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Investments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Investments 
Investments

4.  Investments

 

Fair values

 

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value for fixed income securities are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Amortized

 

Gross unrealized

 

Fair

 

 

 

cost

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

value

 

September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

$  

4,009  

$  

337  

$  

--    

$  

4,346

 

Municipal

 

14,445  

 

816  

 

(262)  

 

14,999

 

Corporate

 

42,335  

 

2,644  

 

(450)  

 

44,529

 

Foreign government

 

1,941  

 

197  

 

(5)  

 

2,133

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”)

 

5,027  

 

146  

 

(541)  

 

4,632

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)

 

2,045  

 

37  

 

(258)  

 

1,824

 

Asset-backed securities (“ABS”)

 

4,110  

 

87  

 

(291)  

 

3,906

 

Redeemable preferred stock

 

23  

 

2  

 

--   

 

25

 

Total fixed income securities

$  

73,935  

$  

4,266  

$  

(1,807)  

$  

76,394

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

$  

8,320  

$  

327  

$  

(51)  

$  

8,596

 

Municipal

 

16,201  

 

379  

 

(646)  

 

15,934

 

Corporate

 

36,260  

 

1,816  

 

(421)  

 

37,655

 

Foreign government

 

2,821  

 

347  

 

(10)  

 

3,158

 

RMBS

 

8,509  

 

216  

 

(732)  

 

7,993

 

CMBS

 

2,213  

 

58  

 

(277)  

 

1,994

 

ABS

 

4,425  

 

113  

 

(294)  

 

4,244

 

Redeemable preferred stock

 

37  

 

1  

 

--   

 

38

 

Total fixed income securities

$  

78,786  

$  

3,257  

$  

(2,431)  

$  

79,612

 

 

Scheduled maturities

 

The scheduled maturities for fixed income securities are as follows as of September 30, 2011:

 

($ in millions)

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

 

 

cost

 

value

 

Due in one year or less

$  

3,441  

$  

3,507

 

Due after one year through five years

 

20,985  

 

21,764

 

Due after five years through ten years

 

20,860  

 

22,097

 

Due after ten years

 

19,512  

 

20,488

 

 

 

64,798  

 

67,856

 

RMBS and ABS

 

9,137  

 

8,538

 

Total

$  

73,935  

$  

76,394

 

 

Actual maturities may differ from those scheduled as a result of prepayments by the issuers.  Because of the potential for prepayment on RMBS and ABS, they are not categorized by contractual maturity.  CMBS are categorized by contractual maturity because they generally are not subject to prepayment risk.

 

Net investment income

 

Net investment income is as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Fixed income securities

$  

862   

$  

926   

$  

2,661   

$  

2,840

 

Equity securities

 

23   

 

17   

 

76   

 

63

 

Mortgage loans

 

91   

 

92   

 

267   

 

295

 

Limited partnership interests

 

33   

 

6   

 

61   

 

19

 

Short-term investments

 

2   

 

2   

 

5   

 

6

 

Other

 

27   

 

5   

 

64   

 

12

 

Investment income, before expense

 

1,038   

 

1,048   

 

3,134   

 

3,235

 

Investment expense

 

(44)  

 

(43)  

 

(138)  

 

(131

)

Net investment income

$  

994   

$  

1,005   

$  

2,996   

$  

3,104

 

 

Realized capital gains and losses

 

Realized capital gains and losses by asset type are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Fixed income securities

$  

603   

$  

84  

$  

615

 

$  

(240

)

Equity securities

 

(77)  

 

83  

 

60

 

 

142

 

Mortgage loans

 

(28)  

 

(1) 

 

(37

)

 

(54

)

Limited partnership interests

 

8   

 

(20) 

 

129

 

 

(15

)

Derivatives

 

(234)  

 

(286) 

 

(354

)

 

(779

)

Other

 

(8)  

 

(4) 

 

4

 

 

3

 

Realized capital gains and losses

$  

264   

$  

(144) 

$  

417

 

$  

(943

)

 

Realized capital gains and losses by transaction type are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Impairment write-downs

$  

(190)   

$  

(137)   

$  

(374

)

$  

(599

)

Change in intent write-downs

 

(13)   

 

(30)   

 

(98

)

 

(129

)

Net other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings

 

(203)  

 

(167)  

 

(472

)

 

(728

)

Sales

 

692   

 

319   

 

1,116

 

 

552

 

Valuation of derivative instruments

 

(254)  

 

(133)  

 

(282

)

 

(571

)

Settlements of derivative instruments

 

20   

 

(152)  

 

(72

)

 

(209

)

Equity method of accounting (“EMA”) limited partnership income

 

9   

 

(11)  

 

127

 

 

13

 

Realized capital gains and losses

$  

264   

$  

(144)  

$  

417

 

$  

(943

)

 

Gross gains of $709 million and $387 million and gross losses of $32 million and $173 million were realized on sales of fixed income securities during the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Gross gains of $1.10 billion and $673 million and gross losses of $218 million and $360 million were realized on sales of fixed income securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

Other-than-temporary impairment losses by asset type are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30, 2011

 

 

Nine months ended
 September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

Included
in OCI

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross

 

 

Included
in OCI

 

 

Net

 

 

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal

(8

)

--

 

(8

)

(50

)

(3

)

(53

)

 

Corporate

 

(14

)

 

--

 

 

(14

)

 

(19

)

 

1

 

 

(18

)

 

Foreign government

 

--

 

 

--

 

 

--

 

 

(1

)

 

--

 

 

(1

)

 

RMBS

 

(57

)

 

(3

)

 

(60

)

 

(164

)

 

(28

)

 

(192

)

 

CMBS

 

(1

)

 

(3

)

 

(4

)

 

(27

)

 

(10

)

 

(37

)

 

ABS

 

--

 

 

--

 

 

--

 

 

(7

)

 

3

 

 

(4

)

 

Total fixed income securities

 

(80

)

 

(6

)

 

(86

)

 

(268

)

 

(37

)

 

(305

)

 

Equity securities

 

(81

)

 

--

 

 

(81

)

 

(114

)

 

--

 

 

(114

)

 

Mortgage loans

 

(29

)

 

--

 

 

(29

)

 

(42

)

 

--

 

 

(42

)

 

Limited partnership interests

 

(2

)

 

--

 

 

(2

)

 

(4

)

 

--

 

 

(4

)

 

Other

 

(5

)

 

--

 

 

(5

)

 

(7

)

 

--

 

 

(7

)

 

Other-than-temporary impairment losses

(197

)

(6

)

(203

)

(435

)

(37

)

(472

)

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30, 2010

 

 

Nine months ended 
September 30, 2010

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

Included
in OCI

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross

 

 

Included
in OCI

 

 

Net

 

 

Fixed income securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal

 (1

)

--

 

(1

)

(106

)

4

 

 (102

)

 

Corporate

 

(14

)

 

(1

)

 

(15

)

 

(67

)

 

1

 

 

(66

)

 

RMBS

 

(56

)

 

(41

)

 

(97

)

 

(268

)

 

(43

)

 

(311

)

 

CMBS

 

(1

)

 

(26

)

 

(27

)

 

(44

)

 

(37

)

 

(81

)

 

ABS

 

--

 

 

--

 

 

--

 

 

(9

)

 

(16

)

 

(25

)

 

Total fixed income securities

 

(72

)

 

(68

)

 

(140

)

 

(494

)

 

(91

)

 

(585

)

 

Equity securities

 

(14

)

 

--

 

 

(14

)

 

(51

)

 

--

 

 

(51

)

 

Mortgage loans

 

(3

)

 

--

 

 

(3

)

 

(50

)

 

--

 

 

(50

)

 

Limited partnership interests

 

(10

)

 

--

 

 

(10

)

 

(42

)

 

--

 

 

(42

)

 

Other-than-temporary impairment losses

 (99

)

 (68

)

(167

)

(637

)

(91

)

(728

)

 

 

The total amount of other-than-temporary impairment losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income at the time of impairment for fixed income securities, which were not included in earnings, are presented in the following table.  The amount excludes $211 million and $322 million as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, of net unrealized gains related to changes in valuation of the fixed income securities subsequent to the impairment measurement date.

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30,
2011

 

 

December 31,
2010

 

 

Municipal

 (12

)

 (27

)

 

Corporate

 

(36

)

 

(31

)

 

RMBS

 

(372

)

 

(467

)

 

CMBS

 

(8

)

 

(49

)

 

ABS

 

(22

)

 

(41

)

 

Total

 (450

)

 (615

)

 

 

Rollforwards of the cumulative credit losses recognized in earnings for fixed income securities held as of the end of the period are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

 

2010

 

 

2011

 

 

2010

 

 

Beginning balance

 (912

)

 (1,309

)

 (1,046

)

 (1,187

)

 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

 

--

 

 

81

 

 

--

 

 

81

 

 

Additional credit loss for securities previously other-than-temporarily impaired

 

(56

)

 

(101

)

 

(133

)

 

(265

)

 

Additional credit loss for securities not previously other-than-temporarily impaired

 

(25

)

 

(9

)

 

(82

)

 

(197

)

 

Reduction in credit loss for securities disposed or collected

 

66

 

 

104

 

 

313

 

 

330

 

 

Reduction in credit loss for securities the Company has made the decision to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell

 

--

 

 

42

 

 

15

 

 

43

 

 

Change in credit loss due to accretion of increase in cash flows

 

4

 

 

1

 

 

10

 

 

4

 

 

Ending balance

 (923

)

 (1,191

)

 (923

)

 (1,191

)

 

 

The Company uses its best estimate of future cash flows expected to be collected from the fixed income security, discounted at the security’s original or current effective rate, as appropriate, to calculate a recovery value and determine whether a credit loss exists.  The determination of cash flow estimates is inherently subjective and methodologies may vary depending on facts and circumstances specific to the security.  All reasonably available information relevant to the collectability of the security, including past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable assumptions and forecasts, are considered when developing the estimate of cash flows expected to be collected.  That information generally includes, but is not limited to, the remaining payment terms of the security, prepayment speeds, foreign exchange rates, the financial condition and future earnings potential of the issue or issuer, expected defaults, expected recoveries, the value of underlying collateral, vintage, geographic concentration, available reserves or escrows, current subordination levels, third party guarantees and other credit enhancements.  Other information, such as industry analyst reports and forecasts, sector credit ratings, financial condition of the bond insurer for insured fixed income securities, and other market data relevant to the realizability of contractual cash flows, may also be considered.  The estimated fair value of collateral will be used to estimate recovery value if the Company determines that the security is dependent on the liquidation of collateral for ultimate settlement.  If the estimated recovery value is less than the amortized cost of the security, a credit loss exists and an other-than-temporary impairment for the difference between the estimated recovery value and amortized cost is recorded in earnings.  The portion of the unrealized loss related to factors other than credit remains classified in accumulated other comprehensive income.  If the Company determines that the fixed income security does not have sufficient cash flow or other information to estimate a recovery value for the security, the Company may conclude that the entire decline in fair value is deemed to be credit related and the loss is recorded in earnings.

 

Unrealized net capital gains and losses

 

Unrealized net capital gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Fair

 

Gross unrealized

 

Unrealized net

September 30, 2011

 

value

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

gains (losses)

Fixed income securities

76,394 

4,266

(1,807)

 

2,459

 

Equity securities

 

4,157 

 

250

 

(345)

 

 

(95

)

Short-term investments

 

3,517 

 

--

 

-- 

 

 

--

 

Derivative instruments (1)

 

(10)

 

2

 

(17)

 

 

(15

)

EMA limited partnership interests (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

Unrealized net capital gains and losses, pre-tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,356

 

Amounts recognized for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insurance reserves (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(641

)

DAC and DSI (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(122

)

Amounts recognized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(763

)

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(561

)

Unrealized net capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,032

 

_________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Included in the fair value of derivative instruments are $(6) million classified as assets and $4 million classified as liabilities.

(2)

Unrealized net capital gains and losses for limited partnership interests represent the Company’s share of EMA limited partnerships’ other comprehensive income. Fair value and gross gains and losses are not applicable.

(3)

The insurance reserves adjustment represents the amount by which the reserve balance would increase if the net unrealized gains in the applicable product portfolios were realized and reinvested at current lower interest rates, resulting in a premium deficiency. Although the Company evaluates premium deficiencies on the combined performance of life insurance and immediate annuities with life contingencies, the adjustment primarily relates to structured settlement annuities with life contingencies, in addition to annuity buy-outs and certain payout annuities with life contingencies.

(4)

The DAC and DSI adjustment balance represents the amount by which the amortization of DAC and DSI would increase or decrease if the unrealized gains or losses in the respective product portfolios were realized.

 

 

 

Fair

 

Gross unrealized

 

Unrealized net

December 31, 2010

 

value

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

gains (losses)

Fixed income securities

$

79,612 

$

3,257

$

(2,431)

 

826 

Equity securities

 

4,811 

 

646

 

(63)

 

583 

Short-term investments

 

3,279 

 

--

 

-- 

 

-- 

Derivative instruments (1)

 

(17)

 

2

 

(24)

 

(22)

Unrealized net capital gains and losses, pre-tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,387 

Amounts recognized for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insurance reserves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(41)

DAC and DSI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

97 

Amounts recognized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

56 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(508)

Unrealized net capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

935 

_________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Included in the fair value of derivative instruments are $2 million classified as assets and $19 million classified as liabilities.

 

Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses

 

The change in unrealized net capital gains and losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 is as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

 

Fixed income securities

1,633 

Equity securities

 

(678)

Derivative instruments

 

EMA limited partnership interests

 

Total

 

969 

Amounts recognized for:

 

 

Insurance reserves

 

(600)

DAC and DSI

 

(219)

Amounts recognized

 

(819)

Deferred income taxes

 

(53)

Increase in unrealized net capital gains and losses

97 

 

Portfolio monitoring

 

The Company has a comprehensive portfolio monitoring process to identify and evaluate each fixed income and equity security whose carrying value may be other-than-temporarily impaired.

 

For each fixed income security in an unrealized loss position, the Company assesses whether management with the appropriate authority has made the decision to sell or whether it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of the amortized cost basis for reasons such as liquidity, contractual or regulatory purposes.  If a security meets either of these criteria, the security’s decline in fair value is considered other than temporary and is recorded in earnings.

 

If the Company has not made the decision to sell the fixed income security and it is not more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the fixed income security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the Company evaluates whether it expects to receive cash flows sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security.  The Company calculates the estimated recovery value by discounting the best estimate of future cash flows at the security’s original or current effective rate, as appropriate, and compares this to the amortized cost of the security.  If the Company does not expect to receive cash flows sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the fixed income security, the credit loss component of the impairment is recorded in earnings, with the remaining amount of the unrealized loss related to other factors recognized in other comprehensive income.

 

For equity securities, the Company considers various factors, including whether it has the intent and ability to hold the equity security for a period of time sufficient to recover its cost basis.  Where the Company lacks the intent and ability to hold to recovery, or believes the recovery period is extended, the equity security’s decline in fair value is considered other than temporary and is recorded in earnings.  For equity securities managed by a third party, the Company has contractually retained its decision making authority as it pertains to selling equity securities that are in an unrealized loss position.

 

The Company’s portfolio monitoring process includes a quarterly review of all securities to identify instances where the fair value of a security compared to its amortized cost (for fixed income securities) or cost (for equity securities) is below established thresholds. The process also includes the monitoring of other impairment indicators such as ratings, ratings downgrades and payment defaults. The securities identified, in addition to other securities for which the Company may have a concern, are evaluated for potential other-than-temporary impairment using all reasonably available information relevant to the collectability or recovery of the security. Inherent in the Company’s evaluation of other-than-temporary impairment for these fixed income and equity securities are assumptions and estimates about the financial condition and future earnings potential of the issue or issuer.  Some of the factors that may be considered in evaluating whether a decline in fair value is other than temporary are: 1) the financial condition, near-term and long-term prospects of the issue or issuer, including relevant industry specific market conditions and trends, geographic location and implications of rating agency actions and offering prices; 2) the specific reasons that a security is in an unrealized loss position, including overall market conditions which could affect liquidity; and 3) the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost or cost.

 

The following table summarizes the gross unrealized losses and fair value of fixed income and equity securities by the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

 

($ in millions)

 

Less than 12 months

 

12 months or more

 

Total

 

 

Number

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

Number

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

unrealized

 

 

of issues

 

value

 

losses

 

of issues

 

value

 

losses

 

losses

September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

6

151

-- 

 

--

--

-- 

-- 

Municipal

 

173

 

1,243

 

(26)

 

303

 

1,958

 

(236)

 

(262)

Corporate

 

509

 

6,073

 

(219)

 

104

 

1,327

 

(231)

 

(450)

Foreign government

 

18

 

346

 

(5)

 

--

 

--

 

-- 

 

(5)

RMBS

 

110

 

284

 

(13)

 

289

 

1,193

 

(528)

 

(541)

CMBS

 

69

 

566

 

(58)

 

74

 

530

 

(200)

 

(258)

ABS

 

49

 

683

 

(8)

 

114

 

1,062

 

(283)

 

(291)

Total fixed income securities

 

934

 

9,346

 

(329)

 

884

 

6,070

 

(1,478)

 

(1,807)

Equity securities

 

2,453

 

2,067

 

(339)

 

49

 

20

 

(6)

 

(345)

Total fixed income and equity securities

 

3,387

11,413

(668)

 

933

6,090

(1,484)

(2,152)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment grade fixed income securities

 

633

6,733

(182)

 

567

4,147

(728)

(910)

Below investment grade fixed income securities

 

301

 

2,613

 

(147)

 

317

 

1,923

 

(750)

 

(897)

Total fixed income securities

 

934

9,346

(329)

 

884

6,070

(1,478)

(1,807)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

32

2,081

(51)

 

--

--

-- 

(51)

Municipal

 

847

 

4,130

 

(175)

 

411

 

2,715

 

(471)

 

(646)

Corporate

 

438

 

5,994

 

(186)

 

150

 

1,992

 

(235)

 

(421)

Foreign government

 

33

 

277

 

(9)

 

1

 

10

 

(1)

 

(10)

RMBS

 

280

 

583

 

(12)

 

422

 

1,939

 

(720)

 

(732)

CMBS

 

14

 

158

 

(3)

 

114

 

835

 

(274)

 

(277)

ABS

 

68

 

762

 

(8)

 

133

 

1,313

 

(286)

 

(294)

Total fixed income securities

 

1,712

 

13,985

 

(444)

 

1,231

 

8,804

 

(1,987)

 

(2,431)

Equity securities

 

773

 

610

 

(48)

 

44

 

91

 

(15)

 

(63)

Total fixed income and equity securities

 

2,485

14,595

(492)

 

1,275

8,895

(2,002)

(2,494)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment grade fixed income securities

 

1,607

13,280

(408)

 

857

6,217

(943)

(1,351)

Below investment grade fixed income securities

 

105

 

705

 

(36)

 

374

 

2,587

 

(1,044)

 

(1,080)

Total fixed income securities

 

1,712

13,985

(444)

 

1,231

8,804

(1,987)

(2,431)

 

As of September 30, 2011, $837 million of unrealized losses are related to securities with an unrealized loss position less than 20% of amortized cost or cost, the degree of which suggests that these securities do not pose a high risk of being other-than-temporarily impaired.  Of the $837 million, $422 million are related to unrealized losses on investment grade fixed income securities. Investment grade is defined as a security having a rating of Aaa, Aa, A or Baa from Moody’s, a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), Fitch, Dominion or Realpoint, a rating of aaa, aa, a or bbb from A.M. Best, or a comparable internal rating if an externally provided rating is not available.  Unrealized losses on investment grade securities are principally related to widening credit spreads or rising interest rates since the time of initial purchase.

 

As of September 30, 2011, the remaining $1.31 billion of unrealized losses are related to securities in unrealized loss positions greater than or equal to 20% of amortized cost or cost.  Investment grade fixed income securities comprising $488 million of these unrealized losses were evaluated based on factors such as expected cash flows and the financial condition and near-term and long-term prospects of the issue or issuer and were determined to have adequate resources to fulfill contractual obligations.  Of the $1.31 billion, $668 million are related to below investment grade fixed income securities and $159 million are related to equity securities.  Of these amounts, $512 million of the below investment grade fixed income securities had been in an unrealized loss position greater than or equal to 20% of amortized cost for a period of twelve or more consecutive months as of September 30, 2011.  Unrealized losses on below investment grade securities are principally related to RMBS, CMBS and ABS and were the result of wider credit spreads resulting from higher risk premiums since the time of initial purchase, largely due to macroeconomic conditions and credit market deterioration, including the impact of lower real estate valuations.

 

RMBS, CMBS and ABS in an unrealized loss position were evaluated based on actual and projected collateral losses relative to the securities’ positions in the respective securitization trusts, security specific expectations of cash flows, and credit ratings.  This evaluation also takes into consideration credit enhancement, measured in terms of (i) subordination from other classes of securities in the trust that are contractually obligated to absorb losses before the class of security the Company owns, (ii) the expected impact of other structural features embedded in the securitization trust beneficial to the class of securities the Company owns, such as overcollateralization and excess spread, and (iii) for RMBS and ABS in an unrealized loss position, credit enhancements from reliable bond insurers, where applicable.  Municipal bonds in an unrealized loss position were evaluated based on the quality of the underlying securities, taking into consideration credit enhancements from reliable bond insurers, where applicable.  Unrealized losses on equity securities are primarily related to temporary equity market fluctuations of securities that are expected to recover.

 

As of September 30, 2011, the Company has not made the decision to sell and it is not more likely than not the Company will be required to sell fixed income securities with unrealized losses before recovery of the amortized cost basis.  As of September 30, 2011, the Company had the intent and ability to hold equity securities with unrealized losses for a period of time sufficient for them to recover.

 

Limited partnerships

 

As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the carrying value of equity method limited partnership interests totaled $2.96 billion and $2.47 billion, respectively.  The Company recognizes an impairment loss for equity method investments when evidence demonstrates that the loss is other than temporary.  Evidence of a loss in value that is other than temporary may include the absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or the inability of the investee to sustain a level of earnings that would justify the carrying amount of the investment.  The Company had no write-downs related to equity method limited partnership interests for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and the three months ended September 30, 2010, and write-downs of $1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

 

As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the carrying value for cost method limited partnership interests was $1.45 billion and $1.35 billion, respectively.  To determine if an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred, the Company evaluates whether an impairment indicator has occurred in the period that may have a significant adverse effect on the carrying value of the investment.  Impairment indicators may include: significantly reduced valuations of the investments held by the limited partnerships; actual recent cash flows received being significantly less than expected cash flows; reduced valuations based on financing completed at a lower value; completed sale of a material underlying investment at a price significantly lower than expected; or any other adverse events since the last financial statements received that might affect the fair value of the investee’s capital.  Additionally, the Company’s portfolio monitoring process includes a quarterly review of all cost method limited partnerships to identify instances where the net asset value is below established thresholds for certain periods of time, as well as investments that are performing below expectations, for further impairment consideration.  If a cost method limited partnership is other-than-temporarily impaired, the carrying value is written down to fair value, generally estimated to be equivalent to the reported net asset value of the underlying funds.  The Company had write-downs related to cost method investments of $2 million and $10 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $4 million and $41 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

Mortgage loans

 

Mortgage loans are evaluated for impairment on a specific loan basis through a quarterly credit monitoring process and review of key credit quality indicators.  Mortgage loans are considered impaired when it is probable that the Company will not collect the contractual principal and interest.  Valuation allowances are established for impaired loans to reduce the carrying value to the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell or the present value of the loan’s expected future repayment cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate.  Impaired mortgage loans may not have a valuation allowance when the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell is higher than the carrying value.  Mortgage loan valuation allowances are charged off when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery.  The impairment evaluation is non-statistical in respect to the aggregate portfolio but considers facts and circumstances attributable to each loan.  It is not considered probable that additional impairment losses, beyond those identified on a specific loan basis, have been incurred as of September 30, 2011.

 

Accrual of income is suspended for mortgage loans that are in default or when full and timely collection of principal and interest payments is not probable.  Cash receipts on mortgage loans on nonaccrual status are generally recorded as a reduction of carrying value.

 

Debt service coverage ratio is considered a key credit quality indicator when mortgage loans are evaluated for impairment.  Debt service coverage ratio represents the amount of estimated cash flows from the property available to the borrower to meet principal and interest payment obligations.  Debt service coverage ratio estimates are updated annually or more frequently if conditions are warranted based on the Company’s credit monitoring process.  The following table reflects the carrying value of non-impaired fixed rate and variable rate mortgage loans summarized by debt service coverage ratio distribution:

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30, 2011

 

December 31, 2010

Debt service coverage
ratio distribution

 

Fixed rate
mortgage
loans

 

Variable rate
mortgage
loans

 

Total

 

Fixed rate
mortgage
loans

 

Variable rate
mortgage
loans

 

Total

Below 1.0

277

--

277

280

--

280

1.0 - 1.25

 

1,699

 

--

 

1,699

 

1,583

 

16

 

1,599

1.26 - 1.50

 

1,584

 

69

 

1,653

 

1,520

 

5

 

1,525

Above 1.50

 

2,888

 

168

 

3,056

 

2,540

 

546

 

3,086

Total non-impaired mortgage loans

6,448

237

6,685

5,923

567

6,490

 

Mortgage loans with a debt service coverage ratio below 1.0 that are not considered impaired primarily relate to instances where the borrower has the financial capacity to fund the revenue shortfalls from the properties for the foreseeable term, the decrease in cash flows from the properties is considered temporary, or there are other risk mitigating circumstances such as additional collateral, escrow balances or borrower guarantees.

 

The net carrying value of impaired mortgage loans is as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30,
2011

 

December 31,
2010

Impaired mortgage loans with a valuation allowance

257

168

Impaired mortgage loans without a valuation allowance

 

14

 

21

Total impaired mortgage loans

271

189

Valuation allowance on impaired mortgage loans

70

84

 

The average balance of impaired loans was $201 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

 

The rollforward of the valuation allowance on impaired mortgage loans is as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended
September 30, 2011

 

Nine months ended
September 30, 2011

Beginning balance

68 

84 

Net increase in valuation allowance

 

29 

 

42 

Charge offs

 

(27)

 

(56)

Ending balance

70 

70 

 

The carrying value of past due mortgage loans is as follows:

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30,
2011

 

December 31,
2010

Less than 90 days past due

--

12

90 days or greater past due

 

64

 

78

Total past due

 

64

 

90

Current loans

 

6,892

 

6,589

Total mortgage loans

6,956

6,679