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INVESTMENTS
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Investments [Abstract]  
INVESTMENTS
INVESTMENTS
Investment Holdings
The amortized cost for our investments in debt and perpetual securities, the cost for equity securities and the fair values of these investments are shown in the following tables.
  
March 31, 2014
(In millions)
Cost or
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
  Fair
  Value
Securities available for sale, carried at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Yen-denominated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Japan government and agencies
 
$
18,152

 
 
 
$
608

 
 
 
$
3

 
 
 
$
18,757

 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
 
444

 
 
 
33

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
477

 
Public utilities
 
2,223

 
 
 
96

 
 
 
24

 
 
 
2,295

 
Sovereign and supranational
 
937

 
 
 
125

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
1,062

 
Banks/financial institutions
 
2,926

 
 
 
235

 
 
 
218

 
 
 
2,943

 
Other corporate
 
4,051

 
 
 
184

 
 
 
163

 
 
 
4,072

 
Total yen-denominated
 
28,733

 
 
 
1,281

 
 
 
408

 
 
 
29,606

 
  Dollar-denominated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agencies
 
141

 
 
 
10

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
149

 
Municipalities
 
998

 
 
 
103

 
 
 
4

 
 
 
1,097

 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
 
169

 
 
 
20

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
189

 
Public utilities
 
5,156

 
 
 
577

 
 
 
102

 
 
 
5,631

 
Sovereign and supranational
 
396

 
 
 
86

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
482

 
Banks/financial institutions
 
3,340

 
 
 
526

 
 
 
17

 
 
 
3,849

 
Other corporate
 
22,392

 
 
 
1,611

 
 
 
725

 
 
 
23,278

 
Total dollar-denominated
 
32,592

 
 
 
2,933

 
 
 
850

 
 
 
34,675

 
Total fixed maturities
 
61,325

 
 
 
4,214

 
 
 
1,258

 
 
 
64,281

 
Perpetual securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Yen-denominated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Banks/financial institutions
 
2,644

 
 
 
165

 
 
 
250

 
 
 
2,559

 
Other corporate
 
214

 
 
 
15

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
229

 
  Dollar-denominated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Banks/financial institutions
 
199

 
 
 
35

 
 
 
6

 
 
 
228

 
Total perpetual securities
 
3,057

 
 
 
215

 
 
 
256

 
 
 
3,016

 
Equity securities
 
17

 
 
 
5

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
21

 
Total securities available for sale
 
$
64,399

 
 
 
$
4,434

 
 
 
$
1,515

 
 
 
$
67,318

 

  
March 31, 2014
(In millions)
Cost or
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair  
Value  
Securities held to maturity, carried at amortized cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Yen-denominated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Japan government and agencies
 
$
23,461

 
 
 
$
1,668

 
 
 
$
0

 
 
 
$
25,129

 
Municipalities
 
409

 
 
 
46

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
455

 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
 
58

 
 
 
3

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
61

 
Public utilities
 
3,993

 
 
 
189

 
 
 
107

 
 
 
4,075

 
Sovereign and supranational
 
3,011

 
 
 
163

 
 
 
56

 
 
 
3,118

 
Banks/financial institutions
 
6,398

 
 
 
174

 
 
 
295

 
 
 
6,277

 
Other corporate
 
3,528

 
 
 
221

 
 
 
48

 
 
 
3,701

 
Total yen-denominated
 
40,858

 
 
 
2,464

 
 
 
506

 
 
 
42,816

 
Total securities held to maturity
 
$
40,858

 
 
 
$
2,464

 
 
 
$
506

 
 
 
$
42,816

 

  
December 31, 2013
(In millions)
Cost or
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
  Fair
  Value
Securities available for sale, carried at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Yen-denominated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Japan government and agencies
 
$
14,936

 
 
 
$
431

 
 
 
$
33

 
 
 
$
15,334

 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
 
558

 
 
 
29

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
587

 
Public utilities
 
2,261

 
 
 
100

 
 
 
18

 
 
 
2,343

 
Sovereign and supranational
 
978

 
 
 
85

 
 
 
28

 
 
 
1,035

 
Banks/financial institutions
 
2,799

 
 
 
220

 
 
 
242

 
 
 
2,777

 
Other corporate
 
3,956

 
 
 
151

 
 
 
185

 
 
 
3,922

 
Total yen-denominated
 
25,488

 
 
 
1,016

 
 
 
506

 
 
 
25,998

 
  Dollar-denominated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agencies
 
92

 
 
 
10

 
 
 
4

 
 
 
98

 
Municipalities
 
992

 
 
 
71

 
 
 
12

 
 
 
1,051

 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
 
163

 
 
 
21

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
184

 
Public utilities
 
4,931

 
 
 
471

 
 
 
183

 
 
 
5,219

 
Sovereign and supranational
 
404

 
 
 
85

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
488

 
Banks/financial institutions
 
3,318

 
 
 
447

 
 
 
33

 
 
 
3,732

 
Other corporate
 
21,123

 
 
 
1,347

 
 
 
1,170

 
 
 
21,300

 
Total dollar-denominated
 
31,023

 
 
 
2,452

 
 
 
1,403

 
 
 
32,072

 
Total fixed maturities
 
56,511

 
 
 
3,468

 
 
 
1,909

 
 
 
58,070

 
Perpetual securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Yen-denominated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Banks/financial institutions
 
2,582

 
 
 
151

 
 
 
217

 
 
 
2,516

 
Other corporate
 
209

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
209

 
  Dollar-denominated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Banks/financial institutions
 
196

 
 
 
35

 
 
 
9

 
 
 
222

 
Total perpetual securities
 
2,987

 
 
 
186

 
 
 
226

 
 
 
2,947

 
Equity securities
 
17

 
 
 
5

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
21

 
Total securities available for sale
 
$
59,515

 
 
 
$
3,659

 
 
 
$
2,136

 
 
 
$
61,038

 


  
December 31, 2013
(In millions)
Cost or
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
Securities held to maturity, carried at amortized cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Yen-denominated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Japan government and agencies
 
$
27,362

 
 
 
$
1,347

 
 
 
$
1

 
 
 
$
28,708

 
Municipalities
 
399

 
 
 
41

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
440

 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
 
58

 
 
 
3

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
61

 
Public utilities
 
3,900

 
 
 
150

 
 
 
122

 
 
 
3,928

 
Sovereign and supranational
 
2,941

 
 
 
171

 
 
 
72

 
 
 
3,040

 
Banks/financial institutions
 
6,310

 
 
 
146

 
 
 
328

 
 
 
6,128

 
Other corporate
 
3,445

 
 
 
183

 
 
 
87

 
 
 
3,541

 
Total yen-denominated
 
44,415

 
 
 
2,041

 
 
 
610

 
 
 
45,846

 
Total securities held to maturity
 
$
44,415

 
 
 
$
2,041

 
 
 
$
610

 
 
 
$
45,846

 


The methods of determining the fair values of our investments in fixed-maturity securities, perpetual securities and equity securities are described in Note 5.

During the first quarter of 2014, we reclassified one investment from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio as a result of the issuer being downgraded to below investment grade. At the time of transfer, the security had an amortized cost of $63 million and an unrealized loss of $8 million. During the first quarter of 2013, we did not reclassify any investments from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio.
Contractual and Economic Maturities
The contractual maturities of our investments in fixed maturities at March 31, 2014, were as follows:
  
Aflac Japan
 
Aflac U.S.
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair  
Value  
Available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due in one year or less
 
$
607

 
 
 
$
616

 
 
 
$
50

 
 
 
$
52

 
Due after one year through five years
 
1,819

 
 
 
1,953

 
 
 
565

 
 
 
662

 
Due after five years through 10 years
 
10,783

 
 
 
10,868

 
 
 
1,562

 
 
 
1,653

 
Due after 10 years
 
36,378

 
 
 
37,916

 
 
 
8,675

 
 
 
9,608

 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
 
509

 
 
 
553

 
 
 
38

 
 
 
47

 
Total fixed maturities available for sale
 
$
50,096

 
 
 
$
51,906

 
 
 
$
10,890

 
 
 
$
12,022

 
Held to maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due in one year or less
 
$
101

 
 
 
$
102

 
 
 
$
0

 
 
 
$
0

 
Due after one year through five years
 
1,605

 
 
 
1,756

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
Due after five years through 10 years
 
2,180

 
 
 
2,316

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
Due after 10 years
 
36,914

 
 
 
38,581

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
 
58

 
 
 
61

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
Total fixed maturities held to maturity
 
$
40,858

 
 
 
$
42,816

 
 
 
$
0

 
 
 
$
0

 


At March 31, 2014, the Parent Company had a portfolio of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities totaling $339 million at amortized cost and $353 million at fair value, which is not included in the table above.

Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because some issuers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call premiums or prepayment penalties.

The majority of our perpetual securities are subordinated to other debt obligations of the issuer, but rank higher than the issuer's equity securities. Perpetual securities have characteristics of both debt and equity investments, along with unique features that create economic maturity dates for the securities. Although perpetual securities have no contractual maturity date, they have stated interest coupons that were fixed at their issuance and subsequently change to a floating short-term interest rate of 125 to more than 300 basis points above an appropriate market index, generally by the 25th year after issuance, thereby creating an economic maturity date. The economic maturities of our investments in perpetual securities, which were all reported as available for sale at March 31, 2014, were as follows:
  
Aflac Japan
 
Aflac U.S.
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair  
Value  
Due in one year or less
 
$
291

 
 
 
$
275

 
 
 
$
0

 
 
 
$
0

 
Due after one year through five years
 
730

 
 
 
701

 
 
 
5

 
 
 
5

 
Due after five years through 10 years
 
214

 
 
 
229

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
Due after 10 years
 
1,718

 
 
 
1,698

 
 
 
99

 
 
 
108

 
Total perpetual securities available for sale
 
$
2,953

 
 
 
$
2,903

 
 
 
$
104

 
 
 
$
113

 


Investment Concentrations

Our investment process begins with an independent approach to underwriting each issuer's fundamental credit quality. We evaluate independently those factors which we believe could influence an issuer's ability to make payments under the contractual terms of our instruments. This includes a thorough analysis of a variety of items including the issuer's country of domicile (including political, legal, and financial considerations); the industry in which the issuer competes (with an analysis of industry structure, end-market dynamics, and regulation); company specific issues (such as management, assets, earnings, cash generation, and capital needs); and contractual provisions of the instrument (such as financial covenants and position in the capital structure). We further evaluate the investment considering broad business and portfolio management objectives, including asset/liability needs, portfolio diversification, and expected income.

Banks and Financial Institutions

One of our largest investment sector concentrations as of March 31, 2014, was banks and financial institutions. Within the countries we approve for investment opportunities, we primarily invest in financial institutions that are strategically crucial to each approved country's economy. The bank and financial institution sector is a highly regulated industry and plays a strategic role in the global economy.

Our total investments in the bank and financial institution sector, including those classified as perpetual securities, were as follows:
  
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
  
Total Investments in
Banks and Financial
Institutions Sector
(in millions)
 
Percentage of
Total Investment
Portfolio
 
Total Investments in
Banks and Financial
Institutions Sector
(in millions)
 
Percentage of
Total Investment    
Portfolio
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost
 
$
12,664

 
 
 
12
%
 
 
 
$
12,427

 
 
 
12
%
 
Fair value
 
13,069

 
 
 
12

 
 
 
12,637

 
 
 
12

 
Perpetual securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Upper Tier II:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost
 
$
1,967

 
 
 
2
%
 
 
 
$
1,920

 
 
 
2
%
 
Fair value
 
1,965

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
1,913

 
 
 
2

 
Tier I:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost
 
876

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
858

 
 
 
1

 
Fair value
 
822

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
825

 
 
 
1

 
Total:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost
 
$
15,507

 
 
 
15
%
 
 
 
$
15,205

 
 
 
15
%
 
Fair value
 
15,856

 
 
 
15

 
 
 
15,375

 
 
 
15

 


Realized Investment Gains and Losses

Information regarding pretax realized gains and losses from investments is as follows:
  
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
(In millions)
2014
 
2013
 
Realized investment gains (losses) on securities:
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
Available for sale:
 
 
 
 
Gross gains from sales
$
35

 
$
119

 
Gross losses from sales
(1
)
 
(6
)
 
Net gains (losses) from redemptions
7

 
6

 
Other-than-temporary impairment losses
(3
)
 
(54
)
 
Total fixed maturities
38

 
65

 
Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
Other-than-temporary impairment losses
0

 
(1
)
 
Total equity securities
0

 
(1
)
 
Derivatives and other:
 
 
 
 
Derivative gains (losses)
(83
)
 
87

 
Other
(1
)
 
5

 
  Total derivatives and other
(84
)
 
92

 
  Total realized investment gains (losses)
$
(46
)
 
$
156

 


Other-than-temporary Impairment

The fair values of our debt and perpetual security investments fluctuate based on changes in interest rates, foreign exchange, and credit spreads in the global financial markets. Fair values can also be heavily influenced by the values of the assets of the issuer and expected ultimate recovery values upon default, bankruptcy or other financial restructuring. Credit spreads are most impacted by the general credit environment and global market liquidity. Interest rates are driven by numerous factors including, but not limited to, supply and demand, governmental monetary actions, expectations of inflation and economic growth. We believe that fluctuations in the fair values of our investment securities related to general changes in the level of credit spreads or interest rates have little bearing on underlying credit quality of the issuer, and whether our investment is ultimately recoverable. Generally, we consider such declines in fair values to be temporary even in situations where an investment remains in an unrealized loss position for a year or more.

However, in the course of our credit review process, we may determine that it is unlikely that we will recover our investment in an issuer due to factors specific to an individual issuer, as opposed to general changes in global credit spreads or interest rates. In this event, we consider such a decline in the investment's fair value, to the extent it is below the investment's cost or amortized cost, to be an other-than-temporary impairment of the investment and reduce the book value of the investment to its fair value.
 
In addition to the usual investment risk associated with a debt instrument, our perpetual security holdings are largely issued by banks that are integral to the financial markets of the sovereign country of the issuer. As a result of the issuer's position within the economy of the sovereign country, our perpetual securities may be subject to a higher risk of nationalization of their issuers in connection with capital injections from an issuer's sovereign government. We cannot be assured that such capital support will extend to all levels of an issuer's capital structure. In addition, certain governments or regulators may consider imposing interest and principal payment restrictions on issuers of hybrid securities to preserve cash and preserve the issuer's capital. Beyond the cash flow impact that additional deferrals would have on our portfolio, such deferrals could result in ratings downgrades of the affected securities, which in turn could result in a reduction of fair value of the securities and increase our regulatory capital requirements. We consider these factors in our credit review process.

When determining our intention to sell a security prior to recovery of its fair value to amortized cost, we evaluate facts and circumstances such as, but not limited to, future cash flow needs, decisions to reposition our security portfolio, and risk profile of individual investment holdings. We perform ongoing analyses of our liquidity needs, which includes cash flow testing of our policy liabilities, debt maturities, projected dividend payments and other cash flow and liquidity needs. Our cash flow testing includes extensive duration analysis of our investment portfolio and policy liabilities. Based on our analyses, we have concluded that we have sufficient excess cash flows to meet our liquidity needs without selling any of our investments prior to their maturity.

The following table details our pretax other-than-temporary impairment losses by investment category that resulted from our impairment evaluation process.
  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(In millions)
2014
 
2013
 
Corporate bonds
$
3

 
$
38

 
Sovereign and supranational
0

 
16

 
Equity securities
0

 
1

 
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses realized (1)
$
3

 
$
55


(1) Includes $0 and $1 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, for impairments due to severity and duration of decline in fair value and $3 and $54 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, from change in intent to sell securities

Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses
Effect on Shareholders’ Equity
The net effect on shareholders’ equity of unrealized gains and losses from investment securities was as follows:
(In millions)
March 31, 2014
 
December 31,
2013
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale
 
$
2,919

 
 
 
$
1,523

 
Unamortized unrealized gains on securities transferred to held to maturity
 
10

 
 
 
11

 
Deferred income taxes
 
(985
)
 
 
 
(499
)
 
Shareholders’ equity, unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities
 
$
1,944

 
 
 
$
1,035

 

Gross Unrealized Loss Aging
The following tables show the fair values and gross unrealized losses of our available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investments that were in an unrealized loss position, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

  
March 31, 2014
  
Total
 
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or longer
(In millions)
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
Fixed Maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Japan government and agencies:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Yen-denominated
 
$
1,014

 
 
 
$
3

 
 
 
$
1,009

 
 
 
$
3

 
 
 
$
5

 
 
 
$
0

 
  Municipalities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
91

 
 
 
4

 
 
 
70

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
21

 
 
 
2

 
  Public utilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
1,700

 
 
 
102

 
 
 
1,342

 
 
 
70

 
 
 
358

 
 
 
32

 
  Yen-denominated
 
1,959

 
 
 
131

 
 
 
1,119

 
 
 
47

 
 
 
840

 
 
 
84

 
  Sovereign and supranational:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
13

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
13

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
  Yen-denominated
 
887

 
 
 
56

 
 
 
358

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
529

 
 
 
54

 
  Banks/financial institutions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
381

 
 
 
17

 
 
 
283

 
 
 
11

 
 
 
98

 
 
 
6

 
  Yen-denominated
 
4,665

 
 
 
513

 
 
 
1,187

 
 
 
28

 
 
 
3,478

 
 
 
485

 
  Other corporate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
11,291

 
 
 
725

 
 
 
7,334

 
 
 
371

 
 
 
3,957

 
 
 
354

 
  Yen-denominated
 
2,685

 
 
 
211

 
 
 
598

 
 
 
24

 
 
 
2,087

 
 
 
187

 
  U.S. government and agencies:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
88

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
88

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
  Total fixed maturities
 
24,774

 
 
 
1,764

 
 
 
13,401

 
 
 
560

 
 
 
11,373

 
 
 
1,204

 
Perpetual securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
63

 
 
 
6

 
 
 
56

 
 
 
4

 
 
 
7

 
 
 
2

 
  Yen-denominated
 
1,485

 
 
 
250

 
 
 
349

 
 
 
4

 
 
 
1,136

 
 
 
246

 
  Total perpetual securities
 
1,548

 
 
 
256

 
 
 
405

 
 
 
8

 
 
 
1,143

 
 
 
248

 
Equity securities
 
5

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
5

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
1

 
  Total
 
$
26,327

 
 
 
$
2,021

 
 
 
$
13,811

 
 
 
$
568

 
 
 
$
12,516

 
 
 
$
1,453

 

  
December 31, 2013
  
Total
 
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or longer
(In millions)
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
Fixed Maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Japan government and agencies:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Yen-denominated
 
$
8,869

 
 
 
$
34

 
 
 
$
8,869

 
 
 
$
34

 
 
 
$
0

 
 
 
$
0

 
  Municipalities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
177

 
 
 
12

 
 
 
145

 
 
 
8

 
 
 
32

 
 
 
4

 
  Public utilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
2,023

 
 
 
183

 
 
 
1,740

 
 
 
143

 
 
 
283

 
 
 
40

 
  Yen-denominated
 
2,519

 
 
 
140

 
 
 
1,816

 
 
 
54

 
 
 
703

 
 
 
86

 
  Sovereign and supranational:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
12

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
12

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
  Yen-denominated
 
1,152

 
 
 
100

 
 
 
791

 
 
 
34

 
 
 
361

 
 
 
66

 
  Banks/financial institutions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
547

 
 
 
33

 
 
 
454

 
 
 
23

 
 
 
93

 
 
 
10

 
  Yen-denominated
 
4,533

 
 
 
570

 
 
 
2,322

 
 
 
107

 
 
 
2,211

 
 
 
463

 
  Other corporate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
11,588

 
 
 
1,170

 
 
 
8,504

 
 
 
733

 
 
 
3,084

 
 
 
437

 
  Yen-denominated
 
3,372

 
 
 
272

 
 
 
2,296

 
 
 
152

 
 
 
1,076

 
 
 
120

 
  U.S. government and agencies:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
36

 
 
 
4

 
 
 
36

 
 
 
4

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
  Total fixed maturities
 
34,828

 
 
 
2,519

 
 
 
26,985

 
 
 
1,293

 
 
 
7,843

 
 
 
1,226

 
Perpetual securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
59

 
 
 
9

 
 
 
52

 
 
 
8

 
 
 
7

 
 
 
1

 
  Yen-denominated
 
1,322

 
 
 
217

 
 
 
748

 
 
 
74

 
 
 
574

 
 
 
143

 
  Total perpetual securities
 
1,381

 
 
 
226

 
 
 
800

 
 
 
82

 
 
 
581

 
 
 
144

 
Equity securities
 
5

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
5

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
  Total
 
$
36,214

 
 
 
$
2,746

 
 
 
$
27,790

 
 
 
$
1,376

 
 
 
$
8,424

 
 
 
$
1,370

 


Analysis of Securities in Unrealized Loss Positions

The unrealized losses on our investments have been primarily related to general market changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and/or the levels of credit spreads rather than specific concerns with the issuer's ability to pay interest and repay principal. In addition, in the first quarter of 2013, we refined our methodology for valuing certain privately issued securities (see Note 5).

For any significant declines in fair value, we perform a more focused review of the related issuers' credit profile. For corporate issuers, we evaluate their assets, business profile including industry dynamics and competitive positioning, financial statements and other available financial data. For non-corporate issuers, we analyze all sources of credit support, including issuer-specific factors. We utilize information available in the public domain and, for certain private placement issuers, from consultations with the issuers directly. We also consider ratings from the Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSROs), as well as the specific characteristics of the security we own including seniority in the issuer's capital structure, covenant protections, or other relevant features. From these reviews, we evaluate the issuers' continued ability to service our investment through payment of interest and principal.

The following table provides more information on our unrealized loss positions.
 
 
March 31, 2014
 
 
December 31, 2013
 
(In millions)
Percentage of
Total Investments
in an Unrealized
Loss Position
Percentage of
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Percentage of
Gross
Unrealized
Losses for Investment Grade Securities
Percentage of
Total Investments
in an Unrealized
Loss Position
Percentage of
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Percentage of
Gross
Unrealized
Losses for Investment Grade Securities
Fixed Maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Japan government
and agencies
 
4
%
 
 
0
%
 
 
100
%
 
 
25
%
 
 
1
%
 
 
100
%
 
  Public utilities
 
14

 
 
12

 
 
96

 
 
13

 
 
12

 
 
98

 
  Sovereign and
supranational
 
4

 
 
3

 
 
100

 
 
3

 
 
4

 
 
100

 
  Banks/financial
institutions
 
19

 
 
26

 
 
62

 
 
14

 
 
22

 
 
64

 
  Other corporate
 
53

 
 
46

 
 
87

 
 
41

 
 
53

 
 
91

 
  Total fixed
maturities
 
94
%
 
 
87
%
 
 
 
 
 
96
%
 
 
92
%
 
 
 
 
Perpetual securities
 
6

 
 
13

 
 
91

 
 
4

 
 
8

 
 
90

 
  Total
 
100
%
 
 
100
%
 
 
 
 
 
100
%
 
 
100
%
 
 
 
 


Assuming no credit-related factors develop, as investments near maturity, the unrealized gains or losses are expected to diminish. Based on our credit analysis, we believe that the issuers of our investments in the sectors shown in the table above have the ability to service their obligations to us.

Perpetual Securities

The majority of our investments in Upper Tier II and Tier I perpetual securities were in highly-rated global financial institutions. Upper Tier II securities have more debt-like characteristics than Tier I securities and are senior to Tier I securities, preferred stock, and common equity of the issuer. Conversely, Tier I securities have more equity-like characteristics, but are senior to the common equity of the issuer. They may also be senior to certain preferred shares, depending on the individual security, the issuer's capital structure and the regulatory jurisdiction of the issuer.

Details of our holdings of perpetual securities were as follows:

Perpetual Securities
  
  
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
(In millions)
Credit
Rating
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
Upper Tier II:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A
 
 
$
149

 
 
 
$
185

 
 
 
$
36

 
 
 
$
145

 
 
 
$
183

 
 
 
$
38

 
 
BBB
 
 
1,601

 
 
 
1,582

 
 
 
(19
)
 
 
 
1,563

 
 
 
1,532

 
 
 
(31
)
 
 
BB or lower
 
 
217

 
 
 
198

 
 
 
(19
)
 
 
 
212

 
 
 
198

 
 
 
(14
)
 
Total Upper Tier II
 
 
1,967

 
 
 
1,965

 
 
 
(2
)
 
 
 
1,920

 
 
 
1,913

 
 
 
(7
)
 
Tier I:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BBB
 
 
764

 
 
 
696

 
 
 
(68
)
 
 
 
746

 
 
 
706

 
 
 
(40
)
 
 
BB or lower
 
 
112

 
 
 
126

 
 
 
14

 
 
 
112

 
 
 
119

 
 
 
7

 
Total Tier I
 
 
 
876

 
 
 
822

 
 
 
(54
)
 
 
 
858

 
 
 
825

 
 
 
(33
)
 
Other subordinated
- non-banks:
BB or lower
 
 
214

 
 
 
229

 
 
 
15

 
 
 
209

 
 
 
209

 
 
 
0

 
Total
 
 
 
$
3,057

 
 
 
$
3,016

 
 
 
$
(41
)
 
 
 
$
2,987

 
 
 
$
2,947

 
 
 
$
(40
)
 


Assuming no credit-related factors develop, as investments near maturity, the unrealized gains or losses are expected to diminish. Based on our credit analysis, we believe that the issuers of our investments in these sectors have the ability to service their obligations to us.

Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)

As a condition to our involvement or investment in a VIE, we enter into certain protective rights and covenants that preclude changes in the structure of the VIE that would alter the creditworthiness of our investment or our beneficial interest in the VIE.

Our involvement with all of the VIEs in which we have an interest is passive in nature, and we are not the arranger of these entities. We have not been involved in establishing these entities, except as it relates to our review and evaluation of the structure of these VIEs in the normal course of our investment decision-making process. Further, we are not, nor have we been, required to purchase any securities issued in the future by these VIEs.

Our ownership interest in the VIEs is limited to holding the obligations issued by them. All of the VIEs in which we invest are static with respect to funding and have no ongoing forms of funding after the initial funding date. We have no direct or contingent obligations to fund the limited activities of these VIEs, nor do we have any direct or indirect financial guarantees related to the limited activities of these VIEs. We have not provided any assistance or any other type of financing support to any of the VIEs we invest in, nor do we have any intention to do so in the future. The weighted-average lives of our notes are very similar to the underlying collateral held by these VIEs where applicable.

Our risk of loss related to our interests in any of our VIEs is limited to our investment in the debt securities issued by them.
VIEs - Consolidated
The following table presents the amortized cost, fair value and balance sheet caption in which the assets and liabilities of consolidated VIEs are reported.
Investments in Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, available for sale
 
$
3,896

 
 
 
$
4,662

 
 
 
$
4,109

 
 
 
$
4,843

 
Perpetual securities, available for sale
 
475

 
 
 
478

 
 
 
463

 
 
 
468

 
Fixed maturities, held to maturity
 
243

 
 
 
240

 
 
 
237

 
 
 
236

 
Other assets
 
107

 
 
 
107

 
 
 
106

 
 
 
106

 
Total assets of consolidated VIEs
 
$
4,721

 
 
 
$
5,487

 
 
 
$
4,915

 
 
 
$
5,653

 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other liabilities
 
$
194

 
 
 
$
194

 
 
 
$
207

 
 
 
$
207

 
Total liabilities of consolidated VIEs
 
$
194

 
 
 
$
194

 
 
 
$
207

 
 
 
$
207

 


We are substantively the only investor in the consolidated VIEs listed in the table above. As the sole investor in these VIEs, we have the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and are therefore considered to be the primary beneficiary of the VIEs that we consolidate. We also participate in substantially all of the variability created by these VIEs. The activities of these VIEs are limited to holding debt and perpetual securities and interest rate, foreign currency, and/or credit default swaps (CDSs), as appropriate, and utilizing the cash flows from these securities to service our investment. Neither we nor any of our creditors are able to obtain the underlying collateral of the VIEs unless there is an event of default or other specified event. For those VIEs that contain a swap, we are not a direct counterparty to the swap contracts and have no control over them. Our loss exposure to these VIEs is limited to our original investment. Our consolidated VIEs do not rely on outside or ongoing sources of funding to support their activities beyond the underlying collateral and swap contracts, if applicable. With the exception of our investment in senior secured bank loans through unit trust structures, the underlying collateral assets and funding of our consolidated VIEs are generally static in nature and the underlying collateral and the reference corporate entities covered by any CDS contracts were all investment grade at the time of issuance.

We are exposed to credit losses within any consolidated collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) that could result in principal losses to our investments. We have mitigated our risk of credit loss through the structure of the VIE, which contractually requires the subordinated tranches within these VIEs to absorb the majority of the expected losses from the underlying credit default swaps. We currently own only senior mezzanine CDO tranches. Based on our statistical analysis models and the current subordination levels in our CDOs, each of these VIEs can sustain a reasonable number of defaults in the underlying reference entities in the CDSs with no loss to our investment.

VIEs-Not Consolidated
The table below reflects the amortized cost, fair value and balance sheet caption in which our investment in VIEs not consolidated are reported.
Investments in Variable Interest Entities Not Consolidated
  
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, available for sale
 
$
6,824

 
 
 
$
7,191

 
 
 
$
6,724

 
 
 
$
6,916

 
Perpetual securities, available for sale
 
379

 
 
 
395

 
 
 
370

 
 
 
378

 
Fixed maturities, held to maturity
 
3,019

 
 
 
3,142

 
 
 
2,949

 
 
 
3,039

 
Total investments in VIEs not consolidated
 
$
10,222

 
 
 
$
10,728

 
 
 
$
10,043

 
 
 
$
10,333

 


The VIEs that we are not required to consolidate are investments that are in the form of debt obligations from the VIEs that are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed by their corporate parents or sponsors. These VIEs are the primary financing vehicles used by their corporate sponsors to raise financing in the international capital markets. The variable interests created by these VIEs are principally or solely a result of the debt instruments issued by them. We do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance, nor do we have (1) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or (2) the right to receive benefits from the entity. As such, we are not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs and are therefore not required to consolidate them. These VIE investments comprise securities from 174 separate issuers with an average credit rating of BBB.

Securities Lending

We lend fixed-maturity securities to financial institutions in short-term security-lending transactions. These short-term security-lending arrangements increase investment income with minimal risk. Our security lending policy requires that the fair value of the securities and/or unrestricted cash received as collateral be 102% or more of the fair value of the loaned securities. The following table presents our security loans outstanding and the corresponding collateral held: 
(In millions)
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Security loans outstanding, fair value
 
$
3,234

 
 
 
$
5,656

 
Cash collateral on loaned securities
 
3,313

 
 
 
5,820