General

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

General

General

1.  General

Basis of presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Allstate Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries, primarily Allstate Insurance Company (“AIC”), a property-liability insurance company with various property-liability and life and investment subsidiaries, including Allstate Life Insurance Company (“ALIC”) (collectively referred to as the “Company” or “Allstate”).

The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes as of September 30, 2011 and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are unaudited.  The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods.  These condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.  The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

Adopted accounting standards

Consolidation Analysis Considering Investments Held through Separate Accounts

In April 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance clarifying that an insurer is not required to combine interests in investments held in a qualifying separate account with its interests in the same investments held in the general account when performing a consolidation evaluation.  The adoption of this guidance as of January 1, 2011 had no impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

Disclosure of Supplementary Pro Forma Information for Business Combinations

In December 2010, the FASB issued disclosure guidance for entities that enter into business combinations that are material.  The guidance specifies that if an entity presents comparative financial statements, the entity should disclose pro forma revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only.  The guidance expands the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination.  The Company will apply the guidance to any business combinations entered into on or after January 1, 2011.

Criteria for Classification as a Troubled Debt Restructuring (“TDR”)

In April 2011, the FASB issued clarifying guidance related to determining whether a loan modification or restructuring should be classified as a TDR.  The additional guidance provided pertains to the two criteria used to determine whether a TDR exists, specifically whether the creditor has granted a concession and whether the debtor is experiencing financial difficulties.  The guidance related to the identification of a TDR is to be applied retrospectively to the beginning of the annual period of adoption.  The measurement of impairment on a TDR identified under this guidance is effective prospectively.  Disclosures about the credit quality of financing receivables and the allowance for credit losses previously deferred for TDRs, is also effective for reporting periods beginning on or after June 15, 2011.  The adoption of this guidance as of July 1, 2011 did not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

Pending accounting standards

Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts

In October 2010, the FASB issued guidance modifying the definition of the types of costs incurred by insurance entities that can be capitalized in the acquisition of new and renewal contracts.  The guidance specifies that the costs must be based on successful efforts.  The guidance also specifies that advertising costs should be included as deferred acquisition costs only when the direct-response advertising accounting criteria are met.  If application of the guidance would result in the capitalization of acquisition costs that had not been capitalized prior to adoption, the entity may elect not to capitalize those additional costs.  The new guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and should be applied prospectively, with retrospective application permitted.   The Company plans to adopt the new guidance retrospectively.  Upon adoption on January 1, 2012, the deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) balance will be reduced with a corresponding decrease to retained income, net of taxes.  In periods subsequent to January 1, 2012, a lower amount of acquisition costs will be capitalized which will increase operating costs and expenses and the smaller DAC balance will result in decreased amortization of DAC.  The Company is in the process of completing the retrospective adoption calculations and measuring the impact of adoption on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.

Criteria for Determining Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements

In April 2011, the FASB issued guidance modifying the assessment criteria of effective control for repurchase agreements.  The new guidance removes the criterion requiring an entity to have the ability to repurchase or redeem financial assets on substantially the agreed terms and the collateral maintenance implementation guidance related to that criterion.  The guidance is to be applied prospectively to transactions or modifications of existing transactions that occur during reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011.  Early adoption is not permitted.  The impact of adoption is not expected to be material to the Company’s results of operations and financial position.

Amendments to Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements

In May 2011, the FASB issued guidance that clarifies the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements and amends certain fair value measurement principles, requirements and disclosures.  To improve consistency in global application, changes in wording were made.  The guidance is to be applied prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011.  Early adoption is not permitted.  The impact of adoption is not expected to be material to the Company’s results of operations and financial position.

Presentation of Comprehensive Income

In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance amending the presentation of comprehensive income and its components.  Under the new guidance, an entity has the option to present comprehensive income in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements.  Both options require an entity to present reclassification adjustments for items reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income in the statement(s) where the components of net income and the components of comprehensive income are presented.  The guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and is to be applied retrospectively.  Early adoption is permitted.  The impact of adoption is related to presentation only and will have no impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.  In October 2011, the FASB announced that they will discuss at a future meeting whether to delay the effective date of certain provisions in the new guidance related to the presentation of reclassification adjustments.

Intangibles – Goodwill and Other

In September 2011, the FASB issued guidance providing the option to first assess qualitative factors, such as macroeconomic conditions and industry and market considerations, to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount.  If indicated by the qualitative assessment, then it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test.  If the option is not elected, the guidance requiring the two-step goodwill impairment test is unchanged.  The new guidance is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted.  The impact of adoption is not expected to be material to the Company’s results of operations and financial position.