Debt

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Debt [Abstract]

Debt

14. Debt

Senior Notes

On April 5, 2012, the Company issued $1.55 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes. The issuance consisted of $325 of 4.000% senior notes due 2017, $800 of 5.125% senior notes due 2022 and $425 of 6.625% senior notes due 2042 (collectively, the “Senior Notes”) for net proceeds of approximately $1.5 billion, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. The Senior Notes bear interest at their respective rate, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on October 15, 2012.

Junior Subordinated Debentures

On April 17, 2012, the Company (i) repurchased all outstanding 10% fixed-to-floating rate junior subordinated debentures due 2068 with a $1.75 billion aggregate principal amount held by Allianz SE (“Allianz”) (the “10% Debentures”) for $2.125 billion (plus a payment by the Company of unpaid interest on the 10% Debentures) and (ii) settled the repurchase of the Series B and Series C warrants held by Allianz to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, see Note 15. In addition, the 10% Debentures replacement capital covenant (the “10% Debentures RCC”) was terminated on April 12, 2012 with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s outstanding 6.1% senior notes due 2041. Upon closing, the Company recognized a loss on extinguishment in the second quarter of 2012 of approximately $600, after-tax, representing the premium associated with repurchasing the 10% Debentures at an amount greater than the face amount, the write-off of the unamortized discount and debt issuance costs related to the 10% Debentures and other costs related to the repurchase transaction. On April 5, 2012, the Company issued $600 aggregate principal amount of 7.875% fixed-to-floating rate junior subordinated debentures due 2042 (the “Debentures”) for net proceeds of approximately $586, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. The Company financed the repurchase of the 10% Debentures through the issuance of the Senior Notes and the Debentures.

The Debentures bear interest from the date of issuance to but excluding April 15, 2022 at an annual rate of 7.875%, payable quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on July 15, 2012, to and including April 15, 2022. Commencing on April 15, 2022 the Debentures bear interest at an annual rate equal to three-month LIBOR, reset quarterly, plus 5.596%, payable quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on July 15, 2022. The Company has the right, on one or more occasions, to defer the payment of interest on the Debentures. The Company may defer interest for up to ten consecutive years without giving rise to an event of default. Deferred interest will accumulate additional interest at an annual rate equal to the annual interest rate then applicable to the Debentures. If the Company defers interest payments on the Debentures, the Company generally may not make payments on or redeem or purchase any shares of its capital stock or any of its debt securities or guarantees that rank upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up equally with or junior to the Debentures, subject to certain limited exceptions.

The Company may elect to redeem the Debentures in whole at any time or in part from time to time on or after April 15, 2022, at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of redemption. If the Debentures are not redeemed in whole, at least $25 aggregate principal amount of the Debentures must remain outstanding after giving effect to such redemption. The Debentures may be redeemed in whole at any time prior to April 15, 2022, within 90 days of the occurrence of a tax event or rating agency event, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed, or (ii) the present value of the (a) outstanding principal and (b) remaining scheduled payments of interest that would have been payable from the redemption date to and including April 15, 2022 on the Debentures to be redeemed (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued and unpaid to but excluding the redemption date), discounted from their respective interest payment dates to but excluding the redemption date at a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus a spread of 0.700%, in each case, plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the redemption date.

The Debentures are unsecured, subordinated and junior in right of payment and upon liquidation to all of the Company’s existing and future senior indebtedness. In addition, the Debentures are effectively subordinated to all of the Company’s subsidiaries’ existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, including obligations to policyholders. The Debentures do not limit the Company’s or the Company’s subsidiaries’ ability to incur additional debt, including debt that ranks senior in right of payment and upon liquidation to the Debentures.

The Debentures rank equally in right of payment and upon liquidation with (i) any indebtedness the terms of which provide that such indebtedness ranks equally with the Debentures, including guarantees of such indebtedness, (ii) the Company’s existing 8.125% fixed-to-floating rate junior subordinated debentures due 2068 (the “8.125% Debentures”), (iii) the Company’s Income Capital Obligation Notes due 2067, issuable pursuant to the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of February 12, 2007, between us and Wilmington Trust Company (the “ICON securities”), (iv) our trade accounts payable, and (v) any of our indebtedness owed to a person who is our subsidiary or employee.

Revolving Credit Facility

In January 2012, the Company entered into a senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) that provides for borrowing capacity up to $1.75 billion (which is available in U.S. dollars, and in Euro, Sterling, Canadian dollars and Japanese Yen) through January 6, 2016. Of the total availability under the Credit Facility, up to $250 is available to support letters of credit issued on behalf of the Company or subsidiaries of the Company. Under the Credit Facility, the Company must maintain a minimum level of consolidated net worth, as defined. In the first quarter of 2012, the minimum level of consolidated net worth was reduced by approximately $1.1 billion, after-tax from $16.0 billion as of December 31, 2011 to $14.9 billion as of March 31, 2012 following the adoption of a new DAC accounting standard during the quarter. The definition of consolidated net worth under the terms of the Credit Facility, excludes AOCI and includes the Company’s outstanding junior subordinated debentures and perpetual preferred securities, net of discount. In addition, the Company’s maximum ratio of consolidated total debt to consolidated total capitalization is 35%, and the ratio of consolidated total debt of subsidiaries to consolidated total capitalization is limited to 10%. As of March 31, 2012, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants under the Credit Facility.