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Derivatives
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Financial Instruments
5.  Derivatives
Accounting for Derivatives
Freestanding Derivatives
Freestanding derivatives are carried in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets either as assets within other invested assets or as liabilities within other liabilities at estimated fair value. The Company does not offset the fair value amounts recognized for derivatives executed with the same counterparty under the same master netting agreement. See “— Credit Risk on Freestanding Derivatives.”
Accruals on derivatives are generally recorded in accrued investment income or within other liabilities. However, accruals that are not scheduled to settle within one year are included with the derivatives carrying value in other invested assets or other liabilities.
If a derivative is not designated as an accounting hedge or its use in managing risk does not qualify for hedge accounting, changes in the estimated fair value of the derivative are reported in net derivative gains (losses) except as follows:
Statement of Operations Presentation:
 
Derivative:
Policyholder benefits and claims
 
•  Economic hedges of variable annuity guarantees included in future policy benefits
Net investment income
 
•  Economic hedges of equity method investments in joint ventures
Hedge Accounting
To qualify for hedge accounting, at the inception of the hedging relationship, the Company formally documents its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedging transaction, as well as its designation of the hedge. Hedge designation and financial statement presentation of changes in estimated fair value of the hedging derivatives are as follows:
Fair value hedge (a hedge of the estimated fair value of a recognized asset or liability) - in net derivative gains (losses), consistent with the change in fair value of the hedged item attributable to the designated risk being hedged.
Cash flow hedge (a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability) - effectiveness in OCI (deferred gains or losses on the derivative are reclassified into the consolidated statement of operations when the Company’s earnings are affected by the variability in cash flows of the hedged item); ineffectiveness in net derivative gains (losses).
The change in estimated fair values of the hedging derivatives are exclusive of any accruals that are separately reported in the consolidated statement of operations within interest income or interest expense to match the location of the hedged item. 
In its hedge documentation, the Company sets forth how the hedging instrument is expected to hedge the designated risks related to the hedged item and sets forth the method that will be used to retrospectively and prospectively assess the hedging instrument’s effectiveness and the method that will be used to measure ineffectiveness. A derivative designated as a hedging instrument must be assessed as being highly effective in offsetting the designated risk of the hedged item. Hedge effectiveness is formally assessed at inception and at least quarterly throughout the life of the designated hedging relationship. Assessments of hedge effectiveness and measurements of ineffectiveness are also subject to interpretation and estimation and different interpretations or estimates may have a material effect on the amount reported in net income.
The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when: (i) it is determined that the derivative is no longer highly effective in offsetting changes in the estimated fair value or cash flows of a hedged item; (ii) the derivative expires, is sold, terminated, or exercised; (iii) it is no longer probable that the hedged forecasted transaction will occur; or (iv) the derivative is de-designated as a hedging instrument.
When hedge accounting is discontinued because it is determined that the derivative is not highly effective in offsetting changes in the estimated fair value or cash flows of a hedged item, the derivative continues to be carried in the consolidated balance sheets at its estimated fair value, with changes in estimated fair value recognized in net derivative gains (losses). The carrying value of the hedged recognized asset or liability under a fair value hedge is no longer adjusted for changes in its estimated fair value due to the hedged risk, and the cumulative adjustment to its carrying value is amortized into income over the remaining life of the hedged item. Provided the hedged forecasted transaction is still probable of occurrence, the changes in estimated fair value of derivatives recorded in OCI related to discontinued cash flow hedges are released into the consolidated statement of operations when the Company’s earnings are affected by the variability in cash flows of the hedged item.
When hedge accounting is discontinued because it is no longer probable that the forecasted transactions will occur on the anticipated date or within two months of that date, the derivative continues to be carried in the consolidated balance sheets at its estimated fair value, with changes in estimated fair value recognized currently in net derivative gains (losses). Deferred gains and losses of a derivative recorded in OCI pursuant to the discontinued cash flow hedge of a forecasted transaction that is no longer probable are recognized immediately in net derivative gains (losses).
In all other situations in which hedge accounting is discontinued, the derivative is carried at its estimated fair value in the consolidated balance sheets, with changes in its estimated fair value recognized in the current period as net derivative gains (losses).
Embedded Derivatives
The Company purchases certain securities, issues certain insurance products and investment contracts and is a party to certain reinsurance agreements that have embedded derivatives. The Company assesses each identified embedded derivative to determine whether it is required to be bifurcated. The embedded derivative is bifurcated from the host contract and accounted for as a freestanding derivative if:
the combined instrument is not accounted for in its entirety at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in earnings;
the terms of the embedded derivative are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the host contract; and
a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative would qualify as a derivative instrument.
 Such embedded derivatives are carried in the consolidated balance sheets at estimated fair value with the host contract and changes in their estimated fair value are generally reported in net derivative gains (losses). If the Company is unable to properly identify and measure an embedded derivative for separation from its host contract, the entire contract is carried on the balance sheet at estimated fair value, with changes in estimated fair value recognized in the current period in net investment gains (losses) or net investment income. Additionally, the Company may elect to carry an entire contract on the balance sheet at estimated fair value, with changes in estimated fair value recognized in the current period in net investment gains (losses) or net investment income if that contract contains an embedded derivative that requires bifurcation. At inception, the Company attributes to the embedded derivative a portion of the projected future guarantee fees to be collected from the policyholder equal to the present value of projected future guaranteed benefits. Any additional fees represent “excess” fees and are reported in universal life and investment-type product policy fees.
See Note 6 for information about the fair value hierarchy for derivatives.
Derivative Strategies
The Company is exposed to various risks relating to its ongoing business operations, including interest rate, foreign currency exchange rate, credit and equity market. The Company uses a variety of strategies to manage these risks, including the use of derivatives.
Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are derived from interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, credit spreads and/or other financial indices. Derivatives may be exchange-traded or contracted in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. Certain of the Company’s OTC derivatives are cleared and settled through central clearing counterparties (“OTC-cleared”), while others are bilateral contracts between two counterparties (“OTC-bilateral”). The types of derivatives the Company uses include swaps, forwards, futures and option contracts. To a lesser extent, the Company uses credit default swaps to synthetically replicate investment risks and returns which are not readily available in the cash market.
Interest Rate Derivatives
The Company uses a variety of interest rate derivatives to reduce its exposure to changes in interest rates, including interest rate swaps, caps, floors, futures and forwards.
Interest rate swaps are used by the Company primarily to reduce market risks from changes in interest rates and to alter interest rate exposure arising from mismatches between assets and liabilities (duration mismatches). In an interest rate swap, the Company agrees with another party to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed rate and floating rate interest amounts as calculated by reference to an agreed notional amount. The Company utilizes interest rate swaps in fair value, cash flow and non-qualifying hedging relationships.
The Company purchases interest rate caps and floors primarily to protect its floating rate liabilities against rises in interest rates above a specified level, and against interest rate exposure arising from mismatches between assets and liabilities, as well as to protect its minimum rate guarantee liabilities against declines in interest rates below a specified level, respectively. In certain instances, the Company locks in the economic impact of existing purchased caps and floors by entering into offsetting written caps and floors. The Company utilizes interest rate caps and floors in non-qualifying hedging relationships.
In exchange-traded interest rate (Treasury and swap) futures transactions, the Company agrees to purchase or sell a specified number of contracts, the value of which is determined by the different classes of interest rate securities, and to post variation margin on a daily basis in an amount equal to the difference in the daily market values of those contracts. The Company enters into exchange-traded futures with regulated futures commission merchants that are members of the exchange. Exchange-traded interest rate (Treasury and swap) futures are used primarily to hedge mismatches between the duration of assets in a portfolio and the duration of liabilities supported by those assets, to hedge against changes in value of securities the Company owns or anticipates acquiring and to hedge against changes in interest rates on anticipated liability issuances by replicating Treasury or swap curve performance. The Company utilizes exchange-traded interest rate futures in non-qualifying hedging relationships.
Inflation swaps are used as an economic hedge to reduce inflation risk generated from inflation-indexed liabilities. Inflation swaps are included in interest rate swaps. The Company utilizes inflation swaps in non-qualifying hedging relationships.
The Company enters into interest rate forwards to buy and sell securities. The price is agreed upon at the time of the contract and payment for such a contract is made at a specified future date. The Company utilizes interest rate forwards in cash flow hedging relationships.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Derivatives
The Company uses foreign currency swaps to reduce the risk from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates associated with its assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. In a foreign currency swap transaction, the Company agrees with another party to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between one currency and another at a fixed exchange rate, generally set at inception, calculated by reference to an agreed upon notional amount. The notional amount of each currency is exchanged at the inception and termination of the currency swap by each party. The Company utilizes foreign currency swaps in fair value, cash flow and non-qualifying hedging relationships.
To a lesser extent, the Company uses foreign currency forwards in non-qualifying hedging relationships.
Credit Derivatives
The Company enters into purchased credit default swaps to hedge against credit-related changes in the value of its investments. In a credit default swap transaction, the Company agrees with another party to pay, at specified intervals, a premium to hedge credit risk. If a credit event occurs, as defined by the contract, the contract may be cash settled or it may be settled gross by the delivery of par quantities of the referenced investment equal to the specified swap notional in exchange for the payment of cash amounts by the counterparty equal to the par value of the investment surrendered. Credit events vary by type of issuer but typically include bankruptcy, failure to pay debt obligations, repudiation, moratorium, or involuntary restructuring. In each case, payout on a credit default swap is triggered only after the Credit Derivatives Determinations Committee of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) deems that a credit event has occurred. The Company utilizes credit default swaps in non-qualifying hedging relationships.
The Company enters into written credit default swaps to synthetically create credit investments that are either more expensive to acquire or otherwise unavailable in the cash markets. These transactions are a combination of a derivative and one or more cash instruments, such as U.S. Treasury securities, agency securities or other fixed maturity securities. These credit default swaps are not designated as hedging instruments.
To a lesser extent, the Company uses credit forwards to lock in the price to be paid for forward purchases of certain securities. The Company utilizes credit forwards in cash flow hedging relationships. 
Equity Derivatives
The Company uses a variety of equity derivatives to reduce its exposure to equity market risk, including equity index options, variance swaps and exchange-traded equity futures.
Equity index options are used by the Company primarily to hedge minimum guarantees embedded in certain variable annuity products offered by the Company. To hedge against adverse changes in equity indices, the Company enters into contracts to sell the equity index within a limited time at a contracted price. The contracts will be net settled in cash based on differentials in the indices at the time of exercise and the strike price. In certain instances, the Company may enter into a combination of transactions to hedge adverse changes in equity indices within a pre-determined range through the purchase and sale of options. The Company utilizes equity index options in non-qualifying hedging relationships.
Equity variance swaps are used by the Company primarily to hedge minimum guarantees embedded in certain variable annuity products offered by the Company. In an equity variance swap, the Company agrees with another party to exchange amounts in the future, based on changes in equity volatility over a defined period. The Company utilizes equity variance swaps in non-qualifying hedging relationships.
In exchange-traded equity futures transactions, the Company agrees to purchase or sell a specified number of contracts, the value of which is determined by the different classes of equity securities, and to post variation margin on a daily basis in an amount equal to the difference in the daily market values of those contracts. The Company enters into exchange-traded futures with regulated futures commission merchants that are members of the exchange. Exchange-traded equity futures are used primarily to hedge liabilities embedded in certain variable annuity products offered by the Company. The Company utilizes exchange-traded equity futures in non-qualifying hedging relationships.
To a lesser extent, the Company also uses total rate of return swaps (“TRRs”) to hedge its equity market guarantees in certain of its insurance products. The Company utilizes TRRs in non-qualifying hedging relationships.
Primary Risks Managed by Derivatives
The following table presents the gross notional amount, estimated fair value and primary underlying risk exposure of the Company’s derivatives, excluding embedded derivatives, held at:


 
June 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012

Primary Underlying Risk Exposure
 
Notional
Amount
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Notional
Amount
 
Estimated Fair Value

Assets
 
Liabilities
 
Assets
 
Liabilities


 
(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
Fair value hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
Interest rate
 
$
587

 
$
15

 
$
5

 
$
538

 
$
28

 
$
9

Foreign currency swaps
Foreign currency exchange rate
 
122

 

 
22

 
122

 

 
14

Subtotal
 
 
709

 
15

 
27

 
660

 
28

 
23

Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
Interest rate
 
598

 
29

 
12

 
658

 
99

 

Interest rate forwards
Interest rate
 
310

 
27

 

 
410

 
81

 

Foreign currency swaps
Foreign currency exchange rate
 
546

 
30

 
4

 
524

 
16

 
14

Credit forwards
Credit
 
5

 

 

 

 

 

Subtotal
 
 
1,459

 
86

 
16

 
1,592

 
196

 
14

Total qualifying hedges
 
2,168

 
101

 
43

 
2,252

 
224

 
37

 
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments
Interest rate swaps
Interest rate
 
22,660

 
902

 
431

 
16,869

 
1,254

 
513

Interest rate floors
Interest rate
 
17,604

 
162

 
156

 
15,136

 
318

 
274

Interest rate caps
Interest rate
 
8,001

 
36

 

 
9,031

 
11

 

Interest rate futures
Interest rate
 
1,743

 

 
1

 
2,771

 

 
7

Foreign currency swaps
Foreign currency exchange rate
 
834

 
58

 
25

 
811

 
60

 
35

Foreign currency forwards
Foreign currency exchange rate
 
43

 

 

 
139

 

 
4

Credit default swaps - purchased
Credit
 
198

 

 
2

 
162

 

 
2

Credit default swaps - written
Credit
 
2,393

 
23

 

 
2,456

 
23

 
1

Equity futures
Equity market
 
971

 
3

 

 
1,075

 

 
27

Equity options
Equity market
 
3,431

 
411

 
14

 
2,845

 
469

 
1

Variance swaps
Equity market
 
2,562

 
1

 
85

 
2,346

 
11

 
62

TRRs
Equity market
 
437

 
6

 
8

 
300

 

 
7

Total non-designated or non-qualifying derivatives
 
60,877

 
1,602

 
722

 
53,941

 
2,146

 
933

Total
 
$
63,045

 
$
1,703

 
$
765

 
$
56,193

 
$
2,370

 
$
970


Based on notional amounts, a substantial portion of the Company’s derivatives was not designated or did not qualify as part of a hedging relationship as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. The Company’s use of derivatives includes (i) derivatives that serve as macro hedges of the Company’s exposure to various risks and that generally do not qualify for hedge accounting due to the criteria required under the portfolio hedging rules; (ii) derivatives that economically hedge insurance liabilities that contain mortality or morbidity risk and that generally do not qualify for hedge accounting because the lack of these risks in the derivatives cannot support an expectation of a highly effective hedging relationship; (iii) derivatives that economically hedge embedded derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting because the changes in estimated fair value of the embedded derivatives are already recorded in net income; and (iv) written credit default swaps that are used to synthetically create credit investments and that do not qualify for hedge accounting because they do not involve a hedging relationship. For these non-qualified derivatives, changes in market factors can lead to the recognition of fair value changes in the consolidated statement of operations without an offsetting gain or loss recognized in earnings for the item being hedged.
Net Derivative Gains (Losses)
The components of net derivative gains (losses) were as follows:
 

Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,

2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012

(In millions)
Derivatives and hedging gains (losses) (1)
$
(423
)
 
$
517

 
$
(563
)
 
$
(36
)
Embedded derivatives
(72
)
 
65

 
181

 
179

Total net derivative gains (losses)
$
(495
)
 
$
582

 
$
(382
)
 
$
143

____________
(1)
Includes foreign currency transaction gains (losses) on hedged items in cash flow and non-qualifying hedging relationships, which are not presented elsewhere in this note.
The following table presents earned income on derivatives:

Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,

2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012

(In millions)
Qualifying hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
$

 
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
1

Interest credited to policyholder account balances
1

 
6

 
2

 
16

Non-qualifying hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net derivative gains (losses)
45

 
47

 
61

 
55

Policyholder benefits and claims

 
(2
)
 
(7
)
 
(2
)
Total
$
46

 
$
52

 
$
57

 
$
70

Non-Qualifying Derivatives and Derivatives for Purposes Other Than Hedging
The following table presents the amount and location of gains (losses) recognized in income for derivatives that were not designated or qualifying as hedging instruments:
 
Net
Derivative
Gains (Losses)
 
Net
Investment
Income (Loss) (1)
 
Policyholder
Benefits and
Claims (2) 

(In millions)
Three Months Ended June 30, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate derivatives
$
(425
)
 
$

 
$
(15
)
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives
1

 

 

Credit derivatives - purchased

 

 

Credit derivatives - written

 

 

Equity derivatives
(42
)
 
(1
)
 
(11
)
Total
$
(466
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(26
)
Three Months Ended June 30, 2012:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate derivatives
$
392

 
$

 
$

Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives
15

 

 

Credit derivatives - purchased
2

 

 

Credit derivatives - written
(16
)
 

 

Equity derivatives
76

 
(1
)
 
7

Total
$
469

 
$
(1
)
 
$
7

Six Months Ended June 30, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate derivatives
$
(403
)
 
$

 
$
(13
)
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives
16

 

 

Credit derivatives - purchased

 

 

Credit derivatives - written
7

 

 

Equity derivatives
(243
)
 
(3
)
 
(45
)
Total
$
(623
)
 
$
(3
)
 
$
(58
)
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate derivatives
$
117

 
$

 
$

Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives
8

 

 

Credit derivatives - purchased
(8
)
 

 

Credit derivatives - written
14

 

 

Equity derivatives
(215
)
 
(2
)
 
(23
)
Total
$
(84
)
 
$
(2
)
 
$
(23
)
____________
(1)
Changes in estimated fair value related to economic hedges of equity method investments in joint ventures.
(2)
Changes in estimated fair value related to economic hedges of variable annuity guarantees included in future policy benefits.
Fair Value Hedges
The Company designates and accounts for the following as fair value hedges when they have met the requirements of fair value hedging: (i) interest rate swaps to convert fixed rate assets and liabilities to floating rate assets and liabilities; and (ii) foreign currency swaps to hedge the foreign currency fair value exposure of foreign currency denominated liabilities.
 
The Company recognizes gains and losses on derivatives and the related hedged items in fair value hedges within net derivative gains (losses). The following table presents the amount of such net derivative gains (losses):


Derivatives in Fair Value
Hedging Relationships
 


Hedged Items in Fair Value
Hedging Relationships
 
Net Derivative
Gains (Losses)
Recognized
for Derivatives
 
Net Derivative
Gains (Losses)
Recognized for
Hedged Items
 
Ineffectiveness
Recognized in
Net Derivative
Gains (Losses)
 
 
 
 
(In millions)
Three Months Ended June 30, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
Fixed maturity securities
 
$
6

 
$
(7
)
 
$
(1
)
 
 
Policyholder liabilities (1)
 
(11
)
 
10

 
(1
)
Foreign currency swaps:
 
Foreign-denominated PABs (2)
 

 

 

Total
 
$
(5
)
 
$
3

 
$
(2
)
Three Months Ended June 30, 2012:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
Fixed maturity securities
 
$
(2
)
 
$
1

 
$
(1
)
 
 
Policyholder liabilities (1)
 
15

 
(15
)
 

Foreign currency swaps:
 
Foreign-denominated PABs (2)
 
(44
)
 
40

 
(4
)
Total
 
$
(31
)
 
$
26

 
$
(5
)
Six Months Ended June 30, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
Fixed maturity securities
 
$
7

 
$
(8
)
 
$
(1
)
 
 
Policyholder liabilities (1)
 
(18
)
 
16

 
(2
)
Foreign currency swaps:
 
Foreign-denominated PABs (2)
 
(7
)
 
7

 

Total
 
$
(18
)
 
$
15

 
$
(3
)
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
Fixed maturity securities
 
$
(2
)
 
$
1

 
$
(1
)
 
 
Policyholder liabilities (1)
 
2

 
(3
)
 
(1
)
Foreign currency swaps:
 
Foreign-denominated PABs (2)
 
(32
)
 
24

 
(8
)
Total
 
$
(32
)
 
$
22

 
$
(10
)
____________ 
(1)
Fixed rate liabilities reported in PABs or future policy benefits.
(2)
Fixed rate or floating rate liabilities.
All components of each derivative’s gain or loss were included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.
Cash Flow Hedges
The Company designates and accounts for the following as cash flow hedges when they have met the requirements of cash flow hedging: (i) interest rate swaps to convert floating rate assets and liabilities to fixed rate assets and liabilities; (ii) foreign currency swaps to hedge the foreign currency cash flow exposure of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities; (iii) interest rate forwards and credit forwards to lock in the price to be paid for forward purchases of investments; and (iv) interest rate swaps and interest rate forwards to hedge the forecasted purchases of fixed-rate investments.
The Company discontinues cash flow hedge accounting when the forecasted transactions are no longer probable of occurring. When such forecasted transactions are not probable of occurring within two months of the anticipated date, the Company reclassifies certain amounts from AOCI into net derivative gains (losses). There were no amounts reclassified into net derivative gain (losses) for both the three months and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, related to such discontinued cash flow hedges.
At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the maximum length of time over which the Company was hedging its exposure to variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions did not exceed six years and seven years, respectively.
At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the balance in AOCI associated with cash flow hedges was $148 million and $243 million, respectively. 
The following table presents the effects of derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships on the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income and the interim condensed consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity:
 
Derivatives in Cash Flow
Hedging Relationships
 
Amount of Gains
 (Losses) Deferred in
 AOCI on Derivatives
 
Amount and Location
 of Gains (Losses)
Reclassified from
AOCI into Income (Loss)
 
Amount and Location
of Gains (Losses)
Recognized in Income (Loss)
on Derivatives

 
(Effective Portion)
 
(Effective Portion)
 
(Ineffective Portion)

 

 
Net Derivative
Gains (Losses)
 
Net Investment
Income
 
Net Derivative
Gains (Losses)

 

 
(In millions)
 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
 
$
(54
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
1

Interest rate forwards
 
(20
)
 
3

 

 
1

Foreign currency swaps
 
(2
)
 

 

 

Total
 
$
(76
)
 
$
3

 
$

 
$
2

Three Months Ended June 30, 2012:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
 
$
96

 
$

 
$

 
$

Interest rate forwards
 
72

 

 

 
(1
)
Foreign currency swaps
 
19

 
(2
)
 

 

Total
 
$
187

 
$
(2
)
 
$

 
$
(1
)
Six Months Ended June 30, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
 
$
(77
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$

 
$
1

Interest rate forwards
 
(35
)
 
6

 
1

 
1

Foreign currency swaps
 
22

 
(1
)
 

 
1

Total
 
$
(90
)
 
$
4

 
$
1

 
$
3

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
 
$
62

 
$

 
$

 
$

Interest rate forwards
 
15

 

 

 

Foreign currency swaps
 
14

 
(1
)
 

 

Total
 
$
91

 
$
(1
)
 
$

 
$


All components of each derivative’s gain or loss were included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.
At June 30, 2013, $4 million of deferred net gains (losses) on derivatives in AOCI was expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months.
Credit Derivatives
In connection with synthetically created credit investment transactions, the Company writes credit default swaps for which it receives a premium to insure credit risk. Such credit derivatives are included within the non-qualifying derivatives and derivatives for purposes other than hedging table. If a credit event occurs, as defined by the contract, the contract may be cash settled or it may be settled gross by the Company paying the counterparty the specified swap notional amount in exchange for the delivery of par quantities of the referenced credit obligation. The Company’s maximum amount at risk, assuming the value of all referenced credit obligations is zero, was $2.4 billion and $2.5 billion at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The Company can terminate these contracts at any time through cash settlement with the counterparty at an amount equal to the then current fair value of the credit default swaps. At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company would have received $23 million and $22 million, respectively, to terminate all of these contracts.
 The following table presents the estimated fair value, maximum amount of future payments and weighted average years to maturity of written credit default swaps at: 
 
 
June 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
Rating Agency Designation of Referenced
Credit Obligations (1)
 

Estimated
Fair Value
of Credit
Default
Swaps
 
Maximum
Amount
of Future
Payments under
Credit Default
Swaps (2)
 


Weighted
Average
Years to
Maturity (3)
 

Estimated
Fair Value
of Credit
Default
Swaps
 
Maximum
Amount
of Future
Payments under
Credit Default
Swaps (2)
 


Weighted
Average
Years to
Maturity (3)
 
 
(In millions)
 
 
 
(In millions)
 
 
Aaa/Aa/A
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Single name credit default swaps (corporate)
 
$
2

 
$
137

 
2.8

 
$
3

 
$
167

 
3.2

Credit default swaps referencing indices
 
7

 
650

 
1.6

 
10

 
650

 
2.1

Subtotal
 
9

 
787

 
1.8

 
13

 
817

 
2.3

Baa
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Single name credit default swaps (corporate)
 
7

 
486

 
3.4

 
4

 
479

 
3.8

Credit default swaps referencing indices
 
6

 
1,074

 
5.0

 
5

 
1,124

 
4.8

Subtotal
 
13

 
1,560

 
4.5

 
9

 
1,603

 
4.5

Ba
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Single name credit default swaps (corporate)
 

 
10

 
5.1

 

 

 

Credit default swaps referencing indices
 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtotal
 

 
10

 
5.1

 

 

 

B
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Single name credit default swaps (corporate)
 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit default swaps referencing indices
 
1

 
36

 
5.1

 

 
36

 
5.0

Subtotal
 
1

 
36

 
5.1

 

 
36

 
5.0

Total
 
$
23

 
$
2,393

 
3.6

 
$
22

 
$
2,456

 
3.8

____________
(1)
The rating agency designations are based on availability and the midpoint of the applicable ratings among Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”), Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) and Fitch Ratings. If no rating is available from a rating agency, then an internally developed rating is used.
(2)
Assumes the value of the referenced credit obligations is zero.
(3)
The weighted average years to maturity of the credit default swaps is calculated based on weighted average notional amounts.
Credit Risk on Freestanding Derivatives
The Company may be exposed to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to derivatives. Generally, the current credit exposure of the Company’s derivatives is limited to the net positive estimated fair value of derivatives at the reporting date after taking into consideration the existence of master netting or similar agreements and any collateral received pursuant to such agreements.
The Company manages its credit risk related to derivatives by entering into transactions with creditworthy counterparties and establishing and monitoring exposure limits. The Company’s OTC-bilateral derivative transactions are generally governed by ISDA Master Agreements which provide for legally enforceable set-off and close-out netting of exposures to specific counterparties in the event of early termination of a transaction, which includes, but is not limited, to events of default and bankruptcy. In the event of an early termination, the Company is permitted to set off receivables from the counterparty against payables to the same counterparty arising out of all included transactions. Substantially all of the Company’s ISDA Master Agreements also include Credit Support Annex provisions which require both the pledging and accepting of collateral in connection with its OTC-bilateral derivatives. See Note 6 for a description of the impact of credit risk on the valuation of derivatives.
The Company’s OTC-cleared derivatives are effected through central clearing counterparties and its exchange-traded derivatives are effected through regulated exchanges. Such positions are marked to market and margined on a daily basis, and the Company has minimal exposure to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to such derivatives.
The estimated fair value of the Company’s net derivative assets and net derivative liabilities after the application of master netting agreements and collateral were as follows at: 

 
June 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
Derivatives Subject to a Master Netting Arrangement or a Similar Arrangement
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
Assets
 
Liabilities

 
(In millions)
Gross estimated fair value of derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTC-bilateral (1)
 
$
1,744

 
$
792

 
$
2,436

 
$
982

OTC-cleared (1)
 

 
1

 

 

Exchange-traded
 
3

 
1

 

 
34

Total gross estimated fair value of derivatives (1)
 
1,747

 
794

 
2,436

 
1,016

Amounts offset in the consolidated balance sheets
 

 

 

 

Estimated fair value of derivatives presented in the consolidated balance sheets (1)
 
1,747

 
794

 
2,436

 
1,016

Gross amounts not offset in the consolidated balance sheets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross estimated fair value of derivatives: (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTC-bilateral
 
(674
)
 
(674
)
 
(838
)
 
(838
)
OTC-cleared
 

 

 

 

Exchange-traded
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 

 

Cash collateral: (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTC-bilateral
 
(476
)
 

 
(897
)
 

OTC-cleared
 

 
(1
)
 

 

Exchange-traded
 

 
(1
)
 

 
(34
)
Securities collateral: (4)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTC-bilateral
 
(565
)
 
(105
)
 
(689
)
 
(121
)
OTC-cleared
 

 

 

 

Exchange-traded
 

 

 

 

Net amount after application of master netting agreements and collateral
 
$
31

 
$
12

 
$
12

 
$
23

____________
(1)
At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, derivative assets include income or expense accruals reported in accrued investment income or in other liabilities of $44 million and $66 million, respectively, and derivative liabilities include income or expense accruals reported in accrued investment income or in other liabilities of $29 million and $46 million, respectively.
(2)
Estimated fair value of derivatives is limited to the amount that is subject to set-off and includes income or expense accruals.
(3)
Cash collateral received is included in cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, or in fixed maturity securities, and the obligation to return it is included in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions in the consolidated balance sheets. The receivable for the return of cash collateral provided by the Company is inclusive of initial margin on exchange-traded and OTC-cleared derivatives and is included in premiums, reinsurance and other receivables in the consolidated balance sheets. The amount of cash collateral offset in the table above is limited to the net estimated fair value of derivatives after application of netting agreements. At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company received excess cash collateral of $18 million and $0, respectively, and provided excess cash collateral of $58 million and $53 million, respectively, which is not included in the table above due to the foregoing limitation.
(4)
Securities collateral received by the Company is held in separate custodial accounts and is not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets. Subject to certain constraints, the Company is permitted by contract to sell or repledge this collateral, but at June 30, 2013 none of the collateral had been sold or repledged. Securities collateral pledged by the Company is reported in fixed maturity securities in the consolidated balance sheets. Subject to certain constraints, the counterparties are permitted by contract to sell or repledge this collateral. The amount of securities collateral offset in the table above is limited to the net estimated fair value of derivatives after application of netting agreements and cash collateral. At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company received excess securities collateral of $23 million and $0, respectively, for its OTC-bilateral derivatives, which are not included in the table above due to the foregoing limitation. At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company provided excess securities collateral of $12 million and $0, respectively, for its OTC-bilateral derivatives and $1 million and $0, respectively, for its OTC-cleared derivatives, which are not included in the table above due to the foregoing limitation. At both June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company did not pledge any securities collateral for its exchange-traded derivatives.
The Company’s collateral arrangements for its OTC-bilateral derivatives generally require the counterparty in a net liability position, after considering the effect of netting agreements, to pledge collateral when the fair value of that counterparty’s derivatives reaches a pre-determined threshold. Certain of these arrangements also include credit-contingent provisions that provide for a reduction of these thresholds (on a sliding scale that converges toward zero) in the event of downgrades in the credit ratings of the Company and/or the counterparty. In addition, certain of the Company’s netting agreements for derivatives contain provisions that require both the Company and the counterparty to maintain a specific investment grade credit rating from each of Moody’s and S&P. If a party’s credit ratings were to fall below that specific investment grade credit rating, that party would be in violation of these provisions, and the other party to the derivatives could terminate the transactions and demand immediate settlement and payment based on such party’s reasonable valuation of the derivatives.
The following table presents the estimated fair value of the Company’s OTC-bilateral derivatives that are in a net liability position after considering the effect of netting agreements, together with the estimated fair value and balance sheet location of the collateral pledged. The table also presents the incremental collateral that the Company would be required to provide if there was a one notch downgrade in the Company’s credit rating at the reporting date or if the Company’s credit rating sustained a downgrade to a level that triggered full overnight collateralization or termination of the derivative position at the reporting date. OTC-bilateral derivatives that are not subject to collateral agreements are excluded from this table. 


 
Estimated Fair Value of
Collateral Provided:
 
Fair Value of Incremental
 Collateral Provided Upon:

Estimated
Fair Value of
Derivatives in Net
Liability Position (1)
 
Fixed Maturity
Securities
 
One Notch
Downgrade
in the
Company’s
Credit
Rating
 
Downgrade in the
Company’s Credit Rating
to a Level that Triggers
Full Overnight Collateralization or
Termination of
the Derivative Position
 
(In millions)
June 30, 2013
$
118

 
$
117

 
$
1

 
$
11

December 31, 2012
$
143

 
$
121

 
$
2

 
$
28

____________
(1)
After taking into consideration the existence of netting agreements.
Embedded Derivatives
The Company issues certain products or purchases certain investments that contain embedded derivatives that are required to be separated from their host contracts and accounted for as freestanding derivatives. These host contracts principally include: variable annuities with guaranteed minimum benefits, including GMWBs, guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (“GMABs”) and certain GMIBs; affiliated ceded reinsurance of guaranteed minimum benefits related to GMWBs, GMABs and certain GMIBs; affiliated assumed reinsurance of guaranteed minimum benefits related to GMWBs and certain GMIBs; funds withheld on ceded reinsurance; and certain debt and equity securities. 
The following table presents the estimated fair value and balance sheet location of the Company’s embedded derivatives that have been separated from their host contracts at:
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
June 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
 
 
(In millions)
Net embedded derivatives within asset host contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
Ceded guaranteed minimum benefits
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables
 
$
2,314

 
$
3,551

Options embedded in debt or equity securities
Investments
 
(34
)
 
(14
)
Net embedded derivatives within asset host contracts
 
$
2,280

 
$
3,537

Net embedded derivatives within liability host contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
Direct guaranteed minimum benefits
PABs
 
$
(259
)
 
$
705

Assumed guaranteed minimum benefits
PABs
 
(3
)
 
4

Funds withheld on ceded reinsurance
Other liabilities
 
123

 
552

Net embedded derivatives within liability host contracts
 
$
(139
)
 
$
1,261


The following table presents changes in estimated fair value related to embedded derivatives:
 
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
(In millions)
Net derivative gains (losses) (1), (2)
$
(72
)
 
$
65

 
$
181

 
$
179

____________
(1)
The valuation of direct and assumed guaranteed minimum benefits includes a nonperformance risk adjustment. The amounts included in net derivative gains (losses) in connection with this adjustment, were ($38) million and ($127) million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively, and $136 million and ($102) million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. In addition, the valuation of ceded guaranteed minimum benefits includes a nonperformance risk adjustment. The amounts included in net derivative gains (losses) in connection with this adjustment, were $41 million and $159 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively, and ($292) million and $39 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively.
(2)
See Note 10 for discussion of affiliated net derivative gains (losses) included in the table above.