Goodwill and other intangible assets Goodwill and other intangible assets (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

The following table presents a roll-forward of Goodwill by segment:

(in millions of U.S. dollars)	North America Commercial P&C Insurance		North America Personal P&C Insurance		North America Agricultural Insurance		Overseas General Insurance		Global Reinsurance		Life Insurance		Chubb Consolidated
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	1,203	$	196	$	134	$	2,078	$	365	$	820	$	4,796
Acquisition of Chubb Corp	5,667		2,025		—		2,753		—		—		10,445
Foreign exchange revaluation and other	40		13		—		109		—		1		163
Balance at March 31, 2016	$	6,910	$	2,234	$	134	$	4,940	$	365	$	821	$	15,404

Intangible assets acquired as part of Chubb Corp acquisition

(in millions of U.S. dollars)	Amount		Estimated useful life
Definite life
Unearned premium reserves (UPR) intangible asset	$	1,550	1 year
Agency distribution relationships and renewal rights	3,150		24 years
Internally developed technology	95		3 years
Indefinite life
Trademarks	2,800		Indefinite
Licenses	50		Indefinite
Syndicate capacity	10		Indefinite
Total identified intangible assets	$	7,655

Intangible Asset Amortization for the Next 5 Years [Table Text Block]

	Associated with the Chubb Corp Acquisition
For the Year Ending December 31 (in millions of U.S. dollars)	Agency distribution relationships and renewal rights		Internally developed technology		Fair Value adjustment to Unpaid losses and loss expense			Total			Other intangible assets		Total amortization of purchased intangibles
Second quarter of 2016	$	33	$	8	$	(61	)	$	(20	)	$	21	$	1
Third quarter of 2016	33		8		(61		)	(20		)	21		1
Fourth quarter of 2016	33		8		(61		)	(20		)	21		1
2017	293		32		(160		)	165			79		244
2018	320		32		(101		)	251			70		321
2019	279		—		(62		)	217			64		281
2020	239		—		(35		)	204			58		262
2021	216		—		(20		)	196			52		248
Total	$	1,446	$	88	$	(561	)	$	973		$	386	$	1,359

Future Changes in Deferred Tax Liabilities Resulting From Amortization of Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]

	Chubb Corp acquisition
For the Year Ending December 31 (in millions of U.S. dollars)	Reduction to deferred tax liability associated with other intangibles			Amortization of UPR intangible asset to be recorded through Policy acquisition costs on the income statement
Second quarter of 2016	$	(196	)	$	518
Third quarter of 2016	(126		)	319
Fourth quarter of 2016	(65		)	143
2017	(114		)	—
2018	(123		)	—
2019	(98		)	—
2020	(84		)	—
2021	(75		)	—
Total	$	(881	)	$	980