XML 127 R11.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
INVESTMENTS
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Investments [Abstract]  
INVESTMENTS
INVESTMENTS
Net Investment Income

The components of net investment income for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
(In millions)
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Fixed-maturity securities
 
$
3,249

 
 
 
$
3,210

 
 
 
$
3,248

 
Perpetual securities
 
141

 
 
 
153

 
 
 
253

 
Equity securities and other
 
7

 
 
 
7

 
 
 
17

 
Short-term investments and cash equivalents
 
2

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
2

 
Gross investment income
 
3,399

 
 
 
3,371

 
 
 
3,520

 
Less investment expenses
 
80

 
 
 
78

 
 
 
47

 
Net investment income
 
$
3,319

 
 
 
$
3,293

 
 
 
$
3,473

 
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 at December 31 are shown in the following tables.
  
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
 
$
17,341

 
 
 
$
1,740

 
 
 
$
0

 
 
 
$
19,081

 
Municipalities
 
88

 
 
 
9

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
97

 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
 
351

 
 
 
35

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
386

 
Public utilities
 
1,691

 
 
 
226

 
 
 
5

 
 
 
1,912

 
Sovereign and supranational
 
799

 
 
 
163

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
962

 
Banks/financial institutions
 
2,752

 
 
 
325

 
 
 
189

 
 
 
2,888

 
Other corporate
 
3,479

 
 
 
531

 
 
 
48

 
 
 
3,962

 
Total yen-denominated
 
26,501

 
 
 
3,029

 
 
 
242

 
 
 
29,288

 
  Dollar-denominated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agencies
 
100

 
 
 
17

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
117

 
Municipalities
 
961

 
 
 
201

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
1,160

 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
 
185

 
 
 
31

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
216

 
Public utilities
 
5,061

 
 
 
960

 
 
 
36

 
 
 
5,985

 
Sovereign and supranational
 
343

 
 
 
111

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
454

 
Banks/financial institutions
 
2,943

 
 
 
775

 
 
 
8

 
 
 
3,710

 
Other corporate
 
22,291

 
 
 
2,682

 
 
 
330

 
 
 
24,643

 
Total dollar-denominated
 
31,884

 
 
 
4,777

 
 
 
376

 
 
 
36,285

 
Total fixed maturities
 
58,385

 
 
 
7,806

 
 
 
618

 
 
 
65,573

 
Perpetual securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Yen-denominated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Banks/financial institutions
 
2,132

 
 
 
223

 
 
 
92

 
 
 
2,263

 
Other corporate
 
183

 
 
 
48

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
231

 
  Dollar-denominated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Banks/financial institutions
 
125

 
 
 
50

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
175

 
Total perpetual securities
 
2,440

 
 
 
321

 
 
 
92

 
 
 
2,669

 
Equity securities
 
19

 
 
 
9

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
28

 
Total securities available for sale
 
$
60,844

 
 
 
$
8,136

 
 
 
$
710

 
 
 
$
68,270

 



  
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
 
$
20,023

 
 
 
$
3,195

 
 
 
$
0

 
 
 
$
23,218

 
Municipalities
 
346

 
 
 
71

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
417

 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
 
43

 
 
 
3

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
46

 
Public utilities
 
3,342

 
 
 
281

 
 
 
20

 
 
 
3,603

 
Sovereign and supranational
 
2,556

 
 
 
272

 
 
 
14

 
 
 
2,814

 
Banks/financial institutions
 
4,932

 
 
 
231

 
 
 
78

 
 
 
5,085

 
Other corporate
 
3,000

 
 
 
326

 
 
 
12

 
 
 
3,314

 
Total yen-denominated
 
34,242

 
 
 
4,379

 
 
 
124

 
 
 
38,497

 
Total securities held to maturity
 
$
34,242

 
 
 
$
4,379

 
 
 
$
124

 
 
 
$
38,497

 

 
 
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

 


  
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 2014, we reclassified three investments from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio as a result of the issuers being downgraded to below investment grade. At the time of the transfer, the securities had an aggregate amortized cost of $424 million and an aggregate unrealized loss of $54 million. During 2013, we reclassified two investments 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 the transfer, the securities had an aggregate amortized cost of $492 million and an aggregate unrealized loss of $153 million. During 2012, we reclassified seven investments from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio as a result of the issuers being downgraded to below investment grade. At the time of the transfer, the securities had an aggregate amortized cost of $1.2 billion and an aggregate unrealized loss of $290 million.
Contractual and Economic Maturities

The contractual maturities of our investments in fixed maturities at December 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
 
$
369

 
 
 
$
390

 
 
 
$
65

 
 
 
$
69

 
Due after one year through five years
 
1,519

 
 
 
1,771

 
 
 
628

 
 
 
724

 
Due after five years through 10 years
 
10,351

 
 
 
10,979

 
 
 
1,472

 
 
 
1,561

 
Due after 10 years
 
34,018

 
 
 
38,595

 
 
 
9,103

 
 
 
10,540

 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
 
405

 
 
 
461

 
 
 
36

 
 
 
46

 
Total fixed maturities available for sale
 
$
46,662

 
 
 
$
52,196

 
 
 
$
11,304

 
 
 
$
12,940

 
Held to maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due after one year through five years
 
1,520

 
 
 
1,631

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
Due after five years through 10 years
 
1,937

 
 
 
2,130

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
Due after 10 years
 
30,742

 
 
 
34,690

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
 
43

 
 
 
46

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
Total fixed maturities held to maturity
 
$
34,242

 
 
 
$
38,497

 
 
 
$
0

 
 
 
$
0

 


At December 31, 2014, the Parent Company had a portfolio of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities totaling $419 million at amortized cost and $437 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 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 after some period of time. The instruments are generally callable by the issuer at the time of changing from a fixed coupon rate to a new variable rate of interest, which is determined by the combination of some market index plus a fixed amount of basis points. The net effect is to create an expected economic maturity date for the instrument. The economic maturities of our investments in perpetual securities, which were all reported as available for sale at December 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
 
$
306

 
 
 
$
300

 
 
 
$
5

 
 
 
$
5

 
Due after one year through five years
 
624

 
 
 
674

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
Due after 10 years
 
1,466

 
 
 
1,635

 
 
 
39

 
 
 
55

 
Total perpetual securities available for sale
 
$
2,396

 
 
 
$
2,609

 
 
 
$
44

 
 
 
$
60

 
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.

Investment exposures that individually exceeded 10% of shareholders' equity as of December 31 were as follows:
 
2014
 
2013
(In millions)
Credit
Rating
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Credit
Rating
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
Japan National Government(1)
A
 
$37,021
 
$41,878
 
AA
 
$41,924
 
$43,619
(1)JGBs or JGB-backed securities
Banks and Financial Institutions

One of our largest investment sector concentrations as of December 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 as of December 31, including those classified as perpetual securities, were as follows:
  
2014
 
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
 
$
10,627

 
 
 
11
%
 
 
 
$
12,427

 
 
 
12
%
 
Fair value
 
11,683

 
 
 
11

 
 
 
12,637

 
 
 
12

 
Perpetual securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Upper Tier II:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost
 
$
1,554

 
 
 
2
%
 
 
 
$
1,920

 
 
 
2
%
 
Fair value
 
1,645

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
1,913

 
 
 
2

 
Tier I:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost
 
703

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
858

 
 
 
1

 
Fair value
 
793

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
825

 
 
 
1

 
Total:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost
 
$
12,884

 
 
 
14
%
 
 
 
$
15,205

 
 
 
15
%
 
Fair value
 
14,121

 
 
 
13

 
 
 
15,375

 
 
 
15

 
Realized Investment Gains and Losses

Information regarding pretax realized gains and losses from investments for the years ended December 31 follows:

 
(In millions)
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Realized investment gains (losses) on securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
Available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
Gross gains from sales
$
192

 
$
316

 
$
427

Gross losses from sales
(12
)
 
(87
)
 
(48
)
Net gains (losses) from redemptions
34

 
34

 
2

Other-than-temporary impairment losses
(31
)
 
(128
)
 
(734
)
Held to maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
Net gains (losses) from redemptions
1

 
0

 
4

Total fixed maturities
184

 
135

 
(349
)
Perpetual securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
Gross gains from sales
0

 
0

 
127

Gross losses from sales
0

 
(1
)
 
(98
)
Net gains (losses) from redemptions
0

 
0

 
60

Other-than-temporary impairment losses
0

 
(70
)
 
(243
)
Total perpetual securities
0

 
(71
)
 
(154
)
Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Other-than-temporary impairment losses
0

 
(1
)
 
0

Total equity securities
0

 
(1
)
 
0

Derivatives and other:
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative gains (losses)
31

 
326

 
151

Other
0

 
10

 
3

  Total derivatives and other
31

 
336

 
154

  Total realized investment gains (losses)
$
215

 
$
399

 
$
(349
)


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 a 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 for the years ended December 31.
(In millions)
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
Perpetual securities
$
0

 
$
70

 
$
243

 
Corporate bonds
31

 
102

 
345

 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
0

 
0

 
3

 
Sovereign and supranational
0

 
26

 
386

 
Equity securities
0

 
1

 
0

 
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses realized (1)
$
31


$
199


$
977



(1) Includes $45 and $597 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, for credit-related impairments;
$26 and $27 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, for impairments due to severity and duration
of decline in fair value; and $31, $128 and $353 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, from change
in intent to sell securities
Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses

Information regarding changes in unrealized gains and losses from investments for the years ended December 31 follows:
(In millions)
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Changes in unrealized gains (losses):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available for sale
 
$
5,629

 
 
 
$
(2,281
)
 
 
 
$
1,624

 
Transferred to held to maturity
 
(10
)
 
 
 
(9
)
 
 
 
(14
)
 
Perpetual securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available for sale
 
269

 
 
 
(129
)
 
 
 
547

 
Equity securities
 
5

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
0

 
Total change in unrealized gains (losses)
 
$
5,893

 
 
 
$
(2,418
)
 
 
 
$
2,157

 


Effect on Shareholders' Equity

The net effect on shareholders' equity of unrealized gains and losses from investment securities at December 31 was as follows:
(In millions)
2014
 
2013
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale
 
$
7,426

 
 
 
$
1,523

 
Unamortized unrealized gains on securities transferred to held to maturity
 
0

 
 
 
11

 
Deferred income taxes
 
(2,754
)
 
 
 
(499
)
 
Shareholders’ equity, unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities
 
$
4,672

 
 
 
$
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 at December 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:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Municipalities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
75

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
53

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
22

 
 
 
1

 
  Public utilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
1,001

 
 
 
36

 
 
 
164

 
 
 
7

 
 
 
837

 
 
 
29

 
  Yen-denominated
 
805

 
 
 
25

 
 
 
98

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
707

 
 
 
24

 
  Sovereign and supranational:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Yen-denominated
 
359

 
 
 
14

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
359

 
 
 
14

 
  Banks/financial institutions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
205

 
 
 
8

 
 
 
53

 
 
 
5

 
 
 
152

 
 
 
3

 
  Yen-denominated
 
1,828

 
 
 
267

 
 
 
166

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
1,662

 
 
 
267

 
  Other corporate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dollar-denominated
 
8,072

 
 
 
330

 
 
 
1,901

 
 
 
62

 
 
 
6,171

 
 
 
268

 
  Yen-denominated
 
1,151

 
 
 
60

 
 
 
122

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
1,029

 
 
 
58

 
  Total fixed maturities
 
13,496

 
 
 
742

 
 
 
2,557

 
 
 
78

 
 
 
10,939

 
 
 
664

 
Perpetual securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Yen-denominated
 
783

 
 
 
92

 
 
 
194

 
 
 
5

 
 
 
589

 
 
 
87

 
  Total perpetual securities
 
783

 
 
 
92

 
 
 
194

 
 
 
5

 
 
 
589

 
 
 
87

 
  Total
 
$
14,279

 
 
 
$
834

 
 
 
$
2,751

 
 
 
$
83

 
 
 
$
11,528

 
 
 
$
751

 




  
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.

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 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 predictions, 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 position as of December 31.
 
2014
2013
(In millions)
Investments 
in an Unrealized
Loss Position
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Gross
Unrealized
Losses that are Investment Grade
Investments 
in an Unrealized
Loss Position
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Gross
Unrealized
Losses that are Investment Grade
Fixed Maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Japan government
   and agencies
 
0
%
 
 
0
%
 
 
0
%
 
 
25
%
 
 
1
%
 
 
100
%
 
  Public utilities
 
13

 
 
7

 
 
100

 
 
13

 
 
12

 
 
98

 
  Sovereign and
   supranational
 
3

 
 
2

 
 
100

 
 
3

 
 
4

 
 
100

 
  Banks/financial
   institutions
 
14

 
 
33

 
 
31

 
 
14

 
 
22

 
 
64

 
  Other corporate
 
65

 
 
47

 
 
88

 
 
41

 
 
53

 
 
91

 
  Total fixed
   maturities
 
95
%
 
 
89
%
 
 
 
 
 
96
%
 
 
92
%
 
 
 
 
Perpetual securities
 
5

 
 
11

 
 
100

 
 
4

 
 
8

 
 
90

 
  Total
 
100
%
 
 
100
%
 
 
 
 
 
100
%
 
 
100
%
 
 
 
 


Assuming no credit-related factors, as investments near maturity, unrealized gains and 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 are 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, and 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 as of December 31 were as follows:

Perpetual Securities
  
  
 
2014
 
2013
(In millions)
Credit
Rating
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
Upper Tier II:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A
 
 
$
61

 
 
 
$
87

 
 
 
$
26

 
 
 
$
145

 
 
 
$
183

 
 
 
$
38

 
 
BBB
 
 
1,330

 
 
 
1,333

 
 
 
3

 
 
 
1,563

 
 
 
1,532

 
 
 
(31
)
 
 
BB or lower
 
 
163

 
 
 
225

 
 
 
62

 
 
 
212

 
 
 
198

 
 
 
(14
)
 
Total Upper Tier II
 
 
 
1,554

 
 
 
1,645

 
 
 
91

 
 
 
1,920

 
 
 
1,913

 
 
 
(7
)
 
Tier I:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BBB
 
 
519

 
 
 
556

 
 
 
37

 
 
 
746

 
 
 
706

 
 
 
(40
)
 
 
BB or lower
 
 
184

 
 
 
237

 
 
 
53

 
 
 
112

 
 
 
119

 
 
 
7

 
Total Tier I
 
 
 
703

 
 
 
793

 
 
 
90

 
 
 
858

 
 
 
825

 
 
 
(33
)
 
Other subordinated
- non-banks:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BB or lower
 
 
183

 
 
 
231

 
 
 
48

 
 
 
209

 
 
 
209

 
 
 
0

 
Total
 
 
 
$
2,440

 
 
 
$
2,669

 
 
 
$
229

 
 
 
$
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 as of December 31.
Investments in Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
  
2014
 
2013
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, available for sale
 
$
3,020

 
 
 
$
4,166

 
 
 
$
4,109

 
 
 
$
4,843

 
Perpetual securities, available for sale
 
405

 
 
 
429

 
 
 
463

 
 
 
468

 
Fixed maturities, held to maturity
 
83

 
 
 
84

 
 
 
237

 
 
 
236

 
Other assets
 
106

 
 
 
106

 
 
 
106

 
 
 
106

 
Total assets of consolidated VIEs
 
$
3,614

 
 
 
$
4,785

 
 
 
$
4,915

 
 
 
$
5,653

 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other liabilities
 
$
318

 
 
 
$
318

 
 
 
$
207

 
 
 
$
207

 
Total liabilities of consolidated VIEs
 
$
318

 
 
 
$
318

 
 
 
$
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 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 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 as of December 31.

Investments in Variable Interest Entities Not Consolidated
 
2014
 
2013
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, available for sale
 
$
6,104

 
 
 
$
6,937

 
 
 
$
6,724

 
 
 
$
6,916

 
Perpetual securities, available for sale
 
324

 
 
 
330

 
 
 
370

 
 
 
378

 
Fixed maturities, held to maturity
 
2,564

 
 
 
2,829

 
 
 
2,949

 
 
 
3,039

 
Total investments in VIEs not consolidated
 
$
8,992

 
 
 
$
10,096

 
 
 
$
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 191 separate issuers with an average credit rating of BBB.
Securities Lending and Pledged Securities

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 as of December 31:
(In millions)
 
2014

 
 
 
2013

 
Security loans outstanding, fair value
 
$
2,149

 
 
 
$
5,656

 
Cash collateral on loaned securities
 
2,193

 
 
 
5,820

 


Certain fixed-maturity securities have been pledged as collateral as part of derivative transactions. For additional information regarding pledged securities related to derivative transactions, see Note 4.

At December 31, 2014, debt securities with a fair value of $13 million were on deposit with regulatory authorities in
the United States (including U.S. territories) and Japan. We retain ownership of all securities on deposit and receive the related investment income.

For general information regarding our investment accounting policies, see Note 1.