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Management’s Discussion (Continued)<br />
Investment and Derivative Gains/Losses (Continued)<br />
bonds. In 2011, we also recognized aggregate OTTI losses of $506 million related to our investments in equity securities, a<br />
portion of which related to certain components of our Wells Fargo common stock investments. The OTTI losses on equity<br />
securities in 2011 averaged about 7.5% of the original cost of the impaired securities. In each case, the issuer had been<br />
profitable in recent periods and in some cases highly profitable.<br />
Although we have periodically recorded OTTI losses in earnings in each of the past three years, we continue to own certain<br />
of these securities. In cases where the market values of these investments have increased since the dates the OTTI losses were<br />
recorded in earnings, these increases are not reflected in earnings but are instead included in shareholders’ equity as a<br />
component of accumulated other comprehensive income. When recorded, OTTI losses have no impact whatsoever on the asset<br />
values otherwise recorded in our Consolidated Balance Sheets or on our consolidated shareholders’ equity. In addition, the<br />
recognition of such losses in earnings rather than in accumulated other comprehensive income does not necessarily indicate that<br />
sales are imminent or planned and sales ultimately may not occur for a number of years. Furthermore, the recognition of OTTI<br />
losses does not necessarily indicate that the loss in value of the security is permanent or that the market price of the security will<br />
not subsequently increase to and ultimately exceed our original cost.<br />
As of December 31, 2013, consolidated gross unrealized losses on our investments in equity and fixed maturity securities<br />
determined on an individual purchase lot basis were $289 million. We have concluded that as of December 31, 2013, such<br />
losses were not other than temporary. We consider several factors in determining whether or not impairments are deemed to be<br />
other than temporary, including the current and expected long-term business prospects and if applicable, the creditworthiness of<br />
the issuer, our ability and intent to hold the investment until the price recovers and the length of time and relative magnitude of<br />
the price decline.<br />
Derivative gains/losses primarily represent the changes in fair value of our credit default and equity index put option<br />
contracts. Periodic changes in the fair values of these contracts are reflected in earnings and can be significant, reflecting the<br />
volatility of underlying credit and equity markets.<br />
In 2013, our equity index put option contracts generated a pre-tax gain of $2.8 billion, which was due to changes in fair<br />
values of the contracts as a result of overall higher equity index values, favorable currency movements and modestly higher<br />
interest rate assumptions. Our ultimate payment obligations, if any, under our remaining equity index put option contracts will<br />
be determined as of the contract expiration dates, which begin in 2018, and will be based on the intrinsic value as defined under<br />
the contracts as of those dates. As of December 31, 2013, the intrinsic value of these contracts was approximately $1.7 billion<br />
and our recorded liability at fair value was approximately $4.7 billion.<br />
In 2012, we recorded pre-tax gains from our equity index put option contracts of approximately $1.0 billion. These gains<br />
were due to increased index values, foreign currency exchange rate changes and valuation adjustments on a small number of<br />
contracts where contractual settlements are determined differently than the standard determination of intrinsic value, partially<br />
offset by lower interest rate assumptions. In 2011, we recorded pre-tax losses of approximately $1.8 billion on our equity index<br />
put option contracts. The losses reflected declines ranging from about 5.5% to 17% with respect to three of the four equity<br />
indexes covered under our contracts and lower interest rate assumptions.<br />
Our credit default contracts generated pre-tax losses of $213 million in 2013, which was due to increases in estimated<br />
liabilities of a municipality issuer contract that relates to more than 500 municipal debt issues. Our credit default contract<br />
exposures associated with corporate issuers expired in December 2013. There were no losses paid in 2013. Our remaining credit<br />
default derivative contract exposures are currently limited to the municipality issuer contract.<br />
In 2012, we recognized pre-tax gains of $894 million on credit default contracts. Such gains were attributable to narrower<br />
spreads and reduced time exposure, as well as from settlements related to the termination of certain contracts. We recorded pretax<br />
losses of $251 million on our credit default contracts in 2011. The losses in 2011 were primarily related to our contracts<br />
involving non-investment grade corporate issuers due to widening credit default spreads and loss events. In 2012 and 2011,<br />
credit loss payments were $68 million and $86 million, respectively.<br />
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