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Fair Value Measurements
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Fair Value Measurements  
Fair value measurements

Note 7 Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company carries certain financial instruments at fair value in the financial statements including fixed maturities, equity securities, short-term investments and derivatives.  Other financial instruments are measured at fair value under certain conditions, such as when impaired.

 

Fair value is defined as the price at which an asset could be exchanged in an orderly transaction between market participants at the balance sheet date.  A liability's fair value is defined as the amount that would be paid to transfer the liability to a market participant, not the amount that would be paid to settle the liability with the creditor.

 

Fair values are based on quoted market prices when available.  When market prices are not available, fair value is generally estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, incorporating current market inputs for similar financial instruments with comparable terms and credit quality.  In instances where there is little or no market activity for the same or similar instruments, the Company estimates fair value using methods, models and assumptions that the Company believes a hypothetical market participant would use to determine a current transaction price.  These valuation techniques involve some level of estimation and judgment by the Company which becomes significant with increasingly complex instruments or pricing models.  

 

The Company's financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value have been classified based upon a hierarchy defined by GAAP.  The hierarchy gives the highest ranking to fair values determined using unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest ranking to fair values determined using methodologies and models with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). An asset's or a liability's classification is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to its measurement.  For example, a financial asset or liability carried at fair value would be classified in Level 3 if unobservable inputs were significant to the instrument's fair value, even though the measurement may be derived using inputs that are both observable (Levels 1 and 2) and unobservable (Level 3).

The prices the Company uses to value its investment assets are representative of prices that would be received to sell the assets at the measurement date (exit prices) and are classified appropriately in the fair value hierarchy. The Company performs ongoing analyses of prices used to value the Company's invested assets to determine that they represent appropriate estimates of fair value. This process involves quantitative and qualitative analysis that is overseen by the Company's investment professionals, including reviews of pricing methodologies, judgments of valuation inputs, the significance of any unobservable inputs, pricing statistics and trends. These reviews are also designed to ensure prices do not become stale, have reasonable explanations as to why they have changed from prior valuations, or require additional review for other anomalies. The Company also performs sample testing of sales values to confirm the accuracy of prior fair value estimates. Exceptions identified during these processes indicate that adjustments to prices are infrequent and do not significantly impact valuations.

 

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Fair Value

 

The following tables provide information as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 about the Company's financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value.  Similar disclosures for separate account assets, that are also recorded at fair value on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, are provided separately as gains and losses related to these assets generally accrue directly to policyholders.

March 31, 2012        
(In millions)Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)Total
Financial assets at fair value:        
Fixed maturities:        
Federal government and agency $ 141$ 705$ 2$ 848
State and local government  -  2,524  -  2,524
Foreign government  -  1,254  21  1,275
Corporate   -  10,770  438  11,208
Federal agency mortgage-backed   -  158  -  158
Other mortgage-backed   -  88  1  89
Other asset-backed   -  368  579  947
Total fixed maturities (1)  141  15,867  1,041  17,049
Equity securities   4  72  31  107
Subtotal  145  15,939  1,072  17,156
Short-term investments  -  187  -  187
GMIB assets (2)  -  -  617  617
Other derivative assets (3)  -  37  -  37
Total financial assets at fair value, excluding separate accounts$ 145$ 16,163$ 1,689$ 17,997
Financial liabilities at fair value:        
GMIB liabilities $ -$ -$ 1,162$ 1,162
Other derivative liabilities (3)  -  31  -  31
Total financial liabilities at fair value$ -$ 31$ 1,162$ 1,193

(1) Fixed maturities included $712 million of net appreciation required to adjust future policy benefits for the run-off settlement annuity business including $101 million of appreciation for securities classified in Level 3.

(2) The GMIB assets represent retrocessional contracts in place from two external reinsurers that cover 55% of the exposures on these contracts.

(3) Other derivative assets included $8 million of interest rate and foreign currency swaps qualifying as cash flow hedges and $29 million of interest rate swaps not designated as accounting hedges. Other derivative liabilities reflected foreign currency and interest rate swaps qualifying as cash flow hedges. See Note 9 for additional information.

 

December 31, 2011        
(In millions)Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)Total
Financial assets at fair value:        
Fixed maturities:        
Federal government and agency $ 217$ 738$ 3$ 958
State and local government  -  2,456  -  2,456
Foreign government  -  1,251  23  1,274
Corporate   -  10,132  381  10,513
Federal agency mortgage-backed   -  9  -  9
Other mortgage-backed   -  79  1  80
Other asset-backed   -  363  564  927
Total fixed maturities (1)  217  15,028  972  16,217
Equity securities   3  67  30  100
Subtotal  220  15,095  1,002  16,317
Short-term investments  -  225  -  225
GMIB assets (2)  -  -  712  712
Other derivative assets (3)  -  45  -  45
Total financial assets at fair value, excluding separate accounts$ 220$ 15,365$ 1,714$ 17,299
Financial liabilities at fair value:        
GMIB liabilities $ -$ -$ 1,333$ 1,333
Other derivative liabilities (3)  -  30  -  30
Total financial liabilities at fair value$ -$ 30$ 1,333$ 1,363

(1) Fixed maturities included $826 million of net appreciation required to adjust future policy benefits for the run-off settlement annuity business including $115 million of appreciation for securities classified in Level 3.

(2) The GMIB assets represent retrocessional contracts in place from two external reinsurers that cover 55% of the exposures on these contracts.

(3) Other derivative assets included $10 million of interest rate and foreign currency swaps qualifying as cash flow hedges and $35 million of interest rate swaps not designated as accounting hedges. Other derivative liabilities reflected foreign currency and interest rate swaps qualifying as cash flow hedges. See Note 9 for additional information.

 

Level 1 Financial Assets

 

Inputs for instruments classified in Level 1 include unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets accessible at the measurement date.  Active markets provide pricing data for trades occurring at least weekly and include exchanges and dealer markets.

 

Assets in Level 1 include actively-traded U.S. government bonds and exchange-listed equity securities. Given the narrow definition of Level 1 and the Company's investment asset strategy to maximize investment returns, a relatively small portion of the Company's investment assets are classified in this category.

 

Level 2 Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

 

Inputs for instruments classified in Level 2 include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices from those willing to trade in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are market observable or can be corroborated by market data for the term of the instrument.  Such other inputs include market interest rates and volatilities, spreads and yield curves. An instrument is classified in Level 2 if the Company determines that unobservable inputs are insignificant.

 

Fixed maturities and equity securities.  Approximately 93% of the Company's investments in fixed maturities and equity securities are classified in Level 2 including most public and private corporate debt and equity securities, federal agency and municipal bonds, non-government mortgage-backed securities and preferred stocks.  Because many fixed maturities and preferred stocks do not trade daily, fair values are often derived using recent trades of securities with similar features and characteristics.  When recent trades are not available, pricing models are used to determine these prices.  These models calculate fair values by discounting future cash flows at estimated market interest rates.  Such market rates are derived by calculating the appropriate spreads over comparable U.S. Treasury securities, based on the credit quality, industry and structure of the asset. Typical inputs and assumptions to pricing models include, but are not limited to, a combination of benchmark yields, reported trades, issuer spreads, liquidity, benchmark securities, bids, offers, reference data, and industry and economic events.  For mortgage-backed securities, inputs and assumptions may also include characteristics of the issuer, collateral attributes, prepayment speeds and credit rating.

 

Nearly all of these instruments are valued using recent trades or pricing models. Less than 1% of the fair value of investments classified in Level 2 represents foreign bonds that are valued, consistent with local market practice, using a single unadjusted market-observable input derived by averaging multiple broker-dealer quotes.

 

Short-term investments are carried at fair value, which approximates cost. On a regular basis the Company compares market prices for these securities to recorded amounts to validate that current carrying amounts approximate exit prices. The short-term nature of the investments and corroboration of the reported amounts over the holding period support their classification in Level 2.

 

Other derivatives classified in Level 2 represent over-the-counter instruments such as interest rate and foreign currency swap contracts.  Fair values for these instruments are determined using market observable inputs including forward currency and interest rate curves and widely published market observable indices.  Credit risk related to the counterparty and the Company is considered when estimating the fair values of these derivatives.  However, the Company is largely protected by collateral arrangements with counterparties, and determined that no adjustment for credit risk was required as of March 31, 2012 or December 31, 2011.  The nature and use of these other derivatives are described in Note 9.

 

Level 3 Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

 

Certain inputs for instruments classified in Level 3 are unobservable (supported by little or no market activity) and significant to their resulting fair value measurement.  Unobservable inputs reflect the Company's best estimate of what hypothetical market participants would use to determine a transaction price for the asset or liability at the reporting date.

 

The Company classifies certain newly issued, privately placed, complex or illiquid securities, as well as assets and liabilities relating to GMIB, in Level 3.

 

Fixed maturities and equity securitiesApproximately 6% of fixed maturities and equity securities are priced using significant unobservable inputs and classified in this category, including:

 

 March 31,December 31,
(In millions)20122011
Other asset and mortgage-backed securities - valued using pricing models$ 580$ 565
Corporate and government bonds - valued using pricing models   384  335
Corporate bonds - valued at transaction price  77  72
Equity securities - valued at transaction price  31  30
Total$ 1,072$ 1,002

Fair values of other asset and mortgage-backed securities, corporate and government bonds are determined using pricing models that incorporate the specific characteristics of each asset and related assumptions including the investment type and structure, credit quality, industry and maturity date in comparison to current market indices, spreads and liquidity of assets with similar characteristics.  For mortgage and asset-backed securities, inputs and assumptions to pricing may also include collateral attributes and prepayment speeds.  Recent trades in the subject security or similar securities are assessed when available, and the Company may also review published research, as well as the issuer's financial statements, in its evaluation. Certain subordinated corporate bonds and private equity investments are valued at transaction price in the absence of market data indicating a change in the estimated fair values.

 

The following table summarizes the fair value and significant unobservable inputs used in pricing Level 3 securities that were developed directly by the Company as of March 31, 2012. The range and weighted average basis point amounts reflect the Company's best estimates of the unobservable adjustments a market participant would make to the market observable spreads (adjustment to discount rates) used to calculate the fair values in a discounted cash flow analysis.

 

Other asset and mortgage-backed securities. The significant unobservable inputs used to value the following other asset and mortgage-backed securities are liquidity and weighting of credit spreads. An adjustment for liquidity is made when there is limited trading activity for the security, as of the measurement date, that considers current market conditions, issuer circumstances and complexity of the security structure. An adjustment to weight credit spreads is needed to value a more complex bond structure with multiple underlying collateral with no standard market valuation technique. The weighting of credit spreads is primarily based on the underlying collateral's characteristics and their proportional cash flows supporting the bond obligations. The resulting wide range of unobservable adjustments in the table below is due to the varying liquidity and quality of the underlying collateral, ranging from high credit quality to below investment grade.

 

Corporate and government bonds. The significant unobservable input used to value the following corporate and government bonds is an adjustment for liquidity.

 

Significant increases in any of these inputs would result in a lower fair value measurement while decreases in these inputs would result in a higher fair value measurement.

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2012      
    Unobservable Input Unobservable Adjustment to Discount Rates Range (Weighted Average) in Basis Points
(In millions except basis points) Fair Value  
Other asset and mortgage-backed securities$577 Liquidity 60-680 (80)
    Weighting of credit spreads 60-5,200 (465)
Corporate and government bonds $242 Liquidity 10-475 (235)

Guaranteed minimum income benefit contracts.  Because cash flows of the GMIB liabilities and assets are affected by equity markets and interest rates but are without significant life insurance risk and are settled in lump sum payments, the Company reports these liabilities and assets as derivatives at fair value. The Company estimates the fair value of the assets and liabilities for GMIB contracts using assumptions regarding capital markets (including market returns, interest rates and market volatilities of the underlying equity and bond mutual fund investments), future annuitant behavior (including mortality, lapse, and annuity election rates), and non-performance risk, as well as risk and profit charges. As certain assumptions used to estimate fair values for these contracts are largely unobservable (primarily related to future annuitant behavior), the Company classifies GMIB assets and liabilities in Level 3. The Company considered the following in determining the view of a hypothetical market participant:

 

  • that the most likely transfer of these assets and liabilities would be through a reinsurance transaction with an independent insurer having a market capitalization and credit rating similar to that of the Company; and
  • that because this block of contracts is in run-off mode, an insurer looking to acquire these contracts would have similar existing contracts with related administrative and risk management capabilities.

 

These GMIB assets and liabilities are estimated with an internal model using many scenarios to determine the present value of net amounts expected to be paid, less the present value of net future premiums expected to be received adjusted for risk and profit charges that the Company estimates a hypothetical market participant would require to assume this business. Net amounts expected to be paid include the excess of the expected value of the income benefits over the values of the annuitants' accounts at the time of annuitization. Generally, market return, interest rate and volatility assumptions are based on market observable information.  Assumptions related to annuitant behavior reflect the Company's belief that a hypothetical market participant would consider the actual and expected experience of the Company as well as other relevant and available industry resources in setting policyholder behavior assumptions.  The significant assumptions used to value the GMIB assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

Assumptions based on observable inputs:

 

       The market return (“growth interest rate”) and discount rate assumptions are based on the market-observable LIBOR swap curve.

       The projected interest rate used to calculate the reinsured income benefits is indexed to the 7-year Treasury Rate at the time of annuitization (claim interest rate) based on contractual terms.  That rate was 1.61% at March 31, 2012 and must be projected for future time periods. These projected rates vary by economic scenario and are determined by an interest rate model using current interest rate curves and the prices of instruments available in the market including various interest rate caps and zero-coupon bonds. For a subset of the business, there is a contractually guaranteed floor of 3% for the claim interest rate.

       The market volatility assumptions for annuitants' underlying mutual fund investments that are modeled based on the S&P 500, Russell 2000 and NASDAQ Composite are based on the market-implied volatility for these indices for three to seven years grading to historical volatility levels thereafter. For the remaining 50% of underlying mutual fund investments modeled based on other indices (with insufficient market-observable data), volatility is based on the average historical level for each index over the past 10 years.  Using this approach, volatility ranges from 18% to 36% for equity funds, 6% to 9% for bond funds, and 0% to 1% for money market funds.

 

Assumptions based on unobservable inputs:

 

       The mortality assumption is 70% of the 1994 Group Annuity Mortality table, with 1% annual improvement beginning January 1, 2000.

       The annual lapse rate assumption reflects experience that differs by the company issuing the underlying variable annuity contracts, ranges from 1% to 12%, and depends on the time since contract issue and the relative value of the guarantee. The weighted average annual lapse rate is 2.4%.

       The annual annuity election rate assumption reflects experience that differs by the Company issuing the underlying variable annuity contracts and depends on the annuitant's age, the relative value of the guarantee and whether a contractholder has had a previous opportunity to elect the benefit.  Immediately after the expiration of the waiting period, the assumed probability that an individual will annuitize their variable annuity contract is up to 80%.  For the second and subsequent annual opportunities to elect the benefit, the assumed probability of election is up to 35%. The weighted average annual annuity election rate is 12%.

  • The nonperformance risk adjustment is incorporated by adding an additional spread to the discount rate in the calculation of both (1) the GMIB liability to reflect a hypothetical market participant's view of the risk of the Company not fulfilling its GMIB obligations, and (2) the GMIB asset to reflect a hypothetical market participant's view of the reinsurers' credit risk, after considering collateral. The estimated market-implied spread is company-specific for each party involved to the extent that company-specific market data is available and is based on industry averages for similarly-rated companies when company-specific data is not available. The spread is impacted by the credit default swap spreads of the specific parent companies, adjusted to reflect subsidiaries' credit ratings relative to their parent company and any available collateral. The additional spread over LIBOR incorporated into the discount rate ranged from 5 to 120 basis points for the GMIB liability with a weighted average of 45 basis points and ranged from 35 to 125 basis points for the GMIB reinsurance asset with a weighted average of 70 basis points for that portion of the interest rate curve most relevant to these policies.
  • The risk and profit charge assumption is based on the Company's estimate of the capital and return on capital that would be required by a hypothetical market participant. The assumed return on capital is 10% after tax.

 

The Company regularly evaluates each of the assumptions used in establishing these assets and liabilities by considering how a hypothetical market participant would set assumptions at each valuation date.  Capital markets assumptions are expected to change at each valuation date reflecting currently observable market conditions. Other assumptions, that require the Company to make critical accounting estimates, may also change based on a hypothetical market participant's view of actual experience as it emerges over time or other factors that impact the net liability.  The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the GMIB assets and liabilities are lapse rates, annuity election rates, and spreads used to calculate nonperformance risk. Significant decreases in assumed lapse rates or spreads used to calculate nonperformance risk, or increases in assumed annuity election rates would result in higher fair value measurements. Generally, a change in one of these assumptions is not necessarily accompanied by a change in another assumption. If the emergence of future experience or future assumptions differs from the assumptions used in estimating these assets and liabilities, the resulting impact could be material to the Company's consolidated results of operations and, in certain situations, could be material to the Company's financial condition.

 

GMIB liabilities are reported in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets in Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities.  GMIB assets associated with these contracts represent net receivables in connection with reinsurance that the Company has purchased from two external reinsurers and are reported in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets in Other assets, including other intangibles.

Changes in Level 3 Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Fair Value

 

The following tables summarize the changes in financial assets and financial liabilities classified in Level 3 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.  These tables exclude separate account assets as changes in fair values of these assets accrue directly to policyholders. Gains and losses reported in these tables may include net changes in fair value that are attributable to both observable and unobservable inputs.

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012        
 Fixed Maturities & Equity Securities GMIB AssetsGMIB LiabilitiesGMIB Net
(In millions)    
Balance at January 1, 2012$ 1,002$ 712$ (1,333)$ (621)
Gains (losses) included in shareholders' net income:        
GMIB fair value gain/(loss)  -  (86)  153  67
Other  -  -  -  -
Total gains (losses) included in shareholders' net income  -  (86)  153  67
Gains included in other comprehensive income  8  -  -  -
Losses required to adjust future policy benefits for settlement annuities (1)  (11)  -  -  -
Purchases, sales and settlements:         
Purchases  37  -  -  -
Settlements  (3)  (9)  18  9
Total purchases, sales and settlements  34  (9)  18  9
Transfers into/(out of) Level 3:        
Transfers into Level 3  73  -  -  -
Transfers out of Level 3  (34)  -  -  -
Total transfers into/(out of) Level 3  39  -  -  -
Balance at March 31, 2012 $ 1,072$ 617$ (1,162)$ (545)
Total gains (losses) included in income attributable to         
instruments held at the reporting date$ -$ (86)$ 153$ 67
         
(1) Amounts do not accrue to shareholders.

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011        
 Fixed Maturities & Equity SecuritiesGMIB AssetsGMIB LiabilitiesGMIB Net
(In millions)    
Balance at January 1, 2011 $ 933 $ 480 $ (903) $ (423)
Gains (losses) included in shareholders' net income:        
GMIB fair value gain/(loss)  -  (21)  37  16
Other  5  -  -  -
Total gains (losses) included in shareholders' net income  5  (21)  37  16
Gains included in other comprehensive income  2  -  -  -
Losses required to adjust future policy benefits for settlement annuities (1)  (6)  -  -  -
Purchases, sales and settlements:        
Purchases  7  -  -  -
Settlements  (12)  -  16  16
Total purchases, sales and settlements  (5)  -  16  16
Transfers into/(out of) Level 3:        
Transfers into Level 3  -  -  -  -
Transfers out of Level 3  (1)  -  -  -
Total transfers into/(out of) Level 3  (1)  -  -  -
Balance at March 31, 2011 $ 928 $ 459 $ (850) $ (391)
Total gains (losses) included in income attributable to         
instruments held at the reporting date $ 5 $ (21) $ 37 $ 16
         
(1) Amounts do not accrue to shareholders.

As noted in the tables above, total gains and losses included in shareholders' net income are reflected in the following captions in the Consolidated Statements of Income:

 

  • Realized investment gains (losses) and net investment income for amounts related to fixed maturities and equity securities; and
  • GMIB fair value (gain) loss for amounts related to GMIB assets and liabilities.

 

In the tables above, gains and losses included in other comprehensive income are reflected in Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on securities in the Consolidated Statements of Other Comprehensive Income.

 

Reclassifications impacting Level 3 financial instruments are reported as transfers into or out of the Level 3 category as of the beginning of the quarter in which the transfer occurs. Therefore gains and losses in income only reflect activity for the period the instrument was classified in Level 3. 

 

Transfers into or out of the Level 3 category occur when unobservable inputs, such as the Company's best estimate of what a market participant would use to determine a current transaction price, become more or less significant to the fair value measurement. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, transfers into Level 3 from Level 2 primarily reflect an increase in the unobservable inputs used to value certain public and private corporate bonds, principally related to credit risk of the issuers.

 

The Company provided reinsurance for other insurance companies that offer a guaranteed minimum income benefit, and then retroceded a portion of the risk to other insurance companies.  These arrangements with third-party insurers are the instruments still held at the reporting date for GMIB assets and liabilities in the table above.  Because these reinsurance arrangements remain in effect at the reporting date, the Company has reflected the total gain or loss for the period as the total gain or loss included in income attributable to instruments still held at the reporting date.  However, the Company reduces the GMIB assets and liabilities resulting from these reinsurance arrangements when annuitants lapse, die, elect their benefit, or reach the age after which the right to elect their benefit expires.

 

Under FASB's guidance for fair value measurements, the Company's GMIB assets and liabilities are expected to be volatile in future periods because the underlying capital markets assumptions will be based largely on market-observable inputs at the close of each reporting period including interest rates and market-implied volatilities.

 

Beginning in February 2011, the Company implemented a dynamic equity hedge program to reduce a portion of the equity market exposures related to GMIB contracts (“GMIB equity hedge program”) by entering into exchange-traded futures contracts. The Company also entered into a dynamic interest rate hedge program that reduces a portion of the interest rate exposure related to GMIB contracts (“GMIB growth interest rate hedge program”) using LIBOR swap contracts and exchange-traded treasury futures contracts. See Note 9 for further information.

 

GMIB fair value gains of $67 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, were primarily due to increases in interest rates and significant increases in underlying account values during the period due to favorable equity market conditions.

 

GMIB fair value gains of $16 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, were primarily due to increases in interest rates and underlying account values during the period due to favorable equity market returns, partially offset by updates to the risk and profit charges that the Company anticipates a hypothetical market participant would require to assume this business.

 

Separate account assets

 

Fair values and changes in the fair values of separate account assets generally accrue directly to the policyholders and are excluded from the Company's revenues and expenses.  As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 separate account assets were as follows:

 

March 31, 2012        
(In millions)Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)Total
Guaranteed separate accounts (See Note 17)$ 269$ 1,400$ -$ 1,669
Non-guaranteed separate accounts (1)  1,864  4,005  943  6,812
Total separate account assets$ 2,133$ 5,405$ 943$ 8,481

(1) As of March 31, 2012, non-guaranteed separate accounts included $3.2 billion in assets supporting the Company's pension plans, including $894 million classified in Level 3.

 

December 31, 2011     
(In millions)Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)Total
Guaranteed separate accounts (See Note 17)$ 249$ 1,439$ -$ 1,688
Non-guaranteed separate accounts (1)  1,804  3,851  750  6,405
Total separate account assets$ 2,053$ 5,290$ 750$ 8,093

(1) As of December 31, 2011, non-guaranteed separate accounts included $3.0 billion in assets supporting the Company's pension plans, including $702 million classified in Level 3.

 

Separate account assets in Level 1 include exchange-listed equity securities.  Level 2 assets primarily include:

 

  • corporate and structured bonds valued using recent trades of similar securities or pricing models that discount future cash flows at estimated market interest rates as described above; and
  • actively-traded institutional and retail mutual fund investments and separate accounts priced using the daily net asset value which is the exit price.

 

Separate account assets classified in Level 3 include investments primarily in securities partnerships, real estate and hedge funds generally valued based on the separate account's ownership share of the equity of the investee including changes in the fair values of its underlying investments.

       

The following tables summarize the changes in separate account assets reported in Level 3 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011.       

 

 Three Months Ended
 March 31,
(In millions)20122011
Balance at January 1$ 750$ 594
Policyholder gains (1)  18  58
Purchases, sales and settlements:    
Purchases  184  9
Sales  -  (40)
Settlements  (11)  (59)
Total purchases, sales and settlements  173  (90)
Transfers into/(out of) Level 3:    
Transfers into Level 3  3  -
Transfers out of Level 3  (1)  (3)
Total transfers into/(out of) Level 3  2  (3)
Balance at March 31$ 943$ 559
     

(1) Included are gains of $12 million attributable to instruments still held at March 31, 2012 and gains of $40 million attributable to instruments still held at March 31, 2011.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value under Certain Conditions

 

Some financial assets and liabilities are not carried at fair value each reporting period, but may be measured using fair value only under certain conditions, such as investments in real estate entities and commercial mortgage loans when they become impaired. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, commercial mortgage loans representing less than 1% of total investments were written down to their fair values, resulting in after-tax realized investment losses of $2 million.

 

During 2011, impaired commercial mortgage loans and real estate entities representing less than 1% of total investments were written down to their fair values, resulting in after-tax realized investment losses of $15 million.

 

These fair values were calculated by discounting the expected future cash flows at estimated market interest rates. Such market rates were derived by calculating the appropriate spread over comparable U.S. Treasury rates, based on the characteristics of the underlying real estate, including its type, quality and location. The fair value measurements were classified in Level 3 because these cash flow models incorporate significant unobservable inputs.       

Fair Value Disclosures for Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value

 

Most financial instruments that are subject to fair value disclosure requirements are carried in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements at amounts that approximate fair value. The following table provides carrying values, fair values and classification in the fair value hierarchy of the Company's financial instruments not recorded at fair value that are subject to fair value disclosure requirements at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

 

(In millions)  March 31, 2012 December 31, 2011
 Classification in the Fair Value Hierarchy Fair Value Carrying Value Fair Value Carrying Value
Commercial mortgage loans Level 3$ 3,390$ 3,259$ 3,380$ 3,301
Contractholder deposit funds, excluding universal life productsLevel 3$ 1,084$ 1,053$ 1,056$ 1,035
Long-term debt, including current maturities, excluding capital leasesLevel 2$ 5,430$ 4,947$ 5,281$ 4,946

The fair values presented in the table above have been estimated using market information when available. The following is a description of the valuation methodologies and inputs used by the Company to determine fair value.

 

Commercial mortgage loans. The Company estimates the fair value of commercial mortgage loans generally by discounting the contractual cash flows at estimated market interest rates that reflect the Company's assessment of the credit quality of the loans. Market interest rates are derived by calculating the appropriate spread over comparable U.S. Treasury rates, based on the property type, quality rating and average life of the loan. The quality ratings reflect the relative risk of the loan, considering debt service coverage, the loan-to-value ratio and other factors. Fair values of impaired mortgage loans are based on the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral generally determined using an internal discounted cash flow model. The fair value measurements were classified in Level 3 because the cash flow models incorporate significant unobservable inputs.

 

Contractholder deposit funds, excluding universal life products. Generally, these funds do not have stated maturities. Approximately 55% of these balances can be withdrawn by the customer at any time without prior notice or penalty. The fair value for these contracts is the amount estimated to be payable to the customer as of the reporting date, which is generally the carrying value. Most of the remaining contractholder deposit funds are reinsured by the buyers of the individual life and annuity and retirement benefits businesses. The fair value for these contracts is determined using the fair value of these buyers' assets supporting these reinsured contracts. The Company had a reinsurance recoverable equal to the carrying value of these reinsured contracts. These instruments were classified in Level 3 because certain inputs are unobservable (supported by little or no market activity) and significant to their resulting fair value measurement.

Long-term debt, including current maturities, excluding capital leases. The fair value of long-term debt is based on quoted market prices for recent trades. When quoted market prices are not available, fair value is estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis and the Company's estimated current borrowing rate for debt of similar terms and remaining maturities. These measurements were classified in Level 2 because the fair values are based on quoted market prices or other inputs that are market observable or can be corroborated by market data.

 

Fair values of off-balance-sheet financial instruments were not material.