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SEC Company Response from LOEWS CORP (L) (CIK 0000060086) (L) — Jan 14, 2021

LOEWS CORP (L) (CIK 0000060086)
Date: Jan. 14, 2021 · CIK: 0000060086 · Accession: 0000060086-21-000004

AI Filing Summary & Sentiment

File numbers found in text: 001-06541

Referenced dates: December 23, 2020

Date
January 14, 2021
Author
Not clearly detected
Form
CORRESP
Company
LOEWS CORP (L) (CIK 0000060086)

Letter

Division of Corporation Finance Office of Finance Loews Corporation Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019 Filed February 12, 2020 File No. 001-06541

Dear Mr. Brunhofer and Ms. Baynes:

Thank you for your letter dated December 23, 2020 regarding the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Loews Corporation (the “Company”) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Our responses to your letter are set forth below. For your convenience, the comments have been repeated herein and are followed by our response.

Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019

1.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Investments, page 98

We note your July 24, 2009 response to comment 2 of our June 22, 2009 letter acknowledging the significance of high credit quality designation in the guidance now codified in ASC 325-40-35-4 (and since the adoption of ASU 2016-13 in ASC 325-40-35-4C). Your policy disclosure in the third paragraph of this section is unclear as to how you account for changes in prepayment estimates but appears to imply use of the retrospective method which only applies to asset-backed securities of high credit quality. Given that it is apparent from the December 31, 2019 Supplemental Financial Information furnished as Exhibit 99.2 to the February 10, 2020 Form 8-K of CNA Financial Corporation (CNA) that about $3.2 billion of its total asset-backed securities investments of $8.8 billion, or 37% are rated below AA and therefore not of high credit quality, please provide us proposed revised disclosure to be included in future filings that clarifies how you account for changes in prepayment estimates for your asset- backed securities. Otherwise, tell us how your current policy disclosure and accounting complies with the guidance referenced above.

667 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10065-8068

Division of Corporation Finance

January 14, 2021

p. 2

Response:

In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company advises the Staff that it has considered the guidance in ASC Topic 325-40 when determining its accounting policy. The scope of ASC 325-40 includes asset- and mortgage-backed securities that are not of high credit quality, and high credit quality interest-only securities that can be contractually prepaid such that the holder would not recover substantially all of the recorded investment. High credit quality is generally viewed by the SEC as having obtained a credit rating of AA (or equivalent) or higher from a major rating agency or being sufficiently collateralized to ensure that the possibility of credit loss is remote. The Company held approximately $3.3 billion of asset-backed securities rated below AA as of September 30, 2020. This included 42% rated A, 41% rated BBB, and 17% below investment grade. Interest-only securities did not make up a significant portion of the portfolio.

Given the nature of the portfolio, the impact of changes in prepayment estimates has been de minimis for the Company as there is limited variability anticipated in the cash flows expected to be collected. Over 90% of the portfolio consists of commercial asset- and mortgage-backed securities, which unlike residential mortgage-backed securities, typically do not allow for penalty-free prepayments. Further reducing variability, many of the commercial mortgage-backed securities and asset backed securities we hold are non-amortizing, with the principal due in a lump sum at maturity. The majority of these securities are also rated as investment grade by one or more major rating agencies and are sufficiently collateralized to levels that cumulative potential credit losses in the portfolio are expected to be immaterial. Any such credit losses are identified through the Company’s quarterly impairment process, and result in the Company recording a credit loss allowance.

Following thorough analysis of the portfolio and its impact on financial results, the Company modified its approach in 2016 to use the retrospective method, to be consistent with the remainder of its high-quality asset-backed securities and given the immateriality determination. The Company acknowledges that ASC 325-40 requires that changes in accretable yield be accounted for prospectively, and accordingly, the magnitude of any changes is monitored through quarterly control processes to ensure that any breach of our de minimis threshold would be identified promptly. We do not expect a material change related to prepayment estimates; however, were it to exceed the de minimis threshold the Company would account for it in accordance with ASC 325-40. The retrospective adjustment recorded through net income for changes in prepayment estimates related to instruments in scope of ASC 325-40 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018, and 2019 was approximately $0.3 million, $0.7 million, and $(0.4) million, respectively. As the Company reported net income attributable to Loews Corporation of $932 million, $636 million, and $1,164 million for these periods, respectively, the Company has concluded that the retrospective adjustments are immaterial to each period.

In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company advises the Staff that it intends to clarify the accounting policy disclosure that describes the accounting for changes in prepayment estimates in the 2020 Form 10-K as follows. The changes from the 2019 Form 10-K disclosure are underlined below:

Division of Corporation Finance

January 14, 2021

p. 3

For asset-backed securities included in fixed maturity securities, the Company recognizes income using an effective yield based on anticipated prepayments and the estimated economic life of the securities. When estimates of prepayments change, the effective yield is recalculated to reflect actual payments to date and anticipated future payments predominantly using the retrospective method.

2.

Revenue recognition, page 101

Your policy disclosure for Altium Packaging LLC to recognize revenue in part when “there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the sales price is fixed and [sic] determinable and collection is reasonably assured” reflects guidance from SAB 104 that was superseded by ASC 606. Please confirm for us that you recognize your packaging revenue based on the principle outlined in ASC 606-10-25-1 and provide us proposed revised disclosure to be included in future filings that is consistent with this guidance.

Response:

We confirm that Altium Packaging LLC (“Altium Packaging”) revenue is recognized in accordance with ASC 606-10-25-1.

The disclosure for the 2020 Form 10-K filing will be revised as follows. The changes from the 2019 Form 10-K disclosure are underlined below:

Altium Packaging is a packaging solutions provider and manufacturer in North America, serving a diverse customer base in the pharmaceutical, dairy, household chemicals, food/nutraceuticals, industrial/specialty chemicals, water and beverage/juice segments. Altium Packaging recognizes revenue at the time control is transferred to the customer, there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the sales price is fixed and determinable and collection is reasonably assured when obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer have been satisfied. This occurs at the time control is transferred to the customer, which generally occurs upon delivery or completion of the manufacturing process.

Separately tell us in your response why it is appropriate to reflect resin price changes on a lagged basis as indicated on page 61 and reference for us the authoritative literature you rely upon to support your accounting. Explain why these costs if “passed through” are not probable of being collected when they are incurred instead of when they appear to be invoiced.

Response:

We acknowledge that the term “passed through” may be interpreted differently than intended. Altium Packaging’s contracts with its customers provide for price adjustments for changes in resin prices on a prospective basis. Generally, Altium Packaging will adjust its contract price for future sales one month after resin prices change. However, Altium Packaging’s cost of sales includes the resin price change when a change occurs which impacts Altium Packaging’s gross margin, as revenue is recognized in accordance with ASC 606-10-25-1. The disclosure for the 2020 Form 10-K filing will be revised as follows:

Division of Corporation Finance

January 14, 2021

p. 4

Altium Packaging’s contracts with its customers provide for price adjustments for changes in resin prices on a prospective basis. Due to fluctuations in resin prices, over time resin raw material costs are generally offset by the change in revenues, so that Altium Packaging’s gross margins return to the same level as prior to the change in prices.

Altium Packaging’s contracts generally provide for resin price changes to be passed through to its customers on a short-term lag, generally about one month. When a pass-through occurs, revenues and expenses generally change by the same amount so that Altium Packaging’s gross margin returns to the same level as prior to the change in prices.

3.

Note 3: Investments, page 109

In the risk factor on page 63 of your September 30, 2020 Form 10-Q you identify the energy, retail, travel, entertainment and real estate industries as being heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. You also indicate that CNA’s municipal bond portfolio is subject to risks of default by state and local governments and agencies that are under increased strain related to the pandemic. Finally, you disclose that these significant financial market disruptions may have a material impact on CNA’s business, results of operations and financial condition. Please tell us the following:

•

Your current investment portfolio exposure to each of the industries identified above;

•

Your consideration for disclosing in your upcoming 2020 Form 10-K the concentration information in your investment portfolio for these industries and your municipal bond portfolio as stipulated in ASC 825-10-50-20 and 50-21; and

•

If your investment portfolio concentrations do not meet the disclosure threshold in the guidance identified in the preceding bullet, your consideration for otherwise disclosing in Management’s Discussion and Analysis in your upcoming 2020 Form 10-K more information about the composition of your investment portfolio so that investors can better assess the underlying risks given the significant financial market disruptions you identify.

Division of Corporation Finance

January 14, 2021

p. 5

Response:

As of September 30, 2020, the Company’s investment portfolio exposure to each of the industries listed within the September 30, 2020 Form 10-Q risk factor disclosure is presented in the following table:

Cost or

Gross

Gross

Allowance

Estimated

Amortized

Unrealized

Unrealized

For Credit

Fair

September 30, 2020

Cost

Gains

Losses

Losses

Value

(In millions)

Corporate and other bonds:

Energy – Oil & Gas

$

1,193

$

$

$

$

1,304

Energy – Other

Energy – Pipelines

1,050

1,181

Entertainment

Financial – Real Estate/REITs

1,354

1,477

Retail

Travel & Related

Other

16,014

2,461

18,436

Total Corporate and other bonds

20,734

3,047

23,658

Municipal bonds

9,459

1,766

11,224

Total

$

30,193

$

4,813

$

$

$

34,882

The Company’s investment portfolio is sufficiently diversified such that it is not exposed to significant concentrations of credit risk arising from a single issuer, nor is there exposure to significant concentrations of credit risk arising from groups of issuers that share similar economic characteristics that would cause those issuers’ ability to meet their contractual obligations to be similarly affected by changes in economic conditions. The Company has established internal investment guidelines to mitigate concentration risk, and the insurance subsidiaries adhere to all regulatory guidelines that limit issuer concentrations. Therefore, the Company respectfully submits that no additional disclosure is required under ASC 825-10-50-20 or 50-21 in the upcoming 2020 Form 10-K.

The financial market disruptions caused by the onset of COVID-19 during the first quarter of 2020 led to a sharp decline in market values and an increase in unrealized losses within the investment portfolio. At that time, the Company determined that including additional detail regarding sectors within its portfolio with heightened risk within its Risk Factor disclosures and the portfolio composition by industry within its MD&A would be beneficial to the reader. The Company retained the Risk Factor disclosure through the third quarter Form 10-Q filing due to ongoing uncertainty related to the pandemic, and the potential for further market volatility. However, the Company’s portfolio has exhibited a sustained recovery as evidenced by the decrease in unrealized losses during the second and third quarters of 2020. Gross unrealized losses for the portion of the Company’s portfolio invested in the industries listed per the SEC’s comment above were $428 million as of March 31, 2020, $75 million as of June 30, 2020 and $55 million as of September 30, 2020. The Company’s best estimate of expected credit losses for the industries listed above remained immaterial throughout the year, but also improved consistent with the market recovery; the allowance for credit losses attributable to industries listed above decreased from $48 million as of the end of the first quarter to $30 million as of the end of the third quarter. Given the recovery of the Company’s investment portfolio and more favorable U.S. and

Show Raw Text
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm

  David B. Edelson

  Senior Vice President

  and Chief Financial Officer

  January 14, 2021

  U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

  Division of Corporation Finance

  Office of Finance

  100 F Street, N.E.

  Washington, DC 20549

        Att’n:

          Mark Brunhofer

  Bonnie Baynes

        Re:

          Loews Corporation

  Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019

  Filed February 12, 2020

  File No. 001-06541

  Dear Mr. Brunhofer and Ms. Baynes:

  Thank you for your letter dated December 23, 2020 regarding the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Loews Corporation (the “Company”) for
    the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Our responses to your letter are set forth below. For your convenience, the comments have been repeated herein and are followed by our response.

  Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019

        1.

          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

            Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

  Investments, page 98

  We note your July 24, 2009 response to comment 2 of our June 22, 2009 letter acknowledging the significance of
    high credit quality designation in the guidance now codified in ASC 325-40-35-4 (and since the adoption of ASU 2016-13 in ASC 325-40-35-4C). Your policy disclosure in the third paragraph of this section is unclear as to how you account for changes in
    prepayment estimates but appears to imply use of the retrospective method which only applies to asset-backed securities of high credit quality. Given that it is apparent from the December 31, 2019 Supplemental Financial Information furnished as Exhibit
    99.2 to the February 10, 2020 Form 8-K of CNA Financial Corporation (CNA) that about $3.2 billion of its total asset-backed securities investments of $8.8 billion, or 37% are rated below AA and therefore not of high credit quality, please provide us
    proposed revised disclosure to be included in future filings that clarifies how you account for changes in prepayment estimates for your asset- backed securities. Otherwise, tell us how your current policy disclosure and accounting complies with the
    guidance referenced above.

  667 Madison Avenue, New York, New York  10065-8068

  Division of Corporation Finance

  January 14, 2021

  p. 2

  Response:

  In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company advises the Staff that it has considered the guidance in ASC Topic 325-40 when
    determining its accounting policy. The scope of ASC 325-40 includes asset- and mortgage-backed securities that are not of high credit quality, and high credit quality interest-only securities that can be contractually prepaid such that the holder would
    not recover substantially all of the recorded investment. High credit quality is generally viewed by the SEC as having obtained a credit rating of AA (or equivalent) or higher from a major rating agency or being sufficiently collateralized to ensure
    that the possibility of credit loss is remote. The Company held approximately $3.3 billion of asset-backed securities rated below AA as of September 30, 2020.  This included 42% rated A, 41% rated BBB, and 17% below investment grade.  Interest-only
    securities did not make up a significant portion of the portfolio.

  Given the nature of the portfolio, the impact of changes in prepayment estimates has been de minimis for the Company as there is
    limited variability anticipated in the cash flows expected to be collected. Over 90% of the portfolio consists of commercial asset- and mortgage-backed securities, which unlike residential mortgage-backed securities, typically do not allow for
    penalty-free prepayments. Further reducing variability, many of the commercial mortgage-backed securities and asset backed securities we hold are non-amortizing, with the principal due in a lump sum at maturity. The majority of these securities are
    also rated as investment grade by one or more major rating agencies and are sufficiently collateralized to levels that cumulative potential credit losses in the portfolio are expected to be immaterial. Any such credit losses are identified through the
    Company’s quarterly impairment process, and result in the Company recording a credit loss allowance.

  Following thorough analysis of the portfolio and its impact on financial results, the Company modified its approach in 2016 to use
    the retrospective method, to be consistent with the remainder of its high-quality asset-backed securities and given the immateriality determination. The Company acknowledges that ASC 325-40 requires that changes in accretable yield be accounted for
    prospectively, and accordingly, the magnitude of any changes is monitored through quarterly control processes to ensure that any breach of our de minimis threshold would be identified promptly. We do not expect a material change related to prepayment
    estimates; however, were it to exceed the de minimis threshold the Company would account for it in accordance with ASC 325-40. The retrospective adjustment recorded through net income for changes in prepayment estimates related to instruments in scope
    of ASC 325-40 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018, and 2019 was approximately $0.3 million, $0.7 million, and $(0.4) million, respectively. As the Company reported net income attributable to Loews Corporation of $932 million, $636 million, and
    $1,164 million for these periods, respectively, the Company has concluded that the retrospective adjustments are immaterial to each period.

  In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company advises the Staff that it intends to clarify the accounting policy disclosure that
    describes the accounting for changes in prepayment estimates in the 2020 Form 10-K as follows. The changes from the 2019 Form 10-K disclosure are underlined below:

    2

  Division of Corporation Finance

  January 14, 2021

  p. 3

  For asset-backed securities included in fixed maturity securities, the Company recognizes income using an
    effective yield based on anticipated prepayments and the estimated economic life of the securities. When estimates of prepayments change, the effective yield is recalculated to reflect actual payments to date and anticipated future payments predominantly using the retrospective method.

        2.

          Revenue recognition, page 101

  Your policy disclosure for Altium Packaging LLC to recognize revenue in part when “there is persuasive evidence of
    an arrangement, the sales price is fixed and [sic] determinable and collection is reasonably assured” reflects guidance from SAB 104 that was superseded by ASC 606. Please confirm for us that you recognize your packaging revenue based on the principle
    outlined in ASC 606-10-25-1 and provide us proposed revised disclosure to be included in future filings that is consistent with this guidance.

  Response:

  We confirm that Altium Packaging LLC (“Altium Packaging”) revenue is recognized in accordance with ASC 606-10-25-1.

  The disclosure for the 2020 Form 10-K filing will be revised as follows. The changes from the 2019 Form 10-K disclosure are
    underlined below:

  Altium Packaging is a
      packaging solutions provider and manufacturer in North America, serving a diverse customer base in the pharmaceutical, dairy, household chemicals, food/nutraceuticals, industrial/specialty chemicals, water and beverage/juice segments. Altium
      Packaging recognizes revenue at
        the time control is transferred to the customer, there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the sales price is fixed and determinable and collection is reasonably assured when obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer have been
        satisfied. This occurs at the time control is transferred to the customer, which generally occurs upon delivery or
        completion of the manufacturing process.

  Separately tell us in your response why it is appropriate to reflect resin price changes on a lagged basis as
    indicated on page 61 and reference for us the authoritative literature you rely upon to support your accounting. Explain why these costs if “passed through” are not probable of being collected when they are incurred instead of when they appear to be
    invoiced.

  Response:

  We acknowledge that the term “passed through” may be interpreted differently than intended. Altium Packaging’s contracts with its
    customers provide for price adjustments for changes in resin prices on a prospective basis. Generally, Altium Packaging will adjust its contract price for future sales one month after resin prices change. However, Altium Packaging’s cost of sales
    includes the resin price change when a change occurs which impacts Altium Packaging’s gross margin, as revenue is recognized in accordance with ASC 606-10-25-1. The disclosure for the 2020 Form 10-K filing will be revised as follows:

    3

  Division of Corporation Finance

  January 14, 2021

  p. 4

  Altium Packaging’s contracts with its customers provide for price adjustments for changes in resin
      prices on a prospective basis. Due to fluctuations in resin prices, over time resin raw material costs are generally offset by the change in revenues, so that Altium Packaging’s gross margins return to the same level as prior to the change in prices.

  Altium Packaging’s contracts generally provide for resin price changes to be passed through to
      its customers on a short-term lag, generally about one month. When a pass-through occurs, revenues and expenses generally change by the same amount so that Altium Packaging’s gross margin returns to the same level as prior to the change in prices.

        3.

          Note 3: Investments, page 109

  In the risk factor on page 63 of your September 30, 2020 Form 10-Q you identify the energy, retail, travel,
    entertainment and real estate industries as being heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. You also indicate that CNA’s municipal bond portfolio is subject to risks of default by state and local governments and agencies that are under increased
    strain related to the pandemic. Finally, you disclose that these significant financial market disruptions may have a material impact on CNA’s business, results of operations and financial condition. Please tell us the following:

            •

            Your current investment portfolio exposure to each of the industries identified above;

            •

            Your consideration for disclosing in your upcoming 2020 Form 10-K the concentration information in your investment
              portfolio for these industries and your municipal bond portfolio as stipulated in ASC 825-10-50-20 and 50-21; and

            •

            If your investment portfolio concentrations do not meet the disclosure threshold in the guidance identified in the
              preceding bullet, your consideration for otherwise disclosing in Management’s Discussion and Analysis in your upcoming 2020 Form 10-K more information about the composition of your investment portfolio so that investors can better assess the
              underlying risks given the significant financial market disruptions you identify.

    4

  Division of Corporation Finance

  January 14, 2021

  p. 5

  Response:

      As of September 30, 2020, the Company’s investment portfolio exposure to each of the industries listed within the September 30, 2020 Form 10-Q risk factor disclosure is presented in the following table:

                Cost or

                Gross

                Gross

                Allowance

                Estimated

                Amortized

                Unrealized

                Unrealized

                For Credit

                Fair

                September 30, 2020

                Cost

                Gains

                Losses

                Losses

                Value

                (In millions)

                Corporate and other bonds:

                Energy – Oil & Gas

                $

                1,193

                $

                151

                $

                17

                $

                23

                $

                1,304

                Energy – Other

                23

                8

                31

                Energy – Pipelines

                1,050

                146

                8

                7

                1,181

                Entertainment

                190

                13

                1

                202

                Financial – Real Estate/REITs

                1,354

                127

                4

                1,477

                Retail

                539

                106

                7

                638

                Travel & Related

                371

                35

                17

                389

                Other

                16,014

                2,461

                35

                4

                18,436

                Total Corporate and other bonds

                20,734

                3,047

                89

                34

                23,658

                Municipal bonds

                9,459

                1,766

                1

                11,224

                Total

                $

                30,193

                $

                4,813

                $

                90

                $

                34

                $

                34,882

  The Company’s investment portfolio is sufficiently diversified such that it is not exposed to significant concentrations of credit
    risk arising from a single issuer, nor is there exposure to significant concentrations of credit risk arising from groups of issuers that share similar economic characteristics that would cause those issuers’ ability to meet their contractual
    obligations to be similarly affected by changes in economic conditions.  The Company has established internal investment guidelines to mitigate concentration risk, and the insurance subsidiaries adhere to all regulatory guidelines that limit issuer
    concentrations.  Therefore, the Company respectfully submits that no additional disclosure is required under ASC 825-10-50-20 or 50-21 in the upcoming 2020 Form 10-K.

  The financial market disruptions caused by the onset of COVID-19 during the first quarter of 2020 led to a sharp decline in market
    values and an increase in unrealized losses within the investment portfolio. At that time, the Company determined that including additional detail regarding sectors within its portfolio with heightened risk within its Risk Factor disclosures and the
    portfolio composition by industry within its MD&A would be beneficial to the reader. The Company retained the Risk Factor disclosure through the third quarter Form 10-Q filing due to ongoing uncertainty related to the pandemic, and the potential
    for further market volatility. However, the Company’s portfolio has exhibited a sustained recovery as evidenced by the decrease in unrealized losses during the second and third quarters of 2020.  Gross unrealized losses for the portion of the Company’s
    portfolio invested in the industries listed per the SEC’s comment above were $428 million as of March 31, 2020, $75 million as of June 30, 2020 and $55 million as of September 30, 2020. The Company’s best estimate of expected credit losses for the
    industries listed above remained immaterial throughout the year, but also improved consistent with the market recovery; the allowance for credit losses attributable to industries listed above decreased from $48 million as of the end of the first
    quarter to $30 million as of the end of the third quarter. Given the recovery of the Company’s investment portfolio and more favorable U.S. and