Other Investments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Note 6. Other Investments

Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and Federal Reserve Bank Stock

The Company's investment in stock issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco ("FHLB") and Federal Reserve Bank ("FRB") totaled $90.0 million and $107.4 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Ownership of government agency securities is restricted to member banks, and the securities do not have readily determinable market values. The Company records investments in FHLB and FRB stock at cost in Other assets of the consolidated balance sheets and evaluates these investments for impairment. The Company expects to recover the full amount invested in FHLB and FRB stock and does not consider its investments to be impaired at December 31, 2012.

Private Equity and Alternative Investments

The Company has ownership interests in a limited number of private equity, venture capital, real estate and hedge funds that are not publicly traded and do not have readily determinable fair values. These investments are carried at cost in the Other assets section of the consolidated balance sheets and are net of impairment write-downs, if applicable. The Company's investments in these funds totaled $36.1 million at December 31, 2012 and $39.9 million at December 31, 2011. A summary of investments by fund type is provided below:

	December 31,

(in thousands) Fund Type	2012		2011
Private equity and venture capital	$	20,693	$	23,093
Real estate		9,223		10,541
Hedge		2,866		2,883
Other		3,309		3,402

Total	$	36,091	$	39,919

Management reviews these investments quarterly for impairment. The impairment assessment includes a review of the most recent financial statements and investment reports for each fund and discussions with fund management. An impairment loss is recognized if it is deemed probable that the Company will not recover the cost of an investment. The impairment loss is recognized in Other noninterest income in the consolidated statements of income. The new cost basis of the investment is not adjusted for subsequent recoveries in value. The Company recognized impairment losses totaling $3.3 million, $1.2 million and $1.4 million on its investments during 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The table below provides information as of December 31, 2012 on private equity and alternative investments measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis due to the recognition of impairment:

(in thousands) Fund Type	Fair Value		Unfunded Commitments		Redemption Frequency	Redemption Notice Period

Private equity and venture capital (2)	$	2,105	$	134	None (1)	N/A
Real estate (3)		4,073		1,382	None (1)	N/A

Total	$	6,178	$	1,516

(1): Funds make periodic distributions of income but do not permit redemptions prior to the end of the investment term.
(2): Funds invest in securities and other instruments of public and private companies, including corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint ventures.
(3): Funds invest in commercial, industrial and retail projects and select multi-family housing opportunities which are part of mixed use projects in low and moderate income neighborhoods.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for investments accounted for under the cost-method. The carrying amount of such investments may be adjusted, for example, distributions in excess of cost (return of capital) or for other-than-temporary impairments. The cost method and lower-of-cost or market, an adaptation of the cost method, is generally followed for most investments in noncontrolled corporations, in some corporate joint ventures, and to a lesser extent in unconsolidated subsidiaries in which the entity does not have the ability to exercise significant influence.

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