MetLife, Inc. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued) (1) Other includes ABS and collateralized mortgage obligations. Pension benefits are provided utilizing either a traditional formula or cash balance formula, similar to the U.S. plans. The investment objectives are also similar, subject to local regulations. Generally, these international pension plans invest directly in high quality equity and fixed maturity securities. The assets of the non-U.S. pension plans are comprised of short-term investments, equity and fixed maturity securities, real estate and hedge fund investments. The assets of the non-U.S. pension plans, other than those held in participant directed investment accounts, are managed in accordance with investment policies consistent with the longer-term nature of related benefit obligations and within prudent risk parameters and consistent with the policies, goals and derivative instrument risk management guidelines described above for the U.S. plans. The table below summarizes the actual weighted average allocation of the fair value of total plan assets by asset class at December 31 for the years indicated and the approved target allocation by major asset class at December 31, 2012 for the plans: Non-U.S. Plans (1) Fixed maturity securities include foreign bonds. (2) Equity securities primarily include common stock of non-U.S. companies. (3) Alternative securities include derivative assets, real estate, short-term investments, and other investments. The pension and postretirement plan assets measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis were determined as described in “— Plan Assets.” These estimated fair values and their corresponding placement in the fair value hierarchy are summarized as follows: MetLife, Inc. 190 Pension Other Postretirement Actual Allocation Actual Allocation Target 2012 2011 Target 2012 2011 Asset Class: Fixed maturity securities (1) ............................................ 64% 54% 52% 100% 100% 100% Equity securities (2) .................................................. 17% 24% 23% —% —% —% Alternative securities (3) ............................................... 19% 22% 25% —% —% —% Total assets ...................................................... 100% 100% 100% 100% December 31, 2012 Pension Benefits Other Postretirement Benefits Fair Value Hierarchy Fair Value Hierarchy Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Estimated Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Estimated Fair Value (In millions) Assets: Fixed maturity securities: Foreign bonds ............................................. $— $120 $— $120 $— $15 $— $15 Equity securities: Common stock - foreign — 54 — 54 — — — — Other investments ............................................ 24 — — 24 — — — — Derivative assets ............................................. — — 13 13 — — — — Real estate ................................................. — — 7 7 — — — — Short-term investments ........................................ — 6 — 6 — — — — Total assets ........................................... $24 $180 $20 $224 $— $15 $— $15