Allstate (ALL)

FSP No. FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments (“FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2”)

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2 which amends SFAS No. 115 and SFAS No. 124 “Accounting for Certain Investments Held by Not-for-Profit Organizations”, to provide recognition guidance for debt securities classified as available-for-sale and held-to-maturity and subject to other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) guidance.  If the fair value of a debt security is less than its amortized cost basis at the reporting date, an entity shall assess whether the impairment is an OTTI.  FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2 defines the situations under which an OTTI should be considered to have occurred.  When an entity intends to sell the security or more likely than not it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, an OTTI is recognized in earnings.  When the entity does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security even if it does not intend to sell the security, the entity must consider a number of factors and use its best estimate of the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the debt security in order to determine whether a credit loss exists, and the period over which the debt security is expected to recover.  The amount of total OTTI related to the credit loss shall be recognized in earnings while the amount of the total OTTI related to other factors shall be recognized in other comprehensive income.  Both the statement of operations and the statement of accumulated other comprehensive income are required to display the OTTI related to credit losses and the OTTI related to other factors on the face of each statement.

FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2 expands the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 115 (for both debt and equity securities) and requires a more detailed, risk-oriented breakdown of security types and related information, and requires the annual disclosures to be made for interim periods.  In addition, new disclosures are required to help users of financial statements understand the significant inputs used in determining a credit loss as well as a rollforward of that amount each period.  FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2 is effective for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009 with early adoption permitted in conjunction with the early adoption of FSP No. FAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly” (“FSP FAS 157-4”).  The disclosures are not required for earlier periods presented for comparative purposes.  FSP FAS 115-2 and FSP 124-2 shall be applied to existing and new investments held by an entity as of the beginning of the interim period in which it is adopted.  A cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings will be recognized for debt securities with an existing OTTI at the beginning of the interim period in which the FSP is adopted.  The Company will adopt the provisions of FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2 as of April 1, 2009.  The specific requirements of the FSP applicable to the Company’s portfolio are being interpreted, studied and assessed.  The potential cumulative effect to retained income as of April 1, 2009 is not yet reliably estimable since the Company is still assessing the requirements; however, the Company expects that it will result in an increase to retained income, offset by a decrease to accumulated other comprehensive income by the same amount.