Ameriprise 2011 Annual Report Download - page 106

In addition to the contractual commitments outlined in the table above, we periodically fund the employees’ defined
benefit plans. We contributed $72 million and $64 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively, to our pension plans. In 2012,
we expect to contribute $46 million to our pension plans and $2 million to our defined benefit postretirement plans. See
Note 21 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Total loan funding commitments, which are not included in the table above due to uncertainty with respect to timing of
future cash flows, were $2.4 billion at December 31, 2011.
For additional information relating to these contractual commitments, see Note 22 to our Consolidated Financial
Statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We provide asset management services to various collateralized debt obligations and other investment products, which are
sponsored by us for the investment of client assets in the normal course of business. Certain of these investment entities
are considered to be variable interest entities while others are considered to be voting rights entities. We consolidate
certain of these investment entities. For entities that we do not consolidate, our maximum exposure to loss is our
investment in the entity, which was not material as of December 31, 2011. We have no obligation to provide further
financial or other support to these structured investments nor have we provided any support to these structured
investments. See Note 4 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our arrangements with
structured investments.
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains forward-looking statements that reflect management’s plans, estimates and beliefs. Actual results
could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. Examples of such forward-looking
statements include:
• statements of the Company’s plans, intentions, positioning, expectations, objectives or goals, including those relating
to asset flows, mass affluent and affluent client acquisition strategy, client retention and growth of our client base,
financial advisor productivity, retention, recruiting and enrollments, acquisition integration, general and administrative
costs; consolidated tax rate, return of capital to shareholders, and excess capital position and financial flexibility to
capture additional growth opportunities;
• other statements about future economic performance, the performance of equity markets and interest rate variations
and the economic performance of the United States and of global markets; and
• statements of assumptions underlying such statements.
The words ‘‘believe,’’ ‘‘expect,’’ ‘‘anticipate,’’ ‘‘optimistic,’’ ‘‘intend,’’ ‘‘plan,’’ ‘‘aim,’’ ‘‘will,’’ ‘‘may,’’ ‘‘should,’’ ‘‘could,’’
‘‘would,’’ ‘‘likely,’’ ‘‘forecast,’’ ‘‘on pace,’’ ‘‘project’’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks
and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements.
Such factors include, but are not limited to:
• changes in the valuations, liquidity and volatility in the interest rate, credit default, equity market, and foreign exchange
environments;
• changes in and the adoption of relevant accounting standards, as well as changes in the litigation and regulatory
environment, including ongoing legal proceedings and regulatory actions, the frequency and extent of legal claims
threatened or initiated by clients, other persons and regulators, and developments in regulation and legislation,
including the rules and regulations implemented or to be implemented in connection with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
Reform and Consumer Protection Act;
• investment management performance and distribution partner and consumer acceptance of the Company’s products;
• effects of competition in the financial services industry and changes in product distribution mix and distribution
channels;
• changes to the Company’s reputation that may arise from employee or affiliated advisor misconduct, legal or regulatory
actions, improper management of conflicts of interest or otherwise;
• the Company’s capital structure, including indebtedness, limitations on subsidiaries to pay dividends, and the extent,
manner, terms and timing of any share or debt repurchases management may effect as well as the opinions of rating
agencies and other analysts and the reactions of market participants or the Company’s regulators, advisors,
distribution partners or customers in response to any change or prospect of change in any such opinion;
• changes to the availability of liquidity and the Company’s credit capacity that may arise due to shifts in market
conditions, the Company’s credit ratings and the overall availability of credit;
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