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Derivative Instruments
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Instruments
Derivative Instruments
 
The Company’s investment strategy allows for the use of derivative securities. The Company’s derivative instruments are recorded on its consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The fair values of those derivatives are based on quoted market prices. All realized and unrealized contract gains and losses are reflected in the Company’s results of operations. The Company utilizes exchange traded U.S. Treasury note, Eurodollar and other futures contracts and commodity futures to manage portfolio duration or replicate investment positions in its portfolios. Certain of the Company’s corporate bonds are managed in a global bond portfolio which incorporates the use of foreign currency forward contracts which are intended to provide an economic hedge against foreign currency movements on the portfolio’s non-U.S. Dollar denominated holdings. The Company routinely utilizes other foreign currency forward contracts, currency options, index futures contracts and other derivatives as part of its total return objective.
 
In addition, the Company purchases to-be-announced mortgage backed securities (“TBAs”) as part of its investment strategy. TBAs represent commitments to purchase a future issuance of agency mortgage backed securities. For the period between purchase of a TBA and issuance of the underlying security, the Company’s position is accounted for as a derivative. The Company purchases TBAs in both long and short positions to enhance investment performance and as part of its overall investment strategy. The Company did not hold any derivatives which were designated as hedging instruments at March 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013.
 
The following table summarizes information on the fair values and notional values of the Company’s derivative instruments. The fair value of TBAs is included in ‘fixed maturities available for sale, at fair value.’
 
 
Asset
Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
Net
Derivatives
 
Fair Value
 
Fair Value
 
Fair Value
 
Notional Value (1)
March 31, 2014
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Futures contracts
$
469

 
$
(769
)
 
$
(300
)
 
$
1,056,045

Foreign currency forward contracts
693

 
(1,565
)
 
(872
)
 
244,614

TBAs
216,548

 
(211,763
)
 
4,785

 
412,800

Other
1,349

 
(844
)
 
505

 
690,029

Total
$
219,059

 
$
(214,941
)
 
$
4,118

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2013
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Futures contracts
$
461

 
$
(110
)
 
$
351

 
$
475,967

Foreign currency forward contracts
5,023

 
(3,090
)
 
1,933

 
330,746

TBAs
33,455

 
(21,731
)
 
11,724

 
56,160

Other
920

 
(1,541
)
 
(621
)
 
347,916

Total
$
39,859

 
$
(26,472
)
 
$
13,387

 
 


_________________________________________________
(1)
Represents the absolute notional value of all outstanding contracts, consisting of long and short positions.

The Company’s derivative instruments are generally traded under master netting agreements, which establish terms that apply to all derivative transactions with a counterparty. In the event of a bankruptcy or other stipulated event of default, such agreements provide that the non-defaulting party may elect to terminate all outstanding derivative transactions, in which case all individual derivative positions (loss or gain) with a counterparty are closed out and netted and replaced with a single amount, usually referred to as the termination amount, which is expressed in a single currency. The resulting single net amount, where positive, is payable to the party “in-the-money” regardless of whether or not it is the defaulting party, unless the parties have agreed that only the non-defaulting party is entitled to receive a termination payment where the net amount is positive and is in its favor. Effectively, contractual close-out netting reduces derivatives credit exposure from gross to net exposure. At March 31, 2014, asset derivatives and liability derivatives of $147.7 million and $143.0 million, respectively, were subject to a master netting agreement, compared to $28.0 million and $14.6 million, respectively, at December 31, 2013. The remaining derivatives included in the table above were not subject to a master netting agreement.

The following table summarizes net realized gains (losses) recorded on the Company’s derivative instruments in the consolidated statements of income:
 
 
Three Months Ended
Derivatives not designated as
 
March 31,
hedging instruments
 
2014
 
2013
Futures contracts
 
$
(9,862
)
 
$
(829
)
Foreign currency forward contracts
 
(2,257
)
 
(725
)
TBAs
 
(37
)
 
541

Other
 
(612
)
 
635

Total
 
$
(12,768
)
 
$
(378
)