Harbinger Group Inc.
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SEC Filings

10-Q
HRG GROUP, INC. filed this Form 10-Q on 02/07/2017
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non-hedgeable market inputs such as mortality, morbidity, lapse, discount rate for non-performance risk, discount rate for risk margin, surrenders, etc. Mortality relates to the occurrence of death. Mortality assumptions are based upon the experience of the cedant as well as past and emerging industry experience, when available. Morbidity relates to the occurrence of a claim status and is a key assumption for the long term care business. Morbidity assumptions are based upon the experience of the cedant as well as past and emerging industry experience, when available. Mortality and morbidity assumptions may be different by sex, underwriting class and policy type. Assumptions are also made for future mortality and morbidity improvements.
Front Street determines the discount rate based on the market yields on the underlying assets backing the liabilities plus a risk margin to reflect uncertainty and adjusts the discount rate to reflect the credit risk of Front Street. Policies are terminated through surrenders and maturities, where surrenders represent the voluntary terminations of policies by policyholders and maturities are determined by policy contract terms. Surrender assumptions are based upon cedant experience adjusted for expected future conditions. Front Street discounts the liability cash flows by using the market yields on the underlying assets backing the liabilities plus a risk margin to reflect uncertainty and adjusts the discount rate to reflect the credit risk of Front Street.
The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Front Street future policyholder benefit liability are non-performance risk spread and risk spread to reflect uncertainty. Significant increases (decreases) in non-performance risk spread and risk margin to reflect uncertainty would result in a lower (higher) fair value measurement.
Funds Withheld Receivables
Through Front Street, the Company measures the fair value of its securities included in the funds withheld receivables portfolio based on assumptions used by market participants in pricing the security. The appropriate valuation methodology is selected based on the specific characteristics of the fixed maturity or equity security, and the Company will then consistently apply 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 and industry and economic events are monitored and further market data will be acquired when certain thresholds 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. Management believes the broker quotes are prices at which trades could be executed based on historical trends executed at broker-quoted or slightly higher prices. The Company did not adjust prices received from third parties as of December 31, 2016. However, the Company does analyze the third-party valuation methodologies and its related inputs to perform assessments to determine the appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy.
Derivatives
The fair values of the embedded derivatives in Front Street’s assumed FIA business from FGL are derived using market indices, pricing assumptions and historical data. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the embedded derivatives in Front Street’s assumed FIA business are market value of options, interest swap rates, mortality multiplier, surrender rates, and non-performance spread. The mortality multiplier at December 31, 2016 and September 30, 2016 was applied to the Annuity 2000 mortality tables. Significant increases or decreases in the market value of an option in isolation would result in a higher or lower, respectively, fair value measurement. Significant increases or decreases in interest swap rates, mortality multiplier, surrender rates, or non-performance spread in isolation would result in a lower or higher, respectively, fair value measurement. Generally, a change in any one unobservable input would not result in a change in any other unobservable input.
Spectrum Brands’ derivative assets and liabilities are valued on a recurring basis using internal models, which are based on market observable inputs including interest rate curves and both forward and spot prices for currencies and commodities, which are generally based on quoted or observed market prices and classified as Level 2. The fair value of certain derivatives is estimated using pricing models based on contracts with similar terms and risks. Modeling techniques assume market correlation and volatility, such as using prices of one delivery point to calculate the price of the contract’s different delivery point. The nominal value of interest rate transactions is discounted using applicable forward interest rate curves. In addition, by applying a credit reserve which is calculated based on credit default swaps or published default probabilities for the actual and potential asset value, the fair value of Spectrum Brands’ derivative assets reflects the risk that the counterparties to these contracts may default on the obligations. Likewise, by assessing the requirements of a reserve for non-performance which is calculated based on the probability of default by Spectrum Brands, it adjusts its derivative liabilities to reflect the price at which a potential market participant would be willing to assume Spectrum Brands’ liabilities.
The Company has not changed its valuation techniques in measuring the fair value of any derivative assets and liabilities during the quarter.

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