Business, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") and are unaudited. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Those estimates are inherently subject to change and actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of VRIAC and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Voya Financial Partners, LLC ("VFP"), which changed its name from ING Financial Advisers, LLC on September 1, 2014, and Directed Services LLC ("DSL"). Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect adjustments (including normal, recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2015, and its results of operations and comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, and its changes in shareholder's equity and statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, in conformity with U.S. GAAP. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of full year performance. The December 31, 2014 Consolidated Balance Sheet is from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 ("Annual Report on Form 10-K"), filed with the SEC. Therefore, these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Adoption of New Pronouncements

Repurchase Agreements

In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-11, "Transfers and Servicing (Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures" ("ASU 2014-11"), which (1) changes the accounting for repurchase-to-maturity transactions to secured borrowing accounting and (2) requires separate accounting for a transfer of a financial asset executed with a repurchase agreement with the same counterparty. This will result in secured borrowing accounting for the repurchase agreement. The amendments also require additional disclosures for certain transactions accounted for as a sale and for repurchase agreements, securities lending transactions and repurchase-to-maturity transactions that are accounted for as secured borrowings.

The provisions of ASU 2014-11 were adopted by the Company on January 1, 2015, with the exception of disclosure amendments for repurchase agreements, securities lending transactions and repurchase-to-maturity transactions that are accounted for as secured borrowings, which were adopted April 1, 2015. The adoption of the January 1, 2015 provisions had no effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The April 1, 2015 disclosure provisions are included in the Investments Note to these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Discontinued Operations and Disposals

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, "Presentation of Financial Statements (ASC Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (ASC Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity" ("ASU 2014-08"), which requires the disposal of a component of an entity to be reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on the entity's operations and financial results. The component should be reported in discontinued operations when it meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale, is disposed of by sale or is disposed of other than by sale.

The amendments also require additional disclosures about discontinued operations, including disclosures about an entity’s significant continuing involvement with a discontinued operation and disclosures for a disposal of an individually significant component of an entity that does not qualify for discontinued operations.

The provisions of ASU 2014-08 were adopted prospectively by the Company on January 1, 2015. The adoption had no effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Future Adoption of Accounting Pronouncements

Short-Duration Contracts

In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-09, "Financial Services - Insurance (ASC Topic 944): Disclosures about Short-Duration Contracts" ("ASU 2015-09"), which requires insurance entities to disclose for annual reporting periods information about the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses and about significant changes in methodologies and assumptions used to calculate the liability for unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses. The standard also requires entities to disclose for annual and interim reporting periods a rollforward of the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses.

The provisions of ASU 2015-09 are effective, retrospectively, for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently in the process of determining the impact of adoption of the provisions of ASU 2015-09.

Internal-Use Software

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (ASC Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement" ("ASU 2015-05"), which clarifies that customers should account for software licenses included in cloud computing arrangements (ex. software as a service) consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If the arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract.

The provisions of ASU 2015-05 are effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The amendments can be applied prospectively or retrospectively. The Company is currently in the process of determining the impact of adoption of the provisions of ASU 2015-05.

Defined Benefit Plans

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-04, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits (ASC Topic 715): Practical Expedient for the Measurement Date of an Employer’s Defined Benefit Obligation and Plan Assets" ("ASU 2015-04"), which permits remeasurement of defined benefit plan assets and obligations resulting from the occurrence of a significant event using the month-end that is closest to the date of the event.

The provisions of ASU 2015-04 are effective, prospectively, for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect ASU 2015-04 to have an impact.

Consolidation

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, “Consolidation (ASC Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” (“ASU 2015-02”), which:


•	Modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are Variable Interest Entities ("VIEs") or Voting Interest Entities ( "VOEs"), including the requirement to consider the rights of all equity holders at risk to determine if they have the power to direct the entity's most significant activities.


•	Eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. Limited partnerships and similar entities will be VIEs unless the limited partners hold substantive kick-out rights in the participating rights.


•	Affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships.


•	Provides a new scope exception for registered money market funds and similar unregistered money market funds, and ends the deferral granted to investment companies from applying the VIE guidance.

The provisions of ASU 2015-02 are effective for annual periods, and for interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted, using either a retrospective or modified retrospective approach. The Company does not expect ASU 2015-02 to have an impact.

Going Concern

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, "Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern (ASC Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern" ("ASU 2014-15"), which requires management to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. The provisions of ASU 2014-15 will not affect a company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows, but require disclosure if management determines there is substantial doubt, including management’s plans to alleviate or mitigate the conditions or events that raise substantial doubt.

The provisions of ASU 2014-15 are effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and annual and interim periods thereafter. The Company does not expect ASU 2014-15 to have an impact.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC Topic 606)" ("ASU 2014-09"), which requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Revenue is recognized when, or as, the entity satisfies a performance obligation under the contract. The standard also requires disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

In July 2015, the FASB voted to amend the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted as of the original effective date, which is January 1, 2017. The provisions of ASU 2014-09 are effective retrospectively. The Company is currently in the process of determining the impact of adoption of the provisions of ASU 2014-09.

Investments

Fixed Maturities and Equity Securities:

The Company's fixed maturities and equity securities are currently designated as available-for-sale, except those accounted for using the FVO. Available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value and unrealized capital gains (losses) on these securities are recorded directly in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI") and presented net of related changes in Deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC"), Value of business acquired ("VOBA") and Deferred income taxes. In addition, certain fixed maturities have embedded derivatives, which are reported with the host contract on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company has elected the FVO for certain of its fixed maturities to better match the measurement of assets and liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Certain collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"), primarily interest-only and principal-only strips, are accounted for as hybrid instruments and valued at fair value with changes in the fair value recorded in Other net realized capital gains (losses) in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company invests in various categories of CMOs, including CMOs that are not agency-backed, that are subject to different degrees of risk from changes in interest rates and defaults. The principal risks inherent in holding CMOs are prepayment and extension risks related to significant decreases and increases in interest rates resulting in the prepayment of principal from the underlying mortgages, either earlier or later than originally anticipated. As of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, approximately 60.1% and 57.3%, respectively, of the Company’s CMO holdings, such as interest-only or principal-only strips, were invested in those types of CMOs that are subject to more prepayment and extension risk than traditional CMOs.

Public corporate fixed maturity securities are distinguished from private corporate fixed maturity securities based upon the manner in which they are transacted. Public corporate fixed maturity securities are issued initially through market intermediaries on a registered basis or pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and are traded on the secondary market through brokers acting as principal. Private corporate fixed maturity securities are originally issued by borrowers directly to investors pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, and are traded in the secondary market directly with counterparties, either without the participation of a broker or in agency transactions.

Repurchase Agreements

The Company engages in dollar repurchase agreements with mortgage-backed securities ("dollar rolls") and repurchase agreements with other collateral types to increase its return on investments and improve liquidity. Such arrangements meet the requirements to be accounted for as financing arrangements. The Company also enters into reverse repurchase agreements. These transactions involve a purchase of securities and an agreement to sell substantially the same securities as those purchased. As of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company did not have any securities pledged in dollar rolls, repurchase agreement transactions or reverse repurchase agreements.

Securities Lending

The Company engages in securities lending whereby certain securities from its portfolio are loaned to other institutions through a lending agent for short periods of time. The Company has the right to approve any institution with whom the lending agent transacts on its behalf. Initial collateral, primarily cash, is required at a rate of 102% of the market value of the loaned securities. The lending agent retains the collateral and invests it in short-term liquid assets on behalf of the Company. The market value of the loaned securities is monitored on a daily basis with additional collateral obtained or refunded as the market value of the loaned securities fluctuates. The lending agent indemnifies the Company against losses resulting from the failure of a counterparty to return securities pledged where collateral is insufficient to cover the loss. As of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the fair value of loaned securities was $124.4 and $174.9, respectively, and is included in Securities pledged on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, collateral retained by the lending agent and invested in short-term liquid assets on the Company's behalf was $129.5 and $182.0, respectively, and is recorded in Short-term investments under securities loan agreements, including collateral delivered on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, liabilities to return collateral of $129.5 and $182.0, respectively, is included in Payables under securities loan agreements, including collateral held on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table sets forth borrowings under securities lending transactions by class of collateral pledged for the dates indicated:



	June 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
U.S. Treasuries	$	—	$	55.7
U.S. corporate public securities	60.3		68.8
Foreign corporate public securities and foreign governments	69.2		57.5
Payables under securities loan agreements	$	129.5	$	182.0

The Company's securities lending activities are conducted on an overnight basis, and all securities loaned can be recalled at any time. The Company does not offset assets and liabilities associated with its securities lending program.

Variable Interest Entities ("VIEs")

The Company holds certain VIEs for investment purposes. VIEs may be in the form of private placement securities, structured securities, securitization transactions or limited partnerships. The Company has reviewed each of its holdings and determined that consolidation of these investments in the Company’s financial statements is not required, as the Company is not the primary beneficiary, because the Company does not have both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation or right to potentially significant losses or benefits, for any of its investments in VIEs. The Company did not provide any non-contractual financial support and its carrying value represents the Company’s exposure to loss. The carrying value of the equity tranches of the Collateralized loan obligations ("CLOs") of $0.6 and $0.7 as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, is included in Limited partnerships/corporations on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Income and losses recognized on these investments are reported in Net investment income in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Securitizations

The Company invests in various tranches of securitization entities, including Residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS"), Commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS") and asset-backed securities ("ABS"). Through its investments, the Company is not obligated to provide any financial or other support to these entities. Each of the RMBS, CMBS and ABS entities are thinly capitalized by design and considered VIEs. The Company's involvement with these entities is limited to that of a passive investor. The Company has no unilateral right to appoint or remove the servicer, special servicer or investment manager, which are generally viewed to have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the securitization entities' economic performance, in any of these entities, nor does the Company function in any of these roles. The Company, through its investments or other arrangements, does not have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the entity. Therefore, the Company is not the primary beneficiary and will not consolidate any of the RMBS, CMBS and ABS entities in which it holds investments. These investments are accounted for as investments available-for-sale as described in the Fair Value Measurements Note to these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and unrealized capital gains (losses) on these securities are recorded directly in AOCI, except for certain RMBS that are accounted for under the FVO for which changes in fair value are reflected in Other net realized gains (losses) in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss on these structured investments is limited to the amount of its investment.

Derivatives

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company enters into the following types of derivatives:

Interest rate caps: The Company uses interest rate cap contracts to hedge the interest rate exposure arising from duration mismatches between assets and liabilities. Interest rate caps are also used to hedge interest rate exposure if rates rise above a specified level. Such increases in rates will require the Company to incur additional expenses. The future payout from the interest rate caps fund this increased exposure. The Company pays an upfront premium to purchase these caps. The Company utilizes these contracts in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Interest rate swaps: 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/or liabilities. Interest rate swaps are also used to hedge the interest rate risk associated with the value of assets it owns or in an anticipation of acquiring them. Using interest rate swaps, the Company agrees with another party to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed rate and floating rate interest payments, calculated by reference to an agreed upon notional principal amount. These transactions are entered into pursuant to master agreements that provide for a single net payment to be made to/from the counterparty at each due date. The Company utilizes these contracts in qualifying hedging relationships as well as non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Foreign exchange swaps: The Company uses foreign exchange or currency swaps to reduce the risk of change in the value, yield or cash flows associated with certain foreign denominated invested assets. Foreign exchange swaps represent contracts that require the exchange of foreign currency cash flows against U.S. dollar cash flows at regular periods, typically quarterly or semi-annually. The Company utilizes these contracts in qualifying hedging relationships as well as non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Credit default swaps: Credit default swaps are used to reduce credit loss exposure with respect to certain assets that the Company owns or to assume credit exposure on certain assets that the Company does not own. Payments are made to, or received from, the counterparty at specified intervals. In the event of a default on the underlying credit exposure, the Company will either receive a payment (purchased credit protection) or will be required to make a payment (sold credit protection) equal to the par minus recovery value of the swap contract. The Company utilizes these contracts in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Forwards: The Company uses forward contracts to hedge certain invested assets against movement in interest rates, particularly mortgage rates. The Company uses To Be Announced mortgage-backed securities as an economic hedge against rate movements. The Company utilizes forward contracts in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Futures: Futures contracts are used to hedge against a decrease in certain equity indices. Such decreases may result in a decrease in variable annuity account values which would increase the possibility of the Company incurring an expense for guaranteed benefits in excess of account values. The Company also uses futures contracts as a hedge against an increase in certain equity indices. Such increases may result in increased payments to the holders of the fixed index annuity ("FIA") contracts. The Company also uses interest rate futures contracts to hedge its exposure to market risks due to changes in interest rates. The Company enters into exchange traded futures with regulated futures commissions that are members of the exchange. The Company also posts initial and variation margins, with the exchange, on a daily basis. The Company utilizes exchange-traded futures in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Swaptions: A swaption is an option to enter into a swap with a forward starting effective date. The Company uses swaptions to hedge the interest rate exposure associated with the minimum crediting rate and book value guarantees embedded in the retirement products that the Company offers. Increases in interest rates will generate losses on assets that are backing such liabilities. In certain instances, the Company locks in the economic impact of existing purchased swaptions by entering into offsetting written swaptions. Swaptions are also used to hedge against an increase in the interest rate benchmarked crediting strategies within FIA contracts. Such increases may result in increased payments to contract holders of FIA contracts and the interest rate swaptions offset this increased exposure. The Company pays a premium when it purchases the swaption. The Company utilizes these contracts in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Managed custody guarantees ("MCGs"): The Company issues certain credited rate guarantees on variable fixed income portfolios that represent stand-alone derivatives. The market value is partially determined by, among other things, levels of or changes in interest rates, prepayment rates and credit ratings/spreads.

Embedded derivatives: The Company also invests in certain fixed maturity instruments and has issued certain annuity products that contain embedded derivatives whose market value is at least partially determined by, among other things, levels of or changes in domestic and/or foreign interest rates (short-term or long-term), exchange rates, prepayment rates, equity rates, or credit ratings/spreads. In addition, the Company has entered into coinsurance with funds withheld arrangements, which contain embedded derivatives.

The Company's use of derivatives is limited mainly to economic hedging to reduce the Company's exposure to cash flow variability of assets and liabilities, interest rate risk, credit risk, exchange rate risk and market risk. It is the Company's policy not to offset amounts recognized for derivative instruments and amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral or the obligation to return cash collateral arising from derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty under a master netting arrangement, which provides the Company with the legal right of offset.

Based on the notional amounts, a substantial portion of the Company’s derivative positions was not designated or did not qualify for hedge accounting as part of a hedging relationship as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. The Company utilizes derivative contracts mainly to hedge exposure to variability in cash flows, interest rate risk, credit risk, foreign exchange risk and equity market risk. The majority of derivatives used by the Company are designated as product hedges, which hedge the exposure arising from insurance liabilities or guarantees embedded in the contracts the Company offers through various product lines. These derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting as they do not meet the criteria of being “highly effective” as outlined in ASC Topic 815, but do provide an economic hedge, which is in line with the Company’s risk management objectives. The Company also uses derivatives contracts to hedge its exposure to various risks associated with the investment portfolio. The Company does not seek hedge accounting treatment for certain of these derivatives as they generally do not qualify for hedge accounting due to the criteria required under the portfolio hedging rules outlined in ASC Topic 815. The Company also uses credit default swaps coupled with other investments in order to produce the investment characteristics of otherwise permissible investments that do not qualify as effective accounting hedges under ASC Topic 815.

Fair Value Measurement

Valuation of Financial Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at estimated fair value on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The exit price and the transaction (or entry) price will be the same at initial recognition in many circumstances. However, in certain cases, the transaction price may not represent fair value. The fair value of a liability is based on the amount that would be paid to transfer a liability to a third-party with an equal credit standing. Fair value is required to be a market-based measurement that is determined based on a hypothetical transaction at the measurement date, from a market participant's perspective. The Company considers three broad valuation techniques when a quoted price is unavailable: (i) the market approach, (ii) the income approach and (iii) the cost approach. The Company determines the most appropriate valuation technique to use, given the instrument being measured and the availability of sufficient inputs. The Company prioritizes the inputs to fair valuation techniques and allows for the use of unobservable inputs to the extent that observable inputs are not available.

The Company utilizes a number of valuation methodologies to determine the fair values of its financial assets and liabilities in conformity with the concepts of "exit price" and the fair value hierarchy as prescribed in ASC Topic 820. Valuations are obtained from third-party commercial pricing services, brokers and industry-standard, vendor-provided software that models the value based on market observable inputs. The valuations obtained from third-party commercial pricing services are non-binding. The Company reviews the assumptions and inputs used by third-party commercial pricing services for each reporting period in order to determine an appropriate fair value hierarchy level. The documentation and analysis obtained from third-party commercial pricing services are reviewed by the Company, including in-depth validation procedures confirming the observability of inputs. The valuations are reviewed and validated monthly through the internal valuation committee price variance review, comparisons to internal pricing models, back testing to recent trades or monitoring of trading volumes.

Fixed maturities: The fair values for actively traded marketable bonds are determined based upon the quoted market prices and are classified as Level 1 assets. Assets in this category primarily include certain U.S. Treasury securities.

For fixed maturities classified as Level 2 assets, fair values are determined using a matrix-based market approach, based on prices obtained from third-party commercial pricing services and the Company’s matrix and analytics-based pricing models, which in each case incorporate a variety of market observable information as valuation inputs. The market observable inputs used for these fair value measurements, by fixed maturity asset class, are as follows:

U.S. Treasuries: Fair value is determined using third-party commercial pricing services, with the primary inputs being stripped interest and principal U.S. Treasury yield curves that represent a U.S. Treasury zero-coupon curve.

U.S. Government agencies and authorities, State, municipalities and political subdivisions: Fair value is determined using third-party commercial pricing services, with the primary inputs being U.S. Treasury yield curves, trades of comparable securities, credit spreads off benchmark yields, and issuer ratings.

U.S. corporate public securities, Foreign corporate public securities, and foreign governments: Fair value is determined using third-party commercial pricing services, with the primary inputs being benchmark yields, trades of comparable securities, issuer ratings, bids, and credit spreads off benchmark yields.

U.S. corporate private securities and Foreign corporate private securities: Fair values are determined using a matrix and analytics-based pricing model. The model incorporates the current level of risk-free interest rates, current corporate credit spreads, credit quality of the issuer and cash flow characteristics of the security. The model also considers a liquidity spread, the value of any collateral, the capital structure of the issuer, the presence of guarantees, and prices and quotes for comparably rated publicly traded securities.

RMBS, CMBS and ABS: Fair value is determined using third-party commercial pricing services, with the primary inputs being credit spreads off benchmark yields, prepayment speed assumptions, current and forecasted loss severity, debt service coverage ratios, collateral type, payment priority within tranche, and the vintage of the loans underlying the security.

Transfers in and out of Level 1 and 2

There were no securities transferred between Level 1 and Level 2 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014. The Company’s policy is to recognize transfers in and transfers out as of the beginning of the reporting period.

Level 3 Financial Instruments

The fair values of certain assets and liabilities are determined using prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement (i.e., Level 3 as defined by ASC Topic 820), including but not limited to liquidity spreads for investments within markets deemed not currently active. These valuations, whether derived internally or obtained from a third-party, use critical assumptions that are not widely available to estimate market participant expectations in valuing the asset or liability. In addition, the Company has determined, for certain financial instruments, an active market is such a significant input to determine fair value that the presence of an inactive market may lead to classification in Level 3. In light of the methodologies employed to obtain the fair values of financial assets and liabilities classified as Level 3, additional information is presented below.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for its derivative instruments and hedging activities.

+ References + Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for investments in financial assets, including marketable securities (debt and equity securities with readily determinable fair values), investments accounted for under the equity method and cost method, securities borrowed and loaned, and repurchase and resale agreements. For marketable securities, the disclosure may include the entity's accounting treatment for transfers between investment categories and how the fair values for such securities are determined. Also, for all investments, an entity may describe its policy for assessing, recognizing and measuring impairment of the investment.

+ References + Details