Principles Of Consolidation And Other Matters

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Principles Of Consolidation And Other Matters [Abstract]

Principles Of Consolidation And Other Matters

Principles of Consolidation and Other Matters

The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations for interim filings, although the Company believes that the information and disclosures presented are adequate to make such information and disclosure not misleading. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (the “2011 10-K”).

The financial information contained herein reflects all adjustments consisting only of normal recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s results of operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

Investment Income (Loss)

The caption “Investment income (loss)” in the consolidated statements of income comprises realized and unrealized gains and losses from investments recognized in current earnings. It includes, when applicable, other than temporary declines in the value of available for sale securities and the change in value of the Company’s holdings in certain private equity funds. The Company’s investments may include direct investments in insurance or consulting companies and investments in private equity funds. This line includes equity method gains/(losses) of $20 million and $18 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The Company has an investment in Trident II limited partnership, a private equity investment fund. At March 31, 2012, the Company’s investment in Trident II was approximately $96 million, reflected in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss is equal to its investment plus any calls on its remaining capital commitment of $67 million. Since this fund is closed to new investments, none of the remaining capital commitment is expected to be called.

Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2012 was 30.2%. The rate reflects non-U.S. earnings subject to tax at rates below the U.S. statutory rate, including the effect of the repatriation of certain non-U.S. earnings. The 28.6% effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2011 includes a benefit from the effective settlement of the IRS audit for 2006 to 2008. Excluding this benefit, the effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2011 was 31.6%.

The Company is routinely examined by tax authorities in the jurisdictions in which it has significant operations. The Company regularly considers the likelihood of assessments in each of the taxing jurisdictions resulting from examinations. When evaluating the potential imposition of penalties, the Company considers a number of relevant factors under penalty statutes, including appropriate disclosure of the tax return position, the existence of legal authority supporting the Company’s position, and reliance on the opinion of professional tax advisors.

The Company reports a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the tax return. The Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits increased from $143 million at December 31, 2011 to $144 million at March 31, 2012. It is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease between zero and approximately $60 million within the next twelve months due to settlement of audits and expiration of statutes of limitation.