Travelers 2011 Annual Report Download - page 179

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
For fixed maturities where the Company records an other-than-temporary impairment, a
determination is made as to the cause of the impairment and whether the Company expects a recovery
in the value. For fixed maturities where the Company expects a recovery in value, not necessarily to
par, the constant effective yield method is utilized and the investment is amortized to the expected
recovery amount.
Investment Gains and Losses
Net realized investment gains and losses are included as a component of pretax revenues based
upon specific identification of the investments sold on the trade date. Included in net realized
investment gains (losses) are other-than-temporary impairment losses on invested assets other than
those investments accounted for using the equity method of accounting as described in the ‘‘Investment
Impairments’’ section that follows.
Investment Impairments
The Company conducts a periodic review to identify and evaluate invested assets having
other-than-temporary impairments. Some of the factors considered in identifying other-than-temporary
impairments include: (1) for fixed maturity investments, whether the Company intends to sell the
investment or whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the
investment prior to an anticipated recovery in value; (2) for non-fixed maturity investments, the
Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment for a reasonable period of time sufficient to allow
for an anticipated recovery in value; (3) the likelihood of the recoverability of principal and interest for
fixed maturity securities (i.e., whether there is a credit loss) or cost for equity securities; (4) the length
of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost for fixed maturity
securities or cost for equity securities; and (5) the financial condition, near-term and long-term
prospects for the issuer, including the relevant industry conditions and trends, and implications of
rating agency actions and offering prices.
Other-Than-Temporary Impairments of Fixed Maturities and Equity Securities
For fixed maturity investments that the Company does not intend to sell or for which it is more
likely than not that the Company would not be required to sell before an anticipated recovery in value,
the Company separates the credit loss component of the impairment from the amount related to all
other factors and reports the credit loss component in net realized investment gains (losses). The
impairment related to all other factors is reported in accumulated other changes in equity from
nonowner sources.
For equity securities (including public common, non-redeemable preferred stock and common
stock with transfer restrictions) and for fixed maturity investments the Company intends to sell or for
which it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell before an anticipated
recovery in value, the full amount of the impairment is included in net realized investment gains
(losses).
Upon recognizing an other-than-temporary impairment, the new cost basis of the investment is the
previous amortized cost basis less the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in net realized
investment gains (losses). The new cost basis is not adjusted for any subsequent recoveries in fair value;
however, for fixed maturity investments the difference between the new cost basis and the expected
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