Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Investment Securities

v2.4.0.6
Investment Securities
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investment Securities
Note 8.
Investment Securities

Investment securities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include:

Investments within the scope of Investment Accounting that are held by ML & Co. and certain of its non-broker-dealer subsidiaries consist of debt held-for-investment and liquidity and collateral management purposes that are classified as available-for-sale.

Non-qualifying investments are those that are not within the scope of Investment Accounting and consist principally of equity investments, including investments in partnerships and joint ventures. Included in non-qualifying investments are investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting, which consist of investments in (i) partnerships and certain limited liability corporations where Merrill Lynch has more than a minor influence (generally defined as three to five percent interest) and (ii) corporate entities where Merrill Lynch has the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee (generally defined as ownership and voting interest of 20% to 50%). Also included in non-qualifying investments are private equity investments that Merrill Lynch holds for capital appreciation and/or current income and which are accounted for at fair value in accordance with the Investment Company Guide, as well as private equity investments accounted for at fair value under the fair value option election.
Investment securities reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are presented below.
(dollars in millions)
 
March 31, 2012
 
 
December 31, 2011
Investment securities
 

 
 
 

Available-for-sale
$
671

 
 
$
694

Non-qualifying(1)
 

 
 
 

       Equity investments
3,508

 
 
3,810

       Other investments
2,496

 
 
2,180

Total
$
6,675

 
 
$
6,684

 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Investments that are non-qualifying for Investment Accounting purposes.

For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") losses related to non-agency mortgage-backed AFS securities were $2 million and $38 million respectively. Net impairment losses recognized in earnings represent the credit component of OTTI losses on AFS debt securities and total OTTI losses for AFS debt securities that Merrill Lynch does not intend to hold to recovery. Those amounts were $2 million and $37 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, respectively. Refer to Note 1 for Merrill Lynch's accounting policy regarding OTTI of investment securities.
Information regarding investment securities subject to Investment Accounting follows.
(dollars in millions)
 
March 31, 2012
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
Available-for-Sale
 
 
 
Securities, mortgage-backed and asset-backed:
 
 
 
Corporate ABS
$
206

 
$
206

Non-agency mortgage backed securities
60

 
60

Subtotal
266

 
266

U.S. Government and agencies
405

 
405

Total available-for-sale securities
$
671

 
$
671

 
 
 
 

(dollars in millions)
 
December 31, 2011
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
Available-for-Sale
 

 
 

Securities, mortgage-backed and asset-backed:
 

 
 

Corporate ABS
$
47

 
$
47

Non-agency mortgage backed securities
249

 
249

Subtotal
296

 
296

U.S. Government and agencies
398

 
398

Total available-for-sale securities
$
694

 
$
694

 
 
 
 


There were no material gross unrealized gains or losses associated with available-for-sale securities as of March 31, 2012 or December 31, 2011. Additionally, there were no individual securities that had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for a year or more as of March 31, 2012 or December 31, 2011.

The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale debt securities by expected maturity for mortgage-backed securities and contractual maturity for other debt securities at March 31, 2012 are as follows:
 
 
Available-for-Sale
 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Due in one year or less
$
612

 
$
612

 
Due after one year through five years
59

 
59

 
Due after five years through ten years

 

 
Due after ten years

 

 
Total(1)
$
671

 
$
671

 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay their obligations with or without prepayment penalties.




The proceeds and gross realized gains (losses) from the sale of available-for-sale securities during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 are as follows:
(dollars in millions)
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
 
Proceeds
$
3

 
$
1,587

 
Gross realized gains

 
44

 
Gross realized losses

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, Merrill Lynch held certain investments that were accounted for under the equity method of accounting, none of which were individually material.