MetLife 2013 Annual Report Download - page 155

MetLife, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
9. Derivatives (continued)
The following table presents changes in estimated fair value related to embedded derivatives:
Years Ended December 31,
2013 2012 2011
(In millions)
Net derivative gains (losses) (1) ...................................................................... $5,104 $1,239 $(1,284)
Policyholder benefits and claims ..................................................................... $ (139) $ 75 $ 86
(1) The valuation of guaranteed minimum benefits includes a nonperformance risk adjustment. The amounts included in net derivative gains (losses), in
connection with this adjustment, were ($952) million, ($1.7) billion and $1.8 billion for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011,
respectively.
10. Fair Value
When developing estimated fair values, the Company considers three broad valuation techniques: (i) the market approach, (ii) the income approach,
and (iii) the cost approach. The Company determines the most appropriate valuation technique to use, given what is being measured and the availability
of sufficient inputs, giving priority to observable inputs. The Company categorizes its assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value into a three-
level hierarchy, based on the significant input with the lowest level in its valuation. The input levels are as follows:
Level 1 Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The Company defines active markets based on average trading
volume for equity securities. The size of the bid/ask spread is used as an indicator of market activity for fixed maturity securities.
Level 2 Quoted prices in markets that are not active or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly. These inputs can include quoted prices for
similar assets or liabilities other than quoted prices in Level 1, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other significant inputs that are
observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the determination of estimated fair value of the assets
or liabilities. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in
pricing the asset or liability.
Financial markets are susceptible to severe events evidenced by rapid depreciation in asset values accompanied by a reduction in asset liquidity.
The Company’s ability to sell securities, or the price ultimately realized for these securities, depends upon the demand and liquidity in the market and
increases the use of judgment in determining the estimated fair value of certain securities.
Considerable judgment is often required in interpreting market data to develop estimates of fair value, and the use of different assumptions or
valuation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.
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