v3.2.0.727

Fair value measurements (Tables) | 6 Months Ended
--- | ---
Jun. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] |  |
Financial Instruments Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis |
June 30, 2015 | Level 1 |  |  | Level 2 |  |  | Level 3 |  |  | Total |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |  |  |
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed maturities available for sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Treasury and agency | $ | 1,741 |  |  | $ | 1,064 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,805 |
Foreign | — |  |  | 15,100 |  |  | 56 |  |  | 15,156 |
Corporate securities | — |  |  | 16,711 |  |  | 167 |  |  | 16,878 |
Mortgage-backed securities | — |  |  | 10,729 |  |  | 55 |  |  | 10,784 |
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions | — |  |  | 3,078 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,078 |
| 1,741 |  |  | 46,682 |  |  | 278 |  |  | 48,701 |
Equity securities | 483 |  |  | 13 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 498 |
Short-term investments | 1,108 |  |  | 954 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,062 |
Other investments | 370 |  |  | 279 |  |  | 2,679 |  |  | 3,328 |
Securities lending collateral | — |  |  | 1,080 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,080 |
Investment derivative instruments | 16 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 16 |
Other derivative instruments | 23 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 23 |
Separate account assets | 1,567 |  |  | 84 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,651 |
Total assets measured at fair value | $ | 5,308 |  |  | $ | 49,092 |  |  | $ | 2,959 |  |  | $ | 57,359 |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment derivative instruments | $ | 15 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 15 |
Other derivative instruments | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3 |  |  | 3 |
GLB(1) | — |  |  | — |  |  | 347 |  |  | 347 |
Total liabilities measured at fair value | $ | 15 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 350 |  |  | $ | 365 |
(1) | Our GLB reinsurance product meets the definition of a derivative instrument for accounting purposes and is accordingly carried at fair value. Excluded from the table above is the portion of the GLB liability classified as Future policy benefits in the consolidated balance sheets. Refer to Note 5 for additional information.
December 31, 2014 | Level 1 |  |  | Level 2 |  |  | Level 3 |  |  | Total |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |  |  |
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed maturities available for sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Treasury and agency | $ | 1,680 |  |  | $ | 1,140 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,820 |
Foreign | — |  |  | 15,220 |  |  | 22 |  |  | 15,242 |
Corporate securities | — |  |  | 17,244 |  |  | 187 |  |  | 17,431 |
Mortgage-backed securities | — |  |  | 10,271 |  |  | 15 |  |  | 10,286 |
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions | — |  |  | 3,616 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,616 |
| 1,680 |  |  | 47,491 |  |  | 224 |  |  | 49,395 |
Equity securities | 492 |  |  | 16 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 510 |
Short-term investments | 1,183 |  |  | 1,139 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,322 |
Other investments | 370 |  |  | 257 |  |  | 2,719 |  |  | 3,346 |
Securities lending collateral | — |  |  | 1,330 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,330 |
Investment derivative instruments | 18 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 18 |
Other derivative instruments | — |  |  | 2 |  |  | — |  |  | 2 |
Separate account assets | 1,400 |  |  | 90 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,490 |
Total assets measured at fair value | $ | 5,143 |  |  | $ | 50,325 |  |  | $ | 2,945 |  |  | $ | 58,413 |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment derivative instruments | $ | 36 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 36 |
Other derivative instruments | 21 |  |  | — |  |  | 4 |  |  | 25 |
GLB(1) | — |  |  | — |  |  | 406 |  |  | 406 |
Total liabilities measured at fair value | $ | 57 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 410 |  |  | $ | 467 |
(1) | Our GLB reinsurance product meets the definition of a derivative instrument for accounting purposes and is accordingly carried at fair value. Excluded from the table above is the portion of the GLB liability classified as Future policy benefits in the consolidated balance sheets. Refer to Note 5 for additional information.
Fair Value And Maximum Future Funding Commitments Related To Investments |
|  |  |  |  | June 30 |  |  |  |  | December 31 |
| Expected Liquidation Period of Underlying Assets |  |  |  | 2015 |  |  |  |  | 2014 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) | Fair Value |  |  | Maximum Future Funding Commitments |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | Maximum Future Funding Commitments |
Financial | 5 to 9 Years |  | $ | 306 |  |  | $ | 124 |  |  | $ | 282 |  |  | $ | 145 |
Real Assets | 3 to 7 Years |  | 460 |  |  | 177 |  |  | 451 |  |  | 210 |
Distressed | 5 to 9 Years |  | 242 |  |  | 252 |  |  | 232 |  |  | 175 |
Private Credit | 3 to 7 Years |  | 291 |  |  | 234 |  |  | 299 |  |  | 190 |
Traditional | 3 to 9 Years |  | 897 |  |  | 224 |  |  | 908 |  |  | 289 |
Vintage | 1 to 2 Years |  | 16 |  |  | — |  |  | 11 |  |  | 1 |
Investment funds | Not Applicable |  | 306 |  |  | — |  |  | 378 |  |  | — |
|  |  | $ | 2,518 |  |  | $ | 1,011 |  |  | $ | 2,561 |  |  | $ | 1,010 |
Schedule Of Significant Unobservable Inputs Used In Level 3 Liability Valuations |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except for percentages) | Fair Value |  | Valuation Technique |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs |  | Ranges
June 30, 2015 |  |  | December 31, 2014 |  |  |  |
GLB(1) | $ | 347 |  |  | $ | 406 |  |  | Actuarial model |  | Lapse rate |  | 1% – 30%
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Annuitization rate |  | 0% – 55%
(1) | Discussion of the most significant inputs used in the fair value measurement of GLB and the sensitivity of those assumptions is included within Note 4 a) Guaranteed living benefits.
Financial Instruments Measured At Fair Value Using Significant Unobservable Inputs |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Assets |  |  |  | Liabilities |
Six Months Ended | Available-for-Sale Debt Securities |  |  | Equity securities |  | Other investments |  |  | Other derivative instruments |  | GLB(1) |
June 30, 2015 | Foreign |  |  | Corporate securities |  |  | MBS |  |  |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |  |  |  |
Balance–Beginning of Period | $ | 22 |  |  | $ | 187 |  |  | $ | 15 |  |  | $ | 2 |  | $ | 2,719 |  |  | 4 |  | $ | 406 |
Transfers into Level 3 | 28 |  |  | 13 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  | — |  |  | — |  | — |
Transfers out of Level 3 | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  | — |  |  | — |  | — |
Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) included in OCI | (2 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  | (14 | ) |  | — |  | — |
Included in earnings: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Realized Gains/Losses | — |  |  | (3 | ) |  | — |  |  | (1 | ) | 11 |  |  | (1 | ) | (59 | )
Other income (expense) | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  | 40 |  |  | — |  | — |
Purchases | 9 |  |  | 16 |  |  | 41 |  |  | 1 |  | 177 |  |  | — |  | — |
Sales | (1 | ) |  | (5 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  | (25 | ) |  | — |  | — |
Settlements | — |  |  | (41 | ) |  | (1 | ) |  | — |  | (229 | ) |  | — |  | — |
Balance–End of Period | $ | 56 |  |  | $ | 167 |  |  | $ | 55 |  |  | $ | 2 |  | $ | 2,679 |  |  | $ | 3 |  | $ | 347 |
Net Realized Gains/Losses Attributable to Changes in Fair Value at the Balance Sheet Date | $ | — |  |  | $ | (2 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (1 | ) | $ | — |  |  | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (59 | )
(1) | Our GLB reinsurance product meets the definition of a derivative instrument for accounting purposes and is accordingly carried at fair value. Excluded from the table above is the portion of the GLB liability classified as Future policy benefits in the consolidated balance sheets. Refer to Note 5 for additional information.
| Assets |  |  | Liabilities |
Six Months Ended | Available-for-Sale Debt Securities |  |  |  |  | Short-term investments |  |  | Other investments |  |  | GLB(1) |
June 30, 2014 | Foreign |  |  | Corporate securities |  |  | MBS |  |  | Equity securities |  |  |  |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance–Beginning of Period | $ | 44 |  |  | $ | 166 |  |  | $ | 8 |  |  | $ | 4 |  |  | $ | 7 |  |  | $ | 2,440 |  |  | $ | 193 |
Transfers into Level 3 | 2 |  |  | 30 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Transfers out of Level 3 | (34 | ) |  | (22 | ) |  | — |  |  | (2 | ) |  | (7 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) included in OCI | (1 | ) |  | 2 |  |  | — |  |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | 48 |  |  | — |
Included in earnings: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Realized Gains/Losses | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (3 | ) |  | 48 |
Other income (expense) | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 104 |  |  | — |
Purchases | 2 |  |  | 45 |  |  | — |  |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | 248 |  |  | — |
Sales | (2 | ) |  | (8 | ) |  | — |  |  | (2 | ) |  | — |  |  | (3 | ) |  | — |
Settlements | — |  |  | (9 | ) |  | (1 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (194 | ) |  | — |
Balance–End of Period | $ | 12 |  |  | $ | 204 |  |  | $ | 7 |  |  | $ | 2 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,640 |  |  | $ | 241 |
Net Realized Gains/Losses Attributable to Changes in Fair Value at the Balance Sheet Date | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (3 | ) |  | $ | 48 |
(1) | Our GLB reinsurance product meets the definition of a derivative instrument for accounting purposes and is accordingly carried at fair value. Excluded from the table above is the portion of the GLB liability classified as Future policy benefits in the consolidated balance sheets. The liability for GLB reinsurance was $486 million at June 30, 2014 and $427 million at December 31, 2013, which includes a fair value derivative adjustment of $241 million and $193 million, respectively.
| Assets |  |  |  | Liabilities |
Three Months Ended | Available-for-Sale Debt Securities |  |  | Equity securities |  | Other investments |  |  | Other derivative instruments |  | GLB(1) |
June 30, 2015 | Foreign |  |  | Corporate securities |  |  | MBS |  |  |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |  |  |  |
Balance–Beginning of Period | $ | 22 |  |  | $ | 167 |  |  | $ | 33 |  |  | $ | 2 |  | $ | 2,789 |  |  | $ | 4 |  | $ | 451 |
Transfers into Level 3 | 28 |  |  | 12 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  | — |  |  | — |  | — |
Transfers out of Level 3 | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  | — |  |  | — |  | — |
Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) included in OCI | (2 | ) |  | (3 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  | 6 |  |  | — |  | — |
Included in earnings: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Realized Gains/Losses | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1 | ) | 11 |  |  | (1 | ) | (104 | )
Other income (expense) | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  | 18 |  |  | — |  | — |
Purchases | 8 |  |  | 8 |  |  | 23 |  |  | 1 |  | 52 |  |  | — |  | — |
Sales | — |  |  | (2 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  | (25 | ) |  | — |  | — |
Settlements | — |  |  | (15 | ) |  | (1 | ) |  | — |  | (172 | ) |  | — |  | — |
Balance–End of Period | $ | 56 |  |  | $ | 167 |  |  | $ | 55 |  |  | $ | 2 |  | $ | 2,679 |  |  | $ | 3 |  | $ | 347 |
Net Realized Gains/Losses Attributable to Changes in Fair Value at the Balance Sheet Date | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (1 | ) | $ | — |  |  | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (104 | )
(1) | Our GLB reinsurance product meets the definition of a derivative instrument for accounting purposes and is accordingly carried at fair value. Excluded from the table above is the portion of the GLB liability classified as Future policy benefits in the consolidated balance sheets. Refer to Note 5 for additional information.
| Assets |  |  | Liabilities |
Three Months Ended | Available-for-Sale Debt Securities |  |  | Equity securities |  |  | Other investments |  |  | GLB(1) |
June 30, 2014 | Foreign |  |  | Corporate securities |  |  | MBS |  |  |  |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |  |  |  |  |
Balance–Beginning of Period | $ | 26 |  |  | $ | 151 |  |  | $ | 8 |  |  | $ | 2 |  |  | $ | 2,611 |  |  | $ | 243 |
Transfers into Level 3 | 2 |  |  | 26 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Transfers out of Level 3 | (16 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) included in OCI | — |  |  | 2 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 7 |  |  | — |
Included in earnings: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Realized Gains/Losses | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (3 | ) |  | (2 | )
Other income (expense) | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 43 |  |  | — |
Purchases | — |  |  | 30 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 109 |  |  | — |
Sales | (1 | ) |  | (2 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (2 | ) |  | — |
Settlements | — |  |  | (3 | ) |  | (1 | ) |  | — |  |  | (125 | ) |  | — |
Balance–End of Period | $ | 12 |  |  | $ | 204 |  |  | $ | 7 |  |  | $ | 2 |  |  | $ | 2,640 |  |  | $ | 241 |
Net Realized Gains/Losses Attributable to Changes in Fair Value at the Balance Sheet Date | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (3 | ) |  | $ | (2 | )
(1) | Our GLB reinsurance product meets the definition of a derivative instrument for accounting purposes and is accordingly carried at fair value. Excluded from the table above is the portion of the GLB liability classified as Future policy benefits in the consolidated balance sheets. The liability for GLB reinsurance was $486 million at June 30, 2014, and $483 million at March 31, 2014, which includes a fair value derivative adjustment of $241 million and $243 million, respectively.
Carrying Values And Fair Values Of Financial Instruments Not Measured At Fair Value |
June 30, 2015 | Fair Value |  |  | Carrying Value |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) | Level 1 |  |  | Level 2 |  |  | Level 3 |  |  | Total |  |
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed maturities held to maturity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Treasury and agency | $ | 583 |  |  | $ | 175 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 758 |  |  | $ | 743 |
Foreign | — |  |  | 843 |  |  | — |  |  | 843 |  |  | 808 |
Corporate securities | — |  |  | 3,115 |  |  | 14 |  |  | 3,129 |  |  | 3,113 |
Mortgage-backed securities | — |  |  | 1,877 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,877 |  |  | 1,828 |
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions | — |  |  | 2,198 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,198 |  |  | 2,184 |
| 583 |  |  | 8,208 |  |  | 14 |  |  | 8,805 |  |  | 8,676 |
Partially-owned insurance companies | — |  |  | — |  |  | 638 |  |  | 638 |  |  | 638 |
Total assets | $ | 583 |  |  | $ | 8,208 |  |  | $ | 652 |  |  | $ | 9,443 |  |  | $ | 9,314 |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term debt | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,107 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,107 |  |  | $ | 2,102 |
Long-term debt | — |  |  | 4,383 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,383 |  |  | 4,157 |
Trust preferred securities | — |  |  | 457 |  |  | — |  |  | 457 |  |  | 309 |
Total liabilities | $ | — |  |  | $ | 6,947 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 6,947 |  |  | $ | 6,568 |
December 31, 2014 | Fair Value |  |  | Carrying Value |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) | Level 1 |  |  | Level 2 |  |  | Level 3 |  |  | Total |  |
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed maturities held to maturity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Treasury and agency | $ | 659 |  |  | $ | 191 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 850 |  |  | $ | 832 |
Foreign | — |  |  | 963 |  |  | — |  |  | 963 |  |  | 916 |
Corporate securities | — |  |  | 2,408 |  |  | 15 |  |  | 2,423 |  |  | 2,323 |
Mortgage-backed securities | — |  |  | 2,039 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,039 |  |  | 1,983 |
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions | — |  |  | 1,314 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,314 |  |  | 1,277 |
| 659 |  |  | 6,915 |  |  | 15 |  |  | 7,589 |  |  | 7,331 |
Partially-owned insurance companies | — |  |  | — |  |  | 504 |  |  | 504 |  |  | 504 |
Total assets | $ | 659 |  |  | $ | 6,915 |  |  | $ | 519 |  |  | $ | 8,093 |  |  | $ | 7,835 |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term debt | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,571 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,571 |  |  | $ | 2,552 |
Long-term debt | — |  |  | 3,690 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,690 |  |  | 3,357 |
Trust preferred securities | — |  |  | 462 |  |  | — |  |  | 462 |  |  | 309 |
Total liabilities | $ | — |  |  | $ | 6,723 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 6,723 |  |  | $ | 6,218 |

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances, separately presenting changes during the period attributable to the following: (1) total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), segregating those gains or losses included in earnings (or changes in net assets) and gains or losses recognized in other comprehensive income, and a description of where those gains or losses included in earnings (or changes in net assets) are reported in the statement of income (or activities); (2) purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (each type disclosed separately); and (3) transfers in and transfers out of Level 3 (for example, transfers due to changes in the observability of significant inputs), by class of asset or liability. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ace_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | ace_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Schedule showing carrying value and fair value of financial instruments not measured at fair value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ace_FinancialInstrumentsNotMeasuredAtFairValueTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | ace_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Schedule showing the fair values and maximum future funding commitments related to other investments (including investment funds, limited partnerships, and partially-owned investment companies) measured at fair value using NAV as a practical expedient. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ace_ScheduleOfOtherInvestmentsFairValueAndFutureFundingCommitmentsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | ace_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueDisclosuresAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of quantitative information about the inputs used in the fair value measurement of liabilities. This disclosure may include, but is not limited to, the fair value of the liability, valuation technique used to measure fair value, the inputs used to measure fair value, the ranges of the inputs, and the weighted averages of the inputs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (bbb) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueInputsLiabilitiesQuantitativeInformationTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of assets and liabilities, including [financial] instruments measured at fair value that are classified in stockholders' equity, if any, that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The disclosures contemplated herein include the fair value measurements at the reporting date by the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements in their entirety fall, segregating fair value measurements using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1), significant other observable inputs (Level 2), and significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19190-110258 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration