Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

5.  Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  The hierarchy for inputs used in determining fair value maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available.  Assets and liabilities recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at fair value are categorized in the fair value hierarchy based on the observability of inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:

Level 1:Assets and liabilities whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market that the Company can access.

Level 2:Assets and liabilities whose values are based on the following:

(a)  Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

(b)  Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or

(c)  Valuation models whose inputs are observable, directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3:Assets and liabilities whose values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.  Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s estimates of the assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the assets and liabilities.

The availability of observable inputs varies by instrument.  In situations where fair value is based on internally developed pricing models or inputs that are unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment.  The degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is typically greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.  In many instances, valuation inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy.  The category level in the fair value hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.  The Company uses prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date, including during periods of market disruption.  In periods of market disruption, the ability to observe prices and inputs may be reduced for many instruments.

The Company is responsible for the determination of fair value and the supporting assumptions and methodologies.  The Company gains assurance that assets and liabilities are appropriately valued through the execution of various processes and controls designed to ensure the overall reasonableness and consistent application of valuation methodologies, including inputs and assumptions, and compliance with accounting standards.  For fair values received from third parties or internally estimated, the Company’s processes and controls are designed to ensure that the valuation methodologies are appropriate and consistently applied, the inputs and assumptions are reasonable and consistent with the objective of determining fair value, and the fair values are accurately recorded.  For example, on a continuing basis, the Company assesses the reasonableness of individual fair values that have stale security prices or that exceed certain thresholds as compared to previous fair values received from valuation service providers or brokers or derived from internal models.  The Company performs procedures to understand and assess the methodologies, processes and controls of valuation service providers.  In addition, the Company may validate the reasonableness of fair values by comparing information obtained from valuation service providers or brokers to other third party valuation sources for selected securities.  The Company performs ongoing price validation procedures such as back-testing of actual sales, which corroborate the various inputs used in internal models to market observable data.  When fair value determinations are expected to be more variable, the Company validates them through reviews by members of management who have relevant expertise and who are independent of those charged with executing investment transactions.

The Company has two types of situations where investments are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.  The first is where quotes continue to be received from independent third-party valuation service providers and all significant inputs are market observable; however, there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for the asset when compared to normal market activity such that the degree of market observability has declined to a point where categorization as a Level 3 measurement is considered appropriate.  The indicators considered in determining whether a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for a specific asset has occurred include the level of new issuances in the primary market, trading volume in the secondary market, the level of credit spreads over historical levels, applicable bid-ask spreads, and price consensus among market participants and other pricing sources.

The second situation where the Company classifies securities in Level 3 is where specific inputs significant to the fair value estimation models are not market observable.  This primarily occurs in the Company’s use of broker quotes to value certain securities where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable, and the use of valuation models that use significant non-market observable inputs.

Certain assets are not carried at fair value on a recurring basis, including investments such as mortgage loans, limited partnership interests, bank loans and policy loans.  Accordingly, such investments are only included in the fair value hierarchy disclosure when the investment is subject to remeasurement at fair value after initial recognition and the resulting remeasurement is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements.  In addition, derivatives embedded in fixed income securities are not disclosed in the hierarchy as free-standing derivatives since they are presented with the host contracts in fixed income securities.

In determining fair value, the Company principally uses the market approach which generally utilizes market transaction data for the same or similar instruments.  To a lesser extent, the Company uses the income approach which involves determining fair values from discounted cash flow methodologies.  For the majority of Level 2 and Level 3 valuations, a combination of the market and income approaches is used.

Summary of significant valuation techniques for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis

Level 1 measurements

·Fixed income securities:  Comprise certain U.S. Treasuries.  Valuation is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access.

·Equity securities:  Comprise actively traded, exchange-listed equity securities. Valuation is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access.

·Short-term:  Comprise actively traded money market funds that have daily quoted net asset values for identical assets that the Company can access.

·Separate account assets:  Comprise actively traded mutual funds that have daily quoted net asset values for identical assets that the Company can access.  Net asset values for the actively traded mutual funds in which the separate account assets are invested are obtained daily from the fund managers.

Level 2 measurements

·Fixed income securities:

U.S. government and agencies:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.

Municipal:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.

Corporate, including privately placed:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.  Also included are privately placed securities valued using a discounted cash flow model that is widely accepted in the financial services industry and uses market observable inputs and inputs derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.  The primary inputs to the discounted cash flow model include an interest rate yield curve, as well as published credit spreads for similar assets in markets that are not active that incorporate the credit quality and industry sector of the issuer.

Foreign government:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.

RMBS and ABS:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, prepayment speeds, collateral performance and credit spreads.  Certain ABS are valued based on non-binding broker quotes whose inputs have been corroborated to be market observable.

CMBS:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, collateral performance and credit spreads.

Redeemable preferred stock:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, underlying stock prices and credit spreads.

·Equity securities:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices or quoted net asset values for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active.

·Short-term:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.  For certain short-term investments, amortized cost is used as the best estimate of fair value.

·Other investments:  Free-standing exchange listed derivatives that are not actively traded are valued based on quoted prices for identical instruments in markets that are not active.

OTC derivatives, including interest rate swaps, foreign currency swaps, foreign exchange forward contracts, certain options and certain credit default swaps, are valued using models that rely on inputs such as interest rate yield curves, currency rates, and counterparty credit spreads that are observable for substantially the full term of the contract.  The valuation techniques underlying the models are widely accepted in the financial services industry and do not involve significant judgment.

Level 3 measurements

·Fixed income securities:

Municipal:  ARS primarily backed by student loans that have become illiquid due to failures in the auction market are valued using a discounted cash flow model that is widely accepted in the financial services industry and uses significant non-market observable inputs, including the anticipated date liquidity will return to the market.  Also included are municipal bonds that are not rated by third party credit rating agencies but are rated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”).  The primary inputs to the valuation of these municipal bonds include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that exhibit less liquidity relative to those markets supporting Level 2 fair value measurements, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.

Corporate, including privately placed:  Primarily valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable.  Also included are equity-indexed notes which are valued using a discounted cash flow model that is widely accepted in the financial services industry and uses significant non-market observable inputs, such as volatility.  Other inputs include an interest rate yield curve, as well as published credit spreads for similar assets that incorporate the credit quality and industry sector of the issuer.

RMBS, CMBS and ABS:  Valued based on non-binding broker quotes received from brokers who are familiar with the investments and where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable.

·Equity securities:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices or quoted net asset values for identical or similar assets in markets that exhibit less liquidity relative to those markets supporting Level 2 fair value measurements.

·Other investments:  Certain OTC derivatives, such as interest rate caps and floors, certain credit default swaps and certain options (including swaptions), are valued using models that are widely accepted in the financial services industry.  These are categorized as Level 3 as a result of the significance of non-market observable inputs such as volatility.  Other primary inputs include interest rate yield curves and credit spreads.

·Contractholder funds:  Derivatives embedded in certain life and annuity contracts are valued internally using models widely accepted in the financial services industry that determine a single best estimate of fair value for the embedded derivatives within a block of contractholder liabilities.  The models primarily use stochastically determined cash flows based on the contractual elements of embedded derivatives, projected option cost and applicable market data, such as interest rate yield curves and equity index volatility assumptions.  These are categorized as Level 3 as a result of the significance of non-market observable inputs.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis

Mortgage loans written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing impairments are valued based on the fair value of the underlying collateral less costs to sell.  Limited partnership interests written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing other-than-temporary impairments are valued using net asset values.

The following table summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis as of September 30, 2012:

($ in millions)		Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)		Counterparty and cash collateral netting		Balance as of September 30, 2012
Assets
Fixed income securities:
U.S. government and agencies	$	2,866	$	1,898	$	8			$	4,772
Municipal		--		12,808		1,162				13,970
Corporate		--		46,611		1,543				48,154
Foreign government		--		2,255		--				2,255
RMBS		--		3,345		3				3,348
CMBS		--		1,480		50				1,530
ABS		--		3,451		222				3,673
Redeemable preferred stock		--		26		1				27
Total fixed income securities		2,866		71,874		2,989				77,729
Equity securities		2,806		887		183				3,876
Short-term investments		788		2,037		--				2,825
Other investments:
Free-standing derivatives		--		333		2	$	(84)		251
Separate account assets		6,820		--		--				6,820
Other assets		1		--		1				2
Total recurring basis assets		13,281		75,131		3,175		(84)		91,503
Non-recurring basis (1)		--		--		22				22
Total assets at fair value	$	13,281	$	75,131	$	3,197	$	(84)	$	91,525
% of total assets at fair value		14.5%		82.1%		3.5%		(0.1)%		100.0%
Liabilities
Contractholder funds:
Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts	$	--	$	--	$	(551)			$	(551)
Other liabilities:
Free-standing derivatives		(1)		(150)		(32)	$	43		(140)
Total liabilities at fair value	$	(1)	$	(150)	$	(583)	$	43	$	(691)
% of total liabilities at fair value		0.1%		21.7%		84.4%		(6.2)%		100.0%

(1)  Includes $9 million of mortgage loans, $6 million of limited partnership interests and $7 million of other investments written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing other-than-temporary impairments.

The following table summarizes quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements as of September 30, 2012.

($ in millions)	Fair value		Valuation technique	Unobservable input	Range	Weighted average
ARS backed by student loans	$	573	Discounted cash flow model	Anticipated date liquidity will return to the market	18 - 60 months	32 - 44 months
Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts — Equity- indexed and forward starting options	$	(413)	Stochastic cash flow model	Projected option cost	1.0 - 2.0 %	1.95 %

If the anticipated date liquidity will return to the market is sooner (later), it would result in a higher (lower) fair value.  If the projected option cost increased (decreased), it would result in a higher (lower) liability fair value.

As of September 30, 2012, Level 3 fair value measurements include $1.73 billion of fixed income securities valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable and $405 million of municipal fixed income securities that are not rated by third party credit rating agencies.  The Company does not develop the unobservable inputs used in measuring fair value; therefore, these are not included in the table above.  However, an increase (decrease) in credit spreads for fixed income securities valued based on non-binding broker quotes would result in a lower (higher) fair value, and an increase (decrease) in the credit rating of municipal bonds that are not rated by third party credit rating agencies would result in a higher (lower) fair value.

The following table summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2011:

($ in millions)		Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)		Counterparty and cash collateral netting		Balance as of December 31, 2011
Assets
Fixed income securities:
U.S. government and agencies	$	4,707	$	1,608	$	--			$	6,315
Municipal		--		12,909		1,332				14,241
Corporate		--		42,176		1,405				43,581
Foreign government		--		2,081		--				2,081
RMBS		--		4,070		51				4,121
CMBS		--		1,724		60				1,784
ABS		--		3,669		297				3,966
Redeemable preferred stock		--		23		1				24
Total fixed income securities		4,707		68,260		3,146				76,113
Equity securities		3,433		887		43				4,363
Short-term investments		188		1,103		--				1,291
Other investments:
Free-standing derivatives		--		281		1	$	(114)		168
Separate account assets		6,984		--		--				6,984
Other assets		1		--		1				2
Total recurring basis assets		15,313		70,531		3,191		(114)		88,921
Non-recurring basis (1)		--		--		35				35
Total assets at fair value	$	15,313	$	70,531	$	3,226	$	(114)	$	88,956
% of total assets at fair value		17.2 %		79.3 %		3.6 %		(0.1) %		100.0 %
Liabilities
Contractholder funds:
Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts	$	--	$	--	$	(723)			$	(723)
Other liabilities:
Free-standing derivatives		(1)		(112)		(96)	$	77		(132)
Total liabilities at fair value	$	(1)	$	(112)	$	(819)	$	77	$	(855)
% of total liabilities at fair value		0.1 %		13.1 %		95.8 %		(9.0) %		100.0 %

(1) Includes $19 million of mortgage loans and $16 million of other investments written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing other-than-temporary impairments.

The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the three months ended September 30, 2012.

($ in millions)				Total gains (losses) included in:
		Balance as of June 30, 2012		Net income (1)		OCI		Transfers into Level 3		Transfers  out of Level 3
Assets
Fixed income securities:
U.S. government and agencies	$	8	$	--	$	--	$	--	$	--
Municipal		1,144		(4)		14		53		--
Corporate		1,524		10		39		74		--
RMBS		4		--		--		--		--
CMBS		47		(1)		1		--		--
ABS		334		(9)		34		43		(26)
Redeemable preferred stock		1		--		--		--		--
Total fixed income securities		3,062		(4)		88		170		(26)
Equity securities		192		(3)		--		--		--
Other investments:
Free-standing derivatives, net		(71)		11		--		--		--
Other assets		1		--		--		--		--
Total recurring Level 3 assets	$	3,184	$	4	$	88	$	170	$	(26)
Liabilities
Contractholder funds:
Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts	$	(707)	$	160	$	--	$	--	$	--
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities	$	(707)	$	160	$	--	$	--	$	--

		Purchases		Sales		Issues		Settlements		Balance as of September 30, 2012
Assets
Fixed income securities:
U.S. government and agencies	$	--	$	--	$	--	$	--	$	8
Municipal		4		(49)		--		--		1,162
Corporate		62		(120)		--		(46)		1,543
RMBS		--		--		--		(1)		3
CMBS		3		--		--		--		50
ABS		--		(151)		--		(3)		222
Redeemable preferred stock		--		--		--		--		1
Total fixed income securities		69		(320)		--		(50)		2,989
Equity securities		2		(8)		--		--		183
Other investments:
Free-standing derivatives, net		21		--		--		9		(30)	(2)
Other assets		--		--		--		--		1
Total recurring Level 3 assets	$	92	$	(328)	$	--	$	(41)	$	3,143
Liabilities
Contractholder funds:
Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts	$	--	$	--	$	(24)	$	20	$	(551)
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities	$	--	$	--	$	(24)	$	20	$	(551)

(1) The effect to net income totals $164 million and is reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows: $(4) million in realized capital gains and losses, $7 million in net investment income, $143 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $18 million in life and annuity contract benefits.

(2) Comprises $2 million of assets and $32 million of liabilities.

The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

($ in millions)				Total gains (losses) included in:
		Balance as of December 31, 2011		Net income (1)		OCI		Transfers into Level 3		Transfers  out of Level 3
Assets
Fixed income securities:
U.S. government and agencies	$	--	$	--	$	--	$	8	$	--
Municipal		1,332		(10)		31		53		(26)
Corporate		1,405		16		62		210		(38)
RMBS		51		--		--		--		(47)
CMBS		60		(3)		9		--		(5)
ABS		297		20		46		43		(77)
Redeemable preferred stock		1		--		--		--		--
Total fixed income securities		3,146		23		148		314		(193)
Equity securities		43		(7)		6		--		--
Other investments:
Free-standing derivatives, net		(95)		25		--		--		--
Other assets		1		--		--		--		--
Total recurring Level 3 assets	$	3,095	$	41	$	154	$	314	$	(193)
Liabilities
Contractholder funds:
Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts	$	(723)	$	151	$	--	$	--	$	--
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities	$	(723)	$	151	$	--	$	--	$	--

		Purchases		Sales		Issues		Settlements		Balance as of September 30, 2012
Assets
Fixed income securities:
U.S. government and agencies	$	--	$	--	$	--	$	--	$	8
Municipal		46		(254)		--		(10)		1,162
Corporate		193		(219)		--		(86)		1,543
RMBS		--		--		--		(1)		3
CMBS		5		(1)		--		(15)		50
ABS		74		(162)		--		(19)		222
Redeemable preferred stock		1		(1)		--		--		1
Total fixed income securities		319		(637)		--		(131)		2,989
Equity securities		164		(23)		--		--		183
Other investments:
Free-standing derivatives, net		27		--		--		13		(30)	(2)
Other assets		--		--		--		--		1
Total recurring Level 3 assets	$	510	$	(660)	$	--	$	(118)	$	3,143
Liabilities
Contractholder funds:
Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts	$	--	$	--	$	(53)	$	74	$	(551)
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities	$	--	$	--	$	(53)	$	74	$	(551)

(1) The effect to net income totals $192 million and is reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows: $19 million in realized capital gains and losses, $22 million in net investment income, $119 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $32 million in life and annuity contract benefits.

(2) Comprises $2 million of assets and $32 million of liabilities.

The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the three months ended September 30, 2011.

($ in millions)				Total gains (losses) included in:
		Balance as of June 30, 2011		Net income (1)		OCI		Transfers into Level 3		Transfers  out of Level 3
Assets
Fixed income securities:
Municipal	$	1,554	$	(10)	$	1	$	--	$	(22)
Corporate		1,720		(4)		(23)		3		(107)
RMBS		1,194		--		2		--		(1,100)
CMBS		938		(1)		(5)		20		(877)
ABS		2,167		(36)		(75)		--		(329)
Redeemable preferred stock		1		--		--		--		--
Total fixed income securities		7,574		(51)		(100)		23		(2,435)
Equity securities		42		--		--		--		--
Other investments:
Free-standing derivatives, net		(56)		(57)		--		--		--
Other assets		1		--		--		--		--
Total recurring Level 3 assets	$	7,561	$	(108)	$	(100)	$	23	$	(2,435)
Liabilities
Contractholder funds:
Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts	$	(629)	$	2	$	--	$	--	$	--
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities	$	(629)	$	2	$	--	$	--	$	--

		Purchases		Sales		Issues		Settlements		Balance as of September 30, 2011
Assets
Fixed income securities:
Municipal	$	--	$	(70)	$	--	$	--	$	1,453
Corporate		245		(59)		--		(45)		1,730
RMBS		--		--		--		(4)		92
CMBS		2		--		--		(1)		76
ABS		165		(1)		--		(90)		1,801
Redeemable preferred stock		--		--		--		--		1
Total fixed income securities		412		(130)		--		(140)		5,153
Equity securities		--		--		--		--		42
Other investments:
Free-standing derivatives, net		5		--		--		(2)		(110)	(2)
Other assets		--		--		--		--		1
Total recurring Level 3 assets	$	417	$	(130)	$	--	$	(142)	$	5,086
Liabilities
Contractholder funds:
Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts	$	--	$	--	$	(15)	$	45	$	(597)
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities	$	--	$	--	$	(15)	$	45	$	(597)

(1)The effect to net income totals $(106) million and is reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows: $(119) million in realized capital gains and losses, $14 million in net investment income, $54 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(55) million in life and annuity contract benefits.

(2)Comprises $1 million of assets and $111 million of liabilities.

The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

($ in millions)				Total gains (losses) included in:
		Balance as of December 31, 2010		Net income (1)		OCI		Transfers into Level 3		Transfers  out of Level 3
Assets
Fixed income securities:
Municipal	$	2,016	$	(34)	$	67	$	--	$	(81)
Corporate		1,908		31		(5)		185		(271)
RMBS		1,794		(87)		108		--		(1,213)
CMBS		923		(43)		113		86		(946)
ABS		2,417		19		(47)		--		(642)
Redeemable preferred stock		1		--		--		--		--
Total fixed income securities		9,059		(114)		236		271		(3,153)
Equity securities		63		(10)		--		--		(10)
Other investments:
Free-standing derivatives, net		(21)		(91)		--		--		--
Other assets		1		--		--		--		--
Total recurring Level 3 assets	$	9,102	$	(215)	$	236	$	271	$	(3,163)
Liabilities
Contractholder funds:
Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts	$	(653)	$	(24)	$	--	$	--	$	--
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities	$	(653)	$	(24)	$	--	$	--	$	--

		Purchases		Sales		Issues		Settlements		Balance as of September 30, 2011
Assets
Fixed income securities:
Municipal	$	13	$	(525)	$	--	$	(3)	$	1,453
Corporate		376		(437)		--		(57)		1,730
RMBS		--		(378)		--		(132)		92
CMBS		12		(66)		--		(3)		76
ABS		468		(164)		--		(250)		1,801
Redeemable preferred stock		--		--		--		--		1
Total fixed income securities		869		(1,570)		--		(445)		5,153
Equity securities		--		(1)		--		--		42
Other investments:
Free-standing derivatives, net		72		--		--		(70)		(110)	(2)
Other assets		--		--		--		--		1
Total recurring Level 3 assets	$	941	$	(1,571)	$	--	$	(515)	$	5,086
Liabilities
Contractholder funds:
Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts	$	--	$	--	$	(42)	$	122	$	(597)
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities	$	--	$	--	$	(42)	$	122	$	(597)

(1)  The effect to net income totals $(239) million and is reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows: $(242) million in realized capital gains and losses, $30 million in net investment income, $(9) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(18) million in life and annuity contract benefits.

(2)  Comprises $1 million of assets and 111 million of liabilities.

Transfers between level categorizations may occur due to changes in the availability of market observable inputs, which generally are caused by changes in market conditions such as liquidity, trading volume or bid-ask spreads.  Transfers between level categorizations may also occur due to changes in the valuation source.  For example, in situations where a fair value quote is not provided by the Company’s independent third-party valuation service provider and as a result the price is stale or has been replaced with a broker quote whose inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable, the security is transferred into Level 3.  Transfers in and out of level categorizations are reported as having occurred at the beginning of the quarter in which the transfer occurred.  Therefore, for all transfers into Level 3, all realized and changes in unrealized gains and losses in the quarter of transfer are reflected in the Level 3 rollforward table.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, certain U.S. government securities were transferred into Level 1 from Level 2 as a result of increased liquidity in the market and a sustained increase in the market activity for these assets.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, certain RMBS, CMBS and ABS were transferred into Level 2 from Level 3 as a result of increased liquidity in the market and a sustained increase in the market activity for these assets.  When transferring these securities into Level 2, the Company did not change the source of fair value estimates or modify the estimates received from independent third-party valuation service providers or the internal valuation approach.  Accordingly, for securities included within this group, there was no change in fair value in conjunction with the transfer resulting in a realized or unrealized gain or loss.

Transfers into Level 3 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 included situations where a fair value quote was not provided by the Company’s independent third-party valuation service provider and as a result the price was stale or had been replaced with a broker quote where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable resulting in the security being classified as Level 3.  Transfers out of Level 3 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 included situations where a broker quote was used in the prior period and a fair value quote became available from the Company’s independent third-party valuation service provider in the current period.  A quote utilizing the new pricing source was not available as of the prior period, and any gains or losses related to the change in valuation source for individual securities were not significant.

The following table provides the change in unrealized gains and losses included in net income for Level 3 assets and liabilities held as of September 30.

($ in millions)		Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
		2012		2011		2012		2011
Assets
Fixed income securities:
Municipal	$	(5)	$	(7)	$	(10)	$	(17)
Corporate		5		(12)		13		3
RMBS		--		--		(1)		--
CMBS		(1)		(1)		(2)		(10)
ABS		--		(38)		--		(26)
Total fixed income securities		(1)		(58)		--		(50)
Equity securities		(3)		--		(9)		--
Other investments:
Free-standing derivatives, net		(7)		(57)		4		(54)
Total recurring Level 3 assets	$	(11)	$	(115)	$	(5)	$	(104)
Liabilities
Contractholder funds:
Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts	$	160	$	2	$	151	$	(24)
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities	$	160	$	2	$	151	$	(24)

The amounts in the table above represent the change in unrealized gains and losses included in net income for the period of time that the asset or liability was determined to be in Level 3.  These gains and losses total $149 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and are reported as follows: $(17) million in realized capital gains and losses, $6 million in net investment income, $142 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $18 million in life and annuity contract benefits.  These gains and losses total $(113) million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and are reported as follows: $(128) million in realized capital gains and losses, $13 million in net investment income, $57 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(55) million in life and annuity contract benefits.  These gains and losses total $146 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and are reported as follows: $(20) million in realized capital gains and losses, $16 million in net investment income, $118 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $32 million in life and annuity contract benefits.  These gains and losses total $(128) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and are reported as follows: $(145) million in realized capital gains and losses, $41 million in net investment income, $(6) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(18) million in life and annuity contract benefits.

Presented below are the carrying values and fair value estimates of financial instruments not carried at fair value.

Financial assets

($ in millions)		September 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
		Carrying value		Fair value		Carrying value		Fair value
Mortgage loans	$	6,904	$	7,240	$	7,139	$	7,350
Cost method limited partnerships		1,456		1,756		1,569		1,838
Bank loans		410		411		339		328

The fair value of mortgage loans is based on discounted contractual cash flows or, if the loans are impaired due to credit reasons, the fair value of collateral less costs to sell.  Risk adjusted discount rates are selected using current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar characteristics, using similar types of properties as collateral.  The fair value of cost method limited partnerships is determined using reported net asset values of the underlying funds.  The fair value of bank loans, which are reported in other investments, is based on broker quotes from brokers familiar with the loans and current market conditions.  The fair value measurements for mortgage loans, cost method limited partnerships and bank loans are categorized as Level 3.

Financial liabilities

($ in millions)		September 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
		Carrying value		Fair value		Carrying value		Fair value
Contractholder funds on investment contracts	$	27,934	$	29,029	$	30,192	$	30,499
Long-term debt		6,057		7,147		5,908		6,312
Liability for collateral		765		765		462		462

The fair value of contractholder funds on investment contracts is based on the terms of the underlying contracts utilizing prevailing market rates for similar contracts adjusted for the Company’s own credit risk.  Deferred annuities included in contractholder funds are valued using discounted cash flow models which incorporate market value margins, which are based on the cost of holding economic capital, and the Company’s own credit risk.  Immediate annuities without life contingencies and fixed rate funding agreements are valued at the present value of future benefits using market implied interest rates which include the Company’s own credit risk.  The fair value measurements for contractholder funds on investment contracts are categorized as Level 3.

The fair value of long-term debt is based on market observable data (such as the fair value of the debt when traded as an asset) or, in certain cases, is determined using discounted cash flow calculations based on current interest rates for instruments with comparable terms and considers the Company’s own credit risk.  The liability for collateral is valued at carrying value due to its short-term nature.  The fair value measurements for long-term debt and liability for collateral are categorized as Level 2.