Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Note 11.
Income Taxes – (Continued) The federal income tax return for 2006 is subject to examination by the IRS.
In addition for 2007 and 2008, the IRS has invited the Company to participate in the Compliance Assurance Process (“CAP”), which is a voluntary program for a limited number of large corporations.
Under CAP, the IRS conducts a real-time audit and works contemporaneously with the Company to resolve any issues prior to the filing of the tax return.
The Company has agreed to participate.
The Company believes this approach should reduce tax-related uncertainties, if any.
The Company and/or its subsidiaries also file income tax returns in various state, local and foreign jurisdictions.
These returns, with few exceptions, are no longer subject to examination by the various taxing authorities before 2000.
As discussed in Note 1, the Company adopted the provisions of FIN No.48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” on January 1, 2007.
As a result of the implementation of FIN No.48, the Company recognized a decrease to beginning retained earnings on January 1, 2007 of $37 million.
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of the date of adoption was approximately $70 million.
Included in the balance at January 1, 2007, were $51 million of tax positions that if recognized would affect the effective tax rate.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
## Table 0 ##
The Company anticipates that it is reasonably possible that payments of approximately $2 million will be made primarily due to the conclusion of state income tax examinations within the next 12 months.
Additionally, certain state and foreign income tax returns will no longer be subject to examination and as a result, there is a reasonable possibility that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by $7 million.
At December 31, 2007, there were $42 million of tax benefits that if recognized would affect the effective rate.
The Company recognizes interest accrued related to: (1) unrecognized tax benefits in Interest expense and (2) tax refund claims in Other revenues on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
The Company recognizes penalties in Income tax expense (benefit) on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
During 2007, the Company recorded charges of approximately $4 million for interest expense and $2 million for penalties.
Provision has been made for the expected U. S.  federal income tax liabilities applicable to undistributed earnings of subsidiaries, except for certain subsidiaries for which the Company intends to invest the undistributed earnings indefinitely, or recover such undistributed earnings tax-free.
At December 31, 2007, the Company has not provided deferred taxes of $126 million, if sold through a taxable sale, on $361 million of undistributed earnings related to a domestic affiliate.
The determination of the amount of the unrecognized deferred tax liability related to the undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries is not practicable.
In connection with a non-recurring distribution of $850 million to Diamond Offshore from a foreign subsidiary, a portion of which consisted of earnings of the subsidiary that had not previously been subjected to U. S.  federal income tax, Diamond Offshore recognized $59 million of U. S.  federal income tax expense as a result of the distribution.
It remains Diamond Offshore’s intention to indefinitely reinvest future earnings of the subsidiary to finance foreign activities.
Total income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, was different than the amounts of $1,601 million, $1,557 million and $639 million, computed by applying the statutory U. S.  federal income tax rate of 35% to income before income taxes and minority interest for each of the years.
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Results of Operations – CNA Financial – (Continued)
## Table 1 ##
(a) Includes Hardy new business of $133 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Prior years amounts are not included for Hardy.2016 Compared with 2015 Net written premiums increased $21 million in 2016 as compared with 2015.
Net written premiums for Commercial increased $23 million in 2016 as compared with 2015, driven by strong retention in middle markets, partially offset by a decrease in small business, which included a premium rate adjustment, as discussed in Note 18 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8.
Net written premiums for Specialty in 2016 were consistent with 2015 as growth in warranty was offset by a decrease in management and professional liability and health care due to underwriting actions undertaken in certain business lines.
Net written premiums for International in 2016 were consistent with 2015 and include favorable period over period premium development of $24 million.
Excluding the effect of foreign currency exchange rates and premium development, net written premiums increased 1.4% in 2016 in International.
The increase in net earned premiums was consistent with the trend in net written premiums in Commercial.
Excluding the effect of foreign currency exchange rates and premium development, the increase in net earned premiums was consistent with the trend in net written premiums in International.
Net operating income increased $15 million in 2016 as compared with 2015.
The increase in net operating income was primarily due to higher favorable net prior year reserve development and net investment income, partially offset by an increase in the current accident year loss ratio and higher underwriting expenses.
Catastrophe losses were $100 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) in 2016 as compared to catastrophe losses of $85 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) in 2015.
Favorable net prior year development of $316 million and $218 million was recorded in 2016 and 2015.
Specialty recorded favorable net prior year development of $305 million and $152 million in 2016 and 2015, Commercial recorded unfavorable net prior year development of $53 million in 2016 as compared with favorable net prior year development of $30 million in 2015 and International recorded favorable net prior year development of $64 million and $36 million in 2016 and 2015.
Further information on net prior year development is included in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 8.
Specialty’s combined ratio decreased 3.7 points in 2016 as compared with 2015.
The loss ratio decreased 4.6 points due to higher favorable net prior year reserve development, partially offset by a higher current accident year loss ratio.
Specialty’s expense ratio increased 0.9 points in 2016 as compared with 2015 due to higher employee costs and higher information technology (“IT”) spending primarily related to new underwriting platforms.
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Results of Operations – Boardwalk Pipeline – (Continued) Results of Operations The following table summarizes the results of operations for Boardwalk Pipeline for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 as presented in Note 20 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 8:
## Table 2 ##
2016 Compared with 2015 Total revenues increased $62 million in 2016 as compared with 2015.
Excluding the net effect of $13 million of proceeds received from the settlement of a legal matter in 2016, $9 million of proceeds received from a business interruption claim in 2015 and items offset in fuel and transportation expense, primarily retained fuel, operating revenues increased $83 million.
The increase was driven by an increase in transportation revenues of $71 million, which resulted primarily from growth projects recently placed into service, incremental revenues from the Gulf South rate case of $18 million and a full year of revenues from the Evangeline pipeline.
Storage and PAL revenues were higher by $17 million primarily from the effects of favorable market conditions on time period price spreads.
Operating expenses decreased $16 million in 2016 as compared with 2015.
Excluding receipt of a franchise tax refund of $10 million in 2015 and items offset in operating revenues, operating costs and expenses increased $5 million primarily due to higher employee related costs, partially offset by decreases in maintenance activities and depreciation expense.
Interest expense increased $7 million primarily due to higher average interest rates compared to 2015.
Net income increased $15 million in 2016 as compared with 2015, primarily reflecting higher revenues and lower operating expenses, partially offset by higher interest expense as discussed above.2015 Compared with 2014 Total revenues increased $18 million in 2015 as compared with 2014.
Excluding the business interruption claim proceeds of $8 million and items offset in fuel and transportation expense, primarily retained fuel, operating revenues increased $33 million.
This increase is primarily due to higher transportation revenues of $39 million from growth projects recently placed into service, including the Evangeline pipeline which was acquired in October of 2014 and $20 million of additional revenues resulting from the Gulf South rate case, partially offset by the effects of comparably warm weather experienced in the early part of the 2015 period in Boardwalk Pipeline’s market areas and unfavorable market conditions.
Storage and PAL revenues decreased $20 million primarily as a result of the effects of unfavorable market conditions on time period price spreads.
Operating expenses decreased $80 million in 2015 as compared with 2014.
This decrease is primarily due to a $94 million prior year charge to write off all capitalized costs associated with the terminated Bluegrass project, a $10 million franchise tax refund related to settlement of prior tax periods and a decrease in fuel and transportation expense due to lower natural gas prices.
These decreases were partially offset by higher depreciation expense of $35

<table><tr><td>Balance, January 1, 2007</td><td>$70</td></tr><tr><td>Additions based on tax positions related to the current year</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Additions for tax positions of prior years</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Reductions for tax positions related to the current year</td><td>-23</td></tr><tr><td>Settlements</td><td>-6</td></tr><tr><td>Expiration of statute of limitations</td><td>-3</td></tr><tr><td>Balance, December 31, 2007</td><td>$53</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td>Year Ended December 31, 2014</td><td>Specialty</td><td>Commercial</td><td>International</td><td>Total</td></tr><tr><td>(In millions, except %)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Net written premiums</td><td>$2,839</td><td>$2,817</td><td>$880</td><td>$6,536</td></tr><tr><td>Net earned premiums</td><td>2,838</td><td>2,906</td><td>913</td><td>6,657</td></tr><tr><td>Net investment income</td><td>560</td><td>723</td><td>61</td><td>1,344</td></tr><tr><td>Net operating income</td><td>569</td><td>276</td><td>63</td><td>908</td></tr><tr><td>Net realized investment gains (losses)</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>-1</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td>Net income</td><td>578</td><td>285</td><td>62</td><td>925</td></tr><tr><td>Other performance metrics:</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Loss and loss adjustment expense ratio</td><td>57.3%</td><td>75.3%</td><td>53.5%</td><td>64.6%</td></tr><tr><td>Expense ratio</td><td>30.1</td><td>33.7</td><td>38.9</td><td>32.9</td></tr><tr><td>Dividend ratio</td><td>0.2</td><td>0.3</td><td></td><td>0.2</td></tr><tr><td>Combined ratio</td><td>87.6%</td><td>109.3%</td><td>92.4%</td><td>97.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Rate</td><td>3%</td><td>5%</td><td>-1%</td><td>3%</td></tr><tr><td>Retention</td><td>87%</td><td>73%</td><td>74%</td><td>78%</td></tr><tr><td>New Business (a)</td><td>$309</td><td>$491</td><td>$115</td><td>$915</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td> Year Ended December 31</td><td>2016</td><td>2015</td><td>2014</td></tr><tr><td> (In millions)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Revenues:</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Other revenue, primarily operating</td><td>$ 1,316</td><td>$ 1,253</td><td>$ 1,235</td></tr><tr><td>Net investment income</td><td></td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>1,316</td><td>1,254</td><td>1,236</td></tr><tr><td>Expenses:</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Operating</td><td>835</td><td>851</td><td>931</td></tr><tr><td>Interest</td><td>183</td><td>176</td><td>165</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>1,018</td><td>1,027</td><td>1,096</td></tr><tr><td>Income before income tax</td><td>298</td><td>227</td><td>140</td></tr><tr><td>Income tax expense</td><td>-61</td><td>-46</td><td>-11</td></tr><tr><td>Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests</td><td>-148</td><td>-107</td><td>-111</td></tr><tr><td>Net income attributable to Loews Corporation</td><td>$ 89</td><td>$ 74</td><td>$ 18</td></tr></table>

Question: what is the ratio of the decrease in the retained earnings to the to the beginning amount of unrecognized tax benefits in 2007
Answer: 0.52857