XML 69 R32.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Carrying Amount and Fair Value of Financial Instruments | Presented as follows are the carrying amounts and fair values of financial instruments. The carrying values of financial instruments such as short-term investments, cash and bank deposits, accounts and premiums receivable, and accrued investment income approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of the instruments. As such, these financial instruments are not included in the following chart.
| December 31
| 2011 |  | 2010
| Carrying Amount |  | Fair Value |  | Carrying Amount |  | Fair Value
| (in millions of dollars)
Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed Maturity Securities | $ | 42,486.7 |  |  | $ | 42,486.7 |  |  | $ | 40,035.6 |  |  | $ | 40,035.6 |
Mortgage Loans | 1,612.3 |  |  | 1,789.8 |  |  | 1,516.8 |  |  | 1,685.4 |
Policy Loans | 3,051.4 |  |  | 3,124.4 |  |  | 2,996.1 |  |  | 3,044.4 |
Other Long-term Investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivatives | 137.7 |  |  | 137.7 |  |  | 99.1 |  |  | 99.1 |
Equity Securities | 11.2 |  |  | 11.2 |  |  | 10.4 |  |  | 10.4 |
Miscellaneous Long-term Investments | 490.3 |  |  | 490.3 |  |  | 419.8 |  |  | 419.8 |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Policyholders' Funds |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred Annuity Products | $ | 641.1 |  |  | $ | 641.1 |  |  | $ | 656.3 |  |  | $ | 656.3 |
Supplementary Contracts without Life Contingencies | 502.6 |  |  | 502.6 |  |  | 508.5 |  |  | 508.5 |
Short-term Debt | 312.3 |  |  | 312.3 |  |  | 225.1 |  |  | 226.8 |
Long-term Debt | 2,570.2 |  |  | 2,540.2 |  |  | 2,631.3 |  |  | 2,483.8 |
Other Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivatives | 173.7 |  |  | 173.7 |  |  | 199.6 |  |  | 199.6 |
Embedded Derivative in Modified Coinsurance Arrangement | 135.7 |  |  | 135.7 |  |  | 96.3 |  |  | 96.3 |
Unfunded Commitments to Investment Partnerships | 160.6 |  |  | 160.6 |  |  | 169.9 |  |  | 169.9 |
Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure | The categorization of fair value measurements by input level is as follows:
| December 31, 2011
| (in millions of dollars)
| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities (Level 1) |  | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |  | Total
Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed Maturity Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
United States Government and Government Agencies and Authorities | $ | 326.6 |  |  | $ | 977.8 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,304.4 |
States, Municipalities, and Political Subdivisions | 107.3 |  |  | 1,416.2 |  |  | 68.1 |  |  | 1,591.6 |
Foreign Governments | — |  |  | 1,376.7 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,376.7 |
Public Utilities | 718.0 |  |  | 9,576.4 |  |  | 338.9 |  |  | 10,633.3 |
Mortgage/Asset-Backed Securities | — |  |  | 2,941.5 |  |  | 31.7 |  |  | 2,973.2 |
All Other Corporate Bonds | 3,469.5 |  |  | 20,415.1 |  |  | 665.5 |  |  | 24,550.1 |
Redeemable Preferred Stocks | — |  |  | 20.2 |  |  | 37.2 |  |  | 57.4 |
Total Fixed Maturity Securities | 4,621.4 |  |  | 36,723.9 |  |  | 1,141.4 |  |  | 42,486.7 |
Other Long-term Investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivatives |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest Rate Swaps | — |  |  | 134.2 |  |  | — |  |  | 134.2 |
Foreign Exchange Contracts | — |  |  | 3.5 |  |  | — |  |  | 3.5 |
Total Derivatives | — |  |  | 137.7 |  |  | — |  |  | 137.7 |
Equity Securities | — |  |  | — |  |  | 11.2 |  |  | 11.2 |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivatives |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest Rate Swaps | $ | — |  |  | $ | 32.9 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 32.9 |
Foreign Exchange Contracts | — |  |  | 140.8 |  |  | — |  |  | 140.8 |
Embedded Derivative in Modified Coinsurance Arrangement | — |  |  | — |  |  | 135.7 |  |  | 135.7 |
Total Derivatives | — |  |  | 173.7 |  |  | 135.7 |  |  | 309.4 |
Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued
| December 31, 2010
| (in millions of dollars)
| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities (Level 1) |  | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |  | Total
Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed Maturity Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
United States Government and Government Agencies and Authorities | $ | 102.8 |  |  | $ | 998.9 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,101.7 |
States, Municipalities, and Political Subdivisions | 301.9 |  |  | 943.3 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,245.2 |
Foreign Governments | 0.7 |  |  | 1,408.6 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,409.3 |
Public Utilities | 840.1 |  |  | 8,670.5 |  |  | 173.6 |  |  | 9,684.2 |
Mortgage/Asset-Backed Securities | — |  |  | 3,384.8 |  |  | 0.7 |  |  | 3,385.5 |
All Other Corporate Bonds | 4,170.7 |  |  | 18,154.3 |  |  | 829.7 |  |  | 23,154.7 |
Redeemable Preferred Stocks | — |  |  | 33.3 |  |  | 21.7 |  |  | 55.0 |
Total Fixed Maturity Securities | 5,416.2 |  |  | 33,593.7 |  |  | 1,025.7 |  |  | 40,035.6 |
Other Long-term Investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivatives |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest Rate Swaps | — |  |  | 98.4 |  |  | — |  |  | 98.4 |
Foreign Exchange Contracts | — |  |  | 0.7 |  |  | — |  |  | 0.7 |
Total Derivatives | — |  |  | 99.1 |  |  | — |  |  | 99.1 |
Equity Securities | — |  |  | 8.9 |  |  | 1.5 |  |  | 10.4 |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivatives |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest Rate Swaps | $ | — |  |  | $ | 39.1 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 39.1 |
Foreign Exchange Contracts | — |  |  | 160.5 |  |  | — |  |  | 160.5 |
Embedded Derivative in Modified Coinsurance Arrangement | — |  |  | — |  |  | 96.3 |  |  | 96.3 |
Total Derivatives | — |  |  | 199.6 |  |  | 96.3 |  |  | 295.9 |
Transfers of Assets between Level 1 and Level 2 | Transfers of assets between Level 1 and Level 2 are as follows:
| Year Ended December 31
| 2011 |  | 2010
| (in millions of dollars) Transfers into
| Level 1 from Level 2 |  | Level 2 from Level 1 |  | Level 1 from Level 2 |  | Level 2 from Level 1
Fixed Maturity Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
United States Government and Government Agencies and Authorities | $ | 169.8 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 95.9 |  |  | $ | — |
States, Municipalities, and Political Subdivisions | 47.7 |  |  | 274.9 |  |  | 36.2 |  |  | 33.7 |
Foreign Governments | — |  |  | 0.7 |  |  | 0.7 |  |  | — |
Public Utilities | 362.1 |  |  | 534.2 |  |  | 483.2 |  |  | 673.6 |
All Other Corporate Bonds | 1,426.5 |  |  | 2,452.7 |  |  | 1,940.1 |  |  | 1,676.6 |
Redeemable Preferred Stocks | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 5.5 |
Total Fixed Maturity Securities | $ | 2,006.1 |  |  | $ | 3,262.5 |  |  | $ | 2,556.1 |  |  | $ | 2,389.4 |
Changes in Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Changes in assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) are as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, 2011
| (in millions of dollars)
|  |  | Total Realized and Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses) Included in |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Beginning of Year |  | Earnings |  | Other Comprehensive Income or Loss |  | Purchases |  | Sales |  | Level 3 Transfers |  | End of Year
| Into |  | Out of |
Fixed Maturity Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
States, Municipalities, and Political Subdivisions | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2.5 |  |  | $ | 28.0 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 37.6 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 68.1 |
Public Utilities | 173.6 |  |  | 0.2 |  |  | 26.9 |  |  | 34.8 |  |  | (3.2 | ) |  | 259.9 |  |  | (153.3 | ) |  | 338.9 |
Mortgage/Asset-Backed Securities | 0.7 |  |  | — |  |  | (0.8 | ) |  | 31.9 |  |  | (0.1 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 31.7 |
All Other Corporate Bonds | 829.7 |  |  | (2.4 | ) |  | 8.9 |  |  | 133.6 |  |  | (81.4 | ) |  | 250.1 |  |  | (473.0 | ) |  | 665.5 |
Redeemable Preferred Stocks | 21.7 |  |  | — |  |  | 1.2 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 14.3 |  |  | — |  |  | 37.2 |
Total Fixed Maturity Securities | 1,025.7 |  |  | (2.2 | ) |  | 38.7 |  |  | 228.3 |  |  | (84.7 | ) |  | 561.9 |  |  | (626.3 | ) |  | 1,141.4 |
Equity Securities | 1.5 |  |  | (0.6 | ) |  | (1.7 | ) |  | 3.0 |  |  | — |  |  | 9.0 |  |  | — |  |  | 11.2 |
Embedded Derivative in Modified Coinsurance Arrangement | (96.3 | ) |  | (39.4 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (135.7 | )
| Year Ended December 31, 2010
| (in millions of dollars)
|  |  | Total Realized and Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses) Included in |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Beginning of Year |  | Earnings |  | Other Comprehensive Income or Loss |  | Purchases |  | Sales |  | Level 3 Transfers |  | End of Year
| Into |  | Out of |
Fixed Maturity Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Public Utilities | $ | 264.3 |  |  | $ | (1.0 | ) |  | $ | 11.0 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (7.5 | ) |  | $ | 120.5 |  |  | $ | (213.7 | ) |  | $ | 173.6 |
Mortgage/Asset-Backed Securities | 4.7 |  |  | — |  |  | 0.3 |  |  | — |  |  | (4.3 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 0.7 |
All Other Corporate Bonds | 580.0 |  |  | (5.5 | ) |  | 53.7 |  |  | 105.3 |  |  | (58.3 | ) |  | 444.6 |  |  | (290.1 | ) |  | 829.7 |
Redeemable Preferred Stocks | 20.4 |  |  | — |  |  | 1.3 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 21.7 |
Total Fixed Maturity Securities | 869.4 |  |  | (6.5 | ) |  | 66.3 |  |  | 105.3 |  |  | (70.1 | ) |  | 565.1 |  |  | (503.8 | ) |  | 1,025.7 |
Equity Securities | 1.5 |  |  | — |  |  | 0.1 |  |  | — |  |  | (0.1 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 1.5 |
Embedded Derivative in Modified Coinsurance Arrangement | (117.4 | ) |  | 21.1 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (96.3 | )

X
- Definition Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | unm_ChangesInAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredAtFairValueOnRecurringBasisUsingSignificantUnobservableInputsLevel3
Namespace Prefix: | unm_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Disclosure of the transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | unm_FairValueMeasurmentsTransfersOfAssetsBetweenLevel1AndLevel2
Namespace Prefix: | unm_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | unm_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | unm_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments, assets, and liabilities. Such certain disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate) and (2) the methodology and assumptions used in developing such estimates of fair value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13433-108611 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph a -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 30 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14172-108612 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph b-d -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13476-108611 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 10 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13467-108611 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6447952&loc=d3e13220-108610 Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 159 -Paragraph 18 -Subparagraph c(2), d, e, f -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a, c(1), c(2), c(3), d -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 159 -Paragraph 19 -Subparagraph a, b, c(1), d(1) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities which includes [financial] instruments measured at fair value that are classified in stockholders' equity. Such assets and liabilities may be measured on a recurring or nonrecurring basis. The disclosures which may be required or desired include: (1) for assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis, disclosure may include: (a) the fair value measurements at the reporting date; (b) 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 or liabilities (Level 1), significant other observable inputs (Level 2), and significant unobservable inputs (Level 3); (c) for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances, separately presenting changes during the period attributable to the following: (i) total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), segregating those gains or losses included in earnings (or changes in net assets), 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); (ii) purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (net); (iii) transfers in and transfers out of Level 3 (for example, transfers due to changes in the observability of significant inputs); (d) the amount of the total gains or losses for the period in subparagraph (c) (i) above included in earnings (or changes in net assets) that are attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to those assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date and a description of where those unrealized gains or losses are reported in the statement of income (or activities); (e) the valuation technique(s) used to measure fair value and a discussion of changes in valuation techniques, if any, during the period and (2) for assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis (for example, impaired assets) disclosure may include, in addition to (a) above: (a) the reasons for the fair value measurements recorded; (b) the same as (b) above; (c) for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), a description of the inputs and the information used to develop the inputs; and (d) the valuation technique(s) used to measure fair value and a discussion of changes, if any, in the valuation technique(s) used to measure similar assets and/or liabilities in prior periods. Where the quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not available, the Level 1 input is the quoted price of an identical liability when traded as an asset. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19279-110258 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 33 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 10 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19296-110258 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 6 -Footnote 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 8: 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=6925170&loc=d3e19190-110258 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementInputsDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration