Fair Value

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value

Note D. Fair Value

Fair value is the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The following fair value hierarchy is used in selecting inputs, with the highest priority given to Level 1, as these are the most transparent or reliable.

Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets.

Level 3 - Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are not observable.

Prices may fall within Level 1, 2 or 3 depending upon the methodology and inputs used to estimate fair value for each specific security. In general, the Company seeks to price securities using third-party pricing services. Securities not priced by pricing services are submitted to independent brokers for valuation and, if those are not available, internally developed pricing models are used to value assets using a methodology and inputs the Company believes market participants would use to value the assets. Prices obtained from third-party pricing services or brokers are not adjusted by the Company.

The Company performs control procedures over information obtained from pricing services and brokers to ensure prices received represent a reasonable estimate of fair value and to confirm representations regarding whether inputs are observable or unobservable. Procedures include i) the review of pricing service or broker pricing methodologies, ii) back-testing, where past fair value estimates are compared to actual transactions executed in the market on similar dates, iii) exception reporting, where period-over-period changes in price are reviewed and challenged with the pricing service or broker based on exception criteria, iv) deep dives, where the Company performs an independent analysis of the inputs and assumptions used to price individual securities and v) pricing validation, where prices received are compared to prices independently estimated by the Company.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are presented in the following tables.

September 30, 2015								Total Assets/Liabilities at Fair Value
(In millions)	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
Assets
Fixed maturity securities:
Corporate and other bonds	$	28	$	18,007		$	153	$	18,188
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	—		13,236			61		13,297
Asset-backed:
Residential mortgage-backed	—		4,837			204		5,041
Commercial mortgage-backed	—		2,180			71		2,251
Other asset-backed	—		545			471		1,016
Total asset-backed	—		7,562			746		8,308
U.S. Treasury and obligations of government-sponsored enterprises	28		1			—		29
Foreign government	28		316			—		344
Redeemable preferred stock	24		11			—		35
Total fixed maturity securities	108		39,133			960		40,201
Equity securities	154		43			15		212
Other invested assets	—		45			—		45
Short term investments	624		773			—		1,397
Life settlement contracts, included in Other assets	—		—			74		74
Total assets	$	886	$	39,994		$	1,049	$	41,929
Liabilities
Other liabilities	$	—	$	(5	)	$	—	$	(5	)
Total liabilities	$	—	$	(5	)	$	—	$	(5	)

December 31, 2014							Total Assets/Liabilities at Fair Value
(In millions)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets
Fixed maturity securities:
Corporate and other bonds	$	32	$	18,695	$	162	$	18,889
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	—		12,646		94		12,740
Asset-backed:
Residential mortgage-backed	—		5,044		189		5,233
Commercial mortgage-backed	—		2,061		83		2,144
Other asset-backed	—		580		655		1,235
Total asset-backed	—		7,685		927		8,612
U.S. Treasury and obligations of government-sponsored enterprises	28		3		—		31
Foreign government	41		413		—		454
Redeemable preferred stock	30		12		—		42
Total fixed maturity securities	131		39,454		1,183		40,768
Equity securities	145		61		16		222
Other invested assets	—		41		—		41
Short term investments	681		963		—		1,644
Life settlement contracts, included in Other assets	—		—		82		82
Total assets	$	957	$	40,519	$	1,281	$	42,757
Liabilities
Other liabilities	$	—	$	3	$	—	$	3
Total liabilities	$	—	$	3	$	—	$	3

The following tables present a reconciliation for all assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

Level 3 (In millions)	Balance as of July 1, 2015		Net realized investment gains (losses) and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in Net income (loss)		Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in Other comprehensive income (loss)			Purchases		Sales			Settlements			Transfers into Level 3		Transfers out of Level 3			Balance as of September 30, 2015		Unrealized gains (losses) on Level 3 assets and liabilities held as of September 30, 2015 recognized in Net income (loss)
Fixed maturity securities:
Corporate and other bonds	$	141	$	—	$	—		$	27	$	(1	)	$	(11	)	$	—	$	(3	)	$	153	$	—
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	85		—		—			—		—			—			—		(24		)	61		—
Asset-backed:
Residential mortgage-backed	207		2		(2		)	4		—			(7		)	—		—			204		—
Commercial mortgage-backed	87		5		(4		)	8		—			(15		)	—		(10		)	71		—
Other asset-backed	490		—		(6		)	43		(20		)	(32		)	—		(4		)	471		—
Total asset-backed	784		7		(12		)	55		(20		)	(54		)	—		(14		)	746		—
Total fixed maturity securities	1,010		7		(12		)	82		(21		)	(65		)	—		(41		)	960		—
Equity securities	16		—		(1		)	—		—			—			—		—			15		—
Life settlement contracts	75		5		—			—		—			(6		)	—		—			74		2
Total	$	1,101	$	12	$	(13	)	$	82	$	(21	)	$	(71	)	$	—	$	(41	)	$	1,049	$	2

Level 3 (In millions)	Balance as of July 1, 2014		Net realized investment gains (losses) and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in Net income (loss)		Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in Other comprehensive income (loss)			Purchases		Sales		Settlements			Transfers into Level 3		Transfers out of Level 3			Balance as of September 30, 2014		Unrealized gains (losses) on Level 3 assets and liabilities held as of September 30, 2014 recognized in Net income (loss)
Fixed maturity securities:
Corporate and other bonds	$	194	$	—	$	(1	)	$	4	$	—	$	(3	)	$	—	$	(21	)	$	173	$	—
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	79		—		1			—		—		—			—		—			80		—
Asset-backed:
Residential mortgage-backed	185		1		—			—		—		(17		)	11		(20		)	160		—
Commercial mortgage-backed	59		2		(2		)	28		—		(21		)	31		—			97		—
Other asset-backed	626		1		(4		)	80		—		(25		)	—		(36		)	642		—
Total asset-backed	870		4		(6		)	108		—		(63		)	42		(56		)	899		—
Total fixed maturity securities	1,143		4		(6		)	112		—		(66		)	42		(77		)	1,152		—
Equity securities	2		—		(1		)	16		—		—			—		—			17		—
Life settlement contracts	86		1		—			—		—		(1		)	—		—			86		1
Total	$	1,231	$	5	$	(7	)	$	128	$	—	$	(67	)	$	42	$	(77	)	$	1,255	$	1

Level 3 (In millions)	Balance as of January 1, 2015		Net realized investment gains (losses) and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in Net income (loss)			Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in Other comprehensive income (loss)			Purchases		Sales			Settlements			Transfers into Level 3		Transfers out of Level 3			Balance as of September 30, 2015		Unrealized gains (losses) on Level 3 assets and liabilities held as of September 30, 2015 recognized in Net income (loss)
Fixed maturity securities:
Corporate and other bonds	$	162	$	(1	)	$	(1	)	$	39	$	(13	)	$	(32	)	$	37	$	(38	)	$	153	$	—
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	94		1			—			—		—			(10		)	—		(24		)	61		—
Asset-backed:
Residential mortgage-backed	189		4			(4		)	76		—			(28		)	—		(33		)	204		—
Commercial mortgage-backed	83		7			(4		)	23		—			(17		)	17		(38		)	71		—
Other asset-backed	655		3			4			125		(254		)	(52		)	—		(10		)	471		(1		)
Total asset-backed	927		14			(4		)	224		(254		)	(97		)	17		(81		)	746		(1		)
Total fixed maturity securities	1,183		14			(5		)	263		(267		)	(139		)	54		(143		)	960		(1		)
Equity securities	16		—			(1		)	—		—			—			—		—			15		—
Life settlement contracts	82		22			—			—		—			(30		)	—		—			74		1
Total	$	1,281	$	36		$	(6	)	$	263	$	(267	)	$	(169	)	$	54	$	(143	)	$	1,049	$	—

Level 3 (In millions)	Balance as of January 1, 2014		Net realized investment gains (losses) and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in Net income (loss)			Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in Other comprehensive income (loss)			Purchases		Sales			Settlements			Transfers into Level 3		Transfers out of Level 3			Balance as of September 30, 2014		Unrealized gains (losses) on Level 3 assets and liabilities held as of September 30, 2014 recognized in Net income (loss)
Fixed maturity securities:
Corporate and other bonds	$	204	$	2		$	—		$	30	$	(10	)	$	(13	)	$	8	$	(48	)	$	173	$	—
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	71		1			3			1		(10		)	—			14		—			80		—
Asset-backed:
Residential mortgage-backed	331		(22		)	62			47		(174		)	(57		)	32		(59		)	160		—
Commercial mortgage-backed	151		4			(2		)	28		(60		)	(23		)	43		(44		)	97		—
Other asset-backed	446		2			—			457		(111		)	(115		)	—		(37		)	642		(1		)
Total asset-backed	928		(16		)	60			532		(345		)	(195		)	75		(140		)	899		(1		)
Total fixed maturity securities	1,203		(13		)	63			563		(365		)	(208		)	97		(188		)	1,152		(1		)
Equity securities	11		3			(5		)	16		(8		)	—			—		—			17		—
Life settlement contracts	88		23			—			—		—			(25		)	—		—			86		3
Separate account business	1		—			—			—		—			—			—		(1		)	—		—
Total	$	1,303	$	13		$	58		$	579	$	(373	)	$	(233	)	$	97	$	(189	)	$	1,255	$	2

Net realized and unrealized gains and losses, including those shown above, are reported in Net income (loss) as follows:

Major Category of Assets and Liabilities	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Line Items
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	Net realized investment gains (losses)
Fixed maturity securities trading	Net investment income
Equity securities	Net realized investment gains (losses)
Other invested assets - Derivative financial instruments held in a trading portfolio	Net investment income
Other invested assets - Derivative financial instruments not held in a trading portfolio	Net realized investment gains (losses)
Other invested assets - Overseas deposits	Net investment income
Life settlement contracts	Other revenues
Other liabilities - Derivative financial instruments	Net realized investment gains (losses)

Securities shown on the previous pages may be transferred in or out of levels within the fair value hierarchy based on the availability of observable market information and quoted prices used to determine the fair value of the security. The availability of observable market information and quoted prices varies based on market conditions and trading volume. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 there were $10 million of transfers from Level 2 to Level 1 and no transfers from Level 1 to Level 2. During the three months ended September 30, 2014 there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, there were $24 million of transfers from Level 2 to Level 1 and $1 million from Level 1 to Level 2. The Company's policy is to recognize transfers between levels at the beginning of quarterly reporting periods.

Valuation Methodologies and Inputs

The following section describes the valuation methodologies and relevant inputs used to measure different financial instruments at fair value, including an indication of the level in the fair value hierarchy in which the instruments are generally classified.

Fixed Maturity Securities

Level 1 securities include exchange traded bonds, highly liquid U.S. and foreign government bonds and redeemable preferred stock, valued using quoted market prices. Level 2 securities include most other fixed maturity securities as the significant inputs are observable in the marketplace. All classes of Level 2 fixed maturity securities are valued using a methodology based on information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets, a discounted cash flow methodology, or a combination of both when necessary. Common inputs for all classes of fixed maturity securities include prices from recently executed transactions of similar securities, marketplace quotes, benchmark yields, spreads off benchmark yields, interest rates and U.S. Treasury or swap curves. Specifically for asset-backed securities, key inputs include prepayment and default projections based on past performance of the underlying collateral and current market data. Fixed maturity securities are generally assigned to Level 3 in cases where broker/dealer quotes are significant inputs to the valuation and there is a lack of transparency as to whether these quotes are based on information that is observable in the marketplace. Level 3 securities also include private placement debt securities whose fair value is determined using internal models with inputs that are not market observable.

Equity Securities

Level 1 equity securities include publicly traded securities valued using quoted market prices. Level 2 securities are primarily non-redeemable preferred stocks and common stocks valued using pricing for similar securities, recently executed transactions and other pricing models utilizing market observable inputs. Level 3 securities are priced using internal models with inputs that are not market observable.

Derivative Financial Investments

Level 2 securities primarily include the embedded derivative on funds withheld liability and currency forwards. The embedded derivative on funds withheld liability is valued using the change in fair value of the assets supporting the funds withheld liability, which are fixed maturity securities valued with observable inputs. Currency forwards are valued using observable market forward rates.

Overseas Deposits

Overseas deposits, which can be redeemed at net asset value in 90 days or less, are classified as Level 2.

Short Term Investments

Securities that are actively traded or have quoted prices are classified as Level 1. These securities include money market funds and treasury bills. Level 2 primarily includes commercial paper, for which all inputs are market observable. Fixed maturity securities purchased within one year of maturity are classified consistent with fixed maturity securities discussed above. Short term investments as presented in the tables above differ from the amounts presented on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets because certain short term investments, such as time deposits, are not measured at fair value.

Life Settlement Contracts

The fair values of life settlement contracts are determined as the present value of the anticipated death benefits less anticipated premium payments based on contract terms that are distinct for each insured, as well as the Company's own assumptions for mortality, premium expense and the rate of return that a buyer would require on the contracts, as no comparable market pricing data is available.

Significant Unobservable Inputs

The following tables present quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs utilized by the Company in the fair value measurements of Level 3 assets. Valuations for assets and liabilities not presented in the table below are primarily based on broker/dealer quotes for which there is a lack of transparency as to inputs used to develop the valuations. The quantitative detail of these unobservable inputs is neither provided nor reasonably available to the Company.

September 30, 2015	Estimated Fair Value  (In millions)		Valuation Technique(s)	Unobservable Input(s)	Range  (Weighted Average)
Fixed maturity securities	$	121	Discounted cash flow	Credit spread	2% - 31% (3%)
Life settlement contracts	74		Discounted cash flow	Discount rate risk premium	9%
				Mortality assumption	55% - 1676% (164%)

December 31, 2014	Estimated Fair Value (In millions)		Valuation Technique(s)	Unobservable Input(s)	Range  (Weighted Average)
Fixed maturity securities	$	101	Discounted cash flow	Credit spread	2% - 13% (3%)
Equity securities	16		Market approach	Private offering price	$12 - $4,391 per share ($600)
Life settlement contracts	82		Discounted cash flow	Discount rate risk premium	9%
				Mortality assumption	55% - 1676% (163%)

For fixed maturity securities, an increase to the credit spread assumptions would result in a lower fair value measurement. For equity securities, an increase in the private offering price would result in a higher fair value measurement. For life settlement contracts, an increase in the discount rate risk premium or decrease in the mortality assumption would result in a lower fair value measurement.

Financial Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value

The carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Company's financial assets and liabilities which are not measured at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are presented in the following tables.

September 30, 2015	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
(In millions)			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Mortgage loans	$	640	$	—	$	—	$	660	$	660
Liabilities
Short term debt	$	350	$	—	$	366	$	—	$	366
Long term debt	2,211		—		2,478		—		2,478

December 31, 2014	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
(In millions)			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Notes receivable for the issuance of common stock	$	1	$	—	$	—	$	1	$	1
Mortgage loans	588		—		—		608		608
Liabilities
Long term debt	$	2,559	$	—	$	2,883	$	—	$	2,883

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of these financial assets and liabilities.

The fair values of Mortgage loans were based on the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the current interest rate for origination of similar quality loans, adjusted for specific loan risk.

The Company's senior notes and debentures were valued based on observable market prices. The fair value for other debt was estimated using discounted cash flows based on current incremental borrowing rates for similar borrowing arrangements.

The carrying amounts reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for Cash, Short term investments not carried at fair value, Accrued investment income and certain Other assets and Other liabilities approximate fair value due to the short term nature of these items. These assets and liabilities are not listed in the tables above.