8-KEarnings & ResultsExhibits & Filings

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL INC 8-K Report, Financial Results (Jul 23, 2009)

Filed July 23, 2009For Securities:AMP

Summary

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (AMP) filed an 8-K on July 23, 2009, to report its second-quarter 2009 financial results. The filing primarily serves as a vehicle to attach the press release and a statistical supplement detailing these results. Investors should note that the company provides both GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures, with management emphasizing the non-GAAP figures as key indicators of performance. These non-GAAP measures exclude items such as market-related impacts and integration charges, which management believes offer a more meaningful view of underlying operational trends and facilitate comparability with industry analysts. Key to understanding AMP's financial health are the various adjusted metrics presented, including core operating earnings and pretax operating earnings. The company also clarifies its presentation of debt-to-capital ratios, excluding certain non-recourse debt and incorporating equity credit for junior subordinated notes. This approach aims to provide investors with a clearer perspective on the company's financial structure and operational performance, particularly in the context of the prevailing economic environment.

Key Highlights

  • 1Ameriprise Financial announced its second-quarter 2009 financial results via an 8-K filing on July 23, 2009.
  • 2The filing includes a press release (Exhibit 99.1) and a statistical supplement (Exhibit 99.2) for the quarter ended June 30, 2009.
  • 3The company presents both Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and non-GAAP financial results.
  • 4Management highlights non-GAAP measures such as 'core operating earnings' and 'pretax operating earnings' as key performance indicators.
  • 5Non-GAAP measures are adjusted to exclude after-tax market-related impacts and integration charges to better reflect underlying operational performance.
  • 6The company clarifies its debt-to-capital ratio calculations, excluding certain non-recourse debt and incorporating equity credit for subordinated notes.
  • 7Walter S. Berman, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, signed the filing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main purpose of this 8-K filing is to officially report Ameriprise Financial's financial results for the second quarter of 2009. It serves to attach the accompanying press release and statistical supplement that contain the detailed financial information.

Ameriprise Financial provides non-GAAP measures because management believes they offer a more meaningful view of the company's underlying operational performance. These measures exclude certain items, such as market-related impacts and integration charges, which can fluctuate and obscure trends. They are used for internal performance evaluation, goal setting, and to facilitate comparison with how securities analysts present the company's performance.

The company presents debt-to-capital ratios in a way that excludes the effect of certain non-recourse debt, such as that related to collateralized debt obligations and property fund limited partnerships. Additionally, they provide ratios that reflect equity credit for their junior subordinated notes, as these notes are considered to have significant equity characteristics by rating agencies.

Key non-GAAP metrics highlighted include core operating earnings, core operating earnings after-tax, pretax segment income (loss) margin, pretax return on allocated equity, and pretax operating earnings. Management uses these to assess the company's financial performance on a more consistent basis.