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LOEWS CORP - Quarter Report: 2017 March (Form 10-Q)

10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

[X]    QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017

OR

[  ]    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period From                      to                      

Commission File Number 1-6541

LOEWS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware       13-2646102

(State or other jurisdiction of   

incorporation or organization)

     

(I.R.S. Employer   

Identification No.)

667 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10065-8087

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(212) 521-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

NOT APPLICABLE

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

  Yes   

        X        

    No   

                   

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

 

  Yes   

        X        

    No   

                   

    Not Applicable   

                   

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

  Large accelerated filer   

  X  

      Accelerated filer   

       

      Non-accelerated filer   

       

      Smaller reporting company   

       

 

 

Emerging growth company         

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

                                                                                   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

  Yes   

                   

    No   

        X          

 

 

Class

    

Outstanding at April 21, 2017

Common stock, $0.01 par value      336,702,111 shares

 

 

 


Table of Contents

INDEX

 

     Page
No.
 

Part I.  Financial Information

  

Item 1.  Financial Statements (unaudited)

  

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
March  31, 2017 and December 31, 2016

     3  

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
Three months ended March  31, 2017 and 2016

     4  

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income
Three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016

     5  

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Equity
Three months ended March  31, 2017 and 2016

     6  

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
Three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016

     7  

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

     8  

Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     32  

Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

     47  

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

     47  

Part II.  Other Information

     47  

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

     47  

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

     47  

Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     47  

Item 6.  Exhibits

     48  

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements.

Loews Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

     March 31,
2017
   

December 31,  

2016  

 

 

 
(Dollar amounts in millions, except per share data)             

Assets:

    

Investments:

    

Fixed maturities, amortized cost of $38,743 and $38,947

   $ 41,456        $ 41,494       

Equity securities, cost of $578 and $571

     587        549       

Limited partnership investments

     3,258        3,220       

Other invested assets, primarily mortgage loans

     708        683       

Short term investments

     5,013        4,765       

 

 

Total investments

     51,022        50,711       

Cash

     412        327       

Receivables

     7,783        7,644       

Property, plant and equipment

     15,160        15,230       

Goodwill

     346        346       

Other assets

     1,765        1,736       

Deferred acquisition costs of insurance subsidiaries

     626        600       

 

 

Total assets

   $ 77,114        $ 76,594       

 

 

Liabilities and Equity:

    

Insurance reserves:

    

Claim and claim adjustment expense

   $ 22,260        $ 22,343       

Future policy benefits

     10,491        10,326       

Unearned premiums

     3,912        3,762       

 

 

Total insurance reserves

     36,663        36,431       

Payable to brokers

     302        150       

Short term debt

     156        110       

Long term debt

     10,534        10,668       

Deferred income taxes

     785        636       

Other liabilities

     4,940        5,238       

 

 

Total liabilities

     53,380        53,233       

 

 

Commitments and contingent liabilities

    

Preferred stock, $0.10 par value:

    

Authorized – 100,000,000 shares

    

Common stock, $0.01 par value:

    

Authorized – 1,800,000,000 shares

    

Issued – 336,699,587 and 336,621,358 shares

           3       

Additional paid-in capital

     3,168        3,187       

Retained earnings

     15,466        15,196       

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (149)       (223)      

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     18,488        18,163       

Noncontrolling interests

     5,246        5,198       

 

 

Total equity

     23,734        23,361       

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 77,114        $     76,594       

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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Loews Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017        2016        

 

 
(In millions, except per share data)                      

Revenues:

         

Insurance premiums

   $ 1,645        $ 1,699    

Net investment income

     604          422    

Investment gains (losses):

         

Other-than-temporary impairment losses

     (2        (23  

Other net investment gains (losses)

     36          (5  

 

 

Total investment gains (losses)

     34          (28  

Contract drilling revenues

     364          444    

Other revenues

     653          636    

 

 

Total

     3,300          3,173    

 

 

Expenses:

         

Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits

     1,293          1,408    

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

     305          307    

Contract drilling expenses

     204          213    

Other operating expenses

     846          907    

Interest

     142          143    

 

 

Total

     2,790          2,978    

 

 

Income before income tax

     510          195    

Income tax (expense) benefit

     (119        4    

 

 

Net income

     391          199    

Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (96        (97  

 

 

Net income attributable to Loews Corporation

   $ 295        $ 102    

 

 

Basic net income per share

   $ 0.88        $ 0.30    

 

 

Diluted net income per share

   $ 0.87        $ 0.30    

 

 

Dividends per share

   $     0.0625        $     0.0625    

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

         

Shares of common stock

     336.88          339.10    

Dilutive potential shares of common stock

     0.80          0.15    

 

 

Total weighted average shares outstanding assuming dilution

     337.68          339.25    

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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Loews Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended March 31        2017                 2016              

 

 

(In millions)

     

Net income

   $         391          $         199          

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), after tax

     

Changes in:

     

Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments with other-than-temporary impairments

     (4)           5          

Net other unrealized gains on investments

     67            228          

 

 

Total unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments

     63            233          

Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges

        1          

Pension liability

     8            8          

Foreign currency translation

     11            14          

 

 

Other comprehensive income

     82            256          

 

 

Comprehensive income

     473            455          

Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (104)           (122)         

 

 

Total comprehensive income attributable to Loews Corporation

   $ 369          $ 333          

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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Loews Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(Unaudited)

 

                Loews Corporation Shareholders        
                                  Accumulated         Common            
                        Additional             Other     Stock        
                Common         Paid-in       Retained         Comprehensive       Held in       Noncontrolling    
           Total              Stock         Capital     Earnings     Income (Loss)     Treasury     Interests  

(In millions)

               

Balance, January 1, 2016

  $ 22,810        $               3             $         3,184           $       14,731         $         (357)             $ -           $ 5,249         

Net income

    199              102               97         

Other comprehensive income

    256                231                  25         

Dividends paid

    (96)             (21)              (75)        

Purchases of subsidiary stock from noncontrolling interests

    (9)           3                   (12)        

Purchases of Loews treasury stock

    (33)                 (33)         

Stock-based compensation

              2                   1         

Other

    (5)                       (12)                                    7         

Balance, March 31, 2016

  $       23,125              $ 3             $ 3,177           $ 14,812         $ (126)             $               (33)          $         5,292         
   

Balance, January 1, 2017

  $ 23,361        $ 3             $ 3,187           $ 15,196         $ (223)             $ -           $ 5,198         

Net income

    391              295               96         

Other comprehensive income

    82                74                  8         

Dividends paid

    (97)             (21)              (76)        

Stock-based compensation

              (19)                  19         

Other

    (3)                               (4)                          1         

Balance, March 31, 2017

  $ 23,734              $ 3             $ 3,168           $ 15,466         $ (149)             $ -           $ 5,246         
   

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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Loews Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended March 31         2017                  2016       

 

 
(In millions)                

Operating Activities:

       

Net income

   $ 391        $ 199       

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities, net

     318          585       

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net:

       

Receivables

     51          (275)      

Deferred acquisition costs

     (24        (23)      

Insurance reserves

     135          511       

Other assets

     (40        (20)      

Other liabilities

     (265        (287)      

Trading securities

     (567        (541)      

 

 

Net cash flow operating activities

     (1        149       

 

 

Investing Activities:

       

Purchases of fixed maturities

     (2,097           (2,238)      

Proceeds from sales of fixed maturities

     1,359          1,722       

Proceeds from maturities of fixed maturities

     823          490       

Purchases of limited partnership investments

     (18        (170)      

Proceeds from sales of limited partnership investments

     62          89       

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (211        (292)      

Dispositions

     2          220       

Change in short term investments

     366          16       

Other, net

     (13        6       

 

 

Net cash flow investing activities

     273          (157)      

 

 

Financing Activities:

       

Dividends paid

     (21        (21)      

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests

     (76        (75)      

Purchases of subsidiary stock from noncontrolling interests

          (8)      

Purchases of Loews treasury stock

          (33)      

Principal payments on debt

     (776        (1,809)      

Issuance of debt

     685          1,824       

Other, net

          (1)      

 

 

Net cash flow financing activities

     (188        (123)      

 

 

Effect of foreign exchange rate on cash

     1          (1)      

 

 

Net change in cash

     85          (132)      

Cash, beginning of period

     327          440       

 

 

Cash, end of period

   $ 412        $ 308       

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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Loews Corporation and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1.  Basis of Presentation

Loews Corporation is a holding company. Its subsidiaries are engaged in the following lines of business: commercial property and casualty insurance (CNA Financial Corporation (“CNA”), a 90% owned subsidiary); the operation of offshore oil and gas drilling rigs (Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (“Diamond Offshore”), a 53% owned subsidiary); transportation and storage of natural gas and natural gas liquids (Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (“Boardwalk Pipeline”), a 51% owned subsidiary); and the operation of a chain of hotels (Loews Hotels Holding Corporation (“Loews Hotels & Co”), a wholly owned subsidiary). Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Company,” “Loews” and “Registrant” as used herein mean Loews Corporation excluding its subsidiaries and the term “Net income attributable to Loews Corporation” as used herein means Net income attributable to Loews Corporation shareholders.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and results of operations, comprehensive income and changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. Net income for the first quarter of each of the years is not necessarily indicative of net income for that entire year. These Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

The Company presents basic and diluted net income per share on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income. Basic net income per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income attributable to common stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. 0.7 million and 6.1 million shares attributable to employee stock-based compensation awards were not included in the diluted weighted average shares outstanding amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 because the effect would have been antidilutive.

Accounting changes – In March of 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, “Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” The updated accounting guidance simplifies the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including income tax consequences and classification on the statement of cash flows. As of January 1, 2017, the Company adopted the updated accounting guidance and began recognizing excess tax benefits or deficiencies on vesting or settlement of awards as an income tax benefit or expense within net income and the related cash flows classified within operating activities. The change impacted the amount and timing of income tax expense recognition as well as the calculation of diluted earnings per share. The accounting change did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

Recently issued ASUs – In May of 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).” The core principle of the new accounting guidance is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new accounting guidance provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized and requires enhanced disclosures about revenue. In August of 2015, the FASB formally amended the effective date of this update to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods. The guidance can be adopted either retrospectively or with a cumulative effect adjustment at the date of adoption. The Company expects the updated guidance will not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

In January of 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” The updated accounting guidance requires changes to the reporting model for financial instruments. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements, and expects the primary change to be the requirement for equity investments

 

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(except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income.

In February of 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” The updated guidance requires lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for most operating leases. In addition, the updated guidance requires that lessors separate lease and nonlease components in a contract in accordance with the new revenue guidance in ASU 2014-09. The updated guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In June of 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The updated accounting guidance requires changes to the recognition of credit losses on financial instruments not accounted for at fair value through net income. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements, and expects the primary changes to be the use of the expected credit loss model for the mortgage loan portfolio and reinsurance receivables and the presentation of credit losses within the available-for-sale fixed maturities portfolio through an allowance method rather than as a direct write-down. The expected credit loss model will require a financial asset to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance method for available-for-sale debt securities will allow the Company to record reversals of credit losses if the estimate of credit losses declines.

2.  Investments

Net investment income is as follows:

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017        2016      

 

 
(In millions)                

Fixed maturity securities

   $ 455           $ 446       

Limited partnership investments

     116             (40)      

Short term investments

     4             3       

Equity securities

     1             3       

Income from trading portfolio (a)

     34             15       

Other

     8             9       

 

 

Total investment income

     618             436       

Investment expenses

     (14)            (14)      

 

 

Net investment income

   $            604           $           422       

 

 

 

(a)

Includes net unrealized gains related to changes in fair value on trading securities still held of $46 and $15 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

Investment gains (losses) are as follows:

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017        2016      

 

 
(In millions)                

Fixed maturity securities

   $ 32             $ (17)      

Equity securities

          (5)      

Derivative instruments

     1               (7)      

Short term investments and other

     1               1       

 

 

Investment gains (losses) (a)

   $             34             $           (28)      

 

 

 

(a)

Includes gross realized gains of $49 and $45 and gross realized losses of $17 and $67 on available-for-sale securities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

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The components of other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses recognized in earnings by asset type are as follows:

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017        2016      

 

 
(In millions)                

Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale:

       

Corporate and other bonds

   $ 2        $ 16       

Asset-backed:

       

Other asset-backed

          2       

 

 

Total asset-backed

     -          2       

 

 

Total fixed maturities available-for-sale

     2          18       

Equity securities available-for-sale - common stock

          5       

 

 

Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings

   $            2        $            23       

 

 

The amortized cost and fair values of securities are as follows:

 

March 31, 2017    Cost or
Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
     Estimated
Fair Value
     Unrealized 
OTTI Losses 
(Gains) 
 

 

 
(In millions)                                   

Fixed maturity securities:

              

Corporate and other bonds

      $   17,838         $ 1,428            $    37             $ 19,229           $ (1)      

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

     12,261         1,219            31              13,449         (12)      

Asset-backed:

              

Residential mortgage-backed

     4,672         121            50              4,743         (27)      

Commercial mortgage-backed

     1,902         52            19              1,935      

Other asset-backed

     1,043         10            4              1,049      

 

 

Total asset-backed

     7,617         183            73              7,727         (27)      

U.S. Treasury and obligations of government-sponsored enterprises

     95         8               103      

Foreign government

     419         14            1              432      

Redeemable preferred stock

     19         1               20      

 

 

Fixed maturities available-for-sale

     38,249         2,853            142              40,960         (40)      

Fixed maturities trading

     494         3            1              496      

 

 

Total fixed maturities

     38,743         2,856            143              41,456         (40)      

 

 

Equity securities:

              

Common stock

     20         5               25      

Preferred stock

     92         5            2              95      

 

 

Equity securities available-for-sale

     112         10            2              120         -        

Equity securities trading

     466         79            78              467      

 

 

Total equity securities

     578         89            80              587         -        

 

 

Total

      $   39,321         $ 2,945            $  223             $     42,043           $ (40)      

 

 

 

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December 31, 2016    Cost or
Amortized
Cost
   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Estimated 
Fair Value 
   Unrealized
OTTI Losses
(Gains)
    
(In millions)                             

Fixed maturity securities:

                          

Corporate and other bonds

     $     17,711      $    1,323       $ 76       $     18,958      $ (1)      

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

       12,060        1,213         33         13,240        (16)      

Asset-backed:

                          

Residential mortgage-backed

       5,004        120         51         5,073        (28)      

Commercial mortgage-backed

       2,016        48         24         2,040       

Other asset-backed

       1,022                      1,025               

Total asset-backed

       8,042        176         80         8,138        (28)      

U.S. Treasury and obligations of government-sponsored enterprises

       83        10              93       

Foreign government

       435        13                445       

Redeemable preferred stock

       18                          19               

Fixed maturities available-for-sale

       38,349        2,736         192         40,893        (45)      

Fixed maturities, trading

       598                          601               

Total fixed maturities

       38,947        2,739         192         41,494        (45)        

Equity securities:

                          

Common stock

       13                    19       

Preferred stock

       93                      91               

Equity securities available-for-sale

       106                      110        -       

Equity securities trading

       465        60         86         439               

Total equity securities

       571        68         90         549        -         

Total

     $ 39,518      $ 2,807       $     282       $ 42,043      $         (45)        
 

The net unrealized gains on investments included in the tables above are recorded as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). When presented in AOCI, these amounts are net of tax and noncontrolling interests and any required Shadow Adjustments. To the extent that unrealized gains on fixed income securities supporting long term care products and structured settlements not funded by annuities would result in a premium deficiency if those gains were realized, a related increase in Insurance reserves is recorded, net of tax and noncontrolling interests, as a reduction of net unrealized gains through Other comprehensive income (“Shadow Adjustments”). As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the net unrealized gains on investments included in AOCI were correspondingly reduced by Shadow Adjustments of $949 million and $909 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests).

 

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The available-for-sale securities in a gross unrealized loss position are as follows:

 

     Less than      12 Months         
     12 Months      or Longer      Total  
  

 

 

 
            Gross             Gross             Gross    
     Estimated      Unrealized      Estimated      Unrealized      Estimated      Unrealized    
March 31, 2017    Fair Value      Losses      Fair Value      Losses      Fair Value      Losses    

 

 
(In millions)                                          

Fixed maturity securities:

                 

Corporate and other bonds

     $ 1,915           $ 29          $ 134          $ 8            $   2,049           $ 37    

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

     845           31          33             878           31    

Asset-backed:

                 

Residential mortgage-backed

     2,188           44          170          6          2,358           50    

Commercial mortgage-backed

     590           15          139          4          729           19    

Other asset-backed

     256           4          28             284           4    

 

 

Total asset-backed

     3,034           63          337          10          3,371           73    

U.S. Treasury and obligations of government-sponsored enterprises

     31                    31        

Foreign government

     89           1                89           1    

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

     5,914           124          504          18          6,418           142    

 

 

Common stock

     2                    2        

Preferred stock

     15           2                15           2    

 

 

Total

     $ 5,931           $ 126          $ 504          $ 18            $ 6,435           $ 144    

 

 
     Less than      12 Months         
     12 Months      or Longer      Total  
  

 

 

 
            Gross             Gross             Gross    
     Estimated      Unrealized      Estimated      Unrealized      Estimated      Unrealized    
December 31, 2016    Fair Value      Losses      Fair Value      Losses      Fair Value      Losses    

 

 
(In millions)                                          

Fixed maturity securities:

                 

Corporate and other bonds

     $   2,615                  $ 61            $      254                $ 15            $     2,869            $ 76        

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

     959                  32            23                1            982            33        

Asset-backed:

                 

Residential mortgage-backed

     2,136                  44            201                7            2,337            51        

Commercial mortgage-backed

     756                  22            69                2            825            24        

Other asset-backed

     398                  5            24                   422            5        

 

 

Total asset-backed

     3,290                  71            294                9            3,584            80        

U.S. Treasury and obligations of government-sponsored enterprises

     5                           5         

Foreign government

     108                  3                  108            3        

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

     6,977                  167            571                25            7,548            192        

Equity securities

     12                     13                4            25            4        

 

 

Total

     $   6,989                  $ 167            $ 584                $ 29            $ 7,573            $ 196        

 

 

Based on current facts and circumstances, the Company believes the unrealized losses presented in the March 31, 2017 securities in a gross unrealized loss position table above are not indicative of the ultimate collectibility of the current amortized cost of the securities, but rather are attributable to changes in interest rates, credit spreads and other factors. The Company has no current intent to sell securities with unrealized losses, nor is it more likely than not that it will be required to sell prior to recovery of amortized cost; accordingly, the Company has determined that there are no additional OTTI losses to be recorded as of March 31, 2017.

 

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The following table presents the activity related to the pretax credit loss component reflected in Retained earnings on fixed maturity securities still held as of March 31, 2017 and 2016 for which a portion of an OTTI loss was recognized in Other comprehensive income.

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017     2016        

 

 
(In millions)                   

Beginning balance of credit losses on fixed maturity securities

   $             36     $             53    

Reductions for securities sold during the period

     (4 )        (5  

 

 

Ending balance of credit losses on fixed maturity securities

   $ 32     $ 48    

 

 

Contractual Maturity

The following table presents available-for-sale fixed maturity securities by contractual maturity.

 

      March 31, 2017      December 31, 2016  
     Cost or      Estimated      Cost or          Estimated      
     Amortized      Fair      Amortized          Fair      
      Cost      Value      Cost          Value      
(In millions)                            

Due in one year or less

   $ 1,655          $ 1,701        $ 1,779            $ 1,828      

Due after one year through five years

     7,539            7,918          7,566          7,955      

Due after five years through ten years

     15,645            16,176          15,892          16,332      

Due after ten years

     13,410            15,165          13,112          14,778      

Total

   $   38,249          $     40,960        $     38,349            $   40,893      
                                     

Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain securities may be called or prepaid. Securities not due at a single date are allocated based on weighted average life.

 

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Derivative Financial Instruments

A summary of the aggregate contractual or notional amounts and gross estimated fair values related to derivative financial instruments follows. The contractual or notional amounts for derivatives are used to calculate the exchange of contractual payments under the agreements and may not be representative of the potential for gain or loss on these instruments. Gross estimated fair values of derivative positions are currently presented in Equity securities, Receivables and Payable to brokers on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.

 

     March 31, 2017      December 31, 2016  

 

 
    

Contractual/

Notional

Amount

                  

Contractual/

Notional

Amount

               
        Estimated Fair Value          Estimated Fair Value   
        Asset        (Liability)           Asset       (Liability)   

 

 
(In millions)                                          

Without hedge designation:

                 

Equity markets:

                 

Options – purchased

     $        193            $        14               $  223            $    14         

              – written

     191               $        (7)          267               $    (8)      

Futures – short

     237            1               225            1         

Commodity futures – long

     39                  42            

Embedded derivative on funds withheld liability

     172            2               174            3         

3. Fair Value

Fair value is the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The following fair value hierarchy is used in selecting inputs, with the highest priority given to Level 1, as these are the most transparent or reliable:

 

   

Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

 

   

Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets.

 

   

Level 3 – Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are not observable.

Prices may fall within Level 1, 2 or 3 depending upon the methodology and inputs used to estimate fair value for each specific security. In general, the Company seeks to price securities using third party pricing services. Securities not priced by pricing services are submitted to independent brokers for valuation and, if those are not available, internally developed pricing models are used to value assets using a methodology and inputs the Company believes market participants would use to value the assets. Prices obtained from third-party pricing services or brokers are not adjusted by the Company.

 

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The Company performs control procedures over information obtained from pricing services and brokers to ensure prices received represent a reasonable estimate of fair value and to confirm representations regarding whether inputs are observable or unobservable. Procedures may include: (i) the review of pricing service methodologies or broker pricing qualifications, (ii) back-testing, where past fair value estimates are compared to actual transactions executed in the market on similar dates, (iii) exception reporting, where period-over-period changes in price are reviewed and challenged with the pricing service or broker based on exception criteria, (iv) detailed analysis, where the Company performs an independent analysis of the inputs and assumptions used to price individual securities and (v) pricing validation, where prices received are compared to prices independently estimated by the Company.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are presented in the following tables:

 

March 31, 2017    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total    

 

 
(In millions)                            

Fixed maturity securities:

           

Corporate and other bonds

      $ 19,108       $ 121       $ 19,229      

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

        13,448                13,449      

Asset-backed:

           

Residential mortgage-backed

        4,617         126         4,743      

Commercial mortgage-backed

        1,922         13         1,935      

Other asset-backed

        932         117         1,049      

 

 

Total asset-backed

        7,471         256         7,727      

U.S. Treasury and obligations of government-sponsored enterprises

   $ 103               103      

Foreign government

        432            432      

Redeemable preferred stock

     20               20      

 

 

Fixed maturities available-for-sale

     123         40,459         378         40,960      

Fixed maturities trading

        491                496      

 

 

Total fixed maturities

   $ 123       $   40,950       $         383       $   41,456      

 

 

 

 

Equity securities available-for-sale

   $ 101          $ 19       $ 120      

Equity securities trading

     466                   467      

 

 

Total equity securities

   $ 567       $      $ 20       $ 587      

 

 

 

 

Short term investments

   $     4,099       $ 829          $ 4,928      

Other invested assets

     57                   62      

Receivables

                  1      

Life settlement contracts

         $ 46         46      

Payable to brokers

     (25)              (25)     

 

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December 31, 2016    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total    

 

 
(In millions)                            

Fixed maturity securities:

           

Corporate and other bonds

      $ 18,828       $ 130       $ 18,958      

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

        13,239                13,240      

Asset-backed:

           

Residential mortgage-backed

        4,944         129         5,073      

Commercial mortgage-backed

        2,027         13         2,040      

Other asset-backed

        968         57         1,025      

 

 

Total asset-backed

        7,939         199         8,138      

U.S. Treasury and obligations of government-sponsored enterprises

   $ 93               93      

Foreign government

        445            445      

Redeemable preferred stock

     19               19      

 

 

Fixed maturities available-for-sale

     112         40,451         330         40,893      

Fixed maturities trading

        595                601      

 

 

Total fixed maturities

   $ 112       $   41,046       $         336       $   41,494      

 

 

 

 

Equity securities available-for-sale

   $ 91          $ 19       $ 110      

Equity securities trading

     438                   439      

 

 

Total equity securities

   $ 529       $      $ 20       $ 549      

 

 

 

 

Short term investments

   $     3,833       $ 853          $ 4,686      

Other invested assets

     55                   60      

Receivables

                  1      

Life settlement contracts

         $ 58         58      

Payable to brokers

     (44)              (44)     

 

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The following tables present reconciliations for all assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

                                                                                      Unrealized    
                                                                                      Gains    
                                                                                      (Losses)    
                                                                                      Recognized in    
              Net Realized Gains                                                              Net Income    
                  (Losses) and Net Change                                                                  on Level    
              in Unrealized Gains                                                              3 Assets and    
              (Losses)                                   Transfers        Transfers                 Liabilities    
     Balance,        Included in        Included in                                   into        out of        Balance,        Held at    
2017    January 1        Net Income        OCI        Purchases        Sales        Settlements        Level 3        Level 3        March 31        March 31    

 

 

(In millions)

                                               

Fixed maturity securities:

                                               

Corporate and other bonds

   $ 130               $ 1        $        $          (1)        $ (14)                    $ 121           

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

     1                                               1           

Asset-backed:

                                               

Residential mortgage-backed

     129          $ 1            2                    (6)                      126           

Commercial mortgage- backed

     13                                               13           

Other asset-backed

     57            (1)                38                   $ 28           $ (5)           117           

 

 

Total asset-backed

     199            -            2          38           -            (6)            28             (5)           256            $ -          

 

 

Fixed maturities available-for-sale

     330                 3          43           (1)          (20)            28             (5)           378           

Fixed maturities trading

     6            (1)                                         5           

 

 

Total fixed maturities

   $ 336          $ (1)         $ 3        $ 43         $          (1)        $ (20)            28           $ (5)         $ 383            $ -          

 

 

Equity securities available-for-sale

   $ 19               $ 1        $        $          (2)                       $ 19           

Equity securities trading

     1                                               1           

 

 

Total equity securities

   $ 20          $ -          $ 1        $        $          (2)        $ -           $ -           $ -          $ 20            $ -          

 

 

Life settlement contracts

   $ 58          $ 6                    $ (13)        $ (5)                    $ 46           

Derivative financial instruments, net

     -            1                      (1)                         -           

 

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Unrealized
Gains

(Losses)
 Recognized in 

 
            Net Realized Gains
   (Losses) and Net Change   
in Unrealized Gains
(Losses)
                        Transfers      Transfers            

Net Income
on Level

3 Assets and
Liabilities

 
2016    Balance,
January 1
     Included in
Net Income
    Included in
OCI
    Purchases      Sales     Settlements      into
Level 3
     out of
Level 3
     Balance,
March 31
     Held at
March 31
 

 

 
(In millions)                                                                   

Fixed maturity securities:

                          

Corporate and other bonds

   $ 168        $ (1   $ 4     $ 53       $ (16   $ (3)           $ (12)       $ 193         

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

     2                            2         

Asset-backed:

                          

Residential mortgage-backed

     134          1              (5)             (2)         128         

Commercial mortgage-backed

     22                             (4)         27         

Other asset-backed

     53                    $ 2           (5)         50         

 

 

Total asset-backed

     209          1       -              -       (5)          2           (11)         205          $ -          

 

 

Fixed maturities available-for-sale

     379            4       62         (16     (8)          2           (23)         400         

Fixed maturities trading

     85          1                (85              3         

 

 

Total fixed maturities

   $ 464        $ 1     $ 4     $ 64       $     (101   $ (8)        $ 2         $ (23)       $ 403          $ -          

 

 

Equity securities available-for-sale

   $ 20          $ (1                 $ 19         

Equity securities trading

     1               $ (1              -         

 

 

Total equity securities

   $ 21        $ -     $ (1   $      $ (1   $ -         $ -         $ -        $ 19          $ -          

 

 

Life settlement contracts

   $ 74        $ 4            $ (6)              $ 72          $ 1          

Derivative financial instruments, net

     3          (1        $ (2              -         

Net realized and unrealized gains and losses are reported in Net income as follows:

 

Major Category of Assets and Liabilities    Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income Line Items

 

Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale    Investment gains (losses)
Fixed maturity securities, trading    Net investment income
Equity securities available-for-sale    Investment gains (losses)
Equity securities, trading    Net investment income
Other invested assets    Investment gains (losses) and Net investment income
Derivative financial instruments held in a trading portfolio    Net investment income
Derivative financial instruments, other    Investment gains (losses) and Other revenues
Life settlement contracts    Other revenues

 

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Securities may be transferred in or out of levels within the fair value hierarchy based on the availability of observable market information and quoted prices used to determine the fair value of the security. The availability of observable market information and quoted prices varies based on market conditions and trading volume. During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2. The Company’s policy is to recognize transfers between levels at the beginning of quarterly reporting periods.

Valuation Methodologies and Inputs

The following section describes the valuation methodologies and relevant inputs used to measure different financial instruments at fair value, including an indication of the level in the fair value hierarchy in which the instruments are generally classified.

Fixed Maturity Securities

Level 1 securities include highly liquid and exchange traded bonds and redeemable preferred stock, valued using quoted market prices. Level 2 securities include most other fixed maturity securities as the significant inputs are observable in the marketplace. All classes of Level 2 fixed maturity securities are valued using a methodology based on information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets, a discounted cash flow methodology or a combination of both when necessary. Common inputs for all classes of fixed maturity securities include prices from recently executed transactions of similar securities, marketplace quotes, benchmark yields, spreads off benchmark yields, interest rates and U.S. Treasury or swap curves. Specifically for asset-backed securities, key inputs include prepayment and default projections based on past performance of the underlying collateral and current market data. Fixed maturity securities are primarily assigned to Level 3 in cases where broker/dealer quotes are significant inputs to the valuation, and there is a lack of transparency as to whether these quotes are based on information that is observable in the marketplace. Level 3 securities also include private placement debt securities whose fair value is determined using internal models with inputs that are not market observable.

Equity Securities

Level 1 equity securities include publicly traded securities valued using quoted market prices. Level 2 securities are primarily non-redeemable preferred stocks and common stocks valued using pricing for similar securities, recently executed transactions and other pricing models utilizing market observable inputs. Level 3 securities are primarily priced using broker/dealer quotes and internal models with inputs that are not market observable.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Exchange traded derivatives are valued using quoted market prices and are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Level 2 derivatives primarily include currency forwards valued using observable market forward rates. Over-the-counter derivatives, principally interest rate swaps, total return swaps, commodity swaps, equity warrants and options, are valued using inputs including broker/dealer quotes and are classified within Level 2 or Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy, depending on the amount of transparency as to whether these quotes are based on information that is observable in the marketplace.

Short Term Investments

Securities that are actively traded or have quoted prices are classified as Level 1. These securities include money market funds and treasury bills. Level 2 primarily includes commercial paper, for which all inputs are market observable. Fixed maturity securities purchased within one year of maturity are classified consistent with fixed maturity securities discussed above. Short term investments as presented in the tables above differ from the amounts presented in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets because certain short term investments, such as time deposits, are not measured at fair value.

Other Invested Assets

Level 1 securities include exchange traded open-end funds valued using quoted market prices.

 

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Life Settlement Contracts

CNA accounts for its investment in life settlement contracts using the fair value method. Historically, the fair value of life settlement contracts was determined as the present value of the anticipated death benefits less anticipated premium payments based on contract terms that are distinct for each insured, as well as CNA’s own assumptions for mortality, premium expense and the rate of return that a buyer would require on the contracts.

The entire portfolio of life settlement contracts was determined to be held for sale as of December 31, 2016 as CNA reached an agreement on terms to sell the portfolio. As such, CNA adjusted the fair value to the estimated sales proceeds less cost to sell. The definitive Purchase and Sale Agreement (“PSA”) related to the portfolio was executed on March 7, 2017 (“sale date”). In connection therewith, the life settlement contracts and related sale proceeds were placed in escrow until the buyer is recognized as the owner and beneficiary of each individual life settlement contract by the life insurance company that issued the policy. A number of contracts have been released from escrow as of March 31, 2017. CNA derecognized these contracts and recorded the consideration, including a note receivable, which is payable over three years and is carried at amortized cost less any valuation allowance. The note receivable is included within Other assets on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets and interest income is accreted to the principal balance of the note receivable. The remaining contracts still in escrow have not been derecognized and were measured at the fair value per the PSA.

The fair value of CNA’s investments in life settlement contracts were $46 million and $58 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and are included in Other assets on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. Despite the sale, the contracts have been classified as Level 3 as there is not an active market for life settlement contracts. The cash receipts and payments related to the life settlement contracts prior to the sale date are included in operating activities on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows. Cash receipts related to the sale of the life settlement contracts as well as principal payments on the note receivable are included in investing activities.

Significant Unobservable Inputs

The following tables present quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs utilized by the Company in the fair value measurement of Level 3 assets. Valuations for assets and liabilities not presented in the tables below are primarily based on broker/dealer quotes for which there is a lack of transparency as to inputs used to develop the valuations. The quantitative detail of unobservable inputs from these broker quotes is neither provided nor reasonably available to the Company. The valuation of life settlement contracts was based on the terms of the sale of the contracts to a third party; therefore the contracts are not included in the tables below.

 

                                                                                                                                                                   
March 31, 2017    Estimated
      Fair Value      
   Valuation
        Techniques        
         Unobservable      
Inputs
   Range
      (Weighted      
Average)
 

 

 
     (In millions)                 

Fixed maturity securities

   $        122         Discounted
cash flow
   Credit spread      2% – 40% (4%)  

December 31, 2016

           

 

 

Fixed maturity securities

   $        106         Discounted
cash flow
   Credit spread      2% – 40% (4%)  

For fixed maturity securities, an increase to the credit spread assumptions would result in a lower fair value measurement.

 

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Financial Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value

The carrying amount, estimated fair value and the level of the fair value hierarchy of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities which are not measured at fair value on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets are presented in the following tables. The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of short term debt and long term debt exclude capital lease obligations. The carrying amounts reported on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets for cash and short term investments not carried at fair value and certain other assets and liabilities approximate fair value due to the short term nature of these items.

 

    

Carrying

Amount 

    Estimated Fair Value  
March 31, 2017          Level 1                Level 2                  Level 3                Total      

 

 
(In millions)                                  

Assets:

             

Other invested assets, primarily mortgage loans

     $       611             $      616              $    616      

Liabilities:

             

Short term debt

     153          $    156              3              159      

Long term debt

     10,521          10,112              645              10,757      
December 31, 2016                                  

 

 

Assets:

             

Other invested assets, primarily mortgage loans

     $       591             $      594              $    594      

Liabilities:

             

Short term debt

     107          $    104              3              107      

Long term debt

     10,655          10,150              646              10,796      

The following methods and assumptions were used in estimating the fair value of these financial assets and liabilities.

The fair values of mortgage loans, included in Other invested assets, were based on the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the current interest rate for similar financial instruments, adjusted for specific loan risk.

Fair value of debt was based on observable market prices when available. When observable market prices were not available, the fair value of debt was based on observable market prices of comparable instruments adjusted for differences between the observed instruments and the instruments being valued or is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based on current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

4.  Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves

CNA’s property and casualty insurance claim and claim adjustment expense reserves represent the estimated amounts necessary to resolve all outstanding claims, including incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) claims as of the reporting date. CNA’s reserve projections are based primarily on detailed analysis of the facts in each case, CNA’s experience with similar cases and various historical development patterns. Consideration is given to such historical patterns as claim reserving trends and settlement practices, loss payments, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as court decisions, economic conditions including inflation and public attitudes. All of these factors can affect the estimation of claim and claim adjustment expense reserves.

 

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Establishing claim and claim adjustment expense reserves, including claim and claim adjustment expense reserves for catastrophic events that have occurred, is an estimation process. Many factors can ultimately affect the final settlement of a claim and, therefore, the necessary reserve. Changes in the law, results of litigation, medical costs, the cost of repair materials and labor rates can all affect ultimate claim costs. In addition, time can be a critical part of reserving determinations since the longer the span between the incidence of a loss and the payment or settlement of the claim, the more variable the ultimate settlement amount can be. Accordingly, short-tail claims, such as property damage claims, tend to be more reasonably estimable than long-tail claims, such as workers’ compensation, general liability and professional liability claims. Adjustments to prior year reserve estimates, if necessary, are reflected in the results of operations in the period that the need for such adjustments is determined. There can be no assurance that CNA’s ultimate cost for insurance losses will not exceed current estimates.

Catastrophes are an inherent risk of the property and casualty insurance business and have contributed to material period-to-period fluctuations in CNA’s results of operations and/or equity. CNA reported catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, of $34 million and $36 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. Catastrophe losses in the first quarter of 2017 related primarily to U.S. weather-related events.

Liability for Unpaid Claim and Claim Adjustment Expenses Rollforward

The following table presents a reconciliation between beginning and ending claim and claim adjustment expense reserves, including claim and claim adjustment expense reserves of non-core operations.

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017          2016      

 

 
(In millions)                  

Reserves, beginning of year:

       

Gross

   $ 22,343        $ 22,663       

Ceded

     4,094          4,087       

 

 

Net reserves, beginning of year

     18,249          18,576       

 

 

Net incurred claim and claim adjustment expenses:

       

Provision for insured events of current year

     1,207          1,224       

Decrease in provision for insured events of prior years

     (82        (45)      

Amortization of discount

     48          48       

 

 

Total net incurred (a)

     1,173          1,227       

 

 

Net payments attributable to:

       

Current year events

     (68        (76)      

Prior year events

     (1,184        (1,147)      

 

 

Total net payments

     (1,252        (1,223)      

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment and other

     14          39       

 

 

Net reserves, end of period

     18,184          18,619       

Ceded reserves, end of period

     4,076          4,399       

 

 

Gross reserves, end of period

   $   22,260        $   23,018       

 

 

 

(a)

Total net incurred above does not agree to Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits as reflected in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income due to amounts related to retroactive reinsurance deferred gain accounting, uncollectible reinsurance and loss deductible receivables and benefit expenses related to future policy benefits, which are not reflected in the table above.

 

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Net Prior Year Development

Changes in estimates of claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserves and premium accruals, net of reinsurance, for prior years are defined as net prior year development. These changes can be favorable or unfavorable. The following table and discussion present net prior year development:

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017          2016      

 

 
(In millions)                  

Pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development

   $ (57      $ (52)      

Pretax (favorable) unfavorable premium development

     25          (14)      

 

 

Total pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year development

   $         (32      $         (66)      

 

 

Premium development can occur in the property and casualty business when there is a change in exposure on auditable policies or when premium accruals differ from processed premium. Audits on policies usually occur in a period after the expiration date of the policy. See Note 8 for further information on the premium development for the Small Business multi-peril package product and workers’ compensation policies.

The following table and discussion present details of the net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development (“development”):

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017          2016      

 

 
(In millions)                  

Medical professional liability

   $ 1        $ (7)      

Other professional liability and management liability

     (32        (9)      

Commercial auto

     (26        (15)      

General liability

          (15)      

Workers’ compensation

          4       

Other

          (10)      

 

 

Total pretax (favorable) unfavorable development

   $         (57      $         (52)      

 

 

2017

Favorable development in other professional liability and management liability was primarily due to favorable settlements on closed claims and lower than expected frequency of large losses related to professional liability in accident years 2011 through 2016.

Favorable development for commercial auto was primarily due to lower than expected severity in accident years 2013 through 2015.

2016

Favorable development for medical professional liability was due to lower than expected severity in accident years 2011 and prior. This was partially offset by unfavorable development in accident years 2012 and 2013 related to higher than expected large loss emergence and higher than expected severity in accident years 2014 and 2015.

 

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Favorable development in other professional liability and management liability was primarily related to favorable settlements on claims in accident years 2011 through 2013. This was partially offset by unfavorable development related to a specific financial institutions claim in accident year 2014 and continued deterioration on claims in accident year 2009 related to the credit crisis.

Favorable development for commercial auto was primarily due to favorable settlements on claims in accident years 2011 through 2014.

Favorable development for general liability was primarily due to favorable settlements on claims in accident years 2013 and 2014.

Favorable development for other coverages was primarily due to better than expected claim frequency in property coverages in accident year 2015, partially offset by higher than expected severity from a 2015 catastrophe event.

Asbestos and Environmental Pollution (“A&EP”) Reserves

In 2010, Continental Casualty Company (“CCC”) together with several of CNA’s insurance subsidiaries completed a transaction with National Indemnity Company (“NICO”), a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., under which substantially all of CNA’s legacy A&EP liabilities were ceded to NICO through a loss portfolio transfer (“LPT”). At the effective date of the transaction, CNA ceded approximately $1.6 billion of net A&EP claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserves to NICO under a retroactive reinsurance agreement with an aggregate limit of $4.0 billion. The $1.6 billion of claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserves ceded to NICO was net of $1.2 billion of ceded claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserves under existing third party reinsurance contracts. The NICO LPT aggregate reinsurance limit also covers credit risk on the existing third party reinsurance related to these liabilities. CNA paid NICO a reinsurance premium of $2.0 billion and transferred to NICO billed third party reinsurance receivables related to A&EP claims with a net book value of $215 million, resulting in total consideration of $2.2 billion.

Subsequent to the effective date of the LPT, CNA recognized adverse prior year development on its A&EP reserves which resulted in additional amounts ceded under the LPT. As a result, the cumulative amounts ceded under the LPT exceeded the $2.2 billion consideration paid, resulting in the NICO LPT moving into a gain position, requiring retroactive reinsurance accounting. Under retroactive reinsurance accounting, this gain is deferred and only recognized in earnings in proportion to actual paid recoveries under the LPT. Over the life of the contract, there is no economic impact as long as any additional losses incurred are within the limit of the LPT. In a period in which CNA recognizes a change in the estimate of A&EP reserves that increases the amounts ceded under the LPT, the proportion of actual paid recoveries to total ceded losses is impacted and the change in the deferred gain is recognized in earnings as if the revised estimate of ceded losses was available at the effective date of the LPT. The effect of the deferred retroactive reinsurance benefit is recorded in Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income.

The following table presents the impact of the loss portfolio transfer on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income.

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017            2016           

 

 
(In millions)                    

Net A&EP adverse development before consideration of LPT

   $ 60          $ 200           

Retroactive reinsurance benefit recognized

     (40          (73)          

 

 

Pretax impact of A&EP reserve development and the LPT

   $         20          $       127           

 

 

Based upon CNA’s annual A&EP reserve review, net unfavorable prior year development of $60 million and $200 million was recognized before consideration of cessions to the LPT for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. The 2017 unfavorable development was driven by modestly higher anticipated payouts on claims from known sources of asbestos exposure. The 2016 unfavorable development was driven by an increase in anticipated future expenses associated with determination of coverage, higher anticipated payouts associated with a limited number of historical accounts having significant asbestos exposures and higher than expected severity on pollution claims. While this unfavorable development was ceded to NICO under the LPT, CNA’s reported earnings in both periods were negatively affected due to the application of retroactive reinsurance accounting.

 

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As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the cumulative amounts ceded under the LPT were $2.9 billion and $2.8 billion. The unrecognized deferred retroactive reinsurance benefit was $354 million and $334 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

NICO established a collateral trust account as security for its obligations to CNA. The fair value of the collateral trust account was $2.7 billion and $2.8 billion as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. In addition, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. guaranteed the payment obligations of NICO up to the aggregate reinsurance limit as well as certain of NICO’s performance obligations under the trust agreement. NICO is responsible for claims handling and billing and collection from third-party reinsurers related to CNA’s A&EP claims.

 

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5.  Shareholders’ Equity

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

The tables below present the changes in AOCI by component for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2017:

 

                              Total
                              Accumulated
     OTTI    Unrealized              Foreign    Other
     Gains    Gains (Losses)    Cash Flow    Pension    Currency    Comprehensive
      (Losses)    on Investments    Hedges    Liability    Translation    Income (Loss)
(In millions)                              

Balance, January 1, 2016

       $ 24                  $ 347             $ (3)           $ (649)          $ (76)                $ (357)     

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, after tax of $(2), $(108), $0, $0 and $0

       3                    217                         14                 234      

Reclassification of losses from accumulated other comprehensive income, after tax of $(1), $(7), $0, $(3) and $0

       2                    11               1              8                        22      

Other comprehensive income

       5                    228               1              8             14                 256      

Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests

                  (21)                         (2)            (2)                (25)     

Balance, March 31, 2016

       $ 29                  $            554             $         (2)           $       (643)          $ (64)                $ (126)     
                                                                   

Balance, January 1, 2017

       $           27                  $ 576             $ (2)           $ (646)          $           (178)                $           (223)     

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, after tax of $(1), $(47), $0, $0 and $0

            85               (1)                  11                 95      

Reclassification of (gains) losses from accumulated other comprehensive income, after tax of $2, $9, $0, $(4) and $0

       (4)                   (18)              1              8                        (13)     

Other comprehensive income (loss)

       (4)                   67               -              8             11                 82      

Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests

                  (7)                                    (1)                (8)     

Balance, March 31, 2017

       $ 23                  $ 636             $ (2)           $ (638)          $ (168)                $ (149)     
                                                                   

Amounts reclassified from AOCI shown above are reported in Net income as follows:

 

Major Category of AOCI    Affected Line Item
OTTI gains (losses)    Investment gains (losses)
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments    Investment gains (losses)
Cash flow hedges    Other revenues and Contract drilling expenses
Pension liability    Other operating expenses

 

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6.  Benefit Plans

The Company has several non-contributory defined benefit plans and postretirement benefit plans covering eligible employees and retirees.

The following table presents the components of net periodic benefit cost for the plans:

 

             Pension Benefits      Other
Postretirement Benefits  
 
  

 

 

 
Three Months Ended March 31            2017         2016           2017      2016     

 

 

(In millions)

           

Service cost

       $ 2        $ 2           

Interest cost

     30          32         $ 1          $ 1           

Expected return on plan assets

     (43)           (44)          (1)           (1)          

Amortization of unrecognized net loss

     11          11           

Amortization of unrecognized prior service benefit

           (1)           (1)          

Settlement charge

     2          1           

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

       $ 2        $ 2         $     (1)         $ (1)          

 

 

7.  Legal Proceedings

CNA Financial

In September of 2016, a class action lawsuit was filed against CCC, Continental Assurance Company (“CAC”), CNA, the Investment Committee of the CNA 401(k) Plus Plan, The Northern Trust Company and John Does 1-10 (collectively “Defendants”) over the CNA 401(k) Plus Plan. The complaint alleges that Defendants breached fiduciary duties to the CNA 401(k) Plus Plan and caused prohibited transactions in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 when the CNA 401(k) Plus Plan’s Fixed Income Fund’s annuity contract with CAC was canceled. The plaintiff alleges he and a proposed class of the CNA 401(k) Plus Plan participants who had invested in the Fixed Income Fund suffered lower returns in their CNA 401(k) Plus Plan investments as a consequence of these alleged violations and seeks relief on behalf of the putative class. This litigation is in its preliminary stages, and as of yet no class has been certified. CCC and the other defendants are contesting the case and the Company currently is unable to predict the final outcome or the impact on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. As of March 31, 2017, the likelihood of loss is reasonably possible, but the amount of loss, if any, cannot be estimated at this stage of the litigation.

Other Litigation

The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to other litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The outcome of this litigation will not, in the opinion of management, materially affect the Company’s results of operations or equity.

8.  Commitments and Contingencies

CNA Guarantees

In the course of selling business entities and assets to third parties, CNA agreed to guarantee the performance of certain obligations of previously owned subsidiaries and to indemnify purchasers for losses arising out of breaches of representations and warranties with respect to the business entities or assets sold, including, in certain cases, losses arising from undisclosed liabilities or certain named litigation. Such guarantee and indemnification agreements in effect for sales of business entities, assets and third party loans may include provisions that survive indefinitely. As of March 31, 2017, the aggregate amount related to quantifiable guarantees was $434 million and the aggregate amount related to quantifiable indemnification agreements was $254 million. In certain cases, should CNA be required to make payments under any such guarantee, it would have the right to seek reimbursement in certain cases from an affiliate of a previously owned subsidiary.

In addition, CNA has agreed to provide indemnification to third party purchasers for certain losses associated with sold business entities or assets that are not limited by a contractual monetary amount. As of March 31, 2017, CNA had outstanding unlimited indemnifications in connection with the sales of certain of its business entities or assets that included tax liabilities arising prior to a purchaser’s ownership of an entity or asset, defects in title at the time of sale, employee claims arising prior to closing and in some cases losses arising from certain litigation and undisclosed

 

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liabilities. Certain provisions of the indemnification agreements survive indefinitely while others survive until the applicable statutes of limitation expire, or until the agreed upon contract terms expire.

CNA also provided guarantees, if the primary obligor fails to perform, to holders of structured settlement annuities provided by a previously owned subsidiary. As of March 31, 2017, the potential amount of future payments CNA could be required to pay under these guarantees was approximately $1.8 billion, which will be paid over the lifetime of the annuitants. CNA does not believe any payment is likely under these guarantees, as CNA is the beneficiary of a trust that must be maintained at a level that approximates the discounted reserves for these annuities.

CNA Small Business Premium Rate Adjustment

CNA identified rating errors related to its multi-peril package product within its Small Business unit in the fourth quarter of 2016 and recorded a charge which reduced earned premium by $16 million in anticipation of voluntarily issuing premium refunds related to affected policies written from December 1, 2015. CNA has notified state regulators and provided them with details regarding these anticipated voluntary premium refunds and other corrective actions related to the multi-peril package product. At that time, CNA also alerted regulators that it was reviewing other business lines to determine whether similar issues exist.

In the first quarter of 2017, CNA concluded its review and determined that there were also rating errors related to Small Business workers’ compensation policies. Accordingly, CNA recorded a charge which reduced earned premium by $42 million in anticipation of voluntarily issuing premium refunds related to affected policies written from March 1, 2014. CNA is currently in dialogue with state regulators regarding this matter.

The estimated refund liability for the multi-peril product and workers’ compensation policies as of March 31, 2017 was $36 million and $50 million. In the first quarter of 2017, CNA also recorded a $5 million liability for interest due to policyholders on the aggregate refund amounts. Any fines or penalties related to the foregoing are reasonably possible, but are not expected to be material to the Company’s financial statements.

The amount of the refund and corresponding liability will continue to increase until required changes to the automated rating processes are fully implemented. The changes are expected to be implemented by the end of May for the multi-peril product and by the end of September for workers’ compensation policies. Accordingly, subsequent to the periods discussed in the preceding paragraphs, written and earned premium for the subject product and policy lines are reported net of any impact from the premium rate adjustments.

9.  Segments

The Company has five reportable segments comprised of its four individual operating subsidiaries, CNA, Diamond Offshore, Boardwalk Pipeline and Loews Hotels & Co; and the Corporate segment. Each of the operating subsidiaries are headed by a chief executive officer who is responsible for the operation of its business and has the duties and authority commensurate with that position. For additional disclosures regarding the composition of the Company’s segments, see Note 20 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

The following tables present the reportable segments of the Company and their contribution to the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income. Amounts presented will not necessarily be the same as those in the individual financial statements of the Company’s subsidiaries due to adjustments for purchase accounting, income taxes and noncontrolling interests.

 

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Statements of Income by segment are presented in the following tables.

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017    CNA
Financial
     Diamond
Offshore
     Boardwalk
Pipeline
     Loews
Hotels & Co
     Corporate      Total       

 

 

(In millions)

                 

Revenues:

                 

Insurance premiums

   $     1,645                      $   1,645          

Net investment income

     545                   $     59            604          

Investment gains

     34                        34          

Contract drilling revenues

      $ 364                      364          

Other revenues

     105            13           $ 368          $ 167               653          

 

 

Total

     2,329            377             368            167            59            3,300          

 

 

Expenses:

                 

Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits

     1,293                        1,293          

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

     305                        305          

Contract drilling expenses

        204                     204          

Other operating expenses

     343            120            204            141            38            846          

Interest

     43            28            46            7            18            142          

 

 

Total

     1,984            352            250            148            56            2,790          

 

 

Income before income tax

     345            25            118            19            3            510          

Income tax expense

     (84)           (2)           (23)           (9)           (1)           (119)         

 

 

Net income

     261            23            95            10            2            391          

Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (27)           (11)           (58)                 (96)         

 

 

Net income attributable to Loews Corporation

   $ 234          $ 12          $ 37          $ 10          $ 2          $ 295          

 

 

 

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Three Months Ended March 31, 2016    CNA
Financial
            Diamond
Offshore
            Boardwalk
Pipeline
            Loews
Hotels & Co
            Corporate                     Total          

 

 

(In millions)

                                

Revenues:

                                

Insurance premiums

   $     1,699                                      $     1,699         

Net investment income (loss)

     435                                $         (13)           422         

Investment losses

     (28)                                       (28)        

Contract drilling revenues

         $           444                                  444         

Other revenues

     97                27              $       347            $       163                        636         

 

 

Total

     2,203                471                347              163              (11)           3,173         

 

 

Expenses:

                                

Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits

     1,408                                        1,408         

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

     307                                        307         

Contract drilling expenses

           213                                213         

Other operating expenses

     380                149              205            148              25            907         

Interest

     50                26              43            6              18            143         

 

 

Total

     2,145                388              248            154              43            2,978         

 

 

Income (loss) before income tax

     58                83              99            9              (54)           195         

Income tax (expense) benefit

     9                1              (19)           (6)             19            4         

 

 

Net income (loss)

     67                84              80            3              (35)           199         

Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (7)               (41)             (49)                       (97)        

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Loews Corporation

   $ 60              $ 43            $ 31          $ 3            $ (35)         $ 102         

 

 

 

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10.  Subsequent Event

On April 11, 2017, the Company entered into a merger agreement to acquire Consolidated Container Company for approximately $1.2 billion, subject to customary purchase price adjustments. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017, subject to customary closing conditions, and will be funded with approximately 50% available cash and 50% debt that will remain at the subsidiary level. Consolidated Container Company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a rigid plastic packaging manufacturer and provides packaging solutions to end markets such as beverage, food and household chemicals through a network of manufacturing locations across North America.

 

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Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations (“MD&A”) should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included under Item 1 of this Report, Risk Factors included under Part II, Item 1A of this Report, and the Consolidated Financial Statements, Risk Factors, and MD&A included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. This MD&A is comprised of the following sections:

 

         Page    
No.

Overview

   32

Results of Operations

   33

Consolidated Financial Results

   33

CNA Financial

   34

Diamond Offshore

   37

Boardwalk Pipeline

   38

Loews Hotels & Co

   40

Corporate

   40

Liquidity and Capital Resources

   41

Parent Company

   41

Subsidiaries

   41

Investments

   43

Critical Accounting Estimates

   46

Accounting Standards Update

   46

Forward-Looking Statements

   46

OVERVIEW

We are a holding company and have five reportable segments comprised of our four individual operating subsidiaries, CNA Financial Corporation (“CNA”), Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (“Diamond Offshore”), Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (“Boardwalk Pipeline”) and Loews Hotels Holding Corporation (“Loews Hotels & Co”); and our Corporate segment. Each of our operating subsidiaries is headed by a chief executive officer who is responsible for the operation of its business and has the duties and authority commensurate with that position.

We rely upon our invested cash balances and distributions from our subsidiaries to generate the funds necessary to meet our obligations and to declare and pay any dividends to our shareholders. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends is subject to, among other things, the availability of sufficient earnings and funds in such subsidiaries, applicable state laws, including in the case of the insurance subsidiaries of CNA, laws and rules governing the payment of dividends by regulated insurance companies (see Note 13 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016) and compliance with covenants in their respective loan agreements. Claims of creditors of our subsidiaries will generally have priority as to the assets of such subsidiaries over our claims and those of our creditors and shareholders.

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Report to “Loews Corporation,” “the Company,” “Parent Company,” “we,” “our,” “us” or like terms refer to the business of Loews Corporation excluding its subsidiaries.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Consolidated Financial Results

The following table summarizes net income (loss) attributable to Loews Corporation by segment and net income per share attributable to Loews Corporation for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017     2016            

 

 
(In millions)             

CNA Financial

   $ 234     $ 60         

Diamond Offshore

     12       43         

Boardwalk Pipeline

     37       31         

Loews Hotels & Co

     10       3         

Corporate

     2       (35)        

 

 

Net income attributable to Loews Corporation

   $ 295     $ 102         

 

 

Basic net income per common share

   $         0.88     $         0.30        

 

 

Diluted net income per common share

   $ 0.87     $ 0.30        

 

 

Net income attributable to Loews Corporation for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $295 million, or $0.87 per share, compared to $102 million, or $0.30 per share in the 2016 period.

Net income attributable to Loews Corporation increased $193 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period due to higher earnings at CNA, Boardwalk Pipeline and Loews Hotels & Co, as well as higher income generated by the parent company investment portfolio. These increases were partially offset by lower earnings at Diamond Offshore.

Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein to net operating income (loss), net realized investment results and net income (loss) reflect amounts attributable to Loews Corporation shareholders.

Acquisition of Consolidated Container Company

On April 11, 2017, we entered into a merger agreement to acquire Consolidated Container Company for approximately $1.2 billion, subject to customary purchase price adjustments. Consolidated Container Company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a rigid plastic packaging manufacturer and provides packaging solutions to end markets such as beverage, food and household chemicals through a network of manufacturing locations across North America. Consolidated Container Company will be part of a newly-created segment called Loews Packaging Group.

 

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CNA Financial

The following table summarizes the results of operations for CNA for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 as presented in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included under Item 1 of this Report. For further discussion of Net investment income and Net realized investment results, see the Investments section of this MD&A.

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017      2016             

 

 
(In millions)              

Revenues:

     

Insurance premiums

   $     1,645       $     1,699               

Net investment income

     545         435               

Investment gains (losses)

     34         (28)              

Other revenues

     105         97               

 

 

Total

     2,329         2,203               

 

 

Expenses:

     

Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits

     1,293         1,408               

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

     305         307               

Other operating expenses

     343         380               

Interest

     43         50               

 

 

Total

     1,984         2,145               

 

 

Income before income tax

     345         58               

Income tax (expense) benefit

     (84)        9               

 

 

Net income

     261         67               

Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (27)        (7)              

 

 

Net income attributable to Loews Corporation

   $ 234       $ 60               

 

 

Net income increased $174 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period, primarily due to a $110 million increase in net investment income, driven by improved limited partnership returns, and lower adverse prior year reserve development in the three months ended March 31, 2017 under the 2010 asbestos and environmental pollution (“A&EP”) loss portfolio transfer as compared with the 2016 period, as further discussed in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included under Item 1. Earnings also benefited from improved net realized investment results and lower underwriting expenses, partially offset by unfavorable premium development.

CNA’s Core and Non-Core Operations

CNA’s core business is its property and casualty insurance operations that include its Specialty, Commercial and International lines of business. CNA’s non-core operations include its long term care business that is in run-off, certain corporate expenses, including interest on CNA’s corporate debt, and certain property and casualty businesses in run-off, including CNA Re and A&EP. CNA’s products and services are primarily marketed through independent agents, brokers and managing general underwriters to a wide variety of customers, including small, medium and large businesses, insurance companies, associations, professionals and other groups. We believe the presentation of CNA as one reportable segment is appropriate in accordance with applicable accounting standards on segment reporting. However, for purposes of this discussion and analysis of the results of operations, we provide greater detail with respect to CNA’s core and non-core operations to enhance the reader’s understanding and to provide further transparency into key drivers of CNA’s financial results.

In assessing CNA’s insurance operations, the Company utilizes the net operating income (loss) financial measure. Net operating income (loss) is calculated by excluding from net income (loss) the after tax and noncontrolling interests effects of (i) net realized investment gains or losses, (ii) income or loss from discontinued operations and (iii) any cumulative effects of changes in accounting guidance. The calculation of net operating income excludes net realized investment gains or losses because net realized investment gains or losses are largely discretionary, except for some losses related to OTTI, and are generally driven by economic factors that are not necessarily consistent with key drivers of underwriting performance, and are therefore not considered an indication of trends in insurance operations. Net operating income (loss) is deemed to be a non-GAAP financial measure and management believes this measure is useful to investors as management uses this measure to assess financial performance.

 

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Property and Casualty Operations

In evaluating the results of the property and casualty operations, CNA utilizes the loss ratio, the expense ratio, the dividend ratio and the combined ratio. These ratios are calculated using GAAP financial results. The loss ratio is the percentage of net incurred claim and claim adjustment expenses to net earned premiums. The expense ratio is the percentage of insurance underwriting and acquisition expenses, including the amortization of deferred acquisition costs, to net earned premiums. The dividend ratio is the ratio of policyholders’ dividends incurred to net earned premiums. The combined ratio is the sum of the loss, expense and dividend ratios. In addition, CNA also utilizes rate, retention and new business in evaluating operating trends. Rate represents the average change in price on policies that renew excluding exposure change. Retention represents the percentage of premium dollars renewed in comparison to the expiring premium dollars from policies available to renew. New business represents premiums from policies written with new customers and additional policies written with existing customers.

The following tables summarize the results of CNA’s property and casualty operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017

     Specialty       Commerc ial      Internation al      Total          

 

 
(In millions, except %)                         

Net written premiums

   $ 679     $ 715     $ 238     $ 1,632        

Net earned premiums

     664       651       197       1,512        

Net investment income

     153       178       12       343        

Net operating income

     138       84       18       240        

Net realized investment gains

     4       7       4       15        

Net income

     142       91       22       255        

Other performance metrics:

        

Loss and loss adjustment expense ratio

     58.2     67.0     58.3     62.0%    

Expense ratio

     31.9       37.4       36.8       34.9        

Dividend ratio

     0.1       0.5         0.3        

 

 

Combined ratio

     90.2     104.9     95.1     97.2%    

 

 

Rate

     1%       0%       0%       0%        

Retention

     88           83           76           83            

New business

   $       57         $       139         $       65         $       261            
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016                         

 

 

Net written premiums

   $ 684     $ 748     $ 236     $ 1,668        

Net earned premiums

     682       688       198       1,568        

Net investment income

     107       126       12       245        

Net operating income

     114       66       5       185        

Net realized investment gains (losses)

     (7     (10     3       (14)       

Net income

     107       56       8       171        

Other performance metrics:

        

Loss and loss adjustment expense ratio

     57.1     64.2     61.2     60.7%     

Expense ratio

     32.1       37.3       37.8       35.2        

Dividend ratio

     0.2       0.4         0.2        

 

 

Combined ratio

     89.4     101.9     99.0     96.1%    

 

 

Rate

     1%       0%       0%       0%        

Retention

     88           84           81           84            

New business

   $ 65         $ 137         $ 60         $ 262            

Total net written premiums decreased $36 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period. Net written premiums for Commercial decreased $33 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period due to unfavorable premium development driven by a premium rate adjustment within its Small Business unit as discussed in Note 8 to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements under Item 1. This was partially offset by higher new business within Middle Markets. Net written premiums for Specialty decreased $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period, driven by lower new business. The trend in net earned premiums was consistent with net written premiums in Specialty. Excluding the

 

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effect of foreign currency exchange rates and premium development, net written premiums increased 1.1% and net earned premiums were flat for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period in International.

Total net operating income increased $55 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period. The increase in net operating income was primarily due to higher net investment income, lower underwriting expenses, higher favorable net prior year reserve development and favorable period over period effect of foreign currency exchange gains and losses, partially offset by unfavorable premium development driven by the Small Business premium rate adjustment. Catastrophe losses were $21 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

Favorable net prior year development of $32 million and $66 million was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, Specialty recorded favorable net prior year development of $36 million and $45 million, Commercial recorded favorable net prior year loss reserve development of $24 million and unfavorable premium development of $37 million as compared with favorable net prior year loss reserve development of $14 million and favorable premium development of $2 million and International recorded favorable net prior year development of $9 million and $5 million. Further information on net prior year development is included in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included under Item 1.

Specialty’s combined ratio increased 0.8 points for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period. The loss ratio increased 1.1 points driven by lower net favorable prior year development. Specialty’s expense ratio improved 0.2 points for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period.

Commercial’s combined ratio increased 3.0 points for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period due to the unfavorable premium development. Excluding the impact of the Small Business premium rate adjustment on the ratios for both periods, the combined ratio decreased 3.6 points, driven by a 1.4 point decrease in the loss ratio primarily due to higher favorable net prior year loss reserve development and a 2.3 point decrease in the expense ratio primarily due to lower employee costs.

International’s combined ratio improved 3.9 points for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period. The loss ratio improved 2.9 points due to an improved current accident year loss ratio driven by a lower level of large losses and higher favorable premium development. International’s expense ratio improved 1.0 point primarily due to foreign currency fluctuations.

Non-Core Operations

The following table summarizes the results of CNA’s non-core operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017        2016             

 

 
(In millions)             

Net earned premiums

   $         133      $         131           

Net investment income

     202        190           

Net operating loss

     (26)       (108)          

Net realized investment gains (losses)

           (3)          

Net loss

     (21)       (111)          

The net loss was $21 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, an improvement of $90 million as compared with the 2016 period. This improvement was primarily driven by lower adverse prior year reserve development in 2017 for A&EP under the loss portfolio transfer. During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, CNA recorded net unfavorable development of $60 million and $200 million related to its A&EP reserves. This unfavorable development was ceded to NICO under the loss portfolio transfer; however CNA’s earnings were negatively affected by charges of $12 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) and $74 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) related to the application of retroactive reinsurance accounting, as further discussed in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included under Item 1. In addition, the net loss benefited from higher net investment income and favorable morbidity partially offset by unfavorable persistency in the long term care business.

 

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Diamond Offshore

Overview

Overall fundamentals in the offshore oil and gas industry have not yet improved from those described in the Results of Operations – Diamond Offshore section of our MD&A included under Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Capital spending for offshore exploration and development has continued to decline, with 2017 capital spending estimated by some industry analysts to decrease up to 20% from 2016 levels. If these market expectations are realized, it would represent three consecutive years of decline in offshore spending. However, inquiries for rig availability and new tenders have recently increased, although from a low base line over the past few years. Recent tendering activity is primarily for projects commencing in 2019 and later. Despite the cold stacking and retirement of numerous rigs during 2016, the floater market remains oversupplied. Based on industry data as of the date of this Report, there are in excess of 30 floater rigs currently on order, with scheduled deliveries from 2017 through 2021. The majority of these rigs are not currently contracted for future work.

Dayrate competition among offshore drillers remains intense as rig supply exceeds demand. Industry analysts have predicted that the offshore contract drilling market may remain depressed with further declines in dayrates and utilization throughout 2017, but that the market could begin to see stabilization in these metrics in late 2017 or early 2018.

Contract Drilling Backlog

Diamond Offshore’s contract drilling backlog was $3.2 billion and $3.6 billion as of April 1, 2017 (based on contract information known at that time) and January 1, 2017 (the date reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016). The contract drilling backlog by year as of April 1, 2017 is $1.1 billion in 2017 (for the nine-month period beginning April 1, 2017), $1.1 billion in 2018, $0.8 billion in 2019 and $0.2 billion in 2020.

Contract drilling backlog includes $113 million and $119 million for 2017 and 2018 attributable to contracted work for the Ocean Valor under a contract that Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (“Petrobras”) has attempted to terminate and is currently in effect pursuant to an injunction granted by a Brazilian court. Petrobras appealed the granting of the injunction, but in March of 2017, the court ruled against Petrobras’ appeal and upheld the injunction. As a result of the favorable ruling, both the injunction and the Ocean Valor contract remain in effect. Petrobras has the right to seek to appeal the ruling to the Superior Court of Justice. Diamond Offshore intends to continue to defend its rights under the contract, which is estimated to conclude in accordance with its terms in October of 2018. However, litigation is inherently unpredictable, and there can be no assurance as to the ultimate outcome of this matter. The rig is currently on standby earning a reduced dayrate.

Contract drilling backlog includes only firm commitments (typically represented by signed contracts) and is calculated by multiplying the contracted operating dayrate by the firm contract period. Diamond Offshore’s calculation also assumes full utilization of its drilling equipment for the contract period (excluding scheduled shipyard and survey days); however, the amount of actual revenue earned and the actual periods during which revenues are earned will be different than the amounts and periods stated above due to various factors affecting utilization such as weather conditions and unscheduled repairs and maintenance. Contract drilling backlog excludes revenues for mobilization, demobilization, contract preparation and customer reimbursables. Changes in Diamond Offshore’s contract drilling backlog between periods are generally a function of the performance of work on term contracts, as well as the extension or modification of existing term contracts and the execution of additional contracts. In addition, under certain circumstances, Diamond Offshore’s customers may seek to terminate or renegotiate its contracts, which could adversely affect its reported backlog.

 

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Results of Operations

The following table summarizes the results of operations for Diamond Offshore for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 as presented in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included under Item 1 of this Report:

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017     2016            

 

 
(In millions)             

Revenues:

    

Contract drilling revenues

   $         364      $         444       

Other revenues

     13        27       

 

 

Total

     377        471       

 

 

Expenses:

    

Contract drilling expenses

     204        213       

Other operating expenses

     120        149       

Interest

     28        26       

 

 

Total

     352        388       

 

 

Income before income tax

     25        83       

Income tax (expense) benefit

     (2)       1       

Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (11)       (41)      

 

 

Net income attributable to Loews Corporation

   $ 12      $ 43       

 

 

Contract drilling revenue decreased $80 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period reflecting the continued weakness in the offshore contract drilling market. The decrease in contract drilling revenues was primarily due to currently cold-stacked rigs that had operated during the 2016 period; depressed revenues from the Ocean Monarch, which was in the shipyard for a survey and contract modifications; the absence of $40 million in demobilization revenue recognized in the first quarter of 2016 for the Ocean Endeavor and less revenues from the Ocean Scepter, a jack-up rig, which completed its contract in Mexico in the second quarter of 2016 and commenced operations offshore Mexico in February of 2017, under a new contract. These decreases were partially offset by increases in contract drilling revenue primarily related to incremental revenue earning days for the Ocean GreatWhite and the Ocean Apex, which operated during the first quarter of 2017 under a contract that commenced in the second quarter of 2016.

Contract drilling expense decreased $9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period, primarily due to a net reduction in costs attributable to various factors, including the cold stacking of rigs and implementation of other cost control measures, partially offset by incremental contract drilling costs associated with the drillships and the Ocean GreatWhite.

Net income decreased $31 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period, primarily due to the decrease in contract drilling revenue offset by the favorable impact of lower contract drilling expense, as discussed above, and lower depreciation, primarily due to a lower depreciable asset base in 2017, compared to the 2016 period, as a result of the asset impairments taken in 2016.

Boardwalk Pipeline

Firm Transportation Contracts and Growth Projects

Each year a portion of Boardwalk Pipeline’s firm transportation agreements expire and need to be renewed or replaced as reported in the Results of Operations – Boardwalk Pipeline section of our MD&A included under Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Partially as a result of the increase in overall gas supplies, demand markets, primarily in the Gulf Coast area, are growing due to new natural gas export facilities, power plants and petrochemical facilities and increased exports to Mexico. These developments have resulted in significant growth projects for Boardwalk Pipeline, several of which were placed into service during 2016. These include the Ohio to Louisiana Access project, the Southern Indiana Lateral, the Western Kentucky Market Lateral, a project to serve a power plant in South Texas, and, in March of 2017, the Northern Supply Access Project. Boardwalk Pipeline has an additional $1.1 billion of growth projects under development that are expected to be placed into service in 2017 through 2019, and through March 31, 2017, Boardwalk Pipeline has invested $316 million of capital in these projects. These new projects have lengthy planning and construction periods. As a result, these projects will not contribute to Boardwalk Pipeline’s earnings and cash flows until they are placed into service over the next several years.

 

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Results of Operations

The following table summarizes the results of operations for Boardwalk Pipeline for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 as presented in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included under Item 1 of this Report:

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017        2016        

 

 
(In millions)                      

Revenues:

         

Other revenue, primarily operating

   $         368        $         347    

 

 

Total

     368          347    

 

 

Expenses:

         

Operating

     204          205    

Interest

     46          43    

 

 

Total

     250          248    

 

 

Income before income tax

     118          99    

Income tax expense

     (23        (19  

Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (58        (49  

 

 

Net income attributable to Loews Corporation

   $ 37        $ 31    

 

 

Total revenues increased $21 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period. The increase was driven by an increase in transportation revenues of $16 million, which resulted from growth projects recently placed into service, partially offset by lower interruptible transportation services due to warmer weather. Storage and parking and lending revenues were higher by $4 million primarily from the effects of favorable market conditions on time period price spreads.

Operating expenses decreased $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period. The operating expense decrease was primarily due to the timing of maintenance activities, partially offset by higher property taxes and depreciation expense due to an increased asset base from recently completed growth projects. Interest expense increased $3 million primarily due to higher average debt levels at higher borrowing rates.

Net income increased $6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period, primarily reflecting higher revenues and lower operating expenses, partially offset by higher interest expense as discussed above.

 

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Loews Hotels & Co

The following table summarizes the results of operations for Loews Hotels & Co for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 as presented in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included under Item 1 of this Report:

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017        2016        

 

 
(In millions)                      

Revenues:

         

Operating revenue

   $         136        $         138    

Revenues related to reimbursable expenses

     31          25    

 

 

Total

     167          163    

 

 

Expenses:

         

Operating

     123          123    

Reimbursable expenses

     31          25    

Depreciation

     16          15    

Equity income from joint ventures

     (29        (15  

Interest

     7          6    

 

 

Total

     148          154    

 

 

Income before income tax

     19          9    

Income tax expense

     (9        (6  

 

 

Net income attributable to Loews Corporation

   $ 10        $ 3    

 

 

Operating revenues decreased $2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period primarily due to a decrease in revenue as a result of renovation activities.

Equity income from joint ventures increased $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period. The increase was primarily due to the $25 million gain on the sale of an equity interest in the Loews Don CeSar Hotel, a joint venture hotel property, in February of 2017, partially offset by a $15 million impairment charge related to an equity interest in a joint venture hotel property.

Net income increased $7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period primarily due to the changes discussed above.

Corporate

Corporate operations consist primarily of investment income at the Parent Company, corporate interest expenses and other corporate administrative costs. Investment income includes earnings on cash and short term investments held at the Parent Company level to meet current and future liquidity needs, as well as results of limited partnership investments and the trading portfolio.

The following table summarizes the results of operations for Corporate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 as presented in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included under Item 1 of this Report:

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017        2016        

 

 
(In millions)                      

Revenues:

         

Net investment income (loss)

   $         59        $         (13  

Other revenues

          2    

 

 

Total

     59          (11  

 

 

Expenses:

         

Operating

     38          25    

Interest

     18          18    

 

 

Total

     56          43    

 

 

Income (loss) before income tax

     3          (54  

Income tax (expense) benefit

     (1        19    

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Loews Corporation

   $ 2        $ (35  

 

 

 

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Net investment results increased by $72 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period, primarily due to improved performance of limited partnership investments and equity based investments in the trading portfolio.

Operating expenses increased $13 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period, primarily related to timing of compensation accruals and costs related to the pending acquisition of Consolidated Container Company, as further discussed in Note 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included under Item 1.

Net results increased $37 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period primarily due to the changes discussed above.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Parent Company

Parent Company cash and investments, net of receivables and payables at March 31, 2017 totaled $5.6 billion, as compared to $5.0 billion at December 31, 2016. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we received $559 million in dividends from our subsidiaries, including a special dividend from CNA of $485 million. Cash outflows included the payment of $21 million of cash dividends to our shareholders. As a holding company we depend on dividends from our subsidiaries and returns on our investment portfolio to fund our obligations. We are not responsible for the liabilities and obligations of our subsidiaries and there are no Parent Company guarantees.

On April 11, 2017, we entered into a merger agreement to acquire Consolidated Container Company for approximately $1.2 billion, subject to customary purchase price adjustments. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017, subject to customary closing conditions, and will be funded with approximately 50% available cash and 50% debt that will remain at the subsidiary level.

As of April 21, 2017, there were 336,702,111 shares of Loews common stock outstanding. Depending on market and other conditions, we may purchase our shares and shares of our subsidiaries outstanding common stock in the open market or otherwise. We have an effective Registration Statement on Form S-3 on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registering the future sale of an unlimited amount of our debt and equity securities.

In April of 2017, Fitch Ratings, Inc. affirmed our unsecured debt rating at A, with the rating outlook revised to negative from stable and S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) placed our ratings, including our A+ corporate credit rating, on creditwatch with negative implications. Our current unsecured debt rating is A3 for Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), with a stable outlook. Should one or more rating agencies downgrade our credit ratings from current levels, or announce that they have placed us under review for a potential downgrade, our cost of capital could increase and our ability to raise new capital could be adversely affected.

We continue to pursue conservative financial strategies while seeking opportunities for responsible growth. Future uses of our cash may include investing in our subsidiaries, new acquisitions and/or repurchases of our and our subsidiaries’ outstanding common stock.

Subsidiaries

CNA’s cash provided by operating activities was $282 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with $334 million for the 2016 period. Cash provided by operating activities reflected a lower level of distributions on limited partnerships and higher net claim and expense payments partially offset by the timing of income tax payments and lower salaries and related expenses.

CNA declared and paid a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share and a special dividend of $2.00 per share on its common stock in the first quarter of 2017. On April 28, 2017, CNA’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share on its common stock, payable May 31, 2017 to shareholders of record on May 15, 2017. CNA’s declaration and payment of future dividends is at the discretion of its Board of Directors and will depend on many factors, including CNA’s earnings, financial condition, business needs and regulatory constraints.

Dividends from the Continental Casualty Company (“CCC”), a subsidiary of CNA, are subject to the insurance holding company laws of the State of Illinois, the domiciliary state of CCC. Under these laws, ordinary dividends, or dividends that do not require prior approval by the Illinois Department of Insurance (“Department”), are determined based on the greater of the prior year’s statutory net income or 10% of statutory surplus as of the end of the prior year, as well as the timing and amount of dividends paid in the preceding twelve months. Additionally, ordinary dividends

 

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may only be paid from earned surplus, which is calculated by removing unrealized gains from unassigned surplus. As of March 31, 2017, CCC was in a positive earned surplus position. The maximum allowable dividend CCC could pay during 2017 that would not be subject to the Department’s prior approval is approximately $1.1 billion, less dividends paid during the preceding twelve months measured at that point in time. CCC paid dividends of $200 million during the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and $675 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017. As of March 31, 2017, CCC is able to pay approximately $200 million of dividends that would not be subject to prior approval of the Department. The actual level of dividends paid in any year is determined after an assessment of available dividend capacity, holding company liquidity and cash needs as well as the impact the dividends will have on the statutory surplus of the applicable insurance company.

Diamond Offshore’s cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 decreased $143 million compared to the 2016 period, primarily due to lower cash receipts from contract drilling services of $176 million, partially offset by a net decrease in cash payments for contract drilling expenses, including personnel-related, repairs and maintenance, and other rig operating costs of $31 million and lower income taxes paid, net of refunds of $3 million. The decline in both cash receipts and cash payments related to the performance of contract drilling services reflects continuing depressed market conditions in the offshore drilling industry, as well as positive results of Diamond Offshore’s continuing focus on controlling costs.

For 2017, Diamond Offshore has budgeted approximately $145 million for capital expenditures. Diamond Offshore has no other purchase obligations for major rig upgrades at March 31, 2017.

As of March 31, 2017, Diamond Offshore had no outstanding borrowings under its credit agreement and was in compliance with all covenant requirements thereunder. As of April 27, 2017, Diamond Offshore had $1.5 billion available under its credit agreement to provide liquidity for payment obligations.

Diamond Offshore will make periodic assessments of its capital spending programs based on industry conditions and will make adjustments if it determines they are required. Diamond Offshore, may, from time to time, issue debt or equity securities, or a combination thereof, to finance capital expenditures, the acquisition of assets and businesses or for general corporate purposes. Diamond Offshore’s ability to access the capital markets by issuing debt or equity securities will be dependent on its results of operations, current financial condition, current credit ratings, current market conditions and other factors beyond its control.

Boardwalk Pipeline’s cash provided by operating activities increased $47 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the 2016 period primarily due to the increase in net income, excluding the effects of non-cash items such as depreciation and amortization.

In the first quarters of 2017 and 2016, Boardwalk Pipeline declared and paid quarterly distributions to its common unitholders of record of $0.10 per common unit and an amount to the general partner on behalf of its 2% general partner interest. In April of 2017, the Partnership declared a quarterly cash distribution to unitholders of record of $0.10 per common unit.

In January of 2017, Boardwalk Pipeline completed a public offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 4.5% senior notes due July 15, 2027 and plans to use the proceeds to refinance future maturities of debt and to fund growth capital expenditures. Initially, the proceeds were used to reduce outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility. As of March 31, 2017, Boardwalk Pipeline had no outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility. Boardwalk Pipeline has in place a subordinated loan agreement with a subsidiary of the Company under which it could borrow up to $300 million until December 31, 2018. As of April 28, 2017, Boardwalk Pipeline had no outstanding borrowings under the subordinated loan agreement.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, Boardwalk Pipeline’s capital expenditures were $134 million and $106 million, consisting of a combination of growth and maintenance capital expenditures. Boardwalk Pipeline expects total capital expenditures to be approximately $850 million in 2017, primarily related to growth projects and pipeline system maintenance.

Boardwalk Pipeline anticipates that its existing capital resources, including its revolving credit facility, subordinated loan agreement and cash flows from operating activities, will be adequate to fund its operations for 2017. Boardwalk Pipeline may seek to access the capital markets to fund some or all capital expenditures for growth projects, acquisitions or for general business purposes. Boardwalk Pipeline’s ability to access the capital markets for equity and debt financing under reasonable terms depends on its financial condition, credit ratings and market conditions.

 

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INVESTMENTS

Investment activities of non-insurance subsidiaries primarily include investments in fixed income securities, including short term investments. The Parent Company portfolio also includes equity securities, including short sales and derivative instruments, and investments in limited partnerships. These types of investments generally present greater volatility, less liquidity and greater risk than fixed income investments and are included within Results of Operations – Corporate.

We enter into short sales and invest in certain derivative instruments that are used for asset and liability management activities, income enhancements to our portfolio management strategy and to benefit from anticipated future movements in the underlying markets. If such movements do not occur as anticipated, then significant losses may occur. Monitoring procedures include senior management review of daily reports of existing positions and valuation fluctuations to seek to ensure that open positions are consistent with our portfolio strategy.

Credit exposure associated with non-performance by counterparties to our derivative instruments is generally limited to the uncollateralized change in fair value of the derivative instruments recognized in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. We mitigate the risk of non-performance by monitoring the creditworthiness of counterparties and diversifying derivatives by using multiple counterparties. We occasionally require collateral from our derivative investment counterparties depending on the amount of the exposure and the credit rating of the counterparty.

Insurance

CNA maintains a large portfolio of fixed maturity and equity securities, including large amounts of corporate and government issued debt securities, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, and other asset-backed securities and investments in limited partnerships which pursue a variety of long and short investment strategies across a broad array of asset classes. CNA’s investment portfolio supports its obligation to pay future insurance claims and provides investment returns which are an important part of CNA’s overall profitability.

Net Investment Income

The significant components of CNA’s Net investment income are presented in the following table:

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017        2016        

 

 
(In millions)                      

Fixed maturity securities:

         

Taxable

   $         347        $         345    

Tax-exempt

     108          101    

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

     455          446    

Limited partnership investments

     90          (14  

Other, net of investment expense

          3    

 

 

Net investment income before tax

   $ 545        $ 435    

 

 

Net investment income after tax and noncontrolling interests

   $ 349        $ 283    

 

 

Effective income yield for the fixed maturity securities portfolio, before tax

     4.8        4.8  

Effective income yield for the fixed maturity securities portfolio, after tax

     3.4        3.4  

Net investment income after tax and noncontrolling interests for the three months ended March 31, 2017 increased $66 million as compared with the 2016 period. The increase was primarily driven by limited partnership investments, which returned 3.8% in 2017 as compared with (0.6)% in the 2016 period. Income from fixed maturity securities, after tax and noncontrolling interests, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 increased $6 million as compared with the 2016 period, primarily due to an increase in the invested asset base.

 

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Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)

The components of CNA’s Net realized investment gains (losses) are presented in the following table:

 

Three Months Ended March 31    2017        2016        

 

 
(In millions)                      

Realized investment gains (losses):

         

Fixed maturity securities:

         

Corporate and other bonds

   $         29        $         (15  

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

     6          3    

Asset-backed

     (4        (6  

U.S. Treasury and obligations of government-sponsored enterprises

     1          1    

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

     32          (17  

Equity securities

          (5  

Derivative securities

     1          (7  

Short term investments and other

     1          1    

 

 

Total realized investment gains (losses)

     34          (28  

Income tax (expense) benefit

     (11        9    

Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (3        2    

 

 

Net realized investment gains (losses) attributable to Loews Corporation

   $ 20        $ (17  

 

 

Net realized investment results improved $37 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with the 2016 period, driven by the favorable period over period effect of net realized investment gains on sales of securities and lower OTTI losses recognized in earnings. Further information on CNA’s realized gains and losses, including OTTI losses, is set forth in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included under Item 1.

Portfolio Quality

The following table presents the estimated fair value and net unrealized gains of CNA’s fixed maturity securities by rating distribution:

 

     March 31, 2017     December 31, 2016  
     Estimated
Fair Value
    

Net
Unrealized
Gains

(Losses)

    Estimated
Fair Value
   

Net
Unrealized
Gains

(Losses)

 

 

 
(In millions)                          

U.S. Government, Government agencies and Government-sponsored enterprises

   $ 3,995         $ 28        $ 4,212       $ 32     

AAA

     1,832           117          1,881         110     

AA

     9,016           761          8,911         750     

A

     9,705           823          9,866         832     

BBB

     13,166           815          12,802         664     

Non-investment grade

     3,266           167          3,233         156     

 

 

Total

   $ 40,980         $ 2,711        $ 40,905       $ 2,544     

 

 

As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, only 2% of CNA’s fixed maturity portfolio was rated internally.

 

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The following table presents CNA’s available-for-sale fixed maturity securities in a gross unrealized loss position by ratings distribution:

 

March 31, 2017    Estimated
Fair Value
    Gross
  Unrealized  
Losses
 

 

 
(In millions)             

U.S. Government, Government agencies and Government-sponsored enterprises

   $ 2,154        $ 44      

AAA

     284          8      

AA

     591          18      

A

     833          20      

BBB

     1,819          37      

Non-investment grade

     737          15      

 

 

Total

   $ 6,418        $ 142      

 

 

The following table presents the maturity profile for these available-for-sale fixed maturity securities. Securities not due to mature on a single date are allocated based on weighted average life:

 

March 31, 2017    Estimated
Fair Value
    Gross
  Unrealized  
Losses
 

 

 
(In millions)             

Due in one year or less

   $ 90        $ 2      

Due after one year through five years

     816          10      

Due after five years through ten years

     4,083          82      

Due after ten years

     1,429          48      

 

 

Total

   $ 6,418        $ 142      

 

 

Duration

A primary objective in the management of CNA’s investment portfolio is to optimize return relative to corresponding liabilities and respective liquidity needs. CNA’s views on the current interest rate environment, tax regulations, asset class valuations, specific security issuer and broader industry segment conditions and domestic and global economic conditions, are some of the factors that enter into an investment decision. CNA also continually monitors exposure to issuers of securities held and broader industry sector exposures and may from time to time adjust such exposures based on its views of a specific issuer or industry sector.

A further consideration in the management of CNA’s investment portfolio is the characteristics of the corresponding liabilities and the ability to align the duration of the portfolio to those liabilities and to meet future liquidity needs, minimize interest rate risk and maintain a level of income sufficient to support the underlying insurance liabilities. For portfolios where future liability cash flows are determinable and typically long term in nature, CNA segregates investments for asset/liability management purposes. The segregated investments support the long term care and structured settlement liabilities in non-core operations.

The effective durations of CNA’s fixed maturity securities and short term investments are presented in the following table. Amounts presented are net of payable and receivable amounts for securities purchased and sold, but not yet settled.

 

    March 31, 2017     December 31, 2016  
 

 

 

 
    Estimated
Fair Value
    Effective
Duration
(Years)
    Estimated
Fair Value
    Effective
Duration
(Years)
 

 

 
(In millions of dollars)                        

Investments supporting non-core operations

  $ 15,957           8.8           $     15,724           8.7      

Other interest sensitive investments

    26,218           4.6           26,669           4.6      

 

     

 

 

   

Total

  $ 42,175           6.2           $ 42,393           6.1      

 

     

 

 

   

 

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The investment portfolio is periodically analyzed for changes in duration and related price risk. Additionally, CNA periodically reviews the sensitivity of the portfolio to the level of foreign exchange rates and other factors that contribute to market price changes. A summary of these risks and specific analysis on changes is included in the Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk under Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Short Term Investments

The carrying value of the components of CNA’s Short term investments are presented in the following table:

 

     March 31,      December 31,    
     2017      2016  

 

 
(In millions)              

Short term investments:

     

Commercial paper

   $ 769        $ 733      

U.S. Treasury securities

     175        433      

Money market funds

     52        44      

Other

     143        197      

 

 

Total short term investments

   $ 1,139        $ 1,407      

 

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Certain accounting policies require us to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reflected in the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements. Such estimates and judgments necessarily involve varying, and possibly significant, degrees of uncertainty. Accordingly, certain amounts currently recorded in the financial statements will likely be adjusted in the future based on new available information and changes in other facts and circumstances. See the Critical Accounting Estimates and the Insurance Reserves sections of our MD&A included under Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for further information.

ACCOUNTING STANDARDS UPDATE

For a discussion of accounting standards updates that have been adopted or will be adopted in the future, please see Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included under Item 1.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Investors are cautioned that certain statements contained in this Report as well as some statements in other SEC filings and periodic press releases and some oral statements made by us and our subsidiaries and our and their officials during presentations may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact and may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements. Such statements may contain the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. In addition, any statement concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible actions taken by us or our subsidiaries are also forward-looking statements as defined by the Act. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected.

Developments in any of the risks or uncertainties facing us or our subsidiaries, including those described under Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and in our other filings with the SEC, could cause our results to differ materially from results that have been or may be anticipated or projected. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update these statements to reflect any change in our expectations or beliefs or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

There were no material changes in our market risk components for the three months ended March 31, 2017. See the Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk included under Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for further information. Additional information related to portfolio duration and market conditions is discussed in the Investments section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included under Part I, Item 2.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

The Company maintains a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), which is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, including this Report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis. These disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management on a timely basis to allow decisions regarding required disclosure.

The Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive officer (“CEO”) and principal financial officer (“CFO”), concluded an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Report and, based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the Company’s controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2017.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2017 that have materially affected or that are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

Information on our legal proceedings is set forth in Notes 7 and 8 to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included under Part I, Item 1.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 includes a detailed discussion of certain risk factors facing the company. No updates or additions have been made to such risk factors as of March 31, 2017.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Items 2 (a) and (b) are inapplicable.

(c) STOCK REPURCHASES

 

Period   

(a) Total number

of shares

purchased

  

(b) Average

price paid per

share

  

(c) Total number of
shares purchased as

part of publicly
announced plans or
programs

  

(d) Maximum number of shares
(or approximate dollar value)

of shares that may yet be
purchased under the plans or
programs (in millions)

 

January 1, 2017 -

           

 January 31, 2017

   None    N/A    N/A    N/A

February 1, 2017 -

           

 February 28, 2017

   None    N/A    N/A    N/A

March 1, 2017 -

           

 March 31, 2017

   None    N/A    N/A    N/A

 

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Item 6. Exhibits.

 

Description of Exhibit    Exhibit  
Number  
 

 

 
Certification by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a)      31.1*  
Certification by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a)      31.2*  
Certification by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (as adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)      32.1*  
Certification by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (as adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)      32.2*  
XBRL Instance Document      101.INS *  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema      101.SCH *  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase      101.CAL *  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase      101.DEF *  
XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase      101.LAB *  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase      101.PRE *  

*Filed herewith.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 

   

LOEWS CORPORATION

    (Registrant)
Dated: May 1, 2017     By:   

/s/ David B. Edelson

      DAVID B. EDELSON
      Senior Vice President and
      Chief Financial Officer
      (Duly authorized officer
      and principal financial
      officer)

 

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