Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission File Number: 001-13958
THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  13-3317783
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, Connecticut 06155
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(860) 547-5000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
             
Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
As of October 27, 2010 there were outstanding 444,541,171 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the registrant.
 
 

 

 


 

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
             
Item   Description   Page  
   
 
       
           
   
 
       
1.          
   
 
       
        5  
   
 
       
        6  
   
 
       
        7  
   
 
       
        8  
   
 
       
        9  
   
 
       
        10  
   
 
       
        11  
   
 
       
2.       61  
   
 
       
3.       126  
   
 
       
4.       126  
   
 
       
           
   
 
       
1.       127  
   
 
       
1A.       127  
   
 
       
2.       130  
   
 
       
6.       130  
   
 
       
        131  
   
 
       
        132  
   
 
       
 Exhibit 15.01
 Exhibit 31.01
 Exhibit 31.02
 Exhibit 32.01
 Exhibit 32.02
 EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
 EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

 

2


Table of Contents

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain of the statements contained herein are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” and similar references to future periods.
Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding economic, competitive and legislative developments. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. They have been made based upon management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect upon The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). Future developments may not be in line with management’s expectations or have unanticipated effects. Actual results could differ materially from expectations, depending on the evolution of various factors, including those set forth in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report, Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors of The Hartford’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and June 30, 2010, as well as in Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors of this Form 10-Q. These important risks and uncertainties include:
 
risks and uncertainties related to the Company’s current operating environment, which reflects continued volatility in financial markets, constrained capital and credit markets and uncertainty about the strength of an economic recovery and the impact of U.S. and other governmental stimulus, budgetary and legislative initiatives, and whether management’s efforts to identify and address these risks will be timely and effective;
 
risks associated with our continued execution of steps to realign our business and reposition our investment portfolio, including the potential need to take other actions, such as divestitures;
 
market risks associated with our business, including changes in interest rates, credit spreads, equity prices and foreign exchange rates, as well as challenging or deteriorating conditions in key sectors such as the commercial real estate market, that have pressured our results and have continued to do so in 2010;
 
volatility in our earnings resulting from our adjustment of our risk management program to emphasize protection of statutory surplus;
 
the impact on our statutory capital of various factors, including many that are outside the Company’s control, which can in turn affect our credit and financial strength ratings, cost of capital, regulatory compliance and other aspects of our business and results;
 
risks to our business, financial position, prospects and results associated with negative rating actions or downgrades in the Company’s financial strength and credit ratings or negative rating actions or downgrades relating to our investments;
 
the potential for differing interpretations of the methodologies, estimations and assumptions that underlie the valuation of the Company’s financial instruments that could result in changes to investment valuations;
 
the subjective determinations that underlie the Company’s evaluation of other-than-temporary impairments on available-for-sale securities;
 
losses due to nonperformance or defaults by others;
 
the potential for further acceleration of deferred policy acquisition cost amortization;
 
the potential for further impairments of our goodwill or the potential for additional valuation allowances against deferred tax assets;
 
the possible occurrence of terrorist attacks and the Company’s ability to contain its exposure, including the effect of the absence or insufficiency of applicable terrorism legislation on coverage;
 
the difficulty in predicting the Company’s potential exposure for asbestos and environmental claims;
 
the possibility of a pandemic or other man-made disaster that may adversely affect our businesses and cost and availability of reinsurance;
 
weather and other natural physical events, including the severity and frequency of storms, hail, snowfall and other winter conditions, natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, as well as climate change, including effects on weather patterns, greenhouse gases, sea, land and air temperatures, sea levels, rain and snow;
 
the response of reinsurance companies under reinsurance contracts and the availability, pricing and adequacy of reinsurance to protect the Company against losses;
 
the possibility of unfavorable loss development;
 
actions by our competitors, many of which are larger or have greater financial resources than we do;

 

3


Table of Contents

 
the restrictions, oversight, costs and other consequences of being a savings and loan holding company, including from the supervision, regulation and examination by the Office of Thrift Supervision (the “OTS”), and in the future, as a result of the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), The Federal Reserve and the Office of the Controller of the Currency as regulator of Federal Trust Bank;
 
the potential effect of domestic and foreign regulatory developments, including those that could adversely impact the demand for the Company’s products, operating costs and required capital levels, including changes to statutory reserves and/or risk-based capital requirements related to secondary guarantees under universal life and variable annuity products;
 
the cost and other effects of increased regulation as a result of the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act, which will, among other effects, vest a newly created Financial Services Oversight Council with the power to designate “systemically important” institutions, require central clearing of, and/or impose new margin and capital requirements on, derivatives transactions, and may affect our ability as a savings and loan holding company to manage our general account by limiting or eliminating investments in certain private equity and hedge funds;
 
the Company’s ability to distribute its products through distribution channels, both current and future;
 
the uncertain effects of emerging claim and coverage issues;
 
the ability of the Company to declare and pay dividends is subject to limitations;
 
the Company’s ability to effectively price its property and casualty policies, including its ability to obtain regulatory consents to pricing actions or to non-renewal or withdrawal of certain product lines;
 
the Company’s ability to maintain the availability of its systems and safeguard the security of its data in the event of a disaster or other unanticipated events;
 
the risk that our framework for managing business risks may not be effective in mitigating risk and loss to us that could adversely affect our business;
 
the potential for difficulties arising from outsourcing relationships;
 
the impact of potential changes in federal or state tax laws, including changes affecting the availability of the separate account dividend received deduction;
 
the impact of potential changes in accounting principles and related financial reporting requirements;
 
the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and defend against claims of infringement;
 
unfavorable judicial or legislative developments; and
 
other factors described in such forward-looking statements.
Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this document speaks only as of the date of the filing of this Form 10-Q. Factors or events that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

 

4


Table of Contents

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  
Financial Statements
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
Hartford, Connecticut
We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2010, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 and statements of changes in equity and cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.
We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in equity, comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 23, 2010 (which report includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the Company’s change in its method of accounting and reporting for other-than-temporary impairments in 2009 and for the fair value measurement of financial instruments in 2008), we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2009 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Hartford, Connecticut
November 2, 2010

 

5


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(In millions, except for per share data)   2010     2009     2010     2009  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
Revenues
                               
Earned premiums
  $ 3,513     $ 3,499     $ 10,546     $ 10,920  
Fee income
    1,173       1,140       3,557       3,369  
Net investment income (loss):
                               
Securities available-for-sale and other
    1,083       1,049       3,296       2,990  
Equity securities, trading
    1,043       638       (905 )     2,437  
 
                       
Total net investment income
    2,126       1,687       2,391       5,427  
 
 
Net realized capital gains (losses):
                               
Total other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses
    (146 )     (760 )     (778 )     (1,546 )
OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income
    31       224       403       472  
 
                       
Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings
    (115 )     (536 )     (375 )     (1,074 )
Net realized capital losses, excluding net OTTI losses recognized in earnings
    (146 )     (683 )     (151 )     (742 )
 
                       
Total net realized capital losses
    (261 )     (1,219 )     (526 )     (1,816 )
 
                               
Other revenues
    122       123       360       361  
 
                       
Total revenues
    6,673       5,230       16,328       18,261  
 
 
Benefits, losses and expenses
                               
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses
    3,037       3,070       9,762       10,799  
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses — returns credited on international variable annuities
    1,043       638       (905 )     2,437  
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits
    438       687       2,027       3,620  
Insurance operating costs and other expenses
    1,105       1,174       3,461       3,472  
Interest expense
    128       118       380       357  
Goodwill impairment
                153       32  
 
                       
Total benefits, losses and expenses
    5,751       5,687       14,878       20,717  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    922       (457 )     1,450       (2,456 )
Income tax expense (benefit)
    256       (237 )     389       (1,012 )
 
                       
Net income (loss)
  $ 666     $ (220 )   $ 1,061     $ (1,444 )
 
                       
Preferred stock dividends and accretion of discount
    10       62       504       65  
 
                       
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
  $ 656     $ (282 )   $ 557     $ (1,509 )
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings (Loss) per common share
                               
Basic
  $ 1.48     $ (0.79 )   $ 1.30     $ (4.52 )
Diluted
  $ 1.34     $ (0.79 )   $ 1.21     $ (4.52 )
 
                       
Cash dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.05     $ 0.05     $ 0.15     $ 0.15  
 
                       
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

6


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
(In millions, except for share and per share data)   2010     2009  
    (Unaudited)  
Assets
               
Investments
               
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost of $78,484 and $76,015) (includes variable interest entity assets, at fair value, of $440 as of September 30, 2010)
  $ 79,736     $ 71,153  
Fixed maturities, at fair value using the fair value option (includes variable interest entity assets of $328 as of September 30, 2010)
    564        
Equity securities, trading, at fair value (cost of $33,674 and $33,070)
    32,495       32,321  
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (cost of $1,232 and $1,333)
    1,168       1,221  
Mortgage loans (net of allowances for loan losses of $164 and $366)
    4,684       5,938  
Policy loans, at outstanding balance
    2,180       2,174  
Limited partnerships and other alternative investments (includes variable interest entity assets of $14 as of September 30, 2010)
    1,819       1,790  
Other investments
    1,427       602  
Short-term investments
    9,517       10,357  
 
           
Total investments
    133,590       125,556  
Cash
    1,707       2,142  
Premiums receivable and agents’ balances, net
    3,370       3,404  
Reinsurance recoverables, net
    5,242       5,384  
Deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits
    9,386       10,686  
Deferred income taxes, net
    1,721       3,940  
Goodwill
    1,051       1,204  
Property and equipment, net
    1,143       1,026  
Other assets
    2,497       3,981  
Separate account assets
    154,219       150,394  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 313,926     $ 307,717  
 
           
 
               
Liabilities
               
Reserve for future policy benefits and unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
  $ 39,890     $ 39,631  
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable
    45,889       45,852  
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable — international variable annuities
    32,470       32,296  
Unearned premiums
    5,296       5,221  
Short-term debt
          343  
Long-term debt
    6,603       5,496  
Consumer notes
    384       1,136  
Other liabilities (includes variable interest entity liabilities of $405 as of September 30, 2010)
    8,266       9,454  
Separate account liabilities
    154,219       150,394  
 
           
Total liabilities
    293,017       289,823  
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9)
               
Equity
               
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value — 50,000,000 shares authorized, 575,000 and 3,400,000 shares issued, liquidation preference $1,000 per share
    556       2,960  
Common stock, $0.01 par value — 1,500,000,000 shares authorized, 469,758,371 and 410,184,182 shares issued
    5       4  
Additional paid-in capital
    10,455       8,985  
Retained earnings
    11,488       11,164  
Treasury stock, at cost — 25,391,969 and 27,177,019 shares
    (1,789 )     (1,936 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
    194       (3,312 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    20,909       17,865  
Noncontrolling interest
          29  
 
           
Total equity
    20,909       17,894  
 
           
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 313,926     $ 307,717  
 
           
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

7


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
                 
    Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,  
(In millions, except for share data)   2010     2009  
    (Unaudited)  
Preferred Stock, at beginning of period
  $ 2,960     $  
Issuance of mandatory convertible preferred stock
    556        
Accretion of preferred stock discount on issuance to U.S. Treasury
          20  
Accelerated accretion of discount from redemption of preferred stock issued to U.S. Treasury
    440        
Issuance (redemption) of preferred stock to the U.S. Treasury
    (3,400 )     2,920  
 
           
Preferred Stock, at end of period
    556       2,940  
 
           
 
               
Common Stock
    5       4  
 
               
Additional Paid-in Capital, at beginning of period
    8,985       7,569  
Issuance of warrants to U.S. Treasury
          480  
Issuance of shares under discretionary equity issuance plan
          887  
Issuance of shares under public offering
    1,599        
Issuance of shares under incentive and stock compensation plans
    (123 )     (135 )
Reclassification of warrants from other liabilities to equity and extension of warrants’ term
          186  
Tax expense on employee stock options and awards
    (6 )     (11 )
 
           
Additional Paid-in Capital, at end of period
    10,455       8,976  
 
           
Retained Earnings, at beginning of period, before cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax
    11,164       11,336  
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax
    26        
 
           
Retained Earnings, at beginning of period, as adjusted
    11,190       11,336  
Net income (loss)
    1,061       (1,444 )
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of tax
    (194 )     912  
Accretion of preferred stock discount on issuance to U.S. Treasury
          (20 )
Accelerated accretion of discount from redemption of preferred stock issued to U.S. Treasury
    (440 )      
Dividends on preferred stock
    (64 )     (45 )
Dividends declared on common stock
    (65 )     (50 )
 
           
Retained Earnings, at end of period
    11,488       10,689  
 
           
 
               
Treasury Stock, at Cost, at beginning of period
    (1,936 )     (2,120 )
Issuance of shares under incentive and stock compensation plans from treasury stock
    150       187  
Return of shares under incentive and stock compensation plans to treasury stock
    (3 )     (3 )
 
           
Treasury Stock, at Cost, at end of period
    (1,789 )     (1,936 )
 
           
 
               
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax, at beginning of period
    (3,312 )     (7,520 )
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of tax
    194       (912 )
Total other comprehensive income
    3,312       5,215  
 
           
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, at end of period
    194       (3,217 )
 
           
Total Stockholders’ Equity
    20,909       17,456  
 
           
 
               
Noncontrolling Interest, at beginning of period (Note 13)
    29       92  
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership
          (61 )
Noncontrolling loss
          (6 )
Recognition of noncontrolling interest in other liabilities
    (29 )      
 
           
Noncontrolling Interest, at end of period
          25  
 
           
Total Equity
  $ 20,909     $ 17,481  
 
           
 
               
Preferred Shares Outstanding, at beginning of period (in thousands)
    3,400       6,048  
Conversion of preferred to common shares
          (6,048 )
Issuance (redemption) of shares issued to the U.S. Treasury
    (3,400 )     3,400  
Issuance of mandatory convertible preferred shares
    575        
 
           
Preferred Shares Outstanding, at end of period
    575       3,400  
 
           
Common Shares Outstanding, at beginning of period (in thousands)
    383,007       300,579  
Treasury stock acquired
          (15 )
Conversion of preferred to common shares
          24,194  
Issuance of shares under discretionary equity issuance plan
          56,109  
Issuance of shares under public offering
    59,590        
Issuance of shares under incentive and stock compensation plans
    1,901       2,353  
Return of shares under incentive and stock compensation plans to treasury stock
    (132 )     (190 )
 
           
Common Shares Outstanding, at end of period
    444,366       383,030  
 
           
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

8


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
(In millions)   (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
Comprehensive Income
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 666     $ (220 )   $ 1,061     $ (1,444 )
 
                       
Other comprehensive income (loss)
                               
Change in net unrealized gain / loss on securities
    1,064       3,232       2,642       5,572  
Change in OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income
    44       (51 )     97       (176 )
Change in net gain (loss) on cash-flow hedging instruments
    79       99       308       (269 )
Change in foreign currency translation adjustments
    164       102       205       57  
Amortization of prior service cost and actuarial net losses included in net periodic benefit costs
    28       11       60       31  
 
                       
Total other comprehensive income
    1,379       3,393       3,312       5,215  
 
                       
Total comprehensive income
  $ 2,045     $ 3,173     $ 4,373     $ 3,771  
 
                       
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

9


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                 
    Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,  
(In millions)   2010     2009  
    (Unaudited)  
Operating Activities
               
Net income (loss)
  $ 1,061     $ (1,444 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities
               
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits
    2,027       3,620  
Additions to deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits
    (1,999 )     (2,155 )
Change in reserve for future policy benefits and unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and unearned premiums
    (17 )     903  
Change in reinsurance recoverables
    247       152  
Change in receivables and other assets
    (29 )     212  
Change in payables and accruals
    (92 )     (600 )
Change in accrued and deferred income taxes
    (5 )     (252 )
Net realized capital losses
    526       1,816  
Net receipts from investment contracts related to policyholder funds — international variable annuities
    174       2,691  
Net increase in equity securities, trading
    (174 )     (2,694 )
Depreciation and amortization
    449       360  
Goodwill impairment
    153       32  
Other operating activities, net
    (76 )     104  
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    2,245       2,745  
Investing Activities
               
Proceeds from the sale/maturity/prepayment of:
               
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
    37,320       41,749  
Equity securities, available-for-sale
    207       598  
Mortgage loans
    1,517       480  
Partnerships
    312       405  
Payments for the purchase of:
               
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
    (39,485 )     (42,990 )
Equity securities, available-for-sale
    (135 )     (284 )
Mortgage loans
    (273 )     (249 )
Partnerships
    (226 )     (228 )
Proceeds from business sold
    130       7  
Derivatives, net
    504       (298 )
Change in policy loans, net
    (6 )     (1 )
Change in payables for collateral under securities lending, net
    (46 )     (2,771 )
Other investing activities, net
    (105 )     (239 )
 
           
Net cash used for investing activities
    (286 )     (3,821 )
Financing Activities
               
Deposits and other additions to investment and universal life-type contracts
    9,458       11,158  
Withdrawals and other deductions from investment and universal life-type contracts
    (16,426 )     (18,528 )
Net transfers from separate accounts related to investment and universal life-type contracts
    5,998       5,418  
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
    1,090        
Repayments at maturity for long-term debt and payments on capital lease obligations
    (343 )     (24 )
Change in commercial paper
          (375 )
Repayments at maturity or settlement of consumer notes
    (752 )     (17 )
Net proceeds from issuance of mandatory convertible preferred stock
    556        
Net proceeds from issuance of common shares under public offering
    1,600        
Redemption of preferred stock issued to the U.S. Treasury
    (3,400 )      
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock and warrants to U.S. Treasury
          3,400  
Net proceeds from issuance of common shares under discretionary equity issuance plan
          887  
Proceeds from net issuance of shares under incentive and stock compensation plans and excess tax benefit
    17       18  
Dividends paid on preferred stock
    (75 )     (31 )
Dividends paid on common stock
    (62 )     (129 )
Changes in bank deposits and payments on bank advances
    (56 )     (85 )
 
           
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
    (2,395 )     1,692  
Foreign exchange rate effect on cash
    1       (10 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash
    (435 )     606  
Cash — beginning of period
    2,142       1,811  
 
           
Cash — end of period
  $ 1,707     $ 2,417  
 
           
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
               
Income taxes paid (received)
  $ 249     $ (392 )
Interest paid
  $ 324     $ 303  
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

10


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollar amounts in millions, except for per share data, unless otherwise stated)
(Unaudited)
1. Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. is a financial holding company for a group of subsidiaries that provide investment products and life and property and casualty insurance to both individual and business customers in the United States (collectively, “The Hartford” or the “Company”). Also, The Hartford continues to administer business previously sold in Japan and the U.K.
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which differ materially from the accounting practices prescribed by various insurance regulatory authorities.
The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes as of September 30, 2010, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are unaudited. These financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report. The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
Consolidation
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., companies in which the Company directly or indirectly has a controlling financial interest and those variable interest entities in which the Company is required to consolidate. Entities in which the Company has significant influence over the operating and financing decisions but are not required to consolidate are reported using the equity method. Material intercompany transactions and balances between The Hartford and its subsidiaries and affiliates have been eliminated. For further discussions on variable interest entities see Note 5 and Note 13.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period financial information to conform to the current period classifications.
Use of Estimates
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 the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The most significant estimates include those used in determining property and casualty reserves, net of reinsurance; estimated gross profits used in the valuation and amortization of assets and liabilities associated with variable annuity and other universal life-type contracts; evaluation of other-than-temporary impairments on available-for-sale securities and valuation allowances on investments; living benefits required to be fair valued; goodwill impairment; valuation of investments and derivative instruments; pension and other postretirement benefit obligations; valuation allowance on deferred tax assets; and contingencies relating to corporate litigation and regulatory matters. Certain of these estimates are particularly sensitive to market conditions, and deterioration and/or volatility in the worldwide debt or equity markets could have a material impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Significant Accounting Policies
For a description of significant accounting policies, see Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report, which should be read in conjunction with these accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

11


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
1. Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies (continued)
Adoption of New Accounting Standards
Variable Interest Entities
In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) updated the guidance which amends the consolidation requirements applicable to variable interest entities (“VIE”). Under this new guidance, an entity would consolidate a VIE when the entity has both (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The FASB also issued an amendment to this guidance in February 2010 which defers application of this guidance to certain entities that apply specialized accounting guidance for investment companies. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2010. As a result of adoption, in addition to those VIEs the Company consolidates under the previous guidance, the Company consolidated a Company sponsored Collateralized Debt Obligation (“CDO”), electing the fair value option, and a Company sponsored Collateralized Loan Obligation, at carrying values carried forward as if the Company had been the primary beneficiary from the date the Company entered into the VIE arrangement. The impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as a result of adopting this new guidance was an increase in assets of $432, an increase in liabilities of $406, and an increase in January 1, 2010 retained earnings, net of tax, of $26. The Company has investments in mutual funds, limited partnerships and other alternative investments, including hedge funds, mortgage and real estate funds, mezzanine debt funds, and private equity and other funds which may be VIEs. The accounting for these investments will remain unchanged as they fall within the scope of the deferral of this new consolidation guidance. See Note 5 for further discussion.
Embedded Credit Derivatives
In March 2010, the FASB issued guidance clarifying the scope exception for certain credit derivatives embedded within structured securities which may result in bifurcation of these credit derivatives. Embedded credit derivatives resulting only from subordination of one financial instrument to another continue to qualify for the exemption. As a result, investments with an embedded credit derivative in a form other than the above mentioned subordination may need to be separately accounted for as an embedded credit derivative resulting in recognition of the change in the fair value of the embedded credit derivative in current period earnings. Upon adoption, an entity may elect the fair value option prospectively, with changes in fair value of the investment in its entirety recognized in earnings, rather than bifurcate the embedded credit derivative. The guidance is effective, on a prospective basis only, for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The Company adopted this guidance on July 1, 2010 and identified securities with an amortized cost and fair value of $971 and $639, respectively, which were impacted by the scope of this standard. Upon adoption, the Company elected the fair value option for securities having an amortized cost and fair value of $447 and $214, respectively. For further discussion of fair value option, see Note 4. For the remainder of securities that were impacted by the scope of this standard, upon adoption, the embedded credit derivatives were bifurcated but are reported with the host instrument in the consolidated balance sheets. As of July 1, 2010, these securities had an amortized cost and fair value of $524 and $425, respectively, with an associated embedded derivative notional value of $525. For further discussion of embedded derivatives, see Note 5. The adoption, on July 1, 2010 resulted in the reclassification of $194, after-tax and deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”), net unrealized losses from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings, including $211 of unrealized capital losses and $17 of unrealized capital gains.
Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards
Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts
In October 2010, the FASB issued guidance clarifying the definition of acquisition costs that are eligible for deferral. Acquisition costs are to include only those costs that are directly related to the successful acquisition or renewal of insurance contracts; incremental direct costs of contract acquisition that are incurred in transactions with either independent third parties or employees; and advertising costs meeting the capitalization criteria for direct-response advertising.
This guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, and interim periods within those years. This guidance may be applied prospectively upon the date of adoption, with retrospective application permitted, but not required. Early adoption is permitted.
The Company will adopt this guidance on January 1, 2012. The Company has not yet determined if it will apply the guidance on a prospective or retrospective basis or the effect of the adoption on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. If retrospective application is elected, the adoption could have a material impact on stockholders’ equity. If prospective application is elected, there could be a material impact to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as non-deferrable acquisition costs will increase while amortization would continue on the existing DAC balance.

 

12


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
1. Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies (continued)
Income Taxes
A reconciliation of the tax provision at the U.S. Federal statutory rate to the provision for income taxes is as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Tax expense (benefit) at U.S. Federal statutory rate
  $ 323     $ (160 )   $ 508     $ (860 )
Tax-exempt interest
    (38 )     (36 )     (116 )     (111 )
Dividends received deduction
    (34 )     (41 )     (115 )     (120 )
Investment valuation allowance
                86        
Nondeductible costs associated with warrants
                      78  
Other
    5             26       1  
 
                       
 
                               
Income tax expense (benefit)
  $ 256     $ (237 )   $ 389     $ (1,012 )
 
                       
The separate account dividends received deduction (“DRD”) is estimated for the current year using information from the prior year-end, adjusted for current year equity market performance and other appropriate factors, including estimated levels of corporate dividend payments and level of policy owner equity account balances. The actual current year DRD can vary from estimates based on, but not limited to, changes in eligible dividends received by the mutual funds, amounts of distribution from these mutual funds, amounts of short-term capital gains at the mutual fund level and the Company’s taxable income before the DRD. The Company evaluates its DRD computations on a quarterly basis.
The Company’s unrecognized tax benefits were unchanged during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, remaining at $48 as of September 30, 2010. This entire amount, if it were recognized, would affect the effective tax rate for the applicable periods.
The Company’s federal income tax returns are routinely audited by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). Audits have been concluded for all years through 2006. The audit of 2007 and 2008 commenced in the second quarter of 2010 and the audit of 2009 commenced in the third quarter of 2010. In addition, the Company is working with the IRS on a possible settlement of a DRD issue related to prior periods which, if settled, may result in the booking of tax benefits. Such benefits are not expected to be material to the statement of operations.
The Company’s net deferred tax asset as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 includes a net deferred tax liability of $1.4 billion and $849, respectively, for the Company’s subsidiary in Japan.
The Company has recorded a deferred tax asset valuation allowance that is adequate to reduce the total deferred tax asset to an amount that will more likely than not be realized. The deferred tax asset valuation allowance was $174 as of September 30, 2010 and was $86 as of December 31, 2009. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, management considered future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards, and taxable income in prior carry back years, as well as tax planning strategies that include holding debt securities with market value losses until recovery, selling appreciated securities to offset capital losses, and sales of certain corporate assets, including subsidiaries. Such tax planning strategies are viewed by management as prudent and feasible and will be implemented if necessary to realize the deferred tax asset. An increase in interest rates can adversely impact the Company’s tax planning strategies and in particular the Company’s ability to utilize tax benefits to offset certain previously recognized realized capital losses.
Also, for the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company incurred a charge of $19 related to a decrease in deferred tax assets as a result of recent federal legislation that will reduce the tax deduction available to the Company related to retiree health care costs beginning in 2013.

 

13


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
2. Earnings (Loss) Per Share
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) and shares used in calculating basic earnings (loss) per common share to those used in calculating diluted earnings (loss) per common share.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(In millions, except for per share data)   2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
                               
Income (loss)
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 666     $ (220 )   $ 1,061     $ (1,444 )
Less: Preferred stock dividends and accretion of discount
    10       62       504       65  
 
                       
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
  $ 656     $ (282 )   $ 557     $ (1,509 )
 
                       
 
                               
Common shares
                               
Basic
                               
Weighted average common shares outstanding
    444.1       356.1       427.2       334.1  
 
                               
Diluted
                               
Warrants
    29.0             32.6        
Stock compensation plans
    1.4             1.3        
Mandatory convertible preferred shares
    20.8                    
 
                       
Weighted average shares outstanding and dilutive potential common shares
    495.3       356.1       461.1       334.1  
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings (loss) per common share
                               
Basic
  $ 1.48     $ (0.79 )   $ 1.30     $ (4.52 )
Diluted
  $ 1.34     $ (0.79 )   $ 1.21     $ (4.52 )
On March 23, 2010, The Hartford issued 23 million depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in The Hartford’s 7.25% mandatory convertible preferred stock, Series F. These shares and the related dividend adjustment are included in diluted earnings per share, if dilutive, using the if converted method. For additional information on the mandatory convertible preferred stock see Note 13.
As a result of the net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2009, the Company is required to use basic weighted average common shares outstanding in the calculation of the three months ended September 30, 2009 diluted loss per share, since the inclusion of shares for warrants of 25.3 million and stock compensation plans of 1.1 million would have been antidilutive to the earnings per share calculation. In the absence of the net loss, weighted average common shares outstanding and dilutive potential common shares would have totaled 382.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009.
As a result of the net loss in the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company is required to use basic weighted average common shares outstanding in the calculation of the nine months ended September 30, 2009 diluted loss per share, since the inclusion of shares for warrants of 8.7 million and stock compensation plans of 0.8 million would have been antidilutive to the earnings per share calculation. In the absence of the net loss, weighted average common shares outstanding and dilutive potential common shares would have totaled 343.6 million.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, 14.9 million shares for mandatory convertible preferred shares, along with the related dividend adjustment, would have been antidilutive to the earnings per share calculation. Assuming the impact of the mandatory convertible preferred shares was not antidilutive, weighted average common shares outstanding and dilutive potential common shares would have totaled 476.0 million.

 

14


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
3. Segment Information
Effective for third quarter 2010 reporting, The Hartford made changes to its reporting segments to reflect the manner in which the Company is currently organized for purposes of making operating decisions and assessing performance. Accordingly, segment data for prior reporting periods has been adjusted to reflect the new segment reporting. As a result, the Company created three customer focused divisions, Commercial Markets, Consumer Markets and Wealth Management, conducting business principally in seven reporting segments.
The following discussion describes the significant changes to the reporting segments:
The Commercial Markets division consists of the reporting segments of Property & Casualty Commercial and Group Benefits. The Property & Casualty Commercial reporting segment includes the former Small Commercial, Middle Market and Specialty Commercial reporting segments. Group Benefits is now included in the Commercial Markets division and is otherwise unchanged from June 30, 2010.
The Consumer Markets division and reporting segment includes the former Personal Lines reporting segment.
The Wealth Management division consists of the following reporting segments: Global Annuity, Life Insurance, Retirement Plans and Mutual Funds. Global Annuity includes the former Global Annuity - U.S. and Global Annuity — International reporting segments, as well as institutional investment products (“IIP”) which was within the former Institutional Solutions Group (“Institutional”) reporting segment. Life Insurance includes the former Individual Life reporting segment and private placement life insurance (“PPLI”) operations formerly within Institutional and Life Other. The former Retirement segment is now reported as two separate segments: Retirement Plans and Mutual Funds.
Corporate and Other includes Property & Casualty Other Operations and the former Life Other, excluding the PPLI operations now included in Life Insurance.
Certain inter-segment arrangements have been terminated retrospectively whereby the former Specialty Commercial reporting segment was reimbursing the former Personal Lines, Small Commercial and Middle Market reporting segments for certain losses incurred from uncollectible reinsurance and under certain liability claims.
As a result of this reorganization, the Company’s seven reporting segments, as well as the Corporate and Other category, are as follows:
Commercial Markets
Property & Casualty Commercial
Property & Casualty Commercial provides workers’ compensation, property, automobile, marine, livestock, liability and umbrella coverages primarily throughout the United States (“U.S.”), along with a variety of customized insurance products and risk management services including professional liability, fidelity, surety, specialty casualty coverages and third-party administrator services.
Group Benefits
Group Benefits provides employers, associations, affinity groups and financial institutions with group life, accident and disability coverage, along with other products and services, including voluntary benefits, and group retiree health.
Consumer Markets
Consumer Markets provides standard automobile, homeowners and home-based business coverages to individuals across the U.S., including a special program designed exclusively for members of AARP. Consumer Markets also operates a member contact center for health insurance products offered through the AARP Health program.
Wealth Management
Global Annuity
Global Annuity offers individual variable, fixed market value adjusted (“fixed MVA”)and single premium immediate annuities in the U.S., a range of products to institutional investors, including but not limited to, stable value contracts and institutional annuities, and administers investments, retirement savings and other insurance and savings products to individuals and groups outside the U.S., primarily in Japan and Europe.
Life Insurance
Life Insurance sells a variety of life insurance products, including variable universal life, universal life, and term life, as well as variable PPLI owned by corporations and high net worth individuals.

 

15


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
3. Segment Information (continued)
Retirement Plans
Retirement Plans provides products and services to corporations pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and products and services to municipalities and not-for-profit organizations under Sections 457 and 403(b) of the Code, collectively referred to as government plans.
Mutual Funds
Mutual Funds offers retail mutual funds, investment-only mutual funds and college savings plans under Section 529 of the Code (collectively referred to as non-proprietary) and proprietary mutual funds.
Corporate and Other
The Hartford includes in Corporate and Other the Company’s debt financing and related interest expense, as well as other capital raising activities; banking operations; certain fee income and commission expenses associated with sales of non-proprietary products by broker-dealer subsidiaries; and certain purchase accounting adjustments and other charges not allocated to the segments. Also included in Corporate and Other is the Company’s management of certain property and casualty operations that have discontinued writing new business and substantially all of the Company’s asbestos and environmental exposures, collectively referred to as Other Operations.
Financial Measures and Other Segment Information
The following table presents net income (loss) for each reporting segment, as well as the Corporate and Other category.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Property & Casualty Commercial
  $ 306     $ 217     $ 782     $ 484  
Group Benefits
    46       65       145       148  
Consumer Markets
    70       15       113       55  
Global Annuity
    175       (320 )     141       (1,304 )
Life Insurance
    97       8       224       18  
Retirement Plans
    30       (34 )     38       (162 )
Mutual Funds
    18       11       67       17  
Corporate and Other
    (76 )     (182 )     (449 )     (700 )
 
                       
Net income (loss)
  $ 666     $ (220 )   $ 1,061     $ (1,444 )
 
                       

 

16


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
3. Segment Information (continued)
The following table presents revenues by product line for each reporting segment, as well as the Corporate and Other category.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Earned premiums, fees, and other considerations
                               
Property & Casualty Commercial
                               
Workers’ compensation
  $ 605     $ 556     $ 1,754     $ 1,706  
Property
    137       144       412       451  
Automobile
    149       159       453       497  
Package business
    281       277       842       842  
Liability
    129       149       405       477  
Fidelity and surety
    56       61       169       192  
Professional liability
    82       96       243       298  
 
                       
Total Property & Casualty Commercial
    1,439       1,442       4,278       4,463  
Group Benefits
                               
Group disability
    487       479       1,520       1,493  
Group life and accident
    513       528       1,539       1,600  
Other
    58       62       175       188  
 
                       
Total Group Benefits
    1,058       1,069       3,234       3,281  
Consumer Markets
                               
Automobile
    698       717       2,122       2,136  
Homeowners
    287       272       854       821  
 
                       
Total Consumer Markets [1]
    985       989       2,976       2,957  
Global Annuity
                               
Variable annuity
    629       555       1,855       1,634  
Fixed / MVA annuity
    21       10       43       24  
IIP
    4       38       21       333  
Other
    5       8       13       23  
 
                       
Total Global Annuity
    659       611       1,932       2,014  
Life Insurance
                               
Variable life
    113       123       315       396  
Universal life
    72       92       282       286  
Term / Other life
    12       11       36       35  
PPLI
    46       21       129       86  
 
                       
Total Life Insurance
    243       247       762       803  
Retirement Plans
                               
401(k)
    77       74       233       208  
Government plans
    12       10       32       29  
 
                       
Total Retirement Plans
    89       84       265       237  
Mutual Funds
                               
Non-Proprietary
    151       137       467       370  
Proprietary
    15             46        
 
                       
Total Mutual Funds
    166       137       513       370  
Corporate and Other
    47       60       143       164  
 
                       
Total earned premiums, fees, and other considerations
    4,686       4,639       14,103       14,289  
Net investment income (loss):
                               
Securities available-for-sale and other
    1,083       1,049       3,296       2,990  
Equity securities, trading
    1,043       638       (905 )     2,437  
 
                       
Total net investment income
    2,126       1,687       2,391       5,427  
Net realized capital losses
    (261 )     (1,219 )     (526 )     (1,816 )
Other revenues
    122       123       360       361  
 
                       
Total revenues
  $ 6,673     $ 5,230     $ 16,328     $ 18,261  
 
                       
     
[1]  
For both the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, AARP members accounted for earned premiums of $712. For both the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, AARP members accounted for earned premiums of $2.1 billion.

 

17


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4. Fair Value Measurements — Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits
The following financial instruments are carried at fair value in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements: fixed maturity and equity securities, available-for-sale (“AFS”), fixed maturities at fair value using fair value option (“FVO”), equity securities, trading, short-term investments, freestanding and embedded derivatives, separate account assets and certain other liabilities.
The following section and Note 4a apply the fair value hierarchy and disclosure requirements for the Company’s financial instruments that are carried at fair value. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs in the valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad Levels (Level 1, 2 or 3).
Level 1  
Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 1 securities include highly liquid U.S. Treasuries, money market funds and exchange traded equity securities, open-ended mutual funds reported in separate account assets and derivative securities, including futures and certain option contracts.
 
Level 2  
Observable inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, for the asset or liability or prices for similar assets and liabilities. Most fixed maturities and preferred stocks, including those reported in separate account assets, are model priced by vendors using observable inputs and are classified within Level 2. Also included in the Level 2 category are investment grade private placement securities and derivative instruments that are priced using models with significant observable market inputs, including interest rate, foreign currency and certain credit default swap contracts and have no significant unobservable market inputs.
 
Level 3  
Valuations that are derived from techniques in which one or more of the significant inputs are unobservable (including assumptions about risk). Level 3 securities include less liquid securities such as lower quality asset-backed securities (“ABS”), commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”), commercial real estate (“CRE”) CDOs, residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) primarily backed by below-prime loans and below investment grade private placement securities. Also included in Level 3 are guaranteed product embedded and reinsurance derivatives and other complex derivative securities, including customized guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (“GMWB”) hedging derivatives (see Note 4a for further information on GMWB product related financial instruments), equity derivatives, long dated derivatives, swaps with optionality, certain complex credit derivatives and certain other liabilities. Because Level 3 fair values, by their nature, contain one or more significant unobservable market inputs as there is little or no observable market for these assets and liabilities, considerable judgment is used to determine the Level 3 fair values. Level 3 fair values represent the Company’s best estimate of an amount that could be realized in a current market exchange absent actual market exchanges.
In many situations, inputs used to measure the fair value of an asset or liability position may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In these situations, the Company will determine the level in which the fair value falls based upon the lowest level input that is significant to the determination of the fair value. Transfers of securities among the levels occur at the beginning of the reporting period. Transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 were not material for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. In most cases, both observable (e.g., changes in interest rates) and unobservable (e.g., changes in risk assumptions) inputs are used in the determination of fair values that the Company has classified within Level 3. Consequently, these values and the related gains and losses are based upon both observable and unobservable inputs. The Company’s fixed maturities included in Level 3 are classified as such as they are primarily priced by independent brokers and/or within illiquid markets (i.e. below-prime RMBS and CRE CDOs).

 

18


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4. Fair Value Measurements — Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (continued)
These disclosures provide information as to the extent to which the Company uses fair value to measure financial instruments and information about the inputs used to value those financial instruments to allow users to assess the relative reliability of the measurements. The following tables present assets and (liabilities) carried at fair value by hierarchy level, excluding those related to the Company’s living benefits and associated hedging programs, which are reported in Note 4a.
                                 
    September 30, 2010  
            Quoted Prices              
            in Active     Significant     Significant  
            Markets for     Observable     Unobservable  
            Identical Assets     Inputs     Inputs  
    Total     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
Assets accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
                               
Fixed maturities, AFS
                               
ABS
  $ 3,009     $     $ 2,500     $ 509  
CDOs
    2,563             7       2,556  
CMBS
    8,160             7,547       613  
Corporate
    40,851             38,741       2,110  
Foreign government/government agencies
    1,924             1,873       51  
States, municipalities and political subdivisions (“Municipal”)
    12,723             12,434       289  
RMBS
    5,551             4,279       1,272  
U.S. Treasuries
    4,955       774       4,181        
 
                       
Total fixed maturities, AFS
    79,736       774       71,562       7,400  
Fixed maturities, FVO
    564             64       500  
Equity securities, trading
    32,495       2,286       30,209        
Equity securities, AFS
    1,168       327       741       100  
Derivative assets
                               
Credit derivatives
    (9 )           (9 )      
Equity derivatives
    3                   3  
Foreign exchange derivatives
    482             482        
Interest rate derivatives
    74             98       (24 )
Other derivative contracts
    34                   34  
 
                       
Total derivative assets [1]
    584             571       13  
Short-term investments
    9,517       715       8,802        
Separate account assets [2]
    148,771       112,182       35,512       1,077  
 
                       
Total assets accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
  $ 272,835     $ 116,284     $ 147,461     $ 9,090  
 
                       
Liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
                               
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable
                               
Institutional notes
  $ 3     $     $     $ 3  
Equity linked notes
    (8 )                 (8 )
 
                       
Total other policyholder funds and benefits payable
    (5 )                 (5 )
Derivative liabilities
                               
Credit derivatives
    (509 )           (53 )     (456 )
Equity derivatives
    1                   1  
Foreign exchange derivatives
    172             172        
Interest rate derivatives
    (77 )           (52 )     (25 )
 
                       
Total derivative liabilities [3]
    (413 )           67       (480 )
Other liabilities
    (30 )                 (30 )
Consumer notes [4]
    (4 )                 (4 )
 
                       
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
  $ (452 )   $     $ 67     $ (519 )
 
                       
     
[1]  
Includes over-the-counter derivative instruments in a net asset value position which may require the counterparty to pledge collateral to the Company. As of September 30, 2010, $828 of a cash collateral liability was netted against the derivative asset value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and is excluded from the table above. See footnote 3 below for derivative liabilities.
 
[2]  
As of September 30, 2010, excludes approximately $5 billion of investment sales receivable that are not subject to fair value accounting.
 
[3]  
Includes over-the-counter derivative instruments in a net negative market value position (derivative liability). In the Level 3 roll-forward table included below in this Note 4, the derivative asset and liability are referred to as “freestanding derivatives” and are presented on a net basis.
 
[4]  
Represents embedded derivatives associated with non-funding agreement-backed consumer equity linked notes.

 

19


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4. Fair Value Measurements — Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (continued)
                                 
    December 31, 2009  
            Quoted Prices              
            in Active     Significant     Significant  
            Markets for     Observable     Unobservable  
            Identical Assets     Inputs     Inputs  
    Total     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
Assets accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
                               
Fixed maturities, AFS
                               
ABS
  $ 2,523     $     $ 1,943     $ 580  
CDOs
    2,892             57       2,835  
CMBS
    8,544             8,237       307  
Corporate
    35,243             27,216       8,027  
Foreign government/government agencies
    1,408             1,315       93  
Municipal
    12,065             11,803       262  
RMBS
    4,847             3,694       1,153  
U.S. Treasuries
    3,631       526       3,105        
 
                       
Total fixed maturities, AFS
    71,153       526       57,370       13,257  
Equity securities, trading
    32,321       2,443       29,878        
Equity securities, AFS
    1,221       259       904       58  
Derivative assets [1]
    178             97       81  
Short-term investments
    10,357       6,846       3,511        
Separate account assets [2]
    147,432       112,877       33,593       962  
 
                       
Total assets accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
  $ 262,662     $ 122,951     $ 125,353     $ 14,358  
 
                       
 
                               
Liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
                               
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable
                               
Institutional notes
  $ (2 )   $     $     $ (2 )
Equity linked notes
    (10 )                 (10 )
 
                       
Total other policyholder funds and benefits payable
    (12 )                 (12 )
Derivative liabilities [3]
    (214 )           56       (270 )
Consumer notes [4]
    (5 )                 (5 )
 
                       
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
  $ (231 )   $     $ 56     $ (287 )
 
                       
     
[1]  
Includes over-the-counter derivative instruments in a net asset value position which may require the counterparty to pledge collateral to the Company. As of December 31, 2009, $149 of a cash collateral liability was netted against the derivative asset value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and is excluded from the table above. See footnote 3 below for derivative liabilities.
 
[2]  
As of December 31, 2009, excludes approximately $3 billion of investment sales receivable that are not subject to fair value accounting.
 
[3]  
Includes over-the-counter derivative instruments in a net negative market value position (derivative liability). In the Level 3 roll-forward table included below in this Note 4, the derivative asset and liability are referred to as “freestanding derivatives” and are presented on a net basis.
 
[4]  
Represents embedded derivatives associated with non-funding agreement-backed consumer equity linked notes.
Determination of Fair Values
The valuation methodologies used to determine the fair values of assets and liabilities under the “exit price” notion reflect market-participant objectives and are based on the application of the fair value hierarchy that prioritizes relevant observable market inputs over unobservable inputs. The Company determines the fair values of certain financial assets and financial liabilities based on quoted market prices where available and where prices represent a reasonable estimate of fair value. The Company also determines fair value based on future cash flows discounted at the appropriate current market rate. Fair values reflect adjustments for counterparty credit quality, the Company’s default spreads, liquidity and, where appropriate, risk margins on unobservable parameters. The following is a discussion of the methodologies used to determine fair values for the financial instruments listed in the above tables.

 

20


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4. Fair Value Measurements — Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (continued)
Available-for-Sale Securities, Fixed Maturities, FVO, Equity Securities, Trading, and Short-term Investments
The fair value of AFS securities, fixed maturities, FVO, equity securities, trading, and short-term investments in an active and orderly market (e.g. not distressed or forced liquidation) is determined by management after considering one of three primary sources of information: third-party pricing services, independent broker quotations or pricing matrices. Security pricing is applied using a “waterfall” approach whereby publicly available prices are first sought from third-party pricing services, the remaining unpriced securities are submitted to independent brokers for prices, or lastly, securities are priced using a pricing matrix. Based on the typical trading volumes and the lack of quoted market prices for fixed maturities, third-party pricing services will normally derive the security prices from recent reported trades for identical or similar securities making adjustments through the reporting date based upon available market observable information as outlined above. If there are no recently reported trades, the third-party pricing services and independent brokers may use matrix or model processes to develop a security price where future cash flow expectations are developed based upon collateral performance and discounted at an estimated market rate. Included in the pricing of ABS and RMBS are estimates of the rate of future prepayments of principal over the remaining life of the securities. Such estimates are derived based on the characteristics of the underlying structure and prepayment speeds previously experienced at the interest rate levels projected for the underlying collateral. Actual prepayment experience may vary from these estimates.
Prices from third-party pricing services are often unavailable for securities that are rarely traded or are traded only in privately negotiated transactions. As a result, certain securities are priced via independent broker quotations which utilize inputs that may be difficult to corroborate with observable market based data. Additionally, the majority of these independent broker quotations are non-binding.
A pricing matrix is used to price private placement securities for which the Company is unable to obtain a price from a third-party pricing service by discounting the expected future cash flows from the security by a developed market discount rate utilizing current credit spreads. Credit spreads are developed each month using market based data for public securities adjusted for credit spread differentials between public and private securities which are obtained from a survey of multiple private placement brokers. The appropriate credit spreads determined through this survey approach are based upon the issuer’s financial strength and term to maturity, utilizing an independent public security index and trade information and adjusting for the non-public nature of the securities. For the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the Company compared the results of the private placement pricing model to actual trades, as well as to third party broker quotes and determined that the pricing model results were consistent with market observable data for investment grade private placement securities. As a result, the Company reclassified investment grade private placement securities from Level 3 to Level 2. Below investment grade private placement securities remain classified as Level 3.
The Company performs a monthly analysis of the prices and credit spreads received from third parties to ensure that the prices represent a reasonable estimate of the fair value. As a part of this analysis, the Company considers trading volume and other factors to determine whether the decline in market activity is significant when compared to normal activity in an active market, and if so, whether transactions may not be orderly considering the weight of available evidence. If the available evidence indicates that pricing is based upon transactions that are stale or not orderly, the Company places little, if any, weight on the transaction price and will estimate fair value utilizing an internal pricing model. This process involves quantitative and qualitative analysis and is overseen by investment and accounting professionals. Examples of procedures performed include, but are not limited to, initial and on-going review of third-party pricing services’ methodologies, review of pricing statistics and trends, back testing recent trades, and monitoring of trading volumes, new issuance activity and other market activities. In addition, the Company ensures that prices received from independent brokers represent a reasonable estimate of fair value through the use of internal and external cash flow models developed based on spreads, and when available, market indices. As a result of this analysis, if the Company determines that there is a more appropriate fair value based upon the available market data, the price received from the third party is adjusted accordingly. The Company’s internal pricing model utilizes the Company’s best estimate of expected future cash flows discounted at a rate of return that a market participant would require. The significant inputs to the model include, but are not limited to, current market inputs, such as credit loss assumptions, estimated prepayment speeds and market risk premiums.
The Company has analyzed the third-party pricing services’ valuation methodologies and related inputs, and has also evaluated the various types of securities in its investment portfolio to determine an appropriate fair value hierarchy level based upon trading activity and the observability of market inputs. Most prices provided by third-party pricing services are classified into Level 2 because the inputs used in pricing the securities are market observable. Due to a general lack of transparency in the process that brokers use to develop prices, most valuations that are based on brokers’ prices are classified as Level 3. Some valuations may be classified as Level 2 if the price can be corroborated with observable market data.

 

21


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4. Fair Value Measurements — Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (continued)
Derivative Instruments, including embedded derivatives within investments
Derivative instruments are fair valued using pricing valuation models that utilize independent market data inputs, quoted market prices for exchange-traded derivatives, or independent broker quotations. Excluding embedded and reinsurance related derivatives, as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, 98% and 97%, respectively, of derivatives, based upon notional values, were priced by valuation models or quoted market prices. The remaining derivatives were priced by broker quotations. The Company performs a monthly analysis on derivative valuations which includes both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Examples of procedures performed include, but are not limited to, review of pricing statistics and trends, back testing recent trades, analyzing the impacts of changes in the market environment, and review of changes in market value for each derivative including those derivatives priced by brokers.
The Company utilizes derivative instruments to manage the risk associated with certain assets and liabilities. However, the derivative instrument may not be classified with the same fair value hierarchy level as the associated assets and liabilities. Therefore the realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivatives reported in Level 3 may not reflect the offsetting impact of the realized and unrealized gains and losses of the associated assets and liabilities.
Valuation Techniques and Inputs for Investments
Generally, the Company determines the estimated fair value of its AFS securities, fixed maturities, FVO, equity securities, trading, and short-term investments using the market approach. The income approach is used for securities priced using a pricing matrix, as well as for derivative instruments. For Level 1 investments, which are comprised of on-the-run U.S. Treasuries, exchange-traded equity securities, short-term investments, and exchange traded futures and option contracts, valuations are based on observable inputs that reflect quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.
For most of the Company’s debt securities, the following inputs are typically used in the Company’s pricing methods: reported trades, benchmark yields, bids and/or estimated cash flows. For securities, except U.S. Treasuries, inputs also include issuer spreads, which may consider credit default swaps. Derivative instruments are valued using mid-market inputs that are predominantly observable in the market.
A description of additional inputs used in the Company’s Level 2 and Level 3 measurements is listed below:
Level 2  
The fair values of most of the Company’s Level 2 investments are determined by management after considering prices received from third party pricing services. These investments include most fixed maturities and preferred stocks, including those reported in separate account assets.
   
ABS, CDOs, CMBS and RMBS — Primary inputs also include monthly payment information, collateral performance, which varies by vintage year and includes delinquency rates, collateral valuation loss severity rates, collateral refinancing assumptions, credit default swap indices and, for ABS and RMBS, estimated prepayment rates.
 
   
Corporates — Primary inputs also include observations of credit default swap curves related to the issuer.
 
   
Foreign government/government agencies — Primary inputs also include observations of credit default swap curves related to the issuer and political events in emerging markets.
 
   
Municipals — Primary inputs also include Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board reported trades and material event notices, and issuer financial statements.
 
   
Short-term investments — Primary inputs also include material event notices and new issue money market rates.
 
   
Equity securities, trading — Consist of investments in mutual funds. Primary inputs include net asset values obtained from third party pricing services.
 
   
Credit derivatives — Significant inputs primarily include the swap yield curve and credit curves.
 
   
Foreign exchange derivatives — Significant inputs primarily include the swap yield curve, currency spot and forward rates, and cross currency basis curves.
 
   
Interest rate derivatives — Significant input is primarily the swap yield curve.

 

22


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4. Fair Value Measurements — Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (continued)
Level 3  
Most of the Company’s securities classified as Level 3 are valued based on brokers’ prices. Certain long-dated securities are priced based on third party pricing services, including municipal securities and foreign government/government agencies, as well as bank loans and below investment grade private placement securities. Primary inputs for these long-dated securities are consistent with the typical inputs used in Level 1 and Level 2 measurements noted above, but include benchmark interest rate or credit spread assumptions that are not observable in the marketplace. Also included in Level 3 are certain derivative instruments that either have significant unobservable inputs or are valued based on broker quotations. Significant inputs for these derivative contracts primarily include the typical inputs used in the Level 1 and Level 2 measurements noted above, but also may include the following:
   
Credit derivatives — Significant unobservable inputs may include credit correlation and swap yield curve and credit curve extrapolation beyond observable limits.
   
Equity derivatives — Significant unobservable inputs may include equity volatility.
   
Interest rate contracts — Significant unobservable inputs may include swap yield curve extrapolation beyond observable limits and interest rate volatility.
Separate Account Assets
Separate account assets are primarily invested in mutual funds but also have investments in fixed maturity and equity securities. The separate account investments are valued in the same manner, and using the same pricing sources and inputs, as the fixed maturity, equity security, and short-term investments of the Company.

 

23


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4. Fair Value Measurements — Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (continued)
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
The tables below provide fair value roll-forwards for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2010 and 2009, for the financial instruments classified as Level 3, excluding those related to the Company’s living benefits and associated hedging programs, which are reported in Note 4a.
Roll-forward of Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) for the three months ended September 30, 2010
                                                                 
                                                            Changes in unrealized  
                                                            gains (losses)  
                                                  included in net income  
                                                  related to  
    Fair value     Total realized/unrealized     Purchases,                     Fair value     financial instruments  
    as of     gains (losses) included in:     issuances,     Transfers     Transfers     as of     still held at  
    June 30,     Net             and     in to     out of     September 30,     September 30,  
Asset (Liability)   2010     income [1]     OCI [2]     settlements     Level 3 [3]     Level 3 [3]     2010     2010 [1]  
Assets
                                                               
Fixed maturities, AFS
                                                               
ABS
  $ 548     $ (6 )   $ 28     $ (26 )   $     $ (35 )   $ 509     $  
CDOs
    2,778       (45 )     110       (110 )     15       (192 )     2,556       (47 )
CMBS
    652       (23 )     58       (32 )     36       (78 )     613       (34 )
Corporate
    8,816       (10 )     74       (140 )     5       (6,635 )     2,110       (11 )
Foreign govt./govt. agencies
    51             1       (1 )                 51        
Municipal
    317       1       14       (30 )     11       (24 )     289        
RMBS
    1,466       (4 )     56       (243 )           (3 )     1,272       (4 )
 
                                               
Total fixed maturities, AFS
    14,628       (87 )     341       (582 )     67       (6,967 )     7,400       (96 )
Fixed maturities, FVO
          48             (1 )     453             500       48  
Equity securities, AFS
    80             (1 )     7       14             100        
Freestanding derivatives
                                                               
Credit derivatives
    (533 )     80             (3 )                 (456 )     79  
Equity derivatives
          4                               4       4  
Interest rate derivatives
    (49 )                                   (49 )     1  
Other derivative contracts
    35       (1 )                             34       (1 )
 
                                               
Total freestanding derivatives [4]
    (547 )     83             (3 )                 (467 )     83  
Separate accounts [5]
    937       13             72       61       (6 )     1,077       9  
 
                                               
Liabilities
                                                               
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable
                                                               
Institutional notes
  $ 2     $ 1     $     $     $     $     $ 3     $ 1  
Equity linked notes
    (7 )     (1 )                             (8 )     (1 )
 
                                               
Total other policyholder funds and benefits payable
    (5 )                                   (5 )      
Other liabilities
    (16 )     (14 )                             (30 )      
Consumer notes
    (4 )                                   (4 )      
     
[1]  
All amounts in these columns are reported in net realized capital gains (losses) except for less than $1, which is reported in benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses. All amounts are before income taxes and amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits (“DAC”).
 
[2]  
OCI refers to “Other comprehensive income” in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. All amounts are before income taxes and amortization of DAC.
 
[3]  
Transfers in and/or (out) of Level 3 are primarily attributable to the reclassification of investment grade private placement securities, changes in the availability of market observable information, the re-evaluation of the observability of pricing inputs and the election of fair value option for investments containing an embedded credit derivative.
 
[4]  
Derivative instruments are reported in this table on a net basis for asset/(liability) positions and reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in other investments and other liabilities.
 
[5]  
The realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income for separate account assets are offset by an equal amount for separate account liabilities, which results in a net zero impact on net income for the Company.

 

24


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4. Fair Value Measurements — Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (continued)
Roll-forward of Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010
                                                                 
                                                            Changes in unrealized  
                                                            gains (losses)  
                                                  included in net income  
                                                  related to  
    Fair value     Total realized/unrealized     Purchases,                     Fair value     financial instruments  
    as of     gains (losses) included in:     issuances,     Transfers     Transfers     as of     still held at  
    January 1,     Net             and     in to     out of     September 30,     September 30,  
Asset (Liability)   2010     income [1]     OCI [2]     settlements     Level 3 [3]     Level 3 [3]     2010     2010 [1]  
Assets
                                                               
Fixed maturities, AFS
                                                               
ABS
  $ 580     $ (9 )   $ 71     $ (49 )   $ 28     $ (112 )   $ 509     $ (2 )
CDOs
    2,835       (130 )     430       (177 )     42       (444 )     2,556       (137 )
CMBS
    307       (137 )     333       (55 )     302       (137 )     613       (108 )
Corporate
    8,027       (2 )     306       137       515       (6,873 )     2,110       (4 )
Foreign govt./govt. agencies
    93             3       (9 )     6       (42 )     51        
Municipal
    262       1       48       (5 )     11       (28 )     289        
RMBS
    1,153       (38 )     220       (37 )           (26 )     1,272       (33 )
 
                                               
Total fixed maturities, AFS
    13,257       (315 )     1,411       (195 )     904       (7,662 )     7,400       (284 )
Fixed maturities, FVO
          48             (1 )     453             500       48  
Equity securities, AFS
    58       (2 )     8       16       20             100       (5 )
Freestanding derivatives
                                                               
Credit derivatives
    (228 )     60             2       (290 )           (456 )     59  
Equity derivatives
    (2 )     6                               4       6  
Interest rate derivatives
    5       1             (44 )           (11 )     (49 )     (19 )
Other derivative contracts
    36       (2 )                             34       (2 )
 
                                               
Total freestanding derivatives [4]
    (189 )     65             (42 )     (290 )     (11 )     (467 )     44  
Separate accounts [5]
    962       29             154       65       (133 )     1,077       21  
 
                                               
Liabilities
                                                               
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable
                                                               
Institutional notes
  $ (2 )   $ 5     $     $     $     $     $ 3     $ 5  
Equity linked notes
    (10 )     2                               (8 )     2  
 
                                               
Total other policyholder funds and benefits payable
    (12 )     7                               (5 )     7  
Other liabilities
          (19 )                 (11 )           (30 )      
Consumer notes
    (5 )     1                               (4 )     1  
     
[1]  
All amounts in these columns are reported in net realized capital gains (losses) except for less than $1, which is reported in benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses. All amounts are before income taxes and amortization of DAC.
 
[2]  
All amounts are before income taxes and amortization of DAC.
 
[3]  
Transfers in and/or (out) of Level 3 are primarily attributable to the reclassification of investment grade private placement securities, changes in the availability of market observable information, the re-evaluation of the observability of pricing inputs and the election of fair value option for investments containing an embedded credit derivative. Transfers in also include the consolidation of additional VIEs due to the adoption of new accounting guidance on January 1, 2010.
 
[4]  
Derivative instruments are reported in this table on a net basis for asset/(liability) positions and reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in other investments and other liabilities.
 
[5]  
The realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income for separate account assets are offset by an equal amount for separate account liabilities, which results in a net zero impact on net income for the Company.

 

25


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4. Fair Value Measurements — Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (continued)
Roll-forward of Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) for the three months ended September 30, 2009
                                                         
                                                    Changes in unrealized  
                                                    gains (losses)  
                                                    included in net income  
    Fair value     Total realized/unrealized     Purchases,             Fair value     related to financial  
    as of     gains (losses) included in:     issuances,     Transfers in     as of     instruments still held at  
    June 30,     Net             and     and/or (out)     September 30,     September 30,  
Asset (Liability)   2009     income [1]     OCI [2]     settlements     of Level 3 [3]     2009     2009 [1]  
Assets
                                                       
Fixed maturities, AFS
                                                       
ABS
  $ 502     $ (32 )   $ 122     $ (36 )   $ 18     $ 574     $ (32 )
CDOs
    2,562       (218 )     436       35       (31 )     2,784       (218 )
CMBS
    198       (117 )     171       (5 )     211       458       (117 )
Corporate
    6,530       (6 )     587       80       (54 )     7,137       (11 )
Foreign govt./govt. agencies
    68       1       4       (3 )     (2 )     68       1  
Municipal
    214             13       29       7       263        
RMBS
    1,353       (66 )     158       (231 )     (64 )     1,150       (66 )
 
                                         
Total fixed maturities, AFS
    11,427       (438 )     1,491       (131 )     85       12,434       (443 )
Equity securities, AFS
    228       (4 )     (5 )     1       16       236        
Freestanding derivatives [4]
    (282 )     49       5       11             (217 )     54  
Separate accounts [5]
    673       40             29       (24 )     718       34  
 
                                         
Liabilities
                                                       
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable
                                                       
Institutional notes
  $ 2     $ (9 )   $     $     $     $ (7 )   $ (9 )
Equity linked notes
    (6 )     (2 )                       (8 )     (2 )
 
                                         
Total other policyholder funds and benefits payable
    (4 )     (11 )                       (15 )     (11 )
Consumer notes
    (4 )     (1 )                       (5 )     (1 )
     
[1]  
All amounts in these columns are reported in net realized capital gains/losses except for less than $1 for the three months ended September 30, 2009, which is reported in benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses. All amounts are before income taxes and amortization DAC.
 
[2]  
All amounts are before income taxes and amortization of DAC.
 
[3]  
Transfers in and/or (out) of Level 3 are attributable to a change in the availability of market observable information and re-evaluation of the observability of pricing inputs.
 
[4]  
Derivative instruments are reported in this table on a net basis for asset/(liability) positions and reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in other investments and other liabilities.
 
[5]  
The realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income for separate account assets are offset by an equal amount for separate account liabilities, which results in a net zero impact on net income for the Company.

 

26


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4. Fair Value Measurements — Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (continued)
Roll-forward of Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) for the nine months ended September 30, 2009
                                                         
                                                    Changes in unrealized  
                                                    gains (losses)  
                                                    included in net income  
    Fair value     Total realized/unrealized     Purchases,             Fair value     related to financial  
    as of     gains (losses) included in:     issuances,     Transfers in     as of     instruments still held at  
    January 1,     Net             and     and/or (out)     September 30,     September 30,  
Asset (Liability)   2009     income [1]     OCI [2]     settlements     of Level 3 [3]     2009     2009 [1]  
Assets
                                                       
Fixed maturities, AFS
                                                       
ABS
  $ 536     $ (41 )   $ 158     $ (35 )   $ (44 )   $ 574     $ (37 )
CDOs
    2,612       (313 )     534       (18 )     (31 )     2,784       (312 )
CMBS
    341       (165 )     199       (13 )     96       458       (143 )
Corporate
    6,396       (66 )     994       278       (465 )     7,137       (38 )
Foreign govt./govt. agencies
    100       1       2       (13 )     (22 )     68       1  
Municipal
    163             6       16       78       263        
RMBS
    1,662       (235 )     (86 )     (130 )     (61 )     1,150       (150 )
 
                                         
Total fixed maturities, AFS
    11,810       (819 )     1,807       85       (449 )     12,434       (679 )
Equity securities, AFS
    541       (5 )     (6 )     (1 )     (293 )     236        
Freestanding derivatives [4]
    (281 )     44       (5 )     31       (6 )     (217 )     63  
Separate accounts [5]
    786       (82 )           139       (125 )     718       (39 )
 
                                         
Liabilities
                                                       
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable
                                                       
Institutional notes
  $ (41 )   $ 34     $     $     $     $ (7 )   $ 34  
Equity linked notes
    (8 )                             (8 )      
 
                                         
Total other policyholder funds and benefits payable
    (49 )     34                         (15 )     34  
Other derivative liabilities [6]
    (163 )     70             93                    
Consumer notes
    (5 )                             (5 )      
     
[1]  
All amounts in these columns are reported in net realized capital gains (losses) except for $2 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, which is reported in benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses. All amounts are before income taxes and amortization of DAC.
 
[2]  
All amounts are before income taxes and amortization of DAC.
 
[3]  
Transfers in and/or (out) of Level 3 are attributable to a change in the availability of market observable information and re-evaluation of the observability of pricing inputs.
 
[4]  
Derivative instruments are reported in this table on a net basis for asset/(liability) positions and reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in other investments and other liabilities.
 
[5]  
The realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income for separate account assets are offset by an equal amount for separate account liabilities, which results in a net zero impact on net income for the Company.
 
[6]  
On March 26, 2009, certain of the Allianz warrants were reclassified to equity, at their current fair value, as shareholder approval of the conversion of these warrants to common shares was received. See Note 21 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report for further discussion.

 

27


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4. Fair Value Measurements — Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (continued)
Fair Value Option
The Company elected the fair value option for its investments containing an embedded credit derivative which were not bifurcated as a result of adoption of new accounting guidance effective July 1, 2010. The underlying credit risk of these securities is primarily corporate bonds and commercial real estate. The Company elected the fair value option given the complexity of bifurcating the economic components associated with the embedded credit derivative. Similar to other fixed maturities, income earned from these securities is recorded in net investment income. Changes in the fair value of these securities are recorded in net realized capital gains and losses.
The Company previously elected the fair value option for one of its consolidated VIEs in order to apply a consistent accounting model for the VIE’s assets and liabilities. The VIE is an investment vehicle that holds high quality investments, derivative instruments that references third-party corporate credit and issues notes to investors that reflect the credit characteristics of the high quality investments and derivative instruments. The risks and rewards associated with the assets of the VIE inure to the investors. The investors have no recourse against the Company. As a result, there has been no adjustment to the market value of the notes for the Company’s own credit risk. Electing the fair value option for the VIE resulted in lowering other liabilities with an offsetting impact to the cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings of $232, representing the difference between the fair value and outstanding principal of the notes as of January 1, 2010.
The following table presents the changes in fair value of those assets and liabilities accounted for using the fair value option reported in net realized capital gains and losses in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30, 2010     September 30, 2010  
Assets
               
Fixed maturities, FVO
               
ABS
  $ 1     $ 3  
CRE CDOs
    44       44  
Corporate
    4        
Other liabilities
               
Credit-linked notes
    (14 )     (19 )
 
           
Total realized capital gains
  $ 35     $ 28  
 
           
The following table presents the fair value of assets and liabilities accounted for using the fair value option included in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
         
    September 30, 2010  
Assets
       
Fixed maturities, FVO
       
ABS
  $ 64  
CRE CDOs
    236  
Corporate
    260  
RMBS
    4  
 
     
Total fixed maturities, FVO
  $ 564  
 
     
 
       
Other liabilities
       
Credit-linked notes [1]
  $ 30  
     
[1]  
As of September 30, 2010, the outstanding principal balance of the notes was $243. Not included in the table above was $270 of derivative instruments held in one of the Company’s consolidated VIEs which is included in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

28


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4. Fair Value Measurements — Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (continued)
Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value
The following table presents carrying amounts and fair values of The Hartford’s financial instruments not carried at fair value and not included in the above fair value discussion as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Carrying     Fair     Carrying     Fair  
    Amount     Value     Amount     Value  
Assets
                               
Policy loans
  $ 2,180     $ 2,328     $ 2,174     $ 2,321  
Mortgage loans
    4,684       4,728       5,938       5,091  
 
                       
 
 
Liabilities
                               
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable [1]
  $ 11,486     $ 11,845     $ 12,330     $ 12,513  
Senior notes [2]
    4,880       5,110       4,054       4,037  
Junior subordinated debentures [2]
    1,723       2,466       1,717       2,338  
Consumer notes [3]
    380       394       1,131       1,194  
     
[1]  
Excludes guarantees on variable annuities, group accident and health and universal life insurance contracts, including corporate owned life insurance.
 
[2]  
Included in long-term debt in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, except for current maturities, which are included in short-term debt.
 
[3]  
Excludes amounts carried at fair value and included in disclosures above.
As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, included in other liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are carrying amounts of $234 and $273, respectively, for deposits and $60 and $78, respectively, for Federal Home Loan Bank advances related to Federal Trust Corporation. These carrying amounts approximate fair value.
The Company has not made any changes in its valuation methodologies for the following assets and liabilities since December 31, 2009.
 
Fair value for policy loans and consumer notes were estimated using discounted cash flow calculations using current interest rates.
 
Fair values for mortgage loans were estimated using discounted cash flow calculations based on current lending rates for similar type loans. Current lending rates reflect changes in credit spreads and the remaining terms of the loans.
 
Fair values for other policyholder funds and benefits payable, not carried at fair value, are determined by estimating future cash flows, discounted at the current market rate.
 
Fair values for senior notes and junior subordinated debentures are based primarily on market quotations from independent third-party pricing services.

 

29


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4a. Fair Value Measurements — Guaranteed Living Benefits
These disclosures provide information as to the extent to which the Company uses fair value to measure financial instruments related to variable annuity product guaranteed living benefits and the related variable annuity hedging program and information about the inputs used to value those financial instruments to allow users to assess the relative reliability of the measurements. The following tables present assets and (liabilities) related to the guaranteed living benefits program carried at fair value by hierarchy level.
                                 
    September 30, 2010  
            Quoted Prices              
            in Active     Significant     Significant  
            Markets for     Observable     Unobservable  
            Identical Assets     Inputs     Inputs  
    Total     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
Assets accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
                               
Variable annuity hedging derivatives
  $ 162     $     $ (16 )   $ 178  
Macro hedge program
    587       1       185       401  
Reinsurance recoverable for U.S. GMWB
    458                   458  
 
                       
Total assets accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
  $ 1,207     $ 1     $ 169     $ 1,037  
 
                       
 
                               
Liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
                               
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable
                               
U.S. guaranteed withdrawal benefits
  $ (2,541 )   $     $     $ (2,541 )
International guaranteed withdrawal benefits
    (64 )                 (64 )
International other guaranteed living benefits
    1                   1  
Variable annuity hedging derivatives
    352             (30 )     382  
Macro hedge program
    11                   11  
 
                       
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
  $ (2,241 )   $     $ (30 )   $ (2,211 )
 
                       
                                 
    December 31, 2009  
            Quoted Prices              
            in Active     Significant     Significant  
            Markets for     Observable     Unobservable  
            Identical Assets     Inputs     Inputs  
    Total     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
Assets accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
                               
Variable annuity hedging derivatives
  $ 9     $     $     $ 9  
Macro hedge program
    203       8       16       179  
Reinsurance recoverable for U.S. GMWB
    347                   347  
 
                       
Total assets accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
  $ 559     $ 8     $ 16     $ 535  
 
                       
 
                               
Liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
                               
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable
                               
U.S. guaranteed withdrawal benefits
  $ (1,957 )   $     $     $ (1,957 )
International guaranteed withdrawal benefits
    (45 )                 (45 )
International other guaranteed living benefits
    2                   2  
Variable annuity hedging derivatives
    43             (184 )     227  
Macro hedge program
    115       (2 )     6       111  
 
                       
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
  $ (1,842 )   $ (2 )   $ (178 )   $ (1,662 )
 
                       

 

30


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4a. Fair Value Measurements — Guaranteed Living Benefits (continued)
Product Derivatives
The Company currently offers certain variable annuity products with GMWB riders in the U.S., and formerly offered such products in the U.K. and Japan. The GMWB represents an embedded derivative in the variable annuity contract. When it is determined that (1) the embedded derivative possesses economic characteristics that are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the host contract, and (2) a separate instrument with the same terms would qualify as a derivative instrument, the embedded derivative is bifurcated from the host for measurement purposes. The embedded derivative is carried at fair value, with changes in fair value reported in net realized capital gains and losses. The Company’s GMWB liability is reported in other policyholder funds and benefits payable in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In valuing the embedded derivative, the Company attributes to the derivative a portion of the expected fees to be collected over the expected life of the contract from the contract holder equal to the present value of future GMWB claims (the “Attributed Fees”). The excess of fees collected from the contract holder in the current period over the current period’s Attributed Fees are associated with the host variable annuity contract and reported in fee income.
U.S. GMWB Reinsurance Derivative
The Company has reinsurance arrangements in place to transfer a portion of its risk of loss due to GMWB. These arrangements are recognized as derivatives and carried at fair value in reinsurance recoverables. Changes in the fair value of the reinsurance agreements are reported in net realized capital gains and losses.
The fair value of the U.S. GMWB reinsurance derivative is calculated as an aggregation of the components described in the Living Benefits Required to be Fair Valued discussion below and is modeled using significant unobservable policyholder behavior inputs, identical to those used in calculating the underlying liability, such as lapses, fund selection, resets and withdrawal utilization and risk margins.
Living Benefits Required to be Fair Valued (in Other Policyholder Funds and Benefits Payable)
Fair values for GMWB and guaranteed minimum accumulation benefit (“GMAB”) contracts are calculated using the income approach based upon internally developed models because active, observable markets do not exist for those items. The fair value of the Company’s guaranteed benefit liabilities, classified as embedded derivatives, and the related reinsurance and customized freestanding derivatives is calculated as an aggregation of the following components: Best Estimate Claim Payments; Credit Standing Adjustment; and Margins. The resulting aggregation is reconciled or calibrated, if necessary, to market information that is, or may be, available to the Company, but may not be observable by other market participants, including reinsurance discussions and transactions. The Company believes the aggregation of these components, as necessary and as reconciled or calibrated to the market information available to the Company, results in an amount that the Company would be required to transfer or receive, for an asset, to or from market participants in an active liquid market, if one existed, for those market participants to assume the risks associated with the guaranteed minimum benefits and the related reinsurance and customized derivatives. The fair value is likely to materially diverge from the ultimate settlement of the liability as the Company believes settlement will be based on our best estimate assumptions rather than those best estimate assumptions plus risk margins. In the absence of any transfer of the guaranteed benefit liability to a third party, the release of risk margins is likely to be reflected as realized gains in future periods’ net income. Each component described below is unobservable in the marketplace and requires subjectivity by the Company in determining their value.
Best Estimate
Claim Payments
The Best Estimate Claim Payments is calculated based on actuarial and capital market assumptions related to projected cash flows, including the present value of benefits and related contract charges, over the lives of the contracts, incorporating expectations concerning policyholder behavior such as lapses, fund selection, resets and withdrawal utilization. For the customized derivatives, policyholder behavior is prescribed in the derivative contract. Because of the dynamic and complex nature of these cash flows, best estimate assumptions and a Monte Carlo stochastic process is used in valuation. The Monte Carlo stochastic process involves the generation of thousands of scenarios that assume risk neutral returns consistent with swap rates and a blend of observable implied index volatility levels. Estimating these cash flows involves numerous estimates and subjective judgments regarding a number of variables — including expected market rates of return, market volatility, correlations of market index returns to funds, fund performance, discount rates and assumptions about policyholder behavior which emerge over time.
At each valuation date, the Company assumes expected returns based on:
 
risk-free rates as represented by the eurodollar futures, LIBOR deposits and swap rates to derive forward curve rates;
 
market implied volatility assumptions for each underlying index based primarily on a blend of observed market “implied volatility” data;
 
correlations of historical returns across underlying well known market indices based on actual observed returns over the ten years preceding the valuation date; and
 
three years of history for fund indexes compared to separate account fund regression.

 

31


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4a. Fair Value Measurements — Guaranteed Living Benefits (continued)
As many guaranteed benefit obligations are relatively new in the marketplace, actual policyholder behavior experience is limited. As a result, estimates of future policyholder behavior are subjective and based on analogous internal and external data. As markets change, mature and evolve and actual policyholder behavior emerges, management continually evaluates the appropriateness of its assumptions for this component of the fair value model.
On a daily basis, the Company updates capital market assumptions used in the GMWB liability model such as interest rates and equity indices. On a weekly basis, the blend of implied equity index volatilities is updated. The Company continually monitors various aspects of policyholder behavior and may modify certain of its assumptions, including living benefit lapses and withdrawal rates, if credible emerging data indicates that changes are warranted. At a minimum, all policyholder behavior assumptions are reviewed and updated, as appropriate, in conjunction with the completion of the Company’s comprehensive study to refine its estimate of future gross profits during the third quarter of each year.
Credit Standing Adjustment
This assumption makes an adjustment that market participants would make, in determining fair value, to reflect the risk that guaranteed benefit obligations or the GMWB reinsurance recoverables will not be fulfilled (“nonperformance risk”). As a result of sustained volatility in the Company’s credit default spreads, during 2009 the Company changed its estimate of the Credit Standing Adjustment to incorporate a blend of observable Company and reinsurer credit default spreads from capital markets, adjusted for market recoverability. Prior to the first quarter of 2009, the Company calculated the Credit Standing Adjustment by using default rates published by rating agencies, adjusted for market recoverability. The credit standing adjustment assumption, net of reinsurance and exclusive of the impact of the credit standing adjustment on other market sensitivities, resulted in a pre-tax realized gain (loss) of $(23) and $(80), for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $32 and $56 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Margins
The behavior risk margin adds a margin that market participants would require, in determining fair value, for the risk that the Company’s assumptions about policyholder behavior could differ from actual experience. The behavior risk margin is calculated by taking the difference between adverse policyholder behavior assumptions and best estimate assumptions.
Assumption updates, including policyholder behavior assumptions, affected best estimates and margins for a total pre-tax realized gain (loss) of $163 and $(126) for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively and $163 and $306 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Assumption updates for the three months ended September 30, 2010, primarily related to decreasing withdrawal and lapse rates.
In addition to the non-market-based updates described above, the Company recognized non-market-based updates driven by the relative outperformance of the underlying actively managed funds as compared to their respective indices resulting in pre-tax realized gains of approximately $28 and $119, for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $70 and $510 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

32


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4a. Fair Value Measurements — Guaranteed Living Benefits (continued)
The tables below provide fair value roll forwards for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, for the financial instruments related to the Guaranteed Living Benefits Program classified as Levels 1, 2 and 3.
Roll-forward of Financial Instruments related to the Guaranteed Living Benefits Program Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis for the three months ended September 30, 2010
                                                                 
                                                            Changes in unrealized  
                                                            gains (losses)  
                                                            included in net income  
                                                            related to  
    Fair value     Total realized/unrealized     Purchases,                     Fair value     financial instruments  
    as of     gains (losses) included in:     issuances,     Transfers     Transfers     as of     still held at  
    June 30,     Net income             and     in to     out of     September 30,     September 30,  
Asset (Liability)   2010     [1] [2] [6]     OCI [2]     settlements [3]     Level 3     Level 3     2010     2010 [1] [2]  
Variable annuity hedging derivatives [5]
                                                               
Levels 1 and 2
  $ (91 )   $ (89 )   $     $ 134     $     $     $ (46 )     [4]
Level 3
    928       (295 )           (73 )                 560     $ (241 )
 
                                               
Total variable annuity hedging derivatives
    837       (384 )           61                   514       [4]
Reinsurance recoverable for GMWB
    550       (101 )           9                   458       (101 )
U.S. guaranteed withdrawal benefits — Level 3
    (3,148 )     639             (32 )                 (2,541 )     639  
International guaranteed withdrawal benefits — Level 3
    (72 )     16       (4 )     (4 )                 (64 )     16  
 
                                               
Total Guaranteed withdrawal benefits net of reinsurance and hedging derivatives
    (1,833 )     170       (4 )     34                   (1,633 )     [4]
 
                                               
Macro hedge program [5]
                                                               
Levels 1 and 2
    190       (165 )           161                   186       [4]
Level 3
    663       (278 )           27                   412       (278 )
 
                                               
Total macro hedge program
    853       (443 )           188                   598       [4]
 
                                               
International other guaranteed living benefits — Level 3
    (1 )     3             (1 )                 1       3  
     
[1]  
The Company classifies gains and losses on GMWB reinsurance derivatives and Guaranteed Living Benefit embedded derivatives as unrealized gains (losses) for purposes of disclosure in this table because it is impracticable to track on a contract-by-contract basis the realized gains (losses) for these derivatives and embedded derivatives.
 
[2]  
All amounts are before income taxes and amortization of DAC.
 
[3]  
The ‘Purchases, issuances, and settlements’ primarily relates to the receipt of cash on futures and option contracts classified as Level 1 and interest rate, currency and credit default swaps classified as Level 2. For GMWB reinsurance and guaranteed withdrawal benefits, purchases, issuances and settlements represent the reinsurance premium paid and the attributed fees collected, respectively.
 
[4]  
Disclosure of changes in unrealized gains (losses) is not required for Levels 1 and 2. Information presented is for Level 3 only.
 
[5]  
The variable annuity hedging derivatives and the macro hedge program derivatives are reported in this table on a net basis for asset/(liability) positions and reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in other investments and other liabilities.
 
[6]  
Includes both market and non-market impacts in deriving realized and unrealized gains (losses).

 

33


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4a. Fair Value Measurements — Guaranteed Living Benefits Program (continued)
Roll-forward of Financial Instruments related to the Guaranteed Living Benefits Program Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis for the nine months ended September 30, 2010
                                                                 
                                                            Changes in unrealized  
                                                            gains (losses)  
                                                            included in net income  
                                                            related to  
    Fair value     Total realized/unrealized     Purchases,                     Fair value     financial instruments  
    as of     gains (losses) included in:     issuances,     Transfers     Transfers     as of     still held at  
    January 1,     Net income             And     in to     out of     September 30,     September 30,  
Asset (Liability)   2010     [1] [2] [6]     OCI [2]     settlements [3]     Level 3     Level 3     2010     2010 [1] [2]  
Variable annuity hedging derivatives [5]
                                                               
Levels 1 and 2
  $ (184 )   $ 34     $     $ 104     $     $     $ (46 )     [4]
Level 3
    236       244             80                   560     $ 261  
 
                                               
Total variable annuity hedging derivatives
    52       278             184                   514       [4]
Reinsurance recoverable for GMWB
    347       84             27                   458       84  
U.S. guaranteed withdrawal benefits — Level 3
    (1,957 )     (481 )           (103 )                 (2,541 )     (481 )
International guaranteed withdrawal benefits — Level 3
    (45 )     (8 )     (4 )     (7 )                 (64 )     (8 )
 
                                               
Total Guaranteed withdrawal benefits net of reinsurance and hedging derivatives
    (1,603 )     (127 )     (4 )     101                   (1,633 )     [4]
 
                                               
Macro hedge program [5]
                                                               
Levels 1 and 2
    28       (73 )           231                   186       [4]
Level 3
    290       (137 )           259                   412       (117 )
 
                                               
Total macro hedge program
    318       (210 )           490                   598       [4]
 
                                               
International other guaranteed living benefits — Level 3
    2       1             (2 )                 1       1  
     
[1]  
The Company classifies gains and losses on GMWB reinsurance derivatives and Guaranteed Living Benefit embedded derivatives as unrealized gains (losses) for purposes of disclosure in this table because it is impracticable to track on a contract-by-contract basis the realized gains (losses) for these derivatives and embedded derivatives.
 
[2]  
All amounts are before income taxes and amortization of DAC.
 
[3]  
The ‘Purchases, issuances, and settlements’ primarily relates to the receipt of cash on futures and option contracts classified as Level 1 and interest rate, currency and credit default swaps classified as Level 2. For GMWB reinsurance and guaranteed withdrawal benefits, purchases, issuances and settlements represent the reinsurance premium paid and the attributed fees collected, respectively.
 
[4]  
Disclosure of changes in unrealized gains (losses) is not required for Levels 1 and 2. Information presented is for Level 3 only.
 
[5]  
The variable annuity hedging derivatives and the macro hedge program derivatives are reported in this table on a net basis for asset/(liability) positions and reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in other investments and other liabilities.
 
[6]  
Includes both market and non-market impacts in deriving realized and unrealized gains (losses).

 

34


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4a. Fair Value Measurements — Guaranteed Living Benefits Program (continued)
Roll-forward of Financial Instruments related to the Guaranteed Living Benefits Program Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis for the three months ended September 30, 2009
                                                         
                                                    Changes in unrealized  
                                                    gains (losses)  
                                                    included in net income  
                                                    related to  
    Fair value     Total realized/unrealized     Purchases,             Fair value     financial instruments  
    as of     gains (losses) included in:     issuances,     Transfers in     as of     still held at  
    June 30,     Net income             and     and/or (out)     September 30,     September 30,  
Asset (Liability)   2009     [1] [2] [6]     OCI [2]     settlements [3]     of Level 3     2009     2009 [1] [2]  
Variable annuity hedging derivatives [5]
                                                       
Levels 1 and 2
  $ (167 )   $ (268 )   $     $ 309     $     $ (126 )     [4]
Level 3
    1,022       (210 )           (302 )           510     $ (3 )
 
                                         
Total variable annuity hedging derivatives
    855       (478 )           7             384       [4]
Reinsurance recoverable for GMWB
    632       (103 )           9             538       (103 )
U.S. guaranteed withdrawal benefits — Level 3
    (3,289 )     383             (38 )           (2,944 )     383  
International guaranteed withdrawal benefits — Level 3
    (57 )     8             (2 )           (51 )     8  
 
                                         
Total Guaranteed withdrawal benefits net of reinsurance and hedging derivatives
    (1,859 )     (190 )           (24 )           (2,073 )     [4]
 
                                         
Macro hedge program [5]
                                                       
Levels 1 and 2
    28       (97 )           130             61       [4]
Level 3
    113       (231 )           379             261       (231 )
 
                                         
Total macro hedge program
    141       (328 )           509             322       [4]
 
                                         
International other guaranteed living benefits — Level 3
    2       1                         3       1  
     
[1]  
The Company classifies gains and losses on GMWB reinsurance derivatives and Guaranteed Living Benefit embedded derivatives as unrealized gains (losses) for purposes of disclosure in this table because it is impracticable to track on a contract-by-contract basis the realized gains (losses) for these derivatives and embedded derivatives.
 
[2]  
All amounts are before income taxes and amortization of DAC.
 
[3]  
The ‘Purchases, issuances, and settlements’ primarily relates to the receipt of cash on futures and option contracts classified as Level 1 and interest rate, currency and credit default swaps classified as Level 2. For GMWB reinsurance and guaranteed withdrawal benefits, purchases, issuances and settlements represent the reinsurance premium paid and the attributed fees collected, respectively.
 
[4]  
Disclosure of changes in unrealized gains (losses) is not required for Levels 1 and 2. Information presented is for Level 3 only.
 
[5]  
The variable annuity hedging derivatives and the macro hedge program derivatives are reported in this table on a net basis for asset/(liability) positions and reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in other investments and other liabilities.
 
[6]  
Includes both market and non-market impacts in deriving realized and unrealized gains (losses).

 

35


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4a. Fair Value Measurements — Guaranteed Living Benefits Program (continued)
Roll-forward of Financial Instruments related to the Guaranteed Living Benefits Program Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis for the nine months ended September 30, 2009
                                                         
                                                    Changes in unrealized  
                                                    gains (losses)  
                                                    included in net income  
    Fair value     Total realized/unrealized     Purchases,             Fair value     related to
financial instruments
 
    as of     gains (losses) included in:     issuances,     Transfers in     as of     still held at  
    January 1,     Net income             and     and/or (out)     September 30,     September 30,  
Asset (Liability)   2009     [1] [2] [6]     OCI [2]     settlements [3]     of Level 3     2009     2009 [1] [2]  
Variable annuity hedging derivatives [5]
                                                       
Levels 1 and 2
  $ 27     $ (782 )   $     $ 629     $     $ (126 )     [4]
Level 3
    2,637       (1,096 )           (1,031 )           510     $ (838 )
 
                                         
Total variable annuity hedging derivatives
    2,664       (1,878 )           (402 )           384       [4]
Reinsurance recoverable for GMWB
    1,302       (788 )           24             538       (788 )
U.S. guaranteed withdrawal benefits — Level 3
    (6,526 )     3,683             (101 )           (2,944 )     3,683  
International guaranteed withdrawal benefits — Level 3
    (94 )     53       (3 )     (7 )           (51 )     53  
 
                                         
Total Guaranteed withdrawal benefits net of reinsurance and hedging derivatives
    (2,654 )     1,070       (3 )     (486 )           (2,073 )     [4]
 
                                         
Macro hedge program [5]
                                                       
Levels 1 and 2
          (254 )           315             61       [4]
Level 3
    137       (438 )           562             261       (438 )
 
                                         
Total macro hedge program
    137       (692 )           877             322       [4]
 
                                         
International other guaranteed living benefits — Level 3
          5             (2 )           3       5  
     
[1]  
The Company classifies gains and losses on GMWB reinsurance derivatives and Guaranteed Living Benefit embedded derivatives as unrealized gains (losses) for purposes of disclosure in this table because it is impracticable to track on a contract-by-contract basis the realized gains (losses) for these derivatives and embedded derivatives.
 
[2]  
All amounts are before income taxes and amortization of DAC.
 
[3]  
The ‘Purchases, issuances, and settlements’ primarily relates to the receipt of cash on futures and option contracts classified as Level 1 and interest rate, currency and credit default swaps classified as Level 2. For GMWB reinsurance and guaranteed withdrawal benefits, purchases, issuances and settlements represent the reinsurance premium paid and the attributed fees collected, respectively.
 
[4]  
Disclosure of changes in unrealized gains (losses) is not required for Levels 1 and 2. Information presented is for Level 3 only.
 
[5]  
The variable annuity hedging derivatives and the macro hedge program derivatives are reported in this table on a net basis for asset/(liability) positions and reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in other investments and other liabilities.
 
[6]  
Includes both market and non-market impacts in deriving realized and unrealized gains (losses).

 

36


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments
Significant Investment Accounting Policies
Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments
The Company deems debt securities and certain equity securities with debt-like characteristics (collectively “debt securities”) to be other-than-temporarily impaired (“impaired”) if a security meets the following conditions: a) the Company intends to sell or it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before a recovery in value, or b) the Company does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security. If the Company intends to sell or it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before a recovery in value, a charge is recorded in net realized capital losses equal to the difference between the fair value and amortized cost basis of the security. For those impaired debt securities which do not meet the first condition and for which the Company does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis, the difference between the security’s amortized cost basis and the fair value is separated into the portion representing a credit other-than-temporary impairment (“impairment”), which is recorded in net realized capital losses, and the remaining impairment, which is recorded in OCI. Generally, the Company determines a security’s credit impairment as the difference between its amortized cost basis and its best estimate of expected future cash flows discounted at the security’s effective yield prior to impairment. The remaining non-credit impairment, which is recorded in OCI, is the difference between the security’s fair value and the Company’s best estimate of expected future cash flows discounted at the security’s effective yield prior to the impairment, which typically represents current market liquidity and risk premiums. The previous amortized cost basis less the impairment recognized in net realized capital losses becomes the security’s new cost basis. The Company accretes the new cost basis to the estimated future cash flows over the expected remaining life of the security by prospectively adjusting the security’s yield, if necessary. The following table presents the change in non-credit impairments recognized in OCI as disclosed in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009 [1]     2010     2009 [1]  
OTTI losses recognized in OCI
  $ (31 )   $ (224 )   $ (403 )   $ (472 )
Changes in fair value and/or sales
    114       137       591       236  
Tax and deferred acquisition costs
    (39 )     36       (91 )     60  
 
                       
Change in non-credit impairments recognized in OCI
  $ 44     $ (51 )   $ 97     $ (176 )
 
                       
[1]  
The Company adopted the other-than-temporary impairment guidance as of April 1, 2009.
The Company’s evaluation of whether a credit impairment exists for debt securities includes but is not limited to, the following factors: (a) changes in the financial condition of the security’s underlying collateral, (b) whether the issuer is current on contractually obligated interest and principal payments, (c) changes in the financial condition, credit rating and near-term prospects of the issuer, (d) the extent to which the fair value has been less than the amortized cost of the security and (e) the payment structure of the security. The Company’s best estimate of expected future cash flows used to determine the credit loss amount is a quantitative and qualitative process that incorporates information received from third-party sources along with certain internal assumptions and judgments regarding the future performance of the security. The Company’s best estimate of future cash flows involves assumptions including, but not limited to, various performance indicators, such as historical and projected default and recovery rates, credit ratings, current delinquency rates, and loan-to-value ratios. In addition, for structured securities, the Company considers factors including, but not limited to, average cumulative collateral loss rates that vary by vintage year, commercial and residential property value declines that vary by property type and location and commercial real estate delinquency levels. These assumptions require the use of significant management judgment and include the probability of issuer default and estimates regarding timing and amount of expected recoveries which may include estimating the underlying collateral value. In addition, projections of expected future debt security cash flows may change based upon new information regarding the performance of the issuer and/or underlying collateral such as changes in the projections of the underlying property value estimates.
For equity securities where the decline in the fair value is deemed to be other-than-temporary, a charge is recorded in net realized capital losses equal to the difference between the fair value and cost basis of the security. The previous cost basis less the impairment becomes the security’s new cost basis. The Company asserts its intent and ability to retain those equity securities deemed to be temporarily impaired until the price recovers. Once identified, these securities are systematically restricted from trading unless approved by a committee of investment and accounting professionals (“Committee”). The Committee will only authorize the sale of these securities based on predefined criteria that relate to events that could not have been reasonably foreseen. Examples of the criteria include, but are not limited to, the deterioration in the issuer’s financial condition, security price declines, a change in regulatory requirements or a major business combination or major disposition.
The primary factors considered in evaluating whether an impairment exists for an equity security include, but are not limited to: (a) the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than the cost of the security, (b) changes in the financial condition, credit rating and near-term prospects of the issuer, (c) whether the issuer is current on contractually obligated payments and (d) the intent and ability of the Company to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for recovery.

 

37


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Before-tax)   2010     2009     2010     2009  
Gross gains on sales
  $ 179     $ 205     $ 654     $ 570  
Gross losses on sales
    (88 )     (104 )     (293 )     (1,013 )
Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings
    (115 )     (536 )     (375 )     (1,074 )
Valuation allowances on mortgage loans
    (7 )     (40 )     (159 )     (193 )
Japanese fixed annuity contract hedges, net [1]
    11       (7 )     22       28  
Periodic net coupon settlements on credit derivatives/Japan
    (4 )     (7 )     (15 )     (39 )
Results of variable annuity hedge program
                               
GMWB derivatives, net
    170       (190 )     (127 )     1,070  
Macro hedge program
    (443 )     (328 )     (210 )     (692 )
 
                       
Total results of variable annuity hedge program
    (273 )     (518 )     (337 )     378  
Other, net [2]
    36       (212 )     (23 )     (473 )
 
                       
Net realized capital losses
  $ (261 )   $ (1,219 )   $ (526 )   $ (1,816 )
 
                       
     
[1]  
Relates to derivative hedging instruments, excluding periodic net coupon settlements, and is net of the Japanese fixed annuity product liability adjustment for changes in the dollar/yen exchange spot rate.
 
[2]  
Primarily consists of losses on Japan 3Win related foreign currency swaps, changes in fair value on non-qualifying derivatives and fixed maturities, FVO, and other investment gains and losses.
Net realized capital gains (losses) from investment sales, after deducting the life and pension policyholders’ share for certain products, are reported as a component of revenues and are determined on a specific identification basis. Net realized capital gains (losses) on sales and impairments previously reported as unrealized losses in AOCI were $24 and $14 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, and $435 and $1.5 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. Proceeds from sales of AFS securities totaled $13.7 billion and $35.8 billion, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, and $6.2 billion and $34.3 billion, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Losses
The following table presents a roll-forward of the Company’s cumulative credit impairments on debt securities held. The Company adopted the impairment guidance as of April 1, 2009.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Before-tax)   2010     2009     2010     2009  
Balance as of beginning of period
  $ (2,281 )   $ (1,578 )   $ (2,200 )   $ (1,320 )
Additions for credit impairments recognized on [1]:
                               
Securities not previously impaired
    (19 )     (315 )     (183 )     (527 )
Securities previously impaired
    (52 )     (180 )     (143 )     (229 )
Reductions for credit impairments previously recognized on:
                               
Securities that matured or were sold during the period
    224       28       378       28  
Securities that the Company intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell before recovery
                      3  
Securities due to an increase in expected cash flows
    10       2       30       2  
 
                       
Balance as of end of period
  $ (2,118 )   $ (2,043 )   $ (2,118 )   $ (2,043 )
 
                       
     
[1]  
These additions are included in the net OTTI losses recognized in earnings in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

38


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
Available-for-Sale Securities
                                                                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Cost or     Gross     Gross             Non-     Cost or     Gross     Gross             Non-  
    Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair     Credit     Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair     Credit  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value     OTTI [1]     Cost     Gains     Losses     Value     OTTI [1]  
ABS
  $ 3,341     $ 75     $ (407 )   $ 3,009     $ (22 )   $ 3,040     $ 36     $ (553 )   $ 2,523     $ (48 )
CDOs
    3,114       16       (567 )     2,563       (90 )     4,054       27       (1,189 )     2,892       (174 )
CMBS
    8,776       301       (917 )     8,160       (3 )     10,736       114       (2,306 )     8,544       (6 )
Corporate [2]
    38,368       3,244       (702 )     40,851       (4 )     35,318       1,368       (1,443 )     35,243       (23 )
Foreign govt./govt. agencies
    1,773       162       (11 )     1,924             1,376       52       (20 )     1,408        
Municipal
    12,235       596       (108 )     12,723             12,125       318       (378 )     12,065       (3 )
RMBS
    5,919       156       (524 )     5,551       (132 )     5,512       104       (769 )     4,847       (185 )
U.S. Treasuries
    4,958       75       (78 )     4,955             3,854       14       (237 )     3,631        
 
                                                           
Total fixed maturities, AFS
    78,484       4,625       (3,314 )     79,736       (251 )     76,015       2,033       (6,895 )     71,153       (439 )
Equity securities, AFS
    1,232       76       (140 )     1,168             1,333       80       (192 )     1,221        
 
                                                           
Total AFS securities
  $ 79,716     $ 4,701     $ (3,454 )   $ 80,904     $ (251 )   $ 77,348     $ 2,113     $ (7,087 )   $ 72,374     $ (439 )
 
                                                           
     
[1]  
Represents the amount of cumulative non-credit OTTI losses recognized in OCI on securities that also had credit impairments. These losses are included in gross unrealized losses as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
 
[2]  
Gross unrealized gains (losses) exclude the fair value of bifurcated embedded derivative features of certain securities. Subsequent changes in value will be recorded in net realized capital gains (losses).
                 
    September 30, 2010  
Contractual Maturity   Amortized Cost     Fair Value  
One year or less
  $ 1,894     $ 1,912  
Over one year through five years
    16,649       17,564  
Over five years through ten years
    14,668       15,836  
Over ten years
    24,123       25,141  
 
           
Subtotal
    57,334       60,453  
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities
    21,150       19,283  
 
           
Total fixed maturities, AFS
  $ 78,484     $ 79,736  
 
           
Estimated maturities may differ from contractual maturities due to security call or prepayment provisions. Due to the potential for variability in payment spreads (i.e. prepayments or extensions), mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are not categorized by contractual maturity.

 

39


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
Available-for-Sale Securities — Unrealized Loss Aging
The following tables present the Company’s unrealized loss aging for AFS securities by type and length of time the security was in a continuous unrealized loss position.
                                                                         
    September 30, 2010  
    Less Than 12 Months     12 Months or More     Total  
    Cost or                     Cost or                     Cost or              
    Amortized     Fair     Unrealized     Amortized     Fair     Unrealized     Amortized     Fair     Unrealized  
    Cost     Value     Losses     Cost     Value     Losses     Cost     Value     Losses  
ABS
  $ 204     $ 186     $ (18 )   $ 1,479     $ 1,090     $ (389 )   $ 1,683     $ 1,276     $ (407 )
CDOs
    317       279       (38 )     2,763       2,234       (529 )     3,080       2,513       (567 )
CMBS
    251       238       (13 )     4,531       3,627       (904 )     4,782       3,865       (917 )
Corporate [1]
    1,531       1,418       (107 )     4,710       4,062       (595 )     6,241       5,480       (702 )
Foreign govt./govt. agencies
    35       34       (1 )     75       65       (10 )     110       99       (11 )
Municipal
    319       315       (4 )     1,139       1,035       (104 )     1,458       1,350       (108 )
RMBS
    1,064       1,041       (23 )     1,693       1,192       (501 )     2,757       2,233       (524 )
U.S. Treasuries
    764       762       (2 )     575       499       (76 )     1,339       1,261       (78 )
 
                                                     
Total fixed maturities, AFS
    4,485       4,273       (206 )     16,965       13,804       (3,108 )     21,450       18,077       (3,314 )
Equity securities, AFS
    66       61       (5 )     789       654       (135 )     855       715       (140 )
 
                                                     
Total AFS securities in an unrealized loss
  $ 4,551     $ 4,334     $ (211 )   $ 17,754     $ 14,458     $ (3,243 )   $ 22,305     $ 18,792     $ (3,454 )
 
                                                     
     
[1]  
Unrealized losses exclude the fair value of bifurcated embedded derivative features of certain securities. Subsequent changes in value will be recorded in net realized capital gains (losses).
                                                                         
    December 31, 2009  
    Less Than 12 Months     12 Months or More     Total  
    Cost or                     Cost or                     Cost or              
    Amortized     Fair     Unrealized     Amortized     Fair     Unrealized     Amortized     Fair     Unrealized  
    Cost     Value     Losses     Cost     Value     Losses     Cost     Value     Losses  
ABS
  $ 445     $ 376     $ (69 )   $ 1,574     $ 1,090     $ (484 )   $ 2,019     $ 1,466     $ (553 )
CDOs
    1,649       1,418       (231 )     2,388       1,430       (958 )     4,037       2,848       (1,189 )
CMBS
    1,951       1,628       (323 )     6,330       4,347       (1,983 )     8,281       5,975       (2,306 )
Corporate
    5,715       5,314       (401 )     6,675       5,633       (1,042 )     12,390       10,947       (1,443 )
Foreign govt./govt. agencies
    543       530       (13 )     43       36       (7 )     586       566       (20 )
Municipal
    2,339       2,283       (56 )     2,184       1,862       (322 )     4,523       4,145       (378 )
RMBS
    855       787       (68 )     1,927       1,226       (701 )     2,782       2,013       (769 )
U.S. Treasuries
    2,592       2,538       (54 )     648       465       (183 )     3,240       3,003       (237 )
 
                                                     
Total fixed maturities, AFS
    16,089       14,874       (1,215 )     21,769       16,089       (5,680 )     37,858       30,963       (6,895 )
Equity securities, AFS
    419       356       (63 )     676       547       (129 )     1,095       903       (192 )
 
                                                     
Total AFS securities in an unrealized loss
  $ 16,508     $ 15,230     $ (1,278 )   $ 22,445     $ 16,636     $ (5,809 )   $ 38,953     $ 31,866     $ (7,087 )
 
                                                     
As of September 30, 2010, AFS securities in an unrealized loss position, comprised of 2,197 securities, primarily related to CMBS, corporate securities primarily within the financial services sector, CDOs and RMBS which have experienced significant price deterioration. As of September 30, 2010, 70% of these securities were depressed less than 20% of cost or amortized cost. The decline in unrealized losses during 2010 was primarily attributable to declining interest rates and, to a lesser extent, credit spread tightening. The Company neither has an intention to sell nor does it expect to be required to sell the securities outlined above.

 

40


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
Mortgage Loans
                                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Amortized     Valuation     Carrying     Amortized     Valuation     Carrying  
    Cost [1]     Allowance     Value     Cost [1]     Allowance     Value  
Agricultural
  $ 350     $ (22 )   $ 328     $ 604     $ (8 )   $ 596  
Commercial
    4,321       (139 )     4,182       5,492       (358 )     5,134  
Residential
    177       (3 )     174       208             208  
 
                                   
Total mortgage loans
  $ 4,848     $ (164 )   $ 4,684     $ 6,304     $ (366 )   $ 5,938  
 
                                   
     
[1]  
Amortized cost represents carrying value prior to valuation allowances, if any.
Included in the table above, are mortgage loans held-for-sale with a carrying value and valuation allowance of $107 and $14, respectively, as of September 30, 2010, and $209 and $98, respectively, as of December 31, 2009. The carrying value of these loans is included in mortgage loans in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2010. The following table presents the activity within the Company’s valuation allowance for mortgage loans.
                 
    2010     2009  
Balance as of January 1
  $ (366 )   $ (26 )
Additions
    (159 )     (198 )
Deductions
    361       48  
 
           
Balance as of September 30
  $ (164 )   $ (176 )
 
           
As of September 30, 2010, deductions of $361 primarily relate to sales of B-Note participations and mezzanine loans with a carrying value at time of sale of $699.
                                 
Mortgage Loans by Region  
 
 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Carrying     Percent of     Carrying     Percent of  
    Value     Total     Value     Total  
East North Central
  $ 77       1.6 %   $ 125       2.1 %
Middle Atlantic
    432       9.2 %     689       11.6 %
Mountain
    112       2.4 %     138       2.3 %
New England
    390       8.3 %     449       7.6 %
Pacific
    1,182       25.2 %     1,377       23.2 %
South Atlantic
    1,188       25.4 %     1,213       20.4 %
West North Central
    37       0.8 %     51       0.9 %
West South Central
    242       5.2 %     297       5.0 %
Other [1]
    1,024       21.9 %     1,599       26.9 %
 
                       
Total mortgage loans
  $ 4,684       100.0 %   $ 5,938       100.0 %
 
                       
     
[1]  
Primarily represents loans collateralized by multiple properties in various regions.
                                 
Mortgage Loans by Property Type  
 
 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Carrying     Percent of     Carrying     Percent of  
    Value     Total     Value     Total  
Agricultural
  $ 328       7.0 %   $ 596       10.0 %
Industrial
    1,144       24.4 %     1,068       18.0 %
Lodging
    167       3.6 %     421       7.1 %
Multifamily
    820       17.5 %     835       14.1 %
Office
    1,011       21.6 %     1,727       29.1 %
Residential
    174       3.7 %     208       3.5 %
Retail
    655       14.0 %     712       12.0 %
Other
    385       8.2 %     371       6.2 %
 
                       
Total mortgage loans
  $ 4,684       100.0 %   $ 5,938       100.0 %
 
                       

 

41


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
Variable Interest Entities
The Company is involved with various special purpose entities and other entities that are deemed to be VIEs primarily as a collateral manager and as an investor through normal investment activities, as well as a means of accessing capital. A VIE is an entity that either has investors that lack certain essential characteristics of a controlling financial interest or lacks sufficient funds to finance its own activities without financial support provided by other entities.
The Company performs ongoing qualitative assessments of its VIEs to determine whether the Company has a controlling financial interest in the VIE and therefore is the primary beneficiary. The Company is deemed to have a controlling financial interest when it has both the ability to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Based on the Company’s assessment, if it determines it is the primary beneficiary, the Company consolidates the VIE in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Consolidated VIEs
The following table presents the carrying value of assets and liabilities, and the maximum exposure to loss relating to the VIEs for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Creditors have no recourse against the Company in the event of default by these VIEs nor does the Company have any implied or unfunded commitments to these VIEs. The Company’s financial or other support provided to these VIEs is limited to its investment management services and original investment. As a result of accounting guidance adopted on January 1, 2010, certain CDO VIEs were consolidated in 2010 and are included in the following table, while in prior periods they were reported in the Non-Consolidated VIEs table further below. See Note 1 for further information on the adoption.
                                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
                    Maximum                     Maximum  
    Total     Total     Exposure     Total     Total     Exposure  
    Assets     Liabilities [1]     to Loss [2]     Assets     Liabilities [1]   to Loss [2]  
CDOs [3]
  $ 768     $ 404     $ 334     $ 226     $ 32     $ 196  
Limited partnerships
    14       1       13       31       1       30  
Other investments [3]
                      111       20       87  
 
                                   
Total
  $ 782     $ 405     $ 347     $ 368     $ 53     $ 313  
 
                                   
     
[1]  
Included in other liabilities in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
[2]  
The maximum exposure to loss represents the maximum loss amount that the Company could recognize as a reduction in net investment income or as a realized capital loss and is the cost basis of the Company’s investment.
 
[3]  
Total assets included in fixed maturities, AFS, and fixed maturities, FVO, in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
CDOs represent structured investment vehicles for which the Company has a controlling financial interest as it provides collateral management services, earns a fee for those services and also holds investments in the securities issued by these vehicles. Limited partnerships represent a hedge fund for which the Company holds a majority interest in the fund as an investment. Other investments represent an investment trust for which the Company has a controlling financial interest as it provides investment management services, earns a fee for those services and also holds investments in the securities issued by the trusts. Subsequent to December 31, 2009, the Company liquidated this investment trust.

 

42


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
Non-Consolidated VIEs
The following table presents the carrying value of assets and liabilities, and the maximum exposure to loss relating to significant VIEs for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. The Company has no implied or unfunded commitments to these VIEs.
                                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
                    Maximum                     Maximum  
                    Exposure                     Exposure  
    Assets     Liabilities     to Loss     Assets     Liabilities     to Loss  
CDOs [1]
  $     $     $     $ 262     $     $ 273  
Other [2]
    34       32       4       36       36       5  
 
                                   
Total
  $ 34     $ 32     $ 4     $ 298     $ 36     $ 278  
 
                                   
     
[1]  
Maximum exposure to loss represents the Company’s investment in securities issued by CDOs at cost.
 
[2]  
Maximum exposure to loss represents issuance costs that were incurred to establish a contingent capital facility.
Other represents the Company’s variable interest in a contingent capital facility (“facility”), which has been held for less than four years. For further information on the facility, see Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report. The Company does not have a controlling financial interest as it does not manage the assets of the facility nor does it have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the facility, as the asset manager has significant variable interest in the vehicle. The Company’s financial or other support provided to the facility is limited to providing ongoing support to cover the facility’s operating expenses.
In addition, the Company, through normal investment activities, makes passive investments in structured securities issued by VIEs for which the Company is not the manager which are included in ABS, CDOs, CMBS and RMBS in the Available-for-Sale Securities table and fixed maturities, FVO, in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company has not provided financial or other support with respect to these investments other than its original investment. For these investments, the Company determined it is not the primary beneficiary due to the relative size of the Company’s investment in comparison to the principal amount of the structured securities issued by the VIEs, the level of credit subordination which reduces the Company’s obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits and the Company’s inability to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIEs. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss on these investments is limited to the amount of the Company’s investment.

 

43


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
Derivative Instruments
The Company utilizes a variety of over-the-counter and exchange traded derivative instruments as a part of its overall risk management strategy, as well as to enter into replication transactions. Derivative instruments are used to manage risk associated with interest rate, equity market, credit spread, issuer default, price, and currency exchange rate risk or volatility. Replication transactions are used as an economical means to synthetically replicate the characteristics and performance of assets that would otherwise be permissible investments under the Company’s investment policies. The Company also purchases and issues financial instruments and products that either are accounted for as free-standing derivatives, such as certain reinsurance contracts, or may contain features that are deemed to be embedded derivative instruments, such as the GMWB rider included with certain variable annuity products.
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate swaps
Interest rate swaps are primarily used to convert interest receipts on floating-rate fixed maturity securities or interest payments on floating-rate guaranteed investment contracts to fixed rates. These derivatives are predominantly used to better match cash receipts from assets with cash disbursements required to fund liabilities.
The Company also enters into forward starting swap agreements to hedge the interest rate exposure related to the purchase of fixed-rate securities or the anticipated future cash flows of floating-rate fixed maturity securities due to changes in interest rates. These derivatives are primarily structured to hedge interest rate risk inherent in the assumptions used to price certain liabilities.
Forward rate agreements
Forward rate agreements are used to convert interest receipts on floating-rate securities to fixed rates. These derivatives are used to lock in the forward interest rate curve and reduce income volatility that results from changes in interest rates. As of September 30, 2010, the Company does not have any forward rate agreements.
Foreign currency swaps
Foreign currency swaps are used to convert foreign currency-denominated cash flows related to certain investment receipts and liability payments to U.S. dollars in order to minimize cash flow fluctuations due to changes in currency rates.
Fair value hedges
Interest rate swaps
Interest rate swaps are used to hedge the changes in fair value of certain fixed rate liabilities and fixed maturity securities due to fluctuations in interest rates.
Foreign currency swaps
Foreign currency swaps are used to hedge the changes in fair value of certain foreign currency-denominated fixed rate liabilities due to changes in foreign currency rates by swapping the fixed foreign payments to floating rate U.S. dollar denominated payments.
Non-qualifying strategies
Interest rate swaps, caps, floors, and futures
The Company uses interest rate swaps, caps, floors, and futures to manage duration between assets and liabilities in certain investment portfolios. In addition, the Company enters into interest rate swaps to terminate existing swaps, thereby offsetting the changes in value of the original swap. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the notional amount of interest rate swaps in offsetting relationships was $7.1 billion and $7.3 billion, respectively.
Foreign currency swaps, forwards and options
The Company enters into foreign currency swaps and forwards to convert the foreign currency exposures to U.S. dollars in certain of its foreign currency-denominated fixed maturity investments.

 

44


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
Japan 3Win related foreign currency swaps
Prior to the second quarter of 2009, The Company offered certain variable annuity products with a GMIB rider through a wholly-owned Japanese subsidiary. The GMIB rider is reinsured to a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, which invests in U.S. dollar denominated assets to support the liability. The U.S. subsidiary entered into pay U.S. dollar, receive yen forward contracts to hedge the currency and interest rate exposure between the U.S. dollar denominated assets and the yen denominated fixed liability reinsurance payments.
Japanese fixed annuity hedging instruments
Prior to the second quarter of 2009, The Company offered a yen denominated fixed annuity product through a wholly-owned Japanese subsidiary and reinsured to a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary. The U.S. subsidiary invests in U.S. dollar denominated securities to support the yen denominated fixed liability payments and entered into currency rate swaps to hedge the foreign currency exchange rate and yen interest rate exposures that exist as a result of U.S. dollar assets backing the yen denominated liability.
Japanese variable annuity hedging instruments
The Company enters into foreign currency forward and option contracts to hedge the foreign currency risk associated with certain Japanese variable annuity liabilities. Foreign currency risk may arise for some segments of the business where assets backing the statutory reserves are denominated in U.S. dollars while the liabilities are denominated in yen. Foreign currency risk may also arise when certain variable annuity policyholder accounts are invested in various currencies while the related GMDB and GMIB guarantees are effectively yen-denominated.
Credit derivatives that purchase credit protection
Credit default swaps are used to purchase credit protection on an individual entity or referenced index to economically hedge against default risk and credit-related changes in value on fixed maturity securities. These contracts require the Company to pay a periodic fee in exchange for compensation from the counterparty should the referenced security issuers experience a credit event, as defined in the contract.
Credit derivatives that assume credit risk
Credit default swaps are used to assume credit risk related to an individual entity, referenced index, or asset pool, as a part of replication transactions. These contracts entitle the Company to receive a periodic fee in exchange for an obligation to compensate the derivative counterparty should the referenced security issuers experience a credit event, as defined in the contract. The Company is also exposed to credit risk due to credit derivatives embedded within certain fixed maturity securities. These securities are primarily comprised of structured securities that contain credit derivatives that reference a standard index of corporate securities.
Credit derivatives in offsetting positions
The Company enters into credit default swaps to terminate existing credit default swaps, thereby offsetting the changes in value of the original swap going forward.
Equity index swaps, options, and futures
The Company offers certain equity indexed products, which may contain an embedded derivative that requires bifurcation. The Company enters into S&P index swaps, futures and options to economically hedge the equity volatility risk associated with these embedded derivatives.
Warrants
During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company issued warrants to purchase the Company’s Series C Non-Voting Contingent Convertible Preferred Stock, which were required to be accounted for as a derivative liability at December 31, 2008. As of March 31, 2009, the warrants were no longer required to be accounted for as derivatives and were reclassified to equity.
GMWB product derivatives
The Company offers certain variable annuity products with a GMWB rider in the U.S. and formerly in the U.K. and Japan. The GMWB is a bifurcated embedded derivative that provides the policyholder with a guaranteed remaining balance (“GRB”) if the account value is reduced to zero through a combination of market declines and withdrawals. The GRB is generally equal to premiums less withdrawals. Certain contract provisions can increase the GRB at contractholder election or after the passage of time. The notional value of the embedded derivative is the GRB.

 

45


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
GMWB reinsurance contracts
The Company has entered into reinsurance arrangements to offset a portion of its risk exposure to the GMWB for the remaining lives of covered variable annuity contracts. Reinsurance contracts covering GMWB are accounted for as free-standing derivatives. The notional amount of the reinsurance contracts is the GRB amount.
GMWB hedging instruments
The Company enters into derivative contracts to partially hedge exposure associated with the portion of the GMWB liabilities that are not reinsured. These derivative contracts include customized swaps, interest rate swaps and futures, and equity swaps, options, and futures, on certain indices including the S&P 500 index, EAFE index, and NASDAQ index.
The following table represents notional and fair value for GMWB hedging instruments.
                                 
    Notional Amount     Fair Value  
    September 30,     December 31,     September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Customized swaps
  $ 9,886     $ 10,838     $ 393     $ 234  
Equity swaps, options, and futures
    3,479       2,994       163       9  
Interest rate swaps and futures
    2,619       1,735       (42 )     (191 )
 
                       
Total
  $ 15,984     $ 15,567     $ 514     $ 52  
 
                       
Macro hedge program
The Company utilizes equity options, currency options, and equity futures contracts to partially hedge against a decline in the equity markets or changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the resulting statutory surplus and capital impact primarily arising from guaranteed minimum death benefit (“GMDB”), GMIB and GMWB obligations.
The following table represents notional and fair value for the macro hedge program.
                                 
    Notional Amount     Fair Value  
    September 30,     December 31,     September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Equity options and futures
  $ 14,747     $ 25,373     $ 393     $ 296  
Cross-currency equity options
    1,000             20        
Long currency options
    6,808       1,000       198       22  
Short currency options
    5,355       1,075       (13 )      
 
                       
Total
  $ 27,910     $ 27,448     $ 598     $ 318  
 
                       
GMAB product derivatives
The GMAB rider associated with certain of the Company’s Japanese variable annuity products is accounted for as a bifurcated embedded derivative. The GMAB provides the policyholder with their initial deposit in a lump sum after a specified waiting period. The notional amount of the embedded derivative is the yen denominated GRB converted to U.S. dollars at the current foreign spot exchange rate as of the reporting period date.
Contingent capital facility put option
The Company entered into a put option agreement that provides the Company the right to require a third-party trust to purchase, at any time, The Hartford’s junior subordinated notes in a maximum aggregate principal amount of $500. Under the put option agreement, The Hartford will pay premiums on a periodic basis and will reimburse the trust for certain fees and ordinary expenses.

 

46


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
Derivative Balance Sheet Classification
The table below summarizes the balance sheet classification of the Company’s derivative related fair value amounts, as well as the gross asset and liability fair value amounts. The fair value amounts presented do not include income accruals or cash collateral held amounts, which are netted with derivative fair value amounts to determine balance sheet presentation. Derivatives in the Company’s separate accounts are not included because the associated gains and losses accrue directly to policyholders. The Company’s derivative instruments are held for risk management purposes, unless otherwise noted in the table below. The notional amount of derivative contracts represents the basis upon which pay or receive amounts are calculated and is presented in the table to quantify the volume of the Company’s derivative activity. Notional amounts are not necessarily reflective of credit risk.
                                                                 
    Net Derivatives     Asset Derivatives     Liability Derivatives  
    Notional Amount     Fair Value     Fair Value     Fair Value  
    Sept. 30,     Dec. 31,     Sept. 30,     Dec. 31,     Sept. 30,     Dec. 31,     Sept. 30,     Dec. 31,  
Hedge Designation/ Derivative Type   2010     2009     2010     2009     2010     2009     2010     2009  
Cash flow hedges
                                                               
Interest rate swaps
  $ 10,193     $ 11,170     $ 433     $ 123     $ 433     $ 294     $     $ (171 )
Forward rate agreements
          6,355                                      
Foreign currency swaps
    346       381       (3 )     (3 )     33       30       (36 )     (33 )
 
                                               
Total cash flow hedges
    10,539       17,906       430       120       466       324       (36 )     (204 )
 
                                               
Fair value hedges
                                                               
Interest rate swaps
    979       1,745       (89 )     (21 )           16       (89 )     (37 )
Foreign currency swaps
    696       696       (10 )     (9 )     66       53       (76 )     (62 )
 
                                               
Total fair value hedges
    1,675       2,441       (99 )     (30 )     66       69       (165 )     (99 )
 
                                               
Non-qualifying strategies
                                                               
Interest rate contracts
                                                               
Interest rate swaps, caps, floors, and futures
    7,939       8,355       (347 )     (84 )     505       250       (852 )     (334 )
Foreign exchange contracts
                                                               
Foreign currency swaps and forwards
    386       1,039       (10 )     (13 )     2       14       (12 )     (27 )
Japan 3Win related foreign currency swaps
    2,515       2,514       74       (19 )     74       35             (54 )
Japanese fixed annuity hedging instruments
    2,206       2,271       564       316       564       319             (3 )
Japanese variable annuity hedging instruments
    1,395       257       39       (8 )     42             (3 )     (8 )
Credit contracts
                                                               
Credit derivatives that purchase credit protection
    2,897       2,606       22       (50 )     60       45       (38 )     (95 )
Credit derivatives that assume credit risk [1]
    2,695       1,158       (522 )     (240 )     3       2       (525 )     (242 )
Credit derivatives in offsetting positions
    6,618       6,176       (77 )     (71 )     122       185       (199 )     (256 )
Equity contracts
                                                               
Equity index swaps, options, and futures
    195       220       (8 )     (16 )     5       3       (13 )     (19 )
Variable annuity hedge program
                                                               
GMWB product derivatives [2]
    44,179       47,329       (2,605 )     (2,002 )                 (2,605 )     (2,002 )
GMWB reinsurance contracts
    9,141       10,301       458       347       458       347              
GMWB hedging instruments
    15,984       15,567       514       52       660       264       (146 )     (212 )
Macro hedge program
    27,910       27,448       598       318       626       558       (28 )     (240 )
Other
                                                               
GMAB product derivatives [2]
    242       226       1       2       1       2              
Contingent capital facility put option
    500       500       34       36       34       36              
 
                                               
Total non-qualifying strategies
    124,802       125,967       (1,265 )     (1,432 )     3,156       2,060       (4,421 )     (3,492 )
 
                                               
Total cash flow hedges, fair value hedges, and non-qualifying strategies
  $ 137,016     $ 146,314     $ (934 )   $ (1,342 )   $ 3,688     $ 2,453     $ (4,622 )   $ (3,795 )
 
                                               
Balance Sheet Location
                                                               
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
  $ 763     $ 269     $ (59 )   $ (8 )   $     $     $ (59 )   $ (8 )
Other investments
    44,543       24,006       1,333       390       1,824       492       (491 )     (102 )
Other liabilities
    38,050       64,061       (50 )     (56 )     1,405       1,612       (1,455 )     (1,668 )
Consumer notes
    39       64       (4 )     (5 )                 (4 )     (5 )
Reinsurance recoverables
    9,141       10,301       458       347       458       347              
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable
    44,480       47,613       (2,612 )     (2,010 )     1       2       (2,613 )     (2,012 )
 
                                               
Total derivatives
  $ 137,016     $ 146,314     $ (934 )   $ (1,342 )   $ 3,688     $ 2,453     $ (4,622 )   $ (3,795 )
 
                                               
     
[1]  
The derivative instruments related to these strategies are held for other investment purposes.
 
[2]  
These derivatives are embedded within liabilities and are not held for risk management purposes.

 

47


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
Change in Notional Amount
The net decrease in notional amount of derivatives since December 31, 2009, was primarily due to the following:
 
The Company terminated $6.4 billion notional of forward rate agreements as a result of the sale of the hedged variable rate securities. The $6.4 billion notional was comprised of a series of one month forward contracts that were hedging the variability of cash flows related to coupon payments on $555 of variable rate securities for consecutive monthly periods during 2010.
 
The GMWB product derivative notional declined $3.2 billion primarily as a result of policyholder lapses and withdrawals.
 
The notional amount related to credit derivatives that assume credit risk increased by $1.5 billion as a result of the Company adding $676 notional of exposure to a standard market basket of corporate issuers to manage credit spread duration, $525 notional related to the bifurcation of certain embedded credit derivatives as a result of new accounting guidance, and $353 related to the consolidation of a VIE as a result of new accounting guidance. See Adoption of New Accounting Standards in Note 1 for further discussion of the new accounting guidance on embedded credit derivatives and VIEs adopted during 2010.
Change in Fair Value
The change in the total fair value of derivative instruments since December 31, 2009, was primarily related to the following:
 
The increase in fair value of the macro hedge program is primarily due to appreciation of the Japanese yen and purchases of equity and currency options made during the first half of the year.
 
The increase in fair value related to the Japanese fixed annuity hedging instruments is primarily due to the U.S. dollar weakening in comparison to the Japanese yen.
 
The fair value related to credit derivatives that assume credit risk primarily decreased as a result of the Company adopting new accounting guidance related to the consolidation of VIEs; see Adoption of New Accounting Standards in Note 1. As a result of this new guidance, the Company has consolidated a Company sponsored CDO that included credit default swaps with a notional amount of $353 and a fair value of $(270) as of September 30, 2010. These swaps reference a basket of corporate issuers.
Cash Flow Hedges
For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of OCI and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Gains and losses on the derivative representing hedge ineffectiveness are recognized in current earnings. All components of each derivative’s gain or loss were included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.
The following table presents the components of the gain or loss on derivatives that qualify as cash flow hedges:
                                                                     
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships  
 
 
                                        Gain (Loss) Recognized in  
        Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI     Income on Derivative  
        on Derivative (Effective Portion)     (Ineffective Portion)  
        Three Months     Nine Months     Three Months     Nine Months  
        Ended     Ended     Ended     Ended  
        September 30,     September 30,     September 30,     September 30,  
        2010     2009     2010     2009     2010     2009     2010     2009  
Interest rate swaps
  Net realized capital gains (losses)   $ 182     $ 156     $ 542     $ (310 )   $     $     $ 3     $ (2 )
Foreign currency swaps
  Net realized capital gains (losses)     (15 )     (23 )           (160 )           17             56  
 
                                                   
Total
      $ 167     $ 133     $ 542     $ (470 )   $     $ 17     $ 3     $ 54  
 
                                                   
                                     
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships  
 
 
        Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income  
        (Effective Portion)  
        Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
        September 30,     September 30,  
        2010     2009     2010     2009  
Interest rate swaps
  Net realized capital gains (losses)   $ 7     $     $ 11     $ 11  
Interest rate swaps
  Net investment income (loss)     27       13       61       33  
Foreign currency swaps
  Net realized capital gains (losses)     11       (31 )     (5 )     (102 )
Foreign currency swaps
  Net investment income (loss)           1             2  
 
                           
Total
      $ 45     $ (17 )   $ 67     $ (56 )
 
                           

 

48


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the before-tax deferred net gains on derivative instruments recorded in AOCI that are expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next twelve months are $110. This expectation is based on the anticipated interest payments on hedged investments in fixed maturity securities that will occur over the next twelve months, at which time the Company will recognize the deferred net gains (losses) as an adjustment to interest income over the term of the investment cash flows. The maximum term over which the Company is hedging its exposure to the variability of future cash flows (for forecasted transactions, excluding interest payments on existing variable-rate financial instruments) is three years.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company had no net reclassifications and less than $1 of net reclassifications, respectively, from AOCI to earnings resulting from the discontinuance of cash-flow hedges due to forecasted transactions that were no longer probable of occurring. For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company had no net reclassifications and $1 of net reclassifications, respectively, from AOCI to earnings resulting from the discontinuance of cash-flow hedges due to forecasted transactions that were no longer probable of occurring.
Fair Value Hedges
For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative, as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in current earnings. The Company includes the gain or loss on the derivative in the same line item as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item. All components of each derivative’s gain or loss were included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.
The Company recognized in income gains (losses) representing the ineffective portion of fair value hedges as follows:
                                                                 
Derivatives in Fair Value Hedging Relationships  
 
 
    Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income [1]  
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
            Hedge             Hedge             Hedge             Hedge  
    Derivative     Item     Derivative     Item     Derivative     Item     Derivative     Item  
Interest rate swaps
                                                               
Net realized capital gains (losses)
  $ (25 )   $ 25     $ (15 )   $ 15     $ (77 )   $ 72     $ 51     $ (47 )
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses
    (1 )     2       9       (9 )     (3 )     5       (33 )     35  
Foreign currency swaps
                                                               
Net realized capital gains (losses)
    44       (44 )     (1 )     1       4       (4 )     46       (46 )
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses
    (5 )     5       2       (2 )     (6 )     6       2       (2 )
 
                                               
Total
  $ 13     $ (12 )   $ (5 )   $ 5     $ (82 )   $ 79     $ 66     $ (60 )
 
                                               
     
[1]  
The amounts presented do not include the periodic net coupon settlements of the derivative or the coupon income (expense) related to the hedged item. The net of the amounts presented represents the ineffective portion of the hedge.

 

49


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
Non-qualifying Strategies
For non-qualifying strategies, including embedded derivatives that are required to be bifurcated from their host contracts and accounted for as derivatives, the gain or loss on the derivative is recognized currently in earnings within net realized capital gains or losses. The following table presents the gain or loss recognized in income on non-qualifying strategies:
                                 
Non-qualifying Strategies  
Gain (Loss) Recognized within Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses)  
 
 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Interest rate contracts
                               
Interest rate swaps, caps, floors, and forwards
  $ 50     $ 3     $ 45     $ 23  
Foreign exchange contracts
                               
Foreign currency swaps, forwards, and swaptions
    (21 )     (30 )     8       (52 )
Japan 3Win hedging derivatives [1]
    84       128       93       18  
Japanese fixed annuity hedging instruments [2]
    160       178       301       60  
Japanese variable annuity hedging instruments
    15       7       60       (12 )
Credit contracts
                               
Credit derivatives that purchase credit protection
    (34 )     (103 )     4       (493 )
Credit derivatives that assume credit risk
    113       51       100       128  
Equity contracts
                               
Equity index swaps, options, and futures
    2       3       7       (2 )
Warrants
                      70  
Variable annuity hedge program
                               
GMWB product derivatives
    655       391       (489 )     3,736  
GMWB reinsurance contracts
    (101 )     (103 )     84       (788 )
GMWB hedging instruments
    (384 )     (478 )     278       (1,878 )
Macro hedge program
    (443 )     (328 )     (210 )     (692 )
Other
                               
GMAB product derivatives
    3       1       1       5  
Contingent capital facility put option
    (1 )     (1 )     (3 )     (6 )
 
                       
Total
  $ 98     $ (281 )   $ 279     $ 117  
 
                       
     
[1]  
The associated liability is adjusted for changes in spot rates through realized capital gains and losses and was $(114) and $(150) for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively and $(210) and $(10) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
[2]  
The associated liability is adjusted for changes in spot rates through realized capital gains and losses and was $(140) and $(176) for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $(258) and $(25) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the net realized capital gain (loss) related to derivatives used in non-qualifying strategies was primarily comprised of the following:
 
The net loss associated with the macro hedge program is primarily due to a higher equity market valuation, time decay, and lower implied market volatility.
 
The net gain on the Japanese fixed annuity hedging instruments is primarily due to the U.S. dollar weakening in comparison to the Japanese yen and a decrease in Japanese interest rates.
 
The gain for the three months ended September 30, 2010 related to the net GMWB product, reinsurance, and hedging derivatives is primarily driven by liability model assumption updates and lower implied market volatility, partially offset by losses due to a general decrease in long-term rates. The loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 related to the net GMWB product, reinsurance, and hedging derivatives is primarily driven by a general decrease in long-term interest rates, partially offset by gains on liability model assumption updates.
 
The net gain associated with credit derivatives that assume credit risk is primarily due to credit spreads tightening.
 
The net gain related to the Japan 3 Win hedging derivatives is primarily due to the strengthening of the Japanese yen in comparison to the U.S. dollar, partially offset by the decrease in U.S. long-term interest rates.

 

50


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the net realized capital gain (loss) related to derivatives used in non-qualifying strategies was primarily comprised of the following:
 
The loss on the net GMWB product, reinsurance, and hedging derivatives for the three months ended September 30, 2009, was primarily due to a general decrease in long-term interest rates, higher implied market volatility, and rising equity markets. Additional losses on the GMWB related derivatives beyond market impacts include liability model assumption updates and changes in credit standing, partially offset by gains due to the relative outperformance of the underlying actively managed funds as compared to their respective indices. The net gain on the net GMWB product, reinsurance, and hedging derivatives for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, was primarily due to lower implied market volatility and a general increase in long-term interest rates, partially offset by rising equity markets. Additional gains on GMWB related derivatives beyond market impacts include the relative outperformance of the underlying actively managed funds as compared to their respective indices, liability model assumption updates, and changes in credit standing. For further discussion on liability model assumption updates, refer to Note 4a.
 
The net loss associated with the macro hedge program was primarily due to higher equity market valuation and the impact of trading activity and to a lesser extent, time decay on foreign exchange rates.
 
The net gain on the Japanese fixed annuity and Japan 3Win hedging instruments for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was primarily due to weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Japanese yen.
 
The loss on credit derivatives that purchase credit protection and the net gain on credit derivatives that assume credit risk as a part of replication transactions resulted from credit spreads tightening.
Refer to Note 9 for additional disclosures regarding contingent credit related features in derivative agreements.
Credit Risk Assumed through Credit Derivatives
The Company enters into credit default swaps that assume credit risk of a single entity, referenced index, or asset pool in order to synthetically replicate investment transactions. The Company will receive periodic payments based on an agreed upon rate and notional amount and will only make a payment if there is a credit event. A credit event payment will typically be equal to the notional value of the swap contract less the value of the referenced security issuer’s debt obligation after the occurrence of the credit event. A credit event is generally defined as a default on contractually obligated interest or principal payments or bankruptcy of the referenced entity. The credit default swaps in which the Company assumes credit risk primarily reference investment grade single corporate issuers and baskets, which include trades ranging from baskets of up to five corporate issuers to standard and customized diversified portfolios of corporate issuers. The diversified portfolios of corporate issuers are established within sector concentration limits and are typically divided into tranches that possess different credit ratings.
The following tables present the notional amount, fair value, weighted average years to maturity, underlying referenced credit obligation type and average credit ratings, and offsetting notional amounts and fair value for credit derivatives in which the Company is assuming credit risk as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
                                             
As of September 30, 2010  
 
 
                        Underlying Referenced            
                    Weighted   Credit Obligation(s) [1]            
                    Average       Average   Offsetting        
Credit Derivative type by derivative   Notional     Fair     Years to       Credit   Notional     Offsetting  
risk exposure   Amount [2]     Value     Maturity   Type   Rating   Amount [3]     Fair Value [3]  
Single name credit default swaps
                                           
Investment grade risk exposure
  $ 1,531     $ (17 )   4 years   Corporate Credit/
Foreign Gov.
  A+   $ 1,415     $ (43 )
Below investment grade risk exposure
    161       (7 )   3 years   Corporate Credit   BB-     120       (10 )
Basket credit default swaps [4]
                                           
Investment grade risk exposure
    1,975       9     4 years   Corporate Credit   BBB+     1,224       (11 )
Investment grade risk exposure
    525       (75 )   6 years   CMBS Credit   A-     525       75  
Below investment grade risk exposure
    1,227       (462 )   4 years   Corporate Credit   BBB     25       1  
Embedded credit derivatives
                                           
Investment grade risk exposure
    60       59     2 years   Corporate Credit   BBB            
Below investment grade risk exposure
    525       444     6 years   Corporate Credit   BB            
 
                                   
Total
  $ 6,004     $ (49 )               $ 3,309     $ 12  
 
                                   

 

51


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
5. Investments and Derivative Instruments (continued)
                                                         
As of December 31, 2009  
 
 
                            Underlying Referenced              
                    Weighted     Credit Obligation(s) [1]              
                    Average             Average     Offsetting        
Credit Derivative type by derivative   Notional     Fair     Years to             Credit     Notional     Offsetting  
risk exposure   Amount [2]     Value     Maturity     Type     Rating     Amount [3]     Fair Value [3]  
Single name credit default swaps
                                                       
Investment grade risk exposure
  $ 1,226     $ 4     4 years   Corporate Credit/
Foreign Gov.
  AA-   $ 1,201     $ (59 )
Below investment grade risk exposure
    156       (4 )   3 years   Corporate Credit   B+     85       (12 )
Basket credit default swaps [4]
                                                       
Investment grade risk exposure
    2,052       (54 )   4 years   Corporate Credit   BBB+     1,277       (21 )
Investment grade risk exposure
    525       (141 )   7 years   CMBS Credit   A     525       141  
Below investment grade risk exposure
    200       (157 )   5 years   Corporate Credit   BBB+            
Credit linked notes
                                                       
Investment grade risk exposure
    87       83     2 years   Corporate Credit   BBB+            
 
                                               
Total
  $ 4,246     $ (269 )                           $ 3,088     $ 49  
 
                                               
     
[1]  
The average credit ratings are based on availability and the midpoint of the applicable ratings among Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch. If no rating is available from a rating agency, then an internally developed rating is used.
 
[2]  
Notional amount is equal to the maximum potential future loss amount. There is no specific collateral related to these contracts or recourse provisions included in the contracts to offset losses.
 
[3]  
The Company has entered into offsetting credit default swaps to terminate certain existing credit default swaps, thereby offsetting the future changes in value of, or losses paid related to, the original swap.
 
[4]  
Includes $3.1 billion and $2.5 billion as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, of standard market indices of diversified portfolios of corporate issuers referenced through credit default swaps. These swaps are subsequently valued based upon the observable standard market index. Also includes $628 and $325 as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, of customized diversified portfolios of corporate issuers referenced through credit default swaps.
6. Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits
Changes in deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits were as follows:
                 
    2010     2009  
Balance, January 1
  $ 10,686     $ 13,248  
Deferred Costs
    1,999       2,155  
Amortization — DAC
    (2,057 )     (2,531 )
Amortization — Unlock (charge) benefit, pre-tax [1]
    30       (1,089 )
Adjustments to unrealized gains and losses on securities available-for-sale and other [2] [3]
    (1,462 )     (692 )
Effect of currency translation
    179       27  
Effect of new accounting guidance [3]
    11       (78 )
 
           
Balance, September 30
  $ 9,386     $ 11,040  
 
           
     
[1]  
The most significant contributors to the Unlock benefit recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were actual separate account returns from January 1, 2010 to September 30, 2010 being above the Company’s aggregated estimated return, as well as assumption updates primarily related to decreasing lapse and withdrawal rates and lower hedge costs.
 
   
The most significant contributor to the Unlock charge recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was the result of actual separate account returns from October 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009 being significantly below our aggregated estimated return while the opposite was true from April 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009.
 
[2]  
The 2010 adjustment reflects the effect of declining interest rates, resulting in unrealized gains on securities classified in AOCI.
 
[3]  
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 the effect of adopting new accounting guidance for investments other-than-temporarily impaired resulted in an increase to retained earnings and as a result a DAC charge. In addition, an offsetting amount was recorded in unrealized losses as unrealized losses increased upon adoption of the new accounting guidance.
 
   
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 the effect of adopting new accounting guidance for embedded credit derivatives resulted in a decrease to retained earnings and as a result a DAC benefit. In addition, an offsetting amount was recorded in unrealized losses as unrealized losses decreased upon adoption of the new accounting guidance.

 

52


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
7. Separate Accounts, Death Benefits and Other Insurance Benefit Features
U.S. GMDB, International GMDB/GMIB, and UL Secondary Guarantee Benefits
Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB, International GMDB/GMIB, and UL secondary guarantee benefits are as follows:
                         
            International     UL Secondary  
    U.S. GMDB     GMDB/GMIB     Guarantees  
Liability — gross as of January 1, 2010
  $ 1,233     $ 599     $ 76  
Incurred
    183       87       29  
Paid
    (233 )     (95 )      
Unlock
    (24 )     (20 )     (2 )
Currency translation adjustment
          70        
 
                 
Liability — gross, as of September 30, 2010
  $ 1,159     $ 641     $ 103  
 
                 
 
                       
Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of January 1, 2010
  $ 787     $ 52     $ 22  
Unlock
    (4 )     (5 )      
Other
    (31 )     (4 )     6  
 
                 
Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of September 30, 2010
  $ 752     $ 43     $ 28  
 
                 
                         
            International     UL Secondary  
    U.S. GMDB     GMDB/GMIB     Guarantees  
Liability — gross as of January 1, 2009
  $ 870     $ 232     $ 40  
Incurred
    243       67       21  
Paid
    (387 )     (93 )      
Unlock
    519       339       5  
Currency translation adjustment
          62        
 
                 
Liability — gross, as of September 30, 2009
  $ 1,245     $ 607     $ 66  
 
                 
 
                       
Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of January 1, 2009
  $ 593     $ 32     $ 16  
Unlock
    281       31       (1 )
Other
    (72 )     (8 )     5  
 
                 
Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of September 30, 2009
  $ 802     $ 55     $ 20  
 
                 

 

53


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
7. Separate Accounts, Death Benefits and Other Insurance Benefit Features (continued)
The following table provides details concerning GMDB and GMIB exposure as of September 30, 2010:
Breakdown of Individual Variable and Group Annuity Account Value by GMDB/GMIB Type
                                 
                    Retained Net        
            Net Amount     Amount     Weighted Average  
    Account     at Risk     at Risk     Attained Age of  
Maximum anniversary value (“MAV”) [1]   Value     (“NAR”) [10]     (“RNAR”) [10]   Annuitant  
MAV only
  $ 24,880     $ 7,196     $ 1,963       68  
With 5% rollup [2]
    1,710       589       219       67  
With Earnings Protection Benefit Rider (“EPB”) [3]
    6,311       1,173       121       64  
With 5% rollup & EPB
    707       195       40       67  
 
                       
Total MAV
    33,608       9,153       2,343          
Asset Protection Benefit (“APB”) [4]
    27,097       4,319       2,775       65  
Lifetime Income Benefit (“LIB”) — Death Benefit [5]
    1,276       161       161       63  
Reset [6] (5-7 years)
    3,555       398       394       68  
Return of Premium (“ROP”) [7]/Other
    22,206       1,117       1,083       64  
 
                       
Subtotal U.S. GMDB [8]
    87,742     $ 15,148       6,756       66  
Less: General account value subject to U.S. GMDB
    6,861                          
 
                             
Subtotal Separate Account Liabilities with U.S. GMDB
    80,881                          
Separate Account Liabilities without U.S. GMDB
    73,338                          
 
                             
Total Separate Account Liabilities
  $ 154,219                          
 
                       
Japan GMDB and GMIB [9]
  $ 30,912     $ 8,569     $ 7,233       69  
 
                       
     
[1]  
MAV GMDB is the greatest of current AV, net premiums paid and the highest AV on any anniversary before age 80 (adjusted for withdrawals).
 
[2]  
Rollup GMDB is the greatest of the MAV, current AV, net premium paid and premiums (adjusted for withdrawals) accumulated at generally 5% simple interest up to the earlier of age 80 or 100% of adjusted premiums.
 
[3]  
EPB GMDB is the greatest of the MAV, current AV, or contract value plus a percentage of the contract’s growth. The contract’s growth is AV less premiums net of withdrawals, subject to a cap of 200% of premiums net of withdrawals.
 
[4]  
APB GMDB is the greater of current AV or MAV, not to exceed current AV plus 25% times the greater of net premiums and MAV (each adjusted for premiums in the past 12 months).
 
[5]  
LIB GMDB is the greatest of current AV, net premiums paid, or for certain contracts a benefit amount that ratchets over time, generally based on market performance.
 
[6]  
Reset GMDB is the greatest of current AV, net premiums paid and the most recent five to seven year anniversary AV before age 80 (adjusted for withdrawals).
 
[7]  
ROP GMDB is the greater of current AV and net premiums paid.
 
[8]  
AV includes the contract holder’s investment in the separate account and the general account.
 
[9]  
GMDB includes a ROP and MAV (before age 80) paid in a single lump sum. GMIB is a guarantee to return initial investment, adjusted for earnings liquidity, which allows for free withdrawal of earnings, paid through a fixed payout annuity, after a minimum deferral period of 10, 15 or 20 years. The GRB related to the Japan GMIB was $30.8 billion and $28.6 billion as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The GRB related to the Japan GMAB and GMWB was $695 and $648 as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. These liabilities are not included in the Separate Account as they are not legally insulated from the general account liabilities of the insurance enterprise. As of September 30, 2010, 60% of the AV and 54% of RNAR is reinsured to a Hartford affiliate. NAR increased due to lower equity markets during the second quarter, as well as the strengthening of the yen.
 
[10]  
NAR is defined as the guaranteed benefit in excess of the current AV. RNAR represents NAR reduced for reinsurance. NAR and RNAR are highly sensitive to equity markets movements and increase when equity markets decline.
Account balances of contracts with guarantees were invested in variable separate accounts as follows:
                 
Asset type   As of September 30, 2010     As of December 31, 2009  
Equity securities (including mutual funds)
  $ 72,291     $ 75,720  
Cash and cash equivalents
    8,590       9,298  
 
           
Total
  $ 80,881     $ 85,018  
 
           
As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, approximately 17% and 16%, respectively, of the equity securities above were invested in fixed income securities through these funds and approximately 83% and 84%, respectively, were invested in equity securities.
See Note 4a for a description of the Company’s guaranteed living benefits and variable annuity hedging derivatives that are accounted for at fair value.

 

54


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
8. Sales Inducements
Changes in deferred sales inducement activity were as follows for the nine months ended September 30:
                 
    2010     2009  
Balance, January 1
  $ 438     $ 553  
Sales inducements deferred
    20       48  
Amortization
    (10 )     (94 )
Amortization — Unlock
    (6 )     (73 )
 
           
Balance, September 30
  $ 442     $ 434  
 
           
9. Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation
The Hartford is involved in claims litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, both as a liability insurer defending or providing indemnity for third-party claims brought against insureds and as an insurer defending coverage claims brought against it. The Hartford accounts for such activity through the establishment of unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves. Subject to the uncertainties discussed below under the caption “Asbestos and Environmental Claims,” management expects that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to such ordinary-course claims litigation, after consideration of provisions made for potential losses and costs of defense, will not be material to the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of The Hartford.
The Hartford is also involved in other kinds of legal actions, some of which assert claims for substantial amounts. These actions include, among others, putative state and federal class actions seeking certification of a state or national class. Such putative class actions have alleged, for example, underpayment of claims or improper underwriting practices in connection with various kinds of insurance policies, such as personal and commercial automobile, property, life and inland marine; improper sales practices in connection with the sale of life insurance and other investment products; and improper fee arrangements in connection with investment products. The Hartford also is involved in individual actions in which punitive damages are sought, such as claims alleging bad faith in the handling of insurance claims. Like many other insurers, The Hartford also has been joined in actions by asbestos plaintiffs asserting, among other things, that insurers had a duty to protect the public from the dangers of asbestos and that insurers committed unfair trade practices by asserting defenses on behalf of their policyholders in the underlying asbestos cases. Management expects that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to such lawsuits, after consideration of provisions made for estimated losses, will not be material to the consolidated financial condition of The Hartford. Nonetheless, given the large or indeterminate amounts sought in certain of these actions, and the inherent unpredictability of litigation, an adverse outcome in certain matters could, from time to time, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or cash flows in particular quarterly or annual periods.
Broker Compensation Litigation — Following the New York Attorney General’s filing of a civil complaint against Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., and Marsh, Inc. (collectively, “Marsh”) in October 2004 alleging that certain insurance companies, including The Hartford, participated with Marsh in arrangements to submit inflated bids for business insurance and paid contingent commissions to ensure that Marsh would direct business to them, private plaintiffs brought several lawsuits against the Company predicated on the allegations in the Marsh complaint, to which the Company was not party. Among these is a multidistrict litigation in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. There are two consolidated amended complaints filed in the multidistrict litigation, one related to conduct in connection with the sale of property-casualty insurance and the other related to alleged conduct in connection with the sale of group benefits products. The Company and various of its subsidiaries are named in both complaints. The complaints assert, on behalf of a putative class of persons who purchased insurance through broker defendants, claims under the Sherman Act, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), state law, and in the case of the group benefits complaint, claims under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). The claims are predicated upon allegedly undisclosed or otherwise improper payments of contingent commissions to the broker defendants to steer business to the insurance company defendants. The district court dismissed the Sherman Act and RICO claims in both complaints for failure to state a claim and has granted the defendants’ motions for summary judgment on the ERISA claims in the group-benefits products complaint. The district court further declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims and dismissed those claims without prejudice. The plaintiffs appealed the dismissal of the claims in both consolidated amended complaints, except the ERISA claims. In August 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal of the Sherman Act and RICO claims against the Company. The Third Circuit vacated the dismissal of the Sherman Act and RICO claims against some defendants in the property casualty insurance case and vacated the dismissal of the state-law claims as to all defendants in light of the reinstatement of the federal claims. In September 2010, the district court entered final judgment for the defendants in the group benefits case. The defendants have moved to dismiss the remaining claims in the property casualty insurance case.

 

55


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
9. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
In September 2007, the Ohio Attorney General filed a civil action in Ohio state court alleging that certain insurance companies, including The Hartford, conspired with Marsh in violation of Ohio’s antitrust statute. In September 2010, the Company reached an agreement in principle with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to resolve the dispute for $100 thousand.
Investment and Savings Plan ERISA and Shareholder Securities Class Action Litigation — In November and December 2008, following a decline in the share price of the Company’s common stock, seven putative class action lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut on behalf of certain participants in the Company’s Investment and Savings Plan (the “Plan”), which offers the Company’s common stock as one of many investment options. These lawsuits have been consolidated, and a consolidated amended class-action complaint was filed on March 23, 2009, alleging that the Company and certain of its officers and employees violated ERISA by allowing the Plan’s participants to invest in the Company’s common stock and by failing to disclose to the Plan’s participants information about the Company’s financial condition. The lawsuit seeks restitution or damages for losses arising from the investment of the Plan’s assets in the Company’s common stock during the period from December 10, 2007 to the present. In January 2010, the district court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint. The Company disputes the allegations and intends to defend this action vigorously.
The Company and certain of its present or former officers are defendants in a putative securities class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in March 2010. The operative complaint, filed in October 2010, is brought on behalf of persons who acquired Hartford common stock during the period of July 28, 2008 through February 5, 2009, and alleges that the defendants violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5, by making false or misleading statements during the alleged class period about the Company’s valuation of certain asset-backed securities and its effect on the Company’s capital position. The Company disputes the allegations and intends to defend this action vigorously.
Structured Settlement Class Action — In October 2005, a putative nationwide class action was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut against the Company and several of its subsidiaries on behalf of persons who had asserted claims against an insured of a Hartford property & casualty insurance company that resulted in a settlement in which some or all of the settlement amount was structured to afford a schedule of future payments of specified amounts funded by an annuity from a Hartford life insurance company (“Structured Settlements”). The operative complaint alleges that since 1997 the Company deprived the settling claimants of the value of their damages recoveries by secretly deducting 15% of the annuity premium of every Structured Settlement to cover brokers’ commissions, other fees and costs, taxes, and a profit for the annuity provider, and asserts claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) and state law. The district court certified a class for the RICO and fraud claims in March 2009, and the Company’s petition to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for permission to file an interlocutory appeal of the class-certification ruling was denied in October 2009. In April 2010, the parties reached an agreement in principle to settle on a nationwide class basis, under which the Company would pay $72.5 in exchange for a full release and dismissal of the litigation. The $72.5 was accrued in the first quarter of 2010. The settlement received final court approval in September 2010 and was paid in the third quarter of 2010.
Fair Credit Reporting Act Class Action — In February 2007, the United States District Court for the District of Oregon gave final approval of the Company’s settlement of a lawsuit brought on behalf of a class of homeowners and automobile policy holders alleging that the Company willfully violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by failing to send appropriate notices to new customers whose initial rates were higher than they would have been had the customer had a more favorable credit report. The Company paid approximately $84.3 to eligible claimants and their counsel in connection with the settlement, and sought reimbursement from the Company’s Excess Professional Liability Insurance Program for the portion of the settlement in excess of the Company’s $10 self-insured retention. Certain insurance carriers participating in that program disputed coverage for the settlement, and one of the excess insurers commenced an arbitration that resulted in an award in the Company’s favor and payments to the Company of approximately $30.1, thereby exhausting the primary and first-layer excess policies. In June 2009, the second-layer excess carriers commenced an arbitration to resolve the dispute over coverage for the remainder of the amounts paid by the Company. Management believes it is probable that the Company’s coverage position ultimately will be sustained.
Mutual Funds Litigation — In October 2010, a derivative action was brought on behalf of six Hartford Mutual Funds in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, alleging that Hartford Investment Financial Services, LLC received excessive advisory and distribution fees in violation of its statutory fiduciary duty under Section 36(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Plaintiff seeks to rescind the investment management agreements and distribution plans between the Company and the six Funds and to recover the total fees charged thereunder or, in the alternative, to recover any improper compensation the Company received. The Company disputes the allegations and intends to defend the action vigorously.

 

56


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
9. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
Asbestos and Environmental Claims — As discussed in Note 12, Commitments and Contingencies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under the caption “Asbestos and Environmental Claims”, included in the Company’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report, The Hartford continues to receive asbestos and environmental claims that involve significant uncertainty regarding policy coverage issues. Regarding these claims, The Hartford continually reviews its overall reserve levels and reinsurance coverages, as well as the methodologies it uses to estimate its exposures. Because of the significant uncertainties that limit the ability of insurers and reinsurers to estimate the ultimate reserves necessary for unpaid losses and related expenses, particularly those related to asbestos, the ultimate liabilities may exceed the currently recorded reserves. Any such additional liability cannot be reasonably estimated now but could be material to The Hartford’s consolidated operating results, financial condition and liquidity.
Derivative Commitments
Certain of the Company’s derivative agreements contain provisions that are tied to the financial strength ratings of the individual legal entity that entered into the derivative agreement as set by nationally recognized statistical rating agencies. If the legal entity’s financial strength were to fall below certain ratings, the counterparties to the derivative agreements could demand immediate and ongoing full collateralization and in certain instances demand immediate settlement of all outstanding derivative positions traded under each impacted bilateral agreement. The settlement amount is determined by netting the derivative positions transacted under each agreement. If the termination rights were to be exercised by the counterparties, it could impact the legal entity’s ability to conduct hedging activities by increasing the associated costs and decreasing the willingness of counterparties to transact with the legal entity. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position as of September 30, 2010, is $429. Of this $429, the legal entities have posted collateral of $415 in the normal course of business. Based on derivative market values as of September 30, 2010, a downgrade of one level below the current financial strength ratings by either Moody’s or S&P could require approximately an additional $24 to be posted as collateral. Based on derivative market values as of September 30, 2010, a downgrade by either Moody’s or S&P of two levels below the legal entities’ current financial strength ratings could require approximately an additional $44 of assets to be posted as collateral. These collateral amounts could change as derivative market values change, as a result of changes in our hedging activities or to the extent changes in contractual terms are negotiated. The nature of the collateral that we may be required to post is primarily in the form of U.S. Treasury bills and U.S. Treasury notes.
10. Pension Plans and Postretirement Health Care and Life Insurance Benefit Plans
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
In the Company’s non-qualified pension plan the amount of lump sum benefit payments exceeded the amount of service and interest cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. As a result, the Company recorded settlement expense of $20 to recognize the actuarial loss associated with the pro-rata portion of the obligation that has been settled.
Total net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 includes the following components:
                                 
    Pension Benefits     Other Postretirement Benefits  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Service cost
  $ 25     $ 27     $ 2     $ 2  
Interest cost
    64       61       6       6  
Expected return on plan assets
    (71 )     (69 )     (4 )     (4 )
Amortization of prior service credit
    (2 )     (2 )     (1 )      
Amortization of actuarial loss
    26       19              
 
                       
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 42     $ 36     $ 3     $ 4  
 
                       
Total net periodic benefit cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 includes the following components:
                                 
    Pension Benefits     Other Postretirement Benefits  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Service cost
  $ 76     $ 79     $ 5     $ 5  
Interest cost
    189       182       17       18  
Expected return on plan assets
    (214 )     (206 )     (10 )     (9 )
Settlement expense
    20                    
Amortization of prior service credit
    (7 )     (7 )     (1 )     (1 )
Amortization of actuarial loss
    80       56              
 
                       
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 144     $ 104     $ 11     $ 13  
 
                       

 

57


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
10. Pension Plans and Postretirement Health Care and Life Insurance Benefit Plans (continued)
Employer Contributions
In July 2010, the Company, at its discretion, made a $120 contribution to the U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan (the “Plan”). For 2010, the Company does not have a required minimum funding contribution for the Plan and the funding requirements for all of the pension plans are expected to be immaterial.
11. Stock Compensation Plans
The Company’s stock-based compensation plans include The Hartford 2005 Incentive Stock Plan, The Hartford Employee Stock Purchase Plan and The Hartford Deferred Stock Unit Plan. For a description of these plans, see Note 18 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report.
On May 19, 2010 at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the shareholders of The Hartford approved The Hartford 2010 Incentive Stock Plan (the “2010 Stock Plan”), which supersedes and replaces The Hartford 2005 Incentive Stock Plan. The terms of the 2010 Stock Plan are substantially similar to the terms of the superseded plan. However, the 2010 Stock Plan provides for an increased maximum number of shares that may be awarded to employees of the Company, and also permits awards to be made to third party service providers, and permits additional forms of stock-based awards.
The 2010 Stock Plan provides for awards to be granted in the form of non-qualified or incentive stock options qualifying under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, restricted stock or restricted stock units, or any other form of stock based award. The aggregate number of shares of stock, which may be awarded, is subject to a maximum limit of 18,000,000 shares applicable to all awards for the ten-year duration of the 2010 Stock Plan. If any award under the prior The Hartford Incentive Stock Plan (as approved by the Company’s shareholders in 2000) or under the prior The Hartford 2005 Incentive Stock Plan (as approved by the Company’s shareholders in 2005) that was outstanding as of March 31, 2010, is forfeited, terminated, surrendered, exchanged, expires unexercised, or is settled in cash in lieu of stock (including to effect tax withholding) or for the net issuance of a lesser number of shares than the number subject to the award, the shares of stock subject to such award (or the relevant portion thereof) shall be available for awards under the 2010 Stock Plan and such shares shall be added to the maximum limit to the extent of such forfeiture, termination, expiration, or cash or net settlement of such awards.
Under the 2010 Stock Plan, all options granted have an exercise price at least equal to the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, and an option’s maximum term is not to exceed ten years. For any year, no individual employee may receive an award of options for more than 2,000,000 shares.
Performance awards of common stock granted under the 2010 Stock Plan become payable upon the attainment of specific performance goals achieved over a period of not less than one nor more than five years, and the restricted stock granted is subject to a restriction period. For any year, the maximum award of performance shares, restricted stock awards, or restricted stock unit awards for any individual employee in any year is 500,000 shares or units.
Shares issued in satisfaction of stock-based compensation may be made available from authorized but unissued shares, shares held by the Company in treasury or from shares purchased in the open market. The Company typically issues shares from treasury in satisfaction of stock-based compensation.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Stock-based compensation plans expense
  $ 16     $ 32     $ 57     $ 54  
Income tax benefit
    (6 )     (8 )     (20 )     (14 )
 
                       
Total stock-based compensation plans expense, after-tax
  $ 10     $ 24     $ 37     $ 40  
 
                       
The Company did not capitalize any cost of stock-based compensation. As of September 30, 2010, the total compensation cost related to non-vested awards not yet recognized was $102, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.
12. Debt
Senior Notes
On June 15, 2010, The Hartford repaid its $275, 7.9% senior notes at maturity.
On March 23, 2010, The Hartford issued $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of its senior notes. The issuance consisted of $300 of 4.0% senior notes due March 30, 2015, $500 of 5.5% senior notes due March 30, 2020 and $300 of 6.625% senior notes due March 30, 2040. The senior notes bear interest at their respective rate, payable semi-annually in arrears on March 30 and September 30 of each year, beginning September 30, 2010.

 

58


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
13. Equity
Issuance of Common Stock
On March 23, 2010, The Hartford issued approximately 59.6 million shares of common stock at a price to the public of $27.75 per share and received net proceeds of $1.6 billion.
Issuance of Series F Preferred Stock
On March 23, 2010, The Hartford issued 23 million depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in The Hartford’s 7.25% mandatory convertible preferred stock, Series F, at a price of $25 per depositary share and received net proceeds of approximately $556. The Company will pay cumulative dividends on each share of the mandatory convertible preferred stock at a rate of 7.25% per annum on the initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. Dividends will accrue and cumulate from the date of issuance and, to the extent that the Company is legally permitted to pay dividends and its board of directors declares a dividend payable, the Company will, from July 1, 2010 until and including January 1, 2013 pay dividends on each January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, in cash and (whether or not declared prior to that date) on April 1, 2013 will pay or deliver, as the case may be, dividends in cash, shares of its common stock, or a combination thereof, at its election. Dividends on and repurchases of the Company’s common stock will be subject to restrictions in the event that the Company fails to declare and pay, or set aside for payment, dividends on the Series F preferred stock.
The 575,000 shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock, Series F, will automatically convert into shares of common stock on April 1, 2013, if not earlier converted at the option of the holder, at any time, or upon the occurrence of a fundamental change. The number of shares issuable upon mandatory conversion of each share of mandatory convertible preferred stock will be a variable amount based on the average of the daily volume weighted average price per share of the Company’s common stock during a specified period of 20 consecutive trading days with the number of shares of common stock ranging from 29.536 to 36.036 per share of mandatory convertible preferred stock, subject to anti-dilution adjustments.
Redemption of Series E Preferred Stock and U.S. Treasury Auction of Warrants issued under the Capital Purchase Program
On March 31, 2010, the Company repurchased all 3.4 million shares of Series E preferred stock issued to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) for an aggregate purchase price of $3.4 billion and made a final dividend payment of $22 on the Series E preferred stock. The Company recorded a $440 charge to retained earnings representing the acceleration of the accretion of the remaining discount on the Series E preferred stock.
On September 27, 2010, the Treasury sold its warrants to purchase approximately 52 million shares of The Hartford’s common stock in a secondary public offering for net proceeds of approximately $706. The Hartford did not receive any proceeds from this sale. The warrants are exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time until June 26, 2019 at an initial exercise price of $9.79. The exercise price will be paid by the withholding by The Hartford of a number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants equal to the value of the aggregate exercise price of the warrants so exercised determined by reference to the closing price of The Hartford’s common stock on the trading day on which the warrants are exercised and notice is delivered to the warrant agent. The Hartford did not purchase any of the warrants sold by the Treasury.
Adjustment to warrants previously issued to Allianz
The issuance of common and preferred stock during the first quarter of 2010 triggered an anti-dilution provision in The Hartford’s Investment Agreement with Allianz, which resulted in the adjustment to the warrant exercise price to $25.23 from $25.25 and to the number of shares that may be purchased to 69,351,806 from 69,314,987.
Noncontrolling Interests
Noncontrolling interest includes VIEs in which the Company has concluded that it is the primary beneficiary, see Note 5 for further discussion of the Company’s involvement in VIEs, and general account mutual funds where the Company holds the majority interest due to seed money investments. In 2010, the Company recognized the noncontrolling interest in these entities in other liabilities since these entities represent investment vehicles whereby the noncontrolling interests may redeem these investments at any time.

 

59


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
14. Goodwill
The Hartford has changed its reporting segments effective for third quarter 2010 reporting. Accordingly, the goodwill by segment data for prior reporting periods has been adjusted to reflect the new reporting segments. See Note 3 for further description of the changes to the reporting segments. The carrying amount of goodwill allocated to reporting segments as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 is shown below.
                                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
            Accumulated     Carrying             Accumulated     Carrying  
    Gross     Impairments     Value     Gross     Impairments     Value  
Commercial Markets
                                               
Property & Casualty Commercial
  $ 30     $     $ 30     $ 30     $     $ 30  
 
                                   
Total Commercial Markets
    30             30       30             30  
Consumer Markets
    119             119       119             119  
Wealth Management
                                               
Global Annuity
    422       (422 )           422       (422 )      
Life Insurance
    224             224       224             224  
Retirement Plans
    87             87       87             87  
Mutual Funds
    159             159       159             159  
 
                                   
Total Wealth Management
    892       (422 )     470       892       (422 )     470  
Corporate and Other
    940       (508 )     432       940       (355 )     585  
 
                                   
Total Goodwill
  $ 1,981     $ (930 )   $ 1,051     $ 1,981     $ (777 )   $ 1,204  
 
                                   
The Company completed its annual goodwill assessment for the Federal Trust Corporation reporting unit within Corporate and Other during the second quarter of 2010, resulting in a goodwill impairment of $153, pre-tax.
The Company completed its annual goodwill assessment for the individual reporting units within Wealth Management and Corporate and Other, except for the Federal Trust Corporation reporting unit, as of January 1, 2010, which resulted in no write-downs of goodwill in 2010. The reporting units passed the first step of their annual impairment tests with a significant margin with the exception of the Individual Life reporting unit within Life Insurance. Individual Life completed the second step of the annual goodwill impairment test resulting in an implied goodwill value that was in excess of its carrying value. Even though the fair value of the reporting unit was lower than its carrying value, the implied level of goodwill in Individual Life exceeded the carrying amount of goodwill. In the implied purchase accounting required by the step two goodwill impairment test, the implied present value of future profits was substantially lower than that of the DAC asset removed in purchase accounting. A higher discount rate was used for calculating the present value of future profits as compared to that used for calculating the present value of estimated gross profits for DAC. As a result, in the implied purchase accounting, implied goodwill exceeded the carrying amount of goodwill.
The Company will complete the annual impairment test for the reporting units within Commercial Markets and Consumer Markets in the fourth quarter of 2010.
15. Sale of Joint Venture Interest in ICATU Hartford Seguros, S.A.
On November 23, 2009, in keeping with the Company’s June 2009 announcement to return to its historical strengths as a U.S.-centric insurance company, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement to sell its joint venture interest in ICATU Hartford Seguros, S.A. (“IHS”), its Brazilian insurance operation, to its partner, ICATU Holding S.A., for $135. The transaction closed in the second quarter of 2010, and the Company received cash proceeds of $130, which was net of capital gains tax withheld of $5. The investment in IHS was reported as an equity method investment in Other assets.
16. Subsequent Event
In October 2010, the Company announced the sale of Hartford Investments Canada Corporation. This sale of The Hartford’s Canadian mutual fund business is expected to close in fourth quarter 2010 and is subject to approval of Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The Hartford estimates a net realized gain on the sale of $40 to $45, after-tax, and does not expect this sale to have a material impact on the Company’s future earnings.

 

60


Table of Contents

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollar amounts in millions except share data unless otherwise stated)
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) addresses the financial condition of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “The Hartford” or the “Company”) as of September 30, 2010, compared with December 31, 2009, and its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to the equivalent 2009 periods. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the MD&A in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period financial information to conform to the current period classifications.
INDEX
         
Description   Page  
 
       
    62  
 
       
    64  
 
       
    67  
 
       
    78  
 
       
    86  
 
       
    88  
 
       
    89  
 
       
    93  
 
       
    96  
 
       
    98  
 
       
    100  
 
       
    101  
 
       
    102  
 
       
    102  
 
       
    111  
 
       
    118  
 
       
    126  

 

61


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Operating Summary   2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
Earned premiums
  $ 3,513     $ 3,499           $ 10,546     $ 10,920       (3 %)
Fee income
    1,173       1,140       3 %     3,557       3,369       6 %
Net investment income (loss):
                                               
Securities available-for-sale and other
    1,083       1,049       3 %     3,296       2,990       10 %
Equity securities, trading [1]
    1,043       638       63 %     (905 )     2,437     NM  
 
                                   
Total net investment income
    2,126       1,687       26 %     2,391       5,427       (56 %)
Net realized capital gains (losses):
                                               
Total other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses
    (146 )     (760 )     81 %     (778 )     (1,546 )     50 %
OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income
    31       224       (86 %)     403       472       (15 %)
 
                                   
Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings
    (115 )     (536 )     79 %     (375 )     (1,074 )     65 %
Net realized capital gains (losses), excluding net OTTI losses recognized in earnings
    (146 )     (683 )     79 %     (151 )     (742 )     80 %
 
                                   
Total net realized capital losses
    (261 )     (1,219 )     79 %     (526 )     (1,816 )     71 %
 
                                               
Other revenues
    122       123       (1 %)     360       361        
 
                                   
Total revenues
    6,673       5,230       28 %     16,328       18,261       (11 %)
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses
    3,037       3,070       (1 %)     9,762       10,799       (10 %)
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses — returns credited on international variable annuities [1]
    1,043       638       63 %     (905 )     2,437     NM  
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits (“DAC”)
    438       687       (36 %)     2,027       3,620       (44 %)
Insurance operating costs and other expenses
    1,105       1,174       (6 %)     3,461       3,472        
Interest expense
    128       118       8 %     380       357       6 %
Goodwill impairment
                      153       32     NM  
 
                                   
Total benefits, losses and expenses
    5,751       5,687       1 %     14,878       20,717       (28 %)
Income (loss) before income taxes
    922       (457 )   NM       1,450       (2,456 )   NM  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    256       (237 )   NM       389       (1,012 )   NM  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 666     $ (220 )   NM     $ 1,061     $ (1,444 )   NM  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Supplemental Operating Data
                                               
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
  $ 1.34     $ (0.79 )   NM     $ 1.21     $ (4.52 )   NM  
Total revenues, excluding net investment income (loss) on equity securities, trading
    5,630       4,592       23 %     17,233       15,824       9 %
DAC Unlock benefit (charge), after-tax
    193       63     NM       48       (1,071 )   NM  
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
Summary of Financial Condition   2010     2009  
Total assets
  $ 313,926     $ 307,717  
Total investments, excluding equity securities, trading
    101,095       93,235  
Total stockholders’ equity
    20,909       17,865  
     
[1]  
Includes investment income and mark-to-market effects of equity securities, trading, supporting the international variable annuity business, which are classified in net investment income with corresponding amounts credited to policyholders within benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses.
The Hartford defines increases or decreases greater than or equal to 200%, or changes from a net gain to a net loss position, or vice versa, as “NM” or not meaningful.

 

62


Table of Contents

                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
                    Increase                     Increase  
                    (Decrease) From                     (Decrease) From  
Segment Results   2010     2009     2009 to 2010     2010     2009     2009 to 2010  
Property & Casualty Commercial
  $ 306     $ 217     $ 89     $ 782     $ 484     $ 298  
Group Benefits
    46       65       (19 )     145       148       (3 )
 
                                   
Commercial Markets
    352       282       70       927       632       295  
 
                                               
Consumer Markets
    70       15       55       113       55       58  
Global Annuity
    175       (320 )     495       141       (1,304 )     1,445  
Life Insurance
    97       8       89       224       18       206  
Retirement Plans
    30       (34 )     64       38       (162 )     200  
Mutual Funds
    18       11       7       67       17       50  
 
                                   
Wealth Management
    320       (335 )     655       470       (1,431 )     1,901  
 
                                               
Corporate and Other
    (76 )     (182 )     106       (449 )     (700 )     251  
 
                                   
Net income (loss)
  $ 666     $ (220 )   $ 886     $ 1,061     $ (1,444 )   $ 2,505  
 
                                   
Three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2009
The change from consolidated net loss to consolidated net income was primarily due to net realized capital losses of $885, after-tax, in 2009 compared to losses of $44, after-tax, in 2010. In addition, the DAC Unlock benefit of $193, after-tax, in 2010 was higher than the DAC Unlock benefit of $63, after-tax, in 2009.
Excluding the after-tax impacts of net realized capital losses and DAC Unlocks, earnings decreased approximately $85 from 2009 to 2010. See the segment sections of the MD&A for a discussion on their respective performances.
See Note 1 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a reconciliation of the tax provision at the U.S. Federal statutory rate to the provision (benefit) for income taxes.
Nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2009
The change from consolidated net loss to consolidated net income was primarily due to a DAC Unlock charge of $1.1 billion, after-tax, in 2009 compared to a benefit of $48, after-tax, in 2010, net realized capital losses of $1.6 billion, after-tax, in 2009 compared to losses of $286, after-tax, in 2010, partially offset by a goodwill impairment of approximately $100, after-tax, in 2010, compared to $32, after-tax, in 2009.
Excluding the after-tax impacts of net realized capital losses, DAC Unlocks and goodwill impairments, earnings increased approximately $160 from 2009 to 2010. See the segment sections of the MD&A for a discussion on their respective performances.
See Note 1 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a reconciliation of the tax provision at the U.S. Federal statutory rate to the provision (benefit) for income taxes.

 

63


Table of Contents

OUTLOOKS
The Hartford provides projections and other forward-looking information in the following discussions, which contain many forward-looking statements, particularly relating to the Company’s future financial performance. These forward-looking statements are estimates based on information currently available to the Company, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to the precautionary statements set forth on pages 3-4 of this Form 10-Q. Actual results are likely to differ, and in the past have differed, materially from those forecast by the Company, depending on the outcome of various factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth in each discussion below and in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report, Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors of The Hartford’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and June 30, 2010, as well as in Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors of this Form 10-Q.
Property & Casualty Commercial
Standard commercial lines consist of The Hartford’s small commercial and middle market lines of business. Written premium for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 for total Property & Casualty Commercial, which includes both standard commercial and specialty lines, increased by 1% driven by rate improvements and policy retention. The Company expects these trends to continue in the fourth quarter as premium retention improves in standard businesses and the economy continues to slowly improve. The Company expects Property & Casualty Commercial’s written premiums to grow in the low single digits for the full year 2010.
Property & Casualty Commercial introduced several initiatives in 2009 that continue to support improvements in 2010 including: programs aimed at improving policy count retention and the rollout of a new product offering for package business (“Growing Spectrum”). In addition, the segment introduced a new pricing model for commercial auto that is being implemented during 2010. Property & Casualty Commercial is expected to continue to grow policy counts for the remainder of 2010 led by workers’ compensation reflecting: our current market position and capabilities; targeted broadening of underwriting capabilities in selected industries; and leveraging the payroll model to both increase penetration in well-established partners and continue developing opportunities with recently added partners such as Intuit.
The Property & Casualty Commercial segment’s combined ratio before catastrophes and prior accident year development was 92.8 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The Company expects the 2010 full year combined ratio before catastrophes and prior accident year development to be higher than the 91.2 achieved in 2009. The increase in the combined ratio results from an expected increase in the current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ratio, as well as a higher expense ratio. Standard commercial lines have experienced less negative frequency trends on workers’ compensation and commercial auto claims in recent accident years while 2010 severity remains benign. Management expects a continuation of these trends for the remainder of the 2010 accident year as the economy continues to recover. Across standard commercial lines, as the economy slowly recovers, severity is expected to move back to its long-term upward trend. The 2010 expense ratio is expected to be higher than 2009 due to a decrease in earned premiums.
Group Benefits
Group Benefits’ sales may fluctuate based on the competitive pricing environment in the marketplace. The Company’s year-to-date sales have declined from 2009 levels. This decline in sales combined with the Company’s disciplined underwriting in the competitive pricing environment will likely result in lower full year sales for 2010 compared to 2009. The Company anticipates relatively stable loss ratios and expense ratios over the long-term based on underlying trends in the in-force business and disciplined new business and renewal underwriting. In 2010, disability incidence has increased and claim terminations have declined compared to 2009 levels. The Company believes a component of this experience is normal volatility in the book of business. However, management has been evaluating the current experience and has reflected this current experience into its pricing for future new business and renewals.
The economic downturn, which resulted in rising unemployment, combined with the potential for employees to lessen spending on the Company’s products, has negatively impacted premium levels, which is expected to continue until there is sustained economic expansion and lower unemployment rates compared to the end of 2009 levels. Over time, as employers design benefit strategies to attract and retain employees, while attempting to control their benefit costs, management believes that the need for the Company’s products will continue to expand. This combined with the significant number of employees who currently do not have coverage or adequate levels of coverage, creates continued opportunities for our products and services.
Consumer Markets
The Company expects Consumer Markets’ written premiums for the 2010 full year will be lower than 2009 as written premium is expected to be lower in both AARP and Agency. The Company expects personal auto written premiums will be lower in 2010 driven by a decline in new business and policy retention due primarily to the effects of rate increases and underwriting actions to improve profitability and actions to reduce written premiums in certain market segments and territories. Partially offsetting these drivers is an expected increase in the sale of the Company’s Open Road Advantage product. The Company expects homeowners’ written premiums will increase modestly driven by an increase in written pricing and the cross-sell of AARP homeowners’ insurance to auto policyholders, partially offset by the effect of rate and underwriting actions lowering new business and policy retention.

 

64


Table of Contents

AARP and Agency written premium is expected to be lower for the full year driven by a decline in new business and policy retention with new business down for AARP due to lower responses from direct marketing and a lower conversion rate. The decline in conversion rate for AARP and new business for Agency is largely being driven by pricing and underwriting actions taken to improve profitability. Pricing and underwriting actions are also driving the expected decline in policy retention for both AARP and Agency. The Company will continue to use direct marketing to AARP members to drive new business in AARP and will expand the sale of its Open Road Advantage product through independent agents to drive new business in Agency. The Company distributes its discounted AARP Open Road Advantage auto product through those independent agents who are authorized to offer the AARP product. As of September 30, 2010, the Open Road Advantage auto product was available in 24 states and the Company expects the product to be available to authorized agents in 39 states by the end of the first quarter of 2011.
Renewal written pricing has increased for both auto and homeowners for the first nine months of 2010 driven by rate increases in response to rising loss costs relative to average premium. For both auto and home, the increase in average written premium per policy in 2010 has not been as significant as the increase in written pricing due primarily to a continued shift to more preferred market segment business (which has lower average premium) and growth in states and territories with lower average premium.
The combined ratio before catastrophes and prior accident year development for Consumer Markets was 92.6 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Management expects the full year ratio will be slightly higher than the 92.3 ratio achieved in 2009 as the current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ratio before catastrophes is expected to increase slightly over the prior year for auto and remain relatively flat for homeowners. For auto business, the expected increase in the current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ratio before catastrophes for the 2010 full year is largely being driven by higher expected auto liability loss costs relative to average earned premium per policy and, to a lesser extent, higher auto physical damage emerged frequency. For the balance of 2010, management expects an improvement in the current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ratio before catastrophes for auto driven by the effect of rate increases and an improvement in claim frequency for both auto physical damage and auto liability coverages, partially offset by an increase in severity that is in line with historical experience. The improvement in auto claim frequency is expected to come from the shift to more preferred market segment business and the impact of underwriting actions to improve profitability.
For home, the Company expects the current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ratio before catastrophes will be relatively flat to 2009 for the 2010 full year due to the effect of earned pricing increases, low average claim severity and the shift to more preferred market segment business, largely offset by increased frequency of weather claims.
Management expects the expense ratio will be relatively flat for the 2010 full year as higher information technology costs and higher amortization of AARP acquisition costs will largely be offset by a reduction in direct marketing for consumer direct business.
Global Annuity
In the long-term, management continues to believe the market for annuities will expand as individuals increasingly save and plan for retirement. Demographic trends suggest that as the “baby boom” generation matures, a significant portion of the United States population will allocate a greater percentage of their disposable incomes to saving for their retirement years due to uncertainty surrounding the Social Security system and increases in average life expectancy. Further, due to volatility in the equity markets, the Company is expecting that many “baby boomers” will be looking to provide more stability to the value of their accumulated wealth and will focus more on identifying and creating dependable and certain income streams that can provide known payments throughout their retirement.
Near-term, the Company is continuing to experience lower variable annuity sales as a result of the competitiveness of the Company’s current product offerings. The Company expects these lower sales to continue through 2010. The current market conditions and market volatility have increased the cost and volatility of hedging programs, and the level of capital needed to support living benefit guarantees when compared to historical levels. Management is committed to the U.S. variable annuity marketplace and will continue to evaluate the benefits offered within its variable annuities, and ensure the product portfolio meets customer needs within the risk tolerances of The Hartford. With variable annuity sales at their current levels, management expects to continue to be in a net outflow position through 2010.
In the second quarter of 2009, the Company suspended all new annuity sales in its Japan and European operations. The Company continues to restructure its operations to maximize profitability and capital efficiency while continuing to focus on risk management and maintaining appropriate service levels.
Continued equity market volatility and the low level of interest rates will continue to impact the cost and effectiveness of our guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (“GMWB”) hedging program and could result in material losses in our hedging program. For more information on the GMWB hedging program, see the Variable Product Equity Risk Management section within Capital Markets Risk Management.
The Company’s fixed annuity sales will remain depressed as a result of lower interest rates. Management expects fixed annuity sales to continue to be challenged until interest rates increase.

 

65


Table of Contents

Assets under management are relatively level compared to 2009 which is the result of improved equity market levels offsetting continued net outflows in the variable annuity business. Although the markets have partially recovered over the past year they have not reached their 2008 levels and, as a result, the extent of the scale efficiencies that Global Annuity has benefited from in recent years has been reduced. Although the business has improved profitability compared to prior year, the profitability rates are not consistent with historical levels. This condition is expected to persist for the remainder of 2010.
Due to the loss of some efficiencies of scale within its domestic annuity operations and the decision to suspend sales within the international annuity operations, the Company has evaluated its expense structure and taken actions to improve its cost structure, and will continue to actively evaluate expense levels to ensure the business is controlling costs, while maintaining an appropriate level of service to our customers.
Life Insurance
Future sales for all products will be influenced by active management of current distribution relationships, responding to the negative impact of recent merger and consolidation activity on existing distribution relationships and the development of new sources of distribution, and the Company’s ratings, as published by the various ratings agencies, while offering competitive and innovative products and product features. The current economic environment poses challenges for future sales; while life insurance products respond well to consumer demand for financial security and wealth accumulation solutions, individuals may be reluctant to transfer funds when market volatility has recently resulted in significant declines in investment values. In addition, the availability and terms of capital solutions in the marketplace, as discussed below, to support universal life products with secondary guarantees, may reduce future growth in these products.
Life Insurance reinsured the policy liability related to statutory reserves in individual universal life with secondary guarantees to a captive reinsurance affiliate. A letter of credit by an unaffiliated standby third-party (“issuer”) supports a portion of the statutory reserves that have been ceded to this subsidiary. The use of the letter of credit enhanced statutory capital but resulted in a decline in net investment income and increased expenses for Life Insurance. As of September 30, 2010, the transaction provided approximately $540 of statutory capital relief associated with the Company’s individual universal life products with secondary guarantees. The issuer terminated the letter of credit for new business effective January 31, 2010. The letter of credit is expected to provide sufficient coverage for the reinsured business through 2028. On July 1, 2010, management launched a competitively priced individual universal life product with secondary guarantees that meets the Company’s capital efficiency objectives.
Life Insurance continues to face uncertainty surrounding estate tax legislation, aggressive competition from other life insurance providers, reduced availability and higher price of reinsurance, and the current regulatory environment related to reserving for term life insurance and universal life products with no-lapse guarantees. Additionally, volatility in the equity markets may reduce the attractiveness of variable universal life products. These risks may have a negative impact on Life Insurance’s future sales and earnings. Despite these risks, management believes there are opportunities to increase future sales by implementing strategies to expand distribution capabilities, including utilizing independent agents and continuing to build on the strong relationships within the financial institution marketplace. The private placement life insurance industry (including the corporate-owned and bank-owned life insurance markets) has experienced a slowdown in sales due to, among other things, limited availability of stable value wrap providers. The Company believes that the current private placement life insurance (“PPLI”) assets will experience stable persistency, but our ability to grow this business in the future will be affected by near term market and industry challenges.
Retirement Plans
The future financial results of this segment will depend on Retirement Plans’ ability to increase assets under management across all businesses, achieve scale in areas with a high degree of fixed costs and maintain its investment spread earnings on the general account products sold largely in the 403(b)/457 business. Disciplined expense management will continue to be a focus of the Retirement Plans segment as necessary investments in service and technology are made to effect the integration of the acquisitions made in 2008.
The continued improvements in the equity markets over the last year have continued to help improve both quarterly deposits and assets under management. These improvements have been partially offset by a few large case surrenders in 2009; however, assets under management at September 30, 2010 are $49.2 billion representing an increase of 15% from prior year. Assuming no further significant declines in equity markets, due to current sales momentum, management expects assets under management to improve.
Mutual Funds
The partial equity market recovery, and the fact that certain key funds performed strongly relative to the market, has driven an increase in deposits year over year. Assets under management have been favorably affected by recent market performance. As the mutual fund business continues to evolve, success will be driven by diversifying net sales across the mutual fund platform, delivering superior investment performance and creating new investment solutions for current and future mutual fund shareholders. The increase in assets under management from the prior year has led to an increase in earnings and ROA from 2009 levels.
For the Retail and Investment-Only mutual fund business, net sales can vary significantly depending on market conditions, as we have experienced over the past two years. In addition, underlying fund performance relative to the market and peers can affect investment mandates for the Investment-Only mutual funds.
For Proprietary mutual funds, net flows are affected by the level of net sales in the insurance products that invest in these funds, as well as the relative performance of the underlying fund relative to the other fund offerings of the product. The Proprietary mutual funds have experienced negative net flows as the primary variable annuity products invested in these funds have been in a net outflow position as the block has aged, and management expects that this business will continue producing net outflows.

 

66


Table of Contents

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ, and in the past has differed, from those estimates.
The Company has identified the following estimates as critical in that they involve a higher degree of judgment and are subject to a significant degree of variability: property and casualty insurance product reserves, net of reinsurance; estimated gross profits used in the valuation and amortization of assets and liabilities associated with variable annuity and other universal life-type contracts; evaluation of other-than-temporary impairments on available-for-sale securities (“AFS”) and valuation allowances on investments; living benefits required to be fair valued; goodwill impairment; valuation of investments and derivative instruments; pension and other postretirement benefit obligations; valuation allowance on deferred tax assets and contingencies relating to corporate litigation and regulatory matters. Certain of these estimates are particularly sensitive to market conditions, and deterioration and/or volatility in the worldwide debt or equity markets could have a material impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In developing these estimates management makes subjective and complex judgments that are inherently uncertain and subject to material change as facts and circumstances develop. Although variability is inherent in these estimates, management believes the amounts provided are appropriate based upon the facts available upon compilation of the financial statements. The Hartford’s critical accounting estimates are discussed in Part II, Item 7 MD&A in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report. The following discussion updates certain of The Hartford’s critical accounting estimates for September 30, 2010 results.
Property and Casualty Insurance Product Reserves, Net of Reinsurance
Based on the results of the quarterly reserve review process, the Company determines the appropriate reserve adjustments, if any, to record. Recorded reserve estimates are changed after consideration of numerous factors, including but not limited to, the magnitude of the difference between the actuarial indication and the recorded reserves, improvement or deterioration of actuarial indications in the period, the maturity of the accident year, trends observed over the recent past and the level of volatility within a particular line of business. In general, changes are made more quickly to more mature accident years and less volatile lines of business.
As part of its quarterly reserve review process, the Company is closely monitoring reported loss development in certain lines where the recent emergence of paid losses and case reserves could indicate a trend that may eventually lead the Company to change its estimate of ultimate losses in those lines. If, and when, the emergence of reported losses is determined to be a trend that changes the Company’s estimate of ultimate losses, prior accident years reserves would be adjusted in the period the change in estimate is made. Such adjustments of reserves are referred to as “reserve development”. Reserve development that increases previous estimates of ultimate cost is called “reserve strengthening”. Reserve development that decreases previous estimates of ultimate cost is called “reserve releases”. Reserve development can influence the comparability of year over year underwriting results and is set forth in the paragraphs and tables that follow.

 

67


Table of Contents

Reserve Rollforwards and Development
A roll-forward follows of property and casualty insurance product liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2010:
                                 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010  
 
 
                            Total  
    Property &                     Property and  
    Casualty     Consumer     Corporate and     Casualty  
    Commercial     Markets     Other     Insurance  
Beginning liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, gross
  $ 15,051     $ 2,109     $ 4,491     $ 21,651  
Reinsurance and other recoverables
    2,570       11       860       3,441  
 
                       
Beginning liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net
    12,481       2,098       3,631       18,210  
 
                       
Provision for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
                               
Current accident year before catastrophes
    2,634       2,034             4,668  
Current accident year catastrophes
    134       229             363  
Prior accident years
    (339 )     (51 )     236       (154 )
 
                       
Total provision for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
    2,429       2,212       236       4,877  
Payments
    (2,568 )     (2,146 )     (306 )     (5,020 )
 
                       
Ending liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net
    12,342       2,164       3,561       18,067  
Reinsurance and other recoverables
    2,438       11       701       3,150  
 
                       
Ending liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, gross
  $ 14,780     $ 2,175     $ 4,262     $ 21,217  
 
                       
Earned premiums
  $ 4,278     $ 2,976                  
Loss and loss expense paid ratio [1]
    60.0       72.1                  
Loss and loss expense incurred ratio
    56.8       74.3                  
Prior accident years development (pts) [2]
    (7.9 )     (1.9 )                
     
[1]  
The “loss and loss expense paid ratio” represents the ratio of paid losses and loss adjustment expenses to earned premiums.
 
[2]  
“Prior accident years development (pts)” represents the ratio of prior accident years development to earned premiums.
Prior accident years development recorded in 2010
Included within prior accident years development for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 were the following reserve strengthenings (releases):
                                 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010  
 
 
                            Total  
    Property &                     Property and  
    Casualty     Consumer     Corporate and     Casualty  
    Commercial     Markets     Other     Insurance  
Auto liability
  $ (26 )   $ (41 )   $     $ (67 )
Package business
    (17 )                 (17 )
Workers’ compensation
    (36 )                 (36 )
General liability, umbrella and high hazard liability
    (19 )                 (19 )
General liability, excluding umbrella and high hazard liability
    (28 )                 (28 )
Professional liability
    (8 )                 (8 )
Property
          3             3  
Net environmental reserves
                62       62  
Other reserve re-estimates, net [1]
    16       4       2       22  
 
                       
Total prior accident years development
  $ (118 )   $ (34 )   $ 64     $ (88 )
 
                       
     
[1]  
Includes reserve discount accretion of $7 in Property & Casualty Commercial.
                                 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010  
 
 
                            Total  
    Property &                     Property and  
    Casualty     Consumer     Corporate and     Casualty  
    Commercial     Markets     Other     Insurance  
Auto liability
  $ (50 )   $ (82 )   $     $ (132 )
Package business
    (23 )                 (23 )
Workers’ compensation
    (56 )                 (56 )
General liability, umbrella and high hazard liability
    (61 )                 (61 )
General liability, excluding umbrella and high hazard liability
    (33 )                 (33 )
Professional liability
    (87 )                 (87 )
Property
          21             21  
Net environmental reserves
                64       64  
Net asbestos reserves
                172       172  
Uncollectible reinsurance
    (30 )                 (30 )
Other reserve re-estimates, net [1]
    1       10             11  
 
                       
Total prior accident years development
  $ (339 )   $ (51 )   $ 236     $ (154 )
 
                       
     
[1]  
Includes reserve discount accretion of $20 in Property & Casualty Commercial.

 

68


Table of Contents

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company’s re-estimates of prior accident years reserves included the following significant reserve changes:
 
Released reserves for commercial auto claims in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 as the Company lowered its reserve estimate to recognize a lower severity trend during 2009 and 2010 on larger claims in accident years 2002 to 2009.
 
Released reserves for personal auto liability claims in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. During 2009, the Company recognized that favorable development in reported severity, due in part to changes made to claim handling procedures in 2007, was a sustained trend for accident years 2005 through 2008 and, accordingly, management reduced its reserve estimate. The reserve releases are in response to a continuation of these same favorable trends, primarily affecting accident years 2005 through 2009.
 
Released reserves for package business claims for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, primarily related to accident years 2005 through 2009. Claim emergence within the liability portion of the package coverage for these accident years continues to be lower than anticipated. Management now believes this lower level of claim activity will continue into the future and has reduced its reserve estimate in response to these favorable trends.
 
Released reserves for workers’ compensation business in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, primarily related to accident years 2006 and 2007. Management updated reviews of state reforms affecting these accident years and determined impacts to be more favorable than previously estimated. Accordingly, management reduced reserve estimates for these years.
 
Released reserves for general liability claims for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2010, primarily related to accident years 2005 through 2008. Claim emergence for these accident years continues to be lower than anticipated. Management now believes this lower level of claim activity will continue into the future and has reduced its reserve estimate in response to these favorable trends. Partially offsetting this reserve release is strengthening on loss adjustment expense reserves during the second quarter of 2010 due to higher than expected allocated loss expenses for claims in accident years 2000 and prior.
 
Released reserves for professional liability claims for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily related to directors’ and officers’ (“D&O”) claims in accident years 2008 and prior. For these accident years, reported losses for claims under D&O policies have been emerging favorably to initial expectations due to lower than expected claim severity.
 
Strengthened reserves for property in personal homeowners’ claims for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. During 2010, the Company observed a lengthening of the claim reporting period for homeowners’ claims for prior accident years which resulted in increasing management’s estimate of the ultimate cost to settle these claims.
 
The Company reviewed its allowance for uncollectible reinsurance in the second quarter of 2010 and reduced its allowance, in part, by a reduction in gross ceded loss recoverables.
 
Refer to the Other Operations Claims section for further discussion on strengthening of net environmental and net asbestos reserves.

 

69


Table of Contents

A roll-forward follows of property & casualty insurance product liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2009:
                                 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009  
 
 
                            Total  
    Property &                     Property and  
    Casualty     Consumer     Corporate and     Casualty  
    Commercial     Markets     Other     Insurance  
Beginning liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, gross
  $ 15,273     $ 2,083     $ 4,577     $ 21,933  
Reinsurance and other recoverables
    2,742       46       798       3,586  
 
                       
Beginning liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net
    12,531       2,037       3,779       18,347  
 
                       
Provision for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
                               
Current accident year before catastrophes
    2,726       1,974       1       4,701  
Current accident year catastrophes
    80       242             322  
Prior accident years
    (246 )     (15 )     203       (58 )
 
                       
Total provision for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
    2,560       2,201       204       4,965  
Payments
    (2,470 )     (2,156 )     (275 )     (4,901 )
 
                       
Ending liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net
    12,621       2,082       3,708       18,411  
Reinsurance and other recoverables
    2,594       43       853       3,490  
 
                       
Ending liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, gross
  $ 15,215     $ 2,125     $ 4,561     $ 21,901  
 
                       
Earned premiums
  $ 4,463     $ 2,957                  
Loss and loss expense paid ratio [1]
    55.3       72.9                  
Loss and loss expense incurred ratio
    57.3       74.5                  
Prior accident years development (pts) [2]
    (5.5 )     (0.5 )                
     
[1]  
The “loss and loss expense paid ratio” represents the ratio of paid losses and loss adjustment expenses to earned premiums.
 
[2]  
“Prior accident years development (pts)” represents the ratio of prior accident years development to earned premiums.
Prior accident years development recorded in 2009
Included within prior accident years development for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 were the following reserve strengthenings (releases):
                                 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2009  
 
 
                            Total  
    Property &                     Property and  
    Casualty     Consumer     Corporate and     Casualty  
    Commercial     Markets     Other     Insurance  
Auto liability
  $     $ (20 )   $     $ (20 )
Workers’ compensation
    (45 )                 (45 )
General liability
    (14 )                 (14 )
Professional liability
    (24 )                 (24 )
Net environmental reserves
                75       75  
Other reserve re-estimates, net [1]
    (25 )     (5 )     6       (24 )
 
                       
Total prior accident years development
  $ (108 )   $ (25 )   $ 81     $ (52 )
 
                       
     
[1]  
Includes reserve discount accretion of $6 in Property & Casualty Commercial.
                                 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009  
 
 
                            Total  
    Property &                     Property and  
    Casualty     Consumer     Corporate and     Casualty  
    Commercial     Markets     Other     Insurance  
Auto liability
  $     $ (53 )   $     $ (53 )
Package business
    36                   36  
Workers’ compensation
    (68 )                 (68 )
General liability
    (85 )                 (85 )
Professional liability
    (74 )                 (74 )
Property
          18             18  
Surety business
    25                   25  
Net environmental reserves
                75       75  
Net asbestos reserves
                138       138  
Uncollectible reinsurance
    (20 )           (20 )     (40 )
Other reserve re-estimates, net [1]
    (60 )     20       10       (30 )
 
                       
Total prior accident years development
  $ (246 )   $ (15 )   $ 203     $ (58 )
 
                       
     
[1]  
Includes reserve discount accretion of $18 in Property & Casualty Commercial.

 

70


Table of Contents

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company’s re-estimates of prior accident years reserves included the following significant reserve changes:
 
Released reserves for personal auto liability claims in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009. Beginning in the first quarter of 2008, management observed an improvement in emerged claim severity for the 2005 through 2007 accident years attributed, in part, to changes made in claim handling procedures in 2007. In the first six months of 2009, the Company recognized that favorable development in reported severity was a sustained trend and, accordingly, management reduced its reserve estimate, primarily related to accident years 2005 to 2007. The release of reserves in the three months ended September 30, 2009 was principally related to AARP business for the 2006 through 2008 accident years. The reduction in reserves related to accident years 2006 and 2007 reflects a continuation of the favorable severity development trends that were first observed in early 2008. For accident year 2008, management first lowered its estimate in the fourth quarter of 2008, reflecting favorable frequency due to higher gas prices and reduced driving mileage. With the third quarter 2009 release, management now recognizes sustained improvement in reported severity development as accident year 2008 has matured.
 
Strengthened reserves for liability claims under package policies by $16 in the first quarter of 2009, primarily related to allocated loss adjustment expenses for accident years 2000 to 2005 and by $20 in the second quarter of 2009, principally related to allocated loss adjustment expenses for accident years 2007 and 2008. During the first quarter of 2009, the Company identified higher than expected expense payments on older accident years related to the liability coverage. Additional analysis in the second quarter of 2009 showed that this higher level of loss adjustment expense is likely to continue into more recent accident years. As a result, in the second quarter of 2009, the Company increased its estimates for future expense payments for the 2007 and 2008 accident years. In addition, during the third quarter of 2009, the Company recognized the cost of late emerging exposures were likely to be higher than previously expected. Also in the third quarter, the Company recognized a lower than expected frequency of high severity claims. These third quarter events were largely offsetting.
 
Released workers’ compensation reserves in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009. The Company released reserves in the three months ended September 30, 2009, primarily related to additional ceded losses on accident years 1999 and prior. During the first quarter of 2009, the Company observed lower than expected expense payments on older accident years. As a result, the Company reduced its estimate for future expense payments on more recent accident years.
 
Released reserves for general liability claims for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 primarily related to accident years 2003 to 2007. Beginning in the third quarter of 2007, the Company observed that reported losses for high hazard and umbrella general liability claims, primarily related to the 2001 to 2006 accident years, were emerging favorably and this caused management to reduce its estimate of the cost of future reported claims for these accident years, resulting in a reserve release in each quarter since the third quarter of 2007. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, management determined that the lower level of loss emergence was also evident in accident year 2007 and had continued for accident years 2003 to 2006 and, as a result, the Company reduced the reserves. In addition, during the third quarter of 2009, the Company recognized that the cost of late emerging exposures were likely to be higher than previously expected. Also in the third quarter, the Company recognized additional ceded losses on accident years 1999 and prior. These third quarter events were largely offsetting.
 
Released reserves for professional liability claims in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 primarily related to accident years 2003 to 2007. Beginning in 2008, the Company observed that claim severity for both D&O and E&O claims for the 2003 to 2006 accident years was developing favorably to previous expectations and the Company released reserves for these accident years in 2008. During the first nine months of 2009, the Company’s updated analysis showed that claim severity for D&O losses in the 2003 to 2007 accident years continued to develop favorably to previous expectations, resulting in a reduction of reserves in each of the first three quarters of 2009.
 
Strengthened reserves for property personal homeowners’ claims for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 primarily driven by increased claim settlement costs in recent accident years and increased losses from underground storage tanks in older accident years. In 2008, the Company began to observe increasing claim settlement costs for the 2005 to 2008 accident years and, in the first quarter of 2009, determined that this higher cost level would continue, resulting in a reserve strengthening of $9 for these accident years. In addition, beginning in 2008, the Company observed unfavorable emergence of homeowners’ casualty claims for accident years 2003 and prior, primarily related to underground storage tanks. Following a detailed review of these claims in the first quarter of 2009, management increased its estimate of the magnitude of this exposure and strengthened homeowners’ casualty claim reserves by $9.
 
Strengthened reserves for surety business for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 primarily related to accident years 2004 to 2007. The strengthening in 2009 consisted of net actions of $45 strengthening of reserves for customs bonds, partially offset by a $20 release of reserves for contract surety claims. During 2008, the Company became aware that there were a large number of late reported surety claims related to customs bonds. Continued high volume of late reported claims during the first and second quarters of 2009 caused the Company to strengthen the reserves in each period.
 
The Company reviewed its allowance for uncollectible reinsurance for Property & Casualty Commercial in the second quarter of 2009 and reduced its allowance for Property & Casualty Commercial driven, in part, by a reduction in gross ceded loss recoverables
 
Refer to the Other Operations Claims section for further discussion on strengthening of net environmental and net asbestos reserves.

 

71


Table of Contents

Other Operations Claims
Reserve Activity
Reserves and reserve activity in the Other Operations operating segment, within Corporate and Other, are categorized and reported as asbestos, environmental, or “all other”. The “all other” category of reserves covers a wide range of insurance and assumed reinsurance coverages, including, but not limited to, potential liability for construction defects, lead paint, silica, pharmaceutical products, molestation and other long-tail liabilities.
The following table presents reserve activity, inclusive of estimates for both reported and incurred but not reported claims, net of reinsurance, for Other Operations, categorized by asbestos, environmental and all other claims, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.
Other Operations Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
                                 
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2010   Asbestos     Environmental     All Other [1]   Total  
Beginning liability — net [2][3]
  $ 1,944     $ 291     $ 1,351     $ 3,586  
Losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred
          62       1       63  
Losses and loss adjustment expenses paid
    (56 )     (11 )     (21 )     (88 )
 
                       
Ending liability — net [2][3]
  $ 1,888 [4]   $ 342     $ 1,331     $ 3,561  
 
                       
                                 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010   Asbestos     Environmental     All Other [1]     Total  
Beginning liability — net [2][3]
  $ 1,892     $ 307     $ 1,432     $ 3,631  
Losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred
    172       64             236  
Losses and loss adjustment expenses paid
    (176 )     (29 )     (101 )     (306 )
 
                       
Ending liability — net [2][3]
  $ 1,888 [4]   $ 342     $ 1,331     $ 3,561  
 
                       
     
[1]  
“All Other” includes unallocated loss adjustment expense reserves. “All Other” also includes The Company’s allowance for uncollectible reinsurance. When the Company commutes a ceded reinsurance contract or settles a ceded reinsurance dispute, the portion of the allowance for uncollectible reinsurance attributable to that commutation or settlement, if any, is reclassified to the appropriate cause of loss.
 
[2]  
Excludes asbestos and environmental net liabilities reported in Property & Casualty Commercial of $9 and $5, respectively, as of September 30, 2010, $10 and $4, respectively, as of June 30, 2010 and $10 and $5, respectively, as of December 31, 2009. Total net losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred in Property & Casualty Commercial for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 includes $4 and $10, respectively, related to asbestos and environmental claims. Total net losses and loss adjustment expenses paid in Property & Casualty Commercial for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 includes $4 and $11 respectively, related to asbestos and environmental claims.
 
[3]  
Gross of reinsurance, asbestos and environmental reserves, including liabilities in Property & Casualty Commercial, were $2,393 and $395, respectively, as of September 30, 2010, $2,545 and $344, respectively, as of June 30, 2010 and $2,484 and $367, respectively, as of December 31, 2009.
 
[4]  
The one year and average three year net paid amounts for asbestos claims, including Property & Casualty Commercial, are $232 and $225, respectively, resulting in a one year net survival ratio of 8.2 and a three year net survival ratio of 8.4. Net survival ratio is the quotient of the net carried reserves divided by the average annual payment amount and is an indication of the number of years that the net carried reserve would last (i.e. survive) if the future annual claim payments were consistent with the calculated historical average.
For paid and incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses reporting, the Company classifies its asbestos and environmental reserves into three categories: Direct, Assumed Reinsurance and London Market. Direct insurance includes primary and excess coverage. Assumed reinsurance includes both “treaty” reinsurance (covering broad categories of claims or blocks of business) and “facultative” reinsurance (covering specific risks or individual policies of primary or excess insurance companies). London Market business includes the business written by one or more of the Company’s subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, which are no longer active in the insurance or reinsurance business. Such business includes both direct insurance and assumed reinsurance.
Of the three categories of claims (Direct, Assumed Reinsurance and London Market), direct policies tend to have the greatest factual development from which to estimate the Company’s exposures.
Assumed reinsurance exposures are inherently less predictable than direct insurance exposures because the Company may not receive notice of a reinsurance claim until the underlying direct insurance claim is mature. This causes a delay in the receipt of information at the reinsurer level and adds to the uncertainty of estimating related reserves.
London Market exposures are the most uncertain of the three categories of claims. As a participant in the London Market (comprised of both Lloyd’s of London and London Market companies), certain subsidiaries of the Company wrote business on a subscription basis, with those subsidiaries’ involvement being limited to a relatively small percentage of a total contract placement. Claims are reported, via a broker, to the “lead” underwriter and, once agreed to, are presented to the following markets for concurrence. This reporting and claim agreement process makes estimating liabilities for this business the most uncertain of the three categories of claims.

 

72


Table of Contents

The following table sets forth, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, paid and incurred loss activity by the three categories of claims for asbestos and environmental.
Paid and Incurred Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses (“LAE”) Development — Asbestos and Environmental
                                 
    Asbestos [1]     Environmental [1]  
    Paid     Incurred     Paid     Incurred  
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010   Losses & LAE     Losses & LAE     Losses & LAE     Losses & LAE  
Gross
                               
Direct
  $ 95     $     $ 9     $ 47  
Assumed Reinsurance
    48             1       5  
London Market
    8             2       10  
 
                       
Total
    151             12       62  
Ceded
    (95 )           (1 )      
 
                       
Net
  $ 56     $     $ 11     $ 62  
 
                       
 
                               
Nine months Ended September 30, 2010
                               
Gross
                               
Direct
  $ 163     $ 209     $ 26     $ 47  
Assumed Reinsurance
    98             4       5  
London Market
    23       (15 )     4       10  
 
                       
Total
    284       194       34       62  
Ceded
    (108 )     (22 )     (5 )     2  
 
                       
Net
  $ 176     $ 172     $ 29     $ 64  
 
                       
     
[1]  
Excludes asbestos and environmental paid and incurred loss and LAE reported in Property & Casualty Commercial. Total gross losses and LAE incurred in Property & Casualty Commercial for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 includes $4 and $10, respectively, related to asbestos and environmental claims. Total gross losses and LAE paid in Property & Casualty Commercial for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 includes $4 and $11, respectively, related to asbestos and environmental claims.
During the third quarter of 2010, the Company completed its annual ground up environmental reserve evaluation. As part of this evaluation, the Company reviewed all of its open direct domestic insurance accounts exposed to environmental liability, as well as assumed reinsurance accounts and its London Market exposures for both direct and assumed reinsurance. Based on this evaluation, the Company increased its net environmental reserves by $62. The Company found estimates for some individual accounts increased based upon unfavorable litigation results and increased clean-up or expense costs, with the vast majority of this deterioration emanating from a limited number of insureds. These changes were case specific and not as a result of any underlying change in the current environment. The Company currently expects to continue to perform a ground up evaluation of its environmental liabilities annually and regularly evaluate the Company’s historical direct net loss and expense paid and reported experience, and net loss and expense paid and reported experience by calendar and/or report year, to assess any emerging trends, fluctuations or characteristics suggested by the aggregate paid and reported activity.
In reporting environmental results, the Company divides its gross exposure into Direct, Assumed Reinsurance and London Market. The following table displays gross environmental reserves by category and net environmental reserves as of September 30, 2010:
         
    Total  
    Reserves  
Gross
       
Direct
  $ 281  
Assumed Reinsurance
    55  
London Market
    61  
 
     
Total [1] [2]
    397  
Ceded
    (50 )
 
     
Net
  $ 347  
 
     
     
[1]  
The one-year gross paid amount for total environmental claims is $56, resulting in a one-year gross survival ratio of 7.0.
 
[2]  
The three-year average annual gross paid amount for total environmental claims is $53, resulting in a three-year gross survival ratio of 7.6.
During the second quarter of 2010, the Company completed its annual ground-up asbestos reserve evaluation. As part of this evaluation, the Company reviewed all of its open direct domestic insurance accounts exposed to asbestos liability, as well as assumed reinsurance accounts and its London Market exposures for both direct insurance and assumed reinsurance. Based on this evaluation, the Company increased its net asbestos reserves by $169. For certain direct policyholders, the Company experienced increases in claim severity and expense. Increases in severity and expense were driven by litigation in certain jurisdictions and, to a lesser extent, development on primarily peripheral accounts. The Company also experienced unfavorable development on its assumed reinsurance accounts driven largely by the same factors experienced by the direct policyholders. The Company currently expects to continue to perform a ground up evaluation of its asbestos liabilities annually and regularly evaluate the Company’s historical direct net loss and expense paid and reported experience, and net loss and expense paid and reported experience by calendar and/or report year, to assess any emerging trends, fluctuations or characteristics suggested by the aggregate paid and reported activity.

 

73


Table of Contents

Uncertainties Regarding Adequacy of Asbestos and Environmental Reserves
A number of factors affect the variability of estimates for asbestos and environmental reserves including assumptions with respect to the frequency of claims, the average severity of those claims settled with payment, the dismissal rate of claims with no payment and the expense to indemnity ratio. The uncertainty with respect to the underlying reserve assumptions for asbestos and environmental adds a greater degree of variability to these reserve estimates than reserve estimates for more traditional exposures. While this variability is reflected in part in the size of the range of reserves developed by the Company, that range may still not be indicative of the potential variance between the ultimate outcome and the recorded reserves. The recorded net reserves as of September 30, 2010 of $2.24 billion ($1.90 billion and $347 for asbestos and environmental, respectively) is within an estimated range, unadjusted for covariance, of $1.78 billion to $2.55 billion. The process of estimating asbestos and environmental reserves remains subject to a wide variety of uncertainties, which are detailed in the Company’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report. The Company believes that its current asbestos and environmental reserves are appropriate. However, analyses of future developments could cause the Company to change its estimates and ranges of its asbestos and environmental reserves, and the effect of these changes could be material to the Company’s consolidated operating results, financial condition and liquidity.
The Company provides an allowance for uncollectible reinsurance, reflecting management’s best estimate of reinsurance cessions that may be uncollectible in the future due to reinsurers’ unwillingness or inability to pay. During the second quarter of 2010, the Company completed its annual evaluation of the collectibility of the reinsurance recoverables and the adequacy of the allowance for uncollectible reinsurance associated with older, long-term casualty liabilities reported in the Other Operations operating segment. The evaluation resulted in no addition to the allowance for uncollectible reinsurance. In conducting this evaluation, the Company used its most recent detailed evaluations of ceded liabilities reported in the operating segment. The Company analyzed the overall credit quality of the Company’s reinsurers, recent trends in arbitration and litigation outcomes in disputes between cedants and reinsurers, and recent developments in commutation activity between reinsurers and cedants. As of September 30, 2010, the allowance for uncollectible reinsurance for Other Operations totals $221. The Company currently expects to perform its regular comprehensive review of Other Operations reinsurance recoverables annually. Due to the inherent uncertainties as to collection and the length of time before reinsurance recoverables become due, particularly for older, long-term casualty liabilities, it is possible that future adjustments to the Company’s reinsurance recoverables, net of the allowance, could be required.
Consistent with the Company’s long-standing reserve practices, the Company will continue to review and monitor its reserves in the Other Operations segment regularly, and where future developments indicate, make appropriate adjustments to the reserves. For a discussion of the Company’s reserving practices, see the Critical Accounting Estimates—Property and Casualty Reserves, Net of Reinsurance section of the MD&A included in the Company’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report.

 

74


Table of Contents

Estimated Gross Profits Used in the Valuation and Amortization of Assets and Liabilities Associated with Variable Annuity and Other Universal Life-Type Contracts
Estimated gross profits (“EGPs”) are used in the amortization of: the DAC asset, which includes the present value of future profits; sales inducement assets (“SIA”); and unearned revenue reserves (“URR”). See Note 6 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on DAC. See Note 8 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on SIA. Portions of EGPs are also used in the valuation of reserves for death and other insurance benefit features on variable annuity and universal life-type contracts. See Note 7 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on death and other insurance benefit reserves. See The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report for additional discussion on the Company’s critical accounting estimates related to EGPs.
The most significant EGP based balances are as follows:
                                                                 
    U.S. Annuity     International Annuity     Retirement Plans     Life Insurance  
    September     December     September     December     September     December     September     December  
    30, 2010     30, 2009     30, 2010     30, 2009     30, 2010     30, 2009     30, 2010     30, 2009  
DAC
  $ 3,119     $ 3,378     $ 1,620     $ 1,693     $ 797     $ 701     $ 2,632     $ 2,490  
SIA
  $ 318     $ 324     $ 38     $ 28     $ 24     $ 23     $ 44     $ 42  
URR
  $ 94     $ 96     $ 48     $ 584     $     $     $ 1,331     $ 1,182  
Death and Other Insurance Benefit Reserves
  $ 1,158     $ 1,232     $ 641     $ 70     $ 1     $ 1     $ 103     $ 76  
Unlocks
The after-tax impact on the Company’s assets and liabilities as a result of the Unlock during the three months ended September 30, 2010 was as follows:
                                         
                    Death and              
                    Other              
                    Insurance              
Segment                   Benefit              
After-tax (Charge) Benefit   DAC     URR     Reserves     SIA     Total [1]  
Global Annuity
  $ 58     $ 5     $ 77     $ 5     $ 145  
Life Insurance
    31       (2 )     1       (1 )     29  
Retirement Plans
    19                         19  
 
                             
Total
  $ 108     $ 3     $ 78     $ 4     $ 193  
 
                             
     
[1]  
The most significant contributors to the Unlock benefit recorded during the third quarter of 2010 were actual separate account returns from July 1, 2010 to September 30, 2010 being above our aggregated estimated return and the impact of assumption updates primarily related to decreasing lapse and withdrawal rates and lower hedge costs.
The after-tax impact on the Company’s assets and liabilities as a result of the Unlock during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was as follows:
                                         
                    Death and              
                    Other              
                    Insurance              
Segment                   Benefit              
After-tax (Charge) Benefit   DAC     URR     Reserves     SIA     Total [1]  
Global Annuity
  $ (22 )   $ 8     $ 23     $ (5 )   $ 4  
Life Insurance
    26       3       1       (1 )     29  
Retirement Plans
    15                         15  
 
                             
Total
  $ 19     $ 11     $ 24     $ (6 )   $ 48  
 
                             
     
[1]  
The most significant contributors to the Unlock benefit recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was actual separate account returns from January 1, 2010 to September 30, 2010 being above our aggregated estimated return and the impacts of increased hedging costs and assumption updates.

 

75


Table of Contents

The after-tax impact on the Company’s assets and liabilities as a result of the Unlock during the three months ended September 30, 2009 was as follows:
                                         
                    Death and              
                    Other              
                    Insurance              
Segment                   Benefit              
After-tax (Charge) Benefit   DAC     URR     Reserves     SIA     Total [2]  
Global Annuity [1]
  $ 18     $ (14 )   $ 92     $ (10 )   $ 86  
Life Insurance
    (27 )     7       (4 )           (24 )
Corporate and Other
    1                         1  
 
                             
Total
  $ (8 )   $ (7 )   $ 88     $ (10 )   $ 63  
 
                             
     
[1]  
Includes $(49) related to DAC recoverability impairment associated with the decision to suspend sales in the U.K. variable annuity business.
 
[2]  
The most significant contributor to the Unlock benefit recorded during the third quarter of 2009 was actual separate account returns from July 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009 being above our aggregated estimated return.
The after-tax impact on the Company’s assets and liabilities as a result of the Unlock during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was as follows:
                                         
                    Death and              
                    Other              
                    Insurance              
Segment                   Benefit              
After-tax (Charge) Benefit   DAC     URR     Reserves     SIA     Total [1]  
Global Annuity
  $ (583 )   $ 24     $ (355 )   $ (50 )   $ (964 )
Life Insurance
    (91 )     47       (4 )           (48 )
Retirement Plans
    (54 )           (1 )     (1 )     (56 )
Corporate and Other
    (3 )                       (3 )
 
                             
Total
  $ (731 )   $ 71     $ (360 )   $ (51 )   $ (1,071 )
 
                             
     
[1]  
The most significant contributor to the Unlock charge recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was the result of actual separate account returns from October 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009 being significantly below our aggregated estimated return while the opposite was true from April 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009.
An Unlock revises EGPs, on a quarterly basis, to reflect market updates of policyholder account value and the Company’s current best estimate assumptions. After each quarterly Unlock, the Company also tests the aggregate recoverability of DAC by comparing the DAC balance to the present value of future EGPs. The margin between the DAC balance and the present value of future EGPs for U.S. and Japan individual variable annuities was 26% and 38% as of September 30, 2010, respectively, and 23% and 59% as of December 31, 2009, respectively. If the margin between the DAC asset and the present value of future EGPs is exhausted, further reductions in EGPs would cause portions of DAC to be unrecoverable.

 

76


Table of Contents

Goodwill Impairment
Goodwill balances are reviewed for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would indicate that a triggering event for a potential impairment has occurred. Effective for the third quarter of 2010, The Hartford changed its reporting segments, however the reporting units were not impacted. A reporting unit is defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment. Most of the Company’s reporting units, for which goodwill has been allocated, are equivalent to the Company’s operating segments as there is no discrete financial information available for the separate components of the segment or all of the components of the segment have similar economic characteristics. The homeowners and automobile components of Consumer Markets have been aggregated into one reporting unit; the variable life, universal life and term life components within Life Insurance have been aggregated into one reporting unit of Individual Life; the 401(k), 457 and 403(b) components of Retirement Plans have been aggregated into one reporting unit; the retail mutual funds component of Mutual Funds has been aggregated into one reporting unit; and the group disability and group life components of Group Benefits have been aggregated into one reporting unit. In circumstances where the components of an operating segment constitute a business for which discrete financial information is available and segment management regularly reviews the operating results of that component such as Hartford Financial Products, the Company has classified those components as reporting units. Goodwill associated with the June 30, 2000 buyback of Hartford Life, Inc. was allocated to each of Hartford Life’s reporting units based on the reporting units’ fair value of in-force business. Although this goodwill was allocated to each reporting unit, it is held in Corporate and Other for segment reporting. In addition Federal Trust Corporation is an immaterial operating segment where the goodwill has been included in the Corporate and Other category.
As of September 30, 2010, the Company had goodwill allocated to the following reporting units:
                         
    Segment     Goodwill in        
    Goodwill     Corporate and Other     Total  
Hartford Financial Products within Property & Casualty Commercial
  $ 30     $     $ 30  
Group Benefits
          138       138  
Consumer Markets
    119             119  
Individual Life within Life Insurance
    224       118       342  
Retirement Plans
    87       69       156  
Mutual Funds
    159       92       251  
Federal Trust Corporation within Corporate and Other
          15       15  
 
                 
Total
  $ 619     $ 432     $ 1,051  
 
                 
The Company completed its annual goodwill assessment for the Federal Trust Corporation reporting unit within Corporate and Other during the second quarter of 2010, resulting in a goodwill impairment of $153, pre-tax.
The Company completed its annual goodwill assessment for the individual reporting units within Wealth Management and Corporate and Other, except for the Federal Trust Corporation reporting unit, as of January 1, 2010, which resulted in no write-downs of goodwill in 2010. The reporting units passed the first step of their annual impairment tests with a significant margin with the exception of the Individual Life reporting unit within Life Insurance. Individual Life completed the second step of the annual goodwill impairment test resulting in an implied goodwill value that was in excess of its carrying value. Even though the fair value of the reporting unit was lower than its carrying value, the implied level of goodwill in Individual Life exceeded the carrying amount of goodwill. In the implied purchase accounting required by the Step 2 goodwill impairment test, the implied present value of future profits was substantially lower than that of the DAC asset removed in purchase accounting. A higher discount rate was used for calculating the present value of future profits as compared to that used for calculating the present value of estimated gross profits for DAC. As a result, in the implied purchase accounting, implied goodwill exceeded the carrying amount of goodwill.
The Company will complete the annual impairment test for the reporting units within Property & Casualty Commercial and Consumer Markets in the fourth quarter of 2010.

 

77


Table of Contents

KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND RATIOS
The Hartford’s operations overview
The Hartford is a financial holding company for a group of subsidiaries that provide investment products and life and property and casualty insurance to both individual and business customers in the United States. Also, The Hartford continues to administer business previously sold in Japan and the U.K.
The Company conducts business in three customer focused divisions, Commercial Markets, Consumer Markets and Wealth Management, each containing reporting segments. The Commercial Markets division consists of the reporting segments of Property & Casualty Commercial and Group Benefits. The Consumer Markets division is also the reporting segment. The Wealth Management division consists of the following reporting segments: Global Annuity, Life Insurance, Retirement Plans and Mutual Funds. For additional discussion regarding The Hartford’s reporting segments, see Note 3 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Company considers several measures and ratios to be the key performance indicators for its businesses. The following discussions include the more significant ratios and measures of profitability for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. Management believes that these ratios and measures are useful in understanding the underlying trends in The Hartford’s businesses. However, these key performance indicators should only be used in conjunction with, and not in lieu of, the results presented in the segment discussions that follow in this MD&A. These ratios and measures may not be comparable to other performance measures used by the Company’s competitors.
Definitions of Non-GAAP and other measures and ratios
After-tax Margin
After-tax margin, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company uses to evaluate, and believes is an important measure of, certain of the segment’s operating performance. After-tax margin is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure. The Hartford believes that the measure after-tax margin, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, provides investors with a valuable measure of the performance of certain of the Company’s on-going businesses because it reveals trends in those businesses that may be obscured by the effect of realized gains (losses) or quarterly DAC Unlocks. Some realized capital gains and losses are primarily driven by investment decisions and external economic developments, the nature and timing of which are unrelated to insurance aspects of our businesses. Accordingly, these non-GAAP measures exclude the effect of all realized gains and losses that tend to be highly variable from period to period based on capital market conditions. The Hartford believes, however, that some realized capital gains and losses are integrally related to our insurance operations, so after-tax margin, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, should include net realized gains and losses on net periodic settlements on credit derivatives. These net realized gains and losses are directly related to an offsetting item included in the statement of operations such as net investment income. DAC Unlocks occur when the Company determines based on actual experience or other evidence, that estimates of future gross profits should be revised. As the DAC Unlock is a reflection of the Company’s new best estimates of future gross profits, the result and its impact on the DAC amortization ratio is meaningful; however, it does distort the trend of after-tax margin. After-tax margin, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, should not be considered as a substitute for after-tax margin and does not reflect the overall profitability of our businesses. Therefore, the Company believes it is important for investors to evaluate both after-tax margin, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, and after-tax margin when reviewing the Company’s performance.
Catastrophe ratio
The catastrophe ratio (a component of the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio) represents the ratio of catastrophe losses incurred in the current calendar year (net of reinsurance) to earned premiums and includes catastrophe losses incurred for both the current and prior accident years. A catastrophe is an event that causes $25 or more in industry insured property losses and affects a significant number of property and casualty policyholders and insurers. The catastrophe ratio includes the effect of catastrophe losses, but does not include the effect of reinstatement premiums.
Combined ratio
The combined ratio is the sum of the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio, the expense ratio and the policyholder dividend ratio. This ratio is a relative measurement that describes the related cost of losses and expenses for every $100 of earned premiums. A combined ratio below 100.0 demonstrates underwriting profit; a combined ratio above 100.0 demonstrates underwriting losses.
Combined ratio before catastrophes and prior accident year development
The combined ratio before catastrophes and prior accident year development represents the combined ratio for the current accident year, excluding the impact of catastrophes. The Company believes this ratio is an important measure of the trend in profitability since it removes the impact of volatile and unpredictable catastrophe losses and prior accident year reserve development.

 

78


Table of Contents

DAC amortization ratio
DAC amortization ratio, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company uses to evaluate, and believes is an important measure of, certain of the segment’s operating performance. DAC amortization ratio is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure. The Hartford believes that the measure DAC amortization ratio, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, provides investors with a valuable measure of the performance of certain of the Company’s on-going businesses because it reveals trends in our businesses that may be obscured by the effect of realized gains (losses) or quarterly DAC Unlocks. Some realized capital gains and losses are primarily driven by investment decisions and external economic developments, the nature and timing of which are unrelated to insurance aspects of our businesses. Accordingly, these non-GAAP measures exclude the effect of all realized gains and losses that tend to be highly variable from period to period based on capital market conditions. The Hartford believes, however, that some realized capital gains and losses are integrally related to our insurance operations, so amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and the present value of future profits (DAC amortization ratio), which is typically expressed as a percentage of pre-tax income before the cost of this amortization (an approximation of actual gross profits) and excludes the effects of realized capital gains and losses and DAC Unlock, however should include net realized gains and losses on net periodic settlements on the Japan fixed annuity cross-currency swap. These net realized gains and losses are directly related to an offsetting item included in the statement of operations such as net investment income. DAC Unlocks occur when the Company determines based on actual experience or other evidence, that estimates of future gross profits should be revised. As the DAC Unlock is a reflection of the Company’s new best estimates of future gross profits, the result and its impact on the DAC amortization ratio is meaningful; however, it does distort the trend of DAC amortization ratio. DAC amortization ratio, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, should not be considered as a substitute for DAC amortization ratio and does not reflect the overall profitability of our businesses. Therefore, the Company believes it is important for investors to evaluate both DAC amortization ratio, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, and DAC amortization ratio when reviewing the Company’s performance.
Net Investment Spread
Management evaluates performance of certain products based on net investment spread. These products include those that have insignificant mortality risk, such as fixed annuities, certain general account universal life contracts and certain institutional contracts. Net investment spread is determined by taking the difference between the earned rate, (excluding the effects of realized capital gains and losses, including those related to the Company’s GMWB product and related reinsurance and hedging programs), and the related crediting rates on average general account assets under management. The net investment spreads are for the total portfolio of relevant contracts in each segment and reflect business written at different times. When pricing products, the Company considers current investment yields and not the portfolio average. The determination of credited rates is based upon consideration of current market rates for similar products, portfolio yields and contractually guaranteed minimum credited rates. Net investment spread can be volatile period over period, which can have a significant positive or negative effect on the operating results of each segment. The volatile nature of net investment spread is driven primarily by earnings on limited partnership and other alternative investments and prepayment premiums on securities. Investment earnings can also be influenced by factors such as changes in interest rates, credit spreads and decisions to hold higher levels of short-term investments.
Return on Assets (“ROA”)
ROA, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company uses to evaluate, and believes is an important measure of, certain of the segment’s operating performance. ROA is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure. The Hartford believes that the measure ROA, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, provides investors with a valuable measure of the performance of certain of the Company’s on-going businesses because it reveals trends in our businesses that may be obscured by the effect of realized gains (losses) or quarterly DAC Unlocks. Some realized capital gains and losses are primarily driven by investment decisions and external economic developments, the nature and timing of which are unrelated to insurance aspects of our businesses. Accordingly, these non-GAAP measures exclude the effect of all realized gains and losses that tend to be highly variable from period to period based on capital market conditions. The Hartford believes, however, that some realized capital gains and losses are integrally related to our insurance operations, so ROA, excluding the realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, should include net realized gains and losses on net periodic settlements on the Japan fixed annuity cross-currency swap. These net realized gains and losses are directly related to an offsetting item included in the statement of operations, such as net investment income. DAC Unlocks occur when the Company determines based on actual experience or other evidence, that estimates of future gross profits should be revised. As the DAC Unlock is a reflection of the Company’s new best estimates of future gross profits, the result and its impact on the DAC amortization ratio is meaningful; however, it does distort the trend of ROA. ROA, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, should not be considered as a substitute for ROA and does not reflect the overall profitability of our businesses. Therefore, the Company believes it is important for investors to evaluate both ROA, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, and ROA when reviewing the Company’s performance.
Underwriting results
Underwriting results is a before-tax measure that represents earned premiums less incurred losses, loss adjustment expenses, underwriting expenses and policyholder dividends. The Hartford believes that underwriting results provides investors with a valuable measure of before-tax profitability derived from underwriting activities, which are managed separately from the Company’s investing activities. The underwriting segments of Property & Casualty Commercial and Consumer Markets are evaluated by management primarily based upon underwriting results. A reconciliation of underwriting results to net income for Property & Casualty Commercial and Consumer Markets is set forth in their respective discussions herein.

 

79


Table of Contents

Written and earned premiums
Written premium is a statutory accounting financial measure which represents the amount of premiums charged for policies issued, net of reinsurance, during a fiscal period. Earned premium is a U.S. GAAP and statutory measure. Premiums are considered earned and are included in the financial results on a pro rata basis over the policy period. Management believes that written premium is a performance measure that is useful to investors as it reflects current trends in the Company’s sale of property and casualty insurance products. Written and earned premium are recorded net of ceded reinsurance premium.
Combined ratio before catastrophes and prior year development
Combined ratio before catastrophes and prior accident year development is a key indicator of overall profitability for the property and casualty underwriting segments of Property & Casualty Commercial and Consumer Markets since it removes the impact of volatile and unpredictable catastrophe losses and prior accident year reserve development.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Property & Casualty Commercial
                               
Combined ratio
    84.9       87.3       88.0       88.0  
Catastrophe ratio
    0.9       1.9       3.1       1.4  
Non-catastrophe prior year development
    (8.2 )     (7.7 )     (7.9 )     (5.1 )
 
                       
Combined ratio before catastrophes and prior year development
    92.2       93.1       92.8       91.7  
 
                       
 
                               
Consumer Markets
                               
Combined ratio
    94.1       101.2       98.5       98.5  
Catastrophe ratio
    5.1       8.1       8.0       8.5  
Non-catastrophe prior year development
    (4.3 )     (1.5 )     (2.1 )     (0.8 )
 
                       
Combined ratio before catastrophes and prior year development
    93.3       94.6       92.6       90.8  
 
                       
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009
 
Property & Casualty Commercial’s combined ratio before catastrophes and prior year development for the three-month period decreased due to a decrease in the expense ratio as a result of lower compensation-related costs and lower amortization of DAC. For the nine-month period, the combined ratio before catastrophes and prior year development increased primarily due to a decrease in earned premiums.
 
Consumer Markets combined ratio before catastrophes and prior year development for the three-month period decreased due to a decrease in the current accident year losses and loss adjustment expenses before catastrophes driven by the effect of current accident year reserve strengthening in 2009 compared to releases in 2010. For the nine-month period, the combined ratio before catastrophes and prior year development increased primarily due to an increase in the current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ratio before catastrophes for auto.

 

80


Table of Contents

Return on Assets
Return on assets is a key indicator of overall profitability for the Global Annuity, Retirement Plans and Mutual Funds reporting segments as a significant portion of their earnings is based on average assets under management.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Global Annuity
                               
ROA [1]
  47.4 bps   (81.0 ) bps   12.0 bps   (111.0 ) bps
Effect of net realized losses, net of tax and DAC on ROA [3]
  (30.5 ) bps  (136.1 ) bps  (24.1 ) bps  (48.3 ) bps
Effect of DAC Unlock on ROA [2]
  39.3 bps  21.8 bps  0.3 bps  (82.0 ) bps
 
                       
ROA, excluding realized losses and DAC Unlock
  38.6 bps   33.3 bps   35.8 bps   19.3 bps
 
                       
 
                               
Retirement Plans [1]
                               
ROA
  25.8 bps   (33.3 ) bps   10.9 bps   (54.1 ) bps
Effect of net realized losses, net of tax and DAC on ROA
  (0.4 ) bps  (41.6 ) bps  (2.8 ) bps  (40.9 ) bps
Effect of DAC Unlock on ROA [2]
  16.3 bps  bps  4.3 bps  (18.7 ) bps
 
                       
ROA, excluding realized losses and DAC Unlock
  9.9 bps   8.3 bps   9.4 bps   5.5 bps
 
                       
 
                               
Mutual Funds [1]
                               
ROA [4]
  7.9 bps   11.4 bps   9.5 bps   6.1 bps
Effect of net realized losses, net of tax and DAC on ROA
  (0.4 ) bps  bps  bps  bps
 
                       
ROA, excluding realized losses
  8.3 bps   11.4 bps   9.5 bps   6.1 bps
 
                       
     
[1]  
Proprietary mutual fund assets are included in Mutual Funds and those same assets are also included in Global Annuity and Retirement Plans as those same assets generate earnings for each of these segments.
 
[2]  
See Unlocks within the Critical Accounting Estimates section of the MD&A.
 
[3]  
Included in the net realized capital gain (losses) are amounts that represent the net periodic accruals on currency rate swaps used in the risk management of Japan fixed annuity products.
 
[4]  
Includes assets attributed to the transfer of Proprietary mutual funds, Investment-Only mutual funds, Canadian mutual funds, and 529 college savings plans effective January 1, 2010.
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009
 
Global Annuity’s ROA, excluding realized losses and DAC Unlock, increased primarily due to improved net investment income on limited partnerships and other alternative investments, a lower DAC amortization rate and improved operating expenses associated with the restructuring of Japan’s operations. In addition, Global Annuity’s ROA, excluding realized losses and DAC Unlock, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 improved due to 3 Win charges recognized in the first quarter of 2009 of $40, after-tax. Excluding the effects of the 3 Win charge, ROA, excluding realized losses and DAC Unlock, DAC amortization would have been 22.7 bps for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 
The increase in Retirement Plans’ ROA, excluding realized losses and DAC Unlock, was primarily driven by improved performance on limited partnerships and other alternative investments in 2010, and an unfavorable tax adjustment recorded in the third quarter of 2009 related to a true-up for the 2008 tax year.
 
The decrease in the Mutual Funds’ ROA, excluding realized losses, for the three months ended September 30, 2010 is driven by the addition of Proprietary and Canadian mutual fund assets to this line of business which have a lower ROA, as well as the capital infusion to the money market fund. The increase in Mutual Funds’ ROA, excluding realized losses, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was driven by improvement in the equity markets, which enabled this business to partially return to scale, and the impact of lower operating expenses, partially offset by the addition of Proprietary and Canadian mutual fund assets to this line of business which have a lower ROA.

 

81


Table of Contents

After-tax margin
After-tax margin is a key indicator of overall profitability for the Life Insurance and Group Benefits reporting segments as a significant portion of their earnings are a result of the net margin from losses incurred on earned premiums, fees and other considerations.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
                               
Life Insurance
                               
After-tax margin
    25.0 %     2.7 %     18.7 %     1.9 %
Effect of net realized gains (losses), net of tax and DAC on after-tax margin
    2.9 %     (6.1 %)     1.5 %     (6.4 %)
Effect of DAC Unlock on after-tax margin [1]
    7.1 %     (8.3 %)     2.4 %     (5.5 %)
 
                       
After-tax margin, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock
    15.0 %     17.1 %     14.8 %     13.8 %
 
                       
 
                               
Group Benefits
                               
After-tax margin (excluding buyouts)
    4.0 %     5.7 %     4.1 %     4.2 %
Effect of net realized gains (losses), net of tax on after-tax margin
    0.2 %     (1.6 %)     0.5 %     (1.2 %)
 
                       
After-tax margin (excluding buyouts), exlcuding realized gains (losses)
    3.8 %     7.3 %     3.6 %     5.4 %
 
                       
     
[1]  
See Unlocks within the Critical Accounting Estimates section of the MD&A.
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2010, Life Insurance’s after-tax margin, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, decreased primarily due to higher mortality, partially offset by lower DAC amortization and favorable operating expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, Life Insurance’s after-tax margin, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlock, increased primarily due to lower DAC amortization and favorable operating expenses, partially offset by higher mortality.
 
The decrease in Group Benefits’ after-tax margin (excluding buyouts), excluding realized gains (losses), was primarily due to a higher loss ratio from unfavorable morbidity.

 

82


Table of Contents

Investment Results
Composition of Invested Assets
The Company’s primary investment objective is to maximize economic value, consistent with acceptable risk parameters, including the management of credit risk and interest rate sensitivity of invested assets, while generating sufficient after-tax income to meet policyholder and corporate obligations. Investment strategies are developed based on a variety of factors including business needs, regulatory requirements and tax considerations.
                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent  
Fixed maturities, AFS, at fair value
  $ 79,736       78.8 %   $ 71,153       76.3 %
Fixed maturities, at fair value using the fair value option
    564       0.6 %            
Equity securities, AFS, at fair value
    1,168       1.2 %     1,221       1.3 %
Mortgage loans
    4,684       4.6 %     5,938       6.4 %
Policy loans, at outstanding balance
    2,180       2.2 %     2,174       2.3 %
Limited partnerships and other alternative investments
    1,819       1.8 %     1,790       1.9 %
Other investments [1]
    1,427       1.4 %     602       0.7 %
Short-term investments
    9,517       9.4 %     10,357       11.1 %
 
                       
Total investments excluding equity securities, trading
    101,095       100.0 %     93,235       100.0 %
Equity securities, trading, at fair value [2]
    32,495               32,321          
 
                       
Total investments
  $ 133,590             $ 125,556          
 
                       
     
[1]  
Primarily relates to derivative instruments.
 
[2]  
These assets primarily support the Global Annuity-International variable annuity business. Changes in these balances are also reflected in the respective liabilities.
Total investments increased since December 31, 2009 primarily due to increases in fixed maturities, AFS, and other investments, partially offset by declines in mortgage loans and short-term investments. The increase in fixed maturities, AFS, was largely the result of improved security valuations as a result of declining interest rates and, to a lesser extent, credit spread tightening, as well as the reinvestment of short-term investment proceeds, which contributed to the decline in short-term investments. The increase in other investments primarily related to increases in value related to derivatives. Partially offsetting these increases were declines in mortgage loans primarily from sales.
Net Investment Income (Loss)
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
(Before-tax)   Amount     Yield [1]     Amount     Yield [1]     Amount     Yield [1]     Amount     Yield [1]  
Fixed maturities [2]
  $ 868       4.3 %   $ 883       4.4 %   $ 2,629       4.4 %   $ 2,765       4.6 %
Equity securities, AFS
    12       3.9 %     24       6.5 %     39       4.2 %     76       7.0 %
Mortgage loans
    72       6.2 %     82       5.1 %     210       5.5 %     240       5.0 %
Policy loans
    33       6.1 %     36       6.5 %     101       6.2 %     108       6.5 %
Limited partnerships and other alternative investments
    49       11.5 %     (32 )     (6.2 %)     141       10.9 %     (334 )     (20.2 %)
Other [3]
    78               89               254               217          
Investment expense
    (29 )             (33 )             (78 )             (82 )        
 
                                                       
Total net investment income excl. equity securities, trading
    1,083       4.4 %     1,049       4.2 %     3,296       4.5 %     2,990       4.0 %
Equity securities, trading
    1,043               638               (905 )             2,437          
 
                                                       
Total net investment income (loss)
  $ 2,126             $ 1,687             $ 2,391             $ 5,427          
 
                                                       
     
[1]  
Yields calculated using annualized investment income before investment expenses divided by the monthly average invested assets at cost, amortized cost, or adjusted carrying value, as applicable, excluding securities lending collateral and consolidated variable interest entity noncontrolling interests. Included in the fixed maturity yield is Other, which primarily relates to derivatives (see footnote [3] below). Included in the total net investment income yield is investment expense.
 
[2]  
Includes net investment income on short-term investments.
 
[3]  
Includes income from derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting and hedge fixed maturities.
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009
For the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2009, total net investment income increased largely due to equity securities, trading, resulting primarily from improvements in market performance of the underlying investment funds supporting the Japanese variable annuity product.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2009, total net investment income decreased largely due to equity securities, trading, resulting primarily from deteriorations in market performance of the underlying investment funds supporting the Japanese variable annuity product.

 

83


Table of Contents

Total net investment income, excluding equity securities, trading, increased primarily due to improved performance of limited partnerships and other alternative investments primarily within real estate and private equity funds, partially offset by lower income on fixed maturities resulting from a decline in average short-term interest rates and lower asset levels.
Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Before-tax)   2010     2009     2010     2009  
Gross gains on sales
  $ 179     $ 205     $ 654     $ 570  
Gross losses on sales
    (88 )     (104 )     (293 )     (1,013 )
Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings
    (115 )     (536 )     (375 )     (1,074 )
Valuation allowances on mortgage loans
    (7 )     (40 )     (159 )     (193 )
Japanese fixed annuity contract hedges, net [1]
    11       (7 )     22       28  
Periodic net coupon settlements on credit derivatives/Japan
    (4 )     (7 )     (15 )     (39 )
Results of variable annuity hedge program
                               
GMWB derivatives, net
    170       (190 )     (127 )     1,070  
Macro hedge program
    (443 )     (328 )     (210 )     (692 )
 
                       
Total results of variable annuity hedge program
    (273 )     (518 )     (337 )     378  
Other, net [2]
    36       (212 )     (23 )     (473 )
 
                       
Net realized capital losses
  $ (261 )   $ (1,219 )   $ (526 )   $ (1,816 )
 
                       
     
[1]  
Relates to derivative hedging instruments, excluding periodic net coupon settlements, and is net of the Japanese fixed annuity product liability adjustment for changes in the dollar/yen exchange spot rate.
 
[2]  
Primarily consists of losses on Japan 3Win related foreign currency swaps, changes in fair value on non-qualifying derivatives and fixed maturities, FVO, and other investment gains and losses.
Details on the Company’s net realized capital gains and losses are as follows:
     
Gross gains and losses on sales
 
    Gross gains and losses on sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 were predominantly from sales of investment grade corporate securities, U.S. Treasuries and previously reserved mortgage loans in order to take advantage of attractive market opportunities.
 
   
 
 
    Gross gains and losses on sales for the three and nine months September 30, 2009 were predominantly within financial services, structured and government securities due to efforts to reduce portfolio risk while simultaneously reallocating the portfolio to securities with more favorable risk/return profiles.
 
   
Net OTTI losses
 
    For further information, see Other-Than-Temporary Impairments within the Investment Credit Risk section of the MD&A.
 
   
Valuation allowances on mortgage
loans
 
    For further information, see Valuation Allowances on Mortgage Loans within the Investment Credit Risk section of the MD&A.
 
   
Variable annuity hedge program
 
    The gain on GMWB derivatives, net, for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was primarily due to liability model assumption updates of $164 and lower implied market volatility of $117, partially offset by losses due to a general decrease in long-term rates of $(94). The loss on GMWB derivatives, net, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was primarily due to a general decrease in long-term interest rates of $(309), partially offset by gains on liability model assumption updates of $164. The net loss on the macro hedge program was primarily the result of higher equity market valuation.
 
   
 
 
    The loss on GMWB derivatives, net, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was primarily due to liability model assumption updates of $(126) and a general decrease in long-term interest rates of $(97). The gain on GMWB derivatives, net, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was primarily due to outperformance of the underlying actively managed funds as compared to their respective indices of $510, liability model assumption updates of $306, and lower implied market volatility of $201, partially offset by losses on higher equity market valuation of $(194). For more information, see Note 4a of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The net losses on the macro hedge program for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 were primarily the result of a higher equity market valuation.

 

84


Table of Contents

     
Other, net
 
    Other, net gain for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was primarily due to gains of $109 on credit derivatives that assume credit risk driven by credit spreads tightening, and gains of $58 on interest rate derivatives used to manage portfolio duration driven by a decline in long-term interest rates, partially offset by losses of $(123) on transactional foreign currency re-valuation due to an increase in value of the Japanese yen versus the U.S. dollar associated with the internal reinsurance of the Japan variable annuity business, which is offset in AOCI.
 
   
 
 
    Other, net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was primarily due to losses of $(240) on transactional foreign currency re-valuation due to an increase in value of the Japanese yen versus the U.S. dollar associated with the internal reinsurance of the Japan variable annuity business, which is offset in AOCI, and losses of $(117) related to the Japan 3Win foreign currency swaps driven by a decrease in U.S. interest rates. These losses are partially offset by gains of $140 on credit derivatives, gains of $60 related to Japan variable annuity hedges due to the appreciation of the Japanese yen, gains of $55 on interest rate derivatives used to manage portfolio duration driven by a decline in long-term interest rates and $35 of other foreign currency related gains.
 
   
 
 
    Other, net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2009 primarily resulted from losses of $(99) on transactional foreign currency re-valuation due to an increase in value of the Japanese yen versus the U.S. dollar associated with the internal reinsurance of the Japan variable annuity business, which is offset in AOCI and losses of $(84) on credit derivatives that purchase credit protection due to credit spreads tightening. Other, net loss for the nine months ended September 30 2009 primarily resulted from losses of $(438) on credit derivatives that purchase credit protection due to credit spreads tightening, and losses of $(223) related to contingent obligations associated with the Allianz transaction. These losses were partially offset by gains of $118 on credit derivatives that assume credit risk driven by credit spreads tightening, and gains of $80 on transactional foreign currency re-valuation gains predominantly on the internal reinsurance of the Japan variable annuity business, which is offset in AOCI.

 

85


Table of Contents

PROPERTY & CASUALTY COMMERCIAL
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Operating Summary   2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
Written premiums
  $ 1,447     $ 1,387       4 %   $ 4,347     $ 4,316       1 %
Change in unearned premium reserve
    8       (55 )   NM       69       (147 )   NM  
 
                                   
Earned premiums
    1,439       1,442             4,278       4,463       (4 %)
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
                                               
Current accident year before catastrophes
    888       888             2,634       2,726       (3 %)
Current accident year catastrophes
    13       25       (48 %)     134       80       68 %
Prior accident years
    (118 )     (108 )     (9 %)     (339 )     (246 )     (38 %)
 
                                   
Total losses and loss adjustment expenses
    783       805       (3 %)     2,429       2,560       (5 %)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    338       345       (2 %)     1,018       1,051       (3 %)
Insurance operating costs and expenses
    100       109       (8 %)     318       315       1 %
 
                                   
Underwriting results
    218       183       19 %     513       537       (4 %)
Net servicing income
    6       4       50 %     7       6       17 %
Net investment income
    227       206       10 %     696       546       27 %
Net realized capital gains (losses)
    6       (66 )   NM       (10 )     (359 )     97 %
Other expenses
    (24 )     (28 )     14 %     (87 )     (87 )      
 
                                   
Income before income taxes
    433       299       45 %     1,119       643       74 %
Income tax expense
    127       82       55 %     337       159       112 %
 
                                   
Net income
  $ 306     $ 217       41 %   $ 782     $ 484       62 %
 
                                   
                                 
Premium Measures   2010     2009     2010     2009  
New business premium
  $ 279     $ 269     $ 852     $ 823  
Standard commercial lines policy count retention
    83 %     80 %     84 %     80 %
Standard commercial lines renewal written pricing increase (decrease)
    1 %     (1 %)     1 %     (1 %)
Standard commercial lines renewal earned pricing decrease
          (1 %)           (2 %)
Standard commercial lines policies in-force
                    1,201,862       1,151,999  
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Underwriting Ratios   2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
 
                                               
Loss and loss adjustment expense ratio
                                               
Current accident year before catastrophes
    61.8       61.6       (0.2 )     61.6       61.1       (0.5 )
Current accident year catastrophes
    0.9       1.8       0.9       3.1       1.8       (1.3 )
Prior accident years
    (8.2 )     (7.5 )     0.7       (7.9 )     (5.5 )     2.4  
 
                                   
Total loss and loss adjustment expense ratio
    54.5       55.9       1.4       56.8       57.3       0.5  
Expense ratio
    30.1       31.1       1.0       31.2       30.3       (0.9 )
Policyholder dividend ratio
    0.3       0.3                   0.3       0.3  
 
                                   
Combined ratio
    84.9       87.3       2.4       88.0       88.0        
 
                                   
 
                                               
Catastrophe ratio
                                               
Current year
    0.9       1.8       0.9       3.1       1.8       (1.3 )
Prior years
          0.1       0.1             (0.4 )     (0.4 )
 
                                   
Total catastrophe ratio
    0.9       1.9       1.0       3.1       1.4       (1.7 )
 
                                   
 
                                               
Combined ratio before catastrophes
    84.0       85.5       1.5       84.9       86.5       1.6  
Combined ratio before catastrophes and prior accident years development
    92.2       93.1       0.9       92.8       91.7       (1.1 )
 
                                   
Other revenues [1]
  $ 82     $ 85       (4 %)   $ 237     $ 246       (4 %)
 
                                   
     
[1]  
Represents servicing revenues.

 

86


Table of Contents

Three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009
Earned premiums
Earned premiums decreased slightly for the three-month period as a decrease in professional liability, general liability and marine was largely offset by an increase in workers’ compensation. For the nine-month period, earned premiums decreased driven by a decrease in professional liability, fidelity and surety, auto, general liability and marine. The effects of the economic downturn have contributed to the decrease in earned premiums in the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
     
New business premium
 
    New business written premium increased for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in both periods was driven by an increase in specialty casualty, and to a lesser extent for the nine months, an increase in package business.
 
   
Standard commercial lines policy
count retention
 
    Policy count retention increased in both the three- and nine-month periods in nearly all lines of business, as a result of an improvement in mid-term cancellations in 2010.
 
   
Standard commercial lines renewal earned pricing decrease
 
    For both the three- and nine-month periods, renewal earned pricing was flat, as an increase in package business was offset by a decrease for general liability. The earned pricing changes were primarily a reflection of written pricing changes over the last year.
 
   
Standard commercial lines policies
in-force
 
    The number of policies-in-force increased by 4% from September 30, 2009 to September 30, 2010, while earned premiums declined over the same period. The increase is primarily related to the increase in policy count retention.
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
Current accident year losses and loss adjustment expenses before catastrophes
Current accident year losses and loss adjustment expenses before catastrophes remained flat for the three-month period and decreased for the nine-month period. The decrease in the nine-month period was primarily due to decreases in earned premium, partially offset by increases in the current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ratio before catastrophes. The current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ratio before catastrophes increased, primarily due to higher severity on package and property business and higher frequency on workers’ compensation, largely offset by a lower ratio for specialty casualty.
Current accident year catastrophes
Current accident year catastrophe losses decreased for the three-month period and increased for the nine-month period. In the three-month period, losses in 2009 from windstorms and tornadoes in the Midwest were higher than losses in 2010. In the nine-month period, losses were higher in 2010 due to more severe windstorm events, particularly from hail in the Midwest, plains states and the Southeast and from winter storms in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Catastrophe losses in the nine-month period of 2009 included losses from ice storms, windstorms and tornadoes across many states.
Prior accident year reserve development
Net favorable prior accident year reserve development increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, and included reserve releases across nearly all lines of business. Net favorable reserve development for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 included reserve releases in workers’ compensation, general liability and professional liability, which, for the nine-month period, was offset by reserve strengthening in surety and package business. For additional information on prior accident year reserve development, see the Property and Casualty Insurance Product Reserves, Net of Reinsurance section within Critical Accounting Estimates.
Operating expenses
Insurance operating costs and expenses decreased for the three-month period and increased for the nine-month period. The change for the three-month period was primarily due to lower compensation-related costs in 2010. The change for the nine-month period was driven by an increase in taxes, licenses and fees of $19, which included a $5 decrease in reserve strengthening for other state funds and taxes, and a $7 reduction in TWIA assessments recognized in 2009 related to hurricane Ike, largely offset by a $15 decrease in the estimated amount of dividends payable to certain workers’ compensation policyholders. Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs decreased for the three- and nine-month periods largely due to the decrease in earned premiums.
Net investment income
Net investment income increased for both the three- and nine-month periods primarily as a result of improvements in limited partnerships and other alternative investments, partially offset by lower returns on taxable fixed maturities due to declining interest rates.
Net realized gains (losses)
For both the three- and nine-month periods, net realized capital gains (losses) improved as compared to prior year. The improvements were primarily driven by lower impairments in 2010 compared to 2009 and realized gains on derivatives in 2010 compared to losses in 2009.

 

87


Table of Contents

GROUP BENEFITS
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Operating Summary   2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
Premiums and other considerations
  $ 1,058     $ 1,069       (1 %)   $ 3,234     $ 3,281       (1 %)
Net investment income
    107       105       2 %     324       298       9 %
Net realized capital gains (losses)
    (1 )     (32 )     97 %     31       (70 )   NM  
 
                                   
Total revenues
    1,164       1,142       2 %     3,589       3,509       2 %
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses
    816       742       10 %     2,505       2,424       3 %
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    15       16       (6 %)     46       45       2 %
Insurance operating costs and other expenses
    275       295       (7 %)     839       846       (1 %)
 
                                   
Total benefits, losses and expenses
    1,106       1,053       5 %     3,390       3,315       2 %
Income before income taxes
    58       89       (35 %)     199       194       3 %
Income tax expense
    12       24       (50 %)     54       46       17 %
 
                                   
Net income
  $ 46     $ 65       (29 %)   $ 145     $ 148       (2 %)
 
                                   
 
                                               
Earned Premiums and Other
                                               
Fully insured — ongoing premiums
  $ 1,043     $ 1,059       (2 %)   $ 3,136     $ 3,251       (4 %)
Buyout premiums
                      58              
Other
    15       10       50 %     40       30       33 %
 
                                   
Total earned premiums and other
  $ 1,058     $ 1,069       (1 %)   $ 3,234     $ 3,281       (1 %)
 
                                   
 
                                               
Fully insured ongoing sales, excluding buyouts
  $ 100     $ 122       (18 %)   $ 497     $ 611       (19 %)
 
                                   
 
                                               
Ratios, excluding buyouts
                                               
Loss ratio
    77.1 %     69.4 %             77.0 %     73.9 %        
Loss ratio, excluding financial institutions
    82.4 %     74.0 %             82.5 %     78.2 %        
Expense ratio
    27.4 %     29.1 %             27.9 %     27.2 %        
Expense ratio, excluding financial institutions
    22.8 %     22.9 %             23.1 %     22.5 %        
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009
Net income decreased as a result of higher claim costs, partially offset by improvements in the realized gains (losses) and net investment income, as well as lower operating expenses.
The following factors contributed to the changes in net income:
     
Premiums and other considerations
 
    Premiums and other considerations decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 due to lower sales and reductions in covered lives within our customer base.
 
   
Net investment income
 
    Net investment income increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as a result of higher weighted average portfolio yields primarily due to improved performance on limited partnerships and other alternative investments.
 
   
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses/Loss ratio
 
    The segment’s loss ratio (defined as benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses as a percentage of premiums and other considerations excluding buyouts) was higher compared to the prior year periods due primarily to unfavorable morbidity experience from higher incidence and lower claim terminations.
 
   
Expense ratio and insurance operating costs and other expenses
 
    The segment’s expense ratio, excluding buyouts, declined for the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the prior year period primarily due to a commission accrual adjustment recorded in the third quarter of 2009 on the financial institution business. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 the expense ratio was higher primarily due to an overall reduction in the underlying premium.
 
   
Income tax expense
 
    The effective tax rate, in all periods, differs from the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to permanent differences related to investments in tax exempt securities. For further discussion, see Income Taxes within Note 1 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

88


Table of Contents

CONSUMER MARKETS
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Operating Summary   2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
Written premiums
  $ 1,014     $ 1,049       (3 %)   $ 2,990     $ 3,042       (2 %)
Change in unearned premium reserve
    29       60       (52 %)     14       85       (84 %)
 
                                   
Earned premiums
    985       989             2,976       2,957       1 %
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
                                               
Current accident year before catastrophes
    681       694       (2 %)     2,034       1,974       3 %
Current accident year catastrophes
    42       90       (53 %)     229       242       (5 %)
Prior accident years
    (34 )     (25 )     (36 %)     (51 )     (15 )   NM  
 
                                   
Total losses and loss adjustment expenses
    689       759       (9 %)     2,212       2,201        
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    167       171       (2 %)     503       505        
Insurance operating costs and expenses
    71       69       3 %     217       205       6 %
 
                                   
Underwriting results
    58       (10 )   NM       44       46       (4 %)
Net servicing income
    7       6       17 %     22       20       10 %
Net investment income
    46       48       (4 %)     139       128       9 %
Net realized capital gains (losses)
    1       (15 )   NM       (2 )     (87 )     98 %
Other expenses
    (14 )     (15 )     7 %     (47 )     (47 )      
 
                                   
Income before income taxes
    98       14     NM       156       60       160 %
Income tax expense (benefit)
    28       (1 )   NM       43       5     NM  
 
                                   
Net income
  $ 70     $ 15     NM     $ 113     $ 55       105 %
 
                                   
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Written Premiums   2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
Business Unit
                                               
AARP
  $ 743     $ 755       (2 %)   $ 2,166     $ 2,199       (2 %)
Agency
    258       280       (8 %)     783       797       (2 %)
Other
    13       14       (7 %)     41       46       (11 %)
 
                                   
Total
  $ 1,014     $ 1,049       (3 %)   $ 2,990     $ 3,042       (2 %)
 
                                   
Product Line
                                               
Automobile
  $ 700     $ 742       (6 %)   $ 2,115     $ 2,195       (4 %)
Homeowners
    314       307       2 %     875       847       3 %
 
                                   
Total
  $ 1,014     $ 1,049       (3 %)   $ 2,990     $ 3,042       (2 %)
 
                                   
 
                                               
Earned Premiums
                                               
Business Unit
                                               
AARP
  $ 712     $ 712           $ 2,143     $ 2,124       1 %
Agency
    259       261       (1 %)     789       783       1 %
Other
    14       16       (13 %)     44       50       (12 %)
 
                                   
Total
  $ 985     $ 989           $ 2,976     $ 2,957       1 %
 
                                   
Product Line
                                               
Automobile
  $ 698     $ 717       (3 %)   $ 2,122     $ 2,136       (1 %)
Homeowners
    287       272       6 %     854       821       4 %
 
                                   
Total
  $ 985     $ 989           $ 2,976     $ 2,957       1 %
 
                                   
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Premium Measures   2010     2009     2010     2009  
Policies in-force end of period
                               
Automobile
                    2,287,845       2,394,043  
Homeowners
                    1,455,921       1,483,795  
 
                           
Total policies in-force end of period
                    3,743,766       3,877,838  
 
                           
 
                               
New business written premium
                               
Automobile
  $ 74     $ 118     $ 249     $ 356  
Homeowners
  $ 26     $ 41     $ 86     $ 113  
 
                       
 
                               
Policy count retention
                               
Automobile
    82 %     86 %     83 %     86 %
Homeowners
    84 %     86 %     85 %     86 %
 
                       
 
                               
Renewal written pricing increase
                               
Automobile
    8 %     3 %     6 %     3 %
Homeowners
    11 %     5 %     9 %     5 %
 
                       
 
                               
Renewal earned pricing increase
                               
Automobile
    5 %     3 %     4 %     4 %
Homeowners
    8 %     6 %     7 %     6 %

 

89


Table of Contents

                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Ratios and Supplemental Data   2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
 
                                               
Loss and loss adjustment expense ratio
                                               
Current accident year before catastrophes
    69.2       70.4       1.2       68.4       66.8       (1.6 )
Current accident year catastrophes
    4.3       9.1       4.8       7.7       8.2       0.5  
Prior accident years
    (3.5 )     (2.5 )     1.0       (1.7 )     (0.5 )     1.2  
 
                                   
Total loss and loss adjustment expense ratio
    70.0       76.9       6.9       74.4       74.5       0.1  
Expense ratio
    24.1       24.2       0.1       24.2       24.0       (0.2 )
 
                                   
Combined ratio
    94.1       101.2       7.1       98.5       98.5        
 
                                   
 
                                               
Catastrophe ratio
                                               
Current year
    4.3       9.1       4.8       7.7       8.2       0.5  
Prior years
    0.7       (1.0 )     (1.7 )     0.4       0.3       (0.1 )
 
                                   
Total catastrophe ratio
    5.1       8.1       3.0       8.0       8.5       0.5  
 
                                   
Combined ratio before catastrophes
    89.1       93.1       4.0       90.5       90.0       (0.5 )
Combined ratio before catastrophes and prior accident years development
    93.3       94.6       1.3       92.6       90.8       (1.8 )
 
                                   
Other revenues [1]
  $ 40     $ 38       5 %   $ 123     $ 110       12 %
 
                                   
     
[1]  
Represents servicing revenues.
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Product Line Combined Ratios   2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
Automobile
    93.3       98.1       4.8       95.2       94.7       (0.5 )
Homeowners
    96.3       109.3       13.0       107.4       108.5       1.1  
 
                                   
Total
    94.1       101.2       7.1       98.5       98.5        
 
                                   
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009
Earned premiums
Earned premiums were flat for the three-month period and were up 1% for the nine-month period with similar trends in both AARP and Agency.
 
AARP earned premiums were flat for the three-month period and were up 1% for the nine-month period. Earned premium growth for the nine-month period was driven by new business written premium growth through the third quarter of 2009. Since the third quarter of 2009, new business written premium and policy count retention have decreased driven by a lower auto policy conversion rate, lower responses from direct response marketing and lower average renewal earned premium per policy for auto business, partially offset by an increase in cross-selling homeowners’ insurance to insureds who have auto policies. For the three-month period, the decrease in AARP written premium in 2010 offset the positive effect on earned premium from growth in written premium in 2009.
 
Agency earned premiums decreased 1% for the three-month period and increased 1% for the nine-month period. Earned premium growth for the nine-month period was primarily due to new business written premium growth in 2009 and the first quarter of 2010, partially offset by a decrease in new business written premium and policy retention since the first quarter of 2010 as well as a decrease in average renewal earned premium per policy for auto business. The new business written premium growth through the first quarter of 2010 was driven by an increase in the number of agency appointments and the number of policy quotes. Since the first quarter of 2010, the number of quotes and the policy issue rate have declined as the Company has taken pricing and underwriting actions to improve profitability.

 

90


Table of Contents

Auto earned premiums were down 3% for the three-month period and 1% for the nine-month period, reflecting a decrease in new business written premium and policy count retention since the fourth quarter of 2009 and a decrease in average renewal earned premium per policy, particularly in Agency. Despite auto renewal earned pricing increases for the three- and nine-month periods, average renewal earned premium per policy for auto declined in the three- and nine-month periods of 2010 due to a shift to more preferred market segment business and a greater concentration of business in states and territories with lower average premium. Homeowners’ earned premiums grew 6% and 4%, respectively, for the three- and nine-month periods due primarily to the effect of increases in earned pricing, partially offset by a decrease in new business written premium and policy count retention in the nine-month period of 2010.
     
New business written premium
 
   Auto new business written premium decreased by 37% and 30% for the three- and nine-month periods, respectively, due primarily to the effect of written pricing increases and underwriting actions that lowered the policy issue rate on direct marketing responses and agency business quotes. Also contributing to the decrease in auto new business was lower responses from direct marketing. Homeowners’ new business written premium decreased 37% and 24% for the three- and nine-month periods, respectively, as the effect of pricing and underwriting actions lowered the policy issue rate on direct marketing responses and agency business quotes. This was partially offset by an increase in the cross-sale of homeowners’ insurance to insureds that have auto policies.
 
   
Policy count retention
 
   Policy count retention for auto decreased by 4 points for the three-month period and by 3 points for the nine-month period primarily driven by the effect of renewal written pricing increases and underwriting actions to improve profitability. Policy count retention for homeowners decreased 2 points for the three-month period and 1 point for the nine-month period, primarily driven by the effect of renewal written pricing increases and underwriting actions. For the nine-month period, the decrease in policy count retention was partially offset by the effect of the Company’s non-renewal of Florida homeowners’ Agency business in 2009.
 
   
Renewal earned pricing increase
 
   Auto renewal earned pricing increased in both the three- and nine-month periods due to rate increases and the effect of policyholders purchasing newer vehicle models in place of older models. Homeowners’ renewal earned pricing increased in both the three- and nine-month periods due to rate increases and increased coverage amounts reflecting higher rebuilding costs. For both auto and home, the Company has increased rates in certain states for certain classes of business to maintain profitability in the face of rising loss costs.
 
   
Policies in-force
 
   Compared to September 30, 2009, the number of policies in-force as of September 30, 2010 decreased by 4% for auto, driven by a decrease in AARP and Agency policy retention, and by 2% for home, driven by a decrease in Agency policy retention.
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
Current accident year losses and loss adjustment expenses before catastrophes
For the three-month period, Consumer Markets’ current accident year losses and loss adjustment expenses before catastrophes decreased driven, primarily, by the effect of $10 of prior quarter current accident year strengthening in 2009 and $6 of net prior quarter current accident year reserve releases in 2010. Apart from the prior quarter reserve actions in the third quarter of each year, current accident year losses and loss adjustment expenses before catastrophes increased slightly in the three-month period as an increase in the current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ratio before catastrophes for auto was largely offset by an improvement for home. For the nine-month period, Consumer Markets’ current accident year losses and loss adjustment expenses before catastrophes increased primarily due to an increase in the current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ratio before catastrophes for auto and, to a lesser extent, the increase in earned premium.
Apart from the prior quarter reserve actions in the third quarter of each year, the current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ratio before catastrophes for auto increased for both the three- and nine-month period. The increase was due to higher than expected auto liability loss costs relative to average earned premium per policy and, to a lesser extent, higher auto physical damage emerged frequency. The current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ratio before catastrophes for home decreased for the three-month period driven by earned rate increases and low average claim severity, partially offset by increased frequency of weather claims. For the nine-month period, the current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ratio before catastrophes for home was relatively flat.

 

91


Table of Contents

Current accident year catastrophes
Current accident year catastrophes decreased in both the three- and nine-month periods. The decrease in current accident year catastrophes in the three-month period was primarily due to two large hail and windstorm events in Colorado in the third quarter of 2009. Current accident year catastrophes for the nine-month period were modestly lower in 2010 than 2009 despite a slightly higher number of catastrophe events. Catastrophe losses in the nine-month period in 2010 primarily included losses from tornadoes, thunderstorms and hail events in the Midwest, plains states and the Southeast as well as losses from winter storms in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Catastrophe losses in the nine-month period in 2009 primarily included losses from windstorms in Texas and the Midwest as well as the two large Colorado hail and windstorm events.
Prior accident year reserve development
For both the three- and nine-month periods, there was greater net favorable prior accident year reserve development in 2010 than in 2009. Net favorable reserve development in 2010 included, among other reserve changes, releases of AARP and Agency auto liability reserves of $41 and $82 for the three- and nine-month periods, respectively, primarily related to the 2005 through 2009 accident years, partially offset by strengthening of AARP and Agency homeowners reserves and strengthening of prior year catastrophe reserves. Net favorable reserve development in 2009 included, among other reserve changes, releases of AARP and Agency auto liability reserves of $20 and $53 for the three- and nine-month periods, respectively, primarily related to accident years 2005 to 2008, partially offset by strengthening of homeowners’ reserves.
Operating expenses
For the three-month period, the expense ratio decreased slightly, driven primarily by lower direct marketing on consumer direct business. For the nine-month period, the expense ratio increased modestly driven by an increase in information technology costs, higher amortization of acquisition costs on AARP business and the cost of a legal settlement in 2010, largely offset by lower direct marketing on consumer direct business.
Net investment income
Net investment income increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily due to an increase in income from investments in limited partnerships and other alternative investments. Contributing to the decrease in net investment income for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was a lower yield on taxable fixed maturities.
Net realized capital gains (losses)
For the three-month period, Consumer Markets recorded a modest net realized capital gain in 2010 compared to a net realized capital loss in 2009. For the nine-month period, Consumer Markets recognized lower net realized capital losses in 2010 as compared to 2009. The improvement in both periods was driven by a change from recording net losses on derivatives in 2009 to net gains on derivatives in 2010 and from a reduction in impairments. Net gains on derivatives in 2010 were driven by gains from a duration hedge program due to changes in interest rates and net gains from derivatives due to changes in credit spreads. Impairments decreased from 2009 to 2010 principally due to improved market conditions.

 

92


Table of Contents

GLOBAL ANNUITY
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Operating Summary   2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
Fee income and other
  $ 590     $ 580       2 %   $ 1,769     $ 1,706       4 %
Earned premiums
    69       31       123 %     163       308       (47 %)
Net investment income (loss):
                                               
Securities available-for sale and other
    426       440       (3 %)     1,277       1,282        
Equity securities, trading [1]
    1,043       638       63 %     (905 )     2,437       NM  
 
                                   
Total net investment income
    1,469       1,078       36 %     372       3,719       (90 %)
Net realized capital losses
    (320 )     (917 )     65 %     (625 )     (568 )     (10 %)
 
                                   
Total revenues
    1,808       772       134 %     1,679       5,165       (67 %)
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses
    388       403       (4 %)     1,531       2,556       (40 %)
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses — returns credited on international variable annuities [1]
    1,043       638       63 %     (905 )     2,437       NM  
Amortization of DAC
    (66 )     78       NM       328       1,655       (80 %)
Insurance operating costs and other expenses
    199       200       (1 %)     573       646       (11 %)
 
                                   
Total benefits, losses and expenses
    1,564       1,319       19 %     1,527       7,294       (79 %)
Income (loss) before income taxes
    244       (547 )     NM       152       (2,129 )     NM  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    69       (227 )     NM       11       (825 )     NM  
 
                                   
Net income (loss)
  $ 175     $ (320 )     NM     $ 141     $ (1,304 )     NM  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Assets Under Management
                                               
Variable annuity account values
                          $ 113,912     $ 119,079       (4 %)
Fixed MVA annuity and other account values
                            17,100       16,816       2 %
Institutional investment products account values
                            20,086       23,128       (13 %)
Investment-Only mutual funds assets [2]
                                  4,453       (100 %)
 
                                         
Total assets under management [3]
                          $ 151,098     $ 163,476       (8 %)
 
                                         
 
                                               
Account Value Roll Forward
                                               
Variable Annuities
                                               
Account value, beginning of period
  $ 107,295     $ 108,548             $ 119,387     $ 105,921          
Net flows
    (2,848 )     (1,940 )             (8,597 )     (5,322 )        
Change in market value and other
    7,631       10,165               1,349       16,299          
Transfers [4]
                        (1,355 )     1,188          
Effect of currency translation
    1,834       2,306               3,128       993          
 
                                       
Account value, end of period
  $ 113,912     $ 119,079             $ 113,912     $ 119,079          
 
                                       
Net Investment Spread
    (4 ) bps     (2 ) bps             13 bps     (26 ) bps        
 
                                       
Expense Ratios
                                               
General insurance expense ratio
    22.7 bps     26.1 bps             21.3 bps     30.1 bps        
DAC amortization ratio [5]
    (37.1 %)     (16.6 %)             68.3 %     (349.2 %)        
DAC amortization ratio, excluding realized losses and DAC Unlocks [5] [6]
    46.9 %     54.0 %             51.2 %     71.2 %        
     
[1]  
Includes investment income and mark-to-market effects of equity securities, trading, supporting the international variable annuity business, which are classified in net investment income with corresponding amounts credited to policyholders within benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses.
 
[2]  
Investment-Only mutual fund assets were transferred to Mutual Funds effective January 1, 2010.
 
[3]  
Includes policyholders’ balances for investment contracts and reserves for future policy benefits for insurance contracts.
 
[4]  
Canadian and Offshore businesses were transferred from Mutual Funds to Global Annuity, effective January 1, 2009. Canadian mutual funds were transferred from Global Annuity to Mutual Funds effective January 1, 2010.
 
[5]  
Excludes the effects of realized gains and losses except for net periodic settlements. Included in the net realized capital gain (losses) are amounts that represent the net periodic accruals on currency rate swaps used in the risk management of Japan fixed annuity products.
 
[6]  
See Critical Accounting Estimates in the MD&A.

 

93


Table of Contents

Three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009
Net income increased for the three months ended September 30, 2010 primarily related to significantly lower realized capital losses and an improved DAC unlock benefit. The third quarter 2010 DAC Unlock was a benefit of $145, after-tax, compared to a benefit of $86, after-tax, in third quarter 2009. The 2010 DAC Unlock benefit was driven by equity market improvements in the third quarter 2010 that were greater than the market improvements made in the third quarter of 2009 in comparison to expectations.
Net income improved significantly for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 driven by continued improvements in equity markets which resulted in a slightly favorable DAC Unlock benefit in 2010 compared to an Unlock charge of $(964) in 2009. The 2010 improvement was partially offset by higher net realized capital losses.
For further discussion of the 2010 and 2009 Unlocks, see Unlocks within the Critical Accounting Estimates section of the MD&A. The following other factors contributed to the changes in net income (loss):
     
Fee income and other
 
   Fee income and other increased as a result of slightly higher average variable annuity account values for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 compared with 2009. The increase in average account values has been driven by improvements in equity markets, which has been principally offset by net outflows of Global Annuity.
 
   
Earned premiums
 
   Earned premiums, for the three months ended September 30, 2010, increased compared to the prior year due to the implementation of the new variable annuity product in the fourth quarter of 2009. The nature of this product results in the recognition of earned premiums with an offsetting increase in benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses.
 
   
 
 
   Earned premiums, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, decreased due to management’s decision to suspend sales of structured settlements and terminal funding products. This decrease in earned premiums was correspondingly offset by a decrease in benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses.
 
   
Net investment income (excluding
Equity securities, trading)
 
   For the three month period ended September 30, 2010, net investment income decreased primarily as a result of a decline in general account values driven by net outflows since 2009.
 
   
 
 
   For the nine month period ended September 30, 2010, net investment income decreased primarily as a result of significant net outflow activity since 2009 and declines on returns from fixed maturity securities driven by the low interest rate environment, partially offset by improving investments results on limited partnership and other alternative investments.
 
   
Net investment spread
 
   For the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to 2009, net investment spreads for Global Annuity products are consistent.
 
   
 
 
   For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to 2009, net investment spreads improved primarily due to improved performance on limited partnership and other alternative investments of 54 bps, partially offset by a decline in yields on fixed maturity assets of 13 bps, respectively.
 
   
Net realized capital losses
 
   For the three month period ended September 30, 2010, the $597 improvement in net realized capital losses is primarily related to a reduction in variable annuity hedging program losses as compared to losses in the comparable prior year period and lower impairment losses.
 
   
 
 
   For the nine month period ended September 30, 2010, the change in net realized capital losses of $(57) is primarily related to variable annuity hedging program losses in 2010 as compared to gains in the comparable prior year period, partially offset by lower impairment losses and net realized gains on sales of securities in 2010 compared with net losses in 2009.
 
   
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses
 
   For the nine month period ended September 30, 2010, benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses declined significantly as a result of the impact of the 2010 and 2009 Unlocks (for further discussion of the 2010 and 2009 Unlocks, see Unlocks within the Critical Accounting Estimates section of the MD&A). Additionally, 2009 includes a 3 Win related charge of $60 (pre-tax). Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses were lower for institutional investment products driven by the Company’s execution on its call and buyback strategy associated with stable value products, which reduced the related liabilities, and a decrease in earned premiums associated with management’s decision to suspend sales.

 

94


Table of Contents

     
Insurance operating costs and other expenses
 
   For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, insurance operating costs and other expenses have decreased as compared to 2009 as a result of lower operating and wholesaling expenses driven by management’s active efforts to reduce operating expenses and management’s efforts to match distribution costs with the Company’s current lower sales levels.
 
   
General insurance expense ratio
 
   The general insurance expense ratio declined as a result of management’s efforts to reduce expenses associated with the U.S. annuity product, and the restructuring and active expense management of Japan’s operations while the improving equity markets compared to 2009 have driven an increase in the average asset base.
 
   
Amortization of DAC
 
   For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, amortization of DAC changed on a comparative period basis primarily as a result of the Unlocks.
 
   
DAC amortization ratio, excluding realized gains (losses) and DAC Unlocks
 
   For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the DAC amortization ratio decreased due to rising gross profits driven by equity market appreciation, and improved returns from limited partnerships and other alternative investments, as previously discussed.
 
   
Income tax expense (benefit)
 
   For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to permanent differences for the separate account DRD on U.S. annuity products as well as varying tax rates by country, and the valuation allowance on deferred tax benefits related to certain realized losses on securities that back certain institutional investment products. The three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 include separate account DRD benefits of $19 and $23, and $79 and $83 respectively. For further discussion, see Income Taxes within Note 1 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

95


Table of Contents

LIFE INSURANCE
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Operating Summary   2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
Fee income and other
  $ 268     $ 269           $ 832     $ 864       (4 %)
Earned premiums
    (25 )     (22 )     (14 %)     (70 )     (61 )     (15 %)
Net investment income
    132       91       45 %     391       260       50 %
Net realized capital gains (losses)
    13       (37 )     NM       45       (120 )     NM  
 
                                   
Total revenues
    388       301       29 %     1,198       943       27 %
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses
    227       176       29 %     646       535       21 %
Amortization of DAC
    (20 )     82       NM       71       263       (73 %)
Insurance operating costs and other expenses
    44       49       (10 %)     154       153       1 %
 
                                   
Total benefits, losses and expenses
    251       307       (18 %)     871       951       (8 %)
Income (loss) before income taxes
    137       (6 )     NM       327       (8 )     NM  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    40       (14 )     NM       103       (26 )     NM  
 
                                   
Net income (loss)
  $ 97     $ 8       NM     $ 224     $ 18       NM  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Account Values
                                               
Individual variable universal life insurance
                          $ 5,757     $ 5,552       4 %
Individual universal life insurance [1]
                            5,995       5,591       7 %
PPLI [2]
                            35,558       33,197       7 %
 
                                         
Total account values
                          $ 47,310     $ 44,340       (7 %)
 
                                         
 
                                               
Individual Life Insurance In-Force
                                               
Variable universal life insurance
                          $ 75,399     $ 75,667        
Universal life insurance [1]
                            57,734       54,775       5 %
Term life
                            73,959       68,447       8 %
 
                                         
Total individual life insurance in-force
                          $ 207,092     $ 198,889       4 %
 
                                         
 
                                               
Net Investment Spread
                                               
Individual variable universal and individual universal life insurance [1]
    142 bps     111 bps             148 bps     88 bps        
 
                                       
 
                                               
Death Benefits
  $ 134     $ 92             $ 348     $ 304          
 
                                       
     
[1]  
Includes universal life, interest sensitive whole life, modified guaranteed life insurance and other.
 
[2]  
Includes PPLI operations transferred from Corporate and Other to Life Insurance effective January 1, 2010.

 

96


Table of Contents

Three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009
Net income increased as a result of net realized capital gains, improved net investment income and the impacts of the DAC Unlocks. For further discussion of the DAC Unlock, see Unlocks within the Critical Accounting Estimates section of the MD&A. The following other factors contributed to the changes in net income (loss):
     
Fee income and other
 
   Fee income and other decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily due to the impact of the DAC Unlock in the first nine months of 2009.
 
   
Earned premiums
 
   Earned premiums, which include premiums for ceded reinsurance, decreased primarily due to higher ceded reinsurance premiums related to lower retention levels and the aging of the life insurance in-force.
 
   
Net investment income
 
   Net investment income increased primarily due to improved performance of limited partnerships and other alternative investments.
 
   
Net investment spread
 
   Net investment spread increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily related to improved performance of limited partnerships and other alternative investments of 28 bps and 50 bps, respectively, and lower average credited rates of 16 bps and 18 bps, respectively.
 
   
Amortization of DAC
 
   Amortization of DAC decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily as a result of the Unlock benefit in 2010 compared to the Unlock charge in 2009. DAC amortization had a partial offset in amortization of deferred revenues, which drove the decrease in fee income noted above.
 
   
Income tax expense
(benefit)
 
   The effective tax rate for 2010 differs from the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to the recognition of separate account DRD partially offset by a valuation allowance on deferred tax benefits related to certain realized losses recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2010. For further discussion, see Income Taxes within Note 1 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
   
Death Benefits
 
   Death benefits increased primarily due to mortality volatility.

 

97


Table of Contents

RETIREMENT PLANS
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Operating Summary   2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
Fee income and other
  $ 88     $ 83       6 %   $ 260     $ 234       11 %
Earned premiums
    1       1             5       3       67 %
Net investment income
    93       80       16 %     267       237       13 %
Net realized capital losses
          (89 )     100 %     (10 )     (228 )     96 %
 
                                   
Total revenues
    182       75       143 %     522       246       112 %
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses
    71       62       15 %     204       204        
Amortization of DAC
    (12 )     (15 )     20 %     14       63       (78 %)
Insurance operating costs and other expenses
    84       81       4 %     250       241       4 %
 
                                   
Total benefits, losses and expenses
    143       128       12 %     468       508       (8 %)
Income (loss) before income taxes
    39       (53 )     NM       54       (262 )     NM  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    9       (19 )     NM       16       (100 )     NM  
 
                                   
Net income (loss)
  $ 30     $ (34 )     NM     $ 38     $ (162 )     NM  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Assets Under Management
                                               
403(b)/457 account values
                          $ 11,874     $ 10,760       10 %
401(k) account values
                            18,764       15,339       22 %
401(k)/403(b) mutual funds
                            18,602       16,648       12 %
 
                                         
Total assets under management
                          $ 49,240     $ 42,747       15 %
 
                                         
Total assets under administration — 401(k)
                          $ 4,266     $ 5,867       (27 %)
 
                                         
 
                                               
Account Value and Assets Under Management Roll Forward
                                               
401(k) / 403(b) Mutual Funds
                                               
Assets under management, beginning of period
  $ 15,848     $ 15,342             $ 16,704     $ 14,838          
Net flows
    (71 )     (748 )             (606 )     (1,388 )        
Transfer in
    1,294                     1,294                
Change in market value
    1,552       2,054               1,232       3,198          
Other
    (21 )                   (22 )              
 
                                       
Assets under management, end of period
  $ 18,602     $ 16,648             $ 18,602     $ 16,648          
 
                                       
401(k) / 403(b) / 457 Group Annuities
                                               
Account value, beginning of period
  $ 27,943     $ 23,490             $ 27,258     $ 22,198          
Net flows
    579       259               2,048       305          
Transfers in of Lifetime Income & Maturity Funding
                        194                
Change in market value
    2,095       2,350               1,116       3,596          
Other
    21                     22                
 
                                       
Account value, end of period [1]
  $ 30,638     $ 26,099             $ 30,638     $ 26,099          
 
                                       
 
                                               
Net Investment Spread
    100 bps     94 bps             111 bps     65 bps        
 
                                       
     
[1]  
Includes policyholder balances for investment contracts and reserves for future policy benefits for insurance contracts.

 

98


Table of Contents

Three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009
Net income increased as a result of lower net realized capital losses, improved net investment income, higher fee income and the impacts of the DAC Unlocks. For further discussion of the DAC Unlock, see Unlocks within the Critical Accounting Estimates section of the MD&A.
The following other factors contributed to the changes in net income (loss):
     
Fee income and other
 
   For the three and nine month period ended September 30, 2010, fee income and other increased primarily due to increases in average assets under management resulting from improvements in equity markets and increased deposit activity as equity market improvements created an environment where investors were willing to re-enter the capital markets. Over the past 12 months, average account values have increased driven by $2.3 billion of net flows and $2.0 billion of market activity.
 
   
Net investment income
 
   For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010, net investment income increased primarily due to improved performance on limited partnerships and other alternative investments.
 
   
Net investment spread
 
   Net investment spread increased primarily as a result of higher earned rates driven primarily by improved performance on limited partnerships and other alternative investments in 2010 which added 26 bps of return for the three months ended September 30, 2010, and 48 bps of return for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to the prior year, partially offset by lower yields on fixed maturities of 19 bps for the three months ended September 30, 2010, and 13 bps for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to the prior year.
 
   
Net realized capital gains (losses)
 
   The change in net realized capital gains (losses) for the three months ended September 30, 2010 is driven by higher losses on impairments in the third quarter of 2009.
 
   
 
 
   For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, net realized capital losses were lower due to higher losses on impairments, derivatives, and trading losses in the first three quarters of 2009.
 
   
Insurance operating costs and other expenses
 
   For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, insurance operating costs and other expenses increased primarily due to greater assets under management resulting in higher trail commissions.
 
   
Amortization of DAC
 
   For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the change in amortization of DAC is attributed to the DAC Unlock.
 
   
Income tax expense (benefit)
 
   The effective tax rate for 2010 differs from the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to permanent tax differences for DRD that are partially offset by a valuation allowance on deferred tax benefits related to certain realized losses recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 include separate account DRD benefits of $5 and $0, and $14 and $7, respectively. For further discussion, see Income Taxes within Note 1 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

99


Table of Contents

MUTUAL FUNDS
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Operating Summary   2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
Fee income and other
  $ 166     $ 137       21 %   $ 513     $ 370       39 %
Net investment income
    (2 )     (5 )     60 %     (6 )     (15 )     60 %
Net realized capital gains (losses)
    (1 )                              
 
                                   
Total revenues
    163       132       23 %     507       355       43 %
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses
    (1 )                 (1 )            
Amortization of DAC
    16       11       45 %     47       38       24 %
Insurance operating costs and other expenses
    121       103       17 %     358       290       23 %
 
                                   
Total benefits, losses and expenses
    136       114       19 %     404       328       23 %
Income (loss) before income taxes
    27       18       50 %     103       27       NM  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    9       7       29 %     36       10       NM  
 
                                   
Net income (loss)
  $ 18     $ 11       64 %   $ 67     $ 17       NM  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Non Proprietary Mutual Funds [3]
                                               
Assets under management, beginning of period
  $ 48,759     $ 35,693             $ 44,031     $ 32,710          
Transfer in of Investment-Only and Canadian mutual funds
                        5,617                
Net flows
    (163 )     796               2,199       1,486          
Change in market value and other [1]
    4,788       4,761               1,537       7,054          
 
                                       
Assets under management, end of period [1]
  $ 53,384     $ 41,250             $ 53,384     $ 41,250          
 
                                       
Proprietary Mutual Funds [4]
                                               
Assets under management, beginning of period
  $ 39,402     $             $     $          
Transfers in of insurance product mutual funds
                        43,890                
Net flows
    (1,299 )                   (3,763 )              
Change in market value and other
    3,676                     1,652                
 
                                       
Assets under management, end of period
  $ 41,779     $             $ 41,779     $          
 
                                       
Mutual fund assets under management [1] [2]
  $ 95,163     $ 41,250             $ 95,163     $ 41,250          
 
                                       
     
[1]  
Includes amount attributed to the transfer of Investment-Only mutual funds and Canadian mutual funds effective January 1, 2010.
 
[2]  
Includes Proprietary mutual funds effective January 1, 2010.
 
[3]  
Includes Retail mutual funds, Investment-Only mutual funds, Canadian mutual funds and 529 college savings plan assets.
 
[4]  
Includes mutual funds sponsored by the Company which are owned by the separate accounts of the Company to support insurance and investment products sold by the Company.
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009
Net income increased primarily due to higher overall account balances attributed to the improved equity markets, and positive net flows, resulting in higher fee income, partially offset by higher trail commissions, as well as the capital infusion to the money market fund. Also contributing to the net income in 2010 is the increase in scale of the reporting segment’s businesses.

 

100


Table of Contents

CORPORATE AND OTHER
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Operating Summary   2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
Earned premiums
  $ 1     $ (1 )     NM     $     $ (1 )     100 %
Fee income [1]
    46       61       (25 %)     143       165       (13 %)
Net investment income
    54       84       (36 %)     208       254       (18 %)
Net realized capital gains (losses)
    41       (63 )     NM       45       (384 )     NM  
Other revenues
                            5       (100 %)
 
                                   
Total revenues
    142       81       75 %     396       39       NM  
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses
    64       123       (48 %)     236       319       (26 %)
Insurance operating costs and other expenses [1]
    64       111       (42 %)     287       312       (8 %)
Interest expense
    128       118       8 %     380       357       6 %
Goodwill impairment
                      153       32       NM  
 
                                   
Total benefits, losses and expenses
    256       352       (27 %)     1,056       1,020       4 %
Loss before income taxes
    (114 )     (271 )     58 %     (660 )     (981 )     33 %
Income tax benefit
    (38 )     (89 )     57 %     (211 )     (281 )     25 %
 
                                   
Net loss
  $ (76 )   $ (182 )     58 %   $ (449 )   $ (700 )     36 %
 
                                   
     
[1]  
Fee income includes the income associated with the sales of non-proprietary insurance products in the Company’s broker-dealer subsidiaries that has an offsetting commission expense in insurance operating costs and other expenses.
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009
The net loss in Corporate and Other decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily due to improvements in net realized capital gains (losses), partially offset by an increase in interest expense and goodwill impairments in the nine month period.
The change to net realized capital gains for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, from net realized capital losses for the comparable prior year periods, was due to impairments on investment securities recorded in 2009. In addition, the nine months ended September 30, 2009 included a net realized capital loss of approximately $300 as a result of the contingency payment made to Allianz due to the Company’s participation in the Capital Purchase Program.
Interest expense increased for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily due to the issuance of $1.1 billion of senior notes in the first quarter of 2010. For further information, see Senior Notes within Note 12 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

101


Table of Contents

PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE PRODUCT UNDERWRITING RISK MANAGEMENT
The Hartford’s Property & Casualty Underwriting Risk Management Strategy are discussed in Part II, Item 7 MD&A in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report. The following discussion provides updates through September 30, 2010.
Use of Reinsurance
The Company has several catastrophe reinsurance programs, including reinsurance treaties that cover property and workers’ compensation losses aggregating from single catastrophe events. The following table summarizes the primary catastrophe treaty reinsurance coverages that the Company has in place as of July 1, 2010:
                                 
            % of layer(s)              
Coverage   Treaty term     reinsured     Per occurrence limit     Retention  
Principal property catastrophe program covering property catastrophe losses from a single event
  1/1/2010 to 1/1/2011     Varies by layer, but
averages 81% across
all layers
    Aggregates to
$690 across
all layers
    $ 250  
 
 
Reinsurance with the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”) covering Florida Personal Lines property catastrophe losses from a single event
  6/1/2010 to 6/1/2011       90 %   $ 170 [1]     64  
 
 
Workers’ compensation losses arising from a single catastrophe event
  7/1/2010 to 7/1/2011       95 %     300 [2]     50  
     
[1]  
The estimated per occurrence limit on the FHCF treaty is $170 for the 6/1/2010 to 6/1/2011 treaty year based on the Company’s election to purchase the required coverage from the FHCF. For the 6/1/2010 to 6/1/2011 treaty year, the Company elected not to purchase additional limits under the Temporary Increase in Coverage Limit (“TICL”) statutory provision.
 
[2]  
In addition to the limit shown above, the workers’ compensation reinsurance treaty includes a non-catastrophe, industrial accident layer of $30 excess of a $20 retention.
For further explanation, refer to the MD&A in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report.
INVESTMENT CREDIT RISK
The Company has established investment credit policies that focus on the credit quality of obligors and counterparties, limit credit concentrations, encourage diversification and require frequent creditworthiness reviews. Investment activity, including setting of policy and defining acceptable risk levels, is subject to regular review and approval by senior management.
The Company primarily invests in securities which are rated investment grade and has established exposure limits, diversification standards and review procedures for all credit risks including borrower, issuer and counterparty. Creditworthiness of specific obligors is determined by consideration of external determinants of creditworthiness, typically ratings assigned by nationally recognized ratings agencies and is supplemented by an internal credit evaluation. Obligor, asset sector and industry concentrations are subject to established Company limits and are monitored on a regular basis.
The Company is not exposed to any credit concentration risk of a single issuer greater than 10% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity other than U.S. government and government agencies backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. For further discussion of concentration of credit risk, see the Concentration of Credit Risk section in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report.
Derivative Instruments
In the normal course of business, the Company uses various derivative counterparties in executing its derivative transactions. The use of counterparties creates credit risk that the counterparty may not perform in accordance with the terms of the derivative transaction. The Company has developed exposure policies which limit the Company’s exposure to credit risk.
The derivative counterparty exposure policy establishes market-based credit limits, favors long-term financial stability and creditworthiness of the counterparty and typically requires credit enhancement/credit risk reducing agreements.
The Company minimizes the credit risk of derivative instruments by entering into transactions with high quality counterparties rated A2/A or better, which are monitored and evaluated by the Company’s risk management team and reviewed by senior management. In addition, the Company monitors counterparty credit exposure on a monthly basis to ensure compliance with Company policies and statutory limitations. The Company also generally requires that derivative contracts, other than exchange traded contracts, certain forward contracts, and certain embedded and reinsurance derivatives, be governed by an International Swaps and Derivatives Association Master Agreement which is structured by legal entity and by counterparty and permits right of offset.

 

102


Table of Contents

The Company has developed credit exposure thresholds which are based upon counterparty ratings. Credit exposures are measured using the market value of the derivatives, resulting in amounts owed to the Company by its counterparties or potential payment obligations from the Company to its counterparties. Credit exposures are generally quantified daily based on the prior business day’s market value and collateral is pledged to and held by, or on behalf of, the Company to the extent the current value of derivatives exceeds the contractual thresholds. In accordance with industry standards and the contractual agreements, collateral is typically settled on the next business day. The Company has exposure to credit risk for amounts below the exposure thresholds which are uncollateralized, as well as for market fluctuations that may occur between contractual settlement periods of collateral movements.
The maximum uncollateralized threshold for a derivative counterparty for a single legal entity is $10. The Company currently transacts over-the-counter derivatives in five legal entities and therefore the maximum combined threshold for a single counterparty over all legal entities that use derivatives is $50. In addition, the Company may have exposure to multiple counterparties in a single corporate family due to a common credit support provider. As of September 30, 2010, the maximum combined threshold for all counterparties under a single credit support provider over all legal entities that use derivatives is $100. Based on the contractual terms of the collateral agreements, these thresholds may be immediately reduced due to a downgrade in a counterparty’s credit rating. For further discussion, see the Derivative Commitments section of Note 9 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company has incurred no losses on derivative instruments due to counterparty default.
In addition to counterparty credit risk, the Company enters into credit default swaps to manage credit exposure. Credit default swaps involve a transfer of credit risk of one or many referenced entities from one party to another in exchange for periodic payments. The party that purchases credit protection will make periodic payments based on an agreed upon rate and notional amount, and for certain transactions there will also be an upfront premium payment. The second party, who assumes credit risk, will typically only make a payment if there is a credit event and such payment will be equal to the notional value of the swap contract less the value of the referenced security issuer’s debt obligation following the credit event. A credit event is generally defined as default on contractually obligated interest or principal payments or bankruptcy of the referenced entity after the occurrence of the credit event.
The Company uses credit derivatives to purchase credit protection and, to a lesser extent, assume credit risk with respect to a single entity, referenced index, or asset pool. The Company purchases credit protection through credit default swaps to economically hedge and manage credit risk of certain fixed maturity investments across multiple sectors of the investment portfolio. The Company has also entered into credit default swaps that assume credit risk as part of replication transactions. Replication transactions are used as an economical means to synthetically replicate the characteristics and performance of assets that would otherwise be permissible investments under the Company’s investment policies. These swaps reference investment grade single corporate issuers and baskets, which include trades ranging from baskets of up to five corporate issuers to standard and customized diversified portfolios of corporate issuers, which are established within sector concentration limits and are typically divided into tranches which possess different credit ratings ranging from AAA through the CCC rated first loss position.
Investments
The following table presents the Company’s fixed maturities, AFS, by credit quality. The ratings referenced below are based on the ratings of a nationally recognized rating organization or, if not rated, assigned based on the Company’s internal analysis of such securities.
Fixed Maturities, AFS, by Credit Quality
                                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
                    Percent of                     Percent of  
    Amortized             Total Fair     Amortized             Total Fair  
    Cost     Fair Value     Value     Cost     Fair Value     Value  
United States Government/Government agencies
  $ 9,393     $ 9,556       12.0 %   $ 7,299     $ 7,172       10.1 %
AAA
    10,911       11,158       14.0 %     11,974       11,188       15.7 %
AA
    15,400       15,591       19.6 %     14,845       13,932       19.6 %
A
    19,163       19,922       25.0 %     19,822       18,664       26.2 %
BBB
    19,453       20,022       25.0 %     17,886       17,071       24.0 %
BB & below
    4,164       3,487       4.4 %     4,189       3,126       4.4 %
 
                                   
Total fixed maturities, AFS
  $ 78,484     $ 79,736       100.0 %   $ 76,015     $ 71,153       100.0 %
 
                                   
The movement in the overall credit quality of the Company’s portfolio was primarily attributable to purchases of U.S. Treasuries and investment grade corporate securities, partially offset by rating agency downgrades primarily associated with commercial real estate. Fixed maturities, FVO, are not included in the above table as of September 30, 2010. These investments include AA-rated securities within the financial services sector, as well as BBB and lower rated commercial real estate (“CRE”) collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”). The majority of these CRE CDOs have been downgraded since purchase. For further discussion on the election of fair value option, see Note 4 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

103


Table of Contents

The following table presents the Company’s AFS securities by type, as well as fixed maturities, FVO.
Securities by Type
                                                                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
                                    Percent                                     Percent  
    Cost or     Gross     Gross         of Total     Cost or     Gross     Gross             of Total  
    Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair     Fair     Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair     Fair  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value     Value     Cost     Gains     Losses     Value     Value  
Asset-backed securities (“ABS”)
                                                                               
Consumer loans
  $ 2,494     $ 35     $ (218 )   $ 2,311       2.9 %   $ 2,087     $ 15     $ (277 )   $ 1,825       2.6 %
Small business
    476       1       (165 )     312       0.4 %     548       1       (232 )     317       0.4 %
Other
    371       39       (24 )     386       0.5 %     405       20       (44 )     381       0.5 %
CDOs
                                                                               
Collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”)
    2,427       1       (240 )     2,188       2.7 %     2,727             (288 )     2,439       3.5 %
CREs
    681       15       (327 )     369       0.5 %     1,319       21       (901 )     439       0.6 %
Other
    6                   6             8       6             14        
CMBS
                                                                               
Agency backed [1]
    439       30             469       0.6 %     62       3             65       0.1 %
Bonds
    7,486       183       (892 )     6,777       8.5 %     9,600       52       (2,241 )     7,411       10.4 %
Interest only (“IOs”)
    851       88       (25 )     914       1.1 %     1,074       59       (65 )     1,068       1.5 %
Corporate
                                                                               
Basic industry [2]
    3,120       260       (51 )     3,328       4.2 %     2,642       112       (56 )     2,698       3.8 %
Capital goods
    3,205       343       (29 )     3,519       4.4 %     3,085       140       (51 )     3,174       4.5 %
Consumer cyclical
    1,934       168       (10 )     2,092       2.6 %     1,946       75       (45 )     1,976       2.8 %
Consumer non-cyclical
    6,054       642       (13 )     6,683       8.4 %     4,737       281       (22 )     4,996       7.0 %
Energy
    3,276       319       (14 )     3,581       4.5 %     3,070       163       (18 )     3,215       4.5 %
Financial services
    8,007       378       (486 )     7,899       9.9 %     8,059       118       (917 )     7,260       10.1 %
Tech./comm.
    4,186       399       (41 )     4,544       5.7 %     3,984       205       (75 )     4,114       5.8 %
Transportation
    855       84       (4 )     935       1.2 %     698       22       (23 )     697       1.0 %
Utilities
    6,861       633       (25 )     7,469       9.4 %     5,755       230       (85 )     5,900       8.3 %
Other [2]
    870       18       (29 )     801       1.0 %     1,342       22       (151 )     1,213       1.7 %
Foreign govt./govt. agencies
    1,773       162       (11 )     1,924       2.4 %     1,376       52       (20 )     1,408       2.0 %
Municipal
                                                                               
Taxable
    1,162       35       (72 )     1,125       1.4 %     1,176       4       (205 )     975       1.4 %
Tax-exempt
    11,073       561       (36 )     11,598       14.5 %     10,949       314       (173 )     11,090       15.6 %
Residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”)
                                                                               
Agency
    3,996       140       (4 )     4,132       5.3 %     3,383       99       (6 )     3,476       4.9 %
Non-agency
    123             (5 )     118       0.1 %     143             (16 )     127       0.2 %
Alt-A
    179       3       (25 )     157       0.2 %     218             (58 )     160       0.2 %
Sub-prime
    1,621       13       (490 )     1,144       1.4 %     1,768       5       (689 )     1,084       1.5 %
U.S. Treasuries
    4,958       75       (78 )     4,955       6.2 %     3,854       14       (237 )     3,631       5.1 %
 
                                                           
Fixed maturities, AFS
    78,484       4,625       (3,314 )     79,736       100.0 %     76,015       2,033       (6,895 )     71,153       100.0 %
Equity securities
                                                                               
Financial services
    632       3       (134 )     501               836       7       (164 )     679          
Other
    600       73       (6 )     667               497       73       (28 )     542          
 
                                                           
Equity securities, AFS
    1,232       76       (140 )     1,168               1,333       80       (192 )     1,221          
 
                                                           
Total AFS securities
  $ 79,716     $ 4,701     $ (3,454 )   $ 80,904             $ 77,348     $ 2,113     $ (7,087 )   $ 72,374          
 
                                                           
Fixed maturities, FVO
                          $ 564                                     $          
 
                                                           
     
[1]  
Represents securities with pools of loans by the Small Business Administration whose issued loans are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
 
[2]  
Gross unrealized gains (losses) exclude the fair value of bifurcated embedded derivative features of certain securities. Subsequent changes in value will be recorded in net realized capital gains (losses).
The Company continues to rebalance its AFS investment portfolio to securities with more favorable risk/return profiles, in particular investment grade corporate securities, while reducing its exposure to real estate related securities. The Company’s AFS net unrealized position improved primarily as a result of improved security valuations largely due to declining interest rates and, to a lesser extent, credit spread tightening. The following sections highlight the Company’s significant investment sectors.

 

104


Table of Contents

Financial Services
The Company’s exposure to the financial services sector is predominantly through banking firms. The following table presents the Company’s exposure to the financial services sector included in the Securities by Type table above.
                                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Amortized             Net     Amortized             Net  
    Cost     Fair Value     Unrealized     Cost     Fair Value     Unrealized  
AAA
  $ 325     $ 324     $ (1 )   $ 299     $ 290     $ (9 )
AA
    2,117       2,169       52       1,913       1,867       (46 )
A
    3,993       3,872       (121 )     4,510       3,987       (523 )
BBB
    1,955       1,800       (155 )     1,664       1,379       (285 )
BB & below
    249       235       (14 )     509       416       (93 )
 
                                   
Total
  $ 8,639     $ 8,400     $ (239 )   $ 8,895     $ 7,939     $ (956 )
 
                                   
The improvement in the net unrealized loss position was attributed to improved security valuations resulting from increasing confidence in this sector, as well as sales. During the third quarter, in general, financial companies continued to stabilize with improved earnings performance, positive credit trends and strengthened capital and liquidity positions. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act was signed into law and regulators finalized the Basel III agreement in an attempt to strengthen capital standards. Despite these positive impacts, financial companies remain vulnerable to ongoing stress in the real estate markets, high unemployment and global economic uncertainty, which could potentially result in declines in the Company’s net unrealized position.
Commercial Mortgage Loans
The following tables present the Company’s exposure to commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) bonds, CRE CDOs and CMBS IOs by current credit quality and vintage year, included in the Securities by Type table above. This sector appears to be stabilizing although security prices may be adversely impacted by pressures from commercial real estate market fundamentals, including lower rent rates and increased delinquencies. The Company continues to reduce its exposure to real estate related securities through sales. Credit protection represents the current weighted average percentage of the outstanding capital structure subordinated to the Company’s investment holding that is available to absorb losses before the security incurs the first dollar loss of principal and excludes any equity interest or property value in excess of outstanding debt.
CMBS — Bonds [1]
September 30, 2010
                                                                                                 
    AAA     AA     A     BBB     BB and Below     Total  
    Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair  
    Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value  
2003 & Prior
  $ 821     $ 845     $ 146     $ 141     $ 120     $ 107     $ 46     $ 45     $ 41     $ 37     $ 1,174     $ 1,175  
2004
    523       553       27       23       59       50       50       39       12       9       671       674  
2005
    639       665       182       145       200       148       211       164       89       66       1,321       1,188  
2006
    1,091       1,084       420       349       452       413       627       521       432       307       3,022       2,674  
2007
    275       270       171       160       159       142       290       182       348       254       1,243       1,008  
2008
                            55       58                               55       58  
 
                                                                       
Total
  $ 3,349     $ 3,417     $ 946     $ 818     $ 1,045     $ 918     $ 1,224     $ 951     $ 922     $ 673     $ 7,486     $ 6,777  
 
                                                                       
Credit protection
            27.0 %             21.9 %             12.5 %             13.1 %             10.2 %             21.0 %
December 31, 2009
                                                                                                 
    AAA     AA     A     BBB     BB and Below     Total  
    Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair  
    Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value  
2003 & Prior
  $ 1,732     $ 1,716     $ 297     $ 230     $ 150     $ 113     $ 20     $ 17     $ 11     $ 7     $ 2,210     $ 2,083  
2004
    639       626       82       52       52       34       15       7                   788       719  
2005
    1,011       930       356       230       228       123       100       64       89       54       1,784       1,401  
2006
    1,945       1,636       430       275       536       247       323       132       231       83       3,465       2,373  
2007
    498       408       139       101       169       68       346       160       201       98       1,353       835  
 
                                                                       
Total
  $ 5,825     $ 5,316     $ 1,304     $ 888     $ 1,135     $ 585     $ 804     $ 380     $ 532     $ 242     $ 9,600     $ 7,411  
 
                                                                       
Credit protection
            26.5 %             21.2 %             13.1 %             11.6 %             8.7 %             22.0 %
     
[1]  
The vintage year represents the year the pool of loans was originated.

 

105


Table of Contents

CRE CDOs [1] [2]
September 30, 2010
                                                                                                 
    AAA     AA     A     BBB     BB and Below     Total  
    Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair  
    Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value  
2003 & Prior
  $ 32     $ 27     $ 12     $ 8     $ 63     $ 35     $ 126     $ 53     $ 88     $ 32     $ 321     $ 155  
2004
                6       4       35       18       38       19       24       7       103       48  
2005
    1       1                   11       7       9       6       17       9       38       23  
2006
                            16       9       17       13       22       18       55       40  
2007
                            29       18       24       19       32       19       85       56  
2008
                            8       5       11       9       24       13       43       27  
2009
                            9       6       7       6       14       5       30       17  
2010
                            2       1       2       1       2       1       6       3  
 
                                                                       
Total AFS
  $ 33     $ 28     $ 18     $ 12     $ 173     $ 99     $ 234     $ 126     $ 223     $ 104     $ 681     $ 369  
 
                                                                       
Total FVO [3]
          $             $ 24             $ 60             $ 91             $ 61             $ 236  
 
                                                                       
Credit protection
            53.0 %             16.1 %             32.1 %             23.2 %             28.5 %             27.5 %
December 31, 2009
                                                                                                 
    AAA     AA     A     BBB     BB and Below     Total  
    Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair  
    Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value  
2003 & Prior
  $ 60     $ 41     $ 30     $ 15     $ 69     $ 26     $ 165     $ 44     $ 95     $ 14     $ 419     $ 140  
2004
    19       11       70       22       37       11       27       4       23       4       176       52  
2005
    17       8       72       12       35       14       49       8       26       6       199       48  
2006
    23       13       108       33       82       28       69       22       23       12       305       108  
2007
    62       33       12       3       20       5       26       9       15       10       135       60  
2008
    22       12                   5       1       15       4       13       3       55       20  
2009
    15       8                   2             4       1       9       2       30       11  
 
                                                                       
Total
  $ 218     $ 126     $ 292     $ 85     $ 250     $ 85     $ 355     $ 92     $ 204     $ 51     $ 1,319     $ 439  
 
                                                                       
Credit protection
            40.0 %             10.5 %             25.5 %             34.9 %             31.6 %             28.1 %
     
[1]  
The vintage year represents the year that the underlying collateral in the pool was originated. Individual CRE CDO amortized cost and fair value are allocated by the proportion of collateral within each vintage year.
 
[2]  
For certain CRE CDOs, the collateral manager has the ability to reinvest proceeds that become available, primarily from collateral maturities. The increase in recent vintage years reflects reinvestment for these CRE CDOs.
 
[3]  
For further discussion on the election of fair value option, see Note 4 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
CMBS — IOs [1]
September 30, 2010
                                                                                 
    AAA     A     BBB     BB and Below     Total  
    Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair  
    Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value  
2003 & Prior
  $ 229     $ 254     $     $     $     $     $     $     $ 229     $ 254  
2004
    166       190                                           166       190  
2005
    237       255                   1       1                   238       256  
2006
    122       116                                           122       116  
2007
    96       98                                           96       98  
 
                                                           
Total
  $ 850     $ 913     $     $     $ 1     $ 1     $     $     $ 851     $ 914  
 
                                                           
December 31, 2009
                                                                                 
    AAA     A     BBB     BB and Below     Total  
    Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair  
    Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value     Cost     Value  
2003 & Prior
  $ 331     $ 352     $     $     $     $     $     $     $ 331     $ 352  
2004
    207       217                                           207       217  
2005
    284       275                   1       2                   285       277  
2006
    137       120       3       1                   1       2       141       123  
2007
    110       99                                           110       99  
 
                                                           
Total
  $ 1,069     $ 1,063     $ 3     $ 1     $ 1     $ 2     $ 1     $ 2     $ 1,074     $ 1,068  
 
                                                           
     
[1]  
The vintage year represents the year the pool of loans was originated.

 

106


Table of Contents

In addition to CMBS, the Company has exposure to commercial mortgage loans as presented in the following table. These loans are collateralized by a variety of commercial properties and are diversified both geographically throughout the United States and by property type. These loans may be either in the form of a whole loan, where the Company is the sole lender, or a loan participation. Loan participations are loans where the Company has purchased or retained a portion of an outstanding loan or package of loans and participates on a pro-rata basis in collecting interest and principal pursuant to the terms of the participation agreement. In general, A-Note participations have senior payment priority, followed by B-Note participations and then mezzanine loan participations. As of September 30, 2010, loans within the Company’s mortgage loan portfolio have had minimal extension or restructurings. In general, the commercial real estate market appears to be stabilizing, although recovery is expected to be slow.
Commercial Mortgage Loans
                                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Amortized     Valuation     Carrying     Amortized     Valuation     Carrying  
    Cost [1]     Allowance     Value     Cost [1]     Allowance     Value  
Whole loans
  $ 3,443     $ (29 )   $ 3,414     $ 3,319     $ (40 )   $ 3,279  
A-Note participations
    354             354       391             391  
B-Note participations
    328       (71 )     257       701       (176 )     525  
Mezzanine loans
    196       (39 )     157       1,081       (142 )     939  
 
                                   
Total [2]
  $ 4,321     $ (139 )   $ 4,182     $ 5,492     $ (358 )   $ 5,134  
 
                                   
     
[1]  
Amortized cost represents carrying value prior to valuation allowances, if any.
 
[2]  
Excludes agricultural and residential mortgage loans. For further information on the total mortgage loan portfolio, see Note 5 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Since December 31, 2009, the Company significantly reduced its exposure to B-Note participations and mezzanine loans primarily through sales and as of September 30, 2010, the Company has identified an additional $11 of carrying value as held-for-sale, with valuation allowances of $5. These loans are included in the table above.
At origination, the weighted average loan-to-value (“LTV”) ratio of the Company’s commercial mortgage loan portfolio was approximately 64%. As of September 30, 2010, the current weighted average LTV ratio was approximately 78%. LTV ratios compare the loan amount to the value of the underlying property collateralizing the loan. The loan values are updated periodically through property level reviews of the portfolio. Factors considered in the property valuation include, but are not limited to, actual and expected property cash flows, geographic market data and capitalization rates.
Municipal Bonds
The Company holds investments in securities backed by states, municipalities and political subdivisions (“municipal”) with an amortized cost and fair value of $12.2 billion and $12.7 billion, respectively, as of September 30, 2010 and $12.1 billion and $12.1 billion, respectively, as of December 31, 2009. The Company’s municipal bond portfolio is diversified across the United States and primarily consists of essential service revenue and general obligation bonds. In the third quarter, purchases in this sector were concentrated in essential service revenue bonds and general obligation bonds with an average credit quality rating of AA+, partially offset by sales of lower quality bonds which were primarily insured bonds in California, Illinois and Florida. As of September 30, 2010, the largest concentrations were in California, Georgia and Massachusetts, which each comprised less than 3% of the municipal bond portfolio and were primarily comprised of general obligation securities. As of December 31, 2009, the largest concentrations were in California, Georgia and Illinois, which each comprised less than 3% of the municipal bond portfolio and were primarily comprised of general obligation securities. Certain of the Company’s municipal bonds contained third-party insurance for the payment of principal and interest in the event of an issuer default.
Limited Partnerships and Other Alternative Investments
The following table presents the Company’s investments in limited partnerships and other alternative investments which include hedge funds, mortgage and real estate funds, mezzanine debt funds, and private equity and other funds. Hedge funds include investments in funds of funds and direct funds. Mortgage and real estate funds consist of investments in funds whose assets consist of mortgage loans, mortgage loan participations, mezzanine loans or other notes which may be below investment grade, as well as equity real estate and real estate joint ventures. Mezzanine debt funds include investments in funds whose assets consist of subordinated debt that often incorporates equity-based options such as warrants and a limited amount of direct equity investments. Private equity and other funds primarily consist of investments in funds whose assets typically consist of a diversified pool of investments in small non-public businesses with high growth potential.
                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Carrying Value     Percent     Carrying Value     Percent  
Hedge funds
  $ 432       23.7 %   $ 596       33.3 %
Mortgage and real estate funds
    327       18.0 %     302       16.9 %
Mezzanine debt funds
    141       7.8 %     133       7.4 %
Private equity and other funds
    919       50.5 %     759       42.4 %
 
                       
Total
  $ 1,819       100.0 %   $ 1,790       100.0 %
 
                       
The decline in hedge funds since December 31, 2009 was primarily attributable to redemptions, while private equity and other funds increased primarily due to market value appreciation.

 

107


Table of Contents

Available-for-Sale Securities — Unrealized Loss Aging
As part of the Company’s ongoing security monitoring process, the Company has reviewed its AFS securities in an unrealized loss position and concluded that there were no additional impairments as of September 30, 2010 and that these securities have sufficient expected future cash flows to recover the entire amortized cost basis, are temporarily depressed and are expected to recover in value as the securities approach maturity or as real estate related market spreads return to more normalized levels.
Most of the securities depressed over 20% for greater than nine months are structured securities with exposure to commercial and residential real estate, as well as certain floating rate corporate securities or those securities with greater than 10 years to maturity, concentrated in the financial services sector. These securities have a weighted average current rating of BBB+. Current market spreads continue to be significantly wider for structured securities with exposure to commercial and residential real estate, as compared to spreads at the security’s respective purchase date, largely due to the economic and market uncertainties regarding future performance of commercial and residential real estate. The Company reviewed these securities as part of its impairment analysis. The Company’s best estimate of future cash flows utilized in its impairment analysis involves both macroeconomic and security specific assumptions that may differ based on security type, vintage year and property location including, but not limited to, historical and projected default and recovery rates, current and expected future delinquency rates and property value declines. For these securities in an unrealized loss position where a credit impairment has not been recorded, the Company’s best estimate of expected future cash flows are sufficient to recover the amortized cost basis of the security. Furthermore, the Company neither has an intention to sell nor does it expect to be required to sell these securities.
The same market conditions noted above also apply to AFS securities depressed over 50% for greater than twelve months, which consist primarily of structured securities with exposure to commercial and residential real estate. Based upon the Company’s cash flow modeling and current market and collateral performance assumptions, these securities have sufficient credit protection levels to receive contractually obligated principal and interest payments, and accordingly the Company has concluded that no credit impairment exists on these securities. Furthermore, the Company neither has an intention to sell nor does it expect to be required to sell these securities.
For the CMBS and CRE CDOs which are included in the AFS securities depressed over 50% for greater than twelve months, current market pricing reflects market illiquidity and higher risk premiums. The illiquidity and risk premiums are the result of the underlying collateral performance to date and the potential uncertainty in the securities’ future cash flows. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the future performance of commercial real estate, market participants are requiring substantially greater returns, in comparison to the securities’ stated coupon rate, to assume the associated securities’ credit risk. If the securities’ collateral underperforms macroeconomic and collateral assumptions in the future, loss severities may be significant as a result of the structure of the security. In addition, the majority of these securities have a floating-rate coupon referenced to a market index such as LIBOR. When the reference rate declines, the valuation of the respective security may also decline. LIBOR rates have declined substantially after these CMBS and CRE CDOs were purchased. For further information regarding the Company’s security valuation process, see Note 4 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. For further information regarding the future collateral cash flows assumptions included in the Company’s impairment analysis, see Other-Than-Temporary Impairments in the Investment Credit Risk section of this MD&A. For further discussion on the Company’s ongoing security monitoring process and the factors considered in determining whether a credit impairment exists, see the Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments section in Note 5 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following table presents the Company’s unrealized loss aging for AFS securities by length of time the security was in a continuous unrealized loss position.
                                                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
            Cost or                             Cost or              
            Amortized     Fair     Unrealized             Amortized     Fair     Unrealized  
    Items     Cost     Value     Loss [1]     Items     Cost     Value     Loss  
Three months or less
    377     $ 2,758     $ 2,691     $ (67 )     1,237     $ 11,197     $ 10,838     $ (359 )
Greater than three to six months
    283       724       676       (47 )     105       317       289       (28 )
Greater than six to nine months
    83       309       290       (20 )     311       2,940       2,429       (511 )
Greater than nine to twelve months
    97       760       677       (77 )     134       2,054       1,674       (380 )
Greater than twelve months
    1,357       17,754       14,458       (3,243 )     2,020       22,445       16,636       (5,809 )
 
                                               
Total
    2,197     $ 22,305     $ 18,792     $ (3,454 )     3,807     $ 38,953     $ 31,866     $ (7,087 )
 
                                               
     
[1]  
Unrealized losses exclude the fair value of bifurcated embedded derivative features of certain securities. Subsequent changes in value will be recorded in net realized capital gains (losses).

 

108


Table of Contents

The following tables present the Company’s unrealized loss aging for AFS securities continuously depressed over 20% by length of time (included in the table above).
                                                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
            Cost or                             Cost or              
            Amortized     Fair     Unrealized             Amortized     Fair     Unrealized  
Consecutive Months   Items     Cost     Value     Loss [1]     Items     Cost     Value     Loss  
Three months or less
    57     $ 184     $ 138     $ (46 )     161     $ 951     $ 672     $ (279 )
Greater than three to six months
    64       359       264       (94 )     51       55       38       (17 )
Greater than six to nine months
    18       81       60       (20 )     159       2,046       1,397       (649 )
Greater than nine to twelve months
    35       205       146       (59 )     86       1,398       913       (485 )
Greater than twelve months
    479       5,394       3,340       (2,051 )     715       8,146       4,228       (3,918 )
 
                                               
Total
    653     $ 6,223     $ 3,948     $ (2,270 )     1,172     $ 12,596     $ 7,248     $ (5,348 )
 
                                               
     
[1]  
Unrealized losses exclude the fair value of bifurcated embedded derivative features of certain securities. Subsequent changes in value will be recorded in net realized capital gains (losses).
The following tables present the Company’s unrealized loss aging for AFS securities continuously depressed over 50% by length of time (included in the tables above).
                                                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
            Cost or                             Cost or              
            Amortized     Fair     Unrealized             Amortized     Fair     Unrealized  
Consecutive Months   Items     Cost     Value     Loss     Items     Cost     Value     Loss  
Three months or less
    12     $ 44     $ 19     $ (25 )     62     $ 169     $ 61     $ (108 )
Greater than three to six months
    17       74       32       (42 )     28       5       2       (3 )
Greater than six to nine months
                            54       190       74       (116 )
Greater than nine to twelve months
    10       13       5       (8 )     58       592       210       (382 )
Greater than twelve months
    122       1,029       347       (682 )     220       2,553       735       (1,818 )
 
                                               
Total
    161     $ 1,160     $ 403     $ (757 )     422     $ 3,509     $ 1,082     $ (2,427 )
 
                                               
Other-Than-Temporary Impairments
The following table presents the Company’s impairments recognized in earnings by security type.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
ABS
  $     $ 42     $ 5     $ 51  
CDOs
                               
CREs
    49       199       142       304  
Other
          26             28  
CMBS
                               
Bonds
    44       132       155       202  
IOs
    1             2       25  
Corporate
    15       43       21       163  
Equity
          28       5       121  
Municipal
    1       1       1       18  
RMBS
                               
Non-agency
    1       2       2       3  
Alt-A
    1       28       10       29  
Sub-prime
    3       35       32       128  
U.S. Treasuries
                      2  
 
                       
Total
  $ 115     $ 536     $ 375     $ 1,074  
 
                       
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2010
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, impairments recognized in earnings were comprised of credit impairments of $71 and $326, respectively, impairments on equity securities of $0 and $5, respectively, and impairments on debt securities for which the Company intends to sel1 of $44 and $44, respectively.

 

109


Table of Contents

Credit impairments were primarily concentrated in structured securities associated with commercial and residential real estate which were impaired primarily due to continued property-specific deterioration of the underlying collateral and increased delinquencies. The Company calculated these impairments utilizing both a top down modeling approach and, for certain commercial real estate backed securities, a loan by loan collateral review. The top down modeling approach used discounted cash flow models that considered losses under current and expected future economic conditions. Assumptions used over the current period included macroeconomic factors, such as a high unemployment rate, as well as sector specific factors such as property value declines, commercial real estate delinquency levels and changes in net operating income. Those assumptions included CMBS peak-to-trough property value declines, on average, of 37% and RMBS peak-to-trough property value declines, on average, of 35%. The macroeconomic assumptions considered by the Company did not materially change from the previous several quarters and, as such, the credit impairments recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 were largely driven by actual or expected collateral deterioration, largely as a result of the Company’s loan-by-loan collateral review.
The loan-by-loan collateral review is performed to estimate potential future losses. This review incorporates assumptions about expected future collateral cash flows, including projected rental rates and occupancy levels that varied based on property type and sub-market. The results of the loan by loan collateral review allowed the Company to estimate the expected timing of a security’s first loss, if any, and the probability and severity of potential ultimate losses. The Company then discounted these anticipated future cash flows at the security’s book yield prior to impairment. The results of cash flow modeling utilized by the Company result in cumulative collateral loss rates that vary by vintage year. For the 2007 vintage year, the Company’s cash flow modeling resulted in cumulative collateral loss rates for CMBS and sub-prime RMBS of approximately 12% and 44%, respectively.
Impairments on securities for which the Company has the intent to sell were primarily CMBS where market pricing continues to improve and the Company would like the ability to reduce its exposure to certain variable-rate CMBS.
In addition to the credit impairments recognized in earnings, the Company recognized non-credit impairments in other comprehensive income of $31 and $403, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, predominantly concentrated in RMBS and CRE CDOs. These non-credit impairment represent the difference between fair value and the Company’s best estimate of expected future cash flows discounted at the security’s effective yield prior to impairment, rather than at current market implied credit spreads. These non-credit impairments primarily represent increases in market liquidity premiums and credit spread widening that occurred after the securities were purchased, as well as a discount for variable-rate coupons which are paying less than at purchase date. In general, larger liquidity premiums and wider credit spreads are the result of deterioration of the underlying collateral performance of the securities, as well as the risk premium required to reflect future uncertainty in the real estate market.
Future impairments may develop as the result of changes in intent to sell of specific securities or if actual results underperform current modeling assumptions, which may be the result of, but are not limited to, macroeconomic factors, changes in assumptions used and property performance below current expectations.
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2009
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company recognized $536 and $1.1 billion, respectively, of impairments recognized in earnings. Of these losses, $495 and $840, respectively, represented credit impairments primarily concentrated in CRE CDOs, CMBS bonds and below prime RMBS. Also included were impairments on equity securities of $28 and $121, respectively, largely related to below investment grade hybrid securities, as well as debt securities for which the Company intended to sell of $13 and $113, respectively, mainly comprised of corporate financial services securities.
Valuation Allowances on Mortgage Loans
The following table presents additions to valuation allowances on mortgage loans.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Credit-related concerns
  $ 4     $ 45     $ 72     $ 198  
Held for sale
                               
B-note participations
                22        
Mezzanine loans
                52        
Agricultural loans
                10        
Residential
    3             3        
 
                       
Total
  $ 7     $ 45     $ 159     $ 198  
 
                       

 

110


Table of Contents

CAPITAL MARKETS RISK MANAGEMENT
The Company has a disciplined approach to managing risks associated with its capital markets and asset/liability management activities. Investment portfolio management is organized to focus investment management expertise on the specific classes of investments, while asset/liability management is the responsibility of a dedicated risk management unit supporting the Company’s insurance operations. Derivative instruments are utilized in compliance with established Company policy and regulatory requirements and are monitored internally and reviewed by senior management.
The Company utilizes a variety of over-the-counter and exchange traded derivative instruments as a part of its overall risk management strategy, as well as to enter into replication transactions. Derivative instruments are used to manage risk associated with interest rate, equity market, credit spread, issuer default, price, and currency exchange rate risk or volatility. Replication transactions are used as an economical means to synthetically replicate the characteristics and performance of assets that would otherwise be permissible investments under the Company’s investment policies. For further information, see Note 5 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Derivative activities are monitored and evaluated by the Company’s risk management team and reviewed by senior management. In addition, the Company monitors counterparty credit exposure on a monthly basis to ensure compliance with Company policies and statutory limitations. The notional amounts of derivative contracts represent the basis upon which pay or receive amounts are calculated and are not reflective of credit risk. For further information on the Company’s use of derivatives, see Note 5 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Market Risk
The Company is exposed to market risk, primarily relating to the market price and/or cash flow variability associated with changes in interest rates, credit spreads including issuer defaults, equity prices or market indices and the related volatility, and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company is also exposed to credit and counterparty repayment risk. For further discussion of market risk, see the Capital Markets Risk Management section of the MD&A in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk relates to the market price and/or cash flow variability associated with changes in market interest rates. The Company manages its exposure to interest rate risk by constructing investment portfolios that maintain asset allocation limits and asset/liability duration matching targets which include the use of derivatives. For further discussion of interest rate risk, see the Interest Rate Risk discussion within the Capital Markets Risk Management section of the MD&A in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report.
The Company is also exposed to interest rate risk based upon the discount rate assumption associated with the Company’s pension and other postretirement benefit obligations. The discount rate assumption is based upon an interest rate yield curve comprised of bonds rated Aa with maturities primarily between zero and thirty years. For further discussion of interest rate risk associated with the benefit obligations, see the Critical Accounting Estimates section of the MD&A under Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations and Note 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report.
In addition, management evaluates performance of certain life insurance products based on net investment spread which is, in part, influenced by changes in interest rates. For further discussion, see the Global Annuity, Life Insurance, and Retirement Plans sections of the MD&A.
As interest rates decline, certain mortgage-backed securities are more susceptible to paydowns and prepayments. During such periods, the Company generally will not be able to reinvest the proceeds at comparable yields. Lower interest rates will also likely result in lower net investment income, increased hedging costs associated with variable annuities and, if declines are sustained for a long period of time, it may subject the Company to reinvestment risks, higher pension costs expense, higher ultimate claim costs on our living benefit guarantee programs, particularly in Japan, and possibly reduced profit margins associated with guaranteed crediting rates on certain life insurance products. Conversely, the fair value of the investment portfolio will increase when interest rates decline and the Company’s interest expense will be lower on its variable rate debt obligations.
Credit Risk
The Company is exposed to credit risk within our investment portfolio and through counterparties. Credit risk relates to the uncertainty of an obligor’s continued ability to make timely payments in accordance with the contractual terms of the instrument or contract. The Company manages credit risk through established investment credit policies which address quality of obligors and counterparties, credit concentration limits, diversification requirements and acceptable risk levels under expected and stressed scenarios. For further discussion of credit risk, see the Credit Risk section of the MD&A in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report.
For further information on credit risk associated with derivatives, see the Investment Credit Risk section of the MD&A.

 

111


Table of Contents

The Company is also exposed to credit spread risk related to security market price and cash flows associated with changes in credit spreads. Credit spread tightening will reduce net investment income associated with new purchases of fixed maturities and increase the fair value of the investment portfolio resulting in lower impairment losses. Credit spread widening will reduce the fair value of the investment portfolio and increase net investment income for new purchases. For a discussion of the movement of credit spread impacts on the Company’s statutory financial results as it relates to the accounting and reporting for market value fixed annuities, see the Capital Resources & Liquidity section of the MD&A.
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
The Company’s foreign currency exchange risk is related to non-U.S. dollar denominated investments, which primarily consist of fixed maturity investments, the investment in and net income of the Company’s life insurance products in Japan and U.K., and non-U.S. dollar denominated liability contracts, including its GMDB, GMAB, GMWB and GMIB benefits associated with its Japanese and U.K. variable annuities, and a yen denominated individual fixed annuity product. A portion of the Company’s foreign currency exposure is mitigated through the use of derivatives.
For further information on foreign currency exchange risk, see Foreign Currency Exchange Risk within the Capital Markets Risk Management section of the MD&A included in The Hartford’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as Variable Product Equity Risk discussion below.
Variable Product Equity Risk
The Company’s variable products are significantly influenced by the U.S., Japanese, and other global equity markets. Increases or declines in equity markets impact certain assets and liabilities related to the Company’s variable products and the Company’s earnings derived from those products. The Company’s variable products include variable annuity contracts, mutual funds, and variable life insurance.
Generally, declines in equity markets will:
 
reduce the value of assets under management and the amount of fee income generated from those assets;
 
reduce the value of equity securities, trading, supporting the international variable annuities, the related policyholder funds and benefits payable, and the amount of fee income generated from those variable annuities;
 
increase the liability for GMWB benefits resulting in realized capital losses;
 
increase the value of derivative assets used to hedge product guarantees resulting in realized capital gains;
 
increases the costs of the hedging instruments we use in our hedging program;
 
increase the Company’s net amount at risk for GMDB and GMIB benefits;
 
decrease the Company’s actual gross profits, resulting in increased DAC amortization;
 
 
increase the amount of required assets to be held backing variable annuity guarantees to maintain required regulatory reserve levels and targeted risk based capital ratios;
 
 
adversely affect customer sentiment toward equity-linked products, causing a decline in sales; and
 
 
decrease the Company’s estimated future gross profits. See Estimated Gross Profits Used in the Valuation and Amortization of Assets and Liabilities Associated with Variable Annuity and Other Universal Life-Type Contracts within the Critical Accounting Estimates section of the MD&A for further information.
Generally, increases in equity markets will reduce the value of derivative assets used to provide a macro hedge on statutory surplus, resulting in realized capital losses during periods of market appreciation.
GMWB
The majority of the Company’s U.S. and U.K. variable annuities, and a small portion of Japan’s variable annuities, include a GMWB rider. In the second quarter of 2009, the Company suspended all new sales in the U.K. and Japan. The Company’s new variable annuity product, launched in the U.S. in October 2009 does not offer a GMWB. Declines in equity markets will generally increase the Company’s liability for the in-force GMWB riders. As of September 30, 2010, U.S. GMWB account value was $43.5 billion and International GMWB account value was $2.5 billion. As of December 31, 2009, U.S. GMWB account value was $45.5 billion and International GMWB account value was $2.7 billion. A GMWB contract is “in the money” if the contract holder’s guaranteed remaining benefit (“GRB”) is greater than their current account value. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, 46% and 48%, respectively, of all unreinsured U.S. GMWB contracts were “in the money”. For U.S. GMWB contracts that were “in the money”, the Company’s net amount at risk (i.e. GRB less account value), after reinsurance, as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, was $1.9 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively. For U.K. and Japan GMWB contracts that were “in the money”, the Company’s net amount at risk, after reinsurance, as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, was $0.1 billion and $0.1 billion, respectively. However, the Company expects to incur these payments in the future only if the policyholder has an “in the money” GMWB at their death or their account value is reduced to a specified level, through contractually permitted withdrawals and/or market declines. If the account value is reduced to the specified level, the contract holder will receive an annuity equal to the remaining GRB. For the Company’s “life-time” GMWB products, this annuity can continue beyond the GRB. As the account value fluctuates with equity market returns on a daily basis and the “life-time” GMWB payments can exceed the GRB, the ultimate amount to be paid by the Company, if any, is uncertain and could be significantly more or less than $2.0 billion. For additional information on the Company’s GMWB liability, see Note 4a of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

112


Table of Contents

GMDB and GMIB
The majority of the Company’s U.S. variable annuity contracts include a GMDB rider. Declines in the equity markets will increase the Company’s liability for GMDB riders. The Company’s total gross exposure (i.e., before reinsurance) to U.S. GMDB as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 is $15.1 billion and $18.4 billion, respectively. However, the Company will incur these payments in the future only if the policyholder has an “in the money” GMDB at their death. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, 68% and 72%, respectively, of all unreinsured U.S. GMDB contracts were “in the money”. The Company reinsured 55% and 53% of these death benefit guarantees as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Under certain of these reinsurance agreements, the reinsurers’ exposure is subject to an annual cap. The Company’s net exposure (i.e., after reinsurance), is $6.8 billion and $8.5 billion, as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.
In the second quarter of 2009, the Company suspended all new product sales in Japan. Prior to that, the Company offered variable annuity products in Japan with both a GMDB and a GMIB. For the in-force block of Japan business, declines in equity markets, as well as a strengthening of the Japanese yen in comparison to the U.S. dollar, the euro and other currencies will increase the Company’s liability for GMDB and GMIB riders. This increase may be significant in extreme market scenarios. The Company’s total gross exposure (i.e., before reinsurance) to the GMDB and GMIB offered in Japan is $8.6 billion and $6.3 billion as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. In general, the GMDB riders entitle the policyholder to receive the original investment value at the date of death. For GMIB contracts, the policyholder has the right to elect to annuitize benefits, beginning (for certain products) on the tenth anniversary of contract commencement. As a result, a small percentage of the contracts will first become eligible to elect annuitization beginning in 2013. The remainder of the contracts will first become eligible to elect annuitization from 2014 to 2022. Because policyholders have various contractual rights to defer their annuitization election, the period over which annuitization election can take place is subject to policyholder behavior and therefore indeterminate. For GMIB contracts, the policyholder is entitled to receive the original investment value over a 10- to 15-year annuitization period, even if the policyholder’s account value is lower than the original investment value at the date of annuitization. In addition, upon annuitization the contractholder surrenders access to the account value. If the original investment value exceeds the account value upon annuitization or death then the contract is “in the money”. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, 98% and 98%, respectively, of all unreinsured Japan GMDB and GMIB contracts were “in the money”. The Company reinsured 16% and 17% of the GMDB to a third party reinsurer as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Under certain of these reinsurance agreements, the reinsurers’ exposure is subject to an annual cap. The Company’s net exposure (i.e., after reinsurance) is $7.2 billion and $5.2 billion as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. In addition, as of September 30, 2010, 60% of account value and 54% of retained net amount at risk is reinsured to an affiliate of The Hartford. For additional information on the Company’s GMDB and GMIB liability, see Note 7 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Variable Product Equity Risk Management
Market Risk Exposures
The following table summarizes the broad Variable Annuity Guarantees offered by the Company and the market risks to which the guarantee is most exposed from a U.S. GAAP accounting perspective.
         
Variable Annuity Guarantee [1]   U.S. GAAP Treatment [1]   Primary Market Risk Exposures [1]
U.S. GMDB
  Accumulation of fees received less accumulation of claims paid   Equity Market Levels
         
Japan GMDB
  Accumulation of fees received less accumulation of claims paid   Equity Market Levels / Interest Rates / Foreign Currency
         
GMWB
  Fair Value   Equity Market Levels / Implied Volatility / Interest Rates
         
For Life Component of GMWB
  Accumulation of fees received less accumulation of claims paid   Equity Market Levels
         
Japan GMIB
  Accumulation of fees received less accumulation of claims paid   Equity Market Levels / Interest Rates / Foreign Currency
         
GMAB
  Fair Value   Equity Market Levels / Implied Volatility / Interest Rates
     
[1]  
Each of these guarantees and the related U.S. GAAP accounting volatility will also be influenced by actual and estimated policyholder behavior.

 

113


Table of Contents

Risk Management
The Company carefully analyzes market risk exposures arising from: GMDB, GMWB, GMIB, GMAB; equity market, interest rate risks, implied volatility, foreign currency exchange risk, and correlation between these market risk exposures. The Company evaluates these risks both individually and in the aggregate, to determine the financial risk of its products and to judge their potential impacts on U.S. GAAP earnings and statutory surplus. The Company manages the equity market, interest rate, implied volatility and foreign currency exchange risks embedded in its products through reinsurance, customized derivatives, and dynamic hedging and macro hedging programs. In addition, the Company recently launched a new variable annuity product with reduced equity risk and has increased GMWB rider fees on new sales of the Company’s legacy variable annuities and the related in-force policies, as contractually permitted. Depending upon competitors’ reactions with respect to products and related rider charges, the Company’s strategy of reducing product risk and increasing fees has and may continue to result in a decline in market share.
The following table depicts the type of risk management strategy being used by the Company to either partially or fully mitigate market risk exposures, displayed above, by variable annuity guarantee as of September 30, 2010:
                 
Variable Annuity Guarantee   Reinsurance   Customized Derivative   Dynamic Hedging [1]   Macro Hedging [2]
 
               
GMDB
  ü           ü
 
               
GMWB
  ü   ü   ü   ü
 
               
For Life Component of GMWB
              ü
 
               
GMIB
              ü
 
               
GMAB
              ü
     
[1]  
Through the third quarter of 2010, the Company continued to maintain a reduced level of dynamic hedge protection on GMWB while placing a greater relative emphasis on the protection of statutory surplus through the inclusion of a macro hedging program. This portion of the GMWB hedge strategy may include derivatives with maturities of up to 10 years. U.S. GAAP fair value volatility will be driven by a reduced level of dynamic hedge protection and macro program positions.
 
[2]  
As described below, the Company’s macro hedging program is not designed to provide protection against any one variable annuity guarantee program, but rather is a broad based hedge designed to provide protection against multiple guarantees and market risks, primarily focused on statutory liability and surplus volatility.
Reinsurance
The Company uses reinsurance for a portion of contracts issued with GMWB riders prior to the third quarter of 2003 and GMWB risks associated with a block of business sold between the third quarter of 2003 and the second quarter of 2006. The Company also uses reinsurance for a majority of the GMDB issued in the U.S. and a portion of the GMDB issued in Japan.
Derivative Hedging Strategies
The Company maintains derivative hedging strategies for its product guarantee risk to meet multiple, and in some cases, competing risk management objectives, including providing protection against tail scenario market events, providing resources to pay product guarantee claims, and minimizing U.S. GAAP earnings volatility, statutory surplus volatility and other economic metrics.
Customized Derivatives
The Company holds customized derivative contracts to provide protection from certain capital market risks for the remaining term of specified blocks of non-reinsured GMWB riders. These customized derivative contracts are based on policyholder behavior assumptions specified at the inception of the derivative contracts. The Company retains the risk for differences between assumed and actual policyholder behavior and between the performance of the actively managed funds underlying the separate accounts and their respective indices.
Dynamic Hedging
The Company’s dynamic hedging program uses derivative instruments to provide protection against the risks associated with the GMWB variable annuity product guarantees including equity market declines, equity implied volatility, and declines in interest rates (See Market Risk on Statutory Capital below). The Company uses hedging instruments including: interest rate futures and swaps, variance swaps, S&P 500, NASDAQ and EAFE index put options and futures contracts. During the first quarter and early in the second quarter of 2010, the Company added additional volatility protection. While the Company actively manages this dynamic hedging program, increased U.S. GAAP earnings volatility may result from factors including, but not limited to: policyholder behavior, capital markets, divergence between the performance of the underlying funds and the hedging indices, changes in hedging positions and the relative emphasis placed on various risk management objectives.

 

114


Table of Contents

Macro Hedging
The Company’s macro hedging program uses derivative instruments such as options, futures, and forwards on equities, interest rates, and currencies to provide protection against the statutory tail scenario risk arising from U.S., U.K. and Japan GMWB, GMDB, GMIB and GMAB liabilities, on the Company’s statutory surplus and the associated target RBC ratios (see Capital Resources and Liquidity). During the third quarter, the Company increased its equity macro hedge coverage and currency protection. The macro hedge program will result in additional U.S. GAAP earnings volatility as changes in the value of the macro hedge derivatives, which are designed to reduce statutory reserve and capital volatility, may not be closely aligned to changes in U.S. GAAP liabilities.
Based on the construction of the Company’s derivative hedging program (both dynamic and macro hedge), which can change based on capital market conditions, notional amounts and other factors, an independent change in the following capital market factors is likely to have the following impacts. These sensitivities do not capture the impact of elapsed time on liabilities or hedge assets. Additionally, since duration varies by hedging strategy due to the impact of non parallel shifts in capital market factors, and since the Company continues to maintain a reduced level of dynamic hedging protection, U.S. GAAP volatility will increase. Each of the sensitivities set forth below is estimated individually under the indicated level of market movement and from the market levels at June 30, 2010 and September 30, 2010, and without consideration of any correlation among the key assumptions. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to take each of the sensitivities below and assume different levels of market movement, or add them together in an attempt to estimate the volatility in our variable annuity hedging program. In addition, there are other factors, including changes to the underlying hedging program, policyholder behavior and variation in underlying fund performance relative to the hedged index, which could materially impact the GMWB liability. As a result, actual net changes in the value of the GMWB liability, the related dynamic hedging program derivative assets and the macro hedge program derivative assets may vary materially from those calculated using only the sensitivities disclosed below:
                 
    Net Impact on Net GMWB Liability  
    and Hedging Program  
    Pre-Tax/DAC Gain (Loss)  
    Expected for third quarter     Expected for fourth quarter  
Capital Market Factor   based on June 30, 2010     based on September 30, 2010  
Equity markets increase / decrease 1% [1] [2]
  $ (17) / 17     $ (34) / 34  
Volatility increases / decreases 1% [3]
    (22) / 22       (25) / 25  
Interest rates increase / decrease 1 basis point [4]
    3 / (3)       1 / (1)  
Yen strengthens / weakens 1% versus all other currencies [5]
    17 / (17)       44 / (44)  
     
[1]  
Represents the aggregate net impact of a 1% increase or decrease in broadly traded global equity indices.
 
[2]  
Due to the structure of the macro hedge program, the increase in equity sensitivity was primarily due to additional purchases of equity macro hedges during the third quarter of 2010.
 
[3]  
Represents the aggregate net impact of a 1% increase or decrease in blended implied volatility that is generally skewed towards longer durations for broadly traded global equity indices.
 
[4]  
Represents the aggregate net impact of a 1 basis point parallel shift on the global LIBOR yield curve. The decrease in interest rate sensitivity was primarily due to lower liability interest rate sensitivity from favorable policyholder behavior assumption updates.
 
[5]  
Represents the aggregate net impact of a 1% strengthening or weakening in the yen compared to all other currencies. Due to the structure of the macro hedge program, the increase in currency sensitivity was primarily due to additional purchases of currency protection and a strengthened yen during the quarter. A significant portion of our currency protection expires early in the first quarter of 2011.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the Company incurred a net realized pre-tax loss of $273 on GMWB liabilities, net of reinsurance and the dynamic and macro hedging programs, driven primarily by decreases in interest rates of approximately 43 basis points and increases in U.S. equity markets of approximately 11%, partially offset by decreases in volatility of approximately 4%, a strengthened yen of approximately 5% against USD, favorable assumption updates, and underlying fund performance relative to the hedge indices. The table below provides a predicted pre-tax net realized loss calculated using the Company’s sensitivities expected for the third quarter disclosed above, as compared to the actual net changes:
         
    Predicted Earnings Impact  
    Three Months Ended  
GMWB Net Liability and Dynamic and Global Macro Programs   September 30, 2010  
Equity markets increased approximately 11%
  $ (187 )
Volatility decreased approximately 4%
    88  
Interest rates decreased approximately 43 basis points
    (129 )
Yen strengthened approximately 5% against USD and weakened 5% against euro
   
 
     
Total implied pre-tax net realized loss [1]
  $ (228 )
 
     
 
       
Actual reported pre-tax net realized loss [1]
  $ (273 )
 
     
     
[1]  
The difference between actual reported result and the implied pre-tax net realized gain/(loss) represents the aggregate net impact of the following factors: (i) non-parallel shifts in capital market factors, (ii) shifts that are not equal in size to those assumed in the calculation of the sensitivities or available information is not sufficiently detailed enough to determine the impacts, and (iii) other factors, including policyholder behavior, variation in underlying fund performance relative to the hedged indices, changes in the Hartford’s own credit, policyholder behavior assumption updates, additional purchases of equity and currency macro hedges during the 3rd Quarter 2010, the impact of elapsed time on macro hedge assets, and changes in Non-U.S. GMWB fair value liabilities. This difference may vary materially from quarter-to-quarter.

 

115


Table of Contents

Market Risk on Statutory Capital
Statutory surplus amounts and RBC ratios may increase or decrease in any period depending upon a variety of factors and may be compounded in extreme scenarios or if multiple factors occur at the same time. At times the impact of changes in certain market factors or a combination of multiple factors on RBC ratios can be counterintuitive. Factors include:
 
In general, as equity market levels and interest rates decline, the amount and volatility of both our actual potential obligation, as well as the related statutory surplus and capital margin for death and living benefit guarantees associated with U.S. variable annuity contracts can be materially negatively effected, sometimes at a greater than linear rate. Other market factors that can impact statutory surplus, reserve levels and capital margin include differences in performance of variable subaccounts relative to indices and/or realized equity and interest rate volatilities. In addition, as equity market levels increase, generally surplus levels will increase. RBC ratios will also tend to increase when equity markets increase. However, as a result of a number of factors and market conditions, including the level of hedging costs and other risk transfer activities, reserve requirements for death and living benefit guarantees and RBC requirements could increase with rising equity markets, resulting in lower RBC ratios. Non-market factors, which can also impact the amount and volatility of both our actual potential obligation, as well as the related statutory surplus and capital margin, include actual and estimated policyholder behavior experience as it pertains to lapsation, partial withdrawals, and mortality.
 
Similarly, for guaranteed benefits (GMDB and GMIB) reinsured from our Japanese operations to our U.S. insurance subsidiaries, the amount and volatility of both our actual potential obligation, as well as the related statutory surplus and capital margin can be materially affected by a variety of factors, both market and non-market. Market factors include declines in various equity market indices and interest rates, changes in value of the yen versus other global currencies, difference in the performance of variable subaccounts relative to indices, and increases in realized equity, interest rate, and currency volatilities. Non-market factors include actual and estimated policyholder behavior experience as it pertains to lapsation, withdrawals, mortality, and annuitization. Risk mitigation activities, such as hedging, may also result in material and sometimes counterintuitive impacts on statutory surplus and capital margin. Notably, as changes in these market and non-market factors occur, both our potential obligation and the related statutory reserves and/or required capital can increase or decrease at a greater than linear rate.
 
As the value of certain fixed-income and equity securities in our investment portfolio decreases, due in part to credit spread widening, statutory surplus and RBC ratios may decrease.
 
As the value of certain derivative instruments that do not get hedge accounting decreases, statutory surplus and RBC ratios may decrease.
 
The life insurance subsidiaries’ exposure to foreign currency exchange risk exists with respect to non-U.S. dollar denominated assets and liabilities. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are accounted for at their U.S. dollar equivalent values using exchange rates at the balance sheet date. As foreign currency exchange rates vary in comparison to the U.S. dollar, the remeasured value of those non-dollar denominated assets or liabilities will also vary, causing an increase or decrease to statutory surplus.

 

116


Table of Contents

 
Our statutory surplus is also impacted by widening credit spreads as a result of the accounting for the assets and liabilities in our fixed market value adjusted (“MVA”) annuities. Statutory separate account assets supporting the fixed MVA annuities are recorded at fair value. In determining the statutory reserve for the fixed MVA annuities, we are required to use current crediting rates in the U.S. and Japanese LIBOR in Japan. In many capital market scenarios, current crediting rates in the U.S. are highly correlated with market rates implicit in the fair value of statutory separate account assets. As a result, the change in statutory reserve from period to period will likely substantially offset the change in the fair value of the statutory separate account assets. However, in periods of volatile credit markets, such as we have experienced, actual credit spreads on investment assets may increase sharply for certain sub-sectors of the overall credit market, resulting in statutory separate account asset market value losses. As actual credit spreads are not fully reflected in the current crediting rates in the U.S. or Japanese LIBOR in Japan, the calculation of statutory reserves will not substantially offset the change in fair value of the statutory separate account assets resulting in reductions in statutory surplus. This has resulted and may continue to result in the need to devote significant additional capital to support the product.
 
With respect to our fixed annuity business, sustained low interest rates may result in a reduction in statutory surplus and an increase in National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) required capital.
Most of these factors are outside of the Company’s control. The Company’s financial strength and credit ratings are significantly influenced by the statutory surplus amounts and RBC ratios of our insurance company subsidiaries. In addition, rating agencies may implement changes to their internal models that have the effect of increasing or decreasing the amount of statutory capital we must hold in order to maintain our current ratings.
Derivative Instruments
The Company utilizes a variety of derivative instruments, including swaps, caps, floors, forwards, futures and options through one of four Company-approved objectives: to hedge risk arising from interest rate, equity market, credit spread including issuer default, price or currency exchange rate risk or volatility; to manage liquidity; to control transaction costs; or to enter into replication transactions.
Further downgrades to the credit ratings of The Hartford’s insurance operating companies may have adverse implications for its use of derivatives including those used to hedge benefit guarantees of variable annuities. In some cases, further downgrades may give derivative counterparties the unilateral contractual right to cancel and settle outstanding derivative trades or require additional collateral to be posted. In addition, further downgrades may result in counterparties becoming unwilling to engage in additional over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives or may require collateralization before entering into any new trades. This will restrict the supply of derivative instruments commonly used to hedge variable annuity guarantees, particularly long-dated equity derivatives and interest rate swaps. Under these circumstances, The Hartford’s operating subsidiaries could conduct hedging activity using a combination of cash and exchange-traded instruments, in addition to using the available OTC derivatives.

 

117


Table of Contents

CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY
The following section discusses the overall financial strength of The Hartford and its insurance operations including their ability to generate cash flows from each of their business segments, borrow funds at competitive rates and raise new capital to meet operating and growth needs over the next twelve months.
Liquidity Requirements and Sources of Capital
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (Holding Company)
The liquidity requirements of the holding company of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (“HFSG Holding Company”) have been and will continue to be met by HFSG Holding Company’s fixed maturities, short-term investments and cash of $2.1 billion at September 30, 2010, dividends from its insurance operations, as well as the issuance of common stock, debt or other capital securities and borrowings from its credit facilities. Expected liquidity requirements of the HFSG Holding Company for the next twelve months include interest on debt of approximately $500, common stockholder dividends, subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors, of approximately $90, and preferred stock dividends of approximately $42.
Debt
On June 15, 2010, The Hartford repaid its $275, 7.9% senior notes at maturity with funds from its capital raise in the first quarter of 2010.
On March 23, 2010, The Hartford issued $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of its senior notes. The issuance consisted of $300 of 4.0% senior notes due March 30, 2015, $500 of 5.5% senior notes due March 30, 2020 and $300 of 6.625% senior notes due March 30, 2040. The senior notes bear interest at their respective rate, payable semi-annually in arrears on March 30 and September 30 of each year, beginning September 30, 2010. The issuance was made pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement (Registration No. 333-142044). The Hartford used approximately $425 of the net proceeds from the debt issuances to repurchase the Series E Preferred Stock issued to the U.S. Treasury as a part of its participation in the Capital Purchase Program, $275 to repay senior notes at maturity in 2010, and intends to use the remaining proceeds to repay senior notes at maturity in 2011. For further discussion on the repurchase of the Series E Preferred Stock see the Capital Purchase Program discussion below.
For additional information regarding debt, see Notes 12 and 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report.
Preferred Stock Issuance
On March 23, 2010, The Hartford issued 23 million depositary shares, each representing 1/40th interest in the Series F Preferred Stock, at a price of $25 per depositary share and received net proceeds of $556 under the program. The Hartford used the net proceeds from the preferred stock issuance to repurchase the Series E Preferred Stock issued to the U.S. Treasury as a part of its participation in the Capital Purchase Program. For further discussion on the repurchase of the Series E Preferred Stock see the Capital Purchase Program discussion below.
Common Stock Issuance
On March 23, 2010, The Hartford issued approximately 59.6 million shares of common stock at a price to the public of $27.75 per share and received net proceeds of $1.6 billion. The Hartford used the net proceeds from the common stock issuance to repurchase the Series E Preferred Stock issued to the U.S. Treasury as a part of its participation in the Capital Purchase Program. For further discussion on the repurchase of the Series E Preferred Stock see the Capital Purchase Program discussion below.
Preferred and Common Stock Dividends
On October 21, 2010, The Hartford’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per common share payable on January 3, 2011 to common shareholders of record as of December 1, 2010 and a dividend of $18.125 on each share of Series F preferred stock payable on January 3, 2011 to shareholders of record as of December 15, 2010.
Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits
While the Company has significant discretion in making voluntary contributions to its U. S. qualified defined benefit pension plan (the “Plan”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended by the Pension Protection Act of 2006 and further amended by the Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008, and Internal Revenue Code regulations mandate minimum contributions in certain circumstances. The Company does not have a required minimum funding contribution for the U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan for 2010 and the funding requirements for all of the pension plans are expected to be immaterial. The Company contributed approximately $120 to its pension plans and other postretirement plans in July 2010, and presently anticipates contributing approximately $80 during the remainder of 2010, based upon certain economic and business assumptions. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, equity market performance, changes in interest rates and the Company’s other capital requirements.

 

118


Table of Contents

Dividends from Insurance Subsidiaries
Dividends to the HFSG Holding Company from its insurance subsidiaries are restricted. The payment of dividends by Connecticut-domiciled insurers is limited under the insurance holding company laws of Connecticut. These laws require notice to and approval by the state insurance commissioner for the declaration or payment of any dividend, which, together with other dividends or distributions made within the preceding twelve months, exceeds the greater of (i) 10% of the insurer’s policyholder surplus as of December 31 of the preceding year or (ii) net income (or net gain from operations, if such company is a life insurance company) for the twelve-month period ending on the thirty-first day of December last preceding, in each case determined under statutory insurance accounting principles. In addition, if any dividend of a Connecticut-domiciled insurer exceeds the insurer’s earned surplus, it requires the prior approval of the Connecticut Insurance Commissioner. The insurance holding company laws of the other jurisdictions in which The Hartford’s insurance subsidiaries are incorporated (or deemed commercially domiciled) generally contain similar (although in certain instances somewhat more restrictive) limitations on the payment of dividends. Dividends paid to HFSG Holding Company by its insurance subsidiaries are further dependent on cash requirements of HLI and other factors. The Company’s property-casualty insurance subsidiaries are permitted to pay up to a maximum of approximately $1.4 billion in dividends to HFSG Holding Company in 2010 without prior approval from the applicable insurance commissioner. Statutory dividends from the Company’s life insurance subsidiaries in 2010 require prior approval from the applicable insurance commissioner. The aggregate of these amounts, net of amounts required by HLI, is the maximum the insurance subsidiaries could pay to HFSG Holding Company in 2010. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, HFSG Holding Company and HLI received no dividends from the life insurance subsidiaries. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, HFSG Holding Company received $822 in dividends from its property-casualty insurance subsidiaries.
Other Sources of Capital for the HFSG Holding Company
The Hartford endeavors to maintain a capital structure that provides financial and operational flexibility to its insurance subsidiaries, ratings that support its competitive position in the financial services marketplace (see the “Ratings” section below for further discussion), and shareholder returns. As a result, the Company may from time to time raise capital from the issuance of stock, debt or other capital securities and is continuously evaluating strategic opportunities. The issuance of common stock, debt or other capital securities could result in the dilution of shareholder interests or reduced net income due to additional interest expense.
Capital Purchase Program
On March 31, 2010, the Company repurchased all 3.4 million shares of Series E Preferred Stock issued to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) for an aggregate purchase price of $3.4 billion. The Hartford used approximately $425 of the net proceeds from the debt issuance, $1.6 billion from the common stock issuance, $556 from the preferred stock issuance together with available funds at the HFSG Holding Company to repurchase the Series E Preferred Stock. The Company recorded a $440 charge to retained earnings representing the acceleration of the accretion of the remaining discount on the preferred stock.
On September 27, 2010, the Treasury sold its warrants to purchase approximately 52 million shares of The Hartford’s common stock in a secondary public offering for net proceeds of approximately $706. The Hartford did not receive any proceeds from this sale. The warrants are exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time until June 26, 2019 at an initial exercise price of $9.79. The exercise price will be paid by the withholding by The Hartford of a number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants equal to the value of the aggregate exercise price of the warrants so exercised determined by reference to the closing price of The Hartford’s common stock on the trading day on which the warrants are exercised and notice is delivered to the warrant agent. The Hartford did not purchase any of the warrants sold by the Treasury.
During the Company’s participation in the Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”), the Company was subject to numerous additional regulations, including restrictions on the ability to increase the common stock dividend, limitations on the compensation arrangements for senior executives and additional corporate governance standards. As a result of the redemption of Series E Preferred Stock, the Company is no longer subject to these regulations other than certain reporting and certification obligations to U.S. regulatory agencies.
Shelf Registrations
On August 4, 2010, The Hartford filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) an automatic shelf registration statement (Registration No. 333-168532) for the potential offering and sale of debt and equity securities. The registration statement allows for the following types of securities to be offered: debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, depositary shares, warrants, stock purchase contracts, and stock purchase units. In that The Hartford is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, the registration statement went effective immediately upon filing and The Hartford may offer and sell an unlimited amount of securities under the registration statement during the three-year life of the shelf.
Contingent Capital Facility
On February 12, 2007, The Hartford entered into a put option agreement (the “Put Option Agreement”) with Glen Meadow ABC Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “ABC Trust”), and LaSalle Bank National Association, as put option calculation agent. The Put Option Agreement provides The Hartford with the right to require the ABC Trust, at any time and from time to time, to purchase The Hartford’s junior subordinated notes in a maximum aggregate principal amount not to exceed $500.

 

119


Table of Contents

Commercial Paper and Revolving Credit Facility
The table below details the Company’s short-term debt programs and the applicable balances outstanding.
                                                 
                    Maximum Available As of     Outstanding As of  
    Effective     Expiration     September 30,     December 31,     September 30,     December 31,  
Description   Date     Date     2010     2009     2010     2009  
Commercial Paper
                                               
The Hartford
    11/10/86       N/A     $ 2,000     $ 2,000     $     $  
Revolving Credit Facility
                                               
5-year revolving credit facility
    8/9/07       8/9/12       1,900       1,900              
 
                                   
Total Commercial Paper and Revolving Credit Facility
                  $ 3,900     $ 3,900     $     $  
 
                                       
While The Hartford’s maximum borrowings available under its commercial paper program are $2.0 billion, the Company is dependent upon market conditions to access short-term financing through the issuance of commercial paper to investors. As of September 30, 2010, the Company has no commercial paper outstanding.
The revolving credit facility provides for up to $1.9 billion of unsecured credit through August 9, 2012, which excludes a $100 commitment from an affiliate of Lehman Brothers. Of the total availability under the revolving credit facility, up to $100 is available to support letters of credit issued on behalf of The Hartford or other subsidiaries of The Hartford. Under the revolving credit facility, the Company must maintain a minimum level of consolidated net worth of $12.5 billion. At September 30, 2010, the consolidated net worth of the Company as calculated in accordance with the terms of the credit facility was $22.4 billion. The definition of consolidated net worth under the terms of the credit facility, excludes AOCI and includes the Company’s outstanding junior subordinated debentures and perpetual preferred securities, net of discount. In addition, the Company must not exceed a maximum ratio of debt to capitalization of 40%. At September 30, 2010, as calculated in accordance with the terms of the credit facility, the Company’s debt to capitalization ratio was 18%. Quarterly, the Company certifies compliance with the financial covenants for the syndicate of participating financial institutions. As of September 30, 2010, the Company was in compliance with all such covenants.
The Hartford’s Japan operations also maintain a line of credit in the amount of $60, or ¥5 billion, which expires January 4, 2011 in support of the subsidiary operations.
Derivative Commitments
Certain of the Company’s derivative agreements contain provisions that are tied to the financial strength ratings of the individual legal entity that entered into the derivative agreement as set by nationally recognized statistical rating agencies. If the legal entity’s financial strength were to fall below certain ratings, the counterparties to the derivative agreements could demand immediate and ongoing full collateralization and in certain instances demand immediate settlement of all outstanding derivative positions traded under each impacted bilateral agreement. The settlement amount is determined by netting the derivative positions transacted under each agreement. If the termination rights were to be exercised by the counterparties, it could impact the legal entity’s ability to conduct hedging activities by increasing the associated costs and decreasing the willingness of counterparties to transact with the legal entity. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position as of September 30, 2010, is $429. Of this $429, the legal entities have posted collateral of $415 in the normal course of business. Based on derivative market values as of September 30, 2010, a downgrade of one level below the current financial strength ratings by either Moody’s or S&P could require approximately an additional $24 to be posted as collateral. Based on derivative market values as of September 30, 2010, a downgrade by either Moody’s or S&P of two levels below the legal entities’ current financial strength ratings could require approximately an additional $44 of assets to be posted as collateral. These collateral amounts could change as derivative market values change, as a result of changes in our hedging activities or to the extent changes in contractual terms are negotiated. The nature of the collateral that we may be required to post is primarily in the form of U.S. Treasury bills and U.S. Treasury notes.
The table below presents the aggregate notional amount and fair value of derivative relationships that could be subject to immediate termination in the event of further rating agency downgrades.
                 
    As of September 30, 2010  
Ratings levels   Notional Amount     Fair Value  
Either BBB+ or Baa1 [1]
  $ 14,999     $ 508  
     
[1]  
The notional and fair value amounts include a customized GMWB derivative with a notional amount of $4.9 billion and a fair value of $214, for which the Company has a contractual right to make a collateral payment in the amount of approximately $55 to prevent its termination.

 

120


Table of Contents

Insurance Operations
Current and expected patterns of claim frequency and severity or surrenders may change from period to period but continue to be within historical norms and, therefore, the Company’s insurance operations’ current liquidity position is considered to be sufficient to meet anticipated demands over the next twelve months. For a discussion and tabular presentation of the Company’s contractual obligations by period, refer to Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations within the Capital Resources and Liquidity section of the MD&A included in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report.
The principal sources of operating funds are premiums, fees earned from assets under management and investment income, while investing cash flows originate from maturities and sales of invested assets. The primary uses of funds are to pay claims, claim adjustment expenses, commissions and other underwriting expenses, to purchase new investments and to make dividend payments to the HFSG Holding Company.
The Company’s insurance subsidiaries hold fixed maturity securities AFS and FVO, short-term investments (securities with maturities of one year or less at the time of purchase) and cash, as depicted below, to meet liquidity needs.
         
    As of  
    September 30,  
    2010  
Fixed maturities [1]
  $ 80,029  
Short-term investments
    7,627  
Cash
    1,704  
Less: Derivative collateral
    (2,230 )
Cash associated with Japan variable annuities
    (680 )
 
     
Total
  $ 86,450  
 
     
     
[1]  
Includes $4.7 billion of U.S. Treasuries.
For property & casualty insurance subsidiaries, liquidity requirements that are unable to be funded by short-term investments would be satisfied with current operating funds, including premiums received or through the sale of invested assets. A sale of invested assets could result in significant realized losses.

 

121


Table of Contents

For life insurance subsidiaries, capital resources available to fund liquidity, upon contractholder surrender, are a function of the legal entity in which the liquidity requirement resides. The following table presents general account contractholder obligations of the Company’s life insurance subsidiaries.
         
    As of  
    September 30,  
Contractholder Obligations   2010  
Total contractholder obligations
  $ 251,635  
Less: Separate account assets [1]
    (154,219 )
International statutory separate accounts [1]
    (32,470 )
 
     
General account contractholder obligations
  $ 64,946  
 
     
 
       
Composition of General Account Contractholder Obligations
       
Contracts without a surrender provision and/or fixed payout dates [2]
  $ 30,737  
U.S. fixed MVA annuities [3]
    10,655  
International fixed MVA annuities
    2,703  
Guaranteed investment contracts (“GIC”) [4]
    1,000  
Other [5]
    19,851  
 
     
General account contractholder obligations
  $ 64,946  
 
     
     
[1]  
In the event customers elect to surrender separate account assets or international statutory separate accounts, the proceeds from the sale of the assets will be used to fund the surrender, and the liquidity position will not be impacted. In many instances, a percentage of the surrender amount will be received as compensation for early surrender (surrender charge), increasing the liquidity position. In addition, a surrender of variable annuity separate account or general account assets (see below) will decrease the obligation for payments on guaranteed living and death benefits.
 
[2]  
Relates to contracts such as payout annuities or institutional notes, other than guaranteed investment products with an MVA feature (discussed below) or surrenders of term life, group benefit contracts or death and living benefit reserves for which surrenders will have no current effect on liquidity requirements.
 
[3]  
Relates to annuities that are held in a statutory separate account, but under U.S. GAAP are recorded in the general account as Fixed MVA annuity contract holders are subject to the Company’s credit risk. In the statutory separate account, invested assets with a fair value equal to the MVA surrender value of the Fixed MVA contract must be maintained. In the event assets decline in value at a greater rate than the MVA surrender value of the Fixed MVA contract, additional capital is required to be contributed to the statutory separate account. These required contributions will be funded with operating cash flows or short-term investments. In the event that operating cash flows or short-term investments are not sufficient to fund required contributions, the Company may have to sell other invested assets at a loss, potentially resulting in a decrease in statutory surplus. As the fair value of invested assets in the statutory separate account are generally equal to the MVA surrender value of the Fixed MVA contract, surrender of Fixed MVA annuities will have an insignificant impact on liquidity requirements.
 
[4]  
GICs are subject to discontinuance provisions which allow the policyholders to terminate their contracts prior to scheduled maturity at the lesser of the book value or market value. Generally, the market value adjustment reflects changes in interest rates and credit spreads. As a result, the market value adjustment feature in the GIC serves to protect the Company from interest rate risks and limit liquidity requirements in the event of a surrender.
 
[5]  
Surrenders of, or policy loans taken from, as applicable, these general account liabilities, which include the general account option for Global Annuity’s U.S. variable annuities, Life Insurance’s variable and universal life contracts, and Retirement Plans’ annuities may be funded through operating cash flows, available short-term investments, or the Company may be required to sell fixed maturity investments to fund the surrender payment. Sales of fixed maturity investments could result in the recognition of significant realized losses and insufficient proceeds to fully fund the surrender amount. In this circumstance, the Company may need to take other actions, including enforcing certain contract provisions which could restrict surrenders and/or slow or defer payouts.
Consolidated Liquidity Position
The following table summarizes the liquidity available to The Hartford:
         
    As of  
    September 30,  
    2010  
Short-term investments
  $ 9,517  
U.S. Treasuries
    4,955  
Cash
    1,707  
Less: Derivative collateral
    (2,230 )
Cash associated with Japan variable annuities
    (680 )
 
     
Total available liquidity [1]
  $ 13,269  
 
     
     
[1]  
Includes Corporate and Other.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
There have been no material changes to the Company’s off-balance sheet arrangements since the filing of the Company’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report.
Aggregate Contractual Obligations
Since December 31, 2009, the Company issued $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of its senior notes. For additional information, see Note 12 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

122


Table of Contents

Capitalization
The capital structure of The Hartford as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 consisted of debt and stockholders’ equity, summarized as follows:
                         
    September 30,     December 31,        
    2010     2009     Change  
Short-term debt (includes current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations)
  $     $ 343       (100 )%
Long-term debt
    6,603       5,496       20 %
 
                 
Total debt [1]
    6,603       5,839       13 %
Stockholders’ equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax (“AOCI”)
    20,715       21,177       (2 )%
AOCI, net of tax
    194       (3,312 )   NM  
 
                 
Total stockholders’ equity
  $ 20,909     $ 17,865       17 %
Total capitalization including AOCI
  $ 27,512     $ 23,704       16 %
 
                 
Debt to stockholders’ equity
    32 %     33 %        
Debt to capitalization
    24 %     25 %        
     
[1]  
Total debt of the Company excludes $384 and $1.1 billion of consumer notes as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, and $60 and $78 of Federal Home Loan Bank advances recorded in other liabilities as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.
The Hartford’s total capitalization increased $3.8 billion, or 16%, from December 31, 2009 to September 30, 2010 primarily due to the following:
     
Total debt
 
    Total debt increased primarily due to the issuance of $1.1 billion in senior notes in March 2010 partially offset by the repayment of $275 in senior notes in June 2010 and payment of capital lease obligations in January 2010.
 
   
AOCI, net of tax
 
    AOCI, net of tax, improved primarily due to increases in net unrealized available-for-sale securities of $2.9 billion primarily as a result of improved security valuations due to declining interest rates and an increase of $308 in cash flow hedging instruments.
Partially offsetting these increases was a decrease in stockholders’ equity, excluding AOCI, which decreased primarily due to the redemption of $3.4 billion in preferred stock issued to the U.S. Treasury offset by issuance of common shares under public offering of $1.6 billion, issuance of mandatory convertible preferred stock of $556 and net income of $1,061. See Note 13 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the redemption of the preferred stock and issuances of stock in 2010.
For additional information on debt, equity and AOCI, see Notes 14, 15 and 16, respectively, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report.
Cash Flows
                 
    Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 2,245     $ 2,745  
Net cash used for investing activities
  $ (286 )   $ (3,821 )
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
  $ (2,395 )   $ 1,692  
Cash — end of period
  $ 1,707     $ 2,417  
The decrease in cash from operating activities compared to the prior year period was primarily the result of tax refunds of $392 received in 2009 compared to tax payments of $249 in 2010. Additionally, operating activities in 2010 decreased due to lower written premiums.
Cash used for investing activities in 2010 primarily relates to $2.1 billion of net purchases of available-for-sale securities partially offset by $1.2 billion of net proceeds from sales of mortgage loans and net receipts on derivatives of $504. Cash used for investing activity in 2009 consisted of net outflows of $2.8 billion from changes in payables on securities lending and $927 of net purchases of available-for-sale securities and net payments on derivatives of $298 partially offset by $231 of net proceeds from sales of mortgage loans.
Cash from financing activities decreased primarily due to the redemption of preferred stock issued to the U.S. Treasury of $3.4 billion, repayments of consumer notes of $752 in 2010, repayment of $275 in senior notes in June 2010 and net outflows on investment and universal life-type contracts in 2010. Partially offsetting the decreases were proceeds from the issuance of $1.1 billion in aggregate senior notes, issuance of common stock under a public offering of $1.6 billion and issuance of mandatory convertible preferred stock of $556.
Operating cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 have been adequate to meet liquidity requirements.
Equity Markets
For a discussion of the potential impact of the equity markets on capital and liquidity, see the Capital Markets Risk Management section of the MD&A under Market Risk above.

 

123


Table of Contents

Ratings
Ratings impact the Company’s cost of borrowing and its ability to access financing and are an important factor in establishing competitive position in the insurance and financial services marketplace. There can be no assurance that the Company’s ratings will continue for any given period of time or that they will not be changed. In the event the Company’s ratings are downgraded, the Company’s cost of borrowing and ability to access financing, as well as the level of revenues or the persistency of its business may be adversely impacted.
The following table summarizes The Hartford’s significant member companies’ financial ratings from the major independent rating organizations as of October 27, 2010.
                 
Insurance Financial Strength Ratings:   A.M. Best   Fitch   Standard & Poor’s   Moody’s
Hartford Fire Insurance Company
  A   A+   A   A2
Hartford Life Insurance Company
  A   A-   A   A3
Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company
  A   A-   A   A3
Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company
  A   A-   A   A3
 
               
Other Ratings:
               
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.:
               
Senior debt
  bbb+   BBB-   BBB   Baa3
Commercial paper
  AMB-2   F2   A-2   P-3
These ratings are not a recommendation to buy or hold any of The Hartford’s securities and they may be revised or revoked at any time at the sole discretion of the rating organization.
The agencies consider many factors in determining the final rating of an insurance company. One consideration is the relative level of statutory surplus necessary to support the business written. Statutory surplus represents the capital of the insurance company reported in accordance with accounting practices prescribed by the applicable state insurance department.
Statutory Surplus
The table below sets forth statutory surplus for the Company’s insurance companies. The statutory surplus amount as of December 31, 2009 and June 30, 2010 in the table below is based on actual statutory filings with the applicable regulatory authorities. The statutory surplus amount as of September 30, 2010 is an estimate, as the third quarter 2010 statutory filings have not yet been made.
                         
    September 30,     June 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2010     2009  
U.S. life insurance subsidiaries, includes domestic captive insurance subsidiaries
  $ 7,557     $ 7,141     $ 7,324  
Property and casualty insurance subsidiaries
    7,690       7,388       7,364  
 
                 
Total
  $ 15,247     $ 14,529     $ 14,688  
 
                 
For the three months ended September 30, 2010, total statutory capital and surplus increased primarily due to $323 of statutory net income in our property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and $805 of statutory net income in our U.S. life insurance subsidiaries, including domestic captive insurance subsidiaries. Offsetting statutory net income were other surplus charges.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, total statutory capital and surplus increased primarily due to $1.1 billion of statutory net income in our property and casualty insurance subsidiaries. The net income in our property and casualty insurance subsidiaries was offset by $954 of statutory net losses in our U.S. life insurance subsidiaries, including domestic captive insurance subsidiaries. In addition, there were other surplus benefits which increased total statutory capital and surplus.
The Company also holds regulatory capital and surplus for its operations in Japan. Using the investment in subsidiary accounting requirements defined in the U.S. National Association of Insurance Commissioners Statements of Statutory Accounting Practices, the Company’s statutory capital and surplus attributed to the Japan operations was $1.1 billion and $1.3 billion as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. However, under the accounting practices and procedures governed by Japanese regulatory authorities, the Company’s statutory capital and surplus was $1.3 billion and $1.1 billion as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

 

124


Table of Contents

Contingencies
Legal Proceedings — For a discussion regarding contingencies related to The Hartford’s legal proceedings, please see the information contained under “Litigation” in Note 9 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Legislative Developments
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) was enacted into law on July 21, 2010, and will introduce sweeping changes to the regulation of the financial services industry. Most of these will not become effective immediately, and many will require further regulatory action before they become effective. Nonetheless, we anticipate that the Dodd-Frank Act may affect our operations and governance in ways that could significantly affect our financial condition and results of operations.
In particular, the Dodd-Frank Act vests a newly created Financial Services Oversight Council with the power to designate “systemically important” institutions, which will be subject to special regulatory supervision and other provisions intended to prevent, or mitigate the impact of, future disruptions in the U.S. financial system. If we are designated as a systemically important institution, we will be subject to heightened prudential standards imposed by The Federal Reserve, as well as to post-event assessments imposed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) to recoup the costs associated with the orderly resolution of systemically important institutions in the event one or more such institutions fails. The Dodd-Frank Act creates a new resolution authority for systemically important institutions. Although insurance companies will not be subject to the special liquidation procedures in the Dodd-Frank Act, it contains back-up authority for the FDIC to force insurance companies into liquidation under state law if their state regulators fail to act. Other provisions will require central clearing of, and/or impose new margin and capital requirements on, derivatives transactions, which we expect will increase the costs of our hedging program.
A number of provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act affect us solely due to our status as a savings & loan holding company. For example, under the Dodd-Frank Act, the OTS will be dissolved. The Federal Reserve will assume regulatory authority over our holding company, and our thrift subsidiary, Federal Trust Bank, will be regulated by the Officer of the Controller of the Currency (“OCC”). The Dodd-Frank Act may also restrict us as a savings and loan holding company or systemically important institution from sponsoring and investing in private equity and hedge funds, which will limit our discretion in managing our general account. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act prohibits proprietary trading by any entity in our holding company structure that is not a licensed insurance company. The Dodd-Frank Act will also impose new minimum capital standards on a consolidated basis for holding companies that, like us, control insured depository institutions.
Other changes in the Dodd-Frank Act include: the possibility that regulators could break up firms that are considered “too big to fail” or mandate certain barriers between their activities in order to allow for the orderly resolution of failing financial institutions; a new “Federal Insurance Office” within Treasury to, among other things, conduct a study of how to improve insurance regulation in the United States; new means for regulators to limit the activities of financial firms; discretionary authority for the SEC to impose a harmonized standard of care for investment advisers and broker-dealers who provide personalized advice about securities to retail customers; additional regulation of compensation in the financial services industry; and enhancements to corporate governance, especially regarding risk management.
Given the significance of the changes and the additional regulatory action required for many of the new provisions, we cannot predict all of the ways or the degree to which our business, financial condition and results of operations may be affected by the Dodd-Frank Act, once it is fully implemented.
FY 2011, Budget of the United States Government
On February 1, 2010, the Obama Administration released its “FY 2011, Budget of the United States Government” (the “Budget”). Although the Administration has not released proposed statutory language, the Budget includes proposals which if enacted, would affect the taxation of life insurance companies and certain life insurance products. In particular, the proposals would affect the treatment of corporate owned life insurance (“COLI”) policies by limiting the availability of certain interest deductions for companies that purchase those policies. The proposals would also change the method used to determine the amount of dividend income received by a life insurance company on assets held in separate accounts used to support products, including variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts, that are eligible for the dividends received deduction (“DRD”). The DRD reduces the amount of dividend income subject to tax and is a significant component of the difference between the Company’s actual tax expense and expected amount determined using the federal statutory tax rate of 35%. If proposals of this type were enacted, the Company’s sale of COLI, variable annuities, and variable life products could be adversely affected and the Company’s actual tax expense could increase, reducing earnings. The Budget also included a proposal to levy a $90 billion “Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee” on large financial institutions, including The Hartford.

 

125


Table of Contents

IMPACT OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
For a discussion of accounting standards, see Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in The Hartford’s 2009 Form 10-K Annual Report and Note 1 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q.
Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The information contained in the Capital Markets Risk Management section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
The Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, based on their evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective for the purposes set forth in the definition thereof in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) as of September 30, 2010.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting
There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s third fiscal quarter of 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

126


Table of Contents

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
For a discussion of legal proceedings, see “Litigation” under Note 9 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
Investing in The Hartford involves risk. In deciding whether to invest in The Hartford, you should carefully consider the following risk factors, any of which could have a significant or material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, operating results or liquidity of The Hartford. This information should be considered carefully together with the other information contained in this report and the other reports and materials filed by The Hartford with the SEC.
The risk factors set forth below update the risk factors section previously disclosed in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and June 30, 2010.
We are exposed to significant financial and capital markets risk, including changes in interest rates, credit spreads, equity prices, foreign exchange rates and global real estate market deterioration which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
We are exposed to significant financial and capital markets risk, including changes in interest rates, credit spreads, equity prices, foreign currency exchange rates and global real estate market deterioration.
One important exposure to equity risk relates to the potential for lower earnings associated with certain of our wealth management businesses, such as variable annuities, where fee income is earned based upon the fair value of the assets under management. The decline in equity markets over the last several years has significantly reduced assets under management and related fee income during that period. In addition, certain of our products offer guaranteed benefits which increase our potential obligation and statutory capital exposure should equity markets decline. Due to declines in equity markets, our liability for these guaranteed benefits has significantly increased and our statutory capital position has decreased. Further sustained declines in equity markets may result in the need to devote significant additional capital to support these products. We are also exposed to interest rate and equity risk based upon the discount rate and expected long-term rate of return assumptions associated with our pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations. Sustained declines in long-term interest rates or equity returns are likely to have a negative effect on the funded status of these plans.
Our exposure to interest rate risk relates primarily to the market price and cash flow variability associated with changes in interest rates. A rise in interest rates, in the absence of other countervailing changes, will increase the net unrealized loss position of our investment portfolio and, if long-term interest rates rise dramatically within a six-to-twelve month time period, certain of our wealth management businesses may be exposed to disintermediation risk. Disintermediation risk refers to the risk that our policyholders may surrender their contracts in a rising interest rate environment, requiring us to liquidate assets in an unrealized loss position. An increase in interest rates can also impact our tax planning strategies and in particular our ability to utilize tax benefits to offset certain previously recognized realized capital losses. In a declining rate environment, due to the long-term nature of the liabilities associated with certain of our life businesses, such as structured settlements and guaranteed benefits on variable annuities, sustained declines in long-term interest rates may subject us to reinvestment risks, increased hedging costs, spread compression and capital volatility. Our exposure to credit spreads primarily relates to market price and cash flow variability associated with changes in credit spreads. If issuer credit spreads widen significantly or retain historically wide levels over an extended period of time, additional other-than-temporary impairments and increases in the net unrealized loss position of our investment portfolio will likely result. In addition, losses have also occurred due to the volatility in credit spreads. When credit spreads widen, we incur losses associated with the credit derivatives where the Company assumes exposure. When credit spreads tighten, we incur losses associated with derivatives where the Company has purchased credit protection. If credit spreads tighten significantly, the Company’s net investment income associated with new purchases of fixed maturities may be reduced. In addition, a reduction in market liquidity can make it difficult to value certain of our securities when trading becomes less frequent. As such, valuations may include assumptions or estimates that may be more susceptible to significant period-to-period changes which could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations or financial condition.
Our statutory surplus is also affected by widening credit spreads as a result of the accounting for the assets and liabilities on our fixed market value adjusted, or MVA, annuities. Statutory separate account assets supporting the fixed MVA annuities are recorded at fair value. In determining the statutory reserve for the fixed MVA annuities we are required to use current crediting rates in the U.S. and Japanese LIBOR in Japan. In many capital market scenarios, current crediting rates in the U.S. are highly correlated with market rates implicit in the fair value of statutory separate account assets. As a result, the change in the statutory reserve from period to period will likely substantially offset the change in the fair value of the statutory separate account assets. However, in periods of volatile credit markets, actual credit spreads on investment assets may increase sharply for certain sub-sectors of the overall credit market, resulting in statutory separate account asset market value losses. As actual credit spreads are not fully reflected in current crediting rates in the U.S. or Japanese LIBOR in Japan, the calculation of statutory reserves will not substantially offset the change in fair value of the statutory separate account assets resulting in reductions in statutory surplus. This has resulted and may continue to result in the need to devote significant additional capital to support the product.

 

127


Table of Contents

Our primary foreign currency exchange risks are related to net income from foreign operations, non-U.S. dollar denominated investments, investments in foreign subsidiaries, our yen-denominated individual fixed annuity product, and certain guaranteed benefits associated with the Japan and U.K. variable annuities. These risks relate to potential decreases in value and income resulting from a strengthening or weakening in foreign exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar. In general, the weakening of foreign currencies versus the U.S. dollar will unfavorably affect net income from foreign operations, the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated investments, investments in foreign subsidiaries and realized gains or losses on the yen denominated annuity products. In comparison, certain of our annuity products offer guaranteed benefits which could substantially increase our exposure to pay yen denominated obligations should the yen strengthen versus other currencies, generating losses and statutory surplus strain. Correspondingly, a strengthening of the U.S. dollar compared to other currencies will increase our exposure to the U.S. variable annuity guarantee benefits where policyholders have elected to invest in international funds, generating losses and statutory surplus strain.
Our real estate market exposure includes investments in commercial mortgage-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities, commercial real estate collateralized debt obligations, mortgage and real estate partnerships, and mortgage loans. The recent deterioration in the global real estate market, as evidenced by increases in property vacancy rates, delinquencies and foreclosures, has negatively impacted property values and sources of refinancing resulting in market illiquidity and risk premiums that reflect the current uncertainty in the real estate market. Should these trends continue, further reductions in net investment income associated with real estate partnerships, impairments of real estate backed securities and increases in our valuation allowance for mortgage loans may result.
If significant, further declines in equity prices, changes in U.S. interest rates, changes in credit spreads, the strengthening or weakening of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar, and global real estate market deterioration, individually or in combination, could continue to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition and liquidity both directly and indirectly by creating competitive and other pressures including, but not limited to, employee retention issues and the potential loss of distributors for our products. In addition, in the conduct of our business, there could be scenarios where in order to reduce risks, fulfill our obligations or to raise incremental liquidity, we would sell assets at a loss.
Declines in equity markets, changes in interest rates and credit spreads and global real estate market deterioration can also negatively impact the fair values of each of our segments. If a significant decline in the fair value of a segment occurred and this resulted in an excess of that segment’s book value over fair value, the goodwill assigned to that segment might be impaired and could cause the Company to record a charge to impair a part or all of the related goodwill assets.
The amount of statutory capital that we have and the amount of statutory capital that we must hold to maintain our financial strength and credit ratings and meet other requirements can vary significantly from time to time and is sensitive to a number of factors outside of our control, including equity market, credit market, interest rate and foreign currency conditions, changes in policyholder behavior and changes in rating agency models.
We conduct the vast majority of our business through licensed insurance company subsidiaries. Accounting standards and statutory capital and reserve requirements for these entities are prescribed by the applicable insurance regulators and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or the NAIC. Insurance regulators have established regulations that provide minimum capitalization requirements based on RBC formulas for both life and property and casualty companies. The RBC formula for life companies establishes capital requirements relating to insurance, business, asset and interest rate risks, including equity, interest rate and expense recovery risks associated with variable annuities and group annuities that contain death benefits or certain living benefits. The RBC formula for property and casualty companies adjusts statutory surplus levels for certain underwriting, asset, credit and off-balance sheet risks.
In any particular year, statutory surplus amounts and RBC ratios may increase or decrease depending on a variety of factors, including the amount of statutory income or losses generated by our insurance subsidiaries (which itself is sensitive to equity market and credit market conditions), the amount of additional capital our insurance subsidiaries must hold to support business growth, changes in equity market levels, the value of certain fixed-income and equity securities in our investment portfolio, the value of certain derivative instruments, changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, the impact of internal reinsurance arrangements, as well as changes to the NAIC RBC formulas. Most of these factors are outside of the Company’s control. The Company’s financial strength and credit ratings are significantly influenced by the statutory surplus amounts and RBC ratios of our insurance company subsidiaries. In addition, rating agencies may implement changes to their internal models that have the effect of increasing the amount of statutory capital we must hold in order to maintain our current ratings. Also, in extreme scenarios of equity market declines and other capital market volatility, the amount of additional statutory reserves that we are required to hold for our variable annuity guarantees increases at a greater than linear rate. This reduces the statutory surplus used in calculating our RBC ratios. When equity markets increase, surplus levels and RBC ratios will generally increase, however, as a result of a number of factors and market conditions, including the level of hedging costs and other risk transfer activities, reserve requirements for death and living benefit guarantees and RBC requirements could increase resulting in lower RBC ratios. Due to all of these factors, projecting statutory capital and the related RBC ratios is complex. In 2009, our financial strength and credit ratings were downgraded by multiple rating agencies. If our statutory capital resources are insufficient to maintain a particular rating by one or more rating agencies, we may seek to raise additional capital through public or private equity or debt financing. If we were not to raise additional capital, either at our discretion or because we were unable to do so, our financial strength and credit ratings might be further downgraded by one or more rating agencies.

 

128


Table of Contents

As a savings and loan holding company and former recipient of federal assistance, we remain subject to certain restrictions, oversight and costs that could materially affect our business, results and prospects.
We are a savings and loan holding company by virtue of our ownership of Federal Trust Bank (“FTB”), a federally chartered, FDIC-insured thrift, the acquisition of which was a condition to our participation in the CPP. As a savings and loan holding company, we are subject to various restrictions, oversight and costs and other potential consequences that could materially affect our business, results and prospects, including the following:
 
We are subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the OTS, including with respect to required capital, cash flow, organizational structure, risk management and earnings at the parent company level, and to the OTS reporting requirements. All of our activities must be financially-related activities as defined by federal law (which includes insurance activities), and the OTS has enforcement authority over us, including the right to pursue administrative orders or penalties and the right to restrict or prohibit activities determined by the OTS to be a serious risk to FTB. We must also be a source of strength to FTB, which could require further capital contributions. We will be subject to similar, potentially stricter, requirements when regulatory authority over us transfers to The Federal Reserve (for our holding company) and the OCC (for FTB).
 
Recipients of federal assistance continue to be subject to intense scrutiny, and future regulatory initiatives could be adopted at the federal or state level that have the effect of constraining the business or management of those enterprises. The Obama administration has proposed a financial crisis responsibility tax that would be levied on the largest financial institutions in terms of assets. We cannot predict the scope or impact of future regulatory initiatives or the effect that they may have on our ability to attract and retain key personnel, the cost and complexity of our compliance programs or on required levels of regulatory capital.
We are particularly vulnerable to losses from catastrophes, both natural and man-made, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
Our property and casualty insurance operations expose us to claims arising out of catastrophes. Catastrophes can be caused by various unpredictable events, including earthquakes, hurricanes, hailstorms, severe winter weather, fires, tornadoes, explosions and other natural or man-made disasters. We also face substantial exposure to losses resulting from acts of terrorism, disease pandemics and political instability. The geographic distribution of our business subjects us to catastrophe exposure for natural events occurring in a number of areas, including, but not limited to, hurricanes in Florida, the Gulf Coast, the Northeast and the Atlantic coast regions of the United States, and earthquakes in California and the New Madrid region of the United States. We expect that increases in the values and concentrations of insured property in these areas will continue to increase the severity of catastrophic events in the future. Starting in 2004 and 2005, third-party catastrophe loss models for hurricane loss events have incorporated medium-term forecasts of increased hurricane frequency and severity — reflecting the potential influence of multi-decadal climate patterns within the Atlantic. In addition, changing climate conditions across longer time scales, including the potential risk of broader climate change, may be increasing, or may in the future increase, the frequency and severity of certain natural catastrophe losses across various geographic regions. In addition, changing climate conditions, primarily rising global temperatures, may be increasing, or may in the future increase, the frequency and severity of natural catastrophes such as hurricanes. Potential examples of the impact of climate change on catastrophe exposure include, but are not limited to the following: an increase in the frequency or severity of wind and thunderstorm and tornado/hailstorm events due to increased convection in the atmosphere, more frequent brush fires in certain geographies due to prolonged periods of drought, higher incidence of deluge flooding, and the potential for an increase in severity of the largest hurricane events due to higher sea surface temperatures. Our life insurance companies’ operations are also exposed to risk of loss from catastrophes. For example, natural or man-made disasters or a disease pandemic such as could arise from avian flu, could significantly increase our mortality and morbidity experience. Policyholders may be unable to meet their obligations to pay premiums on our insurance policies or make deposits on our investment products.
Our liquidity could be constrained by a catastrophe, or multiple catastrophes, which could result in extraordinary losses. In addition, in part because accounting rules do not permit insurers to reserve for such catastrophic events until they occur, claims from catastrophic events could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, consolidated results of operations and cash flows. To the extent that loss experience unfolds or models improve, we will seek to reflect any increased risk in the design and pricing of our products. However, the Company may be exposed to regulatory or legislative actions that prevent a full accounting of loss expectations in the design or price of our products or result in additional risk-shifting to the insurance industry.

 

129


Table of Contents

Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer
The following table summarizes the Company’s repurchases of its common stock for the three months ended September 30, 2010:
                                 
                    Total Number of     Approximate Dollar  
                    Shares Purchased as     Value of Shares that  
    Total Number     Average Price     Part of Publicly     May Yet Be  
    of Shares     Paid Per     Announced Plans or     Purchased Under  
Period   Purchased [1]     Share     Programs     the Plans or Programs  
                            (in millions)  
 
                               
July 1, 2010 – July 31, 2010
        $           $ 807  
August 1, 2010 – August 31, 2010
    5,969     $ 23.41           $ 807  
September 1, 2010 – September 30, 2010
        $           $ 807  
 
                       
Total
    5,969     $ 23.41             N/A  
 
                       
     
[1]  
Represents shares acquired from employees of the Company for tax withholding purposes in connection with the Company’s stock compensation plans.
The Hartford’s Board of Directors has authorized a $1 billion stock repurchase program. The Company’s repurchase authorization permits purchases of common stock, which may be in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. The Company also may enter into derivative transactions to facilitate future repurchases of common stock. The timing of any future repurchases will be dependent upon several factors, including the market price of the Company’s securities, the Company’s capital position, consideration of the effect of any repurchases on the Company’s financial strength or credit ratings, and other corporate considerations. The repurchase program may be modified, extended or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time.
Item 6. EXHIBITS
See Exhibits Index on page 132.

 

130


Table of Contents

SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
         
  The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
(Registrant)
 
 
Date: November 2, 2010  /s/ Beth A. Bombara    
  Beth A. Bombara   
  Senior Vice President and Controller
(Chief accounting officer and duly
authorized signatory) 
 

 

131


Table of Contents

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
FORM 10-Q
EXHIBITS INDEX
         
Exhibit No.   Description
  3.01    
Amended and Restated By-Laws of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., amended effective October 21, 2010 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to The Hartford’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed October 27, 2010).
       
 
  15.01    
Deloitte & Touche LLP Letter of Awareness.
       
 
  31.01    
Certification of Liam E. McGee pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
       
 
  31.02    
Certification of Christopher J. Swift pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
       
 
  32.01    
Certification of Liam E. McGee pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
       
 
  32.02    
Certification of Christopher J. Swift pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
       
 
101.INS    
XBRL Instance Document. [1]
       
 
101.SCH    
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.
       
 
101.CAL    
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.
       
 
101.DEF    
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.
       
 
101.LAB    
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.
       
 
101.PRE    
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.
     
[1]  
Includes the following materials contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (v) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which is tagged as blocks of text.

 

132