Arbitrage Trading Account Arbitrage Trading Account

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Arbitrage Trading Account

Arbitrage Trading Account

At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the carrying value of the arbitrage trading account was $973 million and $451 million, respectively. The primary focus of the trading account is merger arbitrage. Merger arbitrage is the business of investing in the securities of publicly held companies which are the targets in announced tender offers and mergers. Arbitrage investing differs from other types of investing in its focus on transactions and events believed likely to bring about a change in value over a relatively short time period (usually four months or less). The Company believes that this makes merger arbitrage investments less vulnerable to changes in general financial market conditions.