2. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying values and estimated fair values of Alleghany’s consolidated financial instruments as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were as follows:


	March 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
	($ in millions)
Assets
Investments (excluding equity method investments and loans)⁽¹⁾	$	17,029.3	$	17,029.3	$	17,007.6	$	17,007.6

Liabilities
Senior Notes⁽²⁾	$	1,383.6	$	1,535.4	$	1,383.1	$	1,488.7

(1)

This table includes available-for-sale (“AFS”) investments (debt and equity securities as well as partnership and non-marketable equity investments carried at fair value that are included in other invested assets). This table excludes investments accounted for using the equity method and commercial mortgage loans that are carried at unpaid principal balance. The fair value of short-term investments approximates amortized cost. The fair value of all other categories of investments is discussed in Note 1(c) to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2015 10-K.

(2)	See Note 8 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2015 10-K for additional information on the senior notes.

Alleghany’s financial instruments measured at fair value and the level of the fair value hierarchy of inputs used as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were as follows:


	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	($ in millions)
As of March 31, 2016
Equity securities:
Common stock	$	2,888.1	$	-	$	1.0	$	2,889.1
Preferred stock		-		-		-		-

Total equity securities		2,888.1		-		1.0		2,889.1


Debt securities:
U.S. Government obligations		-		1,166.2		-		1,166.2
Municipal bonds		-		4,419.9		-		4,419.9
Foreign government obligations		-		1,091.4		-		1,091.4
U.S. corporate bonds		-		1,961.4		50.0		2,011.4
Foreign corporate bonds		-		1,063.5		-		1,063.5
Mortgage and asset-backed securities:
Residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”)⁽¹⁾		-		1,299.2		14.3		1,313.5
Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)		-		997.7		19.8		1,017.5
Other asset-backed securities⁽²⁾		-		610.4		924.4		1,534.8

Total debt securities		-		12,609.7		1,008.5		13,618.2
Short-term investments		-		493.6		-		493.6
Other invested assets⁽³⁾		-		-		28.4		28.4

Total investments (excluding equity method investments and loans)	$	2,888.1	$	13,103.3	$	1,037.9	$	17,029.3


Senior Notes	$	-	$	1,535.4	$	-	$	1,535.4


	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	($ in millions)
As of December 31, 2015
Equity securities:
Common stock	$	3,001.2	$	4.7	$	-	$	3,005.9
Preferred stock		-		-		-		-

Total equity securities		3,001.2		4.7		-		3,005.9


Debt securities:
U.S. Government obligations		-		1,074.7		-		1,074.7
Municipal bonds		-		4,339.6		-		4,339.6
Foreign government obligations		-		941.4		-		941.4
U.S. corporate bonds		-		2,126.9		49.8		2,176.7
Foreign corporate bonds		-		1,230.3		-		1,230.3
Mortgage and asset-backed securities:
RMBS⁽¹⁾		-		1,238.5		14.9		1,253.4
CMBS		-		1,003.2		20.2		1,023.4
Other asset-backed securities⁽²⁾		-		613.5		953.0		1,566.5

Total debt securities		-		12,568.1		1,037.9		13,606.0
Short-term investments		-		365.8		-		365.8
Other invested assets⁽³⁾		-		-		29.9		29.9

Total investments (excluding equity method investments and loans)	$	3,001.2	$	12,938.6	$	1,067.8	$	17,007.6


Senior Notes	$	-	$	1,488.7	$	-	$	1,488.7

(1)	Primarily includes government agency pass-through securities guaranteed by a government agency or government-sponsored enterprise, among other types of RMBS.

(2)	Includes $913.9 million and $946.7 million of collateralized loan obligations as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

(3)	Includes partnership and non-marketable equity investments accounted for on an AFS basis, and excludes investments accounted for using the equity method.

In the three months ended March 31, 2016, there were no material transfers of securities out of Level 3.

In the three months ended March 31, 2016, there were transfers of $2.7 million of securities into Level 3 principally due to a decrease in observable inputs related to the valuation of such assets. Of the $2.7 million of transfers, $1.7 million related to U.S. corporate bonds and $1.0 million related to common stock. There were no other material transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 in the three months ended March 31, 2016.

In the three months ended March 31, 2015, there were transfers of $10.4 million of debt securities out of Level 3 that were principally due to an increase in observable inputs related to the valuation of such assets. Of the $10.4 million, $6.8 million related to U.S. corporate bonds and $3.6 million related to foreign corporate bonds.

In the three months ended March 31, 2015, there were no transfers of securities into Level 3. There were no other significant transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 in the three months ended March 31, 2015.

The following tables present reconciliations of the changes during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 in Level 3 assets measured at fair value:


			Debt Securities
					Mortgage and asset-backed
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016	Common Stock		U.S. Corporate Bonds		RMBS		CMBS		Other Asset- backed Securities		Other Invested Assets⁽¹⁾		Total
	($ in millions)
Balance as of January 1, 2016	$	-	$	49.8	$	14.9	$	20.2	$	953.0	$	29.9	$	1,067.8
Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in:
Net earnings⁽²⁾		-		0.1		0.1		(0.1)		1.0		1.5		2.6
Other comprehensive income		-		0.2		(0.2)		(0.1)		(14.3)		(1.3)		(15.7)
Purchases		-		0.3		-		-		10.3		-		10.6
Sales		-		(1.2)		-		-		(25.3)		(1.5)		(28.0)
Issuances		-		-		-		-		-		-		-
Settlements		-		(0.9)		(0.5)		(0.2)		(0.3)		-		(1.9)
Transfers into Level 3		1.0		1.7		-		-		-		-		2.7
Transfers out of Level 3		-		-		-		-		-		(0.2)		(0.2)

Balance as of March 31, 2016	$	1.0	$	50.0	$	14.3	$	19.8	$	924.4	$	28.4	$	1,037.9


	Debt Securities
					Mortgage and asset-backed
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015	U.S. Corporate Bonds		Foreign Corporate Bonds		RMBS		CMBS		Other Asset- backed Securities		Other Invested Assets⁽¹⁾		Total
	($ in millions)
Balance as of January 1, 2015	$	36.7	$	6.0	$	18.2	$	23.3	$	933.1	$	24.1	$	1,041.4
Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in:
Net earnings⁽²⁾		0.1		-		0.1		(0.1)		0.6		-		0.7
Other comprehensive income		0.4		-		-		(0.4)		7.8		0.3		8.1
Purchases		6.7		-		-		0.9		35.0		-		42.6
Sales		(0.5)		(0.2)		-		-		(53.1)		-		(53.8)
Issuances		-		-		-		-		-		-		-
Settlements		(4.0)		-		(0.7)		(0.5)		(0.5)		-		(5.7)
Transfers into Level 3		-		-		-		-		-		-		-
Transfers out of Level 3		(6.8)		(3.6)		-		-		-		-		(10.4)

Balance as of March 31, 2015	$	32.6	$	2.2	$	17.6	$	23.2	$	922.9	$	24.4	$	1,022.9

(1)	Includes partnership and non-marketable equity investments accounted for on an AFS basis.

(2)	There were no other than temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses recorded in net earnings related to Level 3 investments still held as of March 31, 2016 and 2015.

Net unrealized losses related to Level 3 investments as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were not material.

See Note 1(c) to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2015 10-K for Alleghany’s accounting policy on fair value.