MetLife 2012 Annual Report Download - page 149

MetLife, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
activity. Even though these inputs are unobservable, management believes they are consistent with what other market participants would use when
pricing such securities and are considered appropriate given the circumstances.
The estimated fair value of FVO securities held by CSEs, other investments, long-term debt of CSEs and trading liabilities is determined on a basis
consistent with the methodologies described herein for securities. The Company consolidates certain securitization entities that hold securities that
have been accounted for under the FVO and classified within FVO and trading securities.
Level 2 Valuation Techniques and Key Inputs:
This level includes fixed maturity securities and equity securities priced principally by independent pricing services using observable inputs.
FVO and trading securities, short-term investments and other investments within this level are of a similar nature and class to the Level 2 fixed
maturity securities and equity securities. Contractholder-directed unit-linked investments reported within FVO and trading securities include
mutual fund interests without readily determinable fair values given prices are not published publicly. Valuation of these mutual funds is based
upon quoted prices or reported NAVs provided by the fund managers, which were based on observable inputs.
U.S. corporate and foreign corporate securities
These securities are principally valued using the market and income approaches. Valuations are based primarily on quoted prices in
markets that are not active, or using matrix pricing or other similar techniques that use standard market observable inputs such as
benchmark yields, spreads off benchmark yields, new issuances, issuer rating, duration, and trades of identical or comparable securities.
Investment grade privately placed securities are valued using discounted cash flow methodologies using standard market observable
inputs, and inputs derived from, or corroborated by, market observable data including market yield curve, duration, call provisions,
observable prices and spreads for similar publicly traded or privately traded issues that incorporate the credit quality and industry sector of
the issuer. This level also includes certain below investment grade privately placed fixed maturity securities priced by independent pricing
services that use observable inputs.
Foreign government and state and political subdivision securities
These securities are principally valued using the market approach. Valuation is based primarily on matrix pricing or other similar
techniques using standard market observable inputs, including benchmark U.S. Treasury yield or other yields, issuer ratings, broker-
dealer quotes, issuer spreads and reported trades of similar securities, including those within the same sub-sector or with a similar
maturity or credit rating.
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
These securities are principally valued using the market approach. Valuation is based primarily on quoted prices in markets that are
not active or using matrix pricing or other similar techniques using standard market observable inputs such as benchmark U.S. Treasury
yield curve, the spread off the U.S. Treasury yield curve for the identical security and comparable securities that are actively traded.
Structured securities comprised of RMBS, CMBS and ABS
These securities are principally valued using the market and income approaches. Valuation is based primarily on matrix pricing,
discounted cash flow methodologies or other similar techniques using standard market inputs including spreads for actively traded
securities, spreads off benchmark yields, expected prepayment speeds and volumes, current and forecasted loss severity, rating,
weighted average coupon, weighted average maturity, average delinquency rates, geographic region, debt-service coverage ratios and
issuance-specific information, including, but not limited to: collateral type, payment terms of the underlying assets, payment priority within
the tranche, structure of the security, deal performance and vintage of loans.
Common and non-redeemable preferred stock
These securities are principally valued using the market approach where market quotes are available but are not considered actively
traded. Valuation is based principally on observable inputs including quoted prices in markets that are not considered active.
Level 3 Valuation Techniques and Key Inputs:
In general, fixed maturity securities and equity securities classified within Level 3 use many of the same valuation techniques and inputs as
described in the Level 2 Valuation Techniques and Key Inputs. However, if key inputs are unobservable, or if the investments are less liquid and
there is very limited trading activity, the investments are generally classified as Level 3. The use of independent non-binding broker quotations to
value investments generally indicates there is a lack of liquidity or a lack of transparency in the process to develop the valuation estimates, generally
causing these investments to be classified in Level 3.
FVO and trading securities and short-term investments within this level are of a similar nature and class to the Level 3 securities described below;
accordingly, the valuation techniques and significant market standard observable inputs used in their valuation are also similar to those described
below.
U.S. corporate and foreign corporate securities
These securities, including financial services industry hybrid securities classified within fixed maturity securities, are principally valued using the
market approach. Valuations are based primarily on matrix pricing or other similar techniques that utilize unobservable inputs or inputs that cannotbe
derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data, including illiquidity premium, delta spread adjustments or spreads over below
investment grade curves to reflect industry trends or specific credit-related issues; and inputs including quoted prices for identical or similar
securities that are less liquid and based on lower levels of trading activity than securities classified in Level 2. Certain valuations are based on
independent non-binding broker quotations.
Foreign government and state and political subdivision securities
These securities are principally valued using the market approach. Valuation is based primarily on independent non-binding broker quotations and
inputs, including quoted prices for identical or similar securities that are less liquid and based on lower levels of trading activity than securities
classified in Level 2.
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