JP Morgan Chase 2015 Annual Report Download - page 178

Management’s discussion and analysis
168 JPMorgan Chase & Co./2015 Annual Report
Valuation
Details of the Firm’s processes for determining fair value
are set out in Note 3. Estimating fair value requires the
application of judgment. The type and level of judgment
required is largely dependent on the amount of observable
market information available to the Firm. For instruments
valued using internally developed models that use
significant unobservable inputs and are therefore classified
within level 3 of the valuation hierarchy, judgments used to
estimate fair value are more significant than those required
when estimating the fair value of instruments classified
within levels 1 and 2.
In arriving at an estimate of fair value for an instrument
within level 3, management must first determine the
appropriate model to use. Second, the lack of observability
of certain significant inputs requires management to assess
all relevant empirical data in deriving valuation inputs
including, for example, transaction details, yield curves,
interest rates, prepayment rates, default rates, volatilities,
correlations, equity or debt prices, valuations of
comparable instruments, foreign exchange rates and credit
curves. For further discussion of the valuation of level 3
instruments, including unobservable inputs used, see
Note 3.
For instruments classified in levels 2 and 3, management
judgment must be applied to assess the appropriate level of
valuation adjustments to reflect counterparty credit quality,
the Firm’s credit-worthiness, market funding rates, liquidity
considerations, unobservable parameters, and for portfolios
that meet specified criteria, the size of the net open risk
position. The judgments made are typically affected by the
type of product and its specific contractual terms, and the
level of liquidity for the product or within the market as a
whole. For further discussion of valuation adjustments
applied by the Firm see Note 3.
Imprecision in estimating unobservable market inputs or
other factors can affect the amount of gain or loss recorded
for a particular position. Furthermore, while the Firm
believes its valuation methods are appropriate and
consistent with those of other market participants, the
methods and assumptions used reflect management
judgment and may vary across the Firm’s businesses and
portfolios.
The Firm uses various methodologies and assumptions in
the determination of fair value. The use of methodologies or
assumptions different than those used by the Firm could
result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting
date. For a detailed discussion of the Firm’s valuation
process and hierarchy, and its determination of fair value
for individual financial instruments, see Note 3.
Goodwill impairment
Under U.S. GAAP, goodwill must be allocated to reporting
units and tested for impairment at least annually. The Firm’s
process and methodology used to conduct goodwill
impairment testing is described in Note 17.
Management applies significant judgment when estimating
the fair value of its reporting units. Estimates of fair value
are dependent upon estimates of (a) the future earnings
potential of the Firm’s reporting units, including the
estimated effects of regulatory and legislative changes,
such as the Dodd-Frank Act, (b) long-term growth rates and
(c) the relevant cost of equity. Imprecision in estimating
these factors can affect the estimated fair value of the
reporting units.
Based upon the updated valuations for all of its reporting
units, the Firm concluded that the goodwill allocated to its
reporting units was not impaired at December 31, 2015.
The fair values of these reporting units exceeded their
carrying values by approximately 10% - 180% for all
reporting units and did not indicate a significant risk of
goodwill impairment based on current projections and
valuations.
The goodwill of $101 million remaining as of December 31,
2014 associated with the Private Equity business was
disposed of as part of the Private Equity sale completed in
January 2015. For further information on the Private Equity
sale, see Note 2.
The projections for all of the Firm’s reporting units are
consistent with management’s short-term business outlook
assumptions, and in the longer term, incorporate a set of
macroeconomic assumptions and the Firm’s best estimates
of long-term growth and returns on equity of its businesses.
Where possible, the Firm uses third-party and peer data to
benchmark its assumptions and estimates.
Declines in business performance, increases in credit losses,
increases in equity capital requirements, as well as
deterioration in economic or market conditions, adverse
estimates of regulatory or legislative changes or increases
in the estimated cost of equity, could cause the estimated
fair values of the Firm’s reporting units or their associated
goodwill to decline in the future, which could result in a
material impairment charge to earnings in a future period
related to some portion of the associated goodwill.
For additional information on goodwill, see Note 17.