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Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Abstract]  
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
   
(7)   Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
The Company’s measurement of fair value is based on assumptions used by market participants in pricing the asset or liability, which may include inherent risk, restrictions on the sale or use of an asset or non-performance risk, which may include the Company’s own credit risk. The Company’s estimate of an exchange price is the price in an orderly transaction between market participants to sell the asset or transfer the liability (“exit price”) in the principal market, or the most advantageous market in the absence of a principal market, for that asset or liability, as opposed to the price that would be paid to acquire the asset or receive a liability (“entry price”). The Company categorizes financial instruments carried at fair value into a three-level fair value hierarchy, based on the priority of inputs to the respective valuation technique. The three-level hierarchy for fair value measurement is defined as follows:
 
     
  Level 1 — Values are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets accessible at the measurement date.
 
  Level 2 — Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices from those willing to trade in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by market data for the term of the instrument. Such inputs include market interest rates and volatilities, spreads and yield curves.
 
  Level 3 — Certain inputs are unobservable (supported by little or no market activity) and significant to the fair value measurement. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s best estimate of what hypothetical market participants would use to determine a transaction price for the asset or liability at the reporting date based on the best information available in the circumstances.
 
In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lower level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the investment.
 
When a determination is made to classify an asset or liability within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, the determination is based upon the significance of the unobservable inputs to the overall fair value measurement. Because certain securities trade in less liquid or illiquid markets with limited or no pricing information, the determination of fair value for these securities is inherently more difficult. However, Level 3 fair value investments may include, in addition to the unobservable or Level 3 inputs, observable components, which are components that are actively quoted or can be validated to market-based sources.
 
The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s consolidated financial instruments for which the disclosure of fair values is required were as follows (asset/(liability)):
 
                                 
    September 30, 2011     September 30, 2010  
    Carrying
 		    Fair
 		    Carrying
 		    Fair
 		 
Consumer Products and Other   Amount     Value     Amount     Value  
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 321,352     $ 321,352     $ 256,831     $ 256,833  
Short-term investments (including related interest receivable of $9 and $68)
    350,647       350,649       54,033       54,005  
Total debt
    (2,048,780 )     (2,135,528 )     (1,743,767 )     (1,868,754 )
Derivatives:
                               
Interest rate swap agreements
    (1,954 )     (1,954 )     (6,627 )     (6,627 )
Commodity swap and option agreements
    (958 )     (958 )     3,914       3,914  
Foreign exchange forward agreements
    (22,490 )     (22,490 )     (38,111 )     (38,111 )
Equity conversion feature of preferred stock
    (75,350 )     (75,350 )     —       —  
Redeemable preferred stock, excluding equity conversion feature
    (292,437 )     (337,060 )     —       —  
Insurance
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
    816,007       816,007       —       —  
Investments:
                               
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
    15,367,474       15,367,474       —       —  
Equity securities, available-for-sale
    287,043       287,043       —       —  
Other invested assets
    44,279       44,279       —       —  
Derivatives:
                               
Call options
    52,335       52,335       —       —  
Future contracts
    (3,828 )     (3,828 )                
Available-for-sale embedded derivatives
    (400 )     (400 )     —       —  
Investment contracts, included in contractholder funds
    (14,549,970 )     (13,388,353 )     —       —  
Note payable
    (95,000 )     (95,000 )     —       —  
 
The carrying amounts of receivables, accounts payable, accrued investment income and portions of other insurance liabilities approximate fair value due to their short duration and, accordingly, they are not presented in the table above.
 
The fair values of cash equivalents, short-term investments and debt set forth above are generally based on quoted or observed market prices. Investment contracts include deferred annuities, FIAs, UL and immediate annuities. The fair values of deferred annuity, FIAs, and UL contracts are based on their cash surrender value (i.e. the cost FGL would incur to extinguish the liability) as these contracts are generally issued without an annuitization date. The fair value of immediate annuities contracts is derived by calculating a new fair value interest rate using the updated yield curve and treasury spreads as of September 30, 2011 which resulted in lower fair value reserves relative to the carrying value. We are not required to and have not estimated the fair value of the liabilities under contracts that involve significant mortality or morbidity risks, as these liabilities fall within the definition of insurance contracts that are exceptions from financial instruments that require disclosure of fair value. The fair value of FGL’s note payable approximates its carrying value as it was recently settled at such carrying value.
 
Goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets are also tested annually or if a triggering event occurs that indicates an impairment loss may have been incurred (See Note 10) using fair value measurements with unobservable inputs (Level 3).
 
See Note 15 with respect to fair value measurements of the Company’s pension plan assets.
 
Financial assets and liabilities measured and carried at fair value on a recurring basis in the financial statements are summarized, according to the hierarchy previously described, as follows:
 
                                 
As of September 30, 2011   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
 
Assets
                               
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale:
                               
Asset-backed securities
  $ —     $ 125,966     $ 374,518     $ 500,484  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
    —       565,577       —       565,577  
Corporate
    —       11,696,090       159,684       11,855,774  
Hybrids
    —       654,084       5,205       659,289  
Municipal
    —       936,484       —       936,484  
Agency residential mortgage-backed securities
    —       218,713       3,312       222,025  
Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities
    —       440,758       3,759       444,517  
U.S. Government
    183,324       —       —       183,324  
Fixed maturity securities — trading
    —       12,665       —       12,665  
Equity securities — available-for-sale
    —       287,043       —       287,043  
Equity securities — trading
    238,062       24,023       —       262,085  
Derivatives:
                               
Call options
    —       52,335       —       52,335  
Foreign exchange forward agreements
    —       3,189       —       3,189  
Commodity swap and option agreements
    —       274       —       274  
                                 
Total assets carried at fair value
  $ 421,386     $ 15,017,201     $ 546,478     $ 15,985,065  
                                 
Liabilities
                               
Derivatives:
                               
FIA embedded derivatives, included in contractholder funds
  $ —     $ —     $ (1,396,340 )   $ (1,396,340 )
Future contracts
    —       (3,828 )     —       (3,828 )
Available-for-sale embedded derivatives
    —       —       (400 )     (400 )
Interest rate swap agreements
    —       (1,954 )     —       (1,954 )
Commodity swap and option agreements
    —       (1,232 )     —       (1,232 )
Foreign exchange forward agreements
    —       (25,679 )     —       (25,679 )
Equity conversion feature of preferred stock
    —       —       (75,350 )     (75,350 )
                                 
Total liabilities carried at fair value
  $ —     $ (32,693 )   $ (1,472,090 )   $ (1,504,783 )
                                 
 
                                 
As of September 30, 2010   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
 
Assets
                               
Derivatives:
                               
Commodity swap and option agreements
  $ —     $ 3,914     $ —     $ 3,914  
Foreign exchange forward agreements
    —       75       —       75  
                                 
Total assets carried at fair value
  $ —     $ 3,989     $ —     $ 3,989  
                                 
Liabilities
                               
Derivatives:
                               
Interest rate swap agreements
  $ —     $ (6,627 )   $ —     $ (6,627 )
Foreign exchange forward agreements
    —       (38,186 )     —       (38,186 )
                                 
Total liabilities carried at fair value
  $ —     $ (44,813 )   $ —     $ (44,813 )
                                 
 
The Company measures the fair value of its securities based on assumptions used by market participants in pricing the security. The most appropriate valuation methodology is selected based on the specific characteristics of the fixed maturity or equity security, and the Company consistently applies the valuation methodology to measure the security’s fair value. The Company’s fair value measurement is based on a market approach, which utilizes prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable securities. Sources of inputs to the market approach include a third-party pricing service, independent broker quotations or pricing matrices. The Company uses observable and unobservable inputs in its valuation methodologies. Observable inputs include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker-dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data. In addition, market indicators, industry and economic events are monitored and further market data is acquired if certain triggers are met. For certain security types, additional inputs may be used, or some of the inputs described above may not be applicable. For broker-quoted only securities, quotes from market makers or broker-dealers are obtained from sources recognized to be market participants. For those securities trading in less liquid or illiquid markets with limited or no pricing information, the Company uses unobservable inputs in order to measure the fair value of these securities. This valuation relies on management’s judgment concerning the discount rate used in calculating expected future cash flows, credit quality, industry sector performance and expected maturity.
 
The Company did not adjust prices received from third parties as of September 30, 2011 or 2010. The Company does analyze the third-party pricing service’s valuation methodologies and related inputs and performs additional evaluations to determine the appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy.
 
The fair value of derivative assets and liabilities is based upon valuation pricing models and represents what the Company would expect to receive or pay at the balance sheet date if the Company cancelled the options, entered into offsetting positions, or exercised the options. The fair value of futures contracts represents the cumulative unsettled variation margin (open trade equity net of cash settlements). Fair values for these instruments are determined externally by an independent actuarial firm using market observable inputs, including interest rates, yield curve volatilities, and other factors. Credit risk related to the counterparty is considered when estimating the fair values of these derivatives.
 
The fair values of the embedded derivatives in FGL’s FIA products are derived using market indices, pricing assumptions and historical data.
 
The following tables summarize changes to financial instruments carried at fair value and classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, all of which are held by FGL except for the equity conversion feature of HGI’s Preferred Stock. The gains and losses below may include changes in fair value due in part to observable inputs that are a component of the valuation methodology.
 
                                                 
    Balance at
 		                Net
 		    Net
 		       
    FGL
 		    Total Gains (Losses)     Purchases,
 		    Transfer in
 		    Balance at
 		 
For the Period April 6, 2011 to
 		  Acquisition
 		    Included in
 		    Included in
 		    Sales &
 		    (Out) of
 		    End of
 		 
September 30, 2011   Date     Earnings     AOCI     Settlements     Level 3     Period  
 
Assets
                                               
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale:
                                               
Asset-backed securities
  $ 399,967     $ —     $ 863     $ (11,709 )   $ (14,603 )   $ 374,518  
Corporates
    197,573       1,993       5,408       (45,229 )     (61 )     159,684  
Hybrids
    8,305       —       (61 )     —       (3,039 )     5,205  
Agency residential mortgage-backed securities
    3,271       —       41       —       —       3,312  
Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities
    18,519       2,364       379       (17,503 )     —       3,759  
                                                 
Total assets at fair value
  $ 627,635     $ 4,357     $ 6,630     $ (74,441 )   $ (17,703 )   $ 546,478  
                                                 
Liabilities
                                               
FIA embedded derivatives, included in contractholder funds
  $ (1,466,308 )   $ 69,968     $ —     $ —     $ —     $ (1,396,340 )
Available-for-sale embedded derivatives
    (419 )     19       —       —       —       (400 )
Equity conversion feature of preferred stock
    —       27,910       —       (103,260 )     —       (75,350 )
                                                 
Total liabilities at fair value
  $ (1,466,727 )   $ 97,897     $ —     $ (103,260 )   $ —     $ (1,472,090 )
                                                 
 
The Company reviews the fair value hierarchy classifications each reporting period. Changes in the observability of the valuation attributes may result in a reclassification of certain financial assets or liabilities. Such reclassifications are reported as transfers in and out of Level 3, or between other levels, at the beginning fair value for the reporting period in which the changes occur. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 for the period ended September 30, 2011.
 
During the period ended September 30, 2011, primary market issuance and secondary market activity for hybrids and asset-backed securities increased the market observable inputs used to establish fair values for similar securities. These factors, along with more consistent pricing from third-party sources, resulted in FGL’s conclusion that there is sufficient trading activity in similar instruments to support classifying certain hybrids and asset-backed securities as Level 2 as of September 30, 2011. Accordingly, FGL’s assessment resulted in a transfer out of Level 3 of $3,039, $61 and $14,603, respectively, during the period ended September 30, 2011 related to hybrids, corporates and asset-backed securities.
 
The following table presents the gross components of purchases, sales, and settlements, net, of Level 3 financial instruments from April 6, 2011 to September 30, 2011. There were no issuances during this period.
 
                                 
                      Net
 		 
                      Purchases,
 		 
                      Sales &
 		 
For the Period April 6, 2011 to September 30, 2011   Purchases     Sales     Settlements     Settlements  
 
Assets
                               
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale:
                               
Asset-backed securities
  $ 2,007     $ —     $ (13,716 )   $ (11,709 )
Corporates
    10,365       (48,898 )     (6,696 )     (45,229 )
Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities
    —       (15,729 )     (1,774 )     (17,503 )
                                 
Total assets
  $ 12,372     $ (64,627 )   $ (22,186 )   $ (74,441 )
                                 
Liabilities
                               
Equity conversion feature of preferred stock
  $ —     $ (103,260 )   $ —     $ (103,260 )