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INVESTMENTS
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Investments [Abstract]  
Investments INVESTMENTS
Net Investment Income

The components of net investment income for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
(In millions)202120202019
Fixed maturity securities$3,068 $3,113 $3,141 
Equity securities35 29 37 
Commercial mortgage and other loans570 545 468 
Other investments (1)
356 145 53 
Short-term investments and cash equivalents7 18 56 
Gross investment income4,036 3,850 3,755 
Less investment expenses218 212 177 
Net investment income$3,818 $3,638 $3,578 
(1) The change in value of federal historic rehabilitation and solar investments in partnerships of $138 in 2021 is included as a reduction to net investment income. Tax credits on these investments of $115 in 2021 have been recorded as an income tax benefit in the consolidated statement of earnings.
Investment Holdings
The amortized cost for the Company's investments in fixed maturity securities, the cost for equity securities and the fair values of these investments at December 31 are shown in the following tables.
  2021
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Credit LossesGross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
  Value
Securities available for sale, carried at fair
  value through other comprehensive income:
Fixed maturity securities:
  Yen-denominated:
Japan government and agencies$30,335 $0 $3,343 $61 $33,617 
Municipalities1,192 0 322 5 1,509 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities300 0 19 1 318 
Public utilities4,462 0 906 2 5,366 
Sovereign and supranational760 0 82 0 842 
Banks/financial institutions6,963 0 787 72 7,678 
Other corporate7,148 0 1,535 26 8,657 
Total yen-denominated51,160 0 6,994 167 57,987 
  U.S. dollar-denominated:
U.S. government and agencies196 0 8 1 203 
Municipalities1,340 0 189 2 1,527 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities897 0 33 2 928 
Public utilities3,781 0 909 5 4,685 
Sovereign and supranational222 0 57 6 273 
Banks/financial institutions3,169 0 747 3 3,913 
Other corporate24,604 0 4,629 53 29,180 
Total U.S. dollar-denominated34,209 0 6,572 72 40,709 
Total securities available for sale$85,369 $0 $13,566 $239 $98,696 
 
2020
(In millions)Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Credit LossesGross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
  Value
Securities available for sale, carried at fair value
  through other comprehensive income:
Fixed maturity securities:
  Yen-denominated:
Japan government and agencies$32,959 $$4,182 $52 $37,089 
Municipalities1,324 374 1,693 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities342 27 368 
Public utilities4,777 1,096 5,872 
Sovereign and supranational981 108 1,089 
Banks/financial institutions7,552 886 102 8,336 
Other corporate8,114 1,747 37 9,824 
Total yen-denominated56,049 8,420 198 64,271 
  U.S. dollar-denominated:
U.S. government and agencies245 16 261 
Municipalities1,154 173 1,325 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities667 670 
Public utilities4,013 947 15 4,945 
Sovereign and supranational232 64 293 
Banks/financial institutions2,973 758 3,724 
Other corporate26,297 38 4,385 251 30,393 
Total U.S. dollar-denominated35,581 38 6,351 283 41,611 
Total securities available for sale$91,630 $38 $14,771 $481 $105,882 

  2021
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Credit LossesNet Carrying AmountGross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair  
Value  
Securities held to maturity, carried at
  amortized cost:
Fixed maturity securities:
  Yen-denominated:
Japan government and agencies$21,089 $3 $21,086 $4,613 $0 $25,699 
Municipalities335 0 335 101 0 436 
Public utilities44 1 43 12 0 55 
Sovereign and supranational518 4 514 136 0 650 
Other corporate22 0 22 7 0 29 
Total yen-denominated22,008 8 22,000 4,869 0 26,869 
Total securities held to maturity$22,008 $8 22,000 $4,869 $0 $26,869 
  2020
(In millions)Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Credit LossesNet Carrying AmountGross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair  
Value
Securities held to maturity, carried at
  amortized cost:
Fixed maturity securities:
  Yen-denominated:
Japan government and agencies$23,448 $$23,445 $5,625 $$29,070 
Municipalities377 377 122 499 
Public utilities48 47 14 61 
Sovereign and supranational577 571 165 736 
Other corporate24 24 33 
Total yen-denominated24,474 10 24,464 5,935 30,399 
Total securities held to maturity$24,474 $10 $24,464 $5,935 $$30,399 

  
20212020
(In millions)Fair ValueFair Value
Equity securities, carried at fair value through net earnings:
Equity securities:
      Yen-denominated$744 $680 
      U.S. dollar-denominated817 603 
      Other currencies42 
Total equity securities$1,603 $1,283 

The methods of determining the fair values of the Company's investments in fixed maturity securities and equity securities are described in Note 5.

During 2021 and 2019, the Company did not reclassify any investments from the held-to-maturity category to the available-for-sale category. During 2020, as a result of the adoption of ASU 2019-04 discussed in Note 1, the Company reclassified $6.9 billion (at amortized cost) of pre-payable fixed-maturity securities from the held-to-maturity category to the available-for-sale category. This reclassification resulted in recording in accumulated other comprehensive income a net unrealized gain of $848 million on an after-tax basis.
Contractual and Economic Maturities
The contractual and economic maturities of the Company's investments in fixed maturity securities at December 31, 2021, were as follows:
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost (1)
Fair
Value
Available for sale:
Due in one year or less$984 $1,015 
Due after one year through five years8,145 8,782 
Due after five years through 10 years13,288 15,491 
Due after 10 years61,755 72,163 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities1,197 1,245 
Total fixed maturity securities available for sale$85,369 $98,696 
Held to maturity:
Due in one year or less$$
Due after one year through five years44 48 
Due after five years through 10 years10,121 11,772 
Due after 10 years11,835 15,049 
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
Total fixed maturity securities held to maturity$22,000 $26,869 
(1) Net of allowance for credit losses

Economic maturities are used for certain debt instruments with no stated maturity where the expected maturity date is based on the combination of features in the financial instrument such as the right to call or prepay obligations or changes in coupon rates.
Investment Concentrations

The Company's process for investing in credit-related investments begins with an independent approach to underwriting each issuer's fundamental credit quality. The Company evaluates independently those factors that it believes could influence an issuer's ability to make payments under the contractual terms of the Company's 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). The Company further evaluates 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:
20212020
(In millions)Credit
Rating
Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
Credit
Rating
Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
Japan National Government(1)
A+$50,186$57,862A+$55,153$64,657
(1)Japan Government Bonds (JGBs) or JGB-backed securities
Net Investment Gains and Losses

Information regarding pretax net gains and losses from investments for the years ended December 31 follows:
(In millions)202120202019
Net investment gains (losses):
Sales and redemptions:
Fixed maturity securities available for sale:
Gross gains from sales$64 $31 $115 
Gross losses from sales(52)(47)(68)
Foreign currency gains (losses) on sales and redemptions1 (69)(16)
Total sales and redemptions13 (85)31 
Equity securities164 184 

101 
Loan loss reserves (1)
0 (18)
Credit losses:
Fixed maturity securities available for sale 38 (38)
Fixed maturity securities held to maturity1 
Commercial mortgage and other loans6 (93)
Impairment losses (2)
(20)(49)(13)
Loan commitments4 (21)
Reinsurance recoverables and other(2)
Total credit losses27 (200)(13)
Derivatives and other:
Derivative gains (losses)(805)399 (174)
Foreign currency gains (losses)1,069 (568)(62)
Total derivatives and other264 (169)(236)
Total net investment gains (losses)$468 $(270)$(135)
(1) U.S. GAAP guidance adopted as of January 1, 2020 has superseded these losses, included for comparative purposes only
(2) Includes OTTI losses in 2019

The unrealized holding gains, net of losses, recorded as a component of net investment gains and losses for the year ended December 31, 2021, that relate to equity securities still held at the December 31, 2021, reporting date was $141 million.
Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses

Information regarding changes in unrealized gains and losses from investments recorded in AOCI for the years ended December 31 follows:
(In millions)202120202019
Changes in unrealized gains (losses):
Fixed maturity securities, available for sale$(960)$2,399 $5,852 
Total change in unrealized gains (losses)$(960)$2,399 $5,852 

Effect on Shareholders' Equity

The net effect on shareholders' equity of unrealized gains and losses from fixed maturity securities at December 31 was as follows:
(In millions)20212020
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale$13,330 $14,290 
Deferred income taxes(3,728)(3,929)
Shareholders’ equity, unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities$9,602 $10,361 
Gross Unrealized Loss Aging

The following tables show the fair values and gross unrealized losses of the Company's available-for-sale investments, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31.
 
  2021
  TotalLess than 12 months12 months or longer
(In millions)Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fixed maturity securities available
   for sale:
  U.S. government and
      agencies:
  U.S. dollar-denominated$1 $1 $0 $1 $1 $0 
  Japan government and
      agencies:
  Yen-denominated2,868 61 445 3 2,423 58 
  Municipalities:
  U.S. dollar-denominated82 2 79 2 3 0 
  Yen-denominated187 5 53 0 134 5 
Mortgage- and asset-
    backed securities:
  U.S. dollar-denominated278 2 278 2 0 0 
  Yen-denominated33 1 0 0 33 1 
  Public utilities:
  U.S. dollar-denominated130 5 70 2 60 3 
  Yen-denominated26 2 0 0 26 2 
  Sovereign and supranational:
  U.S. dollar-denominated37 6 6 1 31 5 
  Banks/financial institutions:
  U.S. dollar-denominated292 3 274 3 18 0 
  Yen-denominated2,074 72 1,011 16 1,063 56 
  Other corporate:
  U.S. dollar-denominated1,365 53 458 8 907 45 
  Yen-denominated 541 26 274 4 267 22 
  Total$7,914 $239 $2,948 $42 $4,966 $197 
  2020
  TotalLess than 12 months12 months or longer
(In millions)Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fixed maturity securities available
   for sale:
  Japan government and
      agencies:
  Yen-denominated$2,604 $52 $2,604 $52 $$
  Municipalities:
  U.S. dollar-denominated94 94 
  Yen-denominated183 169 14 
Mortgage- and asset-
    backed securities:
  U.S. dollar-denominated360 360 
  Yen-denominated37 37 
  Public utilities:
  U.S. dollar-denominated326 15 208 118 
  Yen-denominated135 135 
  Sovereign and supranational:
U.S. dollar-denominated39 39 
  Banks/financial institutions:
  U.S. dollar-denominated82 44 38 
  Yen-denominated1,809 102 765 36 1,044 66 
  Other corporate:
  U.S. dollar-denominated4,499 251 2,157 59 2,342 192 
  Yen-denominated613 37 290 13 323 24 
  Total $10,781 $481 $6,902 $184 $3,879 $297 

Analysis of Securities in Unrealized Loss Positions

The unrealized losses on the Company's fixed maturity securities 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 of its fixed maturity securities, the Company performs a more focused review of the related issuers' credit profile. For corporate issuers, the Company evaluates their assets, business profile including industry dynamics and competitive positioning, financial statements and other available financial data. For non-corporate issuers, the Company analyzes all sources of credit support, including issuer-specific factors. The Company utilizes information available in the public domain and, for certain private placement issuers, from consultations with the issuers directly. The Company also considers ratings from Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSROs), as well as the specific characteristics of the security it owns including seniority in the issuer's capital structure, covenant protections, or other relevant features. From these reviews, the Company evaluates the issuers' continued ability to service the Company's investment through payment of interest and principal.

Assuming no credit-related factors develop, unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturity securities are expected to diminish as investments near maturity. Based on its credit analysis, the Company believes that the issuers of its fixed maturity investments in the sectors shown in the table above have the ability to service their obligations to the Company, and the Company does not intend to sell the investments and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost bases, which may be at maturity.

However, from time to time the Company identifies certain available-for-sale fixed maturity securities where the amortized cost basis exceeds the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected due to credit related factors and as a
result, a credit allowance will be estimated. Refer to the Allowance for Credit Losses section below for additional information.

Commercial Mortgage and Other Loans

The Company classifies its TREs, CMLs and MMLs as held-for-investment and includes them in the commercial mortgage and other loans line on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company carries them on the balance sheet at amortized cost less an estimated allowance for credit losses.

The table below reflects the composition of the carrying value for commercial mortgage and other loans by property type as of December 31.
(In millions)20212020
Amortized Cost% of TotalAmortized Cost% of Total
Commercial Mortgage and other loans
  Transitional real estate loans:
    Office$2,001 16.7 $2,115 19.7 
    Retail267 2.2 125 1.2 
    Apartments/Multi-Family1,893 15.8 1,782 16.6 
    Industrial94 .8 85 .8 
    Hospitality876 7.3 1,106 10.3 
    Other228 1.9 81 .7 
        Total transitional real estate loans5,359 44.7 5,294 49.3 
Commercial mortgage loans:
     Office398 3.3 401 3.7 
     Retail332 2.8 340 3.2 
     Apartments/Multi-Family649 5.4 588 5.5 
     Industrial525 4.4 391 3.6 
        Total commercial mortgage loans1,904 15.9 1,720 16.0 
Middle market loans4,697 39.4 3,720 34.7 
        Total commercial mortgage and other loans$11,960 100.0 $10,734 100.0 
Allowance for credit losses(174)(180)
              Total net commercial mortgage and other loans$11,786 $10,554 

Commercial mortgage and transitional real estate loans were secured by properties entirely within the U.S. (with the largest concentrations in California (21%), Texas (12%) and Florida (8%)). Middle market loans are issued only to companies domiciled within the U.S. and Canada.

Transitional Real Estate Loans

Transitional real estate loans are commercial mortgage loans that are typically relatively short-term floating rate instruments secured by a first lien on the property. These loans provide funding for properties undergoing a change in their physical characteristics and/or economic profile and do not typically require any principal repayment prior to the maturity date. This loan portfolio is generally considered to be investment grade. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $665 million in outstanding commitments to fund transitional real estate loans. These commitments are contingent on the final underwriting and due diligence to be performed.

Commercial Mortgage Loans

Commercial mortgage loans are typically fixed rate loans on commercial real estate with partial repayment of principal over the life of the loan with the remaining outstanding principal being repaid upon maturity. This loan portfolio is generally considered higher quality investment grade loans. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had no outstanding commitments to fund commercial mortgage loans. These commitments are contingent on the final underwriting and due diligence to be performed.
Middle Market Loans

Middle market loans are typically first lien senior secured cash flow loans to small to mid-size companies for working capital, refinancing, acquisition, and recapitalization. These loans are generally considered to be below investment grade. The carrying value for middle market loans included $11 million and $25 million for a short term credit facility that is reflected in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, as of December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company had commitments of approximately $1.4 billion to fund future middle market loans. These commitments are contingent upon the availability of middle market loans that meet the Company's underwriting criteria.

Credit Quality Indicators

For TREs, the Company’s key credit quality indicator is loan-to-value (LTV). Given that TRE loans involve properties undergoing renovation or construction, loan-to-value provides the most insight into the credit risk of the loan. The Company monitors the performance of the loans periodically, but not less frequently than quarterly.

For CMLs, the Company’s key credit quality indicators include LTV and debt service coverage ratios (DSCR). LTV is calculated by dividing the current outstanding loan balance by the most recent estimated property value. DSCR is the most recently available operating income of the underlying property compared to the required debt service of the loan.

For MMLs and held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities, the Company’s key credit quality indicator is credit ratings. The Company’s held-to-maturity portfolio is composed of investment grade securities that are senior unsecured instruments, while its MMLs generally have below-investment-grade ratings but are typically senior secured instruments. The Company monitors the credit ratings periodically, but not less frequently than quarterly.

For the Company’s reinsurance recoverable balance, the key credit quality indicator is the credit rating of the Company’s reinsurance counterparty. The Company uses external credit ratings focused on the reinsurer’s financial strength and credit worthiness. The Company's reinsurance counterparties are rated A+. The Company monitors the credit ratings periodically, but not less frequently than quarterly.
The following tables present as of December 31, 2021 the amortized cost basis of TREs, CMLs and MMLs by year of origination and credit quality indicator.
Transitional Real Estate Loans
(In millions)20212020201920182017PriorTotal
Loan-to-Value Ratio:
0%-59.99%$866 $36 $502 $85 $$$1,489 
60%-69.99%620 136 840 465 50 2,111 
70%-79.99%846 153 312 279 73 1,663 
80% or greater68 28 96 
Total$2,400 $353 $1,654 $829 $123 $$5,359 

Commercial Mortgage Loans
(In millions)20212020201920182017PriorTotalWeighted-Average DSCR
Loan-to-Value Ratio:
0%-59.99%$306 $47 $522 $167 $68 $535 $1,645 2.53
60%-69.99%34 86 114 234 1.92
70%-79.99%25 25 1.65
80% or greater0.00
Total$340 $47 $608 $167 $68 $674 $1,904 2.45
Weighted Average DSCR2.831.932.462.292.752.30
Middle Market Loans
(In millions)20212020201920182017PriorRevolving LoansTotal
Credit Ratings:
BBB$136 $67 $43 $24 $$$72 $342 
BB353 332 234 134 42 24 275 1,394 
B721 482 568 267 179 111 246 2,574 
CCC22 64 60 79 47 74 346 
CC14 26 41 
C and lower
Total$1,210 $903 $909 $499 $326 $182 $668 $4,697 

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company calculates its allowance for credit losses for held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities, loan receivables, loan commitments and reinsurance recoverable by grouping assets with similar risk characteristics when there is not a specific expectation of a loss for an individual asset. For held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities, MMLs, and MML commitments, the Company groups assets by credit ratings, industry, and country. The Company groups CMLs and TREs and respective loan commitments by property type, property location and the property’s loan-to-value and debt service coverage ratios. The credit allowance for the reinsurance recoverable balance is estimated using a probability-of-default (PD) / loss-given-default (LGD) method.

The credit allowance for held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities and loan receivables is estimated using a PD / LGD method, discounted for the time value of money. For held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale fixed maturity securities and loan receivables, the Company includes the change in present value due to the passage of time in the change in the allowance for credit losses. The Company’s methodology for estimating credit losses utilizes the contractual maturity date of the financial asset, adjusted when necessary to reflect the expected timing of repayment (such as prepayment options, renewal options, call options, or extension options). The Company applies reasonable and supportable forecasts of macroeconomic variables that impact the determination of PD/LGD over a two-year period for held-to-maturity fixed maturity securities and MMLs. The Company reverts to historical loss information over one year,
following the two-year forecast period. For the CML and TRE portfolio, the Company applies reasonable and supportable forecasts of macroeconomic variables as well as national and local real-estate market factors to estimate future credit losses where the market factors revert back to historical levels over time with the period being dependent on current market conditions, projected market conditions and difference in the current and historical market levels for each factor. The Company continuously monitors the estimation methodology, due to changes in portfolio composition, changes in underwriting practices and significant events or conditions and makes adjustments as necessary.

The Company’s held-to-maturity fixed maturity portfolio includes Japan Government and Agency securities of $20.9 billion amortized cost as of December 31, 2021 that meet the requirements for zero-credit-loss expectation and therefore these asset classes have been excluded from the current expected credit loss measurement.

An investment in an available-for-sale fixed maturity security is impaired if the fair value falls below amortized cost. The Company regularly reviews its fixed maturity security investments portfolio for declines in fair value. The Company's debt impairment model focuses on the ultimate collection of the cash flows from its investments and whether the Company has the intent to sell or if it is more likely than not the Company would be required to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost. The determination of the amount of impairments under this model is based upon the Company's periodic evaluation and assessment of known and inherent risks associated with the respective securities. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available.

When determining the Company's intention to sell a security prior to recovery of its fair value to amortized cost, the Company evaluates facts and circumstances such as, but not limited to, future cash flow needs, decisions to reposition its security portfolio, and risk profile of individual investment holdings. The Company performs ongoing analyses of its liquidity needs, which includes cash flow testing of its policy liabilities, debt maturities, projected dividend payments, and other cash flow and liquidity needs.

The Company’s methodology for estimating credit losses for available-for-sale fixed maturity securities utilizes the discounted cash flow model, based on past events, current market conditions and future economic conditions, as well as industry analysis and credit ratings of the fixed maturity securities. In addition, the Company evaluates the specific issuer’s probability of default and expected recovery of its position in the event of default based on the underlying financial condition and assets of the borrower as well as seniority and/or security of other debt holders in the issuer when developing management’s best estimate of expected cash flows.

The Company granted certain loan modifications in its MML and TRE portfolios during the year ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021 these loan modifications did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations.

The Company had no troubled debt restructurings (TDRs) during the year ended December 31, 2021 and an immaterial amount of TDRs during the year ended December 31, 2020 due to COVID-19. For certain TDRs, modifications resulted in write-offs for certain loans where the modified loan resulted in a forgiveness of existing principal and are included in the rollforward of the allowance for credit losses below.

The Company designates nonaccrual status for a nonperforming debt security or a loan that is not generating its stated interest rate because of nonpayment of periodic interest by the borrower. The Company applies the cash basis method to record any payments received on non-accrual assets. The Company resumes the accrual of interest on fixed maturity securities and loans that are currently making contractual payments or for those that are not current where the borrower has paid timely (less than 30 days outstanding).

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had an immaterial amount of loans and fixed maturity securities on nonaccrual status.

The following table presents the roll forward of the allowance for credit losses by portfolio segment for the years ended December 31.
(In millions)Transitional Real Estate LoansCommercial Mortgage LoansMiddle Market LoansHeld to Maturity SecuritiesAvailable for Sale SecuritiesReinsurance Recoverables
Balance at December 31, 2019 (1)
$(22)$(3)$(20)$$$
Transition impact to retained earnings(2)(8)(33)(10)(11)
(Addition to) release of allowance for credit
  losses
(39)(21)(41)(75)(1)
Write-offs, net of recoveries37 
Balance at December 31, 2020(63)(32)(85)(10)(38)(12)
(Addition to) release of allowance for credit
  losses
(5)22 (11)26 (2)
Write-offs, net of recoveries12 
Change in foreign exchange
Balance at December 31, 2021$(68)$(10)$(96)$(8)$$(13)
(1) U.S. GAAP guidance adopted as of January 1, 2020 has superseded these losses, included for comparative purposes only.

For assets that are subject to the credit loss measurement, the change in credit loss allowance will be significantly impacted by purchases and sales in those assets during the period as well as entering into new non-cancelable loan commitments. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company entered into a loan commitment with an external manager that met the requirements to recognize a credit loss on over $2.2 billion of loan commitments in MMLs over the next few years. The estimate of credit losses for loan commitments was $31 million and $35 million as of December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively.

Other Investments
The table below reflects the composition of the carrying value for other investments as of December 31.
(In millions)20212020
Other investments:
Policy loans$236 $260 
Short-term investments (1)
1,726 1,139 
Limited partnerships1,858 1,004 
Other22 26 
Total other investments$3,842 $2,429 
(1) Includes securities lending collateral

The Parent Company invests in partnerships that specialize in rehabilitating historic structures or the installation of solar equipment in order to receive federal historic rehabilitation and solar tax credits. These investments are classified as limited partnerships and included in other investments in the consolidated balance sheet. The change in value of each investment is recorded as a reduction to net investment income. Tax credits generated by these investments are recorded as an income tax benefit in the consolidated statement of earnings.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $1.8 billion in outstanding commitments to fund alternative investments in limited partnerships.
Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)

As a condition of its involvement or investment in a VIE, the Company enters into certain protective rights and covenants that preclude changes in the structure of the VIE that would alter the creditworthiness of the Company's investment or its beneficial interest in the VIE.

For those VIEs other than certain unit trust structures, the Company's involvement is passive in nature. The Company has not, nor has it been, required to purchase any securities issued in the future by these VIEs.

The Company's ownership interest in VIEs is limited to holding the obligations issued by them. The Company has no direct or contingent obligations to fund the limited activities of these VIEs, nor does it have any direct or indirect financial guarantees related to the limited activities of these VIEs. The Company has not provided any assistance or any other type
of financing support to any of the VIEs it invests in, nor does it have any intention to do so in the future. For those VIEs in which the Company holds debt obligations, the weighted-average lives of the Company's notes are very similar to the underlying collateral held by these VIEs where applicable.

The Company's risk of loss related to its interests in any of its VIEs is limited to the carrying value of the related investments held in the VIE.

VIEs - Consolidated

The following table presents the cost or 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
  20212020
(In millions)
Amortized
Cost (1)
Fair
Value
Amortized
Cost (1)
Fair
Value
Assets:
Fixed maturity securities, available for sale$3,264 $4,490 $3,487 $4,596 
Commercial mortgage and other loans9,740 9,910 8,964 9,040 
Other investments (2)
1,535 1,535 826 826 
Other assets (3)
78 78 133 133 
Total assets of consolidated VIEs$14,617 $16,013 $13,410 $14,595 
Liabilities:
Other liabilities (3)
$414 $414 $231 $231 
Total liabilities of consolidated VIEs$414 $414 $231 $231 
(1) Net of allowance for credit losses
(2) Consists entirely of alternative investments in limited partnerships
(3) Consists entirely of derivatives

The Company is substantively the only investor in the consolidated VIEs listed in the table above. As the sole investor in these VIEs, the Company has the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and is therefore considered to be the primary beneficiary of the VIEs that it consolidates. The Company also participates in substantially all of the variability created by these VIEs. The activities of these VIEs are limited to holding invested assets and foreign currency swaps, as appropriate, and utilizing the cash flows from these securities to service its investment. Neither the Company nor any of its 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, the Company is not a direct counterparty to the swap contracts and has no control over them. The Company's loss exposure to these VIEs is limited to its original investment. The Company's 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 its investment in unit trust structures, the underlying collateral assets and funding of the Company's consolidated VIEs are generally static in nature.

Investments in Unit Trust Structures

The Company also utilizes unit trust structures in its Aflac Japan segment to invest in various asset classes. As the sole investor of these VIEs, the Company is required to consolidate these trusts under U.S. GAAP.

VIEs - Not Consolidated

The table below reflects the amortized cost, fair value and balance sheet caption in which the Company's investment in VIEs not consolidated are reported as of December 31.
Investments in Variable Interest Entities Not Consolidated
20212020
(In millions)Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
Assets:
Fixed maturity securities, available for sale$4,779 $5,864 $5,477 $6,767 
Other investments (1)
323 323 178 178 
Total investments in VIEs not consolidated$5,102 $6,187 $5,655 $6,945 
(1) Consists entirely of alternative investments in limited partnerships
Certain investments in VIEs that the Company is 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 capital markets. The variable interests created by these VIEs are principally or solely a result of the debt instruments issued by them. The Company does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance, nor does it have the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity. As such, the Company is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs and is therefore not required to consolidate them.
Securities Lending and Pledged Securities

The Company lends fixed maturity and public equity securities to financial institutions in short-term security-lending transactions. These short-term security-lending arrangements increase investment income with minimal risk. The Company receives cash or other securities as collateral for such loans. The Company's security lending policy requires that the fair value of the securities received as collateral be 102% or more of the fair value of the loaned securities and that unrestricted cash received as collateral be 100% or more of the fair value of the loaned securities. The securities loaned continue to be carried as investment assets on the Company's balance sheet during the terms of the loans and are not reported as sales. For loans involving unrestricted cash or securities as collateral, the collateral is reported as an asset with a corresponding liability for the return of the collateral. For loans where the Company receives as collateral securities that the Company is not permitted to sell or repledge, the collateral is not reflected on the consolidated financial statements.
Details of collateral by loaned security type and remaining maturity of the agreements as of December 31 were as follows:
Securities Lending Transactions Accounted for as Secured Borrowings
Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements
20212020
(In millions)
Overnight
and
Continuous
(1)
Up to 30
days
Total
Overnight
and
Continuous
(1)
Up to 30
days
Total
Securities lending transactions:
Fixed maturity securities:
Japan government and
  agencies
$0 $920 $920 $$$
Public utilities40 0 40 57 57 
Sovereign and supranational2 0 2 
Banks/financial institutions88 0 88 63 63 
Other corporate1,112 0 1,112 841 841 
          Total borrowings$1,242 $920 $2,162 $964 $$964 
Gross amount of recognized liabilities for securities
   lending transactions
$2,162 $964 
(1) The related loaned security, under the Company's U.S. securities lending program, can be returned to the Company at the transferee's discretion; therefore, they are classified as Overnight and Continuous.

In connection with securities lending, in addition to cash collateral received, the Company received from counterparties securities collateral of $6.8 billion and $6.7 billion at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which may not be sold or re-pledged, unless the counterparty is in default. Such securities collateral is not reflected on the consolidated financial statements.

The Company did not have any repurchase agreements or repurchase-to-maturity transactions outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Certain fixed maturity securities can be pledged as collateral as part of derivative transactions, or pledged to support state deposit requirements on certain investment programs. For additional information regarding pledged securities related to derivative transactions, see Note 4.

At December 31, 2021, debt securities with a fair value of $17 million were on deposit with regulatory authorities in the U.S. (including U.S. territories). The Company retains ownership of all securities on deposit and receives the related investment income.

For general information regarding the Company's investment accounting policies, see Note 1.