Management considers a wide range of factors about the security issuer and uses its best judgment in evaluating the cause of the decline in the estimated fair value of the security and in assessing the prospects for near-term recovery. Inherent in management’s evaluation of the security are assumptions and estimates about the operations of the issuer and its future earnings potential. Considerations used in the impairment evaluation process include, but are not limited to: (i) the length of time and the extent to which the estimated fair value has been below cost or amortized cost; (ii) the potential for impairments of securities when the issuer is experiencing significant financial difficulties; (iii) the potential for impairments in an entire industry sector or sub-sector; (iv) the potential for impairments in certain economically depressed geographic locations; (v) the potential for impairments of securities where the issuer, series of issuers or industry has suffered a catastrophic type of loss or has exhausted natural resources; (vi) with respect to fixed maturity securities, whether the Company has the intent to sell or will more likely than not be required to sell a particular security before the decline in estimated fair value below amortized cost recovers; (vii) with respect to structured securities, changes in forecasted cash flows after considering the quality of underlying collateral, expected prepayment speeds, current and forecasted loss severity, consideration of the payment terms of the underlying assets backing a particular security, and the payment priority within the tranche structure of the security; and (viii) other subjective factors, including concentrations and information obtained from regulators and rating agencies. The methodology and significant inputs used to determine the amount of credit loss on fixed maturity securities are as follows: ‰ The Company calculates the recovery value by performing a discounted cash flow analysis based on the present value of future cash flows. The discount rate is generally the effective interest rate of the security prior to impairment. ‰ When determining collectability and the period over which value is expected to recover, the Company applies considerations utilized in its overall impairment evaluation process which incorporates information regarding the specific security, fundamentals of the industry and geographic area in which the security issuer operates, and overall macroeconomic conditions. Projected future cash flows are estimated using assumptions derived from management’s best estimates of likely scenario-based outcomes after giving consideration to a variety of variables that include, but are not limited to: payment terms of the security; the likelihood that the issuer can service the interest and principal payments; the quality and amount of any credit enhancements; the security’s position within the capital structure of the issuer; possible corporate restructurings or asset sales by the issuer; and changes to the rating of the security or the issuer by rating agencies. ‰ Additional considerations are made when assessing the unique features that apply to certain structured securities including, but not limited to: the quality of underlying collateral, expected prepayment speeds; current and forecasted loss severity, consideration of the payment terms of the underlying loans or assets backing a particular security, and the payment priority within the tranche structure of the security. ‰ When determining the amount of the credit loss for U.S. and foreign corporate securities, foreign government securities and state and political subdivision securities, the estimated fair value is considered the recovery value when available information does not indicate that another value is more appropriate. When information is identified that indicates a recovery value other than estimated fair value, management considers in the determination of recovery value the same considerations utilized in its overall impairment evaluation process as described in (ii) above, as well as private and public sector programs to restructure such securities. With respect to securities that have attributes of debt and equity (perpetual hybrid securities), consideration is given in the OTTI analysis as to whether there has been any deterioration in the credit of the issuer and the likelihood of recovery in value of the securities that are in a severe and extended unrealized loss position. Consideration is also given as to whether any perpetual hybrid securities, with an unrealized loss, regardless of credit rating, have deferred any dividend payments. When an OTTI loss has occurred, the OTTI loss is the entire difference between the perpetual hybrid security’s cost and its estimated fair value with a corresponding charge to earnings. The cost or amortized cost of fixed maturity and equity securities is adjusted for OTTI in the period in which the determination is made. The Company does not change the revised cost basis for subsequent recoveries in value. 117 MetLife, Inc. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued) MetLife, Inc. December 31, 2012 December 31, 2011 Less than 12 Months Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Less than 12 Months Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Estimated Fair Value Gross Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value Gross Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value Gross Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value Gross Unrealized Losses (In millions, except number of securities) Fixed Maturity Securities: U.S. corporate ................................ $ 3,799 $ 88 $ 3,695 $ 342 $15,642 $ 590 $ 5,135 $ 790 Foreign corporate .............................. 2,783 96 2,873 180 12,618 639 5,957 700 Foreign government ............................ 1,431 22 543 49 11,227 230 1,799 127 U.S. Treasury and agency ....................... 1,951 11 — — 2,611 1 50 1 RMBS ....................................... 735 31 4,098 633 4,040 547 4,724 1,189 CMBS ....................................... 842 11 577 46 2,825 135 678 91 ABS ........................................ 1,920 30 1,410 139 4,972 103 1,316 214 State and political subdivision ..................... 260 4 251 66 177 2 1,007 154 Total fixed maturity securities .................... $13,721 $293 $13,447 $1,455 $54,112 $2,247 $20,666 $3,266 Equity Securities: Common .................................... $ 201 $ 18 $ 14 $ 1 $ 581 $ 96 $ 5 $ 1 Non-redeemable preferred ....................... — — 295 140 204 30 370 172 Total equity securities .......................... $ 201 $ 18 $ 309 $ 141 $ 785 $ 126 $ 375 $ 173 Total number of securities in an unrealized loss position .................................... 1,941 1,335 3,978 1,963 Evaluation of AFS Securities for OTTI and Evaluating Temporarily Impaired AFS Securities Evaluation and Measurement Methodologies