bond swaps and the liquidation of equity securities held by Aflac U.S. In 2005, we realized pretax gains of $262 million (after-tax, $167 million, or $.33 per diluted share) primarily as a result of bond swaps. We began a bond-swap program in the second half of 2005 and concluded it in the first half of 2006. These bond swaps took advantage of tax loss carryforwards and also resulted in an improvement in overall portfolio credit quality and investment income. Impairment charges recognized in 2007 were $23 million, before taxes. Impairment charges in 2006 and 2005 were immaterial.
 
Fair values of debt securities and privately issued equity securities were determined using quotations provided by outside securities pricing sources and/or compiled using data provided by external debt and equity market sources. The data used in estimating fair value include credit spreads of comparably credit-rated securities and market quotations of securities with similar maturity and call structure characteristics. Fair values are then computed using standard industry models that provide pricing data based on a wide variety of inputs as noted above. The fair values provided by outside sources are reviewed internally for reasonableness. If a fair value appears unreasonable, the inputs are re-examined and the value is confirmed or revised. The fair values for publicly traded equity securities were determined using market quotations from the public exchange markets where the securities are principally traded.


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The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of our investments with unrealized losses that are not deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2007.
 
                                                 
 
    Total   Less than 12 months   12 months or longer
 
    Fair
  Unrealized
  Fair
  Unrealized
  Fair
  Unrealized
(In millions)   Value   Losses   Value   Losses   Value   Losses
 
Fixed maturities:
                                               
Government and guaranteed:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
  $ 77     $ 1     $ 20     $ -     $ 57     $ 1  
Yen-denominated
    1,752       37       458       2       1,294       35  
Municipalities:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    62       5       50       5       12       -  
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    297       14       181       7       116       7  
Yen-denominated
    30       -       -       -       30       -  
Collateralized debt obligations:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    76       16       68       14       8       2  
Yen-denominated
    324       79       214       49       110       30  
Public utilities:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    283       13       115       4       168       9  
Yen-denominated
    1,314       97       379       15       935       82  
Sovereign and supranational:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    28       2       28       2       -       -  
Yen-denominated
    1,884       100       974       17       910       83  
Banks/financial institutions:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    1,220       106       796       68       424       38  
Yen-denominated
    8,588       756       3,408       155       5,180       601  
Other corporate:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    1,402       88       819       27       583       61  
Yen-denominated
    3,294       313       1,528       67       1,766       246  
Perpetual debentures:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    295       38       125       16       170       22  
Yen-denominated
    3,463       457       609       39       2,854       418  
 
 
Total debt securities
    24,389       2,122       9,772       487       14,617       1,635  
Equity securities
    5       1       4       1       1       -  
 
 
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $  24,394     $  2,123     $  9,776     $  488     $  14,618     $  1,635  
 
 


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The unrealized losses on our investments in government and guaranteed fixed-maturity securities, which include U.S. Treasury obligations, direct obligations of U.S. government agencies, Japan government bonds, and direct obligations of Japan government agencies were caused by changes in interest rates and/or exchange rates. The contractual cash flows of these investments are guaranteed by either the U.S. or Japanese government. Furthermore, the contractual terms of these investments do not permit the issuer to settle the securities at a price less than the amortized cost of the investment. Because we have the ability and intent to hold these investments until a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, we do not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2007.
 
The unrealized losses on the other investment categories in the preceding table were caused by changes in interest rates, yen/dollar exchange rates, and/or increased credit spreads. For credit-related declines in market value, we begin a more focused review of the related issuer’s credit ratings, financial statements and other available financial data, timeliness of payment, competitive environment and any other significant data related to the issuer. From those reviews, we evaluate the issuer’s continued ability to service our investment. If, based on our reviews, we determine that the issuer has the ability to continue to service our investment, we conclude that the investment is temporarily impaired. Because we have the ability and intent to hold these investments until a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, we do not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2007.
 
Included in the unrealized losses on other corporate fixed-maturity securities is an unrealized loss of $33 million on Aflac Japan’s $123 million (14 billion yen) investment in BAWAG Capital Finance Jersey II. The decline in fair value of the security was primarily caused by losses BAWAG incurred from lending to the failed U.S. brokerage house REFCO and from derivative speculation in 2000. While BAWAG’s credit rating has declined from Baa3 to Ba1 (Moody’s), we currently believe it is probable we will collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the investment. Therefore, it is expected that our investment would not be settled at a price less than the amortized cost of the investment. Also included in the unrealized losses on other corporate fixed-maturity securities is an unrealized loss of $67 million on Aflac Japan’s investment of $210 million (24 billion yen) in Tollo Shipping Company S.A. Our investment is guaranteed by the issuer’s parent, Compañia Sudamericana de Vapores S.A. (CSAV). The decline in fair value of the security was primarily caused by two factors: depressed revenue due to competitive pricing pressures in the container shipping industry and weaker operating margins due to sharply increased fuel costs. The contractual terms of this investment do not permit the issuer or its parent to settle the security at a price less than the amortized cost of the investment, and give priority to repayment of our investment under certain circumstances. While CSAV’s credit rating has remained at BB+ (S&P), we currently believe it is probable that we will collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the investment. Therefore, it is expected that our investment would not be settled at a price less than the amortized cost of the investment. Because we have the intent and ability to hold these investments until recovery of fair value, which may be the investments’ respective maturities, we do not consider them to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2007.


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The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of our investments with unrealized losses that are not deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2006.
 
                                                 
 
    Total   Less than 12 months   12 months or longer
 
    Fair
  Unrealized
  Fair
  Unrealized
  Fair
  Unrealized
(In millions)   Value   Losses   Value   Losses   Value   Losses
 
Fixed maturities:
                                               
Government and guaranteed:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
  $ 366     $ 11     $ 87     $ 1     $ 279     $ 10  
Yen-denominated
    1,815       48       626       2       1,189       46  
Municipalities:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    21       -       10       -       11       -  
Mortgage- and asset- backed securities:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    205       6       96       2       109       4  
Yen-denominated
    165       -       135       -       30       -  
Collateralized debt obligations:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    10       -       10       -       -       -  
Yen-denominated
    90       2       90       2       -       -  
Public utilities:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    203       6       156       4       47       2  
Yen-denominated
    1,346       64       375       3       971       61  
Sovereign and supranational:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    6       -       6       -       -       -  
Yen-denominated
    1,442       56       494       10       948       46  
Banks/financial
institutions:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    865       21       681       13       184       8  
Yen-denominated
    6,030       386       1,502       48       4,528       338  
Other corporate:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    1,043       60       481       8       562       52  
Yen-denominated
    2,244       204       153       5       2,091       199  
Perpetual debentures:
                                               
Dollar-denominated
    272       12       92       1       180       11  
Yen-denominated
    3,255       266       224       32       3,031       234  
 
 
Total debt securities
    19,378       1,142       5,218       131       14,160       1,011  
Equity securities
    3       -       2       -       1       -  
 
 
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $  19,381     $  1,142     $  5,220     $  131     $  14,161     $  1,011  
 
 


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The net effect on shareholders’ equity of unrealized gains and losses from investment securities at December 31 was as follows:
 
                 
 
(In millions)   2007     2006 
 
Unrealized gains on securities available for sale
  $  941     $  1,783  
Unamortized unrealized gains on securities transferred to held to maturity
    343       378  
Deferred income taxes
    (410 )     (711 )
 
 
Shareholders’ equity, unrealized gains on investment securities
  $ 874     $ 1,450  
 
 
 
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities decreased primarily as a result of a higher interest rate environment driven by wider credit spreads globally and also as a result of foreign currency effects.
 
We attempt to match the duration of our assets with the duration of our liabilities. The following table presents the approximate duration of our yen-denominated assets and liabilities, along with premiums, as of December 31.
 
               
 
(In years)   2007     2006
 
Yen-denominated debt securities
    13       13
Policy benefits and related expenses to be paid in future years
    14       13
Premiums to be received in future years on policies in force
    10       10
 
 
 
Currently, when our debt securities mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that of the interest required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years. However, our strategy of developing and marketing riders to our older policies has helped offset the negative investment spread. In spite of the negative investment spreads, overall profit margins in Aflac Japan’s aggregate block of business are adequate because of profits that continue to emerge from changes in mix of business and favorable mortality, morbidity and expenses.


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The contractual maturities of our investments in fixed maturities at December 31, 2007, were as follows:
 
                                 
 
    Aflac Japan   Aflac U.S.
 
    Amortized
  Fair
  Amortized
  Fair
(In millions)   Cost   Value   Cost   Value
 
Available for sale:
                               
Due in one year or less
  $ 503     $ 508     $ 21     $ 21  
Due after one year through five years
    4,078       4,608       311       333  
Due after five years through 10 years
    2,524       2,814       605       652  
Due after 10 years
    15,056       15,105       5,424       5,600  
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
    489       497       279       268  
 
 
Total fixed maturities available for sale
  $  22,650     $  23,532     $  6,640     $  6,874  
 
 
Held to maturity:
                               
Due after one year through five years
  $ 850     $ 904     $ -     $ -  
Due after five years through 10 years
    1,081       1,078       -       -  
Due after 10 years
    14,825       14,146       20       20  
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
    43       43       -       -  
 
 
Total fixed maturities held to maturity
  $ 16,799     $ 16,171     $ 20     $ 20  
 
 
 
The Parent Company has a portfolio of investment-grade available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities totaling $109 million at amortized cost and $105 million at fair value, which is not included in the table above.
 
Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because some issuers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.


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We own subordinated perpetual debenture securities. These securities are subordinated to other debt obligations of the issuer, but rank higher than equity securities. Although these securities have no contractual maturity, the interest coupons that were fixed at issuance subsequently change to a floating short-term interest rate of 125 to more than 300 basis points above an appropriate market index, generally by the 25th year after issuance, thereby creating an economic maturity date. The economic maturities of our investments in perpetual debentures at December 31, 2007, were as follows:
 
                                 
 
    Aflac Japan   Aflac U.S.
 
    Amortized
  Fair
  Amortized
  Fair
(In millions)   Cost   Value   Cost   Value
 
Available for sale:
                               
Due in one year or less
  $ 291     $ 298     $ -     $ -  
Due after one year through five years
    61       111       15       16  
Due after five years through 10 years
    263       307       35       34  
Due after 10 years through 15 years
    268       250       -       -  
Due after 15 years
    3,031       2,799       308       280  
 
 
Total perpetual debentures available for sale
  $  3,914     $  3,765     $  358     $  330  
 
 
Held to maturity:
                               
Due in one year or less
  $ 133     $ 134     $ -     $ -  
Due after one year through five years
    788       816       -       -  
Due after five years through 10 years
    1,567       1,628       -       -  
Due after 10 years through 15 years
    -       -       -       -  
Due after 15 years
    1,497       1,356       -       -  
 
 
Total perpetual debentures held to maturity
  $ 3,985     $ 3,934     $ -     $ -  
 
 
 
As part of our investment activities, we own investments in qualified special purpose entities (QSPEs). At December 31, 2007, available-for-sale QSPEs totaled $3.2 billion at fair value ($3.3 billion at amortized cost, or 6.0% of total debt securities), compared with $2.3 billion at fair value ($2.3 billion at amortized cost, or 4.7% of total debt securities) at December 31, 2006. We have no equity interests in any of the QSPEs, nor do we have control over these entities. Therefore, our loss exposure is limited to the cost of our investment.
 
We also own investments in variable interest entities (VIEs) totaling $2.1 billion at fair value ($2.4 billion at amortized cost, or 4.5% of total debt securities) at December 31, 2007. We are the primary beneficiary of VIEs totaling $1.3 billion at fair value ($1.6 billion at amortized cost) and have consolidated our interests in these VIEs in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. The activities of the VIEs that we consolidate are limited to holding debt securities and utilizing the cash flows from the debt securities to service our investments therein. The terms of these debt securities mirror the terms of the notes held by Aflac.
 
We have interests in VIEs in which we are not the primary beneficiary and therefore are not required to consolidate totaling $760 million at fair value ($853 million at amortized cost) as of December 31, 2007. These interests primarily consist of corporate collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). The activities of these VIEs are limited to holding underlying collateral, comprising investment-grade debt securities at the time of issuance, and credit default swap (CDS) contracts on specific corporate entities and utilizing the cash flows from the collateral and CDS contracts to service


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our investments therein. All corporate entities covered by the CDS contracts were investment grade at the time of issuance. Our remaining VIEs that we are not required to consolidate consist of loans to financing vehicles that are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed by their corporate parents. These VIEs are used to raise financing for their respective parent companies in the international capital markets. The guarantors of these VIEs were investment grade at the time of issuance.
 
The loss on any of our VIE investments would be limited to its cost.
 
We lend fixed-maturity securities to financial institutions in short-term security lending transactions. These short-term security lending arrangements increase investment income with minimal risk. Our security lending policy requires that the fair value of the securities and/or cash received as collateral be 102% or more of the fair value of the loaned securities. At December 31, 2007, we had security loans outstanding with a fair value of $790 million, and we held cash in the amount of $808 million as collateral for these loaned securities. At December 31, 2006, we had security loans outstanding with a fair value of $780 million, and we held cash in the amount of $807 million as collateral for these loaned securities.
 
During 2007, we reclassified an investment from held to maturity to available for sale as a result of a deterioration in the issuer’s creditworthiness. At the date of transfer, this debt security had an amortized cost of $169 million. The investment was subsequently sold at a realized gain of $12 million.
 
During 2006, we reclassified an investment from held to maturity to available for sale as a result of the issuer’s credit rating downgrade. At the date of transfer, this debt security had an amortized cost of $118 million and an unrealized loss of $15 million.
 
During 2005, we reclassified an investment from held to maturity to available for sale as a result of the issuer’s credit rating downgrade. This debt security had an amortized cost of $254 million and an unrealized loss of $46 million at the date of transfer.


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4.  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of December 31 were as follows:
 
                                 
 
    2007   2006
 
    Carrying
  Fair
  Carrying
  Fair
(In millions)   Value   Value   Value   Value
 
Assets:
                               
Fixed-maturity securities
  $  47,330     $  46,702     $  42,288     $  42,174  
Perpetual debentures
    8,080       8,029       8,398       8,432  
Equity securities
    22       22       25       25  
Liabilities:
                               
Notes payable (excluding capitalized leases)
    1,457       1,452       1,416       1,421  
Cross-currency and interest rate swaps
    35       35       7       7  
Obligation to Japanese policyholder
protection corporation
    151       151       175       175  
 
 
 
The methods of determining the fair values of our investments in debt and equity securities are described in Note 3. The fair values of notes payable with fixed interest rates were obtained from an independent financial information service. The fair values of our cross-currency swaps are the expected amounts that we would receive or pay to terminate the swaps, taking into account current interest rates, foreign currency rates and the current creditworthiness of the swap counterparties. The fair value of the obligation to the Japanese policyholder protection corporation is our estimated share of the industry’s obligation calculated on a pro rata basis by projecting our percentage of the industry’s premiums and reserves and applying that percentage to the total industry obligation payable in future years.
 
The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accrued investment income, accounts payable, cash collateral and payables for security transactions approximated their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. Consequently, such instruments are not included in the above table. The preceding table also excludes liabilities for future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims as these liabilities are not financial instruments as defined by GAAP.
 
We have outstanding cross-currency swap agreements related to the $450 million senior notes (see Note 7). We have designated the foreign currency component of these cross-currency swaps as a hedge of the foreign currency exposure of our investment in Aflac Japan. The notional amounts and terms of the swaps match the principal amount and terms of the senior notes.
 
We entered into cross-currency swaps to minimize the impact of foreign currency translation on shareholders’ equity and to reduce interest expense by converting the dollar-denominated principal and interest on the senior notes we issued into yen-denominated obligations. By entering into these cross-currency swaps, we have been able to reduce our interest rate from 6.5% in dollars to 1.67% in yen. See Note 1 for information on the accounting policy for cross-currency swaps.


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The components of the fair value of the cross-currency and interest rate swaps were reflected as an asset or (liability) in the balance sheet as of December 31 as follows:
 
                 
 
(In millions)   2007     2006 
 
Interest rate component
  $ 7     $ 6  
Foreign currency component
    (47 )     (17 )
Accrued interest component
    5       4  
 
 
Total fair value of cross-currency and interest rate swaps
  $  (35 )   $  (7 )
 
 
 
The following is a reconciliation of the foreign currency component of the cross-currency swaps included in accumulated other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31.
 
                         
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005 
 
Balance, beginning of year
  $  (17 )   $  (22 )   $  (91 )
Increase (decrease) in fair value of cross-currency swaps
    (26 )     5       54  
Interest rate component not qualifying for hedge accounting
reclassified to net earnings
    (4 )     -       15  
 
 
Balance, end of year
  $ (47 )   $ (17 )   $ (22 )
 
 
 
We have entered into interest rate swap agreements related to the 20 billion yen variable interest rate Uridashi notes (see Note 7). By entering into these contracts, we have been able to lock in the interest rate at 1.52% in yen. We have designated these interest rate swaps as a hedge of the variability in our interest cash flows associated with the variable interest rate Uridashi notes. The notional amounts and terms of the swaps match the principal amount and terms of the variable interest rate Uridashi notes. The swaps had no value at inception. Changes in the fair value of the swap contracts are recorded in other comprehensive income. The fair value of these swaps and related changes in fair value were immaterial during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.
 
We are exposed to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to our cross-currency and interest rate swaps. The counterparties to our swap agreements are U.S. and Japanese financial institutions with the following credit ratings as of December 31.
 
                                 
 
(In millions)   2007   2006
 
  Counterparty
  Fair Value
  Notional Amount
  Fair Value
  Notional Amount
  Credit Rating   of Swaps   of Swaps   of Swaps   of Swaps
 
AA
  $  (24 )   $  387     $  (7 )   $  459  
A
    (11 )     238       -       159  
 
 
Total
  $ (35 )   $ 625     $ (7 )   $ 618  
 
 
 
We have also designated our yen-denominated Samurai and Uridashi notes (see Note 7) as hedges of the foreign currency exposure of our investment in Aflac Japan.


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5.  DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS AND INSURANCE EXPENSES
 
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Insurance Expenses: Consolidated policy acquisition costs deferred were $1.09 billion in 2007, compared with $1.05 billion in 2006 and $1.00 billion in 2005. The following table presents a rollforward of deferred policy acquisition costs by segment for the years ended December 31.
 
                                 
 
    2007   2006
 
(In millions)   Japan   U.S.   Japan   U.S.
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs:
                               
Balance, beginning of year
  $ 3,857     $ 2,168     $ 3,624     $ 1,966  
Capitalization
    555       539       556       492  
Amortization
    (318 )     (322 )     (284 )     (290 )
Foreign currency translation and other
    175       -       (39 )     -  
 
 
Balance, end of year
  $  4,269     $  2,385     $  3,857     $  2,168  
 
 
 
Commissions deferred as a percentage of total acquisition costs deferred were 74% in 2007 and 76% in both 2006 and 2005.
 
Personnel, compensation and benefits as a percentage of insurance expenses were 44% in both 2007 and 2006 and 41% in 2005. Advertising expense is reported as incurred in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings and was as follows for each of the three years ended December 31:
 
                       
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005
 
Advertising expense:
                     
Aflac Japan
  $ 83     $ 82     $ 87
Aflac U.S.
    95       88       87
 
 
Total advertising expense
  $  178     $  170     $  174
 
 
 
Depreciation and other amortization expenses, which are included in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, were as follows for the years ended December 31:
 
                       
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005
 
Depreciation expense
  $  51     $  44     $ 44
Other amortization expense
    14       15       60
 
 
Total depreciation and other amortization expense*
  $  65     $  59     $  104
 
 
* Aflac Japan accounted for $37 in 2007, $33 in 2006 and $77 in 2005.
 
Other amortization expense in 2005 included the write-down of previously capitalized systems development costs for Aflac Japan’s administration system ($46 million before taxes).


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6.  POLICY LIABILITIES
 
Our policy liabilities primarily include future policy benefits and unpaid policy claims, which accounted for 90% and 5% of total policy liabilities at December 31, 2007, respectively. We regularly review the adequacy of our policy liabilities in total and by component. The liability for future policy benefits as of December 31 consisted of the following:
 
                         
 
        Liability Amounts   Interest Rates      
 
    Policy Issue
          Year of
  In 20
(In millions)   Year   2007   2006   Issue   Years
 
Health insurance:
                       
Japan:
  2005 - 2007   $ 284   $ 148   1.85% - 2.5%   1.85% - 2.5%
    1999 - 2007     6,345     5,010   3.0   3.0
    1997 - 1999     2,650     2,426   3.5   3.5
    1995 - 1996     283     259   4.0   4.0
    1994 - 1996     3,810     3,493   4.5   4.5
    1987 - 1994     17,100     15,911   5.25 - 5.5   5.25 - 5.5
    1978 - 1986     4,208     4,007   6.5 - 6.75   5.5
    1974 - 1979     859     853   7.0   5.0
                         
                         
                         
U.S.:
  2005 - 2007     1,107     648   5.5   5.5
    1998 - 2004     1,023     961   7.0   7.0
    1988 - 2004     1,057     1,026   8.0   6.0
    1986 - 2004     1,377     1,379   6.0   6.0
    1985 - 1986     25     26   6.5   6.5
    1981 - 1986     210     217   7.0   5.5
    Other     31     33        
                         
                         
 
Life insurance:
Japan:
  2007     41     -   2.75   2.75
    2006 - 2007     130     24   2.5   2.5
    2001 - 2007     485     98   1.65 - 1.85   1.65 - 1.85
    1999 - 2007     1,155     1,104   3.0   3.0
    1997 - 2007     619     572   3.5   3.5
    1994 - 1996     948     886   4.0   4.0
    1985 - 1993     1,798     1,656   5.25 - 5.65   5.25 - 5.65
                         
                         
                         
U.S.:
  1956 - 2007     130     104   4.0 - 6.0   4.0 - 6.0
 
 
Total
      $  45,675   $  40,841        
 
 
 
The weighted-average interest rates reflected in the consolidated statements of earnings for future policy benefits for Japanese policies were 4.6% in 2007, 4.7% in 2006 and 4.8% in 2005; and for U.S. policies, 6.2% in 2007, 6.3% in 2006 and 6.4% in 2005.


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Changes in the liability for unpaid policy claims were as follows for the years ended December 31:
 
                         
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005      
 
Unpaid supplemental health claims, beginning of year
  $  2,293     $  2,375     $  2,230  
 
 
Add claims incurred during the year related to:
                       
Current year
    5,225       5,045       5,203  
Prior years
    (401 )     (516 )     (401 )
 
 
Total incurred
    4,824       4,529       4,802  
 
 
Less claims paid during the year on claims incurred during:
                       
Current year
    3,600       3,435       3,352  
Prior years
    1,257       1,162       1,106  
 
 
Total paid
    4,857       4,597       4,458  
 
 
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on unpaid claims
    72       (14 )     (199 )
 
 
Unpaid supplemental health claims, end of year
    2,332       2,293       2,375  
Unpaid life claims, end of year
    123       97       129  
 
 
Total liability for unpaid policy claims
  $ 2,455     $ 2,390     $ 2,504  
 
 
 
The incurred claims development related to prior years reflects favorable development in the unpaid policy claims liability previously provided for. There are no additional or return of premium considerations associated with that development.
 
7.  NOTES PAYABLE
 
A summary of notes payable as of December 31 follows:
 
               
 
(In millions)   2007     2006
 
6.50% senior notes due April 2009
  $ 450     $ 450
Yen-denominated Uridashi notes:
             
1.52% notes due September 2011 (principal amount 15 billion yen)
    131       126
2.26% notes due September 2016 (principal amount 10 billion yen)
    88       84
Variable interest rate notes due September 2011 (1.32%
at December 2007, principal amount 20 billion yen)
    175       168
Yen-denominated Samurai notes:
             
.96% notes paid June 2007 (principal amount 30 billion yen)
    -       252
.71% notes due July 2010 (principal amount 40 billion yen)
    350       336
1.87% notes due June 2012 (principal amount 30 billion yen)
    263       -
Capitalized lease obligations payable through 2013
    8       10
 
 
Total notes payable
  $  1,465     $  1,426
 
 
 
In February 2006, the Parent Company filed a Shelf Registration Statement (SRS) with Japanese regulatory authorities to issue up to 100 billion yen of yen-denominated Samurai notes in Japan. In June 2007, the Parent Company issued yen-denominated Samurai notes totaling 30 billion yen. We used the net proceeds of these Samurai notes to pay in full the .96% Samurai notes that were issued in 2002 and matured in June 2007. These Samurai notes issued by the Parent Company in 2007 and those issued in 2005 each have five year maturities. Each series of Samurai notes pays interest semiannually, may only be redeemed prior to maturity upon the occurrence of a tax event as specified in the respective bond agreement and is not available to U.S. persons.


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In August 2006, the Parent Company filed an SRS with Japanese regulatory authorities to issue up to 100 billion yen of yen-denominated Uridashi notes in Japan. In September 2006, the Parent Company issued three tranches of Uridashi notes totaling 45 billion yen. The first tranche totaled 15 billion yen and has a five-year maturity. The second tranche totaled 10 billion yen and has a 10-year maturity. The third tranche totaled 20 billion yen and has a five-year maturity and a variable interest coupon of six-month yen LIBOR plus a spread. We have entered into interest rate swaps related to the 20 billion yen variable interest rate notes (see Note 4). Each tranche of Uridashi notes pays interest semiannually, may only be redeemed prior to maturity upon the occurrence of a tax event as specified in the respective bond agreement and is not available to U.S. persons. If issued, the 55 billion yen of Uridashi notes remaining under the August 2006 SRS will not be available to U.S. persons.
 
For our yen-denominated loans, the principal amount as stated in dollar terms will fluctuate from period to period due to changes in the yen/dollar exchange rate. We have designated all of our yen-denominated notes payable as a hedge of the foreign currency exposure of our investment in Aflac Japan. We have also designated the interest rate swaps on our variable interest rate Uridashi notes as a hedge of the variability in our interest cash flows associated with these notes.
 
In 1999, we issued $450 million of senior notes. These notes pay interest semiannually and are redeemable at our option at any time with a redemption price equal to the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus a make-whole premium. We have entered into cross-currency swaps related to these notes (see Note 4).
 
The aggregate contractual maturities of notes payable during each of the years after December 31, 2007, are as follows:
 
                         
 
        Capitalized
  Total
    Long-term
  Lease
  Notes
(In millions)   Debt   Obligations   Payable
 
2008
  $ -     $ 3     $ 3  
2009
    450       2       452  
2010
    350       2       352  
2011
    306       1       307  
2012
    263       -       263  
Thereafter
    88       -       88  
 
 
Total
  $  1,457     $  8     $  1,465  
 
 
 
We were in compliance with all of the covenants of our notes payable at December 31, 2007. No events of default or defaults occurred during 2007 and 2006.


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8. INCOME TAXES
 
The components of income tax expense (benefit) applicable to pretax earnings for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
 
                                 
 
(In millions)   Japan   U.S.   Total    
 
2007:
                               
Current
  $ 450     $ 98     $ 548          
Deferred
    222       95       317          
 
 
Total income tax expense
  $ 672     $ 193     $ 865          
 
 
2006:
                               
Current
  $ 398     $ 21     $ 419          
Deferred
    229       133       362          
 
 
Total income tax expense
  $ 627     $  154     $ 781          
 
 
2005:
                               
Current
  $ 485     $ 14     $ 499          
Deferred
    159       119       278          
Release of valuation allowance on deferred tax assets
    -       (34 )     (34 )        
 
 
Total income tax expense
  $  644     $  99     $  743          
 
 
 
Income tax expense in the accompanying statements of earnings varies from the amount computed by applying the expected U.S. tax rate of 35% to pretax earnings. The principal reasons for the differences and the related tax effects for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
 
                                 
   
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005       
   
Income taxes based on U.S. statutory rates
  $  875     $  792     $  779          
Utilization of foreign tax credit carryforwards
    (23 )     (21 )     (20 )        
Release of valuation allowance on deferred tax assets
    -       -       (34 )        
Nondeductible expenses
    11       10       10          
Other, net
    2       -       8          
 
 
Income tax expense
  $ 865     $ 781     $ 743          
 
 


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Total income tax expense for the years ended December 31, was allocated as follows:
 
                               
       
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005       
       
Statements of earnings
  $  865     $  781     $  743        
       
       
Other comprehensive income:
                             
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during year
    (82 )     10       188        
Pension liability adjustment during year
    5       3       (2 )      
Unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities:
                             
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during year
    (291 )     (226 )     (206 )      
Reclassification adjustment for realized
(gains) losses included in net earnings
    (10 )     (28 )     (95 )      
       
       
Total income tax expense (benefit) allocated to other comprehensive income
    (378 )     (241 )     (115 )      
       
       
Additional paid-in capital (exercise of stock options)
    (51 )     (18 )     (37 )      
Adoption of SFAS 158
    -       (25 )     -        
       
       
Total income taxes
  $ 436     $ 497     $ 591        
       
       
 
Changes in unrealized foreign currency translation gains/losses included a deferred income tax benefit of $55 million in 2007, compared with a deferred income tax expense of $11 million in 2006 and $122 million in 2005.


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The income tax effects of the temporary differences that gave rise to deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 were as follows:
 
               
 
(In millions)   2007     2006
 
Deferred income tax liabilities:
             
Deferred policy acquisition costs
  $  1,847     $  1,680
Unrealized gains on investment securities
    92       596
Difference in tax basis of investment in Aflac Japan
    6       25
Other basis differences in investment securities
    528       314
Premiums receivable
    143       135
Policy benefit reserves
    302       131
Other
    185       154
 
 
Total deferred income tax liabilities
    3,103       3,035
 
 
Deferred income tax assets:
             
Depreciation
    102       92
Policyholder protection corporation obligation
    56       66
Unfunded retirement benefits
    43       45
Other accrued expenses
    49       55
Tax credit carryforwards
    -       80
Policy and contract claims
    76       61
Unrealized exchange loss on yen-denominated notes payable
    57       35
Deferred compensation
    85       81
Other
    416       237
 
 
Total deferred income tax assets
    884       752
 
 
Net deferred income tax liability
    2,219       2,283
Current income tax liability
    312       179
 
 
Total income tax liability
  $ 2,531     $ 2,462
 
 
 
A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be realized. In prior years, we established valuation allowances primarily for alternative minimum tax credit and noninsurance loss carryforwards that exceeded projected future offsets. Under U.S. income tax rules, only 35% of noninsurance losses can be offset against life insurance taxable income each year.
 
We received regulatory approval for a change in the allocation of expenses under the management fee agreement between Aflac and the Parent Company in 2005. This enabled the Parent Company to fully utilize its tax-basis, non-life operating losses and therefore release the valuation allowance on the associated deferred tax assets, resulting in a benefit of $34 million ($.07 per diluted share) in 2005. For current U.S. income tax purposes, there were no alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards available at December 31, 2007.
 
We file federal income tax returns in the United States and Japan as well as state or prefecture income tax returns in various jurisdictions in the two countries. U.S. federal and state income tax returns for years before 2002 are no longer subject to examination. We have been examined through March 31, 2004, for Japanese tax purposes.


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We adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48), on January 1, 2007 (see Note 1). There was no change in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits as a result of the implementation of FIN 48 and therefore no adjustment to retained earnings upon adoption. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
 
         
 
(In millions)    
 
Balance at January 1, 2007
  $ 43 *
Additions for tax positions of prior years
    18  
Reductions for tax positions of prior years
    (11 )
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2007
  $ 50 *
 
 
* Amounts do not include tax deductions of $14 at January 1, 2007, and
$18 at December 31, 2007.
 
Included in the balance of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2007, are $51 million of tax positions for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain, but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility. Because of the impact of deferred tax accounting, other than interest and penalties, the disallowance of the shorter deductibility period would not affect the annual effective tax rate, but would accelerate the payment of cash to the taxing authority to an earlier period. The Company has accrued approximately $2 million for permanent uncertainties, which if reversed would not have a material effect on the annual effective rate.
 
The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. We recognized approximately $3 million in interest and penalties in 2007, compared with $2 million in 2006 and $1 million in 2005. The Company has accrued approximately $32 million for the payment of interest and penalties as of December 31, 2007, compared with $29 million a year ago.
 
As of December 31, 2007, there were no material uncertain tax positions for which the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months.


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9. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
The following table is a reconciliation of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock for the years ended December 31.
 
                         
 
(In thousands of shares)   2007     2006     2005 
 
Common stock — issued:
                       
Balance, beginning of year
    655,715       654,522       652,628  
Exercise of stock options
    2,889       1,193       1,894  
 
 
Balance, end of year
    658,604       655,715       654,522  
 
 
Treasury stock:
                       
Balance, beginning of year
    163,165       155,628       149,020  
Purchases of treasury stock:
                       
Open market
    11,073       10,265       10,000  
Other
    559       55       245  
Dispositions of treasury stock:
                       
Shares issued to AFL Stock Plan
    (1,400 )     (1,461 )     (1,476 )
Exercise of stock options
    (1,206 )     (1,240 )     (2,127 )
Other
    (117 )     (82 )     (34 )
 
 
Balance, end of year
    172,074       163,165       155,628  
 
 
Shares outstanding, end of year
    486,530       492,550       498,894  
 
 
 
Outstanding share-based awards are excluded from the calculation of weighted-average shares used in the computation of basic earnings per share. Stock options to purchase approximately 1.7 million shares, on a weighted-average basis, as of December 31, 2007, were considered to be anti-dilutive and were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share, compared with 1.8 million shares in 2006 and 2.5 million in 2005. The weighted-average shares used in calculating earnings per share for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
 
                       
 
(In thousands of shares)   2007     2006     2005
 
Weighted-average outstanding shares used for calculating basic EPS
    487,869       495,614       500,939
Dilutive effect of share-based awards
    6,102       6,213       6,765
 
 
Weighted-average outstanding shares used for calculating diluted EPS
    493,971       501,827       507,704
 
 
 
Share Repurchase Program: In 2004, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of 30.0 million shares of our common stock. We exhausted that authorization during the second quarter of 2007. In 2006, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of 30.0 million shares of our common stock. As of December 31, 2007, approximately 25.6 million shares were available for purchase under the 2006 share repurchase authorization. In January 2008, the Board authorized the purchase of an additional 30.0 million shares of our common stock.
 
Voting Rights: In accordance with the Parent Company’s articles of incorporation, shares of common stock are generally entitled to one vote per share until they have been held by the same beneficial owner for a continuous period of 48 months, at which time they become entitled to 10 votes per share.


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10.  SHARE-BASED TRANSACTIONS
 
As of December 31, 2007, the Company has outstanding share-based awards under two long-term incentive compensation plans.
 
The first plan, which expired in February 2007, is a stock option plan which allowed grants for incentive stock options (ISOs) to employees and non-qualifying stock options (NQSOs) to employees and non-employee directors. The options have a term of 10 years and generally vest after three years. The strike price of options granted under this plan is equal to the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. Options granted before the plan’s expiration date remain outstanding in accordance with their terms.
 
The second long-term incentive compensation plan allows awards to Company employees for ISOs, NQSOs, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights. Non-employee directors are eligible for grants of NQSOs, restricted stock, and stock appreciation rights. Generally, the awards vest based upon time-based conditions or time- and performance-based conditions. Performance-based vesting conditions generally include the attainment of goals related to Company financial performance. As of December 31, 2007, approximately 22.6 million shares were available for future grants under this plan, and the only performance-based awards issued and outstanding were restricted stock awards.
 
Share-based awards granted to U.S.-based grantees are settled upon exercise with authorized but unissued Company stock, while those issued to Japan-based grantees are settled upon exercise with treasury shares.
 
The following table presents the expense recognized in connection with share-based awards for the periods ended December 31.
 
                       
 
(In millions, except for per-share amounts)   2007     2006     2005
 
Earnings from continuing operations
  $ 42     $ 35     $ 32
Earnings before income taxes
    42       35       32
Net earnings
    29       25       23
 
 
Net earnings per share:
                     
Basic
  $  .06     $  .05     $  .05
Diluted
    .06       .05       .05
 
 
 
We estimate the fair value of each stock option granted using the Black-Scholes-Merton multiple option approach. Expected volatility is based on historical periods generally commensurate with the estimated term of options. We use historical data to estimate option exercise and termination patterns within the model. Separate groups of employees that have similar historical exercise patterns are stratified and considered separately for valuation purposes. The expected term of options granted is derived from the output of our option model and represents the weighted-average period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. We base the risk-free interest rate on the Treasury note rate with a term comparable to that of the estimated term of options. The weighted-average fair value of options at their grant date was $16.06 for 2007, compared with $15.28 for 2006 and $13.40


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in 2005. The following table presents the assumptions used in valuing options granted during the years ended December 31.
 
                         
 
    2007     2006     2005 
 
Expected term (years)
    7.4       6.7       6.6  
Expected volatility
    25.0 %     28.0 %     28.0 %
Annual forfeiture rate
    .8       .8       .8  
Risk-free interest rate
    4.7       4.5       4.0  
Dividend yield
    1.3       1.1       1.1  
 
 
 
The following table summarizes stock option activity.
 
                 
 
    Stock
  Weighted-Average
    Option
  Exercise Price
(In thousands of shares)   Shares   Per Share
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2004
    22,087     $  23.86  
Granted in 2005
    2,107       41.01  
Canceled in 2005
    (230 )     35.36  
Exercised in 2005
    (3,983 )     14.50  
 
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2005
    19,981       27.40  
Granted in 2006
    2,456       45.08  
Canceled in 2006
    (90 )     39.72  
Exercised in 2006
    (2,241 )     18.61  
 
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2006
    20,106       30.48  
Granted in 2007
    1,244       49.35  
Canceled in 2007
    (133 )     43.64  
Exercised in 2007
    (4,640 )     20.94  
 
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2007
    16,577     $ 34.46  
 
 
 
                       
 
(In thousands of shares)   2007     2006     2005 
 
Shares exercisable, end of year
    12,653       16,094     14,603  
 
 


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The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2007.
 
                                                 
 
(In thousands of shares)   Options Outstanding       Options Exercisable    
 
        Wgtd.-Avg.
  Weighted-
      Weighted-
   
        Remaining
  Average
      Average
   
     Range of
  Number
  Contractual
  Exercise
  Number
  Exercise
   
 Exercise Prices   Outstanding   Life (Yrs.)   Price   Exercisable   Price    
 
$ 15.05 - $ 23.23
    2,942       2.1     $  21.77       2,942     $ 21.77          
  23.41 -   29.34
    2,953       3.3       26.58       2,953       26.58          
  29.66 -   31.71
    2,576       5.1       31.21       2,576       31.21          
  31.73 -   40.30
    2,044       6.8       38.26       1,239       37.89          
  40.33 -   44.08
    3,129       7.1       41.84       2,590       41.55          
  44.09 -   62.64
    2,933       8.8       47.47       353       47.25          
 
 
$ 15.05 - $ 62.64
    16,577       5.5     $ 34.46       12,653     $  31.15          
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2007, the aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding was $467 million, with a weighted-average remaining term of 5.5 years. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercisable at that same date was $398 million, with a weighted-average remaining term of 4.6 years. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2007, was $154 million, compared with $62 million in 2006 and $114 million in 2005. We received cash from the exercise of stock options in the amount of $52 million in 2007, compared with $38 million in 2006 and $49 million in 2005. The tax benefit realized as a result of stock option exercises was $51 million in 2007, $19 million in 2006 and $37 million in 2005.
 
The value of restricted stock awards is based on the fair market value of our common stock at the date of grant. The following table summarizes restricted stock activity during the years ended December 31.
 
                         
 
        Weighted-Average
   
        Grant-Date
   
(In thousands of shares)   Shares   Fair Value    
 
Restricted stock at December 31, 2004
    2     $  39.98          
Granted in 2005
    274       39.55          
Canceled in 2005
    (6)       38.75          
Vested in 2005
    -       -          
 
 
Restricted stock at December 31, 2005
    270       39.58          
Granted in 2006
    357       46.96          
Canceled in 2006
    (8)       42.92          
Vested in 2006
    (6)       38.75          
 
 
Restricted stock at December 31, 2006
    613       43.84          
Granted in 2007
    391       48.43          
Canceled in 2007
    (21)       45.88          
Vested in 2007
    (9)       42.06          
 
 
Restricted stock at December 31, 2007
    974     $ 45.65          
 
 


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As of December 31, 2007, total compensation cost not yet recognized in our financial statements related to restricted stock awards was $20 million, of which $9 million (492 thousand shares) was related to share-based awards with a performance-based vesting condition. We expect to recognize these amounts over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.3 years. There are no other contractual terms covering restricted stock awards once vested.
 
11.  STATUTORY ACCOUNTING AND DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS
 
Our insurance subsidiary is required to report its results of operations and financial position to state insurance regulatory authorities on the basis of statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by such authorities.
 
As determined on a U.S. statutory accounting basis, Aflac’s net income was $1.8 billion in 2007, $1.7 billion in 2006 and $1.3 billion in 2005. Capital and surplus was $4.2 billion at both December 31, 2007 and 2006.
 
Net assets of the insurance subsidiaries aggregated $9.1 billion at December 31, 2007, on a GAAP basis, compared with $9.3 billion a year ago. Aflac Japan accounted for $6.0 billion, or 66.8%, of these net assets, compared with $5.7 billion, or 62.0%, at December 31, 2006.
 
Reconciliations of Aflac’s net assets on a GAAP basis to capital and surplus determined on a U.S. statutory accounting basis as of December 31 were as follows:
 
                         
   
(In millions)   2007     2006             
   
Net assets on GAAP basis
  $ 9,050     $ 9,266          
Adjustment of carrying values of investments
    (1,283 )    (2,153 )        
Elimination of deferred policy acquisition costs
    (6,540 )     (5,922 )        
Adjustment to policy liabilities
    1,928       1,526          
Adjustment to deferred income taxes
    1,813       2,124          
Other, net
    (760 )     (655 )        
 
 
Capital and surplus on U.S. statutory accounting basis
  $ 4,208     $  4,186          
 
 
 
Aflac Japan must report its results of operations and financial position to the Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA) on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis as prescribed by the FSA. Capital and surplus (unaudited) of Aflac Japan, based on Japanese regulatory accounting practices, aggregated $2.5 billion at December 31, 2007, and $2.6 billion at December 31, 2006. Japanese regulatory accounting practices differ in many respects from U.S. GAAP. Under Japanese regulatory accounting practices, policy acquisition costs are charged off immediately; deferred income tax liabilities are recognized on a different basis; policy benefit and claim reserving methods and assumptions are different; the carrying value of securities transferred to held to maturity is different; policyholder protection corporation obligations are not accrued; and premium income is recognized on a cash basis.
 
The Parent Company depends on its subsidiaries for cash flow, primarily in the form of dividends and management fees. Consolidated retained earnings in the accompanying financial statements largely represent the undistributed earnings of our insurance subsidiary. Amounts available for dividends, management fees and other payments to the Parent Company by its insurance subsidiary


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may fluctuate due to different accounting methods required by regulatory authorities. These payments are also subject to various regulatory restrictions and approvals related to safeguarding the interests of insurance policyholders. Our insurance subsidiary must maintain adequate risk-based capital for U.S. regulatory authorities and our Japan branch must maintain adequate solvency margins for Japanese regulatory authorities. Additionally, the maximum amount of dividends that can be paid to the Parent Company by Aflac without prior approval of Nebraska’s director of insurance is the greater of the net gain from operations, which excludes net realized investment gains, for the previous year determined under statutory accounting principles, or 10% of statutory capital and surplus as of the previous year-end. Dividends declared by Aflac during 2008 in excess of $1.7 billion would require such approval. Dividends declared by Aflac during 2007 were $1.4 billion.
 
A portion of Aflac Japan earnings, as determined on a Japanese regulatory accounting basis, can be repatriated each year to Aflac U.S. after complying with solvency margin provisions and satisfying various conditions imposed by Japanese regulatory authorities for protecting policyholders. Profit repatriations to the United States can fluctuate due to changes in the amounts of Japanese regulatory earnings. Among other items, factors affecting regulatory earnings include Japanese regulatory accounting practices and fluctuations in currency translation of Aflac Japan’s dollar-denominated investments and related investment income into yen. Profits repatriated by Aflac Japan to Aflac U.S. were as follows for the years ended December 31:
 
                                                 
    In Dollars     In Yen  
   
(In millions of dollars and billions of yen)   2007     2006     2005     2007     2006     2005  
   
Profit repatriation
  $  567     $  442     $  374       67.8       50.0       41.2  
 
 
 
12.  BENEFIT PLANS
 
Our basic employee defined-benefit pension plans cover substantially all of our full-time employees in the United States and Japan. At December 31, 2007, other liabilities included a liability for both plans in the amount of $82 million, compared with $102 million a year ago. We plan to make contributions of $20 million to the U.S. plan and $12 million to the Japanese plan in 2008.
 
On December 31, 2006, we adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions and early adopted the measurement date provisions of SFAS 158. SFAS 158 requires the recognition of the funded status (i.e., the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligations) of our benefit plans in our financial statements, with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. The adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income at adoption represents the net unrecognized actuarial losses, unrecognized prior service costs or credits, as applicable, and the unrecognized transition asset remaining from the initial adoption of SFAS 87, all of which were previously netted against the plan’s funded status in the past under the provisions of SFAS 87. These amounts will be subsequently recognized as net periodic pension cost over future periods consistent with our historical accounting policy for amortizing such amounts. Further, the components of the benefit obligations that arise in subsequent periods and are not recognized as net periodic pension cost in the same periods are recognized as a component of other comprehensive income. Those amounts will also be subsequently recognized as a component of net periodic pension cost as previously described. The adoption of SFAS 158 had no effect on our net earnings for any period presented, and it will not affect our operating results in future periods.


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The following table summarizes the amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31.
 
                                 
 
    2007   2006
 
(In millions)   Japan   U.S.   Japan   U.S.
 
 
Net loss
  $  36     $  47     $  35     $  62  
Prior service cost (credit)
    (4 )     1       (4 )     1  
Transition obligation
    2       -       2       -  
 
 
Total
  $ 34     $ 48     $ 33     $ 63  
 
 
 
No prior service costs or credits arose during 2007 and the amounts of prior service costs and credits as well as transition obligation amortized to expense were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. Amortization of actuarial losses to expense in 2008 is estimated to be $1 million for the Japanese plan and $2 million for the U.S. plan, while the amortization of prior service costs and credits are expected to be negligible.
 
The following table summarizes the amounts recognized in other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2007.
 
                 
 
    2007
 
(In millions)   Japan   U.S.
 
Net loss (gain)
  $  2     $  (11 )
Amortization of net loss
    (1 )     (4 )
 
 
Total
  $ 1     $ (15 )
 
 


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Reconciliations of the funded status of the basic employee defined-benefit pension plans with amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31 were as follows:
 
                                 
 
    2007   2006
 
(In millions)   Japan   U.S.   Japan   U.S.
 
Projected benefit obligation:
                               
Benefit obligation, beginning of year
  $  110     $  184     $  104     $  162  
Adoption of SFAS 158
    -       -       -       3  
Service cost
    9       10       8       9  
Interest cost
    3       10       3       9  
Actuarial loss (gain)
    -       (14 )     (1 )     4  
Benefits paid
    (2 )     (4 )     (3 )     (3 )
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes
    5       -       (1 )     -  
 
 
Benefit obligation, end of year
    125       186       110       184  
 
 
Plan assets:
                               
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year
    66       126       47       95  
Adoption of SFAS 158
    -       -       -       2  
Actual return on plan assets
    -       8       3       12  
Employer contribution
    11       20       20       20  
Benefits paid
    (2 )     (4 )     (3 )     (3 )
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes
    4       -       (1 )     -  
 
 
Fair value of plan assets, end of year
    79       150       66       126  
 
 
Funded status
  $ (46 )   $ (36 )   $ (44 )   $ (58 )
 
 
Accumulated benefit obligation
  $ 106     $ 139     $ 93     $ 137  
 
 
 
The composition of plan assets as of December 31 was as follows:
 
                                 
 
    2007   2006
 
    Japan   U.S.   Japan   U.S.
 
Equity securities
    36 %     79 %     39 %     65 %
Fixed-income securities
    64       17       61       34  
Cash and cash equivalents
    -       1       -       1  
Other
    -       3       -       -  
 
 
Total
    100 %     100 %     100 %     100 %
 
 
 
Equity securities held by our U.S. plan included $4 million (2.5% of plan assets) of Aflac Incorporated common stock at December 31, 2007, compared with $3 million (2.2% of plan assets) at December 31, 2006. Target asset allocations for U.S. plan assets are 60% to 65% equity securities, 35% to 40% fixed-income securities and 0% to 3% cash and cash equivalents. Target asset allocations for Japanese plan assets are 34% equity securities and 66% fixed-income securities. As discussed below, the investment strategy of our pension plans is long-term in nature.


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The investment objective of our U.S. and Japanese plans is to preserve the purchasing power of the plan’s assets and earn a reasonable inflation adjusted rate of return over the long term. Furthermore, we seek to accomplish these objectives in a manner that allows for the adequate funding of plan benefits and expenses. In order to achieve these objectives, our goal is to maintain a conservative, well-diversified and balanced portfolio of high-quality equity, fixed-income and money market securities. As a part of our strategy, we have established strict policies covering quality, type and concentration of investment securities. For our U.S. plan, these policies prohibit investments in precious metals, limited partnerships, venture capital, and direct investments in real estate. We are also prohibited from trading on margin. For our Japanese plan, these policies include limitations on investments in derivatives including futures, options and swaps, and low-liquidity investments such as real estate, venture capital investments, and privately issued securities.
 
We monitor the U.S. plan’s performance over a three- to five-year period utilizing shorter time frame performance measures to identify trends. We review investment performance and compliance with stated investment policies and practices on a quarterly basis. The specific investment objectives for the U.S. pension plan are: to exceed a composite of asset class target returns, weighted according to the plan’s target asset allocation; and to outperform the median fund from a universe of similarly managed corporate pension funds. Both objectives are measured over a rolling three- to five-year period. We monitor the Japanese plan’s asset allocation and compliance with stated investment policies and practices. The Japanese plan’s performance is reviewed on a quarterly basis by asset allocation. The specific investment objective for the Japanese plan is to outperform the projected long-term rate of return used to determine the Japanese plan’s pension obligation.
 
Expected future benefit payments for the U.S. and Japanese plans are as follows:
 
                                 
 
 (In millions)   Japan   U.S.    
 
        2008   $ 3     $ 4          
        2009     3       4          
        2010     3       5          
        2011     4       5          
        2012     4       6          
        2013 - 2017      24        38          
 
 


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The components of retirement expense and actuarial assumptions for the Japanese and U.S. pension plans for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
 
                                                 
 
    2007   2006   2005
 
(In millions)   Japan   U.S.   Japan   U.S.   Japan   U.S.
 
Components of net periodic
benefit cost:
                                               
Service cost
  $ 9     $ 10     $ 8     $ 9     $ 9     $ 7  
Interest cost
    3       10       3       9       3       8  
Expected return on plan assets
    (2 )     (10 )     (1 )     (7 )     (1 )     (6 )
Amortization of net loss
    1       4       2       3       2       2  
 
 
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 11     $ 14     $ 12     $ 14     $ 13     $ 11  
 
 
Weighted-average actuarial assumptions
used in the calculations:
                                               
Discount rate - net periodic
benefit cost
    2.5 %     5.5 %     2.5 %     5.5 %     2.5 %     6.0 %
Discount rate - benefit obligations
    2.5       6.0       2.5       5.5       2.5       5.5  
Expected long-term return on
plan assets
    2.5       8.0       2.5       8.0       2.5       8.0  
Rate of compensation increase
    N/A *     4.0       N/A *     4.0       N/A *     4.0  
 
 
* Not applicable
 
In Japan, participant salary and future salary increases are not factors in determining pension benefit cost or the related pension benefit obligation.
 
We base the long-term rate of return on U.S. plan assets on the historical rates of return over the last 15 years and the expectation of similar returns over the long-term investment goals and objectives of U.S. plan assets. We base the long-term rate of return on the Japanese plan assets on the historical rates of return over the last 10 years.
 
In addition to the benefit obligations for funded employee plans, we also maintain unfunded supplemental retirement plans for certain officers and beneficiaries. Retirement expense for these unfunded supplemental plans was $5 million in 2007, $16 million in 2006 and $20 million in 2005. The accrued retirement liability for the unfunded supplemental retirement plans was $204 million at December 31, 2007, compared with $209 million a year ago. The assumptions used in the valuation of these plans were the same as for the funded plans.
 
Stock Bonus Plan: Aflac U.S. maintains a stock bonus plan for eligible U.S. sales associates. Plan participants receive shares of Aflac Incorporated common stock based on their new annualized premium sales and their first-year persistency of substantially all new insurance policies. The cost of this plan, which is included in deferred policy acquisition costs, amounted to $45 million in 2007, $40 million in 2006 and $37 million in 2005.


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13.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
 
We have three outsourcing agreements with IBM. The first agreement provides mainframe computer operations and support for Aflac Japan. It has a remaining term of eight years and an aggregate remaining cost of 24.4 billion yen ($213 million using the December 31, 2007, exchange rate). The second agreement provides distributed computer operations and support for Aflac Japan. It has a remaining term of eight years and an aggregate remaining cost of 30.4 billion yen ($266 million using the December 31, 2007, exchange rate). The third agreement provides application maintenance and development services for Aflac Japan. It has a remaining term of five years and an aggregate remaining cost of 8.8 billion yen ($77 million using the December 31, 2007, exchange rate).
 
We have entered into two additional outsourcing agreements to provide application maintenance and development services for our Japanese operation. The first agreement with Accenture has a remaining term of six years with an aggregate remaining cost of 4.7 billion yen ($41 million using the December 31, 2007, exchange rate). The second agreement with NTT DATA has a remaining term of three years with an aggregate remaining cost of 1.0 billion yen ($9 million using the December 31, 2007, exchange rate).
 
We lease office space and equipment under agreements that expire in various years through 2022. Future minimum lease payments due under non-cancelable operating leases at December 31, 2007, were as follows:
 
         
 
(In millions)    
 
2008
  $ 46  
2009
    22  
2010
    13  
2011
    11  
2012
    10  
Thereafter
    43  
 
 
Total future minimum lease payments
  $  145  
 
 
 
In 2005, we announced a multiyear building project for additional office space in Columbus, Georgia. The initial phase was completed in 2007 at a cost of $27 million. The second phase of the expansion is to be completed in 2009 and is expected to cost approximately $48 million.
 
We are a defendant in various lawsuits considered to be in the normal course of business. Members of our senior legal and financial management teams review litigation on a quarterly and annual basis. The final results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. Although some of this litigation is pending in states where large punitive damages, bearing little relation to the actual damages sustained by plaintiffs, have been awarded in recent years, we believe the outcome of pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.


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14.  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
 
                         
   
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005  
   
 
Supplemental disclosures of cash
flow information:
                       
Income taxes paid
  $  416     $  569     $  360  
Interest paid
    26       15       21  
Impairment losses included in realized
investment gains (losses)
    22       1       -  
Noncash financing activities:
                       
Capitalized lease obligations
    1       9       4  
Dividends declared
    (91 )     91       -  
Treasury stock issued for:
                       
Associate stock bonus
    38       35       33  
Shareholder dividend reinvestment
    19       15       11  
Share-based compensation grants
    2       2       1  
 
 
 
15.  SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
On February 4, 2008, we entered into an agreement for an accelerated share repurchase (ASR) program with an affiliate of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch). Under the agreement, we purchased 12.5 million shares of our outstanding common stock at $60.58 per share for a total purchase price of $757 million. The repurchase was funded with internal capital. The shares were acquired as a part of previously announced share repurchase authorizations by our board of directors and will be held in treasury. Under the agreement, Merrill Lynch plans to purchase shares of our common stock in the open market from time to time until it has acquired a number of shares equivalent to the number of shares we purchased from Merrill Lynch. At the end of this period, we may receive, or may be required to remit, a purchase price adjustment based upon the volume weighted average price of our common stock during the ASR program period. Under the terms of the ASR, we may elect to receive or pay any settlement amount in cash or shares of our common stock at our option. The completion and settlement of the ASR program is expected to occur during the second quarter of 2008, although the settlement may occur before the second quarter at Merrill Lynch’s option.


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Unaudited Consolidated Quarterly Financial Data
 
In management’s opinion, this quarterly financial information fairly presents the results of operations for such periods and is prepared on a basis consistent with our annual audited financial statements.
 
                                 
 
(In millions, except for
  March 31,
  June 30,
  September 30,
  December 31,
per-share amounts)   2007   2007   2007   2007
 
Premium income
  $  3,156     $  3,162     $  3,260     $  3,395  
Net investment income
    566       572       592       604  
Realized investment gains (losses)
    13       15       1       (1 )
Other income
    16       15       8       20  
 
 
Total revenues
    3,751       3,764       3,861       4,018  
Total benefits and expenses
    3,115       3,129       3,219       3,433  
 
 
Earnings before income taxes
    636       635       642       585  
Total income tax
    220       220       222       203  
 
 
Net earnings
  $ 416     $ 415     $ 420     $ 382  
 
 
Net earnings per basic share
  $ .85     $ .85     $ .86     $ .79  
Net earnings per diluted share
    .84       .84       .85       .78  
 
 
    March 31,
  June 30,
  September 30,
  December 31,
    2006   2006   2006   2006
 
Premium income
  $  3,005     $  3,093     $  3,102     $  3,114  
Net investment income
    524       542       548       557  
Realized investment gains
    14       50       11       5  
Other income
    16       12       11       11  
 
 
Total revenues
    3,559       3,697       3,672       3,687  
Total benefits and expenses
    2,984       3,073       3,115       3,180  
 
 
Earnings before income taxes
    575       624       557       507  
Total income tax
    200       216       190       175  
 
 
Net earnings
  $ 375     $ 408     $ 367     $ 332  
 
 
Net earnings per basic share
  $ .75     $ .82     $ .74     $ .67  
Net earnings per diluted share
    .74       .81       .73       .67  
 
 
Quarterly amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding annual amounts due to rounding.


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ITEM 9.   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
 
There have been no changes in, or disagreements with, accountants on accounting and financial disclosure matters during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.
 
 
ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
 
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
(a) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
 
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is incorporated herein by reference from Part II, Item 8 of this report.
 
(b) Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm.
 
The Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm on internal control over financial reporting is incorporated herein by reference from Part II, Item 8 of this report.
 
(c) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
 
There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the last fiscal quarter of 2007 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION.
 
Not applicable.


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PART III
 
Pursuant to General Instruction G to Form 10-K, Items 10 through 14 are incorporated by reference from the Company’s definitive Notice and Proxy Statement relating to the Company’s 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about March 20, 2008, pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee Report and Compensation Committee Report to be included in such proxy statement shall be deemed to be furnished in this report and shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 as a result of such furnishing in Items 11 and 12, respectively.
 
         
        Refer to the Information Contained in the Proxy
        Statement under Captions (filed electronically)
 
 
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
Executive Officers -
see Part I, Item 4 herein
  1. Election of Directors; Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance; The Audit Committee; Audit Committee Report; The Corporate Governance Committee; and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
         
  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.   Director Compensation; The Compensation Committee; Compensation Committee Report; Compensation Discussion and Analysis; 2007 Summary Compensation Table; 2007 Grants of Plan-Based Awards; 2007 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year- End; 2007 Option Exercises and Stock Vested; Pension Benefits; Nonqualified Deferred Compensation; Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-In-Control; and Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
         
  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.   Voting Securities; Principal Holders; 1. Election of Directors; Security Ownership of Management; and Equity Compensation Plan Information


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        Refer to the Information Contained in the Proxy
        Statement under Captions (filed electronically)
 
  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.   Related Person Transactions; and Director Independence
         
  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.   5. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm; and The Audit Committee


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PART IV
 
 
ITEM 15.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
     
(a) 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   Page(s)
 
Included in Part II, Item 8, of this report:
   
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries:
   
  II-46
  II-47
  II-48 to II-49
  II-50
  II-51 to II-52
  II-53
  II-54 to II-99
  II-100
     
2. FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
   
Included in Part IV of this report:
   
  IV-5
  IV-6 to IV-II
  IV-12
  IV-13
     
   
An “Exhibit Index” has been filed as part of this Report beginning on the following page and is incorporated herein by this reference.
   
 
Schedules other than those listed above are omitted because they are not required, are not material, are not applicable, or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.


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(b)   EXHIBIT INDEX
 
             
  3.0     -   Articles of Incorporation, as amended - incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for June 30, 2000, Exhibit 3.0 (File No. 001-07434).
  3.1     -   Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended - incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for September 30, 2006, Exhibit 3.1 (File No. 001-07434).
  4     -   There are no long-term debt instruments in which the total amount of securities authorized exceeds 10% of the total assets of Aflac Incorporated and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. We agree to furnish a copy of any long-term debt instrument to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
  10.0 *   -   American Family Corporation Retirement Plan for Senior Officers, as amended and restated October 1, 1989 - incorporated by reference from 1993 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.1 *   -   Aflac Incorporated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended April 1, 2003 - incorporated by reference from 2003 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.4 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.2 *   -   Third Amendment to the Aflac Incorporated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (incorporated by reference from 2003 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.4), dated January 1, 2007 - incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2007, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.3 *   -   Fourth Amendment to the Aflac Incorporated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (incorporated by reference from 2003 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.4), dated December 6, 2007.
  10.4 *   -   Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended, effective January 1, 1999 - incorporated by reference from Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-135327, Exhibit 4.1.
  10.5 *   -   Fourth Amendment to the Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference from Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-135327, Exhibit 4.1), dated December 29, 2005 -incorporated by reference from 2005 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.30 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.6 *   -   Fifth Amendment to the Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference from Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-135327, Exhibit 4.1), dated June 27, 2007 - incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for June 30, 2007, Exhibit 10.5 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.7 *   -   Aflac Incorporated Amended and Restated Management Incentive Plan, effective January 1, 1999 - incorporated by reference from the 2003 Shareholders’ Proxy Statement, Exhibit A (File No. 001-07434).
  10.8 *   -   Aflac Incorporated Sales Incentive Plan.
  10.9 *   -   1999 Aflac Associate Stock Bonus Plan, as amended, dated February 11, 2003 - incorporated by reference from 2002 Form 10-K, Exhibit 99.2 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.10 *   -   Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan - incorporated by reference from the 1997 Shareholders’ Proxy Statement, Appendix B (File No. 001-07434).
  10.11 *   -   Form of Officer Stock Option Agreement (Non-Qualifying Stock Option) under the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.5 (File No. 001-07434).


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  10.12 *   -   Form of Officer Stock Option Agreement (Incentive Stock Option) under the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.6 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.13 *   -   Notice of grant of stock options and stock option agreement to officers under the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.7 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.14 *   -   2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan, dated May 3, 2004 - incorporated by reference from the 2004 Notice and Proxy Statement, Exhibit B (File No. 001-07434).
  10.15 *   -   First Amendment to the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from the 2004 Notice and Proxy Statement, Exhibit B), dated May 2, 2005 - incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2005, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.16 *   -   Second Amendment to the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from the 2004 Notice and Proxy Statement, Exhibit B), dated February 14, 2006 - incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for March 31, 2006, Exhibit 10.32 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.17 *   -   Form of Non-Employee Director Stock Option Agreement (NQSO) under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.18 *   -   Notice of grant of stock options to non-employee director under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.19 *   -   Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.3 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.20 *   -   Notice of restricted stock award to non-employee director under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005, Exhibit 10.4 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.21 *   -   Form of Officer Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.22 *   -   Notice of restricted stock award to officers under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.23 *   -   Form of Officer Stock Option Agreement (Non-Qualifying Stock Option) under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.3 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.24 *   -   Form of Officer Stock Option Agreement (Incentive Stock Option) under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.4 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.25 *   -   Notice of grant of stock options to officers under the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.5 (File No. 001-07434).


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  10.26 *   -   Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Daniel P. Amos, dated August 1, 1993 -incorporated by reference from 1993 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.4 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.27 *   -   Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Kriss Cloninger III, dated February 14, 1992, and as amended November 12, 1993 - incorporated by reference from 1993 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.6 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.28 *   -   Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Akitoshi Kan, dated April 1, 2001, and amended February 1, 2005 - incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.1 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.29 *   -   Aflac Employment Agreement with Hidefumi Matsui, dated January 1, 1995 - incorporated by reference from 1994 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.8 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.30 *   -   Aflac Incorporated Employment Agreement with Paul S. Amos II, dated January 1, 2005 -incorporated by reference from Form 8-K dated February 7, 2005, Exhibit 10.2 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.31 *   -   Aflac Retirement Agreement with E. Stephen Purdom, dated February 15, 2000 -incorporated by reference from 2000 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.13 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.32 *   -   Aflac Consulting Arrangement with E. Stephen Purdom - incorporated by reference from 2006 Form 10-K, Exhibit 10.28 (File No. 001-07434).
  10.33 *   -   Aflac Consulting Arrangement with E. Stephen Purdom.
  11     -   Statement regarding the computation of per-share earnings for the Registrant.
  12     -   Statement regarding the computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the Registrant.
  21     -   Subsidiaries.
  23     -   Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-135324 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan.
        -   Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 33-64535 with respect to the AFL Stock Plan.
        -   Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-27883 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated 1997 Stock Option Plan.
        -   Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-135327 with respect to the Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.
        -   Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, to Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-115105 with respect to the 2004 Aflac Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan.
  31.1     -   Certification of CEO dated February 28, 2008, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
  31.2     -   Certification of CFO dated February 28, 2008, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
  32     -   Certification of CEO and CFO dated February 28, 2008, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  *Management contract or compensatory plan or agreement


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(c) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
 
The shareholders and board of directors of Aflac Incorporated:
 
Under date of February 28, 2008, we reported on the consolidated balance sheets of Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2007, and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity, cash flows, and comprehensive income for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, which are included herein. In connection with our audits of the aforementioned consolidated financial statements, we also audited the related financial statement schedules as listed in Item 15. These financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statement schedules based on our audits.
 
In our opinion, such financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
 
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted the provisions of Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements, as of January 1, 2006. Additionally, as discussed in Notes 1 and 12 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R), as of December 31, 2006.
 
(-s- KPMG LLP)
 
Atlanta, Georgia
February 28, 2008


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SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Condensed Statements of Earnings
 
                                 
    Years ended December 31,        
   
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005         
   
Revenues:
                               
Dividends from subsidiaries*
  $ 1,363     $ 667     $ 528          
Management and service fees from subsidiaries*
    80       68       73          
Investment income
    31       16       14          
Interest from subsidiaries*
    6       5       5          
Realized investment gains (losses)
    4       -       -          
Change in fair value of the interest rate component of the cross-currency swaps
    -       -       (15 )        
Other income (loss)
    -       2       2          
 
 
Total revenues
    1,484       758       607          
 
 
Operating expenses:
                               
Interest expense
    21       17       20          
Other operating expenses
    57       59       57          
 
 
Total operating expenses
    78       76       77          
 
 
Earnings before income taxes and equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
    1,406       682       530          
Income tax expense (benefit):
                               
Current
    1       -       2          
Deferred
    (2 )     (2 )     (40 )        
 
 
Total income taxes
    (1 )     (2 )     (38 )        
 
 
Earnings before equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
    1,407       684       568          
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries*
    227       799       915          
 
 
Net earnings
  $  1,634     $  1,483     $  1,483          
 
 
*Eliminated in consolidation
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.


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SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Condensed Balance Sheets
 
                         
         December 31,      
   
(In millions, except for share and per-share amounts)   2007     2006              
   
Assets:
                       
Investments and cash:
                       
Fixed maturity securities available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost $109 in 2007 and $103 in 2006)
  $ 105     $ 102          
Investments in subsidiaries*
    9,127       9,341          
Other investments
    8       9          
Cash and cash equivalents
    1,034       503          
 
 
Total investments and cash
    10,274       9,955          
Due from subsidiaries*
    90       65          
Other assets
    66       50          
 
 
Total assets
  $  10,430     $  10,070          
 
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:
                       
Liabilities:
                       
Notes payable
  $ 1,457     $ 1,415          
Employee benefit plans
    170       175          
Income taxes
    (66 )     12          
Other liabilities
    74       127          
 
 
Total liabilities
    1,635       1,729          
 
 
Shareholders’ Equity:
                       
Common stock of $.10 par value. In thousands:
authorized 1,000,000 shares; issued 658,604 shares in 2007 and 655,715 shares in 2006
    66       66          
Additional paid-in capital
    1,054       895          
Retained earnings
    10,637       9,304          
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
                       
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains
    129       54          
Unrealized gains on investment securities
    874       1,450          
Pension liability adjustment
    (69 )     (78 )        
Treasury stock, at average cost
    (3,896 )     (3,350 )        
 
 
Total shareholders’ equity
    8,795       8,341          
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 10,430     $ 10,070          
 
 
*Eliminated in consolidation
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.


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SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
 
                             
    Years ended December 31,    
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005          
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                           
Net earnings
  $  1,634     $  1,483     $  1,483      
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided from operating activities:
                           
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries*
    (227 )     (799 )     (915 )    
Other, net
    26       23       3      
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    1,433       707       571      
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                           
Fixed maturity securities sold
    8       -       -      
Fixed maturity securities purchased
    (14 )     (4 )     (100 )    
Other investments sold (purchased)
    (1 )     -       1      
Other, net
    1       -       1      
 
 
Net cash used by investing activities
    (6 )     (4 )     (98 )    
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                           
Purchases of treasury stock
    (606 )     (470 )     (438 )    
Proceeds from borrowings
    242       382       360      
Principal payments under debt obligations
    (242 )     (355 )     (261 )    
Dividends paid to shareholders
    (373 )     (258 )     (209 )    
Treasury stock reissued
    85       77       83      
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    24       15       17      
Net change in amount due to/from subsidiaries*
    (26 )     7       100      
Other, net
    -       5       10      
 
 
Net cash used by financing activities
    (896 )     (597 )     (338 )    
 
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    531       106       135      
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    503       397       262      
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 1,034     $ 503     $ 397      
 
 
*Eliminated in consolidation
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.


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SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
                             
    Years ended December 31,    
 
(In millions)   2007     2006     2005          
 
Net earnings
  $  1,634     $  1,483     $  1,483      
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes:
                           
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
                           
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) during year - parent only
    65       (1 )     18      
Equity in change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) of subsidiaries during year
    (73 )     (11 )     26      
Unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities:
                           
Unrealized holding gains (losses) during
year - parent only
    (2 )     (2 )     1      
Equity in unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities held by subsidiaries
    (846 )     (640 )     (539 )    
Equity in reclassification adjustment for realized
(gains) losses of subsidiaries included in net earnings
    (28 )     (79 )     (262 )    
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives:
                           
Unrealized holding gains (losses) during year
    (1 )     -       -      
Pension liability adjustment during year
    14       5       (13 )    
 
 
Total other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes
    (871 )     (728 )     (769 )    
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)
    (379 )     (241 )     (115 )    
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes
    (492 )     (487 )     (654 )    
 
 
Total comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 1,142     $ 996     $ 829      
 
 
See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.


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SCHEDULE II
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
 
The accompanying condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries included in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
 
(A)  Notes Payable
 
A summary of notes payable as of December 31 follows:
 
 
                         
   
(In millions)   2007     2006        
   
 
6.50% senior notes due April 2009
  $ 450     $ 450          
Yen-denominated Uridashi notes:
                       
1.52% notes due September 2011 (principal amount 15 billion yen)
    131       126          
2.26% notes due September 2016 (principal amount 10 billion yen)
    88       84          
Variable interest rate notes due September 2011 (1.32% at December 2007, principal amount 20 billion yen)
    175       168          
Yen-denominated Samurai notes:
                       
.96% notes paid June 2007 (principal amount 30 billion yen)
    -       252          
.71% notes due July 2010 (principal amount 40 billion yen)
    350       336          
1.87% notes due June 2012 (principal amount 30 billion yen)
    263       -          
 
 
Total notes payable
  $  1,457     $  1,416          
 
 
 
 
The aggregate contractual maturities of notes payable during each of the years after December 31, 2007, are as follows:
 
 
                         
 
    (In millions)        
 
 
        2008   $ -          
        2009     450          
        2010     350          
        2011     306          
        2012     263          
        Thereafter     88          
 
 
        Total   $  1,457          
 
 
 
For further information regarding notes payable, see Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
(B)  Derivatives
 
We have only limited activity with derivative financial instruments. We do not use them for trading purposes nor do we engage in leveraged derivative transactions. The Parent Company has contracts


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for cross-currency swaps related to its senior notes payable and interest rate swaps related to its variable interest rate Uridashi notes. For further information regarding these derivatives, see Notes 1 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
(C)  Income Taxes
 
The Company and its eligible U.S. subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. Income tax liabilities or benefits are recorded by each principal subsidiary based upon separate return calculations, and any difference between the consolidated provision and the aggregate amounts recorded by the subsidiaries is reflected in the Parent Company financial statements. For further information on income taxes, see Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
(D)  Dividend Restrictions
 
See Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding dividend restrictions.
 
(E)  Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
 
                                 
 
(In millions)   2007   2006   2005    
 
 
Interest paid
  $  21     $  17     $  20          
Noncash financing activities:
                               
Dividends declared
    (91 )     91       -          
Treasury shares issued
    19       15       11          
 
 


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SCHEDULE III
SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
 
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Years Ended December 31,
 
                                         
 
    Deferred Policy
  Future Policy
      Other
   
    Acquisition
  Benefits & Unpaid
  Unearned
  Policyholders’
   
(In millions)   Costs   Policy Claims   Premiums   Funds    
 
 
2007:
                                       
Aflac Japan
  $ 4,269     $ 42,314     $ 584     $ 1,797          
Aflac U.S.
    2,385       5,814       109       56          
All other
    -       2       -       -          
 
 
Total
  $ 6,654     $ 48,130     $ 693     $ 1,853          
 
 
2006:
                                       
Aflac Japan
  $ 3,857     $ 38,021     $ 538     $ 1,512          
Aflac U.S.
    2,168       5,207       106       52          
All other
    -       3       1       -          
 
 
Total
  $  6,025     $  43,231     $  645     $  1,564          
 
 
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Segment amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding consolidated amounts due to rounding.
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
                                                 
 
        Net
      Amortization of
  Other
   
    Premium
  Investment
  Benefits and
  Deferred Policy
  Operating
  Premiums
(In millions)   Revenue   Income   Claims   Acquisition Costs   Expenses   Written
 
 
2007:
                                               
Aflac Japan
  $ 9,037     $ 1,801     $ 6,935     $ 318     $ 1,791     $ 9,069  
Aflac U.S.
    3,936       500       2,350       322       1,081       3,946  
All other
    -       32       -       -       97       -  
 
 
Total
  $ 12,973     $ 2,333     $ 9,285     $ 640     $ 2,969     $ 13,015  
 
 
2006:
                                               
Aflac Japan
  $ 8,762     $ 1,688     $ 6,847     $ 284     $ 1,691     $ 8,834  
Aflac U.S.
    3,552       465       2,169       290       983       3,562  
All other
    -       18       -       -       88       -  
 
 
Total
  $ 12,314     $ 2,171     $ 9,016     $ 574     $ 2,762     $ 12,396  
 
 
2005:
                                               
Aflac Japan
  $ 8,745     $ 1,635     $ 6,898     $ 284     $ 1,715     $ 8,854  
Aflac U.S.
    3,245       421       1,991       258       902       3,250  
All other
    -       14       -       -       88       -  
 
 
Total
  $  11,990     $  2,071     $  8,890     $  542     $  2,705     $  12,104  
 
 
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Segment amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding consolidated amounts due to rounding.


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SCHEDULE IV
REINSURANCE
 
Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Years Ended December 31,
 
                                         
                    Percentage
        Ceded to
  Assumed
      of Amount
    Gross
  Other
  from Other
  Net
  Assumed
(In millions)   Amount   Companies   companies   Amount   to Net
 
2007:
                                       
Life insurance in force
  $  98,027     $  2,884     $  -     $  95,143       - %
 
 
Premiums:
                                       
Health insurance
  $ 11,653     $ 3     $ -     $ 11,650       - %
Life insurance
    1,335       12       -       1,323       -  
 
 
Total earned premiums
  $ 12,988     $ 15     $ -     $ 12,973       - %
 
 
2006:
                                       
Life insurance in force
  $ 87,855     $ 2,515     $ -     $ 85,340       - %
 
 
Premiums:
                                       
Health insurance
  $ 11,100     $ -     $ -     $ 11,100       - %
Life insurance
    1,224       10       -       1,214       -  
 
 
Total earned premiums
  $ 12,324     $ 10     $ -     $ 12,314       - %
 
 
2005:
                                       
Life insurance in force
  $ 80,610     $ 2,263     $ -     $ 78,347       - %
 
 
Premiums:
                                       
Health insurance
  $ 10,851     $ -     $ -     $ 10,851       - %
Life insurance
    1,148       9       -       1,139       -  
 
 
Total earned premiums
  $ 11,999     $ 9     $ -     $ 11,990       - %
 
 
See the accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Premiums by type may not agree in total to the corresponding consolidated amounts due to rounding.


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SIGNATURES
 
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.
 
         
Aflac Incorporated
         
 
       
By:
 
/s/  Daniel P. Amos
  February 28, 2008
         
         (Daniel P. Amos)
Chief Executive Officer,
Chairman of the Board of Directors
   
 
 
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.
 
 
             
         
/s/  Kriss Cloninger III

(Kriss Cloninger III)
  President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  Ralph A. Rogers, Jr.

(Ralph A. Rogers, Jr.)
  Senior Vice President, Financial Services, Chief Accounting Officer   February 28, 2008


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/s/  J. Shelby Amos II

(J. Shelby Amos II)
  Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  Paul S. Amos II

(Paul S. Amos II)
  Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  Yoshiro Aoki

(Yoshiro Aoki)
  Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  Michael H. Armacost

(Michael H. Armacost)
  Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  Joe Frank Harris

(Joe Frank Harris)
  Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  Elizabeth J. Hudson

(Elizabeth J. Hudson)
  Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  Kenneth S. Janke Sr.

(Kenneth S. Janke Sr.)
  Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  Douglas W. Johnson

(Douglas W. Johnson)
  Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  Robert B. Johnson

(Robert B. Johnson)
  Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  Charles B. Knapp

(Charles B. Knapp)
  Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  E. Stephen Purdom

(E. Stephen Purdom)
  Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  Barbara K. Rimer

(Barbara K. Rimer)
  Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  Marvin R. Schuster

(Marvin R. Schuster)
  Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  David G. Thompson

(David G. Thompson)
  Director   February 28, 2008
         
/s/  Robert L. Wright

(Robert L. Wright)
  Director   February 28, 2008


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