BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Sale of ILFC

Sale of ILFC and shares of AerCap

On May 14, 2014, we completed the sale of 100 percent of the common stock of International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) to AerCap Ireland Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of AerCap Holdings N.V. (AerCap), in exchange for total consideration of approximately $7.6 billion, including cash and 97.6 million newly-issued AerCap common shares (the AerCap Transaction). The total value of the consideration was based in part on AerCap’s closing price per share of $47.01 on May 13, 2014. ILFC’s results of operations are reflected in Aircraft leasing revenue and Aircraft leasing expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) through the date of the completion of the sale.

In June 2015, we sold 86.9 million ordinary shares of AerCap by means of an underwritten public offering of 71.2 million ordinary shares and a private sale of 15.7 million ordinary shares to AerCap. We received cash proceeds of approximately $3.7 billion, reflecting proceeds of approximately $3.4 billion from the underwritten offering and cash proceeds of $250 million from the private sale of shares to AerCap. In connection with the closing of the private sale of shares to AerCap, we also received $500million of 6.50% fixed-to-floating rate junior subordinated notes issued by AerCap Global Aviation Trust and guaranteed by AerCap and certain of its subsidiaries. These notes, included in Bonds available for sale, mature in 2045 and are callable beginning in 2025. We accounted for our interest in AerCapusing the equity method of accounting through the date of the June 2015 sale, and as available for sale thereafter. In August 2015, we sold our remaining 10.7 million ordinary shares of AerCap by means of an underwritten public offering and received proceeds of approximately $500 million.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires the application of accounting policies that often involve a significant degree of judgment. Accounting policies that we believe are most dependent on the application of estimates and assumptions are considered our critical accounting estimates and are related to the determination of:

• income tax assets and liabilities, including recoverability of our net deferred tax asset and the predictability of future tax operating profitability of the character necessary to realize the net deferred tax asset;
• liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses;
• reinsurance assets;
• valuation of future policy benefit liabilities and timing and extent of loss recognition;
• valuation of liabilities for guaranteed benefit features of variable annuity products;
• estimated gross profits to value deferred acquisition costs for investment-oriented products;
• impairment charges, including other-than-temporary impairments on available for sale securities, impairments on investments in life settlements and goodwill impairment;
• liability for legal contingencies; and
• fair value measurements of certain financial assets and liabilities.

These accounting estimates require the use of assumptions about matters, some of which are highly uncertain at the time of estimation. To the extent actual experience differs from the assumptions used, our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially affected.