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Investments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Investments disclosure  
Investments disclsoure [Text Block]

3. INVESTMENTS

Fixed Maturities

        The amortized cost and fair value of investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale were as follows:

 
   
  Gross Unrealized    
 
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
 
(at December 31, 2014, in millions)
  Gains   Losses  

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities

  $ 2,022   $ 36   $ 5   $ 2,053  

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions:

                         

Pre-refunded

    7,229     332         7,561  

All other

    24,666     1,356     10     26,012  

Total obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

    31,895     1,688     10     33,573  

Debt securities issued by foreign governments

    2,320     48         2,368  

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

    2,052     165     4     2,213  

All other corporate bonds

    22,390     844     99     23,135  

Redeemable preferred stock

    122     10         132  

Total

  $ 60,801   $ 2,791   $ 118   $ 63,474  

 
   
  Gross Unrealized    
 
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
 
(at December 31, 2013, in millions)
  Gains   Losses  

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities

  $ 2,288   $ 39   $ 12   $ 2,315  

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions:

                         

Pre-refunded

    9,074     445     1     9,518  

All other

    25,414     991     361     26,044  

Total obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

    34,488     1,436     362     35,562  

Debt securities issued by foreign governments

    2,552     33     8     2,577  

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

    2,263     179     18     2,424  

All other corporate bonds

    20,472     767     299     20,940  

Redeemable preferred stock

    133     6     1     138  

Total

  $ 62,196   $ 2,460   $ 700   $ 63,956  

        The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities by contractual maturity follow. Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

(at December 31, 2014, in millions)
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
 

Due in one year or less

  $ 7,762   $ 7,859  

Due after 1 year through 5 years

    18,447     19,325  

Due after 5 years through 10 years

    16,815     17,462  

Due after 10 years

    15,725     16,615  

 

    58,749     61,261  

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

    2,052     2,213  

Total

  $ 60,801   $ 63,474  

        Pre-refunded bonds of $7.56 billion and $9.52 billion at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, were bonds for which states or municipalities have established irrevocable trusts, almost exclusively comprised of U.S. Treasury securities, which were created to satisfy their responsibility for payments of principal and interest.

        The Company's fixed maturity investment portfolio at December 31, 2014 and 2013 included $2.21 billion and $2.42 billion, respectively, of residential mortgage-backed securities, which include pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO). Included in the totals at December 31, 2014 and 2013 were $872 million and $1.07 billion, respectively, of GNMA, FNMA, FHLMC (excluding FHA project loans) and Canadian government guaranteed residential mortgage-backed pass-through securities classified as available for sale. Also included in those totals were residential CMOs classified as available for sale with a fair value of $1.34 billion and $1.36 billion at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Approximately 46% and 42% of the Company's CMO holdings at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, were guaranteed by or fully collateralized by securities issued by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC. The average credit rating of the $725 million and $790 million of non-guaranteed CMO holdings at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, was "Ba1" and "Ba3," respectively. The average credit rating of all of the above securities was "Aa3" and "A1" at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

        At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company held commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS, including FHA project loans) of $715 million and $475 million, respectively, which are included in "All other corporate bonds" in the tables above. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, approximately $202 million and $59 million of these securities, respectively, or the loans backing such securities, contained guarantees by the U.S. government or a government-sponsored enterprise. The average credit rating of the $513 million and $416 million of non-guaranteed securities at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, was "Aaa" at both dates. The CMBS portfolio is supported by loans that are diversified across economic sectors and geographical areas. The average credit rating of the CMBS portfolio was "Aaa" at both December 31, 2014 and 2013.

        At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had $296 million and $131 million, respectively, of securities on loan as part of a tri-party lending agreement.

        Proceeds from sales of fixed maturities classified as available for sale were $1.05 billion, $1.64 billion and $1.09 billion in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Gross gains of $44 million, $66 million and $70 million and gross losses of $12 million, $25 million and $9 million were realized on sales in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

        At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company's insurance subsidiaries had $4.78 billion and $4.77 billion, respectively, of securities on deposit at financial institutions in certain states pursuant to the respective states' insurance regulatory requirements. Funds deposited with third parties to be used as collateral to secure various liabilities on behalf of insureds, cedants and other creditors had a fair value of $39 million and $59 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Other investments pledged as collateral securing outstanding letters of credit had a fair value of $22 million and $42 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In addition, the Company utilized a Lloyd's trust deposit at December 31, 2014 and 2013, whereby owned securities with a fair value of approximately $151 million and $181 million, respectively, held by an insurance subsidiary were pledged into a Lloyd's trust account to support capital requirements for the Company's operations at Lloyd's.

Equity Securities

        The cost and fair value of investments in equity securities were as follows:

 
   
  Gross
Unrealized
   
 
 
   
  Fair
Value
 
(at December 31, 2014, in millions)
  Cost   Gains   Losses  

Public common stock

  $ 400   $ 295   $ 4   $ 691  

Non-redeemable preferred stock

    179     31     2     208  

Total

  $ 579   $ 326   $ 6   $ 899  


 

 
   
  Gross
Unrealized
   
 
 
   
  Fair
Value
 
(at December 31, 2013, in millions)
  Cost   Gains   Losses  

Public common stock

  $ 385   $ 226   $ 1   $ 610  

Non-redeemable preferred stock

    301     34     2     333  

Total

  $ 686   $ 260   $ 3   $ 943  

        Proceeds from sales of equity securities were $158 million, $86 million and $37 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Gross gains of $27 million, $16 million and $8 million and gross losses of $3 million, $1 million and less than $1 million were realized on those sales (excluding impairments) in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Real Estate

        The Company's real estate investments include warehouses, office buildings and other commercial land and properties that are directly owned. The Company negotiates commercial leases with individual tenants through unrelated, licensed real estate brokers. Negotiated terms and conditions include, among others, rental rates, length of lease period and improvements to the premises to be provided by the landlord.

        Proceeds from the sale of real estate investments were $15 million, $18 million and $53 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Gross gains of $6 million, $7 million and $19 million were realized on those sales in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and there were no gross losses. The Company had no real estate held for sale at December 31, 2014 and 2013. Accumulated depreciation on real estate held for investment purposes was $290 million and $264 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

        Future minimum rental income on operating leases relating to the Company's real estate properties is expected to be $85 million, $72 million, $56 million, $44 million and $34 million for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively, and $64 million for 2020 and thereafter.

Short-term Securities

        The Company's short-term securities consist of Aaa-rated registered money market funds, U.S. Treasury securities, high-quality commercial paper (primarily A1/P1) and high-quality corporate securities purchased within a year to their maturity with a combined average of 57 days to maturity at December 31, 2014. The amortized cost of these securities, which totaled $4.36 billion and $3.88 billion at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, approximated their fair value.

Variable Interest Entities

        Entities which do not have sufficient equity at risk to allow the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support or in which the equity investors, as a group, do not have the characteristic of a controlling financial interest are referred to as variable interest entities (VIE). A VIE is consolidated by the variable interest holder that is determined to have the controlling financial interest (primary beneficiary) as a result of having both the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of an entity subject to consolidation based on a qualitative assessment of the VIE's capital structure, contractual terms, nature of the VIE's operations and purpose and the Company's relative exposure to the related risks of the VIE on the date it becomes initially involved in the VIE. The Company reassesses its VIE determination with respect to an entity on an ongoing basis.

        The Company is a passive investor in limited partner equity interests issued by third party VIEs. These include certain of the Company's investments in private equity limited partnerships, hedge funds and real estate partnerships where the Company is not related to the general partner. These investments are generally accounted for under the equity method and reported in the Company's consolidated balance sheet as other investments unless the Company is deemed the primary beneficiary. These equity interests generally cannot be redeemed. Distributions from these investments are received by the Company as a result of liquidation of the underlying investments of the funds and/or as income distribution. The Company's maximum exposure to loss with respect to these investments is limited to the investment carrying amounts reported in the Company's consolidated balance sheet and any unfunded commitment. Neither the carrying amounts nor the unfunded commitments related to these VIEs are material.

Unrealized Investment Losses

        The following tables summarize, for all investments in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2014 and 2013, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time those securities have been continuously in an unrealized loss position. The fair value amounts reported in the tables are estimates that are prepared using the process described in note 4. The Company also relies upon estimates of several factors in its review and evaluation of individual investments, using the process described in note 1, in determining whether such investments are other-than-temporarily impaired.

 
  Less than 12 months   12 months or longer   Total  
(at December 31, 2014, in millions)
  Fair
Value
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 

Fixed maturities

                                     

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities

  $ 180   $ 2   $ 125   $ 3   $ 305   $ 5  

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

    173     1     797     9     970     10  

Debt securities issued by foreign governments

    50         24         74      

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

    68         192     4     260     4  

All other corporate bonds

    2,148     38     2,355     61     4,503     99  

Redeemable preferred stock

                         

Total fixed maturities

    2,619     41     3,493     77     6,112     118  

Equity securities

                                     

Public common stock

    81     4     1         82     4  

Non-redeemable preferred stock

    44     1     42     1     86     2  

Total equity securities

    125     5     43     1     168     6  

Total

  $ 2,744   $ 46   $ 3,536   $ 78   $ 6,280   $ 124  


 

 
  Less than 12 months   12 months or longer   Total  
(at December 31, 2013, in millions)
  Fair
Value
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 

Fixed maturities

                                     

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities

  $ 433   $ 12   $   $   $ 433   $ 12  

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

    4,785     298     432     64     5,217     362  

Debt securities issued by foreign governments

    907     8     1         908     8  

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

    542     17     21     1     563     18  

All other corporate bonds

    6,887     253     421     46     7,308     299  

Redeemable preferred stock

    82     1             82     1  

Total fixed maturities

    13,636     589     875     111     14,511     700  

Equity securities

                                     

Public common stock

    53     1             53     1  

Non-redeemable preferred stock

    147     2             147     2  

Total equity securities

    200     3             200     3  

Total

  $ 13,836   $ 592   $ 875   $ 111   $ 14,711   $ 703  

        The following table summarizes, for all fixed maturities and equity securities reported at fair value for which fair value is less than 80% of amortized cost at December 31, 2014, the gross unrealized investment loss by length of time those securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position of greater than 20% of amortized cost:

 
  Period For Which Fair Value Is Less Than 80% of Amortized Cost  
(in millions)
  3 Months
or Less
  Greater Than
3 Months,
6 Months
or Less
  Greater Than
6 Months,
12 Months
or Less
  Greater Than
12 Months
  Total  

Fixed maturities

                               

Mortgage-backed securities

  $   $   $   $   $  

Other

    4         2     2     8  

Total fixed maturities

    4         2     2     8  

Equity securities

                     

Total

  $ 4   $   $ 2   $ 2   $ 8  

        These unrealized losses at December 31, 2014 represented less than 1% of the combined fixed maturity and equity security portfolios on a pretax basis and less than 1% of shareholders' equity on an after-tax basis.

Impairment Charges

        Impairment charges included in net realized investment gains in the consolidated statement of income were as follows:

(for the year ended December 31, in millions)
  2014   2013   2012  

Fixed maturities

                   

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities

  $   $   $  

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

             

Debt securities issued by foreign governments

             

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

    1     2     4  

All other corporate bonds

    15     3     4  

Redeemable preferred stock

             

Total fixed maturities

    16     5     8  

Equity securities

   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Public common stock

    9     5     3  

Non-redeemable preferred stock

            1  

Total equity securities

    9     5     4  

Other investments

    1     5     3  

Total

  $ 26   $ 15   $ 15  

        The following tables present the cumulative amount of and the changes during the reporting period in the credit losses of other-than-temporary impairments (OTTI) on fixed maturities recognized in the consolidated statement of income for which a portion of the OTTI was recognized in other comprehensive income:

Year ended December 31, 2014
(in millions)
  Cumulative
OTTI Credit
Losses
Recognized for
Securities Held,
Beginning of
Period
  Additions for
OTTI Securities
Where No
Credit Losses
Were
Previously
Recognized
  Additions for
OTTI Securities
Where Credit
Losses Have
Been
Previously
Recognized
  Reductions
Due to
Sales/Defaults
of Credit-
Impaired
Securities
  Adjustments to
Book Value
of Credit-
Impaired
Securities due
to Changes in
Cash Flows
  Cumulative OTTI
Credit Losses
Recognized for
Securities Still
Held, End of
Period
 

Fixed maturities

                                     

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

  $ 53   $   $ 1   $ (5 ) $ (9 ) $ 40  

All other corporate bonds

    65         3     (6 )   (3 )   59  

Total fixed maturities

  $ 118   $   $ 4   $ (11 ) $ (12 ) $ 99  


 

Year ended December 31, 2013
(in millions)
  Cumulative
OTTI Credit
Losses
Recognized for
Securities Held,
Beginning of
Period
  Additions for
OTTI Securities
Where No
Credit Losses
Were
Previously
Recognized
  Additions for
OTTI Securities
Where Credit
Losses Have
Been
Previously
Recognized
  Reductions
Due to
Sales/Defaults
of Credit-
Impaired
Securities
  Adjustments to
Book Value
of Credit-
Impaired
Securities due
to Changes in
Cash Flows
  Cumulative OTTI
Credit Losses
Recognized for
Securities Still
Held, End of
Period
 

Fixed maturities

                                     

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

  $ 55   $   $ 2   $   $ (4 ) $ 53  

All other corporate bonds

    72     3         (7 )   (3 )   65  

Total fixed maturities

  $ 127   $ 3   $ 2   $ (7 ) $ (7 ) $ 118  

Concentrations and Credit Quality

        Concentrations of credit risk arise from exposure to counterparties that are engaged in similar activities and have similar economic characteristics that could cause their ability to meet contractual obligations to be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions. The Company seeks to mitigate credit risk by actively monitoring the creditworthiness of counterparties, obtaining collateral as deemed appropriate and applying controls that include credit approvals, limits of credit exposure and other monitoring procedures.

        At December 31, 2014 and 2013, other than U.S. Treasury securities, obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities, and obligations of the Canadian government, the Company was not exposed to any concentration of credit risk of a single issuer greater than 5% of the Company's shareholders' equity.

        Included in fixed maturities are below investment grade securities totaling $1.91 billion and $1.93 billion at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company defines its below investment grade securities as those securities rated below investment grade by external rating agencies, or the equivalent by the Company when a public rating does not exist. Such securities include below investment grade bonds that are publicly traded and certain other privately issued bonds that are classified as below investment grade loans.

Net Investment Income

(for the year ended December 31, in millions)
  2014   2013   2012  

Gross investment income

                   

Fixed maturities

  $ 2,244   $ 2,310   $ 2,439  

Equity securities

    40     31     28  

Short-term securities

    9     11     10  

Real estate

    44     37     34  

Other investments

    489     364     414  

Gross investment income

    2,826     2,753     2,925  

Investment expenses

    39     37     36  

Net investment income

  $ 2,787   $ 2,716   $ 2,889  

        Changes in net unrealized gains on investment securities that are included as a separate component of other comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:

(at and for the year ended December 31, in millions)
  2014   2013   2012  

Changes in net unrealized investment gains

                   

Fixed maturities

  $ 913   $ (2,804 ) $ 326  

Equity securities

    63     74     38  

Other investments

    2     (1 )   (2 )

Change in net pretax unrealized gains on investment securities

    978     (2,731 )   362  

Related tax expense (benefit)

    334     (950 )   130  

Change in net unrealized gains on investment securities

    644     (1,781 )   232  

Balance, beginning of year

    1,322     3,103     2,871  

Balance, end of year

  $ 1,966   $ 1,322   $ 3,103  

Derivative Financial Instruments

        From time to time, the Company enters into U.S. Treasury note futures contracts to modify the effective duration of specific assets within the investment portfolio. U.S. Treasury futures contracts require a daily mark-to-market and settlement with the broker. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had $350 million and $0 notional value of open U.S. Treasury futures contracts, respectively. Net realized investment gains in 2014, 2013 and 2012 included net losses of $1 million, net gains of $115 million and net losses of $14 million, respectively, related to U.S. Treasury futures contracts.

        The Company purchases investments that have embedded derivatives, primarily convertible debt securities. These embedded derivatives are carried at fair value with changes in value reflected in net realized investment gains. Derivatives embedded in convertible debt securities are reported on a combined basis with their host instrument and are classified as fixed maturity securities. The Company recorded net realized losses of less than $1 million in 2014, net realized investment gains of less than $1 million in 2013 and net realized investment losses of less than $1 million in 2012 related to these embedded derivatives.