CNA Financial
CNA
#1660
Rank
$13.23 B
Marketcap
$48.91
Share price
0.74%
Change (1 day)
7.95%
Change (1 year)
CNA Financial Corporation is an American financial corporation providing a broad range of standard and specialized property and casualty insurance products and services for businesses and professional.

CNA Financial - 10-Q quarterly report FY


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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
   
þ  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009
OR
   
o  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 1-5823
 
CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
   
Delaware 36-6169860
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
   
333 S. Wabash  
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(312) 822-5000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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 þ No o
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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes o No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
       
Large accelerated filer þ Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o
  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No þ
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
   
Class Outstanding at October 29, 2009
Common Stock, Par value $2.50 269,026,759
 
 

 


 


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CNA Financial Corporation (CNAF)
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions, except per share data) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Revenues
                
Net earned premiums
 $1,707  $1,799  $5,035  $5,386 
Net investment income
  660   439   1,755   1,449 
Net realized investment losses, net of participating policyholders’ interests:
                
Other-than-temporary impairment losses
  (232)  (584)  (1,330)  (840)
Portion of other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in Other comprehensive income
  84      173    
 
            
 
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
  (148)  (584)  (1,157)  (840)
Other net realized investment gains (losses)
  48   (67)  228   27 
 
            
 
                
Net realized investment losses, net of participating policyholders’ interests
  (100)  (651)  (929)  (813)
 
                
Other revenues
  73   72   213   240 
 
            
 
                
Total revenues
  2,340   1,659   6,074   6,262 
 
            
 
                
Claims, Benefits and Expenses
                
Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits
  1,283   1,519   3,919   4,380 
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs
  365   355   1,063   1,083 
Other operating expenses
  272   294   814   724 
Interest
  34   33   95   100 
 
            
 
                
Total claims, benefits and expenses
  1,954   2,201   5,891   6,287 
 
            
 
                
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax
  386   (542)  183   (25)
Income tax (expense) benefit
  (108)  218   30   92 
 
            
 
                
Income (loss) from continuing operations
  278   (324)  213   67 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $9, $0 and $9
  (1)  9   (2)  10 
 
            
 
                
Net income (loss)
  277   (315)  211   77 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
  (14)  (16)  (38)  (40)
 
            
 
                
Net income (loss) attributable to CNAF
 $263  $(331) $173  $37 
 
            
 
                
Income (Loss) Attributable to CNAF Common Stockholders
                
 
                
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CNAF
 $264  $(340) $175  $27 
Less: Dividends on 2008 Senior Preferred
  (31)     (94)   
 
            
 
                
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CNAF common stockholders
  233   (340)  81   27 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to CNAF common stockholders
  (1)  9   (2)  10 
 
            
 
                
Income (loss) attributable to CNAF common stockholders
 $232  $(331) $79  $37 
 
            
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited).

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Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions, except per share data) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to CNAF Common Stockholders
                
 
                
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CNAF common stockholders
 $0.86  $(1.26) $0.30  $0.10 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to CNAF common stockholders
     0.03   (0.01)  0.04 
 
            
 
                
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to CNAF common stockholders
 $0.86  $(1.23) $0.29  $0.14 
 
            
 
                
Weighted Average Outstanding Common Stock and Common Stock Equivalents
                
 
                
Basic
  269.0   269.0   269.0   269.6 
 
            
 
                
Diluted
  269.2   269.1   269.1   269.6 
 
            
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited).

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CNA Financial Corporation (CNAF)
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Net income (loss)
 $277  $(315) $211  $77 
 
            
 
                
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
                
Changes in:
                
Net unrealized losses on investments with other-than-temporary impairments
  (36)     (70)   
Net other unrealized gains (losses) on investments
  1,906   (1,212)  3,815   (2,246)
 
            
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments
  1,870   (1,212)  3,745   (2,246)
Unrealized gains (losses) on discontinued operations and other
  5   (3)  5   (3)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
  39   (44)  110   (53)
Pension and postretirement benefits
  1   (2)  4   (5)
Allocation to participating policyholders
  (17)  10   (36)  24 
 
            
 
                
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
  1,898   (1,251)  3,828   (2,283)
 
            
 
                
Comprehensive income (loss)
  2,175   (1,566)  4,039   (2,206)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
  (14)  (16)  (38)  (40)
Other comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
  (18)  9   (29)  17 
 
            
 
                
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to CNAF
 $2,143  $(1,573) $3,972  $(2,229)
 
            
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited).

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CNA Financial Corporation (CNAF)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
         
  September 30,  December 31, 
(In millions, except share data) 2009  2008 
Assets
        
Investments:
        
Fixed maturity securities at fair value (amortized cost of $34,880 and $34,155)
 $34,718  $28,887 
Equity securities at fair value (cost of $639 and $1,016)
  972   871 
Limited partnership investments
  1,890   1,683 
Other invested assets
  6   28 
Short term investments
  4,075   3,534 
 
      
Total investments
  41,661   35,003 
Cash
  128   85 
Reinsurance receivables (less allowance for uncollectible receivables of $357 and $366)
  6,644   7,395 
Insurance receivables (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $211 and $221)
  1,720   1,818 
Accrued investment income
  429   356 
Receivables for securities sold and collateral
  235   402 
Deferred acquisition costs
  1,138   1,125 
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
  223   237 
Federal income tax recoverable (includes $428 and $299 due from Loews Corporation)
  434   294 
Deferred income taxes
  1,383   3,493 
Property and equipment at cost (less accumulated depreciation of $488 and $641)
  363   393 
Goodwill and other intangible assets
  141   141 
Other assets
  624   562 
Separate account business
  452   384 
 
      
Total assets
 $55,575  $51,688 
 
      
 
        
Liabilities and Equity
        
Liabilities:
        
Insurance reserves:
        
Claim and claim adjustment expenses
 $26,906  $27,593 
Unearned premiums
  3,392   3,406 
Future policy benefits
  7,864   7,529 
Policyholders’ funds
  200   243 
Collateral on loaned securities and derivatives
  1   6 
Payables for securities purchased
  502   12 
Participating policyholders’ funds
  55   20 
Long term debt
  2,056   2,058 
Reinsurance balances payable
  339   316 
Other liabilities
  2,553   2,824 
Separate account business
  452   384 
 
      
Total liabilities
  44,320   44,391 
 
      
 
        
Commitments and contingencies (Notes D, E, G, H, and J)
        
 
        
Equity:
        
Preferred stock (12,500,000 shares authorized)
2008 Senior Preferred (no par value; $100,000 stated value; 12,500 shares issued;
held by Loews Corporation)
  1,250   1,250 
Common stock ($2.50 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 273,040,243 shares issued;
and 269,026,759 and 269,024,408 shares outstanding)
  683   683 
Additional paid-in capital
  2,176   2,174 
Retained earnings
  7,046   6,845 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
  (247)  (3,924)
Treasury stock (4,013,484 and 4,015,835 shares), at cost
  (109)  (109)
Notes receivable for the issuance of common stock
  (30)  (42)
 
      
Total CNAF stockholders’ equity
  10,769   6,877 
Noncontrolling interests
  486   420 
 
      
Total equity
  11,255   7,297 
 
      
Total liabilities and equity
 $55,575  $51,688 
 
      
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited).

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CNA Financial Corporation (CNAF)
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
         
Nine months ended September 30      
(In millions) 2009  2008 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
        
Net income
 $211  $77 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows provided by operating activities:
        
(Income) loss from discontinued operations
  2   (10)
Loss on disposal of property and equipment
  13   1 
Deferred income tax provision
  81   6 
Trading portfolio activity
  (621)  472 
Net realized investment losses, net of participating policyholders’ interests
  929   813 
Undistributed (earnings) losses of equity method investees
  (151)  137 
Net amortization of investment discount
  (169)  (217)
Depreciation
  63   56 
Changes in:
        
Receivables, net
  849   712 
Accrued investment income
  (73)  (54)
Deferred acquisition costs
  (13)  4 
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
  14   (6)
Federal income taxes recoverable
  (140)  (276)
Insurance reserves
  (488)  (238)
Reinsurance balances payable
  23   (34)
Other assets
  (66)  (6)
Other liabilities
  (177)  (174)
Other, net
  4   5 
 
      
 
        
Total adjustments
  80   1,191 
 
      
 
        
Net cash flows provided by operating activities-continuing operations
 $291  $1,268 
 
      
Net cash flows used by operating activities-discontinued operations
 $(16) $(7)
 
      
Net cash flows provided by operating activities-total
 $275  $1,261 
 
      
 
        
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
        
Purchases of fixed maturity securities
 $(18,099) $(39,989)
Proceeds from fixed maturity securities:
        
Sales
  15,507   36,545 
Maturities, calls and redemptions
  2,568   3,374 
Purchases of equity securities
  (262)  (170)
Proceeds from sales of equity securities
  510   177 
Change in short term investments
  (460)  (165)
Change in collateral on loaned securities and derivatives
  (5)  (57)
Change in other investments
  101   (153)
Purchases of property and equipment
  (46)  (90)
Other, net
  2   3 
 
      
 
        
Net cash flows used by investing activities-continuing operations
 $(184) $(525)
 
      
Net cash flows provided by investing activities-discontinued operations
 $16  $17 
 
      
Net cash flows used by investing activities-total
 $(168) $(508)
 
      
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited).

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Nine months ended September 30      
(In millions) 2009  2008 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
        
Dividends paid to common stockholders
 $  $(122)
Dividends paid to Loews Corporation for 2008 Senior Preferred
  (94)   
Principal payments on debt
     (150)
Return of investment contract account balances
  (10)  (421)
Receipts on investment contract account balances
  3   3 
Stock options exercised
  1   1 
Purchase of treasury stock
     (70)
Other, net
  28   26 
 
      
 
        
Net cash flows used by financing activities-continuing operations
 $(72) $(733)
 
      
Net cash flows provided (used) by financing activities-discontinued operations
 $  $ 
 
      
Net cash flows used by financing activities-total
 $(72) $(733)
 
      
 
        
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash-continuing operations
  8   (6)
 
      
 
        
Net change in cash
  43   14 
 
        
Net cash transactions from continuing operations to discontinued operations
     17 
Net cash transactions from discontinued operations to continuing operations
     (17)
 
        
Cash, beginning of year
  85   101 
 
      
 
        
Cash, end of period
 $128  $115 
 
      
 
        
Cash-continuing operations
 $128  $115 
Cash-discontinued operations
      
 
      
Cash-total
 $128  $115 
 
      
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited).

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CNA Financial Corporation (CNAF)
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited)
         
Nine months ended September 30      
(In millions) 2009  2008 
Preferred Stock
        
Balance, beginning and end of period
 $1,250  $ 
 
      
 
        
Common Stock
        
Balance, beginning and end of period
  683   683 
 
      
 
        
Additional Paid-in Capital
        
Balance, beginning of period
  2,174   2,169 
Stock-based compensation and other
  2   3 
 
      
 
        
Balance, end of period
  2,176   2,172 
 
      
 
        
Retained Earnings
        
Balance, beginning of period
  6,845   7,285 
Cumulative effect adjustment from change in impairment accounting guidance
  122    
Dividends paid to common stockholders
     (122)
Dividends paid to Loews Corporation for 2008 Senior Preferred
  (94)   
Net income attributable to CNAF
  173   37 
 
      
 
        
Balance, end of period
  7,046   7,200 
 
      
 
        
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
        
Balance, beginning of period
  (3,924)  103 
Cumulative effect adjustment from change in impairment accounting guidance
  (122)   
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to CNAF
  3,799   (2,266)
 
      
 
        
Balance, end of period
  (247)  (2,163)
 
      
 
        
Treasury Stock
        
Balance, beginning of period
  (109)  (39)
Purchase of treasury stock
     (70)
 
      
 
        
Balance, end of period
  (109)  (109)
 
      
 
        
Notes Receivable for the Issuance of Common Stock
        
Balance, beginning of period
  (42)  (51)
Decrease in notes receivable for the issuance of common stock
  12   4 
 
      
 
        
Balance, end of period
  (30)  (47)
 
      
 
        
Total CNAF Stockholders’ Equity
  10,769   7,736 
 
      
 
        
Noncontrolling Interests
        
Balance, beginning of period
  420   385 
Net income
  38   40 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
  29   (17)
Other
  (1)  (4)
 
      
 
        
Balance, end of period
  486   404 
 
      
 
        
Total Equity
 $11,255  $8,140 
 
      
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited).

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CNA Financial Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Note A. Basis of Presentation
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) include the accounts of CNA Financial Corporation (CNAF) and its controlled subsidiaries. Collectively, CNAF and its subsidiaries are referred to as CNA or the Company. CNA’s property and casualty and remaining life and group insurance operations are primarily conducted by Continental Casualty Company (CCC), The Continental Insurance Company (CIC), Continental Assurance Company (CAC) and CNA Surety Corporation (CNA Surety). The Company owned approximately 62% of the outstanding common stock of CNA Surety as of September 30, 2009. Loews Corporation (Loews) owned approximately 90% of the outstanding common stock of CNAF as of September 30, 2009.
The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Certain financial information that is normally included in annual financial statements, including certain financial statement notes, prepared in accordance with GAAP, is not required for interim reporting purposes and has been condensed or omitted. These statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in CNAF’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the year ended December 31, 2008. The preparation of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
The interim financial data as of September 30, 2009 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 is unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s results for the interim periods. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. All significant intercompany amounts have been eliminated. For the period ended September 30, 2009, management has evaluated all subsequent events through the filing date of November 2, 2009.
Note B. Accounting Standards Updates
Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments
In April 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued updated accounting guidance, which amended the other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) loss model for fixed maturity securities. A fixed maturity security is impaired if the fair value of the security is less than its amortized cost basis, which is its cost adjusted for accretion, amortization and previously recorded OTTI losses. The updated accounting guidance requires an OTTI loss equal to the difference between fair value and amortized cost to be recognized in earnings if the Company intends to sell the fixed maturity security or if it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the fixed maturity security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.
The remaining fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position are evaluated to determine if a credit loss exists. If the Company does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of a fixed maturity security, the security is deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired for credit reasons. For these securities, the bifurcation of OTTI losses into a credit component and a non-credit component is required by the updated accounting guidance. The credit component is recognized in earnings and represents the difference between the present value of the future cash flows that the Company expects to collect and a fixed maturity security’s amortized cost basis. The non-credit component is recognized in other

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comprehensive income and represents the difference between fair value and the present value of the future cash flows that the Company expects to collect.
Prior to the adoption of the updated accounting guidance, OTTI losses were not bifurcated between credit and non-credit components. The difference between fair value and amortized cost was recognized in earnings for all securities for which the Company did not expect to recover the amortized cost basis, or for which the Company did not have the ability and intent to hold until recovery of fair value to amortized cost.
The adoption of this updated accounting guidance as of April 1, 2009 resulted in a cumulative effect adjustment of $122 million, net of tax, which was reclassified to Accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) from Retained earnings on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity. The cumulative effect adjustment represents the non-credit component of those previously impaired fixed maturity securities that are still considered OTTI, and the entire amount previously recorded as an OTTI loss on fixed maturity securities no longer considered OTTI as of April 1, 2009.
Note C. Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to CNAF’s common stockholders is based on weighted average outstanding shares. Basic earnings (loss) per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to CNAF by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings 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.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, approximately 160 thousand and 90 thousand potential shares attributable to exercises under stock-based employee compensation plans were included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share. For those same periods, approximately 1.7 million and 2.0 million potential shares attributable to exercises under stock-based employee compensation plans were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive.
For the three months ended September 30, 2008, as a result of the net loss, no potential shares attributable to exercises under stock-based employee compensation plans were included in the calculation of loss per share as the effect would have been antidilutive. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, approximately 60 thousand potential shares attributable to exercises under stock-based employee compensation plans were included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share. For that same period, approximately 1.1 million potential shares attributable to exercises under stock-based employee compensation plans were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive.
The 2008 Senior Preferred Stock (2008 Senior Preferred) was issued in November 2008 and accrues cumulative dividends at an initial rate of 10% per year. If declared, dividends are payable quarterly and any dividends not declared or paid when due will be compounded quarterly. Dividends of $31 million and $94 million on the 2008 Senior Preferred were declared and paid for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.
No common stock dividends were declared or paid for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2009. Dividends of $0.15 and $0.45 per share of common stock were declared and paid for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008.

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Note D. Investments
The significant components of net investment income are presented in the following table.
Net Investment Income
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Fixed maturity securities
 $496  $501  $1,458  $1,495 
Short term investments
  7   29   28   94 
Limited partnerships
  145   (77)  240   (70)
Equity securities
  11   18   39   62 
Trading portfolio – indexed group annuity (a)
     (22)     (103)
Trading portfolio – other (b)
  12   (1)  20   (1)
Other
  2   3   6   14 
 
            
 
                
Gross investment income
  673   451   1,791   1,491 
Investment expense
  (13)  (12)  (36)  (42)
 
            
 
                
Net investment income
 $660  $439  $1,755  $1,449 
 
            
 
(a)
 
The gains (losses) related to the indexed group annuity trading portfolio, including net unrealized gains (losses), were substantially offset by a corresponding change in the policyholders’ funds reserves supported by this trading portfolio, which was included in Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
 
(b)
 
Net unrealized gains on trading securities still held included in net investment income were $6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.
Net realized investment gains (losses) are presented in the following table.
Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Net realized investment gains (losses):
                
 
                
Fixed maturity securities:
                
Gross realized gains
 $148  $75  $352  $275 
Gross realized losses
  (260)  (390)  (1,214)  (750)
 
            
 
                
Net realized investment losses on fixed maturity securities
  (112)  (315)  (862)  (475)
 
                
Equity securities:
                
Gross realized gains
  20   10   97   21 
Gross realized losses
  (1)  (386)  (230)  (426)
 
            
 
                
Net realized investment gains (losses) on equity securities
  19   (376)  (133)  (405)
 
                
Derivatives
  (13)  35   51   47 
Short term investments and other
  6   5   15   20 
 
            
 
                
Net realized investment losses, net of participating policyholders’ interests
 $(100) $(651) $(929) $(813)
 
            

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The components of OTTI losses recognized in earnings by asset type are summarized in the following table.
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale:
                
 
                
Asset-backed securities:
                
Residential mortgage-backed securities
 $108  $29  $376  $142 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
  4   1   185   57 
Other asset-backed securities
        31   10 
 
            
Total asset-backed securities
  112   30   592   209 
 
                
States, municipalities and political subdivisions – tax-exempt securities
  12   1   27   1 
Corporate and other taxable bonds
  24   247   308   288 
Redeemable preferred stock
        9    
 
            
 
                
Total fixed maturity securities available-for-sale
  148   278   936   498 
 
            
 
                
Equity securities available-for-sale:
                
Common stock
     51   4   79 
Preferred stock
     255   217   263 
 
            
 
                
Total equity securities available-for-sale
     306   221   342 
 
            
 
                
Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings
 $148  $584  $1,157  $840 
 
            
A security is impaired if the fair value of the security is less than its cost adjusted for accretion, amortization and previously recorded OTTI losses, otherwise defined as an unrealized loss. When a security is impaired, the impairment is evaluated to determine whether it is temporary or other-than-temporary.
Significant judgment is required in the determination of whether an OTTI loss has occurred for a security. The Company follows a consistent and systematic process for determining and recording an OTTI loss. The Company has established a committee responsible for the OTTI process. This committee, referred to as the Impairment Committee, is made up of three officers appointed by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. The Impairment Committee is responsible for evaluating securities in an unrealized loss position on at least a quarterly basis.
The Impairment Committee’s assessment of whether an OTTI loss has occurred incorporates both quantitative and qualitative information. Fixed maturity securities that the Company intends to sell, or it more likely than not will be required to sell before recovery of amortized cost, are considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired and the entire difference between the amortized cost basis and fair value of the security is recognized as an OTTI loss in earnings. The remaining fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position are evaluated to determine if a credit loss exists. In order to determine if a credit loss exists, the factors considered by the Impairment Committee include (a) the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer, (b) whether the debtor is current on interest and principal payments, (c) credit ratings of the securities and (d) general market conditions and industry or sector specific outlook. The Company also considers results and analysis of cash flow modeling for asset-backed securities, and when appropriate, other fixed maturity securities. The focus of the analysis for asset-backed securities is on assessing the sufficiency and quality of underlying collateral and timing of cash flows based on scenario tests. If the present value of the modeled expected cash flows equals or exceeds the amortized cost of a security, no credit loss is judged to exist and the asset-backed security is deemed to be temporarily impaired. If the present value of the expected cash flows is less than amortized cost, the security is judged to be other-than-temporarily impaired for credit reasons and that shortfall, referred to as the credit component, is recognized as an OTTI loss in earnings. The difference between the adjusted amortized cost basis and fair value, referred to as the non-credit component, is recognized as an OTTI loss in Other comprehensive income.

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The Company performs the discounted cash flow analysis using distressed scenarios to determine future expectations regarding recoverability. For asset-backed securities significant assumptions enter into these cash flow projections including delinquency rates, probable risk of default, loss severity upon a default, over collateralization and interest coverage triggers, credit support from lower level tranches and impacts of rating agency downgrades. The discount rate utilized is either the yield at acquisition or, for lower rated structured securities, the current yield.
The Company applies the same impairment model as described above for the majority of the non-redeemable preferred stock securities. For all other equity securities, in determining whether the security is other-than-temporarily impaired, the Impairment Committee considers a number of factors including, but not limited to: (a) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost, (b) the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer, (c) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for an anticipated recovery in value and (d) general market conditions and industry or sector specific outlook.
Prior to the adoption of the updated accounting guidance related to OTTI in the second quarter of 2009 as further discussed in Note B, the Company applied the impairment model described in the paragraph above to both fixed maturity and equity securities.
The following table provides a summary of fixed maturity and equity securities.
Summary of Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities
                         
  Cost or  Gross  Gross Unrealized Losses  Estimated  Unrealized 
September 30, 2009 Amortized  Unrealized  Less than  12 Months  Fair  OTTI 
(In millions) Cost  Gains  12 Months  or Greater  Value  Losses 
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale:
                        
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of government agencies
 $223  $27  $1  $  $249  $ 
 
                        
Asset-backed securities:
                        
Residential mortgage-backed securities
  7,345   81   371   500   6,555   190 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
  760   4   4   161   599   6 
Other asset-backed securities
  701   12   1   40   672    
 
                  
Total asset-backed securities
  8,806   97   376   701   7,826   196 
 
                        
States, municipalities and political subdivisions – tax-exempt securities
  7,434   295   75   168   7,486    
Corporate and other taxable bonds
  17,752   1,233   281   214   18,490   25 
Redeemable preferred stock
  49   3      1   51    
 
                  
 
                        
Total fixed maturity securities available-for-sale
  34,264   1,655   733   1,084   34,102  $221 
 
                  
 
                        
Total fixed maturity securities trading
  616            616     
 
                  
 
                        
Equity securities available-for-sale:
                        
Common stock
  60   381      2   439     
Preferred stock
  579   39   18   67   533     
 
                  
 
                        
Total equity securities available-for-sale
  639   420   18   69   972     
 
                  
 
                        
Total
 $35,519  $2,075  $751  $1,153  $35,690     
 
                  

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Summary of Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities
                     
  Cost or  Gross  Gross Unrealized Losses  Estimated 
December 31, 2008 Amortized  Unrealized  Less than  12 Months  Fair 
(In millions) Cost  Gains  12 Months  or Greater  Value 
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale:
                    
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of government agencies
 $2,862  $69  $1  $  $2,930 
Asset-backed securities
  9,670   24   961   969   7,764 
States, municipalities and political subdivisions – tax-exempt securities
  8,557   90   609   623   7,415 
Corporate and other taxable bonds
  12,993   275   1,164   1,374   10,730 
Redeemable preferred stock
  72   1   23   3   47 
 
               
 
                    
Total fixed maturity securities available-for-sale
  34,154   459   2,758   2,969   28,886 
 
               
 
                    
Total fixed maturity securities trading
  1            1 
 
               
 
                    
Equity securities available-for-sale:
                    
Common stock
  134   190   1   3   320 
Preferred stock
  882   5   15   321   551 
 
               
 
                    
Total equity securities available-for-sale
  1,016   195   16   324   871 
 
               
 
                    
Total
 $35,171  $654  $2,774  $3,293  $29,758 
 
               
The amount of pretax net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities reclassified out of AOCI into earnings was $92 million and $989 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.
Activity for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and for the period from April 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009 related to the pretax fixed maturity credit loss component reflected within Retained earnings for securities still held at September 30, 2009 was as follows.
         
      Period from 
  Three Months ended  April 1, 2009 to 
(In millions) September 30, 2009  September 30, 2009 
Beginning balance of credit losses on fixed maturity securities
 $212  $192 
 
        
Additional credit losses for which an OTTI loss was previously recognized
  57   78 
Additional credit losses for which an OTTI loss was not previously recognized
  65   149 
Reductions for securities sold during the period
  (114)  (150)
Reductions for securities the Company intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell
  (11)  (60)
 
      
 
        
Ending balance of credit losses on fixed maturity securities
 $209  $209 
 
      
Based on current facts and circumstances, the Company has determined that no additional OTTI losses related to the securities in an unrealized loss position presented in the September 30, 2009 Summary of Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities table above are required to be recorded. A discussion of some of the factors reviewed in making that determination is presented below.
The classification between investment grade and non-investment grade presented in the discussion below is based on a ratings methodology that takes into account ratings from the three major providers, Standard & Poors (S&P), Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. (Moody’s) and Fitch Ratings (Fitch) in that order of preference. If a security is not rated by any of the three, the Company formulates an internal rating. For securities with credit support from third party guarantees, the rating reflects the greater of the underlying rating of the issuer or the insured rating.
The market disruption that emerged during 2008 has significantly subsided in the third quarter of 2009. The government has initiated programs intended to stabilize and improve markets and the economy. While

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the ultimate impact of these programs remains uncertain and economic conditions in the U.S. remain challenging, financial markets have shown improvement in the third quarter. Risk free interest rates approached multi-year lows and corporate credit spreads continued to narrow resulting in improvement in the Company’s unrealized position. However, fair market values in the asset-backed sector continue to be depressed due to continued concerns with underlying residential and commercial collateral.
Common stock holdings at September 30, 2009 were in a gross unrealized gain of $381 million. The majority of this gain was the Company’s common stock holdings in Verisk Analytics Inc. (Verisk), which began trading on October 7, 2009 after an initial public offering (IPO). The gross unrealized gain reflects this security valued using the IPO price as a significant input. The Company sold all of its common stock holdings in the IPO resulting in a pretax realized investment gain of $370 million that will be reflected in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Asset-Backed Securities
The fair value of total asset-backed holdings at September 30, 2009 was $7,826 million which was comprised of over 2,125 different asset-backed structured securities. The fair value of these securities does not tend to be influenced by the credit of the issuer but rather the characteristics and projected cash flows of the underlying collateral. Each security has deal-specific tranche structures, credit support that results from the unique deal structure, particular collateral characteristics and other distinct security terms. As a result, seemingly common factors such as delinquency rates and collateral performance affect each security differently. Of these securities, 224 have underlying collateral that is either considered sub-prime or Alt-A in nature. The exposure to sub-prime residential mortgage (sub-prime) collateral and Alternative A residential mortgages that have lower than normal standards of loan documentation (Alt-A) collateral is measured by the original deal structure.
Residential mortgage-backed securities include 315 structured securities in a gross unrealized loss position. In addition, there were 49 agency mortgage-backed pass-through securities which are guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. Government in a gross unrealized loss position. The aggregate severity of the gross unrealized loss was approximately 17% of amortized cost.
Commercial mortgage-backed securities include 41 securities in a gross unrealized loss position. The aggregate severity of the gross unrealized loss was approximately 24% of amortized cost.
Other asset-backed securities include 27 securities in a gross unrealized loss position. The aggregate severity of the gross unrealized loss was approximately 12% of amortized cost.
The following table summarizes asset-backed securities in a gross unrealized loss position by ratings distribution at September 30, 2009.
Gross Unrealized Losses by Ratings Distribution
September 30, 2009
(In millions)
             
          Gross 
  Amortized  Estimated  Unrealized 
Rating Cost  Fair Value  Loss 
U.S. Government Agencies
 $409  $400  $9 
AAA
  2,730   2,363   367 
AA
  490   384   106 
A
  457   342   115 
BBB
  422   336   86 
Non-investment grade and equity tranches
  1,652   1,258   394 
 
         
Total
 $6,160  $5,083  $1,077 
 
         
The Company believes the unrealized losses are primarily attributable to broader economic conditions, liquidity concerns and wider than historical bid/ask spreads brought about as a result of portfolio liquidations and is not indicative of the quality of the underlying collateral. The Company has no current

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intent to sell these securities, nor is it more likely than not that it will be required to sell prior to recovery of amortized cost. Generally, non-investment grade securities consist of investments which were investment grade at the time of purchase but have subsequently been downgraded and primarily consist of holdings senior to the equity tranche. Additionally, the Company believes that the unrealized losses on these securities were not due to factors regarding credit worthiness, collateral shortfalls, or substantial changes in future cash flow expectations; accordingly, the Company has determined that there are no additional OTTI losses to be recorded at September 30, 2009.
States, Municipalities and Political Subdivisions – Tax-Exempt Securities
The tax-exempt portfolio consists primarily of special revenue and assessment bonds, representing 82% of the overall portfolio, followed by general obligation political subdivision bonds at 15% and state general obligation bonds at 3%.
The unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in tax-exempt municipal securities are due to market conditions in certain sectors or states that continue to lag behind the broader municipal market recovery. Market conditions in the tax-exempt sector have improved during 2009. However, yields for certain issuers and types of securities, such as auction rate and tobacco securitizations, continue to be higher than historical norms relative to after-tax returns on other fixed income alternatives. The holdings for all tax-exempt securities in this category include 249 securities in a gross unrealized loss position. The aggregate severity of the total gross unrealized losses was approximately 8% of amortized cost.
The following table summarizes the ratings distribution of tax-exempt securities in a gross unrealized loss position at September 30, 2009.
Gross Unrealized Losses by Ratings Distribution
September 30, 2009
(In millions)
             
          Gross 
  Amortized  Estimated  Unrealized 
Rating Cost  Fair Value  Loss 
AAA
 $1,127  $1,089  $38 
AA
  664   591   73 
A
  333   315   18 
BBB
  712   600   112 
Non-investment grade
  48   46   2 
 
         
Total
 $2,884  $2,641  $243 
 
         
The largest exposures at September 30, 2009 as measured by gross unrealized losses were special revenue bonds issued by several states backed by tobacco settlement funds with gross unrealized losses of $106 million, and several separate issues of Puerto Rico sales tax revenue bonds with gross unrealized losses of $45 million. All of these securities are investment grade.
The Company has no current intent to sell these securities, nor is it more likely than not that it will be required to sell prior to recovery of amortized cost. Additionally, the Company believes that the unrealized losses on these securities were not due to factors regarding credit worthiness; accordingly, the Company has determined that there are no additional OTTI losses to be recorded at September 30, 2009.
Corporate and Other Taxable Bonds
The holdings in this category include 405 securities in a gross unrealized loss position. The aggregate severity of the gross unrealized losses was approximately 12% of amortized cost.

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The following tables summarize corporate and other taxable bonds in a gross unrealized loss position at September 30, 2009 across industry sectors and by ratings distribution.
             
September 30, 2009     Estimated  Gross 
(In millions) Amortized Cost  Fair Value  Unrealized Loss 
Communications
 $287  $276  $11 
Consumer, Cyclical
  490   434   56 
Consumer, Non-cyclical
  275   256   19 
Energy
  315   296   19 
Financial
  1,962   1,670   292 
Industrial
  235   211   24 
Utilities
  469   419   50 
Other
  252   228   24 
 
         
 
            
Total
 $4,285  $3,790  $495 
 
         
Gross Unrealized Losses by Ratings Distribution
September 30, 2009
(In millions)
             
      Estimated  Gross 
Rating Amortized Cost  Fair Value  Unrealized Loss 
AAA
 $63  $57  $6 
AA
  80   79   1 
A
  951   864   87 
BBB
  1,900   1,686   214 
Non-investment grade
  1,291   1,104   187 
 
         
Total
 $4,285  $3,790  $495 
 
         
The unrealized losses on corporate and other taxable bonds are primarily attributable to lingering impacts of the broader credit market deterioration throughout 2008 that resulted in widening of credit spreads over risk free interest rates beyond historical norms. These conditions continue in certain sectors, such as financial, that the market continues to view as out of favor. Overall conditions in the corporate bond market have significantly improved throughout 2009 resulting in improvement in the Company’s unrealized position. The Company has no current intent to sell these securities, nor is it more likely than not that it will be required to sell prior to recovery of amortized cost. Additionally, the Company believes that the unrealized losses were not due to factors regarding credit worthiness; accordingly, the Company has determined that there are no additional OTTI losses to be recorded at September 30, 2009.
The Company has invested in securities with characteristics of both debt and equity investments, often referred to as hybrid debt securities. Such securities are typically debt instruments issued with long or extendable maturity dates, may provide for the ability to defer interest payments without defaulting and are usually lower in the capital structure of the issuer than traditional bonds. The financial industry sector presented above includes hybrid debt securities with an aggregate fair value of $711 million and an aggregate amortized cost of $899 million.
Non-Redeemable Preferred Stock
The unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in non-redeemable preferred stock were caused by factors similar to those that affected the Company’s corporate bond portfolio. Approximately 79% of the gross unrealized losses in this category come from securities issued by financial institutions and 21% from utilities. The holdings in this category include 23 securities in a gross unrealized loss position. The following table summarizes non-redeemable preferred stocks in a gross unrealized loss position at September 30, 2009 by ratings distribution.

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Gross Unrealized Losses by Ratings Distribution
September 30, 2009
(In millions)
             
          Gross 
      Estimated  Unrealized 
Rating Amortized Cost  Fair Value  Loss 
A
 $95  $81  $14 
BBB
  396   331   65 
Non-investment grade
  18   12   6 
 
         
Total
 $509  $424  $85 
 
         
The majority of securities in this category relate to the banking and mortgage industries. These securities continue to experience what the Company believes to be temporarily depressed valuations. The Company has no current intent to sell these securities, nor is it more likely than not it will be required to sell prior to recovery of amortized cost. Additionally, the Company believes that the unrealized losses on these securities were not due to factors regarding credit worthiness; accordingly, the Company has determined that there are no additional OTTI losses to be recorded at September 30, 2009. This evaluation was made on the basis that these securities possess characteristics similar to debt securities and that the issuers maintain their ability to pay dividends.
Contractual Maturity
The following table summarizes available-for-sale fixed maturity securities by contractual maturity at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain securities may be called or prepaid with or without call or prepayment penalties. Securities not due at a single date are allocated based on weighted average life.
                 
  September 30, 2009  December 31, 2008 
  Cost or  Estimated  Cost or  Estimated 
Contractual Maturity Amortized  Fair  Amortized  Fair 
(In millions) Cost  Value  Cost  Value 
Due in one year or less
 $1,206  $1,176  $3,105  $2,707 
Due after one year through five years
  10,058   9,990   10,295   9,210 
Due after five years through ten years
  8,998   8,928   5,929   4,822 
Due after ten years
  14,002   14,008   14,825   12,147 
 
            
 
                
Total
 $34,264  $34,102  $34,154  $28,886 
 
            
Auction Rate Securities
The investment portfolio includes auction rate securities which are primarily issued by student loan agencies from ten states and are substantially guaranteed by the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). The fair value of auction rate securities held at September 30, 2009 was $945 million, with no gross unrealized gains and gross unrealized losses of $75 million. The average rating on these holdings was AAA. At September 30, 2009, three auction rate securities, with a fair value of $68 million and gross unrealized losses of $20 million, were paying below market penalty rates.

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Limited Partnerships
The carrying value of limited partnerships as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was approximately $1.9 billion and $1.7 billion. At September 30, 2009, limited partnerships comprising 47% of the total carrying value are reported on a current basis through September 30, 2009 with no reporting lag, 43% are reported on a one month lag and the remainder are reported on more than a one month lag. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company had 78 and 82 active limited partnership investments. The number of limited partnerships held and the strategies employed provide diversification to the limited partnership portfolio and the overall invested asset portfolio. The Company generally does not invest in highly leveraged partnerships.
Of the limited partnerships held, 90% or approximately $1.7 billion in carrying value at September 30, 2009 and 89% or approximately $1.5 billion in carrying value at December 31, 2008, employ strategies that generate returns through investing in securities that are marketable while engaging in various management techniques primarily in public fixed income and equity markets. These hedge fund strategies include both long and short positions in fixed income, equity and derivative instruments. The hedge fund strategies may seek to generate gains from mispriced or undervalued securities, price differentials between securities, distressed investments, sector rotation, or various arbitrage disciplines. Within hedge fund strategies, approximately 46% are equity related, 28% pursue a multi-strategy approach, 21% are focused on distressed investments and 5% are fixed income related.
Limited partnerships representing 6% or $117 million at September 30, 2009 and 7% or $126 million at December 31, 2008 were invested in private equity. The remaining were invested in various other partnerships including real estate. The ten largest limited partnership positions held totaled $1,164 million and $915 million as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. Based on the most recent information available regarding the Company’s percentage ownership of the individual limited partnerships, the carrying value reflected on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets represents approximately 4% and 3% of the aggregate partnership equity at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, and the related income reflected on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations represents approximately 4% of the changes in partnership equity for all limited partnership investments for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.
The risks associated with limited partnership investments may include losses due to leveraging, short-selling, derivatives or other speculative investment practices. The use of leverage increases volatility generated by the underlying investment strategies.
Investment Commitments
As of September 30, 2009, the Company had committed approximately $254 million to future capital calls from various third-party limited partnership investments in exchange for an ownership interest in the related partnerships.
The Company invests in multiple bank loan participations as part of its overall investment strategy and has committed to additional future purchases and sales. The purchase and sale of these investments are recorded on the date that the legal agreements are finalized and cash settlement is made. As of September 30, 2009, the Company had commitments to purchase $295 million and sell $214 million of various bank loan participations. When loan participation purchases are settled and recorded they may contain both funded and unfunded amounts. An unfunded loan represents an obligation by the Company to provide additional amounts under the terms of the loan participation. The funded portions are reflected on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, while any unfunded amounts are not recorded until a draw is made under the loan facility. As of September 30, 2009, the Company had obligations on unfunded bank loan participations in the amount of $9 million.

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Note E. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company uses derivatives in the normal course of business, primarily in an attempt to reduce its exposure to market risk (principally interest rate risk, equity stock price risk and foreign currency risk) stemming from various assets and liabilities and credit risk (the ability of an obligor to make timely payment of principal and/or interest). The Company’s principal objective under such risk strategies is to achieve the desired reduction in economic risk, even if the position does not receive hedge accounting treatment. The Company infrequently applies hedge accounting treatment to derivative hedging transactions.
The Company’s use of derivatives is limited by statutes and regulations promulgated by the various regulatory bodies to which it is subject, and by its own derivative policy. The derivative policy limits the authorization to initiate derivative transactions to certain personnel. Derivatives entered into for hedging, regardless of the choice to designate hedge accounting, shall have a maturity that effectively correlates to the underlying hedged asset or liability. The policy prohibits the use of derivatives containing greater than one-to-one leverage with respect to changes in the underlying price, rate or index. The policy also prohibits the use of borrowed funds, including funds obtained through securities lending, to engage in derivative transactions.
The Company has exposure to economic losses due to interest rate risk arising from changes in the level of, or volatility of, interest rates. The Company attempts to mitigate its exposure to interest rate risk in the normal course of portfolio management which includes rebalancing its existing portfolios of assets and liabilities. In addition, various derivative financial instruments are used to modify the interest rate risk exposures of certain assets and liabilities. These strategies include the use of interest rate swaps, interest rate caps and floors, options, futures, forwards and commitments to purchase securities. These instruments are generally used to lock interest rates or market values, to shorten or lengthen durations of fixed maturity securities or investment contracts, or to hedge (on an economic basis) interest rate risks associated with investments and variable rate debt.
The Company is exposed to equity price risk as a result of its investment in equity securities and equity derivatives. Equity price risk results from changes in the level or volatility of equity prices, which affect the value of equity securities, or instruments that derive their value from such securities. The Company attempts to mitigate its exposure to such risks by limiting its investment in any one security or index. The Company may also manage this risk by utilizing instruments such as options, swaps, futures and collars to protect appreciation in securities held.
The Company has exposure to credit risk arising from the uncertainty associated with a financial instrument obligor’s ability to make timely principal and/or interest payments. The Company attempts to mitigate this risk by limiting credit concentrations, practicing diversification, and frequently monitoring the credit quality of issuers and counterparties. In addition, the Company may utilize credit derivatives such as credit default swaps (CDS) to modify the credit risk inherent in certain investments. Credit default swaps involve a transfer of credit risk from one party to another in exchange for periodic payments.
Foreign exchange rate risk arises from the possibility that changes in foreign currency exchange rates will impact the fair value of financial instruments denominated in a foreign currency. The Company’s foreign transactions are primarily denominated in British pounds, Euros and Canadian dollars. The Company typically manages this risk via asset/liability currency matching and through the use of foreign currency forwards.
In addition to the derivatives used for risk management purposes described above, the Company may also use derivatives for purposes of income enhancement. Income enhancement transactions are entered into with the intention of providing additional income or yield to a particular portfolio segment or instrument. Income enhancement transactions are limited in scope and primarily involve the sale of covered options in which the Company receives a premium in exchange for selling a call or put option.
The Company will also use CDS to sell credit protection against a specified credit event. In selling credit protection, CDS are used to replicate fixed income securities when credit exposure to certain issuers is not available or when it is economically beneficial to transact in the derivative market compared to the cash market alternative. Credit risk includes both the default event risk and market value exposure due to fluctuations in credit spreads. In selling CDS protection, the Company receives a periodic premium in

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exchange for providing credit protection on a single name reference obligation or a credit derivative index. If there is an event of default as defined by the CDS agreement, the Company is required to pay the counterparty the referenced notional amount of the CDS contract and in exchange the Company is entitled to receive the referenced defaulted security or the cash equivalent.
The tables below summarize CDS contracts where the Company sold credit protection as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. The fair value of the contracts represents the amount that the Company would have to pay at those dates to exit the derivative positions. The maximum amount of future payments assumes no residual value in the defaulted securities that the Company would receive as part of the contract terminations and is equal to the notional value of the CDS contracts. The largest single reference obligation as of September 30, 2009 represented 76% of the total notional value and was rated BBB. The largest single reference obligation as of December 31, 2008 represented 20% of the total notional value and was rated AAA.
Credit Ratings of Underlying Reference
   Obligations
             
  Fair Value of  Maximum Amount of  Weighted 
September 30, 2009 Credit Default  Future Payments under  Average Years 
(In millions) Swaps  Credit Default Swaps  to Maturity 
BBB
 $  $25   0.2 
B
     8   3.4 
 
         
Total
 $  $33   1.0 
 
         
Credit Ratings of Underlying Reference
   Obligations
             
  Fair Value of  Maximum Amount of  Weighted 
December 31, 2008 Credit Default  Future Payments under  Average Years 
(In millions) Swaps  Credit Default Swaps  to Maturity 
AAA/AA/A
 $(8) $40   12.3 
BBB
  (4)  55   3.1 
B
  (2)  8   4.1 
CCC and lower
  (29)  45   4.5 
 
         
Total
 $(43) $148   6.1 
 
         
Credit exposure associated with non-performance by the counterparties to derivative instruments is generally limited to the uncollateralized fair value of the asset related to the instruments recognized on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company attempts to mitigate the risk of non-performance by monitoring the creditworthiness of counterparties and diversifying derivatives to multiple counterparties. The Company generally requires that all over-the-counter derivative contracts be governed by an International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Master Agreement, and exchanges collateral under the terms of these agreements with its derivative investment counterparties depending on the amount of the exposure and the credit rating of the counterparty. The Company does not offset its net derivative positions against the fair value of the collateral provided. The fair value of cash collateral provided by the Company was $9 million and $74 million at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. The fair value of cash collateral received from counterparties was $1 million and $6 million at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
See Note F for information regarding the fair value of derivatives securities. The Company’s accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives not held in a trading portfolio is reported in Net realized investment gains (losses) on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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A summary of the recognized gains (losses) related to derivative financial instruments follows.
Recognized Gains (Losses)
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Without hedge designation
                
Interest rate swaps
 $  $4  $61  $6 
Credit default swaps — purchased protection
  (11)  53   (46)  64 
Credit default swaps — sold protection
     (4)  2   (13)
Total return swaps
        (2)   
Futures sold, not yet purchased
  (2)  (23)  21   (12)
Commitments to purchase government and municipal securities (TBAs)
     3      3 
Options embedded in convertible debt securities
     1      1 
Equity warrants
           (2)
Options written
        15    
 
                
Trading activities
                
Futures purchased
     (18)     (96)
Futures sold, not yet purchased
  (4)     (5)  1 
Currency forwards
           1 
 
            
 
                
Total
 $(17) $16  $46  $(47)
 
            
The derivatives held for trading purposes are carried at fair value with the related gains and losses included within Net investment income on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company’s derivative activities in the trading portfolio in 2009 are associated with the resumption of a trading portfolio for income enhancement purposes. The Company’s derivative activities in the trading portfolio in 2008 were associated with its pension deposit business, through which the Company was exposed to equity price risk associated with its indexed group annuity contracts. A corresponding increase or decrease was reflected in the Policyholders’ funds reserves supported by this trading portfolio, which was included in Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. During 2008, the Company exited the indexed group annuity portion of its pension deposit business.
A summary of the aggregate contractual or notional amounts and gross estimated fair values related to derivative financial instruments reported as Other invested assets or Other liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets follows. Embedded derivative instruments subject to bifurcation are reported together with the host contract, at fair value. 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.

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Derivative Financial Instruments
             
  Contractual/    
September 30, 2009 Notional  Estimated Fair Value 
(In millions) Amount  Asset  (Liability) 
Without hedge designation
            
Credit default swaps — purchased protection
 $159  $2  $(12)
Credit default swaps — sold protection
  33       
Futures sold, not yet purchased
  174       
Equity warrants
  2       
 
            
Trading activities
            
Futures sold, not yet purchased
  130       
 
         
 
            
Total
 $498  $2  $(12)
 
         
Derivative Financial Instruments
             
  Contractual/    
December 31, 2008 Notional  Estimated Fair Value 
(In millions) Amount  Asset  (Liability) 
Without hedge designation
            
Interest rate swaps
 $900  $  $(66)
Credit default swaps — purchased protection
  405   24   (2)
Credit default swaps — sold protection
  148      (43)
Equity warrants
  4       
 
         
 
            
Total
 $1,457  $24  $(111)
 
         
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, new derivative transactions entered into totaled approximately $8 billion and $18 billion in notional value while derivative termination activity totaled approximately $8 billion and $19 billion. The activity during the three months ended September 30, 2009 was primarily attributable to interest rate futures. The activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was primarily attributable to interest rate futures, interest rate options and interest rate swaps.

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Note F. 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.
The Company attempts to establish fair value as an exit price in an orderly transaction consistent with normal settlement market conventions. The Company is responsible for the valuation process and seeks to obtain quoted market prices for all securities. When quoted market prices in active markets are not available, the Company uses a number of methodologies to establish fair value estimates including: discounted cash flow models, prices from recently executed transactions of similar securities, or broker/dealer quotes, utilizing market observable information to the extent possible. In conjunction with modeling activities, the Company may use external data as inputs. The modeled inputs are consistent with observable market information, when available, or with the Company’s assumptions as to what market participants would use to value the securities. The Company also uses pricing services as a significant source of data. The Company monitors all the pricing inputs to determine if the markets from which the data is gathered are active. As further validation of the Company’s valuation process, the Company samples past fair value estimates and compares the valuations to actual transactions executed in the market on similar dates.

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Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below.
                 
              Total 
September 30, 2009             assets/(liabilities) 
(in millions) Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  at fair value 
Assets
                
Fixed maturity securities:
                
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of government agencies
 $731  $96  $  $827 
 
                
Asset-backed securities:
                
Residential mortgage-backed securities
     5,818   737   6,555 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
     388   211   599 
Other asset-backed securities
     384   288   672 
 
            
Total asset-backed securities
     6,590   1,236   7,826 
 
                
States, municipalities and political subdivisions - tax-exempt securities
     6,716   770   7,486 
Corporate and other taxable bonds
  139   17,617   772   18,528 
Redeemable preferred stock
     49   2   51 
 
            
Total fixed maturity securities
  870   31,068   2,780   34,718 
 
                
Equity securities
  478   484   10   972 
Derivative financial instruments, included in Other invested assets
        2   2 
Short term investments
  3,036   1,031   8   4,075 
Life settlement contracts, included in Other assets
        129   129 
Discontinued operations investments, included in Other liabilities
  25   107   16   148 
Separate account business
  59   353   40   452 
 
            
Total assets
 $4,468  $33,043  $2,985  $40,496 
 
            
 
                
Liabilities
                
Derivative financial instruments, included in Other liabilities
 $  $  $(12) $(12)
 
            
Total liabilities
 $  $  $(12) $(12)
 
            

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              Total 
December 31, 2008             assets/(liabilities) 
(in millions) Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  at fair value 
Assets
                
Fixed maturity securities
 $2,028  $24,367  $2,492  $28,887 
Equity securities
  567   94   210   871 
Derivative financial instruments, included in Other invested assets
        24   24 
Short term investments
  2,926   608      3,534 
Life settlement contracts, included in Other assets
        129   129 
Discontinued operations investments, included in Other liabilities
  83   59   15   157 
Separate account business
  40   306   38   384 
 
            
Total assets
 $5,644  $25,434  $2,908  $33,986 
 
            
 
                
Liabilities
                
Derivative financial instruments, included in Other liabilities
 $  $  $(111) $(111)
 
            
Total liabilities
 $  $  $(111) $(111)
 
            

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The tables below present a reconciliation for all assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.
                                 
          Net realized                    
          investment                    
      Net realized  gains (losses)                    
      investment  and net                    
      gains (losses)  change in                    
      and net  unrealized                  Unrealized gains 
      change in  appreciation                  (losses) on Level 
      unrealized  (depreciation)  Purchases,              3 assets and 
      appreciation  included in  sales,              liabilities held at 
      (depreciation)  other  issuances  Transfers  Transfers  Balance at  September 30, 
Level 3 Balance at  included in  comprehensive  and  into  out of  September 30,  2009 recognized 
(in millions) July 1, 2009  net income*  income  settlements  Level 3  Level 3  2009  in net income* 
Fixed maturity securities:
                                
Asset-backed securities:
                                
Residential mortgage-backedsecurities
 $808  $1  $62  $20  $  $(154) $737  $(1)
Commercial mortgage-backedsecurities
  175   (3)  28   11         211   (3)
Other asset-backed securities
  141   1   14   132         288    
 
                        
Total asset-backed securities
  1,124   (1)  104   163      (154)  1,236   (4)
 
                                
States, municipalities and political subdivisions-tax-exempt securities
  785      19   (34)        770    
Corporate and other taxable bonds
  730   (10)  67   63   5   (83)  772   (10)
Redeemable preferred stock
  1      1            2    
 
                        
Total fixed maturity securities
  2,640   (11)  191   192   5   (237)  2,780   (14)
 
                                
Equity securities
  209               (199)  10    
Derivative financial instruments, net
  (10)  (10)     10         (10)  (4)
Short term investments
        1   7         8    
Life settlement contracts
  126   8      (5)        129   5 
Discontinued operations investments
  13      3            16    
Separate account business
  38         3      (1)  40    
 
                        
Total
 $3,016  $(13) $195  $207  $5  $(437) $2,973  $(13)
 
                        

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      Net realized  Net realized                    
      investment  investment gains                    
      gains (losses)  (losses) and net                  Unrealized 
      and net  change in                  gains (losses) on 
      change in  unrealized                  Level 3 assets 
      unrealized  appreciation  Purchases,              and liabilities 
      appreciation  (depreciation)  sales,              held at 
      (depreciation)  included in other  issuances  Transfers  Transfers  Balance at  September 30, 
Level 3 Balance at  included in  comprehensive  and  into  out of  September 30,  2008 recognized 
(in millions) July 1, 2008  net loss*  loss  settlements  Level 3  Level 3  2008  in net loss* 
Fixed maturity securities
 $3,213  $(27) $(103) $(152) $138  $(87) $2,982  $(23)
Equity securities
  261      (1)  (23)     (23)  214    
Derivative financial instruments, net
  (67)  54      22         9   76 
Short term investments
                        
Life settlement contracts
  118   4      (1)        121   3 
Discontinued operations investments
  23      (2)  (1)        20    
Separate account business
  45      (7)  (1)  6      43    
 
                        
Total
 $3,593  $31  $(113) $(156) $144  $(110) $3,389  $56 
 
                        

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The tables below present a reconciliation for all assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.
                                 
      Net realized  Net realized                    
      investment  investment gains                    
      gains (losses)  (losses) and net                  Unrealized 
      and net  change in                  gains (losses) on 
      change in  unrealized                  Level 3 assets 
      unrealized  appreciation  Purchases,              and liabilities 
      appreciation  (depreciation)  sales,              held at 
      (depreciation)  included in other  issuances  Transfers  Transfers  Balance at  September 30, 
Level 3 Balance at  included in  comprehensive  and  into  out of  September 30,  2009 recognized 
(in millions) January 1, 2009  net income*  income  settlements  Level 3  Level 3  2009  in net income* 
Fixed maturity securities:
                                
Asset-backed securities:
                                
Residential mortgage-backed securities
 $782  $(22) $98  $(28) $71  $(164) $737  $(13)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
  186   (168)  170   (3)  26      211   (166)
Other asset-backed securities
  139   (29)  54   90   153   (119)  288   (31)
 
                        
Total asset-backed securities
  1,107   (219)  322   59   250   (283)  1,236   (210)
 
                                
States, municipalities and political subdivisions-tax-exempt securities
  750      74   (54)        770    
Corporate and other taxable bonds
  622   (15)  113   130   23   (101)  772   (15)
Redeemable preferred stock
  13   (9)  9   7      (18)  2   (9)
 
                        
Total fixed maturity securities
  2,492   (243)  518   142   273   (402)  2,780   (234)
 
                                
Equity securities
  210      (1)        (199)  10    
Derivative financial instruments, net
  (87)  15      62         (10)  (11)
Short term investments
        1   7         8    
Life settlement contracts
  129   24      (24)        129   7 
Discontinued operations investments
  15      3   (2)        16    
Separate account business
  38         3      (1)  40    
 
                        
Total
 $2,797  $(204) $521  $188  $273  $(602) $2,973  $(238)
 
                        

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      Net realized                       
      investment  Net realized                    
      gains (losses)  investment gains                    
      and net  (losses) and net                  Unrealized gains 
      change in  change in                  (losses) on Level 
      unrealized  unrealized  Purchases,              3 assets and 
      appreciation  appreciation  sales,              liabilities held at 
  Balance at  (depreciation)  (depreciation)  issuances  Transfers  Transfers  Balance at  September 30, 
Level 3 January 1,  included in  included in other  and  into  out of  September 30,  2008 recognized 
(in millions) 2008  net income*  comprehensive loss  settlements  Level 3  Level 3  2008  in net income* 
Fixed maturity securities
 $2,684  $(150) $(373) $(68) $1,392  $(503) $2,982  $(158)
Equity securities
  196   (2)  (4)  25   22   (23)  214   (4)
Derivative financial instruments, net
  2   55      (48)        9   7 
Short term investments
  85               (85)      
Life settlement contracts
  115   34      (28)        121   8 
Discontinued operations investments
  42      (2)  (3)     (17)  20    
Separate account business
  30      (11)  (2)  26      43    
 
                        
Total
 $3,154  $(63) $(390) $(124) $1,440  $(628) $3,389  $(147)
 
                        

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* Net realized and unrealized gains and losses shown above are reported in Net income (loss) as follows:
   
Major Category of Assets and Liabilities Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations Line Items
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale
  Net realized investment gains (losses)
 
  
Fixed maturity securities trading
 Net investment income
 
  
Equity securities
 Net realized investment gains (losses)
 
  
Derivative financial instruments held in a trading portfolio
 Net investment income
 
  
Derivative financial instruments, other
 Net realized investment gains (losses)
 
  
Life settlement contracts
 Other revenues
Securities shown in the Level 3 tables on the previous pages may be transferred in or out based on the availability of observable market information used to verify pricing sources or used in pricing models. The availability of observable market information varies based on market conditions and trading volume and may cause securities to move in and out of Level 3 from reporting period to reporting period.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, transfers into Level 3 related primarily to structured securities with underlying auto loan collateral and structured securities with residential and commercial mortgage collateral. These were previously valued using observable prices for similar securities, but due to decreased market activity, fair value is determined by cash flow models using market observable and unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs include estimates of future cash flows and the maturity assumption.
Securities transferred out of Level 3 included a large common stock holding in Verisk, which began trading on October 7, 2009 after an IPO as discussed in Note D. The Verisk holding had been previously valued using a discounted cash flow analysis model, adjusted for the Company’s assumption regarding an inherent lack of liquidity in the security. This security has been transferred to Level 2 based on the use of the observable IPO price as a significant input.
In addition, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, transfers out of Level 3 related primarily to structured securities with underlying auto loan collateral and structured securities with residential mortgage collateral. These structured securities with underlying auto loan and residential mortgage loan collateral are currently valued using observable market information and inputs from external pricing sources.
The following section describes the valuation methodologies used to measure different financial instruments at fair value, including an indication of the level in the fair value hierarchy in which the instrument is generally classified.
Fixed Maturity Securities
Level 1 securities include highly liquid government bonds within the U.S. Treasury securities and corporate and other taxable bond categories for which quoted market prices are available. Level 1 securities may also include securities that have firm sale commitments and prices that are not recorded until the settlement date. The remaining fixed maturity securities are valued using pricing for similar securities, recently executed transactions, cash flow models with yield curves, broker/dealer quotes and other pricing models utilizing observable inputs. The valuation for most fixed maturity securities is classified as Level 2. Securities within Level 2 include certain corporate bonds, municipal bonds, asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed pass-through securities and redeemable preferred stock. Securities are generally 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. These securities include certain corporate bonds, asset-backed securities, municipal bonds and redeemable preferred stock. Within corporate bonds and municipal bonds, Level 3 securities also include tax-exempt auction rate certificates. Fair value of auction rate securities is determined utilizing a pricing model with three primary inputs. The interest rate and spread inputs are observable from like instruments while the maturity date assumption is unobservable due to the uncertain nature of the principal prepayments prior to maturity.

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Equity Securities
Level 1 securities include publicly traded securities valued using quoted market prices. Level 2 securities are primarily non-redeemable preferred securities and common stocks valued using pricing for similar securities, recently executed transactions, broker/dealer quotes and other pricing models utilizing observable inputs. Level 3 securities include equity securities that are priced using 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, credit default swaps, equity warrants and options, are valued using inputs including broker/dealer quotes and are classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy due to a lack of transparency as to whether these quotes are based on information that is observable in the marketplace.
Short Term Investments
The valuation of 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 includes commercial paper, for which all inputs are observable. Level 3 securities include bank debt securities purchased within one year of maturity where broker/dealer quotes are significant inputs to the valuation and there is a lack of transparency to the market inputs used.
Life Settlement Contracts
The fair values of life settlement contracts are estimated using discounted cash flows based on the Company’s own assumptions for mortality, premium expense, and the rate of return that a buyer would require on the contracts, as no comparable market pricing data is available.
Discontinued Operations Investments
Assets relating to the Company’s discontinued operations include fixed maturity securities and short term investments. The valuation methodologies for these asset types have been described above.
Separate Account Business
Separate account business includes fixed maturity securities, equities and short term investments. The valuation methodologies for these asset types have been described above.
Financial Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value
The carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instrument assets and liabilities which are not measured at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are listed in the table below.
                 
  September 30, 2009 December 31, 2008
  Carrying Estimated Carrying Estimated
(In millions) Amount Fair Value Amount Fair Value
Financial assets
                
Notes receivable for the issuance of common stock
 $30  $30  $42  $42 
 
                
Financial liabilities
                
Premium deposits and annuity contracts
 $107  $110  $111  $113 
Long term debt
  2,056   1,953   2,058   1,585 

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The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of these financial assets and liabilities.
The fair values of notes receivable for the issuance of common stock were estimated using discounted cash flows utilizing interest rates currently offered for obligations securitized with similar collateral.
Premium deposits and annuity contracts were valued based on cash surrender values, estimated fair values or policyholder liabilities, net of amounts ceded related to sold business.
CNAF’s senior notes and debentures were valued based on quoted market prices. The fair value for other long term debt was estimated using discounted cash flows based on current incremental borrowing rates for similar borrowing arrangements.
The carrying amounts reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for Cash, Accrued investment income, Receivables for securities sold, Federal income taxes recoverable/payable, Collateral on loaned securities and derivatives, Payables for securities purchased, and certain other assets and other liabilities approximate fair value due to the short term nature of these items. These assets and liabilities are not listed in the table above.
Note G. 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 claims that are incurred but not reported (IBNR) as of the reporting date. The Company’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 field reserving trends and claims settlement practices, loss payments, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes. All of these factors can affect the estimation of claim and claim adjustment expense reserves.
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 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.
Catastrophes are an inherent risk of the property and casualty insurance business and have contributed to material period-to-period fluctuations in the Company’s results of operations and/or equity. The Company reported catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, of $23 million and $79 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 for events occurring in those periods. Catastrophe losses in 2009 related primarily to tornadoes, floods, hail and wind. The Company reported catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, of $248 million and $348 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 for events occurring in those periods. Catastrophe losses in 2008 related primarily to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. There can be no assurance that CNA’s ultimate cost for catastrophes will not exceed current estimates.
The following provides discussion of the Company’s Asbestos and Environmental Pollution (A&E) reserves.

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A&E Reserves
CNA’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries have actual and potential exposures related to A&E claims. The following table provides data related to CNA’s A&E claim and claim adjustment expense reserves.
A&E Reserves
                 
  September 30, 2009  December 31, 2008 
      Environmental      Environmental 
(In millions) Asbestos  Pollution  Asbestos  Pollution 
Gross reserves
 $1,912  $345  $2,112  $392 
Ceded reserves
  (821)  (119)  (910)  (130)
 
            
 
                
Net reserves
 $1,091  $226  $1,202  $262 
 
            
Asbestos
There was no asbestos-related net claim and claim adjustment expense reserve development recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The Company recorded $18 million of unfavorable asbestos-related net claim and claim adjustment expense reserve development for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The Company paid asbestos-related claims, net of reinsurance recoveries, of $111 million and $125 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.
The ultimate cost of reported claims, and in particular A&E claims, is subject to a great many uncertainties, including future developments of various kinds that CNA does not control and that are difficult or impossible to foresee accurately. With respect to the litigation identified, pending rulings are critical to the evaluation of the ultimate cost to the Company. Accordingly, the extent of losses beyond any amounts that may be accrued are not readily determinable at this time.
Some asbestos-related defendants have asserted that their insurance policies are not subject to aggregate limits on coverage. CNA has such claims from a number of insureds. Some of these claims involve insureds facing exhaustion of products liability aggregate limits in their policies, who have asserted that their asbestos-related claims fall within so-called “non-products” liability coverage contained within their policies rather than products liability coverage, and that the claimed “non-products” coverage is not subject to any aggregate limit. It is difficult to predict the ultimate size of any of the claims for coverage purportedly not subject to aggregate limits or predict to what extent, if any, the attempts to assert “non-products” claims outside the products liability aggregate will succeed. CNA’s policies also contain other limits applicable to these claims and the Company has additional coverage defenses to certain claims. CNA has attempted to manage its asbestos exposure by aggressively seeking to settle claims on acceptable terms. There can be no assurance that any of these settlement efforts will be successful, or that any such claims can be settled on terms acceptable to CNA. Where the Company cannot settle a claim on acceptable terms, CNA aggressively litigates the claim. However, adverse developments with respect to such matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and/or equity.
Certain asbestos claim litigation in which CNA is currently engaged is described below:
A.P. Green: On February 13, 2003, CNA announced it had resolved asbestos-related coverage litigation and claims involving A.P. Green Industries, A.P. Green Services and Bigelow-Liptak Corporation. Under the agreement, CNA is required to pay $70 million, net of reinsurance recoveries, over a ten year period commencing after the final approval of a bankruptcy plan of reorganization. The settlement received initial bankruptcy court approval on August 18, 2003. The debtor’s plan of reorganization includes an injunction to protect CNA from any future claims. The bankruptcy court issued an opinion on September 24, 2007 recommending confirmation of that plan. On July 25, 2008, the District Court affirmed the Bankruptcy

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Court’s ruling. Several insurers have appealed that ruling to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals; that appeal was argued on May 21, 2009 and the parties are awaiting the court’s decision.
Keasbey: CNA is engaged in insurance coverage litigation in New York State Court, filed in 2003, with a defendant class of underlying plaintiffs who have asbestos bodily injury claims against the former Robert A. Keasbey Company (Keasbey) (Continental Casualty Co. v. Employers Ins. of Wausau et al., No. 601037/03 (N.Y. County)). Keasbey, currently a dissolved corporation, was a seller and installer of asbestos-containing insulation products in New York and New Jersey. Thousands of plaintiffs have filed bodily injury claims against Keasbey. However, under New York court rules, asbestos claims are not cognizable unless they meet certain minimum medical impairment standards. Since 2002, when these court rules were adopted, only a small portion of such claims have met medical impairment criteria under New York court rules and as to the remaining claims, Keasbey’s involvement at a number of work sites is a highly contested issue.
CNA issued Keasbey primary policies for 1970-1987 and excess policies for 1971-1978. CNA has paid an amount substantially equal to the policies’ aggregate limits for products and completed operations claims in the confirmed CNA policies. Claimants against Keasbey allege, among other things, that CNA owes coverage under sections of the policies not subject to the aggregate limits, an allegation CNA vigorously contests in the lawsuit. In the litigation, CNA and the claimants seek declaratory relief as to the interpretation of various policy provisions.
On December 30, 2008, a New York appellate court entered a unanimous decision in favor of CNA on multiple alternative grounds including findings that claims arising out of Keasbey’s asbestos insulating activities are included within the products hazard/completed operations coverage, which has been exhausted; and that the defendant claimant class is subject to the affirmative defenses that CNA may have had against Keasbey, barring all coverage claims. The New York Court of Appeals has denied leave for a further appeal and, subject to a motion to reargue, the December 30, 2008 ruling in favor of CNA is final.
Burns & Roe: CNA has insurance coverage disputes related to asbestos bodily injury claims against a bankrupt insured, Burns & Roe Enterprises, Inc. (Burns & Roe). CNA allegedly provided primary liability coverage to Burns & Roe from 1956-1969 and 1971-1974, along with certain project-specific policies from 1964-1970. In September of 2007, CNA entered into an agreement in the Burns & Roe bankruptcy proceeding which provides that claims allegedly covered by CNA policies will be adjudicated in the tort system, with any coverage disputes related to those claims to be decided in coverage litigation. That agreement was included in the Burns & Roe Bankruptcy Plan which became final on June 15, 2009 and was not appealed. The potential outcome will depend on whether the plaintiffs can successfully prosecute their claims in the tort system and, further, whether those claims are covered by the CNA policies. Accordingly, the extent of losses beyond any amounts that may be accrued are not readily determinable at this time.
Direct Action Case — Montana: On March 22, 2002, a direct action was filed in Montana (Pennock, et al. v. Maryland Casualty, et al. First Judicial District Court of Lewis & Clark County, Montana) by eight individual plaintiffs (all employees of W.R. Grace & Co. (W.R. Grace)) and their spouses against CNA, Maryland Casualty and the State of Montana. This action alleges that the carriers failed to warn of or otherwise protect W.R. Grace employees from the dangers of asbestos at a W.R. Grace vermiculite mining facility in Libby, Montana. The Montana direct action is currently stayed because of W.R. Grace’s pending bankruptcy. On April 7, 2008, W.R. Grace announced a settlement in principle with the asbestos personal injury claimants committee subject to confirmation of a plan of reorganization by the bankruptcy court. The confirmation hearing is held in two phases. The first phase was held in June 2009. The second phase began in September 2009 and will continue through January 2010. The settlement in principle with the asbestos claimants has no present impact on the stay currently imposed on the Montana direct action and with respect to such claims, numerous factual and legal issues remain to be resolved that are critical to the final result, the outcome of which cannot be predicted with any reliability. These factors include: (a) the unclear nature and scope of any alleged duties owed to people exposed to asbestos and the resulting uncertainty as to the potential pool of potential claimants; (b) the potential application of Statutes of Limitation to many of the claims which may be made depending on the nature and scope of the alleged

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duties; (c) the unclear nature of the required nexus between the acts of the defendants and the right of any particular claimant to recovery; (d) the diseases and damages claimed by such claimants; (e) the extent that such liability would be shared with other potentially responsible parties; and (f) the impact of bankruptcy proceedings on claims resolution. Accordingly, the extent of losses beyond any amounts that may be accrued are not readily determinable at this time.
CNA is vigorously defending these and other cases and believes that it has meritorious defenses to the claims asserted. However, there are numerous factual and legal issues to be resolved in connection with these claims, and it is extremely difficult to predict the outcome or ultimate financial exposure represented by these matters. Adverse developments with respect to any of these matters could have a material adverse effect on CNA’s business, insurer financial strength and debt ratings, results of operations and/or equity.
Environmental Pollution
There was no environmental pollution net claim and claim adjustment expense reserve development recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The Company recorded $3 million of unfavorable environmental pollution net claim and claim adjustment expense reserve development for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The Company paid environmental pollution-related claims, net of reinsurance recoveries, of $36 million and $51 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.
Net Prior Year Development
The following tables and discussion include the net prior year development recorded for Standard Lines, Specialty Lines and Corporate & Other Non-Core. Favorable net prior year development of $75 million was recorded in the Life & Group Non-Core segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Included in this amount is the impact of a settlement reached in September 2009 with Willis Limited that resolves litigation related to the placement of personal accident reinsurance. Under the settlement agreement, Willis Limited agreed to pay the Company a total of $130 million, which is reported as a loss recovery of $94 million, net of reinsurance. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 for the Life & Group Non-Core segment, unfavorable net prior year development of $10 million was recorded.
The net prior year development presented below includes premium development due to its direct relationship to claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development. The net prior year development presented below includes the impact of commutations, but excludes the impact of increases or decreases in the allowance for uncollectible reinsurance.

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Three Month Comparison
Net Prior Year Development
Three months ended September 30, 2009
                 
          Corporate &    
  Standard  Specialty  Other Non-    
(In millions) Lines  Lines  Core  Total 
Pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development:
                
 
                
Core (Non-A&E)
 $(13) $(47) $1  $(59)
A&E
            
 
            
 
                
Pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year development before impact of premium development
  (13)  (47)  1   (59)
 
            
 
                
Pretax (favorable) unfavorable premium development
  12         12 
 
            
 
                
Total pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year development
 $(1) $(47) $1  $(47)
 
            
Net Prior Year Development
Three months ended September 30, 2008
                 
          Corporate &    
  Standard  Specialty  Other Non-    
(In millions) Lines  Lines  Core  Total 
Pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development:
                
 
                
Core (Non-A&E)
 $(4) $(68) $1  $(71)
A&E
        13   13 
 
            
 
                
Pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year development before impact of premium development
  (4)  (68)  14   (58)
 
            
 
                
Pretax (favorable) unfavorable premium development
  3   (2)  (3)  (2)
 
            
 
                
Total pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year development
 $(1) $(70) $11  $(60)
 
            
2009 Net Prior Year Development
Standard Lines
The favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was primarily due to favorable experience in general liability, partially offset by unfavorable experience in workers’ compensation.
Approximately $56 million of favorable development was primarily due to claims closing favorable to expectations on non-construction defect general liability exposures in accident years 2003 and prior.

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Approximately $47 million of unfavorable development was due to increased paid and incurred severity on workers’ compensation business, primarily in accident years 2004, 2007 and 2008 on small and middle markets business.
Specialty Lines
The favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was primarily due to favorable experience in professional liability, directors and officers and surety business.
Approximately $20 million of favorable development was recorded for professional liability coverages driven by lower than expected large claim frequency, primarily related to accountants and lawyers in accident years 2004 through 2006. Approximately $11 million of favorable development was primarily related to directors and officers coverages in accident years 2003 through 2006. This favorable development related primarily to lower than expected large claim frequency. An additional $7 million of favorable development was recorded for surety business primarily in accident years 2004, due to claims closing favorable to expectations, and 2006, due to lower than expected claim frequency.
2008 Net Prior Year Development
Standard Lines
The favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was primarily due to favorable experience in general liability and property coverages offset by unfavorable experience in workers’ compensation (including excess workers’ compensation coverages) and large account business.
For general liability excluding construction defect, $228 million in favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was due to decreased frequency and severity of claims across multiple accident years. The improvement was due to underwriting initiatives and favorable outcomes on individual claims. Favorable development of $207 million associated with construction defect exposures was due to lower severity resulting from various claim handling initiatives and lower than expected frequency of claims, primarily in accident years 1999 and prior. Claims handling initiatives have resulted in an increase in the number of claims closed without payment and increased recoveries from other parties involved in the claims. The lower construction defect frequency is due to underwriting initiatives designed to limit the exposure to future construction defect claims. For property exposures, $31 million of favorable development was primarily the result of decreased frequency and severity in recent years. The remaining favorable development was the result of favorable experience across several miscellaneous coverages in Standard Lines.
Unfavorable development of $248 million for workers’ compensation was primarily the result of the impact of claim cost inflation on lifetime medical and home health care claims in accident years 1999 and prior. The changes were driven by increased life expectancy due to advances in medical care and increasing medical inflation. Unfavorable development of $161 million for large account business was also driven primarily by workers’ compensation claim cost inflation primarily in accident years 2001 and prior. Unfavorable development of $90 million on excess workers’ compensation was due to claims in accident years 2002 and prior. Increasing medical inflation, increased life expectancy resulting from advances in medical care, and reviews of individual claims have resulted in higher cost estimates of existing claims and a higher estimate of the number of claims expected to reach excess layers. The remaining unfavorable development was driven primarily by commercial auto liability coverages in recent accident years due to an increase in frequency.

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Specialty Lines
The favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was primarily due to favorable experience in medical professional liability and surety business, partially offset by unfavorable experience in professional liability coverages.
Favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development of approximately $52 million for medical professional liability was primarily due to better than expected frequency of large losses in accident years 2005 and 2006 for healthcare facilities and medical technology firms. Favorable development of approximately $22 million for surety coverages was due to better than expected frequency in accident years 2002 through 2006. The remaining favorable development was due primarily to favorable outcomes on individual claims in accident years 2004 through 2006 for miscellaneous professional and general liability coverages.
Unfavorable development of approximately $18 million for professional liability coverages was primarily due to an increase in the frequency of large claims in older accident years.
Corporate & Other Non-Core
The unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was primarily related to the commutation of a ceded reinsurance arrangement. The unfavorable development was offset by a release of a previously established allowance for uncollectible reinsurance.

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Nine Month Comparison
Net Prior Year Development
Nine months ended September 30, 2009
                 
          Corporate &    
  Standard  Specialty  Other Non-    
(In millions) Lines  Lines  Core  Total 
Pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development:
                
 
                
Core (Non-A&E)
 $(123) $(128) $6  $(245)
A&E
            
 
            
 
                
Pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year development before impact of premium development
  (123)  (128)  6   (245)
 
            
 
                
Pretax (favorable) unfavorable premium development
  88   (3)  (3)  82 
 
            
 
                
Total pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year development
 $(35) $(131) $3  $(163)
 
            
Net Prior Year Development
Nine months ended September 30, 2008
                 
          Corporate &    
  Standard  Specialty  Other Non-    
(In millions) Lines  Lines  Core  Total 
Pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development:
                
 
                
Core (Non-A&E)
 $(54) $(50) $9  $(95)
A&E
        21   21 
 
            
 
                
Pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year development before impact of premium development
  (54)  (50)  30   (74)
 
            
 
                
Pretax (favorable) unfavorable premium development
  4   (20)  (3)  (19)
 
            
 
                
Total pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year development
 $(50) $(70) $27  $(93)
 
            
2009 Net Prior Year Development
Standard Lines
The favorable net prior year development was primarily due to favorable experience in property and general liability, partially offset by unfavorable experience in workers’ compensation.
Favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development of approximately $81 million was primarily due to experience in property coverages. Prior year catastrophe reserves decreased approximately $64 million, driven by the favorable settlement of several claims primarily in accident years 2005 and 2007, and better than expected frequency and severity on claims relating to catastrophes in accident year 2008. An additional $17 million of favorable development was due to non-catastrophe related favorable loss emergence on large property coverages, primarily in accident years 2007 and 2008. Additional favorable development of approximately $81 million was related to general liability exposures.

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Of this, $25 million was due to decreased frequency and severity trends related to construction defect exposures in accident years 2003 and prior. The remaining favorable development was primarily due to claims closing favorable to expectations on non-construction defect general liability exposures in accident years 2003 and prior.
Approximately $51 million of unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was due to increased paid and incurred severity on workers’ compensation business primarily in accident years 2004, 2007 and 2008 on small and middle markets business.
Approximately $40 million of unfavorable premium development was related to changes in estimated ultimate premium on retrospectively rated coverages. Additional unfavorable premium development was due to an estimated liability for an assessment related to a reinsurance association and less premium processing on auditable policies than expected.
Specialty Lines
The favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was primarily due to favorable experience in medical professional liability, professional liability, directors and officers and surety business.
Favorable development of approximately $25 million for medical professional liability was primarily due to better than expected frequency and severity in accident years 2005 and prior, including claims closing favorable to expectations. Additional favorable development of $35 million was recorded for professional liability coverages. This favorable experience was related to several items, including favorable experience on a number of large claims related to financial institutions in accident years 2003 and prior, decreased frequency of large claims in accident years 2007 and prior related to financial institutions, and lower than expected large claim frequency related to accountants and lawyers in accident years 2004 through 2006. Approximately $30 million of favorable development was primarily related to directors and officers coverages in accident years 2003 through 2006. This favorable development related primarily to lower than expected large claim frequency. An additional $7 million of favorable development was recorded for surety business primarily in accident years 2004, due to claims closing favorable to expectations, and 2006, due to lower than expected claim frequency. An additional $4 million of favorable development was a result of favorable outcomes on claims relating to catastrophes in accident year 2005.
2008 Net Prior Year Development
Standard Lines
The favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was primarily due to favorable experience in general liability and property coverages including marine exposures, partially offset by unfavorable experience in workers’ compensation (including excess workers’ compensation coverages) and large account business.
For general liability excluding construction defect, $254 million in favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was due to decreased frequency and severity of claims across multiple accident years. The improvement was due to underwriting initiatives and favorable outcomes on individual claims. Favorable development of $207 million associated with construction defect exposures was due to lower severity resulting from various claim handling initiatives and lower than expected frequency of claims, primarily in accident years 1999 and prior. Claims handling initiatives have resulted in an increase in the number of claims closed without payment and increased recoveries from other parties involved in the claims. The lower construction defect frequency is due to underwriting initiatives designed to limit the exposure to future construction defect claims. For property coverages including marine exposures, approximately $95 million of favorable development was primarily the result of decreased frequency and severity in recent years. The $95 million of favorable property and marine development

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includes approximately $29 million due to favorable outcomes on claims relating to catastrophes, primarily in accident year 2005.
Unfavorable development of $248 million for workers’ compensation was primarily the result of the impact of claim cost inflation on lifetime medical and home health care claims in accident years 1999 and prior. The changes were driven by increased life expectancy due to advances in medical care and increasing medical inflation. Unfavorable development of $161 million for large account business was also driven primarily by workers’ compensation claim cost inflation primarily in accident years 2001 and prior. Unfavorable development of $114 million on excess workers’ compensation was due to claims in accident years 2002 and prior. Increasing medical inflation, increased life expectancy resulting from advances in medical care, and reviews of individual claims have resulted in higher cost estimates of existing claims and a higher estimate of the number of claims expected to reach excess layers.
Specialty Lines
The favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was primarily due to favorable experience in medical professional liability, professional liability coverages in recent years, and surety business, partially offset by unfavorable experience in professional liability coverages in older years.
Favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development of approximately $52 million for medical professional liability was primarily due to better than expected frequency of large losses in accident years 2005 and 2006 for healthcare facilities and medical technology firms. Approximately $22 million of favorable development was recorded for professional liability coverages due primarily to favorable outcomes on individual claims in accident years 2004 through 2006. Favorable development of approximately $14 million for surety coverages was due to better than expected frequency in accident years 2002 through 2006.
Unfavorable development of approximately $33 million for professional liability coverages was primarily due to an increase in the frequency of large claims in older accident years.
The favorable premium development is primarily the result of a change in ultimate premiums within a foreign affiliate’s property and financial lines.
Corporate & Other Non-Core
The unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was primarily related to commutations of certain ceded reinsurance arrangements. The unfavorable development was offset by a release of a previously established allowance for uncollectible reinsurance.

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Note H. Legal Proceedings and Contingent Liabilities
Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation
On August 1, 2005, CNAF and several of its insurance subsidiaries were joined as defendants, along with other insurers and brokers, in multidistrict litigation pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation, Civil No. 04-5184 (FSH). The plaintiffs allege bid rigging and improprieties in the payment of contingent commissions in connection with the sale of insurance that violated federal and state antitrust laws, the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and state common law. After discovery, the District Court dismissed the federal antitrust claims and the RICO claims, and declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims. The plaintiffs have appealed the dismissal of their complaint to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The parties have filed their briefs on the appeal. Oral argument was held on April 21, 2009, and the Court took the matter under advisement. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses to this action and intends to defend the case vigorously.
The extent of losses beyond any amounts that may be accrued are not readily determinable at this time. However, based on facts and circumstances presently known, in the opinion of management, an unfavorable outcome will not materially affect the equity of the Company, although results of operations may be adversely affected.
California Long Term Care Litigation
Shaffer v. Continental Casualty Company, et al., U.S. District Court, Central District of California, CV06-2235 RGK, is a class action on behalf of certain California individual long term health care policyholders, alleging that CCC and CNAF knowingly or negligently used unrealistic actuarial assumptions in pricing these policies. On January 8, 2008, CCC, CNAF and the plaintiffs entered into a binding agreement settling the case on a nationwide basis for the policy forms potentially affected by the allegations of the complaint. Following a fairness hearing, the Court entered an order approving the settlement. This order was appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeal has been fully briefed. Oral argument has been scheduled for November 2009. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses to this appeal and intends to defend the appeal vigorously. The agreement did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, however it still remains subject to the favorable resolution of the appeal.
Asbestos and Environmental Pollution (A&E) Reserves
The Company is also a party to litigation and claims related to A&E cases arising in the ordinary course of business. See Note G for further discussion.
Other Litigation
The Company is also a party to other litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. Based on the facts and circumstances currently known, such other litigation will not, in the opinion of management, materially affect the equity or results of operations of the Company.

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Note I. Benefit Plans
The components of net periodic benefit plan cost (benefit) are presented in the following table.
Net Periodic Cost (Benefit)
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Pension cost (benefit)
                
Service cost
 $4  $5  $12  $15 
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
  38   37   115   110 
Expected return on plan assets
  (37)  (45)  (109)  (134)
Actuarial loss
  7   1   19   3 
 
            
 
                
Net periodic pension cost (benefit)
 $12  $(2) $37  $(6)
 
            
 
                
Postretirement benefit
                
Service cost
 $  $  $1  $1 
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
  3   2   7   6 
Prior service cost amortization
  (4)  (3)  (12)  (11)
Actuarial loss
           1 
 
            
 
                
Net periodic postretirement benefit
 $(1) $(1) $(4) $(3)
 
            

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Note J. Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company holds an investment in a real estate joint venture. In the normal course of business, CNA, on a joint and several basis with other unrelated insurance company shareholders, has committed to continue funding the operating deficits of this joint venture. Additionally, CNA and the other unrelated shareholders, on a joint and several basis, have guaranteed an operating lease for an office building, which expires in 2016. The guarantee of the operating lease is a parallel guarantee to the commitment to fund operating deficits; consequently, the separate guarantee to the lessor is not expected to be triggered as long as the joint venture continues to be funded by its shareholders and continues to make its annual lease payments.
In the event that the other parties to the joint venture are unable to meet their commitments in funding the operations of this joint venture, the Company would be required to assume the obligation for the entire office building operating lease. The Company does not believe it is likely that it will be required to do so. However, the maximum potential future lease payments at September 30, 2009 that the Company could be required to pay under this guarantee are approximately $133 million. If CNA were required to assume the entire lease obligation, the Company would have the right to pursue reimbursement from the other shareholders and the right to all sublease revenues.
In the normal course of business, CNA has provided letters of credit in favor of various unaffiliated insurance companies, regulatory authorities and other entities. At September 30, 2009, there were approximately $5 million of outstanding letters of credit.
The Company has entered into a limited number of guaranteed payment contracts, primarily relating to software and telecommunication services, amounting to approximately $15 million at September 30, 2009. Estimated future minimum payments under these contracts are $9 million in 2009, $3 million in 2010 and $3 million in 2011.
Guarantees
In the course of selling business entities and assets to third parties, the Company has agreed to indemnify purchasers for losses arising out of breaches of representation and warranties with respect to the business entities or assets being sold, including, in certain cases, losses arising from undisclosed liabilities or certain named litigation. Such indemnification provisions generally survive for periods ranging from nine months following the applicable closing date to the expiration of the relevant statutes of limitation. As of September 30, 2009, the aggregate amount of quantifiable indemnification agreements in effect for sales of business entities, assets and third party loans was $819 million.
In addition, the Company 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 September 30, 2009, the Company 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 liabilities. These indemnification agreements survive until the applicable statutes of limitation expire, or until the agreed upon contract terms expire.
As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company has recorded liabilities of approximately $16 million and $22 million related to indemnification agreements and management believes that it is not likely that any future indemnity claims will be significantly greater than the amounts recorded.
CNAF has also guaranteed certain collateral obligations of a large national contractor’s letters of credit. As of September 30, 2009, these guarantees aggregated $4 million. Payment under these guarantees is reasonably possible based on various factors, including the underlying credit worthiness of the contractor.

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In connection with the issuance of preferred securities by CNA Surety Capital Trust I (Issuer Trust), CNA Surety has also guaranteed the dividend payments and redemption of the preferred securities issued by the Issuer Trust. The maximum amount of undiscounted future payments the Company could make under the guarantee is approximately $58 million, consisting of annual dividend payments of approximately $1.1 million through April 2034 and the redemption value of $30 million. Because payment under the guarantee would only be required if the Company does not fulfill its obligations under the debentures held by the Issuer Trust, the Company has not recorded any additional liabilities related to this guarantee. There has been no change in the underlying assets of the trust and the Company does not believe that a payment is likely under this guarantee.

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Note K. Business Segments
CNA’s core property and casualty commercial insurance operations are reported in two business segments: Standard Lines and Specialty Lines. CNA’s non-core operations are managed in two segments: Life & Group Non-Core and Corporate & Other Non-Core.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note A of the Consolidated Financial Statements within CNA’s Form 10-K. The Company manages most of its assets on a legal entity basis, while segment operations are conducted across legal entities. As such, only insurance and reinsurance receivables, insurance reserves and deferred acquisition costs are readily identifiable by individual segment. Distinct investment portfolios are not maintained for each segment; accordingly, allocation of assets to each segment is not performed. Therefore, net investment income and realized investment gains or losses are allocated primarily based on each segment’s net carried insurance reserves, as adjusted. All significant intrasegment income and expense has been eliminated. Income taxes have been allocated on the basis of the taxable income of the segments.
In the following tables, certain financial measures are presented to provide information used by management to monitor the Company’s operating performance. Management utilizes these financial measures to monitor the Company’s insurance operations and investment portfolio. Net operating income, which is derived from certain income statement amounts, is used by management to monitor performance of the Company’s insurance operations. The Company’s investment portfolio is monitored through analysis of various quantitative and qualitative factors and certain decisions related to the sale or impairment of investments that produce realized gains and losses.
Net operating income (loss) is calculated by excluding from net income (loss) attributable to CNAF the after-tax effects of 1) net realized investment gains or losses, 2) income or loss from discontinued operations and 3) 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 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.
The Company’s investment portfolio is monitored by management through analyses of various factors including unrealized gains and losses on securities, portfolio duration and exposure to interest rate, market and credit risk. Based on such analyses, the Company may impair an investment security in accordance with its policy, or sell a security. Such activities will produce realized gains and losses.
The significant components of the Company’s continuing operations and selected balance sheet items are presented in the following tables.

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Three months ended             Corporate       
September 30, 2009 Standard  Specialty  Life & Group  & Other       
(In millions) Lines  Lines  Non-Core  Non-Core  Eliminations  Total 
Revenues
                        
Net earned premiums
 $702  $859  $149  $(3) $  $1,707 
Net investment income
  243   187   169   61      660 
Other revenues
  12   54   2   5      73 
 
                  
Total operating revenues
  957   1,100   320   63      2,440 
 
                        
Claims, benefits and expenses
                        
Net incurred claims and benefits
  519   533   199   25      1,276 
Policyholders’ dividends
  4   1   2         7 
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs
  169   191   5         365 
Other insurance related expenses
  95   63   45   1      204 
Other expenses
  9   59   7   27      102 
 
                  
Total claims, benefits and expenses
  796   847   258   53      1,954 
 
                        
Operating income from continuing operations before income tax
  161   253   62   10      486 
Income tax expense on operating income
  (49)  (81)  (11)  (1)     (142)
Net operating income, after-tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests
     (13)           (13)
 
                  
 
                        
Net operating income from continuing operations attributable to CNAF
  112   159   51   9      331 
 
                        
Net realized investment gains (losses), net of participating policyholders’ interests
  (69)  (35)  21   (17)     (100)
Income tax (expense) benefit on net realized investment gains (losses)
  24   11   (7)  6      34 
Net realized investment gains, after-tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests
     (1)           (1)
 
                  
 
                        
Net realized investment gains (losses) attributable to CNAF
  (45)  (25)  14   (11)     (67)
 
                  
 
                        
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CNAF
 $67  $134  $65  $(2) $  $264 
 
                  

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Three months ended             Corporate       
September 30, 2008 Standard  Specialty  Life & Group  & Other       
(In millions) Lines  Lines  Non-Core  Non-Core  Eliminations  Total 
Revenues
                        
Net earned premiums
 $762  $882  $154  $2  $(1) $1,799 
Net investment income
  136   121   135   47      439 
Other revenues
  13   59   (1)  1      72 
 
                  
Total operating revenues
  911   1,062   288   50   (1)  2,310 
 
                        
Claims, benefits and expenses
                        
Net incurred claims and benefits
  734   516   294   (19)     1,525 
Policyholders’ dividends
  (10)  2   2         (6)
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs
  174   177   4         355 
Other insurance related expenses
  87   79   51   6   (1)  222 
Other expenses
  20   52   7   26      105 
 
                  
Total claims, benefits and expenses
  1,005   826   358   13   (1)  2,201 
 
                        
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax
  (94)  236   (70)  37      109 
Income tax (expense) benefit on operating income (loss)
  41   (74)  34   (11)     (10)
Net operating (income) loss, after-tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests
     (17)     1      (16)
 
                  
 
                        
Net operating income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CNAF
  (53)  145   (36)  27      83 
 
                        
Net realized investment losses, net of participating policyholders’ interests
  (178)  (116)  (298)  (59)     (651)
Income tax benefit on net realized investment losses
  63   41   104   20      228 
Net realized investment (gains) losses, after-tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests
                  
 
                  
 
                        
Net realized investment losses attributable to CNAF
  (115)  (75)  (194)  (39)     (423)
 
                  
 
                        
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CNAF
 $(168) $70  $(230) $(12) $  $(340)
 
                  

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Nine months ended             Corporate       
September 30, 2009 Standard  Specialty  Life & Group  & Other       
(In millions) Lines  Lines  Non-Core  Non-Core  Eliminations  Total 
Revenues
                        
Net earned premiums
 $2,083  $2,505  $447  $2  $(2) $5,035 
Net investment income
  615   483   496   161      1,755 
Other revenues
  41   159   7   6      213 
 
                  
Total operating revenues
  2,739   3,147   950   169   (2)  7,003 
 
                        
Claims, benefits and expenses
                        
Net incurred claims and benefits
  1,507   1,554   773   69      3,903 
Policyholders’ dividends
  6   7   3         16 
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs
  498   550   15         1,063 
Other insurance related expenses
  239   185   138   3   (2)  563 
Other expenses
  40   155   64   87      346 
 
                  
Total claims, benefits and expenses
  2,290   2,451   993   159   (2)  5,891 
 
                        
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax
  449   696   (43)  10      1,112 
Income tax (expense) benefit on operating income (loss)
  (131)  (207)  46   3      (289)
Net operating income, after-tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests
     (38)           (38)
 
                  
 
                        
Net operating income from continuing operations attributable to CNAF
  318   451   3   13      785 
 
                        
Net realized investment losses, net of participating policyholders’ interests
  (418)  (247)  (156)  (108)     (929)
Income tax benefit on net realized investment losses
  146   80   55   38      319 
Net realized investment (gains) losses, after-tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests
                  
 
                  
 
                        
Net realized investment losses attributable to CNAF
  (272)  (167)  (101)  (70)     (610)
 
                  
 
                        
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CNAF
 $46  $284  $(98) $(57) $  $175 
 
                  
                         
September 30, 2009                        
(In millions)                        
Reinsurance receivables
 $2,135  $1,388  $1,759  $1,719  $  $7,001 
Insurance receivables
 $1,157  $767  $8  $(1) $  $1,931 
Deferred acquisition costs
 $300  $381  $457  $  $  $1,138 
Insurance reserves
                        
Claim and claim adjustment expenses
 $11,658  $8,618  $2,866  $3,764  $  $26,906 
Unearned premiums
  1,395   1,850   145   3   (1)  3,392 
Future policy benefits
        7,864         7,864 
Policyholders’ funds
  10   13   177         200 

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Nine months ended             Corporate       
September 30, 2008 Standard  Specialty  Life & Group  & Other       
(In millions) Lines  Lines  Non-Core  Non-Core  Eliminations  Total 
Revenues
                        
Net earned premiums
 $2,313  $2,614  $460  $2  $(3) $5,386 
Net investment income
  499   408   376   166      1,449 
Other revenues
  42   166   20   12      240 
 
                  
Total operating revenues
  2,854   3,188   856   180   (3)  7,075 
 
                        
Claims, benefits and expenses
                        
Net incurred claims and benefits
  1,877   1,641   822   28      4,368 
Policyholders’ dividends
  (3)  10   5         12 
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs
  528   545   10         1,083 
Other insurance related expenses
  193   182   152   8   (3)  532 
Other expenses
  44   144   17   87      292 
 
                  
Total claims, benefits and expenses
  2,639   2,522   1,006   123   (3)  6,287 
 
                        
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax
  215   666   (150)  57      788 
Income tax (expense) benefit on operating income (loss)
  (49)  (212)  81   (14)     (194)
Net operating income, after-tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests
     (40)           (40)
 
                  
 
                        
Net operating income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CNAF
  166   414   (69)  43      554 
 
                        
Net realized investment losses, net of participating policyholders’ interests
  (254)  (154)  (321)  (84)     (813)
Income tax benefit on net realized investment losses
  89   55   112   30      286 
Net realized investment (gains) losses, after-tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests
                  
 
                  
 
                        
Net realized investment losses attributable to CNAF
  (165)  (99)  (209)  (54)     (527)
 
                  
 
                        
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CNAF
 $1  $315  $(278) $(11) $  $27 
 
                  
                         
December 31, 2008                        
(In millions)                        
Reinsurance receivables
 $2,266  $1,496  $1,907  $2,092  $  $7,761 
Insurance receivables
 $1,264  $765  $6  $4  $  $2,039 
Deferred acquisition costs
 $293  $360  $472  $  $  $1,125 
Insurance reserves
                        
Claim and claim adjustment expenses
 $12,048  $8,282  $2,862  $4,401  $  $27,593 
Unearned premiums
  1,401   1,848   152   5      3,406 
Future policy benefits
        7,529         7,529 
Policyholders’ funds
  14   10   219         243 

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The following table provides revenue by line of business for each reportable segment. Revenues are comprised of operating revenues and net realized investment gains and losses, net of participating policyholders’ interests.
Revenue by Line of Business
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Standard Lines
                
Business Insurance
 $150  $140  $393  $450 
Commercial Insurance
  738   593   1,928   2,150 
 
            
 
                
Standard Lines revenue
  888   733   2,321   2,600 
 
            
 
                
Specialty Lines
                
U.S. Specialty Lines
  667   547   1,786   1,834 
Surety
  123   121   355   356 
Warranty
  70   70   191   218 
CNA Global
  205   208   568   626 
 
            
 
                
Specialty Lines revenue
  1,065   946   2,900   3,034 
 
            
 
                
Life & Group Non-Core
                
Life & Annuity
  80   (18)  167   15 
Health
  257   11   620   491 
Other
  4   (3)  7   29 
 
            
 
                
Life & Group Non-Core revenue
  341   (10)  794   535 
 
            
 
                
Corporate & Other Non-Core
                
CNA Re
  13      22   32 
Other
  33   (9)  39   64 
 
            
 
                
Corporate & Other Non-Core revenue
  46   (9)  61   96 
 
            
 
                
Eliminations
     (1)  (2)  (3)
 
            
 
                
Total revenue
 $2,340  $1,659  $6,074  $6,262 
 
            

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Note L. Discontinued Operations
CNA has discontinued operations, which consist of run-off insurance and reinsurance operations acquired in its merger with The Continental Corporation in 1995. The remaining run-off business is administered by Continental Reinsurance Corporation International, Ltd., a wholly-owned Bermuda subsidiary. The business consists of facultative property and casualty, treaty excess casualty and treaty pro-rata reinsurance with underlying exposure to a diverse, multi-line domestic and international book of business encompassing property, casualty and marine liabilities.
Results of the discontinued operations were as follows.
Discontinued Operations
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Revenues:
                
Net investment income
 $1  $2  $4  $6 
Net realized investment gains and other
  1   1   1   3 
 
            
Total revenues
  2   3   5   9 
Insurance related expenses
  3   3   7   8 
 
            
Income (loss) before income taxes
  (1)     (2)  1 
Income tax (expense) benefit
     9      9 
 
            
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
 $(1) $9  $(2) $10 
 
            
In the third quarter of 2008, the Company recognized a change in estimate of the tax benefit related to the 2007 sale of the Company’s United Kingdom discontinued operations subsidiary.
Net liabilities of discontinued operations, included in Other liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, were as follows.
Discontinued Operations
         
(In millions) September 30, 2009  December 31, 2008 
Assets:
        
Investments
 $148  $157 
Reinsurance receivables
  4   6 
Cash
      
Other assets
  2   1 
 
      
Total assets
  154   164 
 
        
Liabilities:
        
Insurance reserves
  150   162 
Other liabilities
  6   8 
 
      
Total liabilities
  156   170 
 
      
 
        
Net liabilities of discontinued operations
 $(2) $(6)
 
      
At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the insurance reserves are net of discount of $58 million and $75 million. The net income (loss) from discontinued operations reported above primarily represents the net investment income, realized investment gains and losses, foreign currency transaction gains and losses, effects of the accretion of the loss reserve discount and re-estimation of the ultimate claim and claim adjustment expense of the discontinued operations.

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CNA Financial Corporation
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
The following discussion highlights significant factors impacting the consolidated operations and financial condition of CNA Financial Corporation (CNAF) and its controlled subsidiaries (collectively CNA or the Company). References to “CNA,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” “us” or like terms refer to the business of CNA and its subsidiaries. Based on 2008 statutory net written premiums, we are the seventh largest commercial insurance writer and the thirteenth largest property and casualty insurance organization in the United States of America. References to net operating income (loss), net realized investment gains (losses) and net income (loss) used in this MD&A reflect amounts attributable to CNAF, unless otherwise noted.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 of Part I of this Form 10-Q and Item 1A Risk Factors and Item 7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, which are included in our Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the year ended December 31, 2008.
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 within this MD&A. These changes can be favorable or unfavorable. Net prior year development does not include the impact of related acquisition expenses. Further information on our reserves is provided in Note G of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1.

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CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS
Results of Operations
The following table includes our consolidated results of operations. For more detailed components of our business operations and the net operating income financial measure, see the segment discussions within this MD&A.
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Revenues
                
Net earned premiums
 $1,707  $1,799  $5,035  $5,386 
Net investment income
  660   439   1,755   1,449 
Other revenues
  73   72    213   240 
 
            
 
                
Total operating revenues
  2,440   2,310   7,003   7,075 
 
            
 
                
Claims, benefits and expenses
                
Net incurred claims and benefits
  1,276   1,525   3,903   4,368 
Policyholders’ dividends
  7   (6)  16   12 
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs
  365   355   1,063   1,083 
Other insurance related expenses
  204   222   563   532 
Other expenses
  102   105   346   292 
 
            
 
                
Total claims, benefits and expenses
  1,954   2,201   5,891   6,287 
 
            
 
                
Operating income from continuing operations before income tax
  486   109   1,112   788 
Income tax expense on operating income
  (142)  (10)  (289)  (194)
Net operating income, after-tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests
  (13)  (16)  (38)  (40)
 
            
 
                
Net operating income from continuing operations attributable to CNAF
  331   83   785   554 
 
                
Net realized investment losses, net of participating policyholders’ interests
  (100)  (651)  (929)  (813)
Income tax benefit on net realized investment losses
  34   228   319   286 
Net realized investment gains, after-tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests
  (1)         
 
            
Net realized investment losses attributable to CNAF
  (67)  (423)  (610)  (527)
 
                
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CNAF
  264   (340)  175   27 
 
                
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to CNAF, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $9, $0 and $9
  (1)  9   (2)  10 
 
            
 
                
Net income (loss) attributable to CNAF
 $263  $(331) $173  $37 
 
            
Three Month Comparison
Net results improved $594 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. This improvement was due to lower net realized investment losses and higher net operating income.
Net realized investment losses were $356 million lower for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008, driven by lower other-than-temporary-impairment (OTTI) losses recognized in earnings. See the Investments section of this MD&A for further discussion of net realized investment results.

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Net operating income improved $248 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. Net operating results improved $179 million for Standard and Specialty Lines and $69 million for our non-core operations. The improvement was primarily due to lower catastrophe losses and higher net investment income. Results were also favorably impacted by the after-tax gain of $61 million related to the Willis Limited settlement as further discussed in the Life & Group Non-Core segment discussion of this MD&A. Catastrophe losses were $15 million after-tax in the third quarter of 2009, as compared to catastrophe impacts of $168 million after-tax in the third quarter of 2008. Partially offsetting these favorable items was an unfavorable change in current accident year underwriting results excluding catastrophes. See the Investments section of this MD&A for further discussion of net investment income.
Favorable net prior year development of $47 million was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2009 related to our Standard Lines, Specialty Lines and Corporate & Other Non-Core segments. This amount reflected $59 million of favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $12 million of unfavorable premium development. Favorable net prior year development of $60 million was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2008 related to our Standard Lines, Specialty Lines and Corporate & Other Non-Core segments. This amount reflected $58 million of favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $2 million of favorable premium development. Further information on net prior year development for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 is included in Note G of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1.
Net earned premiums decreased $92 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008, including a $60 million decrease related to Standard Lines and a $23 million decrease related to Specialty Lines. See the Segment Results section of this MD&A for further discussion.
Results from discontinued operations decreased $10 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the same period in 2008, primarily driven by the recognition in 2008 of a change in estimate of the tax benefit related to the 2007 sale of our United Kingdom discontinued operations subsidiary.
Nine Month Comparison
Net income improved $136 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. This increase was primarily due to higher net operating income, partially offset by higher net realized investment losses.
Net realized investment losses increased $83 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008.
Net operating income improved $231 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. Net operating income increased $189 million for Standard and Specialty Lines and net results increased $42 million for our non-core operations. This improvement was primarily due to lower catastrophe losses, higher net investment income and the Willis Limited settlement referenced above. Catastrophe losses were $51 million after-tax for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to catastrophe impacts of $233 million after-tax for the same period in 2008. Partially offsetting these favorable items was an unfavorable change in current accident year underwriting results excluding catastrophes. Net investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 included indexed group annuity trading portfolio losses of $103 million. This trading portfolio supported the indexed group annuity portion of our pension deposit business which was exited during 2008. Excluding the trading portfolio losses in 2008, net investment income increased $203 million.
Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 included expense of $33 million related to our pension and postretirement plans, compared with a benefit of $9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Based on our current assumptions and pension trust investment performance in 2008, our estimated expense for pension and postretirement plans is approximately $45 million for the year ending December 31, 2009 as compared with a benefit of $14 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.

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Favorable net prior year development of $163 million was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 related to our Standard Lines, Specialty Lines and Corporate & Other Non-Core segments. This amount reflected $245 million of favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $82 million of unfavorable premium development. Favorable net prior year development of $93 million was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 related to our Standard Lines, Specialty Lines and Corporate & Other Non-Core segments. This amount reflected $74 million of favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $19 million of favorable premium development. Further information on net prior year development for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 is included in Note G of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1.
Net earned premiums decreased $351 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008, including a $230 million decrease related to Standard Lines and a $109 million decrease related to Specialty Lines. See the Segment Results section of this MD&A for further discussion.
Results from discontinued operations decreased $12 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the same period in 2008. The decrease was primarily due to the same reason discussed above in the three month comparison.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the amounts of revenues and expenses reported during the period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis. We continually evaluate the accounting policies and estimates used to prepare the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In general, our estimates are based on historical experience, evaluation of current trends, information from third party professionals and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the known facts and circumstances.
The accounting estimates below are considered by us to be critical to an understanding of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as their application places the most significant demands on our judgment.
 
Insurance Reserves
 
 
Reinsurance
 
 
Valuation of Investments and Impairment of Securities
 
 
Long Term Care Products
 
 
Pension and Postretirement Benefit Obligations
 
 
Legal Proceedings
 
 
Income Taxes
Due to the inherent uncertainties involved with these types of judgments, actual results could differ significantly from estimates and may have a material adverse impact on our results of operations or equity. See the Critical Accounting Estimates section of our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included under Item 7 of our Form 10-K for further information. During the second quarter of 2009, the Company adopted updated accounting guidance, which amended the OTTI loss model for fixed maturity securities, as discussed in Note B of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1.

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SEGMENT RESULTS
The following discusses the results of continuing operations for our operating segments. We utilize the net operating income financial measure to monitor our operations. Net operating income is calculated by excluding from net income (loss) attributable to CNAF the after-tax effects of 1) net realized investment gains or losses, 2) income or loss from discontinued operations and 3) any cumulative effects of changes in accounting guidance. See further discussion regarding how we manage our business in Note K of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1. In evaluating the results of our Standard Lines and Specialty Lines segments, we utilize 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.
STANDARD LINES
The following table details the results of operations for Standard Lines.
Results of Operations
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Net written premiums
 $632  $723  $2,156  $2,342 
Net earned premiums
  702   762   2,083   2,313 
Net investment income
  243   136   615   499 
Net operating income (loss)
  112   (53)  318   166 
Net realized investment losses, after-tax
  (45)  (115)  (272)  (165)
Net income (loss) attributable to CNAF
  67   (168)  46   1 
 
                
Ratios
                
Loss and loss adjustment expense
  74.0%  96.3%  72.4%  81.1%
Expense
  37.7   34.4   35.3   31.3 
Dividend
  0.5   (1.4)  0.3   (0.2)
 
            
 
                
Combined
  112.2%  129.3%  108.0%  112.2%
 
            
Three Month Comparison
Net written premiums for Standard Lines decreased $91 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. Despite favorable new business in the current three month period, premiums written declined in both our Business Insurance and Commercial Insurance groups primarily due to general economic conditions. Current economic conditions have led to decreased insured exposures, particularly in the construction industry due to smaller payrolls and reduced project volume. This, along with competitive market conditions, may continue to put ongoing pressure on premium and income levels and the expense ratio. Net earned premiums decreased $60 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008, consistent with the trend of lower net written premiums.
Standard Lines average rate was flat for the three months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to decreases of 5% for the three months ended September 30, 2008 for the policies that renewed during those periods. Retention rates of 80% and 81% were achieved for those policies that were available for renewal in each period.
Net results improved $235 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008, due to improved net operating results and lower net realized investment losses. See

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the Investments section of this MD&A for further discussion of the net realized investment results and net investment income.
Net operating results improved $165 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. This improvement was primarily driven by lower catastrophe losses and higher net investment income. Partially offsetting these favorable items was an unfavorable change in current accident year underwriting results excluding catastrophes.
The combined ratio improved 17.1 points for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. The loss ratio improved 22.3 points primarily due to decreased catastrophe losses, partially offset by the impact of higher current accident year non-catastrophe loss ratios. Catastrophe losses were $20 million, or 2.9 points of the loss ratio, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to $236 million, or 31.0 points of the loss ratio, for the same period in 2008.
Our estimates for the current accident year partially rely on the actuarial trends and results for recent accident years. The trends observed during the third quarter of 2009 indicated higher than anticipated claim costs in recent accident years, primarily in small and middle markets workers’ compensation lines of business, resulting in an increase in the full year 2009 accident year non-catastrophe loss ratio in the third quarter of 2009. The trends observed during the third quarter of 2008 were generally favorable across several lines of business, which resulted in a decrease in the full year 2008 accident year non-catastrophe loss ratio in the third quarter of 2008.
The expense ratio increased 3.3 points for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008, primarily related to higher underwriting expenses, unfavorable changes in estimates for insurance-related assessments, and the lower net earned premium base. Underwriting expenses increased primarily due to higher employee-related costs.
The dividend ratio increased 1.9 points for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. This increase was primarily due to favorable dividend reserve development recorded on workers’ compensation coverages in the third quarter of 2008.
Favorable net prior year development of $1 million was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2009, reflecting $13 million of favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $12 million of unfavorable premium development. Favorable net prior year development of $1 million, reflecting $4 million of favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $3 million of unfavorable premium development, was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2008. Further information on Standard Lines net prior year development for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 is included in Note G of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1.
Nine Month Comparison
Net written premiums for Standard Lines decreased $186 million and net earned premiums decreased $230 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008, due primarily to the same reasons discussed above in the three month comparison as well as increased unfavorable premium development recorded in 2009.
Standard Lines rate on average decreased 1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to decreases of 5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 for the policies that renewed during those periods. Retention rates of 81% were achieved for those policies that were available for renewal in both periods.
Net income improved $45 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. This increase was due to improved net operating income, partially offset by higher net realized investment losses.
Net operating income improved $152 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. This improvement was due primarily to the same reasons discussed above in the three month comparison.

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The combined ratio improved 4.2 points for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. The loss ratio improved 8.7 points primarily due to decreased catastrophe losses, partially offset by the impact of higher current accident year non-catastrophe loss ratios. Catastrophe losses were $72 million, or 3.5 points of the loss ratio, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to $334 million, or 14.5 points of the loss ratio, for the same period in 2008. The current accident year loss ratio, excluding catastrophe losses, was unfavorably impacted by large property losses in 2009 and the impact of higher loss ratios in the workers’ compensation line of business.
The expense ratio increased 4.0 points for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008, primarily related to the reasons discussed above in the three month comparison.
Favorable net prior year development of $35 million was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, reflecting $123 million of favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $88 million of unfavorable premium development. Favorable net prior year development of $50 million, reflecting $54 million of favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $4 million of unfavorable premium development, was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Further information on Standard Lines net prior year development for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 is included in Note G of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1.
The following table summarizes the gross and net carried reserves as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 for Standard Lines.
Gross and Net Carried
Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves
         
       
(In millions) September 30, 2009  December 31, 2008 
Gross Case Reserves
 $5,933  $6,158 
Gross IBNR Reserves
  5,725   5,890 
 
      
 
        
Total Gross Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves
 $11,658  $12,048 
 
      
 
        
Net Case Reserves
 $4,765  $4,995 
Net IBNR Reserves
  4,853   4,875 
 
      
 
        
Total Net Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves
 $9,618  $9,870 
 
      

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SPECIALTY LINES
The following table details the results of operations for Specialty Lines.
Results of Operations
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Net written premiums
 $845  $875  $2,508  $2,583 
Net earned premiums
   859   882   2,505   2,614 
Net investment income
  187   121   483   408 
Net operating income
  159   145   451   414 
Net realized investment losses, after-tax
  (25)  (75)  (167)  (99)
Net income attributable to CNAF
  134   70   284   315 
 
                
Ratios
                
Loss and loss adjustment expense
  62.1%  58.5%  62.0%  62.8%
Expense
  29.6   29.0   29.4   27.8 
Dividend
  0.2   0.3   0.3   0.4 
 
            
 
                
Combined
  91.9%  87.8%  91.7%  91.0%
 
            
Three Month Comparison
Net written premiums for Specialty Lines decreased $30 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. This decrease reflects lower net written premiums for CNA Global, partially offset by growth in U.S. Specialty lines. CNA Global written premiums were unfavorably impacted by current economic conditions and foreign exchange. Modest growth in U.S. Specialty written premiums was driven by strong rate increases in the financial institutions and directors and officers lines, partially offset by the impact of current economic conditions. The current economic conditions have led to decreased insured exposures in several lines, primarily the architects and engineers professional liability marketplace. This, along with the competitive market conditions, may continue to put ongoing pressure on premium and income levels and the expense ratio. Net earned premiums decreased $23 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008, consistent with the trend of lower net written premiums.
Specialty Lines average rate was flat for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to decreases of 3% for the three months ended September 30, 2008 for the policies that renewed during those periods. Retention rates of 84% were achieved for those policies that were available for renewal in both periods.
Net income improved $64 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. This improvement was primarily due to lower net realized investment losses. See the Investments section of this MD&A for further discussion of the net realized investment results and net investment income.
Net operating income improved $14 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. This improvement was primarily due to higher net investment income, partially offset by decreased favorable net prior year development and an unfavorable change in current accident year underwriting results.
The combined ratio increased 4.1 points for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. The loss ratio increased 3.6 points primarily due to less favorable net prior year development as discussed below and higher current accident year loss ratios recorded in several lines of business.
The expense ratio increased 0.6 points for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008, primarily related to the lower net earned premium base.

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Favorable net prior year development of $47 million, reflecting $47 million of favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and no premium development, was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2009. Favorable net prior year development of $70 million, reflecting $68 million of favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $2 million of favorable premium development, was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2008. Further information on Specialty Lines net prior year development for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 is included in Note G of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1.
Nine Month Comparison
Net written premiums for Specialty Lines decreased $75 million and net earned premiums decreased $109 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008, due primarily to the same reasons discussed above in the three month comparison.
Specialty Lines rate on average decreased 1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to decreases of 3% for the same period in 2008 for the policies that renewed during those periods. Retention rates of 85% and 84% were achieved for those policies that were available for renewal in each period.
Net income decreased $31 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. This decrease was due to higher net realized investment losses, partially offset by improved net operating income.
Net operating income improved $37 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008, primarily due to higher net investment income, increased favorable net prior year development and a $14 million favorable income tax adjustment related to our European operation. Partially offsetting these favorable items was an unfavorable change in current accident year underwriting results.
The combined ratio increased 0.7 points for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. The loss ratio improved 0.8 points due to increased favorable net prior year development as discussed below, partially offset by higher current accident year loss ratios recorded in several lines of business.
The expense ratio increased 1.6 points primarily due to increased underwriting expenses and the lower net earned premium base. Underwriting expenses increased primarily due to higher employee-related costs.
Favorable net prior year development of $131 million, reflecting $128 million of favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $3 million of favorable premium development, was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Favorable net prior year development of $70 million, reflecting $50 million of favorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $20 million of favorable premium development, was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Further information on Specialty Lines net prior year development for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 is included in Note G of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1.

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The following table summarizes the gross and net carried reserves as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 for Specialty Lines.
Gross and Net Carried
Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves
         
       
(In millions) September 30, 2009  December 31, 2008 
Gross Case Reserves
 $2,780  $2,719 
Gross IBNR Reserves
  5,838   5,563 
 
      
 
        
Total Gross Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves
 $8,618  $8,282 
 
      
 
        
Net Case Reserves
 $2,264  $2,149 
Net IBNR Reserves
  4,991   4,694 
 
      
 
        
Total Net Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves
 $7,255  $6,843 
 
      
LIFE & GROUP NON-CORE
The following table summarizes the results of operations for Life & Group Non-Core.
Results of Operations
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months Nine Months
(In millions) 2009 2008 2009 2008
Net earned premiums
 $149  $154  $447  $460 
Net investment income
  169   135   496   376 
Net operating income (loss)
  51   (36)  3   (69)
Net realized investment gains (losses), after-tax
  14   (194)  (101)  (209)
Net income (loss) attributable to CNAF
  65   (230)  (98)  (278)
Three Month Comparison
Net earned premiums for Life & Group Non-Core decreased $5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. Net earned premiums relate primarily to the group and individual long term care businesses.
Net results improved $295 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. The increase in net income was primarily due to improved net realized investment results and a settlement reached with Willis Limited that resolved litigation related to the placement of personal accident reinsurance. Under the settlement agreement, Willis Limited agreed to pay us a total of $130 million, which resulted in an after-tax gain of $61 million, net of reinsurance. Also impacting net income was favorable performance on our remaining pension deposit business. Certain of the separate account investment contracts related to our pension deposit business guarantee principal and an annual minimum rate of interest, for which we had previously recorded an additional pretax liability in Policyholders’ funds. Based on the increase in value of the investments supporting this business, we decreased this pretax liability by $18 million during the third quarter of 2009. During the third quarter of 2008 we increased this liability by $24 million. See the Investments section of this MD&A for further discussion of net investment income and net realized investment results. Partially offsetting these favorable items were unfavorable results in our long term care business.
Nine Month Comparison
Net earned premiums for Life & Group Non-Core decreased $13 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008.
Net loss decreased $180 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. The decrease in net loss was due to improved net realized investment results, the favorable

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Willis Limited settlement discussed above and favorable performance on our remaining pension deposit business. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the pretax liability related to principal and interest guarantees, as discussed above, was decreased by $36 million as compared with a $34 million increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. These favorable impacts were partially offset by a $28 million after-tax legal accrual recorded in the second quarter of 2009 related to a previously held limited partnership investment and unfavorable results in our long term care business. The limited partnership investment supported the indexed group annuity portion of our pension deposit business, which we exited during 2008.
Net investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 included trading portfolio losses of $103 million, which were substantially offset by a corresponding decrease in the policyholders’ funds reserves supported by the trading portfolio. This trading portfolio supported the indexed group annuity portion of our pension deposit business which was exited during 2008. That business had a net loss of $10 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.
CORPORATE & OTHER NON-CORE
The following table summarizes the results of operations for the Corporate & Other Non-Core segment, including Asbestos and Environmental Pollution (A&E) and intrasegment eliminations.
Results of Operations
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months Nine Months
(In millions) 2009 2008 2009 2008
Net investment income
 $61  $47  $161  $166 
Net operating income
  9   27   13   43 
Net realized investment losses, after-tax
  (11)  (39)  (70)  (54)
Net loss attributable to CNAF
  (2)  (12)  (57)  (11)
Three Month Comparison
Net loss decreased $10 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008 due primarily to lower net realized investment losses and higher net investment income. See the Investments section of this MD&A for further discussion of net investment income and net realized investment results. In the third quarter of 2008, net results were favorably impacted by a release from the allowance for uncollectible reinsurance receivables of $27 million after-tax arising from a change in estimate.
Unfavorable net prior year development of $1 million, reflecting $1 million of unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and no premium development, was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2009. Unfavorable net prior year development of $11 million, reflecting $14 million of unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $3 million of favorable premium development, was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2008. Further information on Corporate & Other Non-Core net prior year development for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 is included in Note G of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1.
Nine Month Comparison
Net loss increased $46 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008. This increase was primarily due to the release in allowance for uncollectible reinsurance receivables in 2008 and higher net realized investment losses in 2009.
Unfavorable net prior year development of $3 million, reflecting $6 million of unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $3 million of favorable premium development, was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Unfavorable net prior year development of $27 million, reflecting $30 million of unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $3 million of favorable premium development, was recorded

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for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Further information on Corporate & Other Non-Core net prior year development for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 is included in Note G of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1.
The following table summarizes the gross and net carried reserves as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 for Corporate & Other Non-Core.
Gross and Net Carried
Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves
         
       
(In millions) September 30, 2009  December 31, 2008 
Gross Case Reserves
 $1,596  $1,823 
Gross IBNR Reserves
  2,168   2,578 
 
      
 
        
Total Gross Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves
 $3,764  $4,401 
 
      
 
        
Net Case Reserves
 $1,000  $1,126 
Net IBNR Reserves
  1,408   1,561 
 
      
 
        
Total Net Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves
 $2,408  $2,687 
 
      
A&E Reserves
Our property and casualty insurance subsidiaries have actual and potential exposures related to asbestos and environmental pollution (A&E) claims. Further information on A&E claim and claim adjustment expense reserves and net prior year development is included in Note G of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1.
Asbestos
We have resolved a number of our large asbestos accounts by negotiating settlement agreements. Structured settlement agreements provide for payments over multiple years as set forth in each individual agreement.
In 1985, 47 asbestos producers and their insurers, including The Continental Insurance Company (CIC), executed the Wellington Agreement. The agreement was intended to resolve all issues and litigation related to coverage for asbestos exposures. Under this agreement, signatory insurers committed scheduled policy limits and made the limits available to pay asbestos claims based upon coverage blocks designated by the policyholders in 1985, subject to extension by policyholders. CIC was a signatory insurer to the Wellington Agreement.
We have also used coverage in place agreements to resolve large asbestos exposures. Coverage in place agreements are typically agreements with our policyholders identifying the policies and the terms for payment of asbestos related liabilities. Claim payments are contingent on presentation of documentation supporting the demand for claim payment. Coverage in place agreements may have annual payment caps. Coverage in place agreements are evaluated based on claim filing trends and severities.
We categorize active asbestos accounts as large or small accounts. We define a large account as an active account with more than $100 thousand of cumulative paid losses. We have made resolving large accounts a significant management priority. Small accounts are defined as active accounts with $100 thousand or less of cumulative paid losses. Approximately 80% and 81% of our total active asbestos accounts are classified as small accounts at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

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We also evaluate our asbestos liabilities arising from our assumed reinsurance business and our participation in various pools, including Excess & Casualty Reinsurance Association (ECRA).
We carry unassigned IBNR reserves for asbestos. These reserves relate to potential development on accounts that have not settled and potential future claims from unidentified policyholders.
The tables below depict our overall pending asbestos accounts and associated reserves at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
Pending Asbestos Accounts and Associated Reserves
                 
      Net Paid Losses  Net Asbestos  Percent of 
  Number of  in 2009  Reserves  Asbestos 
September 30, 2009 Policyholders  (In millions)  (In millions)  Net Reserves 
Policyholders with settlement agreements
                
Structured settlements
  18  $18  $136   12%
Wellington
  3   1   14   1 
Coverage in place
  38   12   96   9 
 
            
 
                
Total with settlement agreements
  59   31   246   22 
 
            
 
                
Other policyholders with active accounts
                
Large asbestos accounts
  256   59   191   17 
Small asbestos accounts
  997   13   82   8 
 
            
 
                
Total other policyholders
  1,253   72   273   25 
 
            
 
                
Assumed reinsurance and pools
     8   107   10 
Unassigned IBNR
        465   43 
 
            
 
                
Total
  1,312  $111  $1,091   100%
 
            
Pending Asbestos Accounts and Associated Reserves
                 
      Net Paid Losses  Net Asbestos  Percent of 
  Number of  in 2008  Reserves  Asbestos 
December 31, 2008 Policyholders  (In millions)  (In millions)  Net Reserves 
Policyholders with settlement agreements
                
Structured settlements
  18  $17  $133   11%
Wellington
  3   1   11   1 
Coverage in place
  36   16   94   8 
 
            
 
                
Total with settlement agreements
  57   34   238   20 
 
            
 
                
Other policyholders with active accounts
                
Large asbestos accounts
  236   62   234   19 
Small asbestos accounts
  1,009   32   91   8 
 
            
 
                
Total other policyholders
  1,245   94   325   27 
 
            
 
                
Assumed reinsurance and pools
     19   114   9 
Unassigned IBNR
        525   44 
 
            
 
                
Total
  1,302  $147  $1,202   100%
 
            
Some asbestos-related defendants have asserted that their insurance policies are not subject to aggregate limits on coverage. We have such claims from a number of insureds. Some of these claims involve insureds facing exhaustion of products liability aggregate limits in their policies, who have asserted that their asbestos-related claims fall within so-called “non-products” liability coverage contained within their policies rather than products liability coverage, and that the claimed “non-products” coverage is not subject

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to any aggregate limit. It is difficult to predict the ultimate size of any of the claims for coverage purportedly not subject to aggregate limits or predict to what extent, if any, the attempts to assert “non-products” claims outside the products liability aggregate will succeed. Our policies also contain other limits applicable to these claims and we have additional coverage defenses to certain claims. We have attempted to manage our asbestos exposure by aggressively seeking to settle claims on acceptable terms. There can be no assurance that any of these settlement efforts will be successful, or that any such claims can be settled on terms acceptable to us. Where we cannot settle a claim on acceptable terms, we aggressively litigate the claim. However, adverse developments with respect to such matters could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and/or equity.
We are involved in significant asbestos-related claim litigation, which is described in Note G of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1.
Environmental Pollution
We classify our environmental pollution accounts into several categories, which include structured settlements, coverage in place agreements and active accounts. Structured settlement agreements provide for payments over multiple years as set forth in each individual agreement.
We have also used coverage in place agreements to resolve pollution exposures. Coverage in place agreements are typically agreements with our policyholders identifying the policies and the terms for payment of pollution related liabilities. Claim payments are contingent on presentation of adequate documentation of damages during the policy periods and other documentation supporting the demand for claim payment. Coverage in place agreements may have annual payment caps.
We categorize active accounts as large or small accounts in the pollution area. We define a large account as an active account with more than $100 thousand cumulative paid losses. We have made closing large accounts a significant management priority. Small accounts are defined as active accounts with $100 thousand or less of cumulative paid losses. Approximately 74% and 73% of our total active pollution accounts are classified as small accounts as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
We also evaluate our environmental pollution exposures arising from our assumed reinsurance and our participation in various pools, including ECRA.
We carry unassigned IBNR reserves for environmental pollution. These reserves relate to potential development on accounts that have not settled and potential future claims from unidentified policyholders.

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The tables below depict our overall pending environmental pollution accounts and associated reserves at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
Pending Environmental Pollution Accounts and Associated Reserves
                 
          Net    
          Environmental  Percent of 
      Net Paid  Pollution  Environmental 
  Number of  Losses in 2009  Reserves  Pollution Net 
September 30, 2009 Policyholders  (In millions)  (In millions)  Reserve 
Policyholders with settlement agreements
                
Structured settlements
  14  $9  $9   4%
Coverage in place
  16   1   12   5 
 
            
Total with settlement agreements
  30   10   21   9 
 
                
Other policyholders with active accounts
                
Large pollution accounts
  119   14   39   17 
Small pollution accounts
  335   11   44   20 
 
            
Total other policyholders
  454   25   83   37 
 
                
Assumed reinsurance and pools
     1   27   12 
Unassigned IBNR
        95   42 
 
            
 
                
Total
  484  $36  $226   100%
 
            
Pending Environmental Pollution Accounts and Associated Reserves
                 
          Net    
          Environmental  Percent of 
      Net Paid Losses  Pollution  Environmental 
  Number of  in 2008  Reserves  Pollution Net 
December 31, 2008 Policyholders  (In millions)  (In millions)  Reserve 
Policyholders with settlement agreements
                
Structured settlements
  16  $5  $9   4%
Coverage in place
  16   3   13   5 
 
            
Total with settlement agreements
  32   8   22   9 
 
                
Other policyholders with active accounts
                
Large pollution accounts
  116   40   48   18 
Small pollution accounts
  320   11   41   16 
 
            
Total other policyholders
  436   51   89   34 
 
                
Assumed reinsurance and pools
     4   27   10 
Unassigned IBNR
        124   47 
 
            
 
                
Total
  468  $63  $262   100%
 
            

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INVESTMENTS
We maintain 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. Our investment portfolio supports our obligation to pay future insurance claims and provides investment returns which are an important part of our overall profitability.
For more than a year, capital and credit markets have experienced severe levels of volatility, illiquidity, uncertainty and overall disruption. This broader market disruption significantly subsided in the third quarter of 2009 in most asset sectors. The government has initiated programs intended to stabilize and improve markets and the economy. While the ultimate impact of these programs remains uncertain and economic conditions in the U.S. remain challenging, financial markets have shown improvement in the third quarter. Risk free interest rates approached multi-year lows and corporate credit spreads continued to narrow resulting in improvement in the Company’s unrealized position. However, fair market values in the asset-backed sector continue to be depressed due to continued concerns with underlying residential and commercial collateral.
Net Investment Income
The significant components of net investment income are presented in the following table.
Net Investment Income
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Fixed maturity securities
 $496  $501  $1,458  $1,495 
Short term investments
  7   29   28   94 
Limited partnerships
  145   (77)  240   (70)
Equity securities
  11   18   39   62 
Trading portfolio — indexed group annuity
     (22)     (103)
Trading portfolio — other
  12   (1)  20   (1)
Other
  2   3   6   14 
 
            
 
                
Gross investment income
  673   451   1,791   1,491 
Investment expense
  (13)  (12)  (36)  (42)
 
            
 
                
Net investment income
 $660  $439  $1,755  $1,449 
 
            
Net investment income for the three months ended September 30, 2009 increased $221 million as compared with the same period in 2008. The increase was primarily driven by improved results from limited partnership investments. This increase was partially offset by the impact of lower risk free and short term interest rates. Limited partnership investments generally present greater volatility, higher illiquidity, and greater risk than fixed income investments.
Net investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 increased $306 million as compared with the same period in 2008. Excluding indexed group annuity trading portfolio losses of $103 million in 2008, net investment income increased by $203 million driven by the same reasons discussed above in the three month comparison. The indexed group annuity trading portfolio losses were substantially offset by a corresponding decrease in the policyholders’ funds reserves supported by the trading portfolio, which was included in Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. We exited the indexed group annuity business in 2008.
The fixed maturity investment portfolio and short term investments provided a pretax effective income yield of 5.1% and 5.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.

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Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
The components of net realized investment results are presented in the following table.
                 
Periods ended September 30 Three Months  Nine Months 
(In millions) 2009  2008  2009  2008 
Fixed maturity securities:
                
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of government agencies
 $(34) $34  $(61) $20 
Corporate and other taxable bonds
  10   (289)  (259)  (328)
States, municipalities and political subdivisions — tax-exempt securities
  16   1   70   51 
Asset-backed securities
  (104)  (61)  (603)  (218)
Redeemable preferred stock
        (9)   
 
            
Total fixed maturity securities
  (112)  (315)  (862)  (475)
 
                
Equity securities
  19   (376)  (133)  (405)
Derivative securities
  (13)  35   51   47 
Short term investments
  2   4   10   11 
Other
  4   1   5   9 
 
            
 
                
Realized investment losses, net of participating policyholders’ interests
  (100)  (651)  (929)  (813)
Income tax benefit
  34   228   319   286 
Realized investment gains, after-tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests
  (1)         
 
            
 
                
Net realized investment losses attributable to CNAF
 $(67) $(423) $(610) $(527)
 
            
Net realized investment losses decreased by $356 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008, driven by decreased OTTI losses recognized in earnings. Net realized investment losses increased by $83 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008, driven by increased OTTI losses recognized in earnings. Further information on our realized gains and losses, including our OTTI losses and impairment decision process, is set forth in Note D of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1. During the second quarter of 2009, the Company adopted updated accounting guidance, which amended the OTTI loss model for fixed maturity securities, as discussed in Note B of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1.
Verisk Analytics Inc. began trading on October 7, 2009 after an initial public offering (IPO) through which we sold our entire position for $370 million. Since our cost basis in this position was zero, the entire amount will be recognized as a pretax realized investment gain in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Our fixed maturity portfolio consists primarily of high quality bonds, 89% and 91% of which were rated as investment grade (rated BBB- or higher) at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. The classification between investment grade and non-investment grade is based on a ratings methodology that takes into account ratings from the three major providers, Standard & Poors (S&P), Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. (Moody’s) and Fitch Ratings (Fitch) in that order of preference. If a security is not rated by any of the three, we formulate an internal rating. For securities with credit support from third party guarantees, the rating reflects the greater of the underlying rating of the issuer or the insured rating.
The following table summarizes the ratings of our fixed maturity portfolio at carrying value.
Fixed Maturity Ratings
                 
  September 30,      December 31,    
(In millions) 2009  %  2008  % 
U.S. Government and Agencies
 $3,270   9% $4,611   16%
AAA rated
  6,114   18   8,494   29 
AA and A rated
  12,142   35   8,166   29 
BBB rated
  9,429   27   5,029   17 
Non-investment grade
  3,763   11   2,587   9 
 
            
 
                
Total
 $34,718   100% $28,887   100%
 
            

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Non-investment grade fixed maturity securities, as presented in the table below, include high-yield securities rated below BBB- by bond rating agencies and other unrated securities that, according to our analysis, are below investment grade. Non-investment grade securities generally involve a greater degree of risk than investment grade securities. The increase in non-investment grade holdings primarily reflects the downgrade of previously investment grade rated asset-backed securities aggregating $1,226 million of fair value. The remaining change in non-investment grade was attributable to price appreciation and net sales. The amortized cost of our non-investment grade fixed maturity bond portfolio was $4,199 million and $3,709 million at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. The following table summarizes the ratings of this portfolio at carrying value.
Non-investment Grade
                 
Rating September 30,      December 31,    
(In millions) 2009  %  2008  % 
BB
 $1,251   33% $1,585   61%
B
  1,202   32   754   29 
CCC — C
  1,228   33   232   9 
D
  82   2   16   1 
 
            
Total
 $3,763   100% $2,587   100%
 
            
Included within the fixed maturity portfolio are securities that contain credit support from third party guarantees from mono-line insurers. The ratings on these securities reflect the greater of the underlying rating of the issuer or the insured rating. At September 30, 2009, $623 million of the carrying value of the fixed maturity portfolio had a third party guarantee that increased the underlying average rating of those securities from A+ to AA+. Of this amount, 93% was within the tax-exempt bond segment. The third party credit support on tax-exempt bonds is provided by five mono-line insurers, the largest exposure based on fair value being Financial Security Assurance Inc. at 68%, National Re Corporation at 17% and Assured Guarantee Corporation at 10%.
At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, approximately 98% and 97% of the fixed maturity portfolio was issued by U.S. Government and affiliated agencies or was rated by S&P or Moody’s. The remaining bonds were rated by other rating agencies or internally.
The carrying value of securities that are either subject to trading restrictions or trade in illiquid private placement markets at September 30, 2009 was $151 million, which represents less than 0.4% of our total investment portfolio. These securities were in a net unrealized gain position of $2 million at September 30, 2009.
The following table provides the composition of available-for-sale fixed maturity securities in a gross unrealized loss position at September 30, 2009 by maturity profile. Securities not due at a single date are allocated based on weighted average life.
Maturity Profile
         
  Percent of Percent of
  Fair Value Unrealized Loss
Due in one year or less
  4%  3%
Due after one year through five years
  26   24 
Due after five years through ten years
  23   29 
Due after ten years
  47   44 
 
        
 
        
Total
  100%  100%
 
        

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Duration
A primary objective in the management of the fixed maturity and equity portfolios is to optimize return relative to underlying liabilities and respective liquidity needs. Our views on the current interest rate environment, tax regulations, asset class valuations, specific security issuer and broader industry segment conditions, and the domestic and global economic conditions, are some of the factors that enter into an investment decision. We also continually monitor exposure to issuers of securities held and broader industry sector exposures and may from time to time adjust such exposures based on our views of a specific issuer or industry sector.
A further consideration in the management of the investment portfolio is the characteristics of the underlying liabilities and the ability to align the duration of the portfolio to those liabilities 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, we segregate investments for asset/liability management purposes.
The segregated investments support liabilities primarily in the Life & Group Non-Core segment including annuities, structured benefit settlements and long term care products. The remaining investments are managed to support the Standard Lines, Specialty Lines and Corporate & Other Non-Core segments.
The effective durations of fixed maturity securities, short term investments, non-redeemable preferred stocks and interest rate derivatives are presented in the table below. Short term investments are net of securities lending collateral and accounts payable and receivable amounts for securities purchased and sold, but not yet settled.
Effective Durations
                 
  September 30, 2009  December 31, 2008 
      Effective Duration      Effective Duration 
(In millions) Fair Value  (In years)  Fair Value  (In years) 
Segregated investments
 $10,427   11.4  $8,168   9.9 
       
Other interest sensitive investments
  28,627   4.3   25,194   4.5 
 
            
       
Total
 $39,054   6.2  $33,362   5.8 
 
            
The investment portfolio is periodically analyzed for changes in duration and related price change risk. Additionally, we periodically review 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 in Item 7A of our Form 10-K.

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Asset-Backed Mortgage Exposure
Asset-Backed Distribution
                 
September 30, 2009 Security Type 
(In millions) RMBS (a)  CMBS (b)  Other ABS (c)  Total 
U.S. Government Agencies
 $2,442  $  $  $2,442 
AAA
  1,910   378   516   2,804 
AA
  285   92   27   404 
A
  282   65   11   358 
BBB
  224   47   118   389 
Non-investment grade and equity tranches
  1,412   17      1,429 
 
            
Total Fair Value
 $6,555  $599  $672  $7,826 
 
            
Total Amortized Cost
 $7,345  $760  $701  $8,806 
 
            
 
                
Sub-prime (included above)
                
Fair Value
 $711  $  $  $711 
Amortized Cost
 $950  $  $  $950 
 
                
Alt-A (included above)
                
Fair Value
 $840  $  $  $840 
Amortized Cost
 $1,011  $  $  $1,011 
 
(a)
 
Residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS)
 
(b)
 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS)
 
(c)
 
Other asset-backed securities (Other ABS)
The exposure to sub-prime residential mortgage (sub-prime) collateral and Alternative A residential mortgages that have lower than normal standards of loan documentation (Alt-A) collateral is measured by the original deal structure. Of the securities with sub-prime exposure, approximately 61% were rated investment grade, while 65% of the Alt-A securities were rated investment grade. At September 30, 2009, $10 million of the carrying value of the sub-prime and Alt-A securities carried a third-party guarantee.
Pretax OTTI losses of $348 million for securities with sub-prime and Alt-A exposure were included in the $592 million of pretax OTTI losses related to asset-backed securities recognized in earnings on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Continued deterioration in these markets beyond our current expectations may cause us to reconsider and incur additional OTTI losses. See Note D of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1 for additional information related to unrealized losses on asset-backed securities.
Short Term Investments
The carrying value of the components of the short term investment portfolio is presented in the following table.
Short Term Investments
         
  September 30,  December 31, 
(In millions) 2009  2008 
Short term investments available-for-sale:
        
Commercial paper
 $730  $563 
U.S. Treasury securities
  2,279   2,258 
Money market funds
  251   329 
Other
  815   384 
 
      
 
        
Total short term investments
 $4,075  $3,534 
 
      
There was no cash collateral held related to securities lending at September 30, 2009 or December 31, 2008.

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash Flows
Our principal operating cash flow sources are premiums and investment income from our insurance subsidiaries. Our primary operating cash flow uses are payments for claims, policy benefits and operating expenses.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, net cash provided by operating activities was $275 million as compared with $1,261 million for the same period in 2008. Cash provided by operating activities in 2008 was favorably impacted by increased net sales of trading securities to fund policyholders’ withdrawals of investment contract products issued by us, which are reflected as financing cash flows. The primary source of these cash flows was the indexed group annuity portion of our pension deposit business which we exited in 2008. Additionally, during the second quarter of 2009 we resumed the use of a trading portfolio for income enhancement purposes. Because cash receipts and cash payments resulting from purchases and sales of trading securities are reported as cash flows related to operating activities, operating cash flows were reduced by $621 million related to net cash outflows which increased the size of the trading portfolio held at September 30, 2009.
Cash flows from investing activities include the purchase and sale of available-for-sale financial instruments. Additionally, cash flows from investing activities may include the purchase and sale of businesses, land, buildings, equipment and other assets not generally held for resale.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, net cash used by investing activities was $168 million as compared with $508 million for the same period in 2008. Cash flows used by investing activities related principally to purchases of fixed maturity securities and short term investments. The cash flow from investing activities is impacted by various factors such as the anticipated payment of claims, financing activity, asset/liability management and individual security buy and sell decisions made in the normal course of portfolio management.
Cash flows from financing activities include proceeds from the issuance of debt and equity securities, outflows for dividends or repayment of debt, outlays to reacquire equity instruments, and deposits and withdrawals related to investment contract products issued by us.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, net cash used by financing activities was $72 million as compared with $733 million for the same period in 2008. Net cash used by financing activities in 2009 was primarily related to the payment of dividends on the 2008 Senior Preferred stock to Loews Corporation.
Liquidity
We believe that our present cash flows from operations, investing activities and financing activities are sufficient to fund our working capital and debt obligation needs and we do not expect this to change in the near term due to the following factors:
  
We do not anticipate changes in our core property and casualty commercial insurance operations which would significantly impact liquidity and we continue to maintain reinsurance contracts which limit the impact of potential catastrophic events.
 
  
We have entered into several settlement agreements and assumed reinsurance contracts that require collateralization of future payment obligations and assumed reserves if our ratings or other specific criteria fall below certain thresholds. The ratings triggers are generally more than one level below our current ratings. A downgrade below our current ratings levels would also result in additional collateral requirements for derivative contracts for which we are in a liability position at any given point in time. The maximum potential collateralization requirements are approximately $70 million.
 
  
As of September 30, 2009, our holding company held short term investments of $414 million. Our holding company’s ability to meet its debt service and other obligations is significantly dependent on receipt of dividends from our subsidiaries. The payment of dividends to us by our insurance subsidiaries without prior approval of the insurance department of each subsidiary’s domiciliary jurisdiction is limited by formula. Notwithstanding this limitation, we believe that our

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holding company has sufficient liquidity to fund our preferred stock dividend and debt service payments through 2010.
We have an effective shelf registration statement under which we may issue $2.0 billion of debt or equity securities.

Accounting Standards Updates
For a discussion of accounting standards that have been adopted or recently issued accounting standards that will be adopted in the future, see Note B of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 1.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains a number of forward-looking statements which relate to anticipated future events rather than actual present conditions or historical events. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and generally include words such as “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this report include any and all statements regarding expected developments in our insurance business, including losses and loss reserves for asbestos and environmental pollution and other mass tort claims which are more uncertain, and therefore more difficult to estimate than loss reserves respecting traditional property and casualty exposures; the impact of routine ongoing insurance reserve reviews we are conducting; our expectations concerning our revenues, earnings, expenses and investment activities; expected cost savings and other results from our expense reduction activities; and our proposed actions in response to trends in our business. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to a variety of inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected in the forward-looking statement. We cannot control many of these risks and uncertainties. Some examples of these risks and uncertainties are:
 
conditions in the capital and credit markets including severe levels of volatility, illiquidity, uncertainty and overall disruption, as well as sharply reduced economic activity, that may impact the returns, types, liquidity and valuation of our investments;
 
 
general economic and business conditions, including recessionary conditions that may decrease the size and number of our insurance customers and create higher exposures to our lines of business, especially those that provide management and professional liability insurance, as well as surety bonds, to businesses engaged in real estate, financial services and professional services, and inflationary pressures on medical care costs, construction costs and other economic sectors that increase the severity of claims;
 
 
the effects of the mergers and failures of a number of prominent financial institutions and government sponsored entities, as well as the effects of accounting and financial reporting scandals and other major failures in internal controls and governance, on capital and credit markets, as well as on the markets for directors and officers and errors and omissions coverages;
 
 
changes in foreign or domestic political, social and economic conditions;
 
 
regulatory initiatives and compliance with governmental regulations, judicial decisions, including interpretation of policy provisions, decisions regarding coverage and theories of liability, trends in litigation and the outcome of any litigation involving us, and rulings and changes in tax laws and regulations;
 
 
regulatory limitations, impositions and restrictions upon us, including the effects of assessments and other surcharges for guaranty funds and second-injury funds, other mandatory pooling arrangements and future assessments levied on insurance companies and other financial industry participants under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 recoupment provisions;
 
 
the impact of competitive products, policies and pricing and the competitive environment in which we operate, including changes in our book of business;
 
 
product and policy availability and demand and market responses, including the level of ability to obtain rate increases and decline or non-renew under priced accounts, to achieve premium targets and profitability and to realize growth and retention estimates;

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development of claims and the impact on loss reserves, including changes in claim settlement policies;
 
 
the assertion of “public nuisance” theories of liability, pursuant to which plaintiffs seek to recover monies spent to administer public health care programs and/or to abate hazards to public health and safety;
 
 
the effectiveness of current initiatives by claims management to reduce loss and expense ratios through more efficacious claims handling techniques;
 
 
the performance of reinsurance companies under reinsurance contracts with us;
 
 
conditions in the capital and credit markets that may limit our ability to raise significant amounts of capital on favorable terms, as well as restrictions on the ability or willingness of Loews Corporation to provide additional capital support to us;
 
 
weather and other natural physical events, including the severity and frequency of storms, hail, snowfall and other winter conditions, natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, as well as climate change, including effects on weather patterns, greenhouse gases, sea, land and air temperatures, sea levels, rain and snow;
 
 
regulatory requirements imposed by coastal state regulators in the wake of hurricanes or other natural disasters, including limitations on the ability to exit markets or to non-renew, cancel or change terms and conditions in policies, as well as mandatory assessments to fund any shortfalls arising from the inability of quasi-governmental insurers to pay claims;
 
 
man-made disasters, including the possible occurrence of terrorist attacks and the effect of the absence or insufficiency of applicable terrorism legislation on coverages;
 
 
the unpredictability of the nature, targets, severity or frequency of potential terrorist events, as well as the uncertainty as to our ability to contain our terrorism exposure effectively, notwithstanding the extension through December 31, 2014 of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002;
 
 
the occurrence of epidemics;
 
 
exposure to liabilities due to claims made by insureds and others relating to asbestos remediation and health-based asbestos impairments, as well as exposure to liabilities for environmental pollution, construction defect claims and exposure to liabilities due to claims made by insureds and others relating to lead-based paint and other mass torts;
 
 
the sufficiency of our loss reserves and the possibility of future increases in reserves;
 
 
regulatory limitations and restrictions, including limitations upon our ability to receive dividends from our insurance subsidiaries imposed by state regulatory agencies and minimum risk-based capital standards established by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners;
 
 
the risks and uncertainties associated with our loss reserves as outlined in the Critical Accounting Estimates and the Reserves — Estimates and Uncertainties sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K;
 
 
the possibility of changes in our ratings by ratings agencies, including the inability to access certain markets or distribution channels and the required collateralization of future payment obligations as a result of such changes, and changes in rating agency policies and practices; and
 
 
the actual closing of contemplated transactions and agreements.
Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement, even if our expectations or any related events or circumstances change.

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CNA Financial Corporation
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
There were no material changes in our market risk components for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. See the Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk included in Item 7A of our Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2008 for further information. Additional information related to portfolio duration and market conditions is discussed in the Investments section of the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in Part I, Item 2.

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CNA Financial Corporation
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains a system of disclosure controls and procedures which are 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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 under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management on a timely basis to allow decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of September 30, 2009, the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)). Based on this evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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CNA Financial Corporation
Part II. Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Information on our legal proceedings is set forth in Notes G and H of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part I, Item 1.
Item 6. Exhibits
(a) Exhibits
     
Description of Exhibit Exhibit Number
 
   
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
   31.1
 
   
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
   31.2
 
   
 
Written Statement of the Chief Executive Officer of CNA Financial Corporation Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (As adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
   32.1
 
   
 
Written Statement of the Chief Financial Officer of CNA Financial Corporation Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (As adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
   32.2

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CNA Financial Corporation

Part II. Other Information
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, thereunto duly authorized.
     
 CNA Financial Corporation
 
 
Dated: November 2, 2009 By  /s/ D. Craig Mense   
  D. Craig Mense  
  Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer 
 
 

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