Fair Value of Financial Instruments |
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Fair Value of Financial Instruments | (6) Fair Value of Financial Instruments Assets and liabilities that are reflected in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements at fair value are not included in the following disclosure of fair value. Such items include cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, short-term investments, investment securities, separate accounts, securities held as collateral and derivative instruments. Apart from certain of our borrowings and certain marketable securities, few of the instruments are actively traded and their fair values must often be determined using models. The fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based upon available market information and judgments about the financial instruments, including estimates of the timing and amount of expected future cash flows and the credit standing of counterparties. Such estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time our entire holdings of a particular financial instrument, nor do they consider the tax impact of the realization of unrealized gains or losses. In many cases, the fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets. The following represents our estimated fair value of financial assets and liabilities that are not required to be carried at fair value as of the dates indicated:
Recurring Fair Value Measurements We have fixed maturity, short-term investments, equity securities, limited partnerships, derivatives, embedded derivatives, securities held as collateral, separate account assets and certain other financial instruments, which are carried at fair value. Below is a description of the valuation techniques and inputs used to determine fair value by class of instrument. Limited partnerships Limited partnerships are valued based on comparable market transactions, discounted future cash flows, quoted market prices and/or estimates using the most recent data available for the underlying instrument. We utilize the net asset value (“NAV”) of the underlying fund statements as a practical expedient for fair value. Fixed maturity, short-term investments and equity securities The fair value of fixed maturity, short-term investments and equity securities are estimated primarily based on information derived from third-party pricing services (“pricing services”), internal models and/or broker quotes, which use a market approach, income approach or a combination of the market and income approach depending on the type of instrument and availability of information. In general, a market approach is utilized if there is readily available and relevant market activity for an individual security. In certain cases where market information is not available for a specific security but is available for similar securities, a security is valued using that market information for similar securities, which is also a market approach. When market information is not available for a specific security or is available but such information is less relevant or reliable, an income approach or a combination of a market and income approach is utilized. For securities with optionality, such as call or prepayment features (including mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities), an income approach may be used. In addition, a combination of the results from market and income approaches may be used to estimate fair value. These valuation techniques may change from period to period, based on the relevance and availability of market data. We utilize certain third-party data providers when determining fair value. We consider information obtained from pricing services as well as broker quotes in our determination of fair value. Additionally, we utilize internal models to determine the valuation of securities using an income approach where the inputs are based on third-party provided market inputs. While we consider the valuations provided by pricing services and broker quotes to be of high quality, management determines the fair value of our investment securities after considering all relevant and available information. We also use various methods to obtain an understanding of the valuation methodologies and procedures used by third-party data providers to ensure sufficient understanding to evaluate the valuation data received, including an understanding of the assumptions and inputs utilized to determine the appropriate fair value. For pricing services, we analyze the prices provided by our primary pricing services to other readily available pricing services and perform a detailed review of the assumptions and inputs from each pricing service to determine the appropriate fair value when pricing differences exceed certain thresholds. We evaluate changes in fair value that are greater than certain pre-defined thresholds each month to further aid in our review of the accuracy of fair value measurements and our understanding of changes in fair value, with more detailed reviews performed by the asset managers responsible for the related asset class associated with the security being reviewed. A pricing committee provides additional oversight and guidance in the evaluation and review of the pricing methodologies used to value our investment portfolio. In general, we first obtain valuations from pricing services. For certain private fixed maturity securities where we do not obtain valuations from pricing services, we utilize an internal model to determine fair value since transactions for identical securities are not readily observable and these securities are not typically valued by pricing services. If prices are unavailable from public pricing services, we obtain broker quotes. For all securities, excluding certain private fixed maturity securities, if neither a pricing service nor broker quotes valuation is available, we determine fair value using internal models. For pricing services, we obtain an understanding of the pricing methodologies and procedures for each type of instrument. Additionally, on a monthly basis we review a sample of securities, examining the pricing service’s assumptions to determine if we agree with the service’s derived price. When available, we also evaluate the prices sampled as compared to other public prices. If a variance greater than a pre-defined threshold is noted, additional review of the price is executed to ensure accuracy. In general, a pricing service does not provide a price for a security if sufficient information is not readily available to determine fair value or if such security is not in the specific sector or class covered by a particular pricing service. Given our understanding of the pricing methodologies and procedures of pricing services, the securities valued by pricing services are typically classified as Level 2 unless we determine the valuation process for a security or group of securities utilizes significant unobservable inputs, which would result in the valuation being classified as Level 3. For private fixed maturity securities, we utilize an income approach where we obtain public bond spreads and utilize those in an internal model to determine fair value. Other inputs to the model include rating and weighted-average life, as well as sector which is used to assign the spread. We then add an additional premium, which represents an unobservable input, to the public bond spread to adjust for the liquidity and other features of our private placements. We utilize the estimated market yield to discount the expected cash flows of the security to determine fair value. We utilize price caps for securities where the estimated market yield results in a valuation that may exceed the amount that would be received in a market transaction and value all private fixed maturity securities at par that have less than 12 months to maturity. When a security does not have an external rating, we assign the security an internal rating to determine the appropriate public bond spread that should be utilized in the valuation. To evaluate the reasonableness of the internal model, we review a sample of private fixed maturity securities each month. In that review we compare the modeled prices to the prices of similar public securities in conjunction with analysis on current market indicators. If a pricing variance greater than a pre-defined threshold is noted, additional review of the price is executed to ensure accuracy. At the end of each month, all internally modeled prices are compared to the prior month prices with an evaluation of all securities with a month-over-month change greater than a pre-defined threshold. While we generally consider the public bond spreads by sector and maturity to be observable inputs, we evaluate the similarities of our private placement with the public bonds, any price caps utilized, liquidity premiums applied, and whether external ratings are available for our private placements to determine whether the spreads utilized would be considered observable inputs. We classify private securities without an external rating and public bond spread as Level 3. In general, increases (decreases) in credit spreads will decrease (increase) the fair value for our fixed maturity securities. For broker quotes, we consider the valuation methodology utilized by the third party and analyze a sample each month to assess reasonableness given then-current market conditions. Additionally, for broker quotes on certain structured securities, we validate prices received against other publicly available pricing sources. Broker quotes are typically based on an income approach given the lack of available market data. As the valuation typically includes significant unobservable inputs, we classify the securities where fair value is based on our consideration of broker quotes as Level 3 measurements. For remaining securities priced using internal models, we determine fair value using an income approach. We analyze a sample each month to assess reasonableness given then-current market conditions. We maximize the use of observable inputs but typically utilize significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value. Accordingly, the valuations are typically classified as Level 3. A summary of the inputs used for our fixed maturity, short-term investments and equity securities based on the level in which instruments are classified is included below. We have combined certain classes of instruments together as the nature of the inputs is similar. Level 1 measurements Equity securities. The primary inputs to the valuation of exchange-traded equity securities include quoted prices for the identical instrument.Short-term investments. Short-term investments primarily include commercial paper and other highly liquid debt instruments. The fair value of short-term investments classified as Level 1 is based on quoted prices for the identical instrument.Separate account assets. The fair value of separate account assets is based on the quoted prices of the underlying fund investments and, therefore, represents Level 1 pricing.Level 2 measurements Fixed maturity securities
The following table presents a summary of the significant inputs used by our third-party pricing services for certain fair value measurements of fixed maturity securities that are classified as Level 2 as of March 31, 2019:
Equity securities. The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical assets, or similar assets in markets that are not active.Securities lending collateral The fair value of securities held as collateral is primarily based on Level 2 inputs from market information for the collateral that is held on our behalf by the custodian. We determine fair value after considering prices obtained by third-party pricing services. Short-term investments The fair value of short-term investments classified as Level 2 is determined after considering prices obtained by third-party pricing services. Level 3 measurements Fixed maturity securities
Equity securities. The primary inputs to the valuation include broker quotes where the underlying inputs are unobservable and for internal models, structure of the security and issuer rating.GMWB embedded derivatives We are required to bifurcate an embedded derivative for certain features associated with annuity products and related reinsurance agreements where we provide a GMWB to the policyholder and are required to record the GMWB embedded derivative at fair value. The valuation of our GMWB embedded derivative is based on an income approach that incorporates inputs such as forward interest rates, equity index volatility, equity index and fund correlation, and policyholder assumptions such as utilization, lapse and mortality. In addition to these inputs, we also consider risk and expense margins when determining the projected cash flows that would be determined by another market participant. While the risk and expense margins are considered in determining fair value, these inputs do not have a significant impact on the valuation. We determine fair value using an internal model based on the various inputs noted above. The resulting fair value measurement from the model is reviewed by the product actuarial, risk and finance professionals each reporting period with changes in fair value also being compared to changes in derivatives and other instruments used to mitigate changes in fair value from certain market risks, such as equity index volatility and interest rates. For GMWB liabilities, non-performance risk is integrated into the discount rate. Our discount rate used to determine fair value of our GMWB liabilities includes market credit spreads above U.S. Treasury rates to reflect an adjustment for the non-performance risk of the GMWB liabilities. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the impact of non-performance risk resulted in a lower fair value of our GMWB liabilities of $60 million and $64 million, respectively. To determine the appropriate discount rate to reflect the non-performance risk of the GMWB liabilities, we evaluate the non-performance risk in our liabilities based on a hypothetical exit market transaction as there is no exit market for these types of liabilities. A hypothetical exit market can be viewed as a hypothetical transfer of the liability to another similarly rated insurance company which would closely resemble a reinsurance transaction. Another hypothetical exit market transaction can be viewed as a hypothetical transaction from the perspective of the GMWB policyholder. In determining the appropriate discount rate to incorporate non-performance risk of the GMWB liabilities, we also considered the impacts of state guarantees embedded in the related insurance product as a form of inseparable third-party guarantee. We believe that a hypothetical exit market participant would use a similar discount rate as described above to value the liabilities. For equity index volatility, we determine the projected equity market volatility using both historical volatility and projected equity market volatility with more significance being placed on projected near-term volatility and recent historical data. Given the different attributes and market characteristics of GMWB liabilities compared to equity index options in the derivative market, the equity index volatility assumption for GMWB liabilities may be different from the volatility assumption for equity index options, especially for the longer dated points on the curve. Equity index and fund correlations are determined based on historical price observations for the fund and equity index. For policyholder assumptions, we use our expected lapse, mortality and utilization assumptions and update these assumptions for our actual experience, as necessary. For our lapse assumption, we adjust our base lapse assumption by policy based on a combination of the policyholder’s current account value and GMWB benefit. We classify the GMWB valuation as Level 3 based on having significant unobservable inputs, with equity index volatility and non-performance risk being considered the more significant unobservable inputs. As equity index volatility increases, the fair value of the GMWB liabilities will increase. Any increase in non-performance risk would increase the discount rate and would decrease the fair value of the GMWB liability. Additionally, we consider lapse and utilization assumptions to be significant unobservable inputs. An increase in our lapse assumption would decrease the fair value of the GMWB liability, whereas an increase in our utilization rate would increase the fair value. Fixed index annuity embedded derivatives We have fixed indexed annuity products where interest is credited to the policyholder’s account balance based on equity index changes. This feature is required to be bifurcated as an embedded derivative and recorded at fair value. Fair value is determined using an income approach where the present value of the excess cash flows above the guaranteed cash flows is used to determine the value attributed to the equity index feature. The inputs used in determining the fair value include policyholder behavior (lapses and withdrawals), near-term equity index volatility, expected future interest credited, forward interest rates and an adjustment to the discount rate to incorporate non-performance risk and risk margins. As a result of our assumptions for policyholder behavior and expected future interest credited being considered significant unobservable inputs, we classify these instruments as Level 3. As lapses and withdrawals increase, the value of our embedded derivative liability will decrease. As expected future interest credited decreases, the value of our embedded derivative liability will decrease. Indexed universal life embedded derivatives We have indexed universal life insurance products where interest is credited to the policyholder’s account balance based on equity index changes. This feature is required to be bifurcated as an embedded derivative and recorded at fair value. Fair value is determined using an income approach where the present value of the excess cash flows above the guaranteed cash flows is used to determine the value attributed to the equity index feature. The inputs used in determining the fair value include policyholder behavior (lapses and withdrawals), near-term equity index volatility, expected future interest credited, forward interest rates and an adjustment to the discount rate to incorporate non-performance risk and risk margins. As a result of our assumptions for policyholder behavior and expected future interest credited being considered significant unobservable inputs, we classify these instruments as Level 3. As lapses and withdrawals increase, the value of our embedded derivative liability will decrease. As expected future interest credited decreases, the value of our embedded derivative liability will decrease. Derivatives We consider counterparty collateral arrangements and rights of set-off when evaluating our net credit risk exposure to our derivative counterparties. Accordingly, we are permitted to include consideration of these arrangements when determining whether any incremental adjustment should be made for both the counterparty’s and our non-performance risk in measuring fair value for our derivative instruments. As a result of these counterparty arrangements, we determined that any adjustment for credit risk would not be material and we have not recorded any incremental adjustment for our non-performance risk or the non-performance risk of the derivative counterparty for our derivative assets or liabilities. We determine fair value for our derivatives using an income approach with internal models based on relevant market inputs for each derivative instrument. We also compare the fair value determined using our internal model to the valuations provided by our derivative counterparties with any significant differences or changes in valuation being evaluated further by our derivatives professionals that are familiar with the instrument and market inputs used in the valuation. Interest rate swaps. The valuation of interest rate swaps is determined using an income approach. The primary input into the valuation represents the forward interest rate swap curve, which is generally considered an observable input, and results in the derivative being classified as Level 2. For certain interest rate swaps, the inputs into the valuation also include the total returns of certain bonds that would primarily be considered an observable input and result in the derivative being classified as Level 2.Interest rate swaps in a foreign currency. The valuation of interest rate swaps in a foreign currency is determined using an income approach. The primary inputs into the valuation represents the forward interest rate swap curve and foreign currency exchange rates, which are generally considered observable inputs, and results in the derivative being classified as Level 2.Interest rate caps and floors. The valuation of interest rate caps and floors is determined using an income approach. The primary inputs into the valuation represent the forward interest rate swap curve, forward interest rate volatility and time value component associated with the optionality in the derivative which are generally considered observable inputs and results in the derivatives being classified as Level 2.Foreign currency swaps. The valuation of foreign currency swaps is determined using an income approach. The primary inputs into the valuation represent the forward interest rate swap curve and foreign currency exchange rates, both of which are considered observable inputs, and results in the derivative being classified as Level 2.Equity index options. We have equity index options associated with various equity indices. The valuation of equity index options is determined using an income approach. The primary inputs into the valuation represent forward interest rates, equity index volatility, equity index and time value component associated with the optionality in the derivative, which are considered significant unobservable inputs in most instances. The equity index volatility surface is determined based on market information that is not readily observable and is developed based upon inputs received from several third-party sources. Accordingly, these options are classified as Level 3. As equity index volatility increases, our valuation of these options changes favorably.Financial futures. The fair value of financial futures is based on the closing exchange prices. Accordingly, these financial futures are classified as Level 1. The period end valuation is zero as a result of settling the margins on these contracts on a daily basis.Equity return swaps. The valuation of equity return swaps is determined using an income approach. The primary inputs into the valuation represent the forward interest rate swap curve and underlying equity index values, which are generally considered observable inputs, and results in the derivative being classified as Level 2.Other foreign currency contracts. We have certain foreign currency options classified as other foreign currency contracts. The valuation of foreign currency options is determined using an income approach. The primary inputs into the valuation represent the forward interest rate swap curve, foreign currency exchange rates, forward interest rate, foreign currency exchange rate volatility and time value component associated with the optionality in the derivative, which are generally considered observable inputs and results in the derivative being classified as Level 2. We also have foreign currency forward contracts where the valuation is determined using an income approach. The primary inputs into the valuation represent the forward foreign currency exchange rates, which are generally considered observable inputs and results in the derivative being classified as Level 2.The following tables set forth our assets by class of instrument that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated:
We review the fair value hierarchy classifications each reporting period. Changes in the observability of the valuation attributes may result in a reclassification of certain financial assets or liabilities. Such reclassifications are reported as transfers between levels at the beginning fair value for the reporting period in which the changes occur. Given the types of assets classified as Level 1, which primarily represents mutual fund investments, we typically do not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 measurement categories and did not have any such transfers during any period presented. Our assessment of whether or not there were significant unobservable inputs related to fixed maturity securities was based on our observations obtained through the course of managing our investment portfolio, including interaction with other market participants, observations related to the availability and consistency of pricing and/or rating, and understanding of general market activity such as new issuance and the level of secondary market trading for a class of securities. Additionally, we considered data obtained from third-party pricing sources to determine whether our estimated values incorporate significant unobservable inputs that would result in the valuation being classified as Level 3. The following tables present additional information about assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and for which we have utilized significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs to determine fair value as of or for the dates indicated:
The following table presents the gains and losses included in net income from assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and for which we have utilized significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs to determine fair value and the related income statement line item in which these gains and losses were presented for the three months ended March 31:
The amount presented for unrealized gains (losses) included in net income for available-for-sale securities represents accretion on certain fixed maturity securities. The following table presents a summary of the significant unobservable inputs used for certain asset fair value measurements that are based on internal models and classified as Level 3 as of March 31, 2019:
Certain classes of instruments classified as Level 3 are excluded above as a result of not being material or due to limitations in being able to obtain the underlying inputs used by certain third-party sources, such as broker quotes, used as an input in determining fair value. The following tables set forth our liabilities by class of instrument that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated:
The following tables present additional information about liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and for which we have utilized significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs to determine fair value as of or for the dates indicated:
The following table presents the gains and losses included in net (income) from liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and for which we have utilized significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs to determine fair value and the related income statement line item in which these gains and losses were presented for the three months ended March 31:
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements represent the activity that occurred during the period that results in a change of the asset or liability but does not represent changes in fair value for the instruments held at the beginning of the period. Such activity primarily consists of purchases, sales and settlements of fixed maturity and equity securities and purchases, issuances and settlements of derivative instruments. Issuances presented for GMWB embedded derivative liabilities are characterized as the change in fair value associated with the product fees recognized that are attributed to the embedded derivative to equal the expected future benefit costs upon issuance. Issuances for fixed index annuity and indexed universal life embedded derivative liabilities represent the amount of the premium received that is attributed to the value of the embedded derivative. Settlements of embedded derivatives are characterized as the change in fair value upon exercising the embedded derivative instrument, effectively representing a settlement of the embedded derivative instrument. We have shown these changes in fair value separately based on the classification of this activity as effectively issuing and settling the embedded derivative instrument with all remaining changes in the fair value of these embedded derivative instruments being shown separately in the category labeled “included in net (income)” in the tables presented above. The following table presents a summary of the significant unobservable inputs used for certain liability fair value measurements that are based on internal models and classified as Level 3 as of March 31, 2019:
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