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. While 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, the Company believes that the information and disclosures presented are adequate to make such information and disclosures 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, 2013 (the “2013 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 consolidated financial statements as of and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of certificates of deposit and time deposits, with original maturities of three months or less, and money market funds. The estimated fair value of the Company's cash and cash equivalents approximates their carrying value. The Company is required to maintain operating funds of approximately $202 million related to regulatory requirements outside the U.S. or as collateral under captive insurance arrangements.

Investment Income

The caption “Investment income” 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 debt and available for sale securities and the change in value of the Company’s holdings in certain private equity funds, including equity method gains (losses) on its investment in the Trident funds. The Company’s investments may include direct investments in insurance or consulting companies and investments in private equity funds. The Company recorded investment income of $26 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $14 million for the same period in 2013, primarily related to our general partner carried interest from Trident III no longer subject to claw-back. Investment income for the nine months of 2014 was $37 million compared to $58 million in 2013. 2014 includes carried interest from Trident III of $31 million compared with $34 million in 2013. The Company also recorded $20 million of investment gains for the nine months of 2013 related to its investment in Trident II. The Company no longer holds an investment in Trident II. At September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company had deferred performance fees of approximately $15 million and $43 million, respectively, related to Trident III. Recognition of these deferred performance fees will only occur as the Trident III investments are harvested and the performance fees are no longer subject to claw-back. The timing of recognition of the remaining deferred performance fees is unknown and is not controlled by the Company.

Income Taxes

The Company's effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2014 was 29.6% compared with 32.1% in the third quarter of 2013. The effective tax rates for the first nine months of 2014 and 2013 were 28.9% and 30.1%, respectively. These rates reflect non-U.S. income taxed at rates below the U.S. statutory rate, including the effect of repatriation, as well as the impact of discrete tax matters such as changes in judgment about the beginning balance in valuation allowances, the resolution of tax examinations and expirations of statutes of limitations. The rate in the third quarter of 2013 also included the impact of tax changes on the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities.

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 tax returns. The Company's gross unrecognized tax benefits decreased from

$128 million at December 31, 2013 to $105 million at September 30, 2014. It is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease between zero and approximately $15 million within the next twelve months due to settlements of audits and expirations of statutes of limitation.

During the second quarter of 2014, the Company settled the federal tax audit with the IRS for the year 2012. During the second quarter of 2013, the Company settled federal tax audits with the IRS for the years 2007 and 2009 through 2011.

Reclassifications

In the first quarter of 2014, the Company enhanced its operating cash flow presentation within the statement of cash flows to show on single lines the impact of pension and other benefit plan contributions in excess of the related expenses, and the non-cash impact of equity share awards. Previously, the cash flow impact of those items was presented as part of changes in other assets and other liabilities, and changes in other liabilities, respectively. The prior year’s presentation was conformed to the current presentation for the following line items within operating cash flows:


•	Share-based compensation expense


•	Changes in other assets


•	Contributions to pension and other benefit plans in excess of current year expense/credit


•	Changes in other liabilities