Note 2 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Continued Level 2 Level 3 Instrument Observable Inputs Unobservable Inputs All Other Corporate Bonds - Continued Public covenants Comparative bond analysis Relevant reports issued by analysts and rating agencies Audited financial statements Redeemable Preferred Stocks Valuation Method Principally the market approach Principally the market approach Valuation Techniques / Inputs Non-binding broker quotes Financial statement analysis Benchmark yields Comparative bond analysis Call provisions Relevant reports issued by analysts and rating agencies Audited financial statements Equity Securities Valuation Method Principally the market approach Principally the market and income approaches Valuation Techniques / Inputs Prices obtained from external pricing services Financial statement analysis Non-binding broker quotes The management of our investment portfolio includes establishing pricing policy and reviewing the reasonableness of sources and inputs used in developing pricing. We review all prices that vary between multiple pricing vendors by a threshold that is outside a normal market range for the asset type. In the event we receive a vendor's market price that does not appear reasonable based on our market analysis, we may challenge the price and request further information about the assumptions and methodologies used by the vendor to price the security. We may change the vendor price based on a better data source such as an actual trade. We also review all prices that did not change from the prior month to ensure that these prices are within our expectations. The overall valuation process for determining fair values may include adjustments to valuations obtained from our pricing sources when they do not represent a valid exit price. These adjustments may be made when, in our judgment and considering our knowledge of the financial conditions and industry in which the issuer operates, certain features of the financial instrument require that an adjustment be made to the value originally obtained from our pricing sources. These features may include the complexity of the financial instrument, the market in which the financial instrument is traded, counterparty credit risk, credit structure, concentration, or liquidity. Additionally, an adjustment to the price derived from a model typically reflects our judgment of the inputs that other participants in the market for the financial instrument being measured at fair value would consider in pricing that same financial instrument. In the event an asset is sold, we test the validity of the fair value determined by our valuation techniques by comparing the selling price to the fair value determined for the asset in the immediately preceding month end reporting period. Certain of our investments do not have readily determinable market prices and/or observable inputs or may at times be affected by the lack of market liquidity. For these securities, we use internally prepared valuations, including valuations based on estimates of future profitability, to estimate the fair value. Additionally, we may obtain prices from independent third-party brokers to aid in establishing valuations for certain of these securities. Key assumptions used by us to determine fair value for 124 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued Unum Group and Subsidiaries