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ALLEGHANY CORP /DE - Quarter Report: 2013 September (Form 10-Q)

10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(MARK ONE)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM              TO             

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-9371

 

 

ALLEGHANY CORPORATION

EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER

 

 

DELAWARE

STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION

51-0283071

I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.

7 TIMES SQUARE TOWER, 17TH FLOOR, NY, NY 10036

ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES, INCLUDING ZIP CODE

212-752-1356

REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE

NOT APPLICABLE

FORMER NAME, FORMER ADDRESS, AND FORMER FISCAL YEAR, IF CHANGED SINCE LAST REPORT

 

 

INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT: (1) HAS FILED ALL REPORTS REQUIRED TO BE FILED BY SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 DURING THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS (OR FOR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD THAT THE REGISTRANT WAS REQUIRED TO FILE SUCH REPORTS), AND (2) HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO SUCH FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PAST 90 DAYS.    YES  x    NO  ¨

INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT HAS SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY AND POSTED ON ITS CORPORATE WEB SITE, IF ANY, EVERY INTERACTIVE DATA FILE REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED AND POSTED PURSUANT TO RULE 405 OF REGULATION S-T (SECTION 232.405 OF THIS CHAPTER) DURING THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD THAT THE REGISTRANT WAS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AND POST SUCH FILES).    YES  x    NO  ¨

INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT IS A LARGE ACCELERATED FILER, AN ACCELERATED FILER, A NON-ACCELERATED FILER OR A SMALLER REPORTING COMPANY. SEE THE DEFINITIONS OF “LARGE ACCELERATED FILER,” “ACCELERATED FILER,” AND “SMALLER REPORTING COMPANY” IN RULE 12b-2 OF THE EXCHANGE ACT. (CHECK ONE):

 

LARGE ACCELERATED FILER   x    ACCELERATED FILER   ¨
NON-ACCELERATED FILER   ¨  (DO NOT CHECK IF A SMALLER REPORTING COMPANY)    SMALLER REPORTING COMPANY   ¨

INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT IS A SHELL COMPANY (AS DEFINED IN RULE 12B-2 OF THE EXCHANGE ACT).    YES  ¨    NO  x

INDICATE THE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING OF EACH OF THE ISSUER’S CLASSES OF COMMON STOCK, AS OF THE LAST PRACTICABLE DATE.

16,766,192 SHARES, PAR VALUE $1.00 PER SHARE, AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2013

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
ITEM 1.  

Financial Statements

     1   
 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012

     1   
 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income for the three months ended September  30, 2013 and 2012 (unaudited)

     2   
 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income for the nine months ended September  30, 2013 and 2012 (unaudited)

     3   
 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (unaudited)

     4   
 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

     5   
ITEM 2.  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     23   
ITEM 3.  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

     49   
ITEM 4.  

Controls and Procedures

     51   
PART II OTHER INFORMATION   
ITEM 1.  

Legal Proceedings

     51   
ITEM 1A.  

Risk Factors

     51   
ITEM 2.  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     52   
ITEM 6.  

Exhibits

     53   

SIGNATURES

     54   

EXHIBIT INDEX

     55   


Table of Contents

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

ALLEGHANY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     September 30,
2013
    December 31,
2012
 
     (unaudited)        
     (in thousands, except share amounts)  

Assets

    

Investments:

    

Available-for-sale securities at fair value:

    

Equity securities (cost: 2013 – $1,743,002; 2012 – $1,436,540)

   $ 2,035,188      $ 1,424,014   

Debt securities (amortized cost: 2013 – $15,018,103; 2012 – $15,593,278)

     15,041,110        15,999,538   

Short-term investments

     949,280        366,044   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     18,025,578        17,789,596   

Other invested assets

     771,695        537,350   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments

     18,797,273        18,326,946   

Cash

     414,682        649,524   

Accrued investment income

     147,395        165,857   

Premium balances receivable

     718,632        585,195   

Reinsurance recoverables

     1,376,114        1,348,599   

Ceded unearned premiums

     191,860        154,980   

Deferred acquisition costs

     342,111        303,515   

Property and equipment at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization

     55,080        34,118   

Goodwill

     99,747        83,447   

Intangible assets, net of amortization

     125,808        128,773   

Current taxes receivable

     —          79,933   

Net deferred tax assets

     572,764        532,569   

Other assets

     400,285        414,511   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 23,241,751      $ 22,807,967   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Loss and loss adjustment expenses

   $ 12,030,252      $ 12,239,766   

Unearned premiums

     1,829,985        1,705,342   

Senior Notes

     1,798,709        1,811,483   

Reinsurance payable

     96,528        67,654   

Current taxes payable

     10,135        —     

Other liabilities

     736,571        579,935   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     16,502,180        16,404,180   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Common stock (shares authorized: 2013 and 2012 – 22,000,000; shares issued: 2013 –17,459,961; 2012 – 17,478,746)

     17,460        17,479   

Contributed capital

     3,612,555        3,619,912   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     185,554        250,508   

Treasury stock, at cost (2013 – 693,769 shares; 2012 – 588,123 shares)

     (213,911     (175,818

Retained earnings

     3,114,876        2,691,706   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Alleghany stockholders

     6,716,534        6,403,787   

Noncontrolling interest

     23,037        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     6,739,571        6,403,787   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 23,241,751      $ 22,807,967   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ALLEGHANY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,  
     2013     2012  
     (in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Revenues

    

Net premiums earned

   $ 1,039,908      $ 1,092,775   

Net investment income

     115,287        90,514   

Net realized capital gains

     17,762        12,388   

Other than temporary impairment losses

     (664     —     

Gain on bargain purchase

     —          —     

Other income

     17,178        33,843   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     1,189,471        1,229,520   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs and Expenses

    

Net loss and loss adjustment expenses

     644,493        672,984   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     333,547        253,756   

Other operating expenses

     39,044        47,432   

Corporate administration

     3,703        9,304   

Amortization of intangible assets

     (815     73,356   

Interest expense

     21,516        21,764   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

     1,041,488        1,078,596   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

     147,983        150,924   

Income taxes

     34,610        25,480   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

     113,373        125,444   

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

     206        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to Alleghany stockholders

   $ 113,167      $ 125,444   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

   $ 113,373      $ 125,444   

Other comprehensive income:

    

Change in unrealized gains, net of deferred taxes of $59,683 and $92,641 for 2013 and 2012, respectively

     110,839        172,048   

Less: reclassification for net realized capital gains and other than temporary impairment losses, net of taxes of ($7,743) and ($4,336) for 2013 and 2012, respectively

     (14,379     (8,052

Change in unrealized currency translation adjustment, net of deferred taxes of $3,655 and $5,931 for 2013 and 2012, respectively

     6,787        11,014   

Retirement plans

     1,415        (25
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

     218,035        300,429   

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

     206        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to Alleghany stockholders

   $ 217,829      $ 300,429   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share attributable to Alleghany stockholders

   $ 6.75      $ 7.41   

Diluted earnings per share attributable to Alleghany stockholders

     6.75        7.41   

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ALLEGHANY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income

(unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2013     2012  
     (in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Revenues

    

Net premiums earned

   $ 3,183,236      $ 2,622,914   

Net investment income

     334,501        234,568   

Net realized capital gains

     95,641        119,829   

Other than temporary impairment losses

     (41,884     (2,907

Gain on bargain purchase

     —          494,940   

Other income

     37,751        43,434   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     3,609,245        3,512,778   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs and Expenses

    

Net loss and loss adjustment expenses

     1,862,418        1,587,815   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     998,790        592,809   

Other operating expenses

     97,022        97,910   

Corporate administration

     25,975        67,691   

Amortization of intangible assets

     11,640        213,393   

Interest expense

     65,037        46,584   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

     3,060,882        2,606,202   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

     548,363        906,576   

Income taxes

     124,987        111,720   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

     423,376        794,856   

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

     206        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to Alleghany stockholders

   $ 423,170      $ 794,856   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

   $ 423,376      $ 794,856   

Other comprehensive income:

    

Change in unrealized (losses) gains, net of deferred taxes of $(4,465) and $127,043 for 2013 and 2012, respectively

     (8,291     235,937   

Less: reclassification for net realized capital gains and other than temporary impairment losses, net of taxes of ($20,573) and $(40,923) for 2013 and 2012, respectively

     (38,208     (75,999

Change in unrealized currency translation adjustment, net of deferred taxes of $(10,596) and ($352) for 2013 and 2012, respectively

     (19,679     (653

Retirement plans

     1,224        (799
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

     358,422        953,342   

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

     206        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to Alleghany stockholders

   $ 358,216      $ 953,342   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share attributable to Alleghany stockholders

   $ 25.20      $ 53.19   

Diluted earnings per share attributable to Alleghany stockholders

     25.20        53.14   

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ALLEGHANY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2013     2012  
     (in thousands)  

Cash flows from operating activities

    

Net earnings

   $ 423,376      $ 794,856   

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     196,969        358,606   

Net realized capital (gains) losses

     (95,641     (119,829

Other than temporary impairment losses

     41,884        2,907   

(Increase) decrease in reinsurance recoverables, net of reinsurance payable

     1,359        80,965   

(Increase) decrease in premium balances receivable

     (133,437     147,158   

(Increase) decrease in ceded unearned premiums

     (36,880     (21,835

(Increase) decrease in deferred acquisition costs

     (38,596     (215,067

Increase (decrease) in unearned premiums

     124,643        99,104   

Increase (decrease) in loss and loss adjustment expenses

     (209,514     (32,443

Change in unrealized foreign exchange (losses) gains

     41,967        (50,523

Gain on bargain purchase

     —          (494,940

Other, net

     177,005        (114,621
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net adjustments

     69,759        (360,518
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     493,135        434,338   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Purchases of debt securities

     (5,828,508     (2,848,504

Purchases of equity securities

     (1,946,519     (1,085,187

Sales of debt securities

     4,814,360        1,258,361   

Maturities and redemptions of debt securities

     1,401,294        1,097,258   

Sales of equity securities

     1,691,224        677,359   

Net (purchase) sale in short-term investments

     (584,710     998,304   

Purchases of property and equipment

     (8,228     (3,731

Purchase of subsidiary, net of cash acquired

     —          (477,075

Other, net

     (156,039     39,388   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (617,126     (343,827
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes

     —          399,592   

Debt issue costs paid

     —          (3,600

Treasury stock acquisitions

     (40,389     —     

Tax benefit on stock based compensation

     —          295   

Other, net

     (29,117     374   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (69,506     396,661   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     (41,345     (608
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash

     (234,842     486,564   

Cash at beginning of period

     649,524        84,749   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash at end of period

   $ 414,682      $ 571,313   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information

    

Cash paid during the period for:

    

Interest paid

   $ 60,001      $ 50,051   

Income taxes paid (refunds received)

     50,624        150,191   

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ALLEGHANY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Principles

(a) Principles of Financial Statement Presentation

This report should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the “2012 10-K”) and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013 of Alleghany Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Alleghany”). Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “Alleghany” include Alleghany together with its subsidiaries.

Alleghany is engaged in the property and casualty reinsurance and insurance business. Reinsurance business is conducted through certain subsidiaries of Alleghany’s wholly-owned subsidiary Transatlantic Holdings, Inc. (“TransRe”), which was acquired in a merger transaction (the “merger”) on March 6, 2012 (the “TransRe Acquisition Date”). Insurance business is conducted through certain subsidiaries of Alleghany’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Alleghany Insurance Holdings LLC (“AIHL”).

TransRe, through its principal wholly-owned subsidiaries, Transatlantic Reinsurance Company (“TRC”) and TransRe Zurich Ltd. (“TRZ”), offers reinsurance capacity to reinsurance and insurance companies for property and casualty products. These products are distributed through brokers and on a direct basis in both the domestic and foreign markets. TransRe is headquartered in New York, New York with six other locations in the United States and has operations worldwide, including: Africa, Australia, Bermuda, Canada, three locations in Asia, three locations in Central and South America, and seven locations in the United Kingdom and Europe. TRC is licensed, accredited or authorized or can serve as a reinsurer in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the United States and in Puerto Rico and Guam. TRC is also licensed in Bermuda, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, Germany and Australia. In addition, TRZ is licensed as a reinsurer in Switzerland.

AIHL’s insurance business is conducted through its wholly-owned subsidiaries RSUI Group, Inc. (“RSUI”), Capitol Transamerica Corporation and Platte River Insurance Company (collectively, “CATA”), and Pacific Compensation Corporation (“PCC”). AIHL Re LLC (“AIHL Re”), a captive reinsurance subsidiary of AIHL, provides reinsurance to Alleghany operating units and affiliates.

Alleghany also owns and manages properties in the Sacramento, California region through its subsidiary Alleghany Properties Holdings LLC (“Alleghany Properties”), and owns Stranded Oil Resources Corporation (“Stranded Oil”), an exploration and production company focused on enhanced oil recovery. On April 26, 2012, Alleghany’s majority-owned subsidiary BKH Holdings, Inc. acquired Bourn & Koch, Inc. (“BKI”), a manufacturer and remanufacturer/retrofitter of precision machine tools and supplier of replacement parts, headquartered in Rockford, Illinois. On August 30, 2013, Alleghany invested in R.C. Tway Company, LLC (“Kentucky Trailer”), a manufacturer of custom trailers and truck bodies for the moving and storage industry and other markets, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, for a controlling equity interest. Kentucky Trailer’s results have been included in Alleghany’s Consolidated Financial Statements beginning August 30, 2013.

Alleghany also owns a minority stake in Homesite Group Incorporated (“Homesite”), a national, full-service, mono-line provider of homeowners insurance, which was purchased in December 2006 for cash consideration of $120.0 million. On September 4, 2013, American Family Insurance Company, a Wisconsin-based mutual insurance company, entered into a merger agreement with Homesite to purchase all of its issued and outstanding capital stock (including shares underlying options and restricted stock units) for cash consideration of $616.0 million, subject to adjustment for changes in Homesite stockholders’ equity between June 30, 2013 and the closing of the transaction and transaction expenses. Alleghany currently owns approximately 28 percent of the fully diluted shares of Homesite common stock. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013 or first quarter of 2014, at which time Alleghany expects to record a gain on its investment in Homesite.

In addition to Homesite, Alleghany owns approximately 38 percent of ORX Exploration, Inc. (“ORX”), a regional oil and gas exploration and production company. The Homesite and ORX investments are reflected in Alleghany’s financial statements in other invested assets.

Alleghany manages, sources, executes and monitors its private capital investments, which include Stranded Oil, BKI, Kentucky Trailer and ORX, primarily through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Alleghany Capital Corporation. Alleghany’s public equity investments, including those held by TransRe’s and AIHL’s operating units, are managed primarily by its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, Alleghany Capital Partners LLC.

 

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The financial statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are unaudited, but reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of results of the interim periods covered thereby. All adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature except as described herein.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the results of Alleghany and its wholly-owned and majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The results of TransRe are included starting from the TransRe Acquisition Date, the results of BKI are included beginning April 26, 2012 and the results of Kentucky Trailer are included beginning August 30, 2013.

The portion of stockholders’ equity, net earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income that is not attributable to Alleghany stockholders is presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income as noncontrolling interest.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Alleghany relies on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances to make judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from those reported results to the extent that those estimates and assumptions prove to be inaccurate. Changes in estimates are reflected in the consolidated statement of earnings and comprehensive income in the period in which the change is made. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.

(b) Other Significant Accounting Principles

Alleghany’s significant accounting principles can be found in Note 1 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, of the 2012 10-K.

(c) Recent Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued guidance on the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income includes gains and losses that are initially excluded from net earnings for a given period, and later reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into net earnings. This guidance requires companies to disclose information about reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income in one place. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012. Alleghany adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2013, and the implementation did not have an impact on its results of operations and financial condition. See Note 6(b).

In December 2011, the FASB issued guidance on disclosure requirements related to offsetting arrangements. The guidance provides for additional financial statement disclosure regarding offsetting and related arrangements to enable financial statement users to understand the effect of those arrangements on an entity’s financial position. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. Alleghany adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2013, and the implementation did not have a material impact on its results of operations and financial condition.

 

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2. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying values and estimated fair values of Alleghany’s consolidated financial instruments as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

     September 30, 2013      December 31, 2012  
     Carrying
Value
     Fair Value      Carrying
Value
     Fair Value  
     (in millions)  

Assets

           

Investments (excluding equity method investments)(1)

   $ 18,314.7       $ 18,314.7       $ 17,831.8       $ 17,831.8   

Liabilities

           

Senior Notes(2)

   $ 1,798.7       $ 1,908.8       $ 1,811.5       $ 1,946.7   

 

(1) This table includes available-for-sale (“AFS”) investments (debt and equity securities, as well as partnership and non-marketable equity investments carried at fair value that are included in other invested assets). This table excludes investments accounted for using the equity method and certain loans receivable that are carried at cost, all of which are included in other invested assets. The fair value of short-term investments approximates amortized cost. The fair value of all other categories of investments is presented below.
(2) See Note 8 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, of the 2012 10-K for additional information.

 

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Alleghany’s financial instruments measured at fair value and the level of the fair value hierarchy of inputs used as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
     (in millions)  

As of September 30, 2013

           

Equity securities:

           

Common stock(1)

   $ 2,035.2       $ —         $ —         $ 2,035.2   

Preferred stock

     —           —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     2,035.2         —           —           2,035.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities:

           

U.S. Government obligations

     —           1,000.5         —           1,000.5   

Municipal bonds

     —           5,974.9         —           5,974.9   

Foreign government obligations

     —           1,062.8         —           1,062.8   

U.S. corporate bonds

     —           2,167.9         5.6         2,173.5   

Foreign corporate bonds

     —           1,777.3         —           1,777.3   

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

Residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”)(2)

     —           1,512.8         78.9         1,591.7   

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)

     —           782.1         76.4         858.5   

Other asset-backed securities

     —           596.9         5.0         601.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     —           14,875.2         165.9         15,041.1   

Short-term investments

     —           949.3         —           949.3   

Other invested assets (excluding equity method investments)(3)

     —           —           289.1         289.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments (excluding equity method investments)

   $ 2,035.2       $ 15,824.5       $ 455.0       $ 18,314.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Senior Notes

   $ —         $ 1,908.8       $ —         $ 1,908.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
     (in millions)  

As of December 31, 2012

           

Equity securities:

           

Common stock(1)

   $ 1,424.0       $ —         $ —         $ 1,424.0   

Preferred stock

     —           —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     1,424.0         —           —           1,424.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities:

           

U.S. Government obligations

     —           522.9         —           522.9   

Municipal bonds

     —           6,304.1         —           6,304.1   

Foreign government obligations

     —           816.0         —           816.0   

U.S. corporate bonds

     —           3,485.3         30.4         3,515.7   

Foreign corporate bonds

     —           2,198.5         —           2,198.5   

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

RMBS(2)

     —           1,602.9         59.6         1,662.5   

CMBS

     —           434.0         76.1         510.1   

Other asset-backed securities

     —           463.8         5.9         469.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     —           15,827.5         172.0         15,999.5   

Short-term investments

     —           366.0         —           366.0   

Other invested assets (excluding equity method investments)(3)

     —           —           42.3         42.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments (excluding equity method investments)

   $ 1,424.0       $ 16,193.5       $ 214.3       $ 17,831.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Senior Notes

   $ —         $ 1,946.7       $ —         $ 1,946.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Of the $2,035.2 million and $1,424.0 million of fair value as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, $347.3 million and $542.2 million, respectively, related to certain energy sector businesses.
(2) Primarily includes government agency pass-through securities guaranteed by a government agency or government sponsored enterprise, among other types of RMBS.
(3) Includes partnership and non-marketable equity investments accounted for on an AFS basis.

 

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In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, there was a transfer of $100.0 million of other invested assets out of Level 3 into common stocks in Level 1 as a previously non-marketable equity investment became publicly traded in an active market that Alleghany has the ability to access. In addition, in the nine months ended September 30, 2013, there was a transfer of $21.7 million of primarily RMBS securities out of Level 2 into Level 3 that was principally due to a decrease in observable inputs related to the valuation of such securities. There were no other transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 in Level 3 assets measured at fair value:

 

     Debt Securities        
      Mortgage and asset-backed              

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

   U.S. Corporate
Bonds
    RMBS     CMBS     Other Asset-
backed
Securities
    Other Invested
Assets(1)
    Total  
     (in millions)  

Balance as of January 1, 2013

   $ 30.4      $ 59.6      $ 76.1      $ 5.9      $ 42.3      $ 214.3   

Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in:

            

Net earnings(2)

     0.3        1.6        0.1        0.1        0.2        2.3   

Other comprehensive income

     (0.6     4.2        0.1        (0.3     3.6        7.0   

Purchases(3)

     —          —          20.3        1.2        350.0        371.5   

Sales

     (23.8     —          (10.8     —          —          (34.6

Issuances

     —          —          —          —          —          —     

Settlements

     (0.7     (7.8     (9.5     (2.2     (7.0     (27.2

Transfers into Level 3(4)

     —          21.3        0.1        0.3        —          21.7   

Transfers out of Level 3

     —          —          —          —          (100.0     (100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2013

   $ 5.6      $ 78.9      $ 76.4      $ 5.0      $ 289.1      $ 455.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes partnership and non-marketable equity investments accounted for on an AFS basis.
(2) There were no other than temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses recorded in net earnings related to Level 3 investments still held as of September 30, 2013.
(3) Principally due to an investment in Ares Management LLC (“Ares”); See Note 3(g) for a more detailed description of this investment.
(4) Principally due to a decrease in observable inputs related to the valuation of such investments.

Net unrealized losses related to Level 3 investments as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were not material.

See Note 1(c) to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, of the 2012 10-K for Alleghany’s accounting policy on fair value.

 

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3. Investments

(a) Unrealized Gains and Losses

The amortized cost or cost and the fair value of AFS securities as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 are summarized as follows:

 

     Amortized Cost  or
Cost
     Gross Unrealized
Gains
     Gross Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value  
     (in millions)  

As of September 30, 2013

          

Equity securities:

          

Common stock*

   $ 1,743.0       $ 311.7       $ (19.5   $ 2,035.2   

Preferred stock

     —           —           —          —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     1,743.0         311.7         (19.5     2,035.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt securities:

          

U.S. Government obligations

     1,000.7         5.0         (5.2     1,000.5   

Municipal bonds

     6,003.0         73.8         (101.9     5,974.9   

Foreign government obligations

     1,061.3         7.8         (6.3     1,062.8   

U.S. corporate bonds

     2,163.2         30.5         (20.2     2,173.5   

Foreign corporate bonds

     1,749.2         32.1         (4.0     1,777.3   

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

          

RMBS

     1,585.9         38.8         (33.0     1,591.7   

CMBS

     854.4         13.1         (9.0     858.5   

Other asset-backed securities

     600.4         2.8         (1.3     601.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     15,018.1         203.9         (180.9     15,041.1   

Short-term investments

     949.3         —           —          949.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 17,710.4       $ 515.6       $ (200.4   $ 18,025.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Amortized Cost  or
Cost
     Gross Unrealized
Gains
     Gross Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value  
     (in millions)  

As of December 31, 2012

          

Equity securities:

          

Common stock*

   $ 1,436.5       $ 90.3       $ (102.8   $ 1,424.0   

Preferred stock

     —           —           —          —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     1,436.5         90.3         (102.8     1,424.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt securities:

          

U.S. Government obligations

     514.9         8.1         (0.1     522.9   

Municipal bonds

     6,122.6         185.9         (4.4     6,304.1   

Foreign government obligations

     800.9         15.6         (0.5     816.0   

U.S. corporate bonds

     3,448.1         69.7         (2.1     3,515.7   

Foreign corporate bonds

     2,137.7         61.1         (0.3     2,198.5   

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

          

RMBS

     1,617.4         50.8         (5.7     1,662.5   

CMBS

     486.6         26.1         (2.6     510.1   

Other asset-backed securities

     465.1         4.6         —          469.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     15,593.3         421.9         (15.7     15,999.5   

Short-term investments

     366.0         —           —          366.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 17,395.8       $ 512.2       $ (118.5   $ 17,789.5   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

* Of the $2,035.2 million and $1,424.0 million of fair value as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, $347.3 million and $542.2 million, respectively, related to certain energy sector businesses.

 

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(b) Contractual Maturity

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities as of September 30, 2013 by contractual maturity are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

     Amortized Cost or
Cost
     Fair Value  
     (in millions)  

Short-term investments due in one year or less

   $ 949.3       $ 949.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Mortgage and asset-backed securities*

     3,040.7         3,052.1   

Debt securities with maturity dates:

     

One year or less

     578.3         580.8   

Over one through five years

     4,058.8         4,102.0   

Over five through ten years

     3,866.3         3,892.0   

Over ten years

     3,474.0         3,414.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     15,018.1         15,041.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity securities

     1,743.0         2,035.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 17,710.4       $ 18,025.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Mortgage and asset-backed securities by their nature do not generally have single maturity dates.

(c) Net Investment Income

Net investment income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September  30,
    Nine Months Ended
September  30,
 
     2013     2012     2013     2012  
     (in millions)  

Interest income

   $ 88.4      $ 88.2      $ 257.7      $ 218.2   

Dividend income

     13.3        8.3        41.1        14.5   

Investment expenses

     (5.3     (3.7     (15.6     (11.6

Equity results of Homesite

     7.7        (2.9     32.2        9.5   

Equity results of ORX

     (2.3     (0.9     (1.9     (4.2

Equity results of Pillar Investments*

     9.4        —          13.7        —     

Investment in Ares*

     2.9        —          2.9        —     

Other investment results

     1.2        1.5        4.4        8.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 115.3      $ 90.5      $ 334.5      $ 234.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* See Note 3(g) for discussion of the Pillar Investments and the investment in Ares.

As of September 30, 2013, non-income producing invested assets were insignificant.

(d) Realized Gains and Losses

The proceeds from sales of AFS securities were $1.9 billion and $0.6 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $6.5 billion and $1.9 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

Realized capital gains and losses in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 arose primarily from the sales of equity securities. Realized capital losses include a $5.0 million non-cash impairment charge related to certain finite-lived intangible assets at CATA. The amount of gross realized capital gains and gross realized capital losses in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September  30,
    Nine Months Ended
September  30,
 
     2013     2012     2013     2012  
     (in millions)  

Gross realized capital gains

   $ 63.7      $ 18.2      $ 165.5      $ 132.1   

Gross realized capital losses

     (45.9     (5.8     (69.9     (12.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized capital gains

   $ 17.8      $ 12.4      $ 95.6      $ 119.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross realized loss amounts exclude OTTI losses, as discussed below.

(e) OTTI Losses

Alleghany holds its equity and debt securities as AFS, and as such, these securities are recorded at fair value. Alleghany continually monitors the difference between cost and the estimated fair value of its investments, which involves uncertainty as to whether declines in value are temporary in nature. The analysis of any individual security’s decline in value is performed in its functional currency. If the decline of a particular investment is deemed temporary, Alleghany records the decline as an unrealized loss in stockholders’ equity. If the decline is deemed to be other than temporary, Alleghany writes its cost-basis or amortized cost-basis down to the fair value of the investment and records an OTTI loss on its statement of earnings. In addition, any portion of such decline that relates to debt securities that is believed to arise from factors other than credit is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income, rather than charged against earnings.

Management’s assessment of equity securities initially involves an evaluation of all securities that are in an unrealized loss position, regardless of the duration or severity of the loss, as of the applicable balance sheet date. Such initial review consists primarily of assessing whether: (i) there has been a negative credit or news event with respect to the issuer that could indicate the existence of an OTTI; and (ii) Alleghany has the ability and intent to hold an equity security for a period of time sufficient to allow for an anticipated recovery (generally considered to be one year from the balance sheet date).

To the extent that an equity security in an unrealized loss position is not impaired based on the initial review described above, Alleghany then further evaluates such equity security and deems it to be other-than-temporarily impaired if it has been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more or if its unrealized loss position is greater than 50 percent of its cost, absent compelling evidence to the contrary.

Alleghany then evaluates those equity securities where the unrealized loss is 20 percent or more of cost as of the balance sheet date or which have been in an unrealized loss position continuously for six months or more preceding the balance sheet date. This evaluation takes into account quantitative and qualitative factors in determining whether such securities are other-than-temporarily impaired including: (i) market valuation metrics associated with the equity security (such as dividend yield and price-to-earnings ratio); (ii) current views on the equity security, as expressed by either Alleghany’s internal stock analysts and/or by third party stock analysts or rating agencies; and (iii) credit or news events associated with a specific company, such as negative news releases and rating agency downgrades with respect to the issuer of the investment.

Debt securities in an unrealized loss position are evaluated for OTTI if they meet any of the following criteria: (i) they are trading at a 20 percent discount to amortized cost for an extended period of time (nine consecutive months or longer); (ii) there has been a negative credit or news event with respect to the issuer that could indicate the existence of an OTTI; or (iii) Alleghany intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that Alleghany will sell, the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.

If Alleghany intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that Alleghany will sell, a debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the total amount of the unrealized loss position is recognized as an OTTI loss in earnings. To the extent that a debt security that is in an unrealized loss position is not impaired based on the preceding, Alleghany will consider a debt security to be impaired when it believes it to be probable that Alleghany will not be able to collect the entire amortized cost basis. For debt securities in an unrealized loss position as of the end of each quarter, Alleghany develops a best estimate of the present value of expected cash flows. If the results of the cash flow analysis indicate Alleghany will not recover the full amount of its amortized cost basis in the debt security, Alleghany records an OTTI loss in earnings equal to the difference between the present value of expected cash flows and the amortized cost basis of the debt security. If applicable, the difference between the total unrealized loss position on the debt security and the OTTI loss recognized in earnings is the non-credit related portion and is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income.

 

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Table of Contents

In developing the cash flow analyses for debt securities, Alleghany considers various factors for the different categories of debt securities. For municipal bonds, Alleghany takes into account the taxing power of the issuer, source of revenue, credit risk and credit enhancements and pre-refunding. For mortgage and asset-backed securities, Alleghany discounts its best estimate of future cash flows at an effective rate equal to the original effective yield of the security or, in the case of floating rate securities, at the current coupon. Alleghany’s models include assumptions about prepayment speeds, default and delinquency rates, and underlying collateral (if any), as well as credit ratings, credit enhancements and other observable market data. For corporate bonds, Alleghany reviews business prospects, credit ratings and available information from asset managers and rating agencies for individual securities.

OTTI losses for the first nine months of 2013 reflect $41.9 million of unrealized losses that were deemed to be other than temporary and, as such, were required to be charged against earnings. Upon the ultimate disposition of securities for which OTTI losses have been recorded, a portion of the loss may be recoverable depending on market conditions at the time of disposition. Of the $41.9 million of OTTI losses, $40.5 million related to equity securities, primarily in the chemical and energy sectors, and $1.4 million related to debt securities. The determination that unrealized losses on such securities were other than temporary was primarily based on the duration of the decline in fair value of such securities relative to their cost as of the balance sheet date. Of the $41.9 million of OTTI losses, $0.7 million was incurred in the third quarter of 2013.

OTTI losses for the first nine months of 2012 reflect $2.9 million of unrealized losses that were deemed to be other than temporary and, as such, were required to be charged against earnings. Of the $2.9 million of OTTI losses, $1.7 million related to equity securities, primarily in the energy sector, and $1.2 million related to debt securities. The determination that unrealized losses on such securities were other than temporary was primarily based on the duration of the decline in fair value of such securities relative to their cost as of the balance sheet date. No OTTI losses were incurred in the third quarter of 2012.

After adjusting the cost basis of securities for the recognition of OTTI losses, the remaining gross unrealized investment losses for debt and equity securities as of September 30, 2013 were deemed to be temporary, based on, among other factors: (i) the duration of time and the relative magnitude to which the fair value of these investments had been below cost were not indicative of an OTTI loss (for example, no equity security was in a continuous unrealized loss position for 12 months or more as of September 30, 2013); (ii) the absence of compelling evidence that would cause Alleghany to call into question the financial condition or near-term prospects of the issuer of the investment; and (iii) Alleghany’s ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery.

Alleghany may ultimately record a realized loss after having originally concluded that the decline in value was temporary. Risks and uncertainties are inherent in the methodology Alleghany uses to assess other-than-temporary declines in value. Risks and uncertainties could include, but are not limited to, incorrect assumptions about financial condition, liquidity or future prospects, inadequacy of any underlying collateral, and unfavorable changes in economic conditions or social trends, interest rates or credit ratings.

 

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Table of Contents

(f) Aging of Gross Unrealized Losses

As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, gross unrealized losses and related fair values for equity securities and debt securities, grouped by duration of time in a continuous unrealized loss position, were as follows:

 

    Less Than 12 Months     12 Months or More     Total  
    Fair Value     Gross Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Gross Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value     Gross Unrealized
Losses
 
    (in millions)  

As of September 30, 2013

           

Equity securities:

           

Common stock

  $ 318.9      $ 19.5      $ —        $ —        $ 318.9      $ 19.5   

Preferred stock

    —          —          —          —          —          —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

    318.9        19.5        —          —          318.9        19.5   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt securities:

           

U.S. Government obligations

    386.6        4.8        4.9        0.4        391.5        5.2   

Municipal bonds

    2,832.2        97.9        81.2        4.0        2,913.4        101.9   

Foreign government obligations

    412.6        6.1        6.6        0.2        419.2        6.3   

U.S. corporate bonds

    552.0        19.9        10.9        0.3        562.9        20.2   

Foreign corporate bonds

    303.2        4.0        1.6        —          304.8        4.0   

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

RMBS

    756.5        30.6        11.1        2.4        767.6        33.0   

CMBS

    320.6        8.9        4.5        0.1        325.1        9.0   

Other asset-backed securities

    213.4        1.3        0.4        —          213.8        1.3   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt securities

    5,777.1        173.5        121.2        7.4        5,898.3        180.9   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total temporarily impaired securities

  $ 6,096.0      $ 193.0      $ 121.2      $ 7.4      $ 6,217.2      $ 200.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    Less Than 12 Months     12 Months or More     Total  
    Fair Value     Gross  Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Gross  Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value     Gross  Unrealized
Losses
 
          (in millions)              

As of December 31, 2012

           

Equity securities:

           

Common stock

  $ 796.1      $ 102.8      $ —        $ —        $ 796.1      $ 102.8   

Preferred stock

    —          —          —          —          —          —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

    796.1        102.8        —          —          796.1        102.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt securities:

           

U.S. Government obligations

    7.1        0.1        —          —          7.1        0.1   

Municipal bonds

    1,006.6        4.4        0.5        —          1,007.1        4.4   

Foreign government obligations

    102.3        0.5        —          —          102.3        0.5   

U.S. corporate bonds

    404.4        2.1        —          —          404.4        2.1   

Foreign corporate bonds

    111.4        0.3        —          —          111.4        0.3   

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

RMBS

    291.4        5.7        0.6        —          292.0        5.7   

CMBS

    50.2        1.3        7.8        1.3        58.0        2.6   

Other asset-backed securities

    2.2        —          0.9        —          3.1        —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt securities

    1,975.6        14.4        9.8        1.3        1,985.4        15.7   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total temporarily impaired securities

  $ 2,771.7      $ 117.2      $ 9.8      $ 1.3      $ 2,781.5      $ 118.5   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2013, Alleghany held a total of 845 debt securities and equity securities that were in an unrealized loss position, of which 24 securities, all debt securities, were in an unrealized loss position continuously for 12 months or more. The unrealized losses associated with 24 debt securities consisted primarily of losses related to municipal bonds and RMBS.

As of September 30, 2013, substantially all of Alleghany’s debt securities were rated investment grade, with approximately 0.8 percent of debt securities having issuer credit ratings that were below investment grade or not rated.

 

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(g) Investments in Certain Other Invested Assets

In December 2012, TransRe obtained an ownership interest in Pillar Capital Holdings Limited (“Pillar Holdings”), a Bermuda-based insurance asset manager focused on collateralized reinsurance and catastrophe insurance-linked securities. Additionally, TransRe invested $175.0 million and AIHL invested $25.0 million in limited partnership funds (the “Funds”), which are managed by Pillar Holdings. In February 2013, TransRe invested an additional $25.0 million in the Funds. In July 2013, TransRe redeemed $25.0 million of its investment in the Funds. The objective of the Funds is to create portfolios with attractive risk-reward characteristics and low correlation with other asset classes, using the extensive reinsurance and capital market experience of the principals of Pillar Holdings. Alleghany has concluded that both Pillar Holdings and the Funds (collectively, the “Pillar Investments”) represent variable interest entities and that Alleghany is not the primary beneficiary, as it does not have the ability to direct the activities that most significantly impact each entity’s economic performance. Therefore, the Pillar Investments are not consolidated and are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Alleghany’s potential maximum loss in the Pillar Investments is limited to its cumulative investment. As of September 30, 2013, Alleghany’s carrying value in the Pillar Investments, as determined under the equity method of accounting, was $213.0 million, which is reported in other invested assets on its consolidated balance sheets.

In July 2013, AIHL invested $250.0 million in Ares, a privately-held asset manager, in exchange for a 6.25 percent equity stake in Ares, with commitments to engage Ares to manage up to $1.0 billion in certain investment strategies. As of September 30, 2013, AIHL’s carrying value in the investment in Ares was $250.0 million, which is reported in other invested assets on Alleghany’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

4. Reinsurance Ceded

(a) Overview

Alleghany’s reinsurance and insurance operating units reinsure portions of the risks they underwrite in order to reduce the effect of individual or aggregate exposure to losses, manage capacity, protect capital resources, reduce volatility in specific lines, improve risk-adjusted portfolio returns, and enable them to increase gross premium writings and risk capacity without requiring additional capital. If the assuming reinsurers are unable or unwilling to meet the obligations assumed under the applicable reinsurance agreements, Alleghany’s reinsurance and insurance operating units would remain liable for such reinsurance portion not paid by their reinsurers.

(b) Significant Reinsurance Contracts

As discussed in Part I, Item 1, “Business—Reinsurance” of the 2012 10-K, RSUI reinsures its property lines of business through a program consisting of surplus share treaties, facultative placements, per risk, and catastrophe excess of loss treaties. RSUI’s catastrophe reinsurance program (which covers catastrophe risks including, among others, windstorms and earthquakes) and per risk reinsurance program run on an annual basis from May 1 to the following April 30 and thus expired on April 30, 2013. RSUI placed its catastrophe reinsurance program for the 2013-2014 period, and the new program is similar to the expired program.

The new catastrophe reinsurance program provides coverage in three layers for $500.0 million of losses in excess of a $100.0 million net retention after application of the surplus share treaties, facultative reinsurance and per risk covers. The first layer provides coverage for $100.0 million of losses, before a 60.0 percent co-participation by RSUI, in excess of the $100.0 million net retention, the second layer provides coverage for $300.0 million of losses, before a 5.0 percent co-participation by RSUI, in excess of $200.0 million and the third layer provides coverage for $100.0 million of losses in excess of $500.0 million, with no co-participation by RSUI. In addition, RSUI’s property per risk reinsurance program for the 2013-2014 period provides RSUI with coverage for $90.0 million of losses, before a 10.0 percent co-participation by RSUI, in excess of a $10.0 million net retention per risk after application of the surplus share treaties and facultative reinsurance.

(c) Intercompany Reinsurance Contracts

In the second quarter of 2013, AIHL Re and PCC’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Pacific Compensation Insurance Company (“PCIC”), entered into an intercompany reinsurance contract, effective January 1, 2013, pursuant to which AIHL Re provides PCIC with coverage for adverse development on net loss and allocated loss adjustment expenses in excess of PCIC’s carried reserves at December 31, 2012 and accident year stop-loss coverage for any net losses and allocated loss adjustment expenses in excess of 75.0 percent of net earned premiums for PCIC for accident years 2013, 2014 and 2015. AIHL Re’s commitments also are intended to cover the statutory collateral requirements at PCIC, if and when necessary. AIHL Re’s obligations are subject to an aggregate limit of $100.0 million. In connection with such intercompany reinsurance agreement, Alleghany and AIHL Re entered into a contract whereby Alleghany will guarantee the recoverable balances owed to PCIC from AIHL Re up to $100.0 million. Subsequent to the entry into the above agreements, A.M. Best Company upgraded PCIC’s rating to A- (Excellent) from B++ (Good). The above agreements had no impact on Alleghany’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition. From a segment reporting perspective, the financial results of AIHL Re, which are substantially attributable to its intercompany contract with PCIC, have been included in the results of PCC, with all intercompany balances eliminated.

 

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5. Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2013 was 22.8 percent, compared with 12.3 percent for the first nine months of 2012. The higher effective tax rate in the first nine months of 2013 primarily reflects the absence of a gain on bargain purchase, which had a significant impact in the first nine months of 2012. The gain on bargain purchase resulted in a significant increase in earnings before income taxes without a corresponding increase in income taxes. The impact of the gain on bargain purchase on the effective tax rate in the first nine months of 2012 was partially offset by the impact of certain non-deductible transaction costs in the first nine months of 2012, which resulted in losses before income taxes without a corresponding decrease in income taxes. As a result of these non-recurring, merger-related items, the effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2012 was reduced by a net 10.2 percentage points.

Alleghany believes that, as of September 30, 2013, it had no material uncertain tax positions. Interest and penalties relating to unrecognized tax expenses (benefits) are recognized in income tax expense, when applicable. There was no liability for interest or penalties accrued as of September 30, 2013.

 

6. Stockholders’ Equity

(a) Common Stock Repurchases

In October 2012, Alleghany’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of shares of common stock, at such times and at prices as management determines advisable, up to an aggregate of $300.0 million. Pursuant to this authorization, in the first nine months of 2013, Alleghany repurchased an aggregate of 113,160 shares of its common stock in the open market for $40.4 million, at an average price per share of $356.92. No shares were repurchased in the third quarter of 2013.

(b) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The following table presents a reconciliation of the changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 in accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to Alleghany stockholders:

 

     Unrealized
Appreciation of
Investments
    Unrealized
Currency
Translation
Adjustment
    Retirement Plans      Total  
     (in millions)  

Balance as of January 1, 2013

   $ 263.3      $ (13.4   $ 0.6       $ 250.5   

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

         

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

     (8.3     (19.6     1.2         (26.7

Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income

     (38.2     —          —           (38.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     (46.5     (19.6     1.2         (64.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2013

   $ 216.8      $ (33.0   $ 1.8       $ 185.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to Alleghany stockholders during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 were as follows:

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Component

  

Line in Consolidated Statement of Earnings

   Three Months Ended
September 30, 2013
    Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2013
 
          (in millions)  

Unrealized appreciation of investments:

  

Net realized capital gains(1)

   $ 22.8      $ 100.6   
  

Other than temporary impairment losses

     (0.7     (41.9
  

Income taxes

     (7.7     (20.5
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total reclassifications:

  

Net earnings

   $ 14.4      $ 38.2   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Excludes a realized capital loss that was recorded in the third quarter of 2013 relating to a $5.0 million non-cash impairment charge related to certain finite-lived intangible assets at CATA, as this loss not reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income.

 

7. Earnings Per Share of Common Stock

The following is a reconciliation of the earnings and share data used in the basic and diluted earnings per share computations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2013      2012      2013      2012  
     (in millions, except share amounts)  

Net earnings available to Alleghany stockholders

   $ 113.2       $ 125.4       $ 423.2       $ 794.9   

Effect of dilutive securities

     —           —           —           0.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income available to common stockholders for diluted earnings per share

   $ 113.2       $ 125.4       $ 423.2       $ 795.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding applicable to basic earnings per share

     16,766,192         16,931,811         16,792,733         14,943,160   

Effect of dilutive securities

     —           —           —           19,855   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted weighted average common shares outstanding applicable to diluted earnings per share

     16,766,192         16,931,811         16,792,733         14,963,015   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Contingently issuable shares of 67,573 and 52,627 were potentially available during the first nine months of 2013 and 2012, respectively, but were not included in the computations of diluted earnings per share because the impact was anti-dilutive to the earnings per share calculation.

 

8. Commitments and Contingencies

(a) Legal Proceedings

Certain of Alleghany’s subsidiaries are parties to pending litigation and claims in connection with the ordinary course of their businesses. Each such subsidiary makes provisions for estimated losses to be incurred in such litigation and claims, including legal costs. In the opinion of management, such provisions are adequate.

(b) Indemnification Obligations

On July 14, 2005, Alleghany completed the sale of its worldwide industrial minerals business. Pursuant to the terms of the sale, Alleghany undertook certain indemnification obligations, including a general indemnification for breaches of representations and warranties, and a special indemnification related to products liability claims arising from events that occurred during pre-closing periods, including the period of Alleghany ownership, that will expire on July 31, 2016. Additional information about these indemnification obligations can be found in Note 12(b) to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, of the 2012 10-K.

 

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(c) Leases

Alleghany leases certain facilities, furniture and equipment under long-term lease agreements. Additional information about leases can be found in Note 12(c) to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, of the 2012 10-K.

(d) Asbestos and Environmental Impairment Exposure

Loss and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) include amounts for risks relating to asbestos-related illnesses and environmental impairment. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, such gross and net reserves were as follows:

 

     September 30, 2013      December 31, 2012  
     Gross      Net      Gross      Net  
     (in millions)  

TransRe

   $ 539.7       $ 413.2       $ 512.4       $ 394.5   

CATA

     10.5         10.5         13.5         13.5   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 550.2       $ 423.7       $ 525.9       $ 408.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The reserves carried for such claims, including the incurred but not reported portion, are based upon known facts and current law at the respective balance sheet dates. However, significant uncertainty exists in determining the amount of ultimate liability for asbestos-related illnesses and environmental impairment losses, particularly for those occurring in 1985 and prior, which represents the majority of TransRe’s asbestos-related illnesses and environmental impairment reserves. This uncertainty is due to inconsistent court resolutions and judicial interpretations with respect to underlying policy intent and coverage and uncertainties as to the allocation of responsibility for resultant damages, among other reasons. Further, possible changes in statutes, laws, regulations, theories of liability and other factors could have a material effect on these liabilities and, accordingly, future earnings.

(e) Equity Holdings Concentration

As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, Alleghany had a concentration of market risk in its AFS equity securities portfolio with respect to certain energy sector businesses of $347.3 million and $542.2 million, respectively.

 

9. Segments of Business

(a) Overview

Alleghany’s segments are reported in a manner consistent with the way management evaluates the businesses. As such, Alleghany classifies its business into two reportable segments – reinsurance and insurance. In addition, reinsurance and insurance underwriting activities are evaluated separately from investment and corporate activities. Net realized capital gains and OTTI losses are not considered relevant in evaluating investment performance on an annual basis. Segment accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, of the 2012 10-K.

The reinsurance segment consists of property and casualty reinsurance operations conducted by TransRe’s reinsurance operating units and is further reported by major product lines—property and casualty & other. TransRe provides property and casualty reinsurance to insurers and reinsurers through brokers and on a direct basis to ceding companies. TransRe also writes a modest amount of insurance business, which is included in the reinsurance segment. Approximately half of the premiums earned by TransRe’s operations are generated by offices located in Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and those serving Latin America and the Caribbean. Although the majority of the premiums earned by these offices typically relate to the regions where they are located, a significant portion may be derived from other regions of the world, including the United States. In addition, although a significant portion of the assets and liabilities of these foreign offices generally relate to the countries where ceding companies and reinsurers are located, most investments are located in the country of domicile of these offices.

The insurance segment consists of property and casualty insurance operations conducted by AIHL through RSUI, CATA and PCC. RSUI also writes a modest amount of assumed reinsurance business, which is included in the insurance segment.

 

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Table of Contents

The primary components of “corporate activities” are Alleghany Properties, Stranded Oil, Alleghany’s investments in Homesite and ORX and other activities at the parent level. Beginning April 26, 2012 and August 30, 2013, corporate activities also includes the operating results of BKI and Kentucky Trailer, respectively. On August 30, 2013, Alleghany invested $24.9 million in Kentucky Trailer, a manufacturer of custom trailers and truck bodies for the moving and storage industry and other markets, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, for a controlling equity interest, consisting of a preferred equity interest and a 35.4 percent common equity interest. In this transaction, Alleghany also received an option to purchase additional equity interests in Kentucky Trailer to increase Alleghany’s common equity interest to 80.0 percent.

In addition, corporate activities includes interest expense associated with senior notes issued by Alleghany, whereas interest expense associated with senior notes issued by TransRe is included in “Total Segments.” Information related to Alleghany’s and TransRe’s senior notes can be found in Note 8 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, of the 2012 10-K.

(b) Results

Segment results for Alleghany’s two reportable segments and for corporate activities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (which include TransRe from March 6, 2012 through September 30, 2012) are shown in the tables below:

 

    Reinsurance Segment      Insurance Segment                    

Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

  Property     Casualty  &
Other(1)
    Total      RSUI      CATA     PCC     Total     Total
Segments
    Corporate
Activities(2)
    Consolidated  
                              (in millions)                    

Gross premiums written

  $ 288.7      $ 550.1      $ 838.8       $ 281.0       $ 49.0      $ 11.5      $ 341.5      $ 1,180.3      $ (6.2   $ 1,174.1   

Net premiums written

    248.6        541.5        790.1         185.9         46.3        11.1        243.3        1,033.4        —          1,033.4   

Net premiums earned

    246.1        546.7        792.8         197.2         39.9        10.0        247.1        1,039.9        —          1,039.9   

Net loss and LAE

    77.8        409.1        486.9         121.6         21.5        14.5        157.6        644.5        —          644.5   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    82.3        167.6        249.9         55.4         20.0        8.3        83.7        333.6        —          333.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(3)

  $ 86.0      $ (30.0   $ 56.0       $ 20.2       $ (1.6   $ (12.8   $ 5.8        61.8        —          61.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Net investment income

                    106.1        9.2        115.3   

Net realized capital gains

                    30.8        (13.0     17.8   

Other than temporary impairment losses

                    (0.7     —          (0.7

Gain on bargain purchase

                    —          —          —     

Other income

                    2.1        15.1        17.2   

Other operating expenses

                    19.0        20.0        39.0   

Corporate administration

                    —          3.7        3.7   

Amortization of intangible assets

                    (0.8     —          (0.8

Interest expense

                    12.4        9.1        21.5   
                 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

                  $ 169.5      $ (21.5   $ 148.0   
                 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents
    Reinsurance Segment     Insurance Segment                    

Three Months Ended September 30, 2012

  Property     Casualty  &
Other(1)
    Total     RSUI     CATA     PCC     Total     Total
Segments
    Corporate
Activities(2)
    Consolidated  
    (in millions)  

Gross premiums written

  $  281.9      $ 604.6      $ 886.5      $ 248.9      $ 40.6      $ 6.3      $ 295.8      $ 1,182.3      $ (5.9   $ 1,176.4   

Net premiums written

    248.0        594.9        842.9        155.1        38.4        6.1        199.6        1,042.5        —          1,042.5   

Net premiums earned

    264.7        616.4        881.1        169.8        37.0        4.9        211.7        1,092.8        —          1,092.8   

Net loss and LAE

    103.7        458.8        562.5        82.9        23.1        4.5        110.5        673.0        —          673.0   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    55.4        125.7        181.1        46.1        19.7        6.9        72.7        253.8        —          253.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(3)

  $ 105.6      $ 31.9      $ 137.5      $ 40.8      $ (5.8   $ (6.5   $ 28.5        166.0        —          166.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Net investment income

                  90.1        0.4        90.5   

Net realized capital gains

                  12.4        —          12.4   

Other than temporary impairment losses

                  —          —          —     

Gain on bargain purchase

                  —          —          —     

Other income

                  24.2        9.6        33.8   

Other operating expenses

                  36.3        11.1        47.4   

Corporate administration

                  —          9.3        9.3   

Amortization of intangible assets

                  73.3        —          73.3   

Interest expense

                  12.5        9.3        21.8   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

                $ 170.6      $ (19.7   $ 150.9   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    Reinsurance Segment     Insurance Segment                    

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

  Property     Casualty  &
Other(1)
    Total     RSUI     CATA     PCC     Total     Total
Segments
    Corporate
Activities(2)
    Consolidated  
    (in millions)  

Gross premiums written

  $ 873.3      $ 1,769.6      $ 2,642.9      $ 962.1      $ 134.6      $ 30.0      $ 1,126.7      $ 3,769.6      $ (17.5   $ 3,752.1   

Net premiums written

    756.3        1,743.1        2,499.4        630.8        126.4        29.3        786.5        3,285.9        —          3,285.9   

Net premiums earned

    748.1        1,733.3        2,481.4        560.3        114.4        27.1        701.8        3,183.2        —          3,183.2   

Net loss and LAE

    232.4        1,240.9        1,473.3        302.2        57.2        29.7        389.1        1,862.4        —          1,862.4   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    220.7        539.5        760.2        155.1        60.9        22.6        238.6        998.8        —          998.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(3)

  $ 295.0      $ (47.1   $ 247.9      $ 103.0      $ (3.7   $ (25.2   $ 74.1        322.0        —          322.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Net investment income

                  295.5        39.0        334.5   

Net realized capital gains

                  109.5        (13.9     95.6   

Other than temporary impairment losses

                  (41.9     —          (41.9

Gain on bargain purchase

                  —          —          —     

Other income

                  3.9        33.9        37.8   

Other operating expenses

                  57.0        40.0        97.0   

Corporate administration

                  —          26.0        26.0   

Amortization of intangible assets

                  11.6        —          11.6   

Interest expense

                  37.1        27.9        65.0   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

                $ 583.3      $ (34.9   $ 548.4   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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    Reinsurance Segment     Insurance Segment                    

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

  Property     Casualty  &
Other(1)
    Total     RSUI     CATA     PCC     Total     Total
Segments
    Corporate
Activities(2)
    Consolidated  
    (in millions)  

Gross premiums written

  $ 660.8      $ 1,436.1      $ 2,096.9      $ 861.4      $ 120.8      $ 12.6      $ 994.8      $ 3,091.7      $ (12.9   $ 3,078.8   

Net premiums written

    608.6        1,413.5        2,022.1        551.7        114.1        12.5        678.3        2,700.4        —          2,700.4   

Net premiums earned

    603.6        1,413.9        2,017.5        487.6        107.3        10.5        605.4        2,622.9        —          2,622.9   

Net loss and LAE

    215.5        1,055.5        1,271.0        239.8        67.0        10.0        316.8        1,587.8        —          1,587.8   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    121.1        256.2        377.3        136.7        58.5        20.3        215.5        592.8        —          592.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(3)

  $ 267.0      $ 102.2      $ 369.2      $ 111.1      $ (18.2   $ (19.8   $ 73.1        442.3        —          442.3   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Net investment income

                  226.0        8.6        234.6   

Net realized capital gains

                  81.2        38.6        119.8   

Other than temporary
impairment losses

                  (2.9     —          (2.9

Gain on bargain purchase

                  —          494.9        494.9   

Other income

                  25.2        18.2        43.4   

Other operating expenses

                  73.9        24.0        97.9   

Corporate administration

                  —          67.7        67.7   

Amortization of intangible assets

                  213.4        —          213.4   

Interest expense

                  28.2        18.3        46.5   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

                $ 456.3      $ 450.3      $ 906.6   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Casualty & other primarily consists of assumed: directors and officers liability; errors and omissions liability; general liability; medical malpractice; ocean marine and aviation; auto liability; accident and health; surety; and credit.
(2) Includes elimination of minor reinsurance activity between segments.
(3) Represents net premiums earned less net loss and LAE and commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses, all as determined in accordance with GAAP, and does not include net investment income, net realized capital gains, OTTI losses, other income, other operating expenses, amortization of intangible assets or interest expense. Underwriting profit does not replace earnings before income taxes determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of profitability. Rather, Alleghany believes that underwriting profit enhances the understanding of its segments’ operating results by highlighting net earnings attributable to their underwriting performance. Earnings before income taxes (a GAAP measure) may show a profit despite an underlying underwriting loss. Where underwriting losses persist over extended periods, a reinsurance or an insurance company’s ability to continue as an ongoing concern may be at risk. Therefore, Alleghany views underwriting profit as an important measure in the overall evaluation of performance.

(c) Identifiable assets and equity

As of September 30, 2013, the identifiable assets of the reinsurance segment, insurance segment and corporate activities were $16.6 billion, $6.0 billion and $0.6 billion, respectively, of which cash and invested assets represented $14.4 billion, $4.4 billion and $0.4 billion, respectively. As of September 30, 2013, the reinsurance segment, insurance segment and corporate activities comprised $4.4 billion, $2.5 billion and ($0.2) billion, respectively, of Alleghany’s equity attributable to Alleghany stockholders.

 

10. Credit Agreement

On October 15, 2013, Alleghany entered into a four-year credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with certain lenders party thereto, which provides for an unsecured credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $200.0 million. The Credit Agreement is scheduled to terminate on October 15, 2017, unless earlier terminated. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement will be available for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The Credit Agreement replaced Alleghany’s previous three-year credit agreement, which provided for a two tranche revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $100.0 million, consisting of a secured credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million and an unsecured credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million (the “Prior Credit Agreement”). The Prior Credit Agreement expired on September 9, 2013. There were no borrowings under the Prior Credit Agreement from its inception through its expiration.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear a floating rate of interest based in part on Alleghany’s credit rating, among other factors. The Credit Agreement requires that all loans be repaid in full no later than October 15, 2017. The Credit Agreement also

 

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requires Alleghany to pay a commitment fee each quarter in a range of between 0.125 and 0.30 percent per annum, based upon Alleghany’s credit rating, on the daily unused amount of the commitments. The Credit Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants customary for bank loan facilities of this nature. There were no borrowings under the Credit Agreement through November 4, 2013.

 

11. Employee Benefit Plans

As discussed in Note 15 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, of the 2012 10-K, Alleghany has an unfunded, noncontributory defined benefit pension plan for parent-level executives and a funded, noncontributory defined benefit pension plan for parent-level employees. Alleghany also had two unfunded retiree health plans, one for parent-level executives and one for parent-level employees. On July 16, 2013, the Alleghany Board of Directors decided to: (i) freeze the benefits associated with the unfunded, noncontributory defined benefit pension plan for parent-level executives, effective December 31, 2013; and (ii) terminate both retiree health plans, effective September 30, 2013. The funded, noncontributory defined benefit pension plan for parent-level employees is unaffected. As a result of these decisions, Alleghany recorded a pre-tax $8.8 million reduction to corporate administration expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2013.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

References in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013, or this “Form 10-Q,” to the “Company,” “Alleghany,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Alleghany Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires. In addition, unless the context otherwise requires, references to

 

   

“TransRe” are to our reinsurance holding company subsidiary Transatlantic Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries,

 

   

“TRC” are to our subsidiary Transatlantic Reinsurance Company and its subsidiaries,

 

   

“AIHL” are to our insurance holding company subsidiary Alleghany Insurance Holdings LLC,

 

   

“RSUI” are to our subsidiary RSUI Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries,

 

   

“CATA” are to our subsidiary Capitol Transamerica Corporation and its subsidiaries, and also include the operations and results of Platte River Insurance Company unless the context otherwise requires,

 

   

“PCC” are to our subsidiary Pacific Compensation Corporation and its subsidiaries,

 

   

“AIHL Re” are to our subsidiary AIHL Re LLC,

 

   

“ACP” are to our subsidiary Alleghany Capital Partners LLC,

 

   

“ACC” are to our subsidiary Alleghany Capital Corporation,

 

   

“Alleghany Properties” are to our subsidiary Alleghany Properties Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries,

 

   

“Stranded Oil” are to our subsidiary Stranded Oil Resources Corporation,

 

   

“Bourn & Koch” are to our majority-owned subsidiary BKH Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary Bourn & Koch, Inc., or “BKI,” and

 

   

“Kentucky Trailer” are to our majority-controlled subsidiary R.C. Tway Company, LLC.

“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” contain disclosures which are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts, and can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “should,” “continue” or the negative versions of those words or other comparable words. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current plans or expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect current plans, anticipated actions and our future financial condition and results. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and we have no specific intention to update these statements. The uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to,

 

   

significant weather-related or other natural or man-made catastrophes and disasters;

 

   

the cyclical nature of the property and casualty reinsurance and insurance industries;

 

   

changes in market prices of our significant equity investments and changes in value of our debt securities portfolio;

 

   

adverse loss development for events insured by our reinsurance and insurance operating units in either the current year or prior years;

 

   

the long-tail and potentially volatile nature of certain casualty lines of business written by our reinsurance and insurance operating units;

 

   

the cost and availability of reinsurance;

 

   

exposure to terrorist acts and acts of war;

 

   

the willingness and ability of our reinsurance and insurance operating units’ reinsurers to pay reinsurance recoverables owed to our reinsurance and insurance operating units;

 

   

changes in the ratings assigned to our reinsurance and insurance operating units;

 

   

claims development and the process of estimating reserves;

 

   

legal, political, judicial and regulatory changes, including the federal financial regulatory reform of the insurance industry by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;

 

   

the uncertain nature of damage theories and loss amounts;

 

   

the reliance by our reinsurance operating units on a limited number of brokers;

 

   

increases in the levels of risk retention by our reinsurance and insurance operating units;

 

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the loss of key personnel of our reinsurance or insurance operating units;

 

   

fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates;

 

   

the failure to comply with the restrictive covenants contained in the agreements governing our indebtedness;

 

   

the ability to make payments on, or repay or refinance, our debt; and

 

   

risks inherent in international operations.

Additional risks and uncertainties include general economic and political conditions, including the effects of a prolonged U.S. or global economic downturn or recession; changes in costs; variations in political, economic or other factors; risks relating to conducting operations in a competitive environment; effects of acquisition and disposition activities, inflation rates, or recessionary or expansive trends; changes in interest rates; extended labor disruptions, civil unrest, or other external factors over which we have no control; and changes in our plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, or intentions, which may happen at any time at our discretion. As a consequence, current plans, anticipated actions, and future financial condition and results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. See Part I, Item 1A of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, or the “2012 10-K,” for a more detailed discussion of these risks and uncertainties.

Overview

We are a Delaware corporation which owns and manages operating subsidiaries and investments, anchored by a core position in property and casualty reinsurance and insurance. Prior to March 6, 2012, we were primarily engaged, through AIHL and its subsidiaries, in the property and casualty insurance business. AIHL’s insurance operations are principally conducted by its subsidiaries RSUI, CATA and PCC. CATA has been a subsidiary of AIHL since January 2002, RSUI has been a subsidiary of AIHL since July 2003, and PCC has been a subsidiary of AIHL since July 2007. AIHL Re has been an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Alleghany since its formation in 2006. AIHL Re is a captive reinsurance company which provides reinsurance to our insurance operating units and affiliates. On March 6, 2012, or the “TransRe Acquisition Date,” we consummated a merger transaction, or the “merger,” with TransRe. As a result of the merger, TransRe became one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries. Our reinsurance operations began immediately following the merger. See Note 2 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, of the 2012 10-K for additional detail on the merger.

Although our primary sources of revenues and earnings are our reinsurance and insurance operations and investments, we also conduct other activities. We own and manage land in the Sacramento, California region through our subsidiary Alleghany Properties and own Stranded Oil, an exploration and production company focused on enhanced oil recovery. From formation through September 30, 2013, we have invested $46.9 million in Stranded Oil. On April 26, 2012, our majority-owned subsidiary Bourn & Koch acquired BKI, a manufacturer and remanufacturer/retrofitter of precision machine tools and supplier of replacement parts, headquartered in Rockford, Illinois. On August 30, 2013, we invested $24.9 million in Kentucky Trailer, a manufacturer of custom trailers and truck bodies for the moving and storage industry and other markets, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, for a controlling equity interest, consisting of a preferred equity interest and a 35.4 percent common equity interest. In this transaction, we also received an option to purchase additional equity interests in Kentucky Trailer to increase our common equity interest to 80.0 percent. Kentucky Trailer’s results have been included in our Consolidated Financial Statements beginning August 30, 2013.

We also own a minority stake in Homesite Group Incorporated, or “Homesite,” a national, full-service, mono-line provider of homeowners insurance, which we purchased in December 2006 for cash consideration of $120.0 million. On September 4, 2013, American Family Insurance Company, a Wisconsin-based mutual insurance company, entered into a merger agreement with Homesite to purchase all of its issued and outstanding capital stock (including shares underlying options and restricted stock units) for cash consideration of $616.0 million, subject to adjustment for changes in Homesite stockholders’ equity between June 30, 2013 and the closing of the transaction and transaction expenses. We currently own approximately 28 percent of the fully diluted shares of Homesite common stock. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013 or first quarter of 2014, at which time we expect to record a gain on our investment in Homesite.

In addition to Homesite, we own approximately 38 percent in ORX Exploration, Inc., or “ORX,” a regional gas and oil exploration and production company. The Homesite and ORX investments are reflected in our financial statements in other invested assets.

We manage, source, execute and monitor our private capital investments, which include Stranded Oil, BKI, Kentucky Trailer and ORX, primarily through our wholly-owned subsidiary ACC. Our public equity investments, including those held by TransRe’s and AIHL’s operating units, are managed primarily by our indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, ACP.

 

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As of September 30, 2013, we had total assets of $23.2 billion and total stockholders’ equity attributable to Alleghany stockholders of $6.7 billion. As of September 30, 2013, we had consolidated total investments of approximately $18.8 billion, of which $15.0 billion was invested in debt securities, $2.0 billion was invested in equity securities, $1.0 billion was invested in short-term investments, and $0.8 billion was invested in other invested assets.

Segment Information

Our segments are reported in a manner consistent with the way management evaluates the businesses. As such, we classify our business into two reportable segments, reinsurance and insurance. Reinsurance and insurance underwriting activities are evaluated separately from investment and corporate activities. The primary components of “corporate activities” are Alleghany Properties, Stranded Oil, our investments in Homesite and ORX and other activities at the parent level. In addition, beginning April 26, 2012 and August 30, 2013, corporate activities includes the operating results of BKI and Kentucky Trailer, respectively. See below and Note 9 to the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for an analysis of our underwriting results by segment and corporate activities, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations.”

Profitability

The profitability of our reinsurance and insurance operating units and, as a result, our profitability, are primarily impacted by the adequacy of premium rates, level of catastrophe losses, and investment returns. The adequacy of premium rates is affected mainly by the severity and frequency of claims, which are influenced by many factors, including natural disasters, regulatory measures and court decisions that expand the extent of coverage and grant larger liability awards, and the effects of economic inflation on the amount of compensation due for injuries or losses. The ultimate adequacy of premium rates is not known with certainty at the time reinsurance contracts are entered into or property and casualty insurance policies are issued because premiums are determined before claims are reported.

The profitability of our reinsurance and insurance operating units is also impacted by competition generally and price competition in particular. Historically, the performance of the property and casualty reinsurance and insurance industries has tended to fluctuate in cyclical periods of price competition and excess underwriting capacity followed by periods of high premium rates and shortages of underwriting capacity. Although an individual reinsurance or insurance company’s performance is dependent on its own specific business characteristics, the profitability of most property and casualty reinsurance and insurance companies tends to follow this cyclical market pattern.

Catastrophe Risk

Catastrophe losses, or their absence, can have a significant impact on our results. The frequency and severity of catastrophes in any short period of time are inherently unpredictable. Catastrophes can cause losses in a variety of our property and casualty lines of business. We have significant exposure to both natural disasters, such as hurricanes, other windstorms and earthquakes, as well as man-made disasters. Longer-term natural catastrophe trends may be changing due to climate change, a phenomenon that has been associated with extreme weather events linked to rising temperatures, and includes effects on global weather patterns, sea, land and air temperatures, sea levels, rain and snow. Climate change, to the extent it produces rising temperatures and changes in weather patterns, could impact the frequency or severity of weather events such as hurricanes, other windstorms and tornado activity. To the extent climate change increases the frequency and severity of such weather events, our reinsurance and insurance operating units may face increased claims, particularly with respect to properties located in coastal areas.

As part of their overall risk and capacity management strategy, our reinsurance and insurance operating units take certain measures to mitigate the impact of catastrophe events through various means including considering catastrophe risks in their underwriting and pricing decisions, monitoring and modeling accumulated exposures, managing exposure in key geographic zones and product lines that are prone to catastrophic events, and purchasing reinsurance.

The reinsurance programs purchased by our reinsurance and insurance operating units are generally subject to annual renewal. Market conditions beyond the control of our reinsurance and insurance operating units determine the availability and cost of the reinsurance protection they purchase, which may affect the level of business written and thus their profitability.

In the third quarter of 2013, we incurred $69.4 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, compared with $8.2 million of catastrophe losses incurred in the third quarter of 2012. The $69.4 million of catastrophe losses incurred in the third quarter of 2013 consists of $47.0 million incurred at TransRe and $22.4 million incurred at RSUI. In the first nine months of 2013, we incurred $143.9 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, compared with $31.7 million of catastrophe losses incurred in the first nine months of 2012. The $143.9 million of catastrophe losses consists of $92.1 million incurred at TransRe and $51.8 million incurred at RSUI. In addition, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, we had prior accident year development on reserves related to catastrophe events that occurred in prior periods. Catastrophe losses and prior accident year development are explained in the following pages.

 

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Comment on Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Throughout this Form 10-Q, our analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or “GAAP.” Our results of operations have been presented in the way that we believe will be the most meaningful and useful to investors, analysts, rating agencies and others who use financial information in evaluating the performance of Alleghany. This presentation includes the use of underwriting profit, which is a “non-GAAP financial measure,” as such term is defined in Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC.” Underwriting profit represents net premiums earned less net loss and loss adjustment expenses, or “LAE,” and commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses, all as determined in accordance with GAAP and does not include net investment income, net realized capital gains, other than temporary impairment, or “OTTI,” losses, other income, other operating expenses, amortization of intangible assets or interest expense. We consistently use underwriting profit as a supplement to earnings before income taxes, the most comparable GAAP financial measure, to evaluate the performance of our segments and believe that underwriting profit provides useful additional information to investors because it highlights net earnings attributable to a segment’s underwriting performance. Earnings before income taxes may show a profit despite an underlying underwriting loss, and when underwriting losses persist over extended periods, a reinsurance or an insurance company’s ability to continue as an ongoing concern may be at risk. However, underwriting profit is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for earnings before income taxes or any other measures of operating performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of underwriting profit to earnings before income taxes is presented within “Consolidated Results of Operations.”

 

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Consolidated Results of Operations

The following table summarizes our consolidated revenues, costs and expenses and earnings.

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2013     2012     2013     2012  
     (in millions)  

Revenues

        

Net premiums earned

   $ 1,039.9      $ 1,092.8      $ 3,183.2      $ 2,622.9   

Net investment income

     115.3        90.5        334.5        234.6   

Net realized capital gains

     17.8        12.4        95.6        119.8   

Other than temporary impairment losses

     (0.7     —          (41.9     (2.9

Gain on bargain purchase

     —          —          —          494.9   

Other income

     17.2        33.8        37.8        43.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     1,189.5        1,229.5        3,609.2        3,512.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs and Expenses

        

Net loss and loss adjustment expenses

     644.5        673.0        1,862.4        1,587.8   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     333.6        253.8        998.8        592.8   

Other operating expenses

     39.0        47.4        97.0        97.9   

Corporate administration

     3.7        9.3        26.0        67.7   

Amortization of intangible assets

     (0.8     73.3        11.6        213.4   

Interest expense

     21.5        21.8        65.0        46.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

     1,041.5        1,078.6        3,060.8        2,606.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

     148.0        150.9        548.4        906.6   

Income taxes

     34.6        25.5        125.0        111.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

     113.4        125.4        423.4        794.9   

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

     0.2        —          0.2        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to Alleghany stockholders

   $ 113.2      $ 125.4      $ 423.2      $ 794.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenues:

        

Total reinsurance and insurance segments

   $ 1,178.2      $ 1,219.5      $ 3,550.2      $ 2,952.4   

Corporate activities*

     11.3        10.0        59.0        560.3   

Earnings before income taxes:

        

Total reinsurance and insurance segments

   $ 169.5      $ 170.6      $ 583.3      $ 456.3   

Corporate activities*

     (21.5     (19.7     (34.9     450.3   

 

 

* Consists of Alleghany Properties, Stranded Oil, our investments in Homesite and ORX and corporate activities at the parent level, including the gain on bargain purchase in connection with the merger, and due diligence, legal, investment banking and other merger-related costs, or “Transaction Costs.” In addition, beginning April 26, 2012 and August 30, 2013, corporate activities includes the operating results of BKI and Kentucky Trailer, respectively. Corporate activities also includes interest expense associated with the senior notes issued by Alleghany, whereas interest expense associated with the senior notes issued by TransRe is included in “Total Segments.” Information related to the senior notes can be found in Note 8 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8 of the 2012 10-K.

Our results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared with the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 reflect accounting impacts that arose from the merger. These primarily relate to the recording of a gain on bargain purchase and the write-off of deferred acquisition costs of TransRe as of the TransRe Acquisition Date, as well as the establishment of an intangible asset roughly approximating the amount of deferred acquisition costs. This intangible asset was amortized over an approximate one year period, similar to how deferred acquisition costs are amortized, but is shown as part of amortization of intangible assets as opposed to part of commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses. This amortization was largely completed as of March 6, 2013, the one year anniversary of the TransRe Acquisition Date. In addition, as the merger closed on March 6, 2012, comparative balances for the first nine months of 2013 reflect activity for the entire period while balances for the first nine months of 2012 reflect activity at TransRe only for the 208 day period from the TransRe Acquisition Date to September 30, 2012.

 

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Excluding these merger-related accounting impacts, our earnings before income taxes in the third quarter of 2013 decreased from the third quarter of 2012, primarily reflecting decreases in net premiums earned and other income, partially offset by a decrease in net loss and LAE and an increase in net investment income. As further explained in the pages that follow, the decrease in net premiums earned primarily reflects the impact of lower reinsurance assumed premium writings in recent quarters, partially offset by the impact of higher direct premium writings in recent quarters, particularly at RSUI. The decrease in other income primarily reflects the absence of a gain from settlement in the third quarter of 2013, which was significant in the third quarter of 2012 due to a $23.5 million gain from the settlement of a dispute between TransRe and American International Group Inc., or “AIG.” The decrease in net loss and LAE primarily reflects the impact of lower reinsurance assumed premium writings and net favorable development from prior accident years on loss and LAE reserves, partially offset by the impact of higher direct premium writings and higher catastrophe losses in the third quarter of 2013. The increase in net investment income reflects higher dividend income, improved results at Homesite, and higher income from other invested assets.

Other income and other operating expenses in the third quarter of 2013 include revenue and operating expenses of Kentucky Trailer beginning August 30, 2013.

The effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2013 was 22.8 percent, compared with 12.3 percent for the first nine months of 2012. The higher effective tax rate in the first nine months of 2013 primarily reflects the absence of a gain on bargain purchase, which had a significant impact in the first nine months of 2012. The gain on bargain purchase resulted in a significant increase in earnings before income taxes without a corresponding increase in income taxes. The impact of the gain on bargain purchase on the effective tax rate in the first nine months of 2012 was partially offset by the impact of certain non-deductible Transaction Costs in the first nine months of 2012, which resulted in losses before income taxes without a corresponding decrease in income taxes. As a result of these non-recurring, merger-related items, the effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2012 was reduced by a net 10.2 percentage points.

Total Reinsurance and Insurance Segment Results

The following table summarizes the results of our reinsurance and insurance segments.

 

     Three Months Ended September 30, 2013     Three Months Ended September 30, 2012  
     Reinsurance     Insurance     Total(1)     Reinsurance     Insurance     Total(1)  
     (in millions, except ratios)  

Gross premiums written

   $   838.8      $ 341.5      $ 1,180.3      $ 886.5      $ 295.8      $ 1,182.3   

Net premiums written

     790.1        243.3        1,033.4        842.9        199.6        1,042.5   

Net premiums earned

   $ 792.8      $ 247.1      $ 1,039.9      $ 881.1      $ 211.7      $ 1,092.8   

Net loss and LAE

     486.9        157.6        644.5        562.5        110.5        673.0   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     249.9        83.7        333.6        181.1        72.7        253.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit(2)

   $ 56.0      $ 5.8        61.8      $ 137.5      $ 28.5        166.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net investment income

         106.1            90.1   

Net realized capital gains

         30.8            12.4   

Other than temporary impairment losses

         (0.7         —     

Gain on bargain purchase

         —              —     

Other income

         2.1            24.2   

Other operating expenses

         19.0            36.3   

Corporate administration

         —              —     

Amortization of intangible assets

         (0.8         73.3   

Interest expense

         12.4            12.5   
      

 

 

       

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

       $ 169.5          $ 170.6   
      

 

 

       

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3)

     61.4     63.8     62.0     63.8     52.2     61.6

Expense ratio(4)

     31.5     33.9     32.1     20.6     34.3     23.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

     92.9     97.7     94.1     84.4     86.5     84.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012  
     Reinsurance     Insurance     Total(1)     Reinsurance     Insurance     Total(1)  
     (in millions, except ratios)  

Gross premiums written

   $ 2,642.9      $ 1,126.7      $ 3,769.6      $ 2,096.9      $ 994.8      $ 3,091.7   

Net premiums written

     2,499.4        786.5        3,285.9        2,022.1        678.3        2,700.4   

Net premiums earned

   $ 2,481.4      $ 701.8      $ 3,183.2      $ 2,017.5      $ 605.4      $ 2,622.9   

Net loss and LAE

     1,473.3        389.1        1,862.4        1,271.0        316.8        1,587.8   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     760.2        238.6        998.8        377.3        215.5        592.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit(2)

   $ 247.9      $ 74.1        322.0      $ 369.2      $ 73.1        442.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net investment income

         295.5            226.0   

Net realized capital gains

         109.5            81.2   

Other than temporary impairment losses

         (41.9         (2.9

Gain on bargain purchase

         —              —     

Other income

         3.9            25.2   

Other operating expenses

         57.0            73.9   

Corporate administration

         —              —     

Amortization of intangible assets

         11.6            213.4   

Interest expense

         37.1            28.2   
      

 

 

       

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

       $ 583.3          $ 456.3   
      

 

 

       

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3)

     59.4     55.4     58.5     63.0     52.3     60.5

Expense ratio(4)

     30.6     34.0     31.4     18.7     35.6     22.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

     90.0     89.4     89.9     81.7     87.9     83.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Excludes elimination of minor reinsurance activity between segments which is reported in corporate activities.
(2) Represents net premiums earned less net loss and LAE and commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses, all as determined in accordance with GAAP, and does not include net investment income, net realized capital gains, OTTI losses, other income, other operating expenses, amortization of intangible assets or interest expense. Underwriting profit is a non-GAAP financial measure and does not replace net earnings determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of profitability (see “Comment on Non-GAAP Financial Measures” herein for additional detail).
(3) Net loss and LAE divided by net premiums earned, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
(4) Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses divided by net premiums earned, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
(5) The sum of the loss ratio and expense ratio, all as determined in accordance with GAAP, representing the percentage of each premium dollar a reinsurance or an insurance company has to spend on net loss and LAE, and commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses.

The results of our reinsurance and insurance segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared with the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 reflect accounting impacts that arose from the merger. These primarily relate to the write-off of deferred acquisition costs of TransRe as of the TransRe Acquisition Date, as well as the establishment of an intangible asset roughly approximating the amount of deferred acquisition costs. As discussed above, this intangible asset was amortized over an approximate one year period, similar to deferred acquisition costs, but is shown as part of amortization of intangible assets as opposed to part of commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses. This amortization was largely completed as of March 6, 2013, the one year anniversary of the TransRe Acquisition Date. In addition, as the merger closed on March 6, 2012, comparative balances for the first nine months of 2013 reflect activity for the entire period while balances for the first nine months of 2012 reflect activity at TransRe only for the 208 day period from the TransRe Acquisition Date to September 30, 2012.

Excluding these merger-related accounting impacts, our earnings before income taxes in the third quarter of 2013 decreased slightly from the third quarter of 2012, primarily reflecting decreases in net premiums earned and other income, partially offset by decreases in net loss and LAE and other operating expenses, and increases in net realized capital gains and net investment income. As further explained in the pages that follow, the decrease in net premiums earned primarily reflects the impact of lower reinsurance assumed premium writings in recent quarters, partially offset by the impact of higher direct premium writings in recent quarters, particularly at RSUI. The decrease in other income primarily reflects the absence of a gain from settlement in the third quarter of 2013, which was significant in the third quarter of 2012 due to a $23.5 million gain from the settlement of a dispute between TransRe

 

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and AIG. The decrease in net loss and LAE primarily reflects the impact of lower reinsurance assumed premium writings and net favorable development from prior accident years on loss and LAE reserves, partially offset by the impact of higher direct premium writings and higher catastrophe losses in the third quarter of 2013. The decrease in other operating expenses primarily reflects a decrease in long-term incentive compensation. The increase in net investment income reflects higher dividend income and higher income from other invested assets.

Reinsurance Segment Underwriting Results

The reinsurance segment is comprised of TransRe’s property and casualty & other lines of business. TransRe also writes a modest amount of property and casualty insurance business, which is included in the reinsurance segment. For a more detailed description of our reinsurance segment, see Part I, Item 1, “Business—Segment Information—Reinsurance Segment” of the 2012 10-K.

The underwriting results of the reinsurance segment are presented below.

 

     Property     Casualty &  Other(1)     Total  
     (in millions, except ratios)  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

      

Gross premiums written

   $ 288.7      $    550.1      $    838.8   

Net premiums written

     248.6        541.5        790.1   

Net premiums earned

   $ 246.1      $ 546.7      $ 792.8   

Net loss and LAE

     77.8        409.1        486.9   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     82.3        167.6        249.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(2)

   $ 86.0      $ (30.0   $ 56.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3)

     31.6     74.8     61.4

Expense ratio(4)

     33.4     30.7     31.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

     65.0     105.5     92.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2012

      

Gross premiums written

   $ 281.9      $ 604.6      $ 886.5   

Net premiums written

     248.0        594.9        842.9   

Net premiums earned

   $ 264.7      $ 616.4      $ 881.1   

Net loss and LAE

     103.7        458.8        562.5   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     55.4        125.7        181.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit(2)

   $ 105.6      $ 31.9      $ 137.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3)

     39.2     74.4     63.8

Expense ratio(4)

     20.9     20.4     20.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

     60.1     94.8     84.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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     Property     Casualty &  Other(1)     Total  
     (in millions, except ratios)  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

      

Gross premiums written

   $ 873.3      $ 1,769.6      $ 2,642.9   

Net premiums written

     756.3        1,743.1        2,499.4   

Net premiums earned

   $ 748.1      $ 1,733.3      $ 2,481.4   

Net loss and LAE

     232.4        1,240.9        1,473.3   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     220.7        539.5        760.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(2)

   $ 295.0      $ (47.1   $ 247.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3)

     31.1     71.6     59.4

Expense ratio(4)

     29.5     31.1     30.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

     60.6     102.7     90.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

      

Gross premiums written

   $ 660.8      $ 1,436.1      $ 2,096.9   

Net premiums written

     608.6        1,413.5        2,022.1   

Net premiums earned

   $ 603.6      $ 1,413.9      $ 2,017.5   

Net loss and LAE

     215.5        1,055.5        1,271.0   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     121.1        256.2        377.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit(2)

   $ 267.0      $ 102.2      $ 369.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3)

     35.7     74.7     63.0

Expense ratio(4)

     20.1     18.1     18.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

     55.8     92.8     81.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Primarily consists of assumed: directors and officers liability; errors and omissions liability; general liability; medical malpractice; ocean marine and aviation; auto liability; accident and health; surety; and credit.
(2) Represents net premiums earned less net loss and LAE and commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses, all as determined in accordance with GAAP, and does not include net investment income, net realized capital gains, OTTI losses, other income, other operating expenses, amortization of intangible assets or interest expense. Underwriting profit is a non-GAAP financial measure and does not replace net earnings determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of profitability (see “Comment on Non-GAAP Financial Measures” herein for additional detail).
(3) Net loss and LAE divided by net premiums earned, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
(4) Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses divided by net premiums earned, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
(5) The sum of the loss ratio and expense ratio, all as determined in accordance with GAAP, representing the percentage of each premium dollar a reinsurance company has to spend on net loss and LAE, and commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses.

Reinsurance Segment – Property. Gross premiums written in the third quarter of 2013 increased by $6.8 million or 2.4 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency rates, gross premiums written in the third quarter of 2013 increased by $14.4 million or 5.1 percent from the third quarter of 2012, primarily reflecting new business writings.

Net premiums earned in the third quarter of 2013 decreased by $18.6 million or 7.0 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency rates, net premiums earned in the third quarter of 2013 decreased by $8.8 million or 3.3 percent from the third quarter of 2012. The decrease in net premiums earned in the third quarter of 2013 from the third quarter of 2012 primarily reflects a decrease in net premiums written in recent quarters. The decrease in net premiums written in recent quarters reflects an increasingly competitive reinsurance market, which is expanding its capacity despite the lack of market need, as well as decisions made by TransRe in recent years to non-renew or reduce participation on certain potentially less profitable treaties and shift certain business from proportional to potentially more profitable non-proportional exposure.

 

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The decrease in net loss and LAE in the third quarter of 2013 from the third quarter of 2012 primarily reflects the impact of lower net premiums earned and higher releases of prior accident year loss reserves, partially offset by higher catastrophe losses.

Net loss and LAE for the third quarter of 2013 include a $53.1 million release of prior accident year loss reserves, compared with an $18.7 million release of loss reserves in the third quarter of 2012. The $53.1 million reserve release primarily reflects a $34.9 million reserve release from Super Storm Sandy, which caused widespread property damage and flooding to large areas of the East Coast and Northeastern United States in October 2012. The remaining $18.2 million relates primarily to the Tohoku earthquake in Japan, which occurred in 2011. The $53.1 million release of prior accident year loss reserves in the third quarter of 2013 reflects favorable loss emergence compared with estimates made in earlier periods. The $18.7 million reserve release in the third quarter of 2012 relates to favorable loss development from prior accident years on loss and LAE reserves acquired on the TransRe Acquisition Date.

Net loss and LAE for the third quarter of 2013 include catastrophe losses from events in 2013 of $47.0 million in the third quarter of 2013, compared with no significant catastrophe losses from events in 2012 in the third quarter of 2012. The $47.0 million of catastrophe losses in the third quarter of 2013 primarily reflect net losses from hurricanes in Mexico in September 2013, flooding in Canada in June 2013, and hailstorms in Germany and Canada in July 2013. As further explained below, the increase in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the third quarter of 2013 reflects the absence of the favorable impacts arising from the acquisition method of accounting, which was significant in the third quarter of 2012.

The decrease in underwriting profit in the third quarter of 2013 from the third quarter of 2012 primarily reflects the increase in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses and the decrease in net premiums earned, partially offset by the decrease in net loss and LAE, all as discussed above.

The increases in gross premiums written, net premiums earned, net loss and LAE, and commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the first nine months of 2013 from the first nine months of 2012 primarily reflect the inclusion of operations from TransRe for the entire period for the first nine months of 2013, compared with the 208 day period subsequent to the TransRe Acquisition Date for the first nine months of 2012. The increase in net loss and LAE also reflects catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, of $92.1 million, partially offset by $132.4 million of favorable development from prior accident years on loss and LAE reserves in the first nine months of 2013. In addition to the $47.0 million of losses incurred in the third quarter of 2013 noted above, catastrophe losses in the first nine months of 2013 primarily reflect net losses from flooding in Germany and Central Europe in May and June, respectively, and, to a lesser extent, flooding in Canada. The increase in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses also reflects the diminished favorable impact arising from the acquisition method of accounting, as further explained below.

Net loss and LAE for the first nine months of 2013 reflect a $132.4 million release of prior accident year loss reserves. In addition to the $53.1 million release of prior accident year loss reserves in the third quarter of 2013 noted above, net loss and LAE in the first nine months of 2013 reflect a $79.3 million release of prior accident year loss reserves in the first six months of 2013. Of the $79.3 million reserve release, $33.0 million relates to Super Storm Sandy, with the remaining $46.3 million relating primarily to non-catastrophe losses in the 2012 accident year and catastrophe losses occurring in 2011. The $132.4 million release of prior accident year loss reserves in the first nine months of 2013 reflects favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods. The $132.4 million release of prior accident year loss reserves did not impact the assumptions used in estimating TransRe’s loss and LAE liabilities for business earned in the first nine months of 2013.

The increase in underwriting profit in the first nine months of 2013 from the first nine months of 2012 primarily reflects an increase in net premiums earned, partially offset by an increase in net loss and LAE and commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses, all as discussed above.

Reinsurance Segment – Casualty & Other. Gross premiums written in the third quarter of 2013 decreased by $54.5 million or 9.0 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency rates, gross premiums written in the third quarter of 2013 decreased by $49.6 million or 8.2 percent from the third quarter of 2012, primarily due to decreases in the auto liability and accident and health lines of business. The decrease in gross premiums written reflects an increasingly competitive reinsurance market and a decreasing amount of risk premium being ceded by insurers. The decrease in net premiums written in recent quarters also reflects decisions made by TransRe in recent years to non-renew or reduce participation on certain potentially less profitable treaties and shift certain business from proportional to potentially more profitable non-proportional exposure.

Net premiums earned in the third quarter of 2013 decreased by $69.7 million or 11.3 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency rates, net premiums earned in the third quarter of 2013 decreased by $65.4 million or 10.6 percent from the third quarter of 2012. The decrease in net premiums earned in the third quarter of 2013 from the third quarter of 2012 primarily reflects a decrease in gross premiums written in recent quarters.

 

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The decrease in net loss and LAE in the third quarter of 2013 from the third quarter of 2012 primarily reflects the impact of lower net premiums earned and $11.7 million of favorable prior accident year loss reserve development, partially offset by a higher loss ratio in the current accident year. Of the $11.7 million reserve release, $5.9 million relates to certain medical malpractice treaties, or “the Malpractice Treaties.” Under the terms of the Malpractice Treaties, the increased underwriting profits created by the reserve release are to be retained by the cedants. As a result, TransRe recorded a $5.9 million offsetting increase in profit commission expense incurred. The remaining $5.8 million of the reserve release relates to a variety of casualty & other lines of business.

As further explained below, the increase in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the third quarter of 2013 reflects the absence of the favorable impact arising from the acquisition method of accounting, which was significant in the third quarter of 2012, and to a lesser extent, the $5.9 million of profit commission expense incurred related to the Malpractice Treaties, as described above, partially offset by the impact from lower net premiums earned.

The underwriting loss in the third quarter of 2013, compared with an underwriting profit in the third quarter of 2012, primarily reflects an increase in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses and a decrease in net premiums earned, partially offset by a decrease in net loss and LAE, all as discussed above.

The increases in gross premiums written, net premiums earned, net loss and LAE, and commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the first nine months of 2013 from the first nine months of 2012 primarily reflect the inclusion of operations from TransRe for the entire period for the first nine months of 2013, compared with the 208 day period subsequent to the TransRe Acquisition Date for the first nine months of 2012. The increase in net loss and LAE is partially offset by $44.3 million of favorable development from prior accident years on loss and LAE reserves in the first nine months of 2013, $29.7 million of which relates to the Malpractice Treaties, as described above. The increase in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting also reflects $29.7 million of profit commission expense incurred related to the Malpractice Treaties, as described above.

Net loss and LAE for the first nine months of 2013 reflect a $44.3 million release of prior accident year loss reserves. In addition to the $11.7 million release of prior accident year loss reserves in the third quarter of 2013 noted above, net loss and LAE in the first nine months of 2013 reflect a $32.6 million release of prior accident year loss reserves in the first six months of 2013. Of the $32.6 million reserve release, $23.8 million relates to the Malpractice Treaties. The remaining $8.8 million relates to a variety of casualty & other lines of business. The $44.3 million release of prior accident year loss reserves in the first nine months of 2013 reflects favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods in the casualty & other lines of business. The $44.3 million release of prior accident year loss reserves did not impact the assumptions used in estimating TransRe’s loss and LAE liabilities for business earned in the first nine months of 2013.

The underwriting loss in the first nine months of 2013, compared with an underwriting profit in the first nine months of 2012, primarily reflects an increase in net loss and LAE and commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses, partially offset by an increase in net premiums earned, all as discussed above.

For both the property and the casualty & other lines of business, the expense ratio for the third quarter and first nine months of 2012 was favorably impacted as a result of applying the acquisition method of accounting for the merger because deferred acquisition costs were written off at the TransRe Acquisition Date. As of March 6, 2013, the application of the acquisition method of accounting no longer has a significant impact on the expense ratio. Consequently, the impact on the expense ratio for the third quarter and first nine months of 2013 was not significant. Excluding the impact of the application of the acquisition method of accounting, the expense ratio for the reinsurance segment is estimated to be approximately 29 percent for both the third quarter of 2012 and the first nine months of 2012.

Insurance Segment Underwriting Results

The insurance segment is comprised of AIHL’s RSUI, CATA and PCC operating units. RSUI also writes a modest amount of assumed reinsurance business, which is included in the insurance segment. For a more detailed description of our insurance segment, see Part I, Item 1, “Business—Segment Information—Insurance Segment” of the 2012 10-K.

 

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The underwriting results of the insurance segment are presented below.

 

                                           
     RSUI     CATA     PCC     Total  
     (in millions, except ratios)  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

        

Gross premiums written

   $ 281.0      $ 49.0      $ 11.5      $    341.5   

Net premiums written

     185.9        46.3        11.1        243.3   

Net premiums earned

   $ 197.2      $ 39.9      $ 10.0      $ 247.1   

Net loss and LAE

     121.6        21.5        14.5        157.6   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     55.4        20.0        8.3        83.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(1)

   $ 20.2      $ (1.6   $ (12.8   $ 5.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(2)

     61.7     53.7     145.5     63.8

Expense ratio(3)

     28.1     50.2     82.9     33.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(4)

     89.8     103.9     228.4     97.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2012

        

Gross premiums written

   $ 248.9      $ 40.6      $ 6.3      $ 295.8   

Net premiums written

     155.1        38.4        6.1        199.6   

Net premiums earned

   $ 169.8      $ 37.0      $ 4.9      $ 211.7   

Net loss and LAE

     82.9        23.1        4.5        110.5   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     46.1        19.7        6.9        72.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(1)

   $ 40.8      $ (5.8   $ (6.5   $ 28.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(2)

     48.9     62.3     90.7     52.2

Expense ratio(3)

     27.1     53.3     141.0     34.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(4)

     76.0     115.6     231.7     86.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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     RSUI     CATA     PCC     Total  
     (in millions, except ratios)  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

        

Gross premiums written

   $ 962.1      $ 134.6      $ 30.0      $ 1,126.7   

Net premiums written

     630.8        126.4        29.3        786.5   

Net premiums earned

   $ 560.3      $ 114.4      $ 27.1      $ 701.8   

Net loss and LAE

     302.2        57.2        29.7        389.1   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     155.1        60.9        22.6        238.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(1)

   $ 103.0      $ (3.7   $ (25.2   $ 74.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(2)

     53.9     50.0     109.6     55.4

Expense ratio(3)

     27.7     53.2     83.4     34.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(4)

     81.6     103.2     193.0     89.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

        

Gross premiums written

   $ 861.4      $ 120.8      $ 12.6      $ 994.8   

Net premiums written

     551.7        114.1        12.5        678.3   

Net premiums earned

   $ 487.6      $ 107.3      $ 10.5      $ 605.4   

Net loss and LAE

     239.8        67.0        10.0        316.8   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     136.7        58.5        20.3        215.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(1)

   $ 111.1      $ (18.2   $ (19.8   $ 73.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(2)

     49.2     62.5     95.3     52.3

Expense ratio(3)

     28.0     54.5     193.3     35.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(4)

     77.2     117.0     288.6     87.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Represents net premiums earned less net loss and LAE and commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses, all as determined in accordance with GAAP, and does not include net investment income, net realized capital gains, OTTI losses, other income, other operating expenses, or amortization of intangible assets. Underwriting profit is a non-GAAP financial measure and does not replace net earnings determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of profitability (see “Comment on Non-GAAP Financial Measures” herein for additional detail).
(2) Net loss and LAE divided by net premiums earned, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
(3) Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses divided by net premiums earned, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
(4) The sum of the loss ratio and expense ratio, all as determined in accordance with GAAP, representing the percentage of each premium dollar an insurance company has to spend on net loss and LAE, and commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses.

RSUI. The increase in gross premiums written in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2013 from the corresponding 2012 periods primarily reflects some improvement in market conditions in most lines of business, particularly for the umbrella, directors and officers, professional liability and binding authority lines of business, evidenced by favorable renewal retention rates and strong new business submissions. The increases in net premiums earned in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2013, compared with the corresponding 2012 periods, primarily reflect an increase in gross premiums written in recent quarters.

The increase in net loss and LAE in the third quarter and first nine months of 2013 from the corresponding 2012 periods primarily reflects the impact of higher net premiums earned, higher catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, lower releases of prior accident year casualty loss reserves, and reserve increases in the third quarter of 2013 relating to prior year catastrophes. Catastrophe losses were $22.4 million in the third quarter of 2013, compared with $8.2 million in the third quarter of 2012, and $51.8 million in the first nine months of 2013, compared with $31.7 million in the first nine months of 2012. Catastrophe losses in the third quarter of 2013 primarily reflect net losses from the floods in Colorado in September 2013. In addition to these losses incurred in the third quarter of 2013, catastrophe losses in the first nine months of 2013 primarily reflect net losses from severe weather in the Midwestern United States, including tornados in Oklahoma in May 2013. Catastrophe losses in the third quarter of 2012 relate primarily to Hurricane Isaac in August 2012. In addition to these losses incurred in the third quarter of 2012, catastrophe losses in the first nine months of 2013 primarily reflect net losses from severe weather in 2012.

 

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Net loss and LAE in the third quarter and first nine months of 2013 include $15.1 million and $6.7 million, respectively, of unfavorable prior accident year development on property losses, both of which include an $8.5 million unfavorable development from Hurricane Katrina, which arose from a significant claim that settled for more than previously estimated due to an adverse court ruling.

Net loss and LAE for the third quarter of 2013 reflect a $6.2 million release of prior accident year casualty loss reserves, compared with a $12.1 million reserve release during the third quarter of 2012. The $6.2 million reserve release relates primarily to umbrella/excess and professional liability lines of business, primarily for the 2005 through 2009 accident years, and reflects favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods for such lines of business. The $12.1 million release of prior accident year loss reserves during the third quarter of 2012 relates primarily to umbrella/excess liability, general liability and professional liability lines of business, primarily for the 2005 through 2008 accident years and reflects favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods for such lines of business.

Net loss and LAE for the first nine months of 2013 reflect a $21.3 million release of prior accident year casualty loss reserves, compared with a $38.2 million reserve release during the first nine months of 2012. In addition to the $6.2 million release of prior accident year loss reserves in the third quarter of 2013 discussed above, net loss and LAE in the first nine months of 2013 reflect a $15.1 million release of prior accident year casualty loss reserves in the first six months of 2013, compared with a $26.1 million release of prior accident year casualty loss reserves in the first six months of 2012. The $15.1 million reserve release relates primarily to umbrella/excess liability, professional liability and general liability lines of business, primarily for the 2005 through 2009 accident years, and reflects favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods for such lines of business. The $26.1 million reserve release during the first six months of 2012 relates primarily to the directors and officers liability, umbrella/excess, general liability and professional liability lines of business, primarily for the 2005 through 2008 accident years and reflects favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods for such lines of business.

Specifically relating to the $21.3 million reserve release in the first nine months of 2013, actual losses in respect of prior accident years for such lines of business, which include both loss payments and case reserves, were lower than expected through September 30, 2013. The amount of lower actual losses than expected, expressed as a percentage of carried loss and LAE reserves at the beginning of the year, was 0.2 percent. Such reduction did not impact the assumptions used in estimating RSUI’s loss and LAE liabilities for such lines for business earned in the first nine months of 2013.

The increase in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2013 compared with the corresponding 2012 periods is due primarily to the impact of higher net premiums earned.

The decrease in RSUI’s underwriting profit in the third quarter and first nine months of 2013 compared with the third quarter and first nine months of 2012 primarily reflects an increase in net loss and LAE and, to a lesser extent, commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses, partially offset by an increase in net premiums earned, all as discussed above.

As discussed in Part I, Item 1, “Business—Reinsurance” of the 2012 10-K, RSUI reinsures its property lines of business through a program consisting of surplus share treaties, facultative placements, per risk, and catastrophe excess of loss treaties. RSUI’s catastrophe reinsurance program and per risk reinsurance program run on an annual basis from May 1 to the following April 30 and thus expired on April 30, 2013. RSUI placed its catastrophe reinsurance program for the 2013-2014 period, and the new program is similar to the expired program.

The new catastrophe reinsurance program provides coverage in three layers for $500.0 million of losses in excess of a $100.0 million net retention after application of the surplus share treaties, facultative reinsurance and per risk covers. The first layer provides coverage for $100.0 million of losses, before a 60.0 percent co-participation by RSUI, in excess of the $100.0 million net retention, the second layer provides coverage for $300.0 million of losses, before a 5.0 percent co-participation by RSUI, in excess of $200.0 million and the third layer provides coverage for $100.0 million of losses in excess of $500.0 million, with no co-participation by RSUI. In addition, RSUI’s property per risk reinsurance program for the 2013-2014 period provides RSUI with coverage for $90.0 million of losses, before a 10.0 percent co-participation by RSUI, in excess of a $10.0 million net retention per risk after application of the surplus share treaties and facultative reinsurance.

CATA. The increase in gross premiums written in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2013 from the corresponding 2012 periods primarily reflects growth in CATA’s property and casualty lines of business and, to a lesser extent, CATA’s surety lines of business. The increases in net premiums earned in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2013, compared with the corresponding 2012 periods, primarily reflect an increase in gross premiums written in recent quarters.

 

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The decrease in net loss and LAE in the third quarter of 2013 from the third quarter of 2012 primarily reflects the impact of prior accident year development, partially offset by the impact of higher net premiums earned. Net loss and LAE for the third quarter of 2013 reflect a $1.6 million reserve increase of prior accident year loss reserves compared with a $4.2 million net increase of prior accident year loss reserves during the third quarter of 2012. The $1.6 million reserve increase in the third quarter of 2013 relates primarily to certain casualty lines of business. The $4.2 million net reserve increase during the third quarter of 2012 relates primarily to a $5.1 million increase in prior accident year loss reserves related to writings of certain specialty classes of business through a program administrator in connection with a terminated program, or the “Terminated Program,” in the 2010 and 2009 accident years, partially offset by a decrease in prior accident year loss reserves in certain of CATA’s surety and casualty lines of business.

The decrease in net loss and LAE in the first nine months of 2013 from the first nine months of 2012 primarily reflects the impact of prior accident year development, partially offset by higher property losses from severe weather in the Midwestern United States in the first half of 2013 and the impact of higher net premiums earned. Net loss and LAE for the first nine months of 2013 reflect a $1.9 million net increase of prior accident year loss reserves compared with a $14.1 million net increase of prior accident year loss reserves during the first nine months of 2012. In addition to the $1.6 million increase of prior accident year loss reserves in the third quarter of 2013 discussed above, net loss and LAE in the first nine months of 2013 reflect a $0.3 million net increase of prior accident year loss reserves in the first six months of 2013, compared with a $9.9 million net increase of prior accident year loss reserves in the first six months of 2012. The $0.3 million increase in the first six months of 2013 relates primarily to increases in reserves related to the Terminated Program in the 2010 and 2009 accident years and to CATA’s property and workers’ compensation lines of business related to the 2010 and 2012 accident years, partially offset by a reserve release of asbestos-related illness and environmental impairment reserves. Of the $9.9 million net increase of prior accident year loss reserves in the first six months of 2012, $17.1 million relates to the Terminated Program in the 2010 and 2009 accident years, partially offset by a net decrease in prior accident year loss reserves in certain of CATA’s casualty and surety lines of business.

The decrease in CATA’s underwriting loss in the third quarter and first nine months of 2013 from the corresponding 2012 periods primarily reflects a decrease in net loss and LAE and an increase in net premiums earned, all as discussed above.

PCC. Commencing August 1, 2009, PCC ceased soliciting new or renewal business on a direct basis due to its determination that it was unable to write business at rates it deemed adequate due to the difficult state of the California workers’ compensation market. After taking steps to transition to being a brokerage carrier, PCC began writing a modest amount of new business through brokers during 2011. This business increased in 2012 and in the first nine months of 2013 as market conditions improved. PCC reported an underwriting loss of $12.8 million and $6.5 million in the third quarter of 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $25.2 million and $19.8 million in the first nine months of 2013 and 2012, respectively. The underwriting losses are primarily due to PCC’s ongoing expenses relative to comparatively low premiums earned. Underwriting losses for the third quarter of 2013 include $6.5 million increase of prior accident year loss reserves, reflecting unfavorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods.

In the second quarter of 2013, AIHL Re and PCC’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Pacific Compensation Insurance Company, or “PCIC,” entered into an intercompany reinsurance contract, effective January 1, 2013, pursuant to which AIHL Re provides PCIC with coverage for adverse development on net loss and allocated LAE in excess of PCIC’s carried reserves at December 31, 2012 and accident year stop-loss coverage for any net losses and allocated LAE in excess of 75.0 percent of net earned premiums for PCIC for accident years 2013, 2014 and 2015. AIHL Re’s commitments also are intended to cover the statutory collateral requirements at PCIC, if and when necessary. AIHL Re’s obligations are subject to an aggregate limit of $100.0 million. In connection with such intercompany reinsurance agreement, Alleghany and AIHL Re entered into a contract whereby Alleghany will guarantee the recoverable balances owed to PCIC from AIHL Re up to $100.0 million. Subsequent to the entry into the above agreements, A.M. Best Company upgraded PCIC’s rating to A- (Excellent) from B++ (Good). The above agreements had no impact on our consolidated results of operations and financial condition. From a segment reporting perspective, the financial results of AIHL Re, which are substantially attributable to its intercompany contract with PCIC, have been included in the results of PCC, with all intercompany balances eliminated.

 

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Total Reinsurance and Insurance Segments Investment Results

Following is information relating to segment investment results.

 

     Three Months Ended
September  30,
     Nine Months Ended
September  30,
 
     2013     2012      2013     2012  
     (in millions)  

Net investment income

   $ 106.1      $ 90.1       $ 295.5      $ 226.0   

Net realized capital gains

     30.8        12.4         109.5        81.2   

Other than temporary impairment losses

     (0.7     —           (41.9     (2.9

Net Investment Income. The increase in net investment income for the reinsurance and insurance segments in the third quarter of 2013 from the third quarter of 2012 is due primarily to an increase in dividend income from a larger equity securities portfolio in the third quarter of 2013 compared with the third quarter of 2012, and income from other invested assets (see “Financial Condition—Certain Other Invested Assets” herein for additional detail). The increase in net investment income for the reinsurance and insurance segments in the first nine months of 2013 from the first nine months of 2012 is due primarily to the inclusion of operations from TransRe for the entire period for the first nine months of 2013, compared with the 208 day period subsequent to the TransRe Acquisition Date for the first nine months of 2012.

Net Realized Capital Gains. Net realized capital gains in the third quarter and first nine months of 2013 and 2012 relate primarily to sales of equity securities. Net realized capital gains in the third quarter and first nine months of 2013 include a realized capital loss of $5.0 million relating to a non-cash impairment charge for certain finite-lived intangible assets at CATA.

Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses. OTTI losses for the first nine months of 2013 reflect $41.9 million of unrealized losses that were deemed to be other than temporary and, as such, were required to be charged against earnings. Upon the ultimate disposition of securities for which OTTI losses have been recorded, a portion of the loss may be recoverable depending on market conditions at the time of disposition. Of the $41.9 million of OTTI losses, $40.5 million related to equity securities, primarily in the chemical and energy sectors, and $1.4 million related to debt securities. The determination that unrealized losses on such securities were other than temporary was primarily based on the duration of the decline in fair value of such securities relative to their cost as of the balance sheet date. Of the $41.9 million of OTTI losses, $0.7 million was incurred in the third quarter of 2013.

OTTI losses for the first nine months of 2012 reflect $2.9 million of unrealized losses that were deemed to be other than temporary and, as such, were required to be charged against earnings. Of the $2.9 million of OTTI losses, $1.7 million related to equity securities, primarily in the energy sector, and $1.2 million related to debt securities. The determination that unrealized losses on such securities were other than temporary was primarily based on the duration of the decline in fair value of such securities relative to their cost as of the balance sheet date. No OTTI losses were incurred in the third quarter of 2012.

After adjusting the cost basis of securities for the recognition of OTTI losses, the remaining gross unrealized investment losses for debt and equity securities as of September 30, 2013 were deemed to be temporary, based on, among other factors: (i) the duration of time and the relative magnitude to which fair values of these securities had been below cost were not indicative of an OTTI loss (for example, no equity security was in a continuous unrealized loss position for 12 months or more as of September 30, 2013); (ii) the absence of compelling evidence that would cause us to call into question the financial condition or near-term prospects of the issuers of the securities; and (iii) our ability and intent to hold the securities for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery.

See Note 3 to the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for further details concerning gross unrealized investment losses for debt securities and equity securities as of September 30, 2013.

 

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Corporate Activities Operating Results

The operating results of corporate activities are presented below.

 

     Three Months  Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months  Ended
September 30,
 
     2013     2012     2013     2012  
     (in millions)  

Net premiums earned

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —     

Net investment income

     9.2        0.4        39.0        8.6   

Net realized capital gains (losses)

     (13.0     —          (13.9     38.6   

Other than temporary impairment losses

     —          —          —          —     

Gain on bargain purchase

     —          —          —          494.9   

Other income

     15.1        9.6        33.9        18.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     11.3        10.0        59.0        560.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss and loss adjustment expenses

     —          —          —          —     

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     —          —          —          —     

Other operating expenses

     20.0        11.1        40.0        24.0   

Corporate administration

     3.7        9.3        26.0        67.7   

Amortization of intangible assets

     —          —          —          —     

Interest expense

     9.1        9.3        27.9        18.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

   $ (21.5   $ (19.7   $ (34.9   $ 450.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The increase in loss before income taxes in the third quarter of 2013 compared with the third quarter of 2012 primarily reflects net realized capital losses, primarily from the sales of equity securities, partially offset by higher net investment income, as further explained below, and lower corporate administration expense. The lower corporate administration expense was due primarily to our determination to: (i) freeze the benefits associated with our unfunded, noncontributory defined benefit pension plan for parent-level executives, effective December 31, 2013; and (ii) terminate our retiree health plans for parent-level executives and employees, effective September 30, 2013. As a result of these decisions, we recorded a pre-tax $8.8 million reduction to corporate administration expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2013.

Corporate activities results include the results of BKI beginning April 26, 2012, and Kentucky Trailer beginning August 30, 2013.

The loss before income taxes in the first nine months of 2013 compared to significant earnings before income taxes in the first nine months of 2012 primarily reflects the absence of a gain on bargain purchase in the first nine months of 2013, which was significant in the first nine months of 2012 and, to a lesser extent, net realized capital losses in the first nine months of 2013, compared with significant net realized capital gains in the first nine months of 2012, and higher interest expense, partially offset by lower corporate administration expense in the first nine months of 2013. Net realized capital gains in the first nine months of 2012 primarily reflect gains from the sale of shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation common stock held at the parent-level. Higher interest expense is due to the issuance of senior notes by Alleghany on June 26, 2012. The lower corporate administration expense in the first nine months of 2013 is due primarily to the absence of Transaction Costs, which amounted to $33.8 million in the first nine months of 2012, and to a lesser extent, the impact of freezing and/or termination of certain parent-level plans described above.

 

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Net investment income for corporate activities includes our equity share of results in Homesite and ORX, as follows:

 

     Three Months  Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months  Ended
September 30,
 
     2013     2012     2013     2012  
     (in millions)  

Homesite

   $ 7.7      $ (2.9   $ 32.2      $ 9.5   

ORX

     (2.3     (0.9     (1.9     (4.2

Interest, dividends and other—net

     3.8        4.2        8.7        3.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

   $ 9.2      $ 0.4      $ 39.0      $ 8.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Homesite results improved in the third quarter and first nine months of 2013 compared with the third quarter and first nine months of 2012, primarily reflecting favorable development on Homesite’s loss and LAE reserves and lower weather-related claims.

Reserve Review Process

Our reinsurance and insurance operating units analyze, at least quarterly, liabilities for unpaid loss and LAE established in prior years and adjust their expected ultimate cost, where necessary, to reflect positive or negative development in loss experience and new information, including, for certain catastrophic events, revised industry estimates of the magnitude of a catastrophe. Adjustments to previously recorded liabilities for unpaid loss and LAE, both positive and negative, are reflected in our financial results in the periods in which these adjustments are made and are referred to as prior accident year loss reserve development. The following table presents the reserves established in connection with the loss and LAE of our reinsurance and insurance operating units on a gross and net basis by line of business. These reserve amounts represent the accumulation of estimates of ultimate loss (including for incurred but not reported) and LAE.

 

    As of September 30, 2013     As of December 31, 2012  
    Gross Loss and
LAE Reserves
    Reinsurance
Recoverables on
Unpaid Losses
    Net Loss and LAE
Reserves
    Gross Loss and
LAE Reserves
    Reinsurance
Recoverables on
Unpaid Losses
    Net Loss and LAE
Reserves
 
    (in millions)  

Reinsurance Segment

           

Property

  $ 1,161.1      $ (49.8   $ 1,111.3      $ 1,383.9      $ (59.5   $ 1,324.4   

Casualty & other(1)

    8,392.9        (387.5     8,005.4        8,393.9        (385.5     8,008.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    9,554.0        (437.3     9,116.7        9,777.8        (445.0     9,332.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Insurance Segment

           

Property

    443.3        (208.3     235.0        449.9        (186.1     263.8   

Casualty(2)

    1,781.1        (640.1     1,141.0        1,755.6        (654.3     1,101.3   

Workers’ Compensation

    149.3        (13.3     136.0        153.3        (13.0     140.3   

All other(3)

    155.4        (64.3     91.1        152.1        (63.6     88.5   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    2,529.1        (926.0     1,603.1        2,510.9        (917.0     1,593.9   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Eliminations

    (52.8     52.8        —          (48.9     56.1        7.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 12,030.3      $ (1,310.5   $ 10,719.8      $ 12,239.8      $ (1,305.9   $ 10,933.9   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Primarily consists of assumed: directors and officers liability; errors and omissions liability; general liability; medical malpractice; ocean marine and aviation; auto liability; accident and health; surety; asbestos-related illnesses and environmental impairment liability; and credit.
(2) Primarily consists of direct: umbrella/excess; directors and officers liability; professional liability; and general liability.
(3) Primarily consists of commercial multi-peril, surety and loss and LAE reserves for terminated lines of business and loss reserves acquired in connection with prior acquisitions for which the sellers provided loss reserve guarantees.

Changes in Gross and Net Loss and LAE Reserves between September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012

Gross and net loss and LAE reserves as of September 30, 2013 decreased from December 31, 2012, reflecting a decrease in our reinsurance segment loss and LAE reserves, partially offset by a slight increase in our insurance segment loss and LAE reserves. The decrease in gross and net loss and LAE reserves in the reinsurance segment primarily reflects the impact of decelerating net premiums

 

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earned in the first nine months of 2013, favorable development from prior accident years and payments related to catastrophic events occurring in prior years. The slight increase in gross and net loss and LAE reserves in the insurance segment primarily reflects the impact of accelerating net premiums earned in the first nine months of 2013, partially offset by the impact of property loss claims resulting from Super Storm Sandy paid by RSUI in the first nine months of 2013.

Reinsurance Recoverables

As of September 30, 2013, we had total reinsurance recoverables of $1,376.1 million, consisting of $1,310.5 million of ceded outstanding loss and LAE and $65.6 million of recoverables on paid losses. The reinsurance purchased by our reinsurance and insurance operating units does not relieve them from their obligations to their policyholders and cedants, and therefore, the financial strength of their reinsurers is important.

Information regarding concentration of our reinsurance recoverables and the ratings profile of our reinsurers as of September 30, 2013 is as follows (dollars in millions):

 

Reinsurer(1)

   Rating(2)    Amount      Percentage  

Swiss Reinsurance Company

   A+ (Superior)    $ 156.9         11.4

PartnerRe Ltd.

   A+ (Superior)      122.6         8.9   

American International Group, Inc.

   A (Excellent)      116.4         8.5   

Syndicates at Lloyd’s of London

   A (Excellent)      96.4         7.0   

Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd.

   A (Excellent)      94.1         6.8   

W.R. Berkley Corporation

   A+ (Superior)      77.2         5.6   

Chubb Corporation

   A+ (Superior)      62.8         4.6   

Ace Ltd.

   A+ (Superior)      55.4         4.0   

HCC Insurance Holdings Inc.

   A+ (Superior)      30.6         2.2   

Munich Reinsurance

   A+ (Superior)      22.8         1.7   

All other reinsurers

        540.9         39.3   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total reinsurance recoverables(3)

      $ 1,376.1         100.0
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Secured reinsurance recoverables(4)

      $ 184.3         13.4
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Reinsurance recoverables reflect amounts due from one or more reinsurance subsidiaries of the listed company.
(2) Represents the A.M. Best Company financial strength rating for the applicable reinsurance subsidiary or subsidiaries from which the reinsurance recoverable is due.
(3) Approximately 92.4 percent of our reinsurance recoverables balance as of September 30, 2013 was due from reinsurers having an A.M. Best Company financial strength rating of A (Excellent) or higher.
(4) Represents reinsurance recoverables secured by funds held, trust agreements and letters of credit.

We had no allowance for uncollectible reinsurance as of September 30, 2013.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that directly affect our reported financial condition and operating performance. More specifically, these estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We rely on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances to make judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from reported results to the extent that estimates and assumptions prove to be inaccurate.

We believe our most critical accounting estimates are those with respect to the liability for unpaid loss and LAE reserves, fair value measurements of certain financial assets, OTTI losses on investments, goodwill and other intangible assets, and reinsurance premium revenues, as they require management’s most significant exercise of judgment on both a quantitative and qualitative basis. The accounting estimates that result require the use of assumptions about certain matters that are highly uncertain at the time of estimation. To the extent actual experience differs from the assumptions used, our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows would be affected, possibly materially.

 

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Readers are encouraged to review Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Estimates” of the 2012 10-K for a more complete description of our critical accounting estimates.

Financial Condition

Parent Level

General. In general, we follow a policy of maintaining a relatively liquid financial condition at the parent company. This policy has permitted us to expand our operations through internal growth at our subsidiaries and through acquisitions of, or substantial investments in, operating companies. As of September 30, 2013, we held total marketable securities and cash of $629.2 million, compared with $731.7 million as of December 31, 2012. The decrease during the first nine months of 2013 primarily reflects investments in non-public equity securities and capital contributions to AIHL Re and ACC, partially offset by the receipt of dividends from TransRe, RSUI and CATA. The $629.2 million is comprised of $210.0 million at the parent company, $217.9 million at AIHL and $201.3 million at the TransRe holding company. We believe that we have and will have adequate internally generated funds, cash resources and unused credit facilities to provide for the currently foreseeable needs of our business, and we had no material commitments for capital expenditures as of September 30, 2013.

Stockholders’ equity attributable to Alleghany stockholders was approximately $6.7 billion as of September 30, 2013, compared with approximately $6.4 billion as of December 31, 2012. The increase in stockholders’ equity primarily reflects net earnings and an increase in unrealized appreciation on our equity securities portfolio in the first nine months of 2013, partially offset by a decrease in unrealized appreciation on our debt securities portfolio in the first nine months of 2013, reflecting a general rise in interest rates and, to a lesser extent, repurchases of our common stock. As of September 30, 2013, we had 16,766,192 shares of our common stock outstanding, compared with 16,890,623 shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2012.

Debt and Credit Agreement. As discussed in Note 8 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8 of the 2012 10-K, on September 20, 2010, we completed a public offering of $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.625% senior notes due on September 15, 2020 and, on June 26, 2012, we completed a public offering of $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 4.95% senior notes due on June 27, 2022.

On October 15, 2013, we entered into a four-year credit agreement, or the “Credit Agreement,” with certain lenders party thereto, which provides for an unsecured credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $200.0 million. The Credit Agreement is scheduled to terminate on October 15, 2017, unless earlier terminated. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement will be available for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Credit Agreement replaced our previous three-year credit agreement which provided for a two tranche revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $100 million, consisting of a secured credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million and an unsecured credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million, or the “Prior Credit Agreement.” The Prior Credit Agreement expired on September 9, 2013. There were no borrowings under the Prior Credit Agreement from its inception through its expiration.

Alternate Base Rate Borrowings under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at (x) the greatest of (a) the administrative agent’s prime rate, (b) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.5 percent, or (c) an adjusted London Interbank Offering Rate, or “Adjusted LIBO Rate,” for a one month interest period on such day plus 1 percent, plus (y) an applicable margin. Eurodollar Borrowings under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the interest period in effect plus an applicable margin. The Credit Agreement requires that all loans be repaid in full no later than October 15, 2017. The Credit Agreement requires us to pay a commitment fee each quarter in a range of between 0.125 and 0.30 percent per annum, based upon our credit ratings, on the daily unused amount of the commitments.

The Credit Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants customary for bank loan facilities of this nature. In this regard, the Credit Agreement requires us to, among other things, (x) maintain consolidated net worth of not less than the sum of (i) $4,223.9 million plus (ii) 50 percent of our cumulative consolidated net earnings in each fiscal quarter thereafter (if positive) commencing on September 30, 2013, and (y) maintain a ratio of consolidated total indebtedness to consolidated capital as of the end of each fiscal quarter of not greater than 0.35 to 1.0. Additionally, the Credit Agreement contains various negative covenants with which we must comply, including, but not limited to, limitations respecting: the creation of liens on any property or asset; the incurrence of indebtedness; mergers, consolidations, liquidations and dissolutions; change of business; sales of assets; transactions with affiliates; anti-terrorism laws and foreign asset control regulations and other provisions customary in similar types of agreements.

In addition, at any time when a default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Credit Agreement proscribes our ability to declare or pay, or permit certain of our subsidiaries to declare or pay, any dividend on, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or acquisition of, any of our stock or the stock of any such subsidiary.

 

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If an Event of Default occurs under the Credit Agreement, then, to the extent permitted in the Credit Agreement, the lenders may direct the administrative agent to, or the administrative agent may, with the consent of lenders holding more than 50 percent of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the loans, as applicable, terminate the commitments, accelerate the repayment of any outstanding loans and exercise all rights and remedies available to such lenders under the Credit Agreement and applicable law. In the case of an Event of Default that exists due to the occurrence of certain involuntary or voluntary bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization events of ours, the commitments will automatically terminate and the repayment of any outstanding loans shall be automatically accelerated.

There were no borrowings under the Credit Agreement through November 4, 2013.

Common Stock Repurchases. In October 2012, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of shares of our common stock, at such times and at prices as management determines advisable, up to an aggregate of $300.0 million. Pursuant to this authorization, in the first nine months of 2013, we repurchased an aggregate of 113,160 shares of our common stock in the open market for $40.4 million, at an average price per share of $356.92. No shares were repurchased in the third quarter of 2013.

Investments in Certain Other Invested Assets. In December 2012, TransRe obtained an ownership interest in Pillar Capital Holdings Limited, or “Pillar Holdings,” a Bermuda-based insurance asset manager focused on collateralized reinsurance and catastrophe insurance-linked securities. Additionally, TransRe invested $175.0 million and AIHL invested $25.0 million in limited partnership funds, or the “Funds,” which are managed by Pillar Holdings. In February 2013, TransRe invested an additional $25.0 million in the Funds. In July 2013, TransRe redeemed $25.0 million of its investment in the Funds. The objective of the Funds is to create portfolios with attractive risk-reward characteristics and low correlation with other asset classes, using the extensive reinsurance and capital market experience of the principals of Pillar Holdings. We have concluded that both Pillar Holdings and the Funds, which we collectively refer to as the “Pillar Investments,” represent variable interest entities and that we are not the primary beneficiary, as we do not have the ability to direct the activities that most significantly impact each entity’s economic performance. Therefore, the Pillar Investments are not consolidated and are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Our potential maximum loss is limited to our cumulative investment. As of September 30, 2013, our carrying value in the Pillar Investments, as determined under the equity method of accounting, was $213.0 million, which is reported in other invested assets on our consolidated balance sheets.

In July 2013, AIHL invested $250.0 million in Ares Management LLC, or “Ares,” a privately-held asset manager, in exchange for a 6.25 percent equity stake in Ares, with commitments to engage Ares to manage up to $1.0 billion in certain investment strategies. As of September 30, 2013, AIHL’s carrying value in the investment in Ares was $250.0 million, which is reported in other invested assets on our consolidated balance sheets.

Subsidiaries

Financial strength is also a high priority of our subsidiaries, whose assets stand behind their financial commitments to their customers and vendors. We believe that our subsidiaries have and will have adequate internally generated funds, cash resources, and unused credit facilities to provide for the currently foreseeable needs of their businesses. Our subsidiaries had no material commitments for capital expenditures as of September 30, 2013.

The obligations and cash outflow of our reinsurance and insurance operating units include claim settlements, commission expenses, administrative expenses, purchases of investments, and interest and principal payments on TransRe’s 5.75% senior notes due on December 14, 2015 and 8.00% senior notes due on November 30, 2039. In addition to premium collections, cash inflow is obtained from interest and dividend income and maturities and sales of investments. Because cash inflow from premiums is received in advance of cash outflow required to settle claims, our reinsurance and insurance operating units accumulate funds which they invest pending the need for liquidity. As the cash needs of a reinsurance or an insurance company can be unpredictable due to the uncertainty of the claims settlement process, our reinsurance and insurance operating units’ portfolios consist primarily of debt securities and short-term investments to ensure the availability of funds and maintain a sufficient amount of liquid securities.

Consolidated Investment Holdings

Investment Strategy and Holdings. Our investment strategy seeks to preserve principal and maintain liquidity while trying to maximize our risk-adjusted, after-tax rate of return. Our investment decisions are guided mainly by the nature and timing of expected liability payouts, management’s forecast of cash flows and the possibility of unexpected cash demands, for example, to satisfy claims due to catastrophe losses. Our consolidated investment portfolio currently consists mainly of highly rated and liquid debt securities and equity securities listed on national securities exchanges. The overall debt securities portfolio credit quality is measured using the lower of the Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, Moody’s Investors Services or Fitch’s Ratings rating. In this regard, the overall weighted-average credit quality rating of our debt securities portfolio as of September 30, 2013 was AA-. Although many of our debt

 

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securities, which consist predominantly of municipal bonds, are insured by third party financial guaranty insurance companies, the impact of such insurance was not significant to the debt securities credit quality rating as of September 30, 2013. As of September 30, 2013, the ratings of our debt securities portfolio were as follows (dollars in millions):

 

     Ratings as of September 30, 2013  
     AAA / Aaa     AA / Aa     A     BBB / Baa     Below
BBB / Baa
or Not-Rated*
    Total  

U.S. Government obligations

   $ —        $ 1,000.5      $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 1,000.5   

Municipal bonds

     841.6        4,029.7        1,024.4        79.2        —          5,974.9   

Foreign government obligations

     465.5        373.3        221.3        —          2.7        1,062.8   

U.S. corporate bonds

     18.1        258.6        1,024.4        849.5        22.9        2,173.5   

Foreign corporate bonds

     267.7        471.1        780.7        254.2        3.6        1,777.3   

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

            

Residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”)

     32.7        1,436.3        38.5        1.8        82.4        1,591.7   

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)

     450.7        223.1        104.5        67.4        12.8        858.5   

Other asset-backed securities

     537.4        9.3        54.0        0.9        0.3        601.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt securities

   $ 2,613.7      $ 7,801.9      $ 3,247.8      $ 1,253.0      $ 124.7      $ 15,041.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Percentage of debt securities

     17.4     51.9     21.6     8.3     0.8     100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Consists of $24.3 million of securities rated BB / Ba, $16.3 million of securities rated B, $46.3 million of securities rated CCC, $26.7 million of securities rated CC, $4.8 million of securities rates below CC and $6.3 million of not-rated securities.

Our debt securities portfolio has been designed to enable management to react to investment opportunities created by changing interest rates, prepayments, tax and credit considerations or other factors, or to circumstances that could result in a mismatch between the desired duration of debt securities and the duration of liabilities, and, as such, is classified as available-for-sale, or “AFS.”

Effective duration measures a portfolio’s sensitivity to change in interest rates. In this regard, as of September 30, 2013, our debt securities portfolio had an effective duration of approximately 4.3 years compared with 3.7 years as of December 31, 2012. The increase in duration in the first nine months of 2013 is due primarily to the increase in market interest rates, which reduces the likelihood that RMBS will be prepaid, and that municipal bonds will be called. As of September 30, 2013, approximately $4.7 billion, or 31.1 percent, of our debt securities portfolio represented securities with maturities of five years or less. See Note 3(b) to the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part I, Item 1, of this Form 10-Q for additional detail on the contractual maturities of our consolidated debt securities portfolio. We may modestly increase the proportion of our debt securities portfolio held in securities with maturities of more than five years should the yields of these securities provide, in our judgment, sufficient compensation for their increased risk. We do not believe that this strategy would reduce our ability to meet ongoing claim payments or to respond to significant catastrophe losses.

In the event paid losses accelerate beyond the ability of our reinsurance and insurance operating units to fund these paid losses from current cash balances, current operating cash flow, coupon receipts and security maturities, we would need to liquidate a portion of our investment portfolio, make capital contributions to our reinsurance and insurance operating units, and/or arrange for financing. Strains on liquidity could result from: (i) the occurrence of several significant catastrophic events in a relatively short period of time; (ii) the sale of investments into a depressed marketplace to fund these paid losses; (iii) the uncollectibility of reinsurance recoverables on these paid losses; (iv) the significant decrease in the value of collateral supporting reinsurance recoverables; or (v) a significant reduction in our net premium collections.

We may, from time to time, make significant investments in the common stock of a public company, subject to limitations imposed by applicable regulations.

On a consolidated basis, our invested assets were approximately $18.8 billion as of September 30, 2013, compared with approximately $18.3 billion as of December 31, 2012. The increase in our invested assets primarily reflects the investment of positive cash flow at our reinsurance and insurance segments and net unrealized appreciation of our equity securities portfolio during the first nine months of 2013, partially offset by net unrealized depreciation of our debt securities portfolio during the first nine months of 2013 due to a general rise in interest rates.

 

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Fair Value. The carrying values and estimated fair values of our consolidated financial instruments as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

     September 30, 2013      December 31, 2012  
     Carrying
Value
     Fair Value      Carrying
Value
     Fair Value  
     (in millions)  

Assets

  

Investments (excluding equity method investments)(1)

   $ 18,314.7       $ 18,314.7       $ 17,831.8       $ 17,831.8   

Liabilities

           

Senior Notes(2)

   $ 1,798.7       $ 1,908.8       $ 1,811.5       $ 1,946.7   

 

(1) This table includes AFS investments (debt and equity securities as well as partnership investments and non-marketable equity investments carried at fair value that are included in other invested assets). This table excludes investments accounted for using the equity method and certain loans receivable that are carried at cost, all of which are included in other invested assets. The fair value of short-term investments approximates amortized cost. The fair value of all other categories of investments is discussed below.
(2) See Note 8 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, of the 2012 10-K for additional information.

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing, able and knowledgeable market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are not adjusted for transaction costs. In addition, a three-tiered hierarchy for inputs is used in management’s determination of fair value of financial instruments that emphasizes the use of observable inputs over the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions based on the best information available under the circumstances. In assessing the appropriateness of using observable inputs in making our fair value determinations, we consider whether the market for a particular security is “active” or not based on all the relevant facts and circumstances. A market may be considered to be inactive if there are relatively few recent transactions or if there is a significant decrease in market volume. Furthermore, we consider whether observable transactions are “orderly” or not. We do not consider a transaction to be orderly if there is evidence of a forced liquidation or other distressed condition, and as such, little or no weight is given to that transaction as an indicator of fair value.

Although we are responsible for the determination of the fair value of the financial assets and the supporting methodologies and assumptions, we employ third party valuation service providers to gather, analyze and interpret market information and derive fair values based upon relevant methodologies and assumptions for individual instruments. When those providers are unable to obtain sufficient market observable information upon which to estimate the fair value for a particular security, fair value is determined either by requesting a quote, which is generally non-binding, from brokers who are knowledgeable about these securities or by employing widely accepted internal valuation models.

Valuation service providers typically obtain data about market transactions and other key valuation model inputs from multiple sources and, through the use of widely accepted internal valuation models, provide a single fair value measurement for individual securities for which a fair value has been requested under the terms of service agreements. The inputs used by the valuation service providers include, but are not limited to, market prices from recently completed transactions and transactions of comparable securities, interest rate yield curves, credit spreads, currency rates, and other market observable information, as applicable. The valuation models take into account, among other things, market observable information as of the measurement date as well as the specific attributes of the security being valued including its term, interest rate, credit rating, industry sector, and when applicable, collateral quality and other issue or issuer specific information. When market transactions or other market observable data is limited, the extent to which judgment is applied in determining fair value is greatly increased.

The three-tiered hierarchy used in management’s determination of fair value is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows:

 

   

“Level 1” - Valuations are based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that we have the ability to access for identical, unrestricted assets, and do not involve any meaningful degree of judgment. An active market is defined as a market where transactions for the financial instrument occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. Our Level 1 assets include publicly traded common stocks and mutual funds (which are included on the balance sheet in equity securities), where our valuations are based on quoted market prices.

 

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“Level 2” - Valuations are based on direct and indirect observable inputs other than quoted market prices included in Level 1. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets in active markets and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset, such as the terms of the security and market-based inputs. Terms of the security include coupon, maturity date, and any special provisions that may, for example, enable the investor, at its election, to redeem the security prior to its scheduled maturity date. Market-based inputs include interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals and current credit rating(s) of the security. Level 2 assets generally include short-term investments and most debt securities. Our Level 2 liabilities consist of the senior notes.

 

   

“Level 3” - Valuations are based on techniques that use significant inputs that are unobservable. The valuation of Level 3 assets requires the greatest degree of judgment. These measurements may be made under circumstances in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment. In making the assessment, we consider factors specific to the asset. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is classified is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Some Level 3 valuations are based entirely on non-binding broker quotes. These securities consist primarily of mortgage and asset-backed securities where reliable pool and loan level collateral information cannot be reasonably obtained. Assets classified as Level 3 principally include certain RMBS, CMBS, other asset-backed securities, partnership investments and non-marketable equity investments. See Note 1(c) to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, of the 2012 10-K for our accounting policy on fair value.

We employ specific control processes to determine the reasonableness of the fair values of our financial assets and liabilities. Our processes are designed to ensure that the values received or internally estimated are accurately recorded and that the data inputs and the valuation techniques used are appropriate, consistently applied, and that the assumptions are reasonable and consistent with the objective of determining fair value. We assess the reasonableness of individual security values received from valuation service providers through various analytical techniques. In addition, we validate the reasonableness of fair values by comparing information obtained from our valuation service providers to other third party valuation sources for selected securities. We also validate prices obtained from brokers for selected securities through reviews by those who have relevant expertise and who are independent of those charged with executing investing transactions.

In addition to such procedures, we review the reasonableness of our classification of securities within the three-tiered hierarchy to ensure that the classification is consistent with GAAP.

 

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The estimated fair values of our financial instruments measured at fair value and the level of the fair value hierarchy of inputs used as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
     (in millions)  

As of September 30, 2013

           

Equity securities:

           

Common stock(1)

   $ 2,035.2       $ —         $ —         $ 2,035.2   

Preferred stock

     —           —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     2,035.2         —           —           2,035.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities:

           

U.S. Government obligations

     —           1,000.5         —           1,000.5   

Municipal bonds

     —           5,974.9         —           5,974.9   

Foreign government obligations

     —           1,062.8         —           1,062.8   

U.S. corporate bonds

     —           2,167.9         5.6         2,173.5   

Foreign corporate bonds

     —           1,777.3         —           1,777.3   

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

RMBS(2)

     —           1,512.8         78.9         1,591.7   

CMBS

     —           782.1         76.4         858.5   

Other asset-backed securities

     —           596.9         5.0         601.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     —           14,875.2         165.9         15,041.1   

Short-term investments

     —           949.3         —           949.3   

Other invested assets (excluding equity method investments)(3)

     —           —           289.1         289.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments (excluding equity method investments)

   $ 2,035.2       $ 15,824.5       $ 455.0       $ 18,314.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Senior Notes

   $ —         $ 1,908.8       $ —         $ 1,908.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
     (in millions)  

As of December 31, 2012

           

Equity securities:

           

Common stock(1)

   $ 1,424.0       $ —         $ —         $ 1,424.0   

Preferred stock

     —           —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     1,424.0         —           —           1,424.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities:

           

U.S. Government obligations

     —           522.9         —           522.9   

Municipal bonds

     —           6,304.1         —           6,304.1   

Foreign government obligations

     —           816.0         —           816.0   

U.S. corporate bonds

     —           3,485.3         30.4         3,515.7   

Foreign corporate bonds

     —           2,198.5         —           2,198.5   

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

RMBS(2)

     —           1,602.9         59.6         1,662.5   

CMBS

     —           434.0         76.1         510.1   

Other asset-backed securities

     —           463.8         5.9         469.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     —           15,827.5         172.0         15,999.5   

Short-term investments

     —           366.0         —           366.0   

Other invested assets (excluding equity method investments)(3)

     —           —           42.3         42.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments (excluding equity method investments)

   $ 1,424.0       $ 16,193.5       $ 214.3       $ 17,831.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Senior Notes

   $ —         $ 1,946.7       $ —         $ 1,946.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Of the $2,035.2 million and $1,424.0 million of fair value as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, $347.3 million and $542.2 million, respectively, related to certain energy sector businesses.
(2) Primarily includes government agency pass-through securities guaranteed by a government agency or government sponsored enterprise, among other types of RMBS.
(3) Includes partnership and non-marketable equity investments accounted for on an AFS basis.

 

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European securities. The following table provides a breakdown of the fair value, net unrealized gains (losses) and the average rating of our debt securities from governments and companies in Europe as of September 30, 2013:

 

     Fair Value      Net Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
    Average Rating
     (in millions)      

United Kingdom

       

Foreign government

   $ 191.4       $ (0.7   AA / Aa

Foreign corporate-financial

     142.1         4.4      A

Foreign corporate-non-financial

     179.6         2.4      A

Asset-backed

     92.9         6.3      A
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total United Kingdom

   $ 606.0       $ 12.4     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Netherlands

       

Foreign government

   $ 18.7       $ 0.2      AAA / Aaa

Foreign corporate-financial

     106.3         2.4      AA / Aa

Foreign corporate-non-financial

     127.8         2.1      A

Asset-backed

     3.5         0.1      A
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total Netherlands

   $ 256.3       $ 4.8     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

France

       

Foreign government

   $ 65.8       $ 2.1      AA / Aa

Foreign corporate-financial

     63.4         2.3      A

Foreign corporate-non-financial

     140.7         1.4      A

Asset-backed

     0.9         —        AAA / Aaa
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total France

   $ 270.8       $ 5.8     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Germany

       

Foreign government

   $ 149.2       $ 1.2      AAA / Aaa

Foreign corporate-financial

     94.5         1.2      AA / Aa

Foreign corporate-non-financial

     18.2         —        BBB / Baa

Asset-backed

     0.8         —        AAA / Aaa
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total Germany

   $ 262.7       $ 2.4     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Spain

       

Foreign corporate-financial

   $ 2.8       $ 0.1      BBB / Baa

Foreign corporate-non-financial

     7.5         0.3      BBB / Baa
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total Spain

   $ 10.3       $ 0.4     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Italy

       

Foreign corporate-financial

   $ 2.7       $ —        BBB / Baa

Foreign corporate-non-financial

     3.9         0.1      BBB / Baa
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total Italy

   $ 6.6       $ 0.1     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Ireland

       

Foreign corporate-financial

   $ 4.4       $ —        A

Foreign corporate-non-financial

     8.0       $ 0.1      BBB / Baa
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total Ireland

   $ 12.4       $ 0.1     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Other*

       

Supranational

   $ 90.1       $ 2.4      AA / Aa

Foreign government

     11.5         (0.2   BBB / Baa

Foreign corporate-financial

     148.7         3.8      AA / Aa

Foreign corporate-non-financial

     91.7         1.2      A

Asset-backed

     0.7         —        AAA / Aaa
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total Other

   $ 342.7       $ 7.2     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

* Includes Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

 

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Municipal Bonds. The following table provides the fair value of our municipal bonds as of September 30, 2013, categorized by state and revenue source. Special revenue bonds are debt securities for which the payment of principal and interest is available solely from the cash flows of the related projects. As issuers of revenue bonds do not have the ability to draw from tax revenues or levy taxes to fund obligations, revenue bonds may carry a greater risk of default than general obligation bonds.

 

     Special Revenue                

State

   Education      Hospital      Housing      Lease
Revenue
     Special
Tax
     Transit      Utilities      All Other
Sources
     Total Special
Revenue
     Total General
Obligation
     Total Fair
Value
 
     (in millions)  

Texas

   $ 40.5       $ —         $ —         $ —         $ 27.8       $ 107.1       $ 104.0       $ —         $ 279.4       $ 277.3       $ 556.7   

New York

     21.4         —           4.8         —           47.8         134.4         110.2         76.3         394.9         33.2         428.1   

California

     15.8         26.6         —           33.1         5.2         44.5         78.4         6.7         210.3         180.0         390.3   

Massachusetts

     17.1         24.2         3.7         —           30.2         58.6         7.8         5.9         147.5         128.7         276.2   

North Carolina

     18.3         28.6         6.0         4.2         —           0.6         24.1         21.1         102.9         129.0         231.9   

Missouri

     4.5         71.5         3.8         —           14.6         32.7         41.7         33.4         202.2         6.8         209.0   

Arizona

     1.7         25.8         —           —           39.1         5.6         124.6         —           196.8         —           196.8   

Illinois

     14.4         30.3         1.8         —           20.3         59.8         11.1         10.3         148.0         25.3         173.3   

Ohio

     42.3         5.0         3.4         2.5         —           —           68.1         —           121.3         30.5         151.8   

Connecticut

     4.7         —           —           —           54.8         7.4         —           —           66.9         84.4         151.3   

All other states

     169.2         21.8         91.1         204.8         130.6         373.5         271.6         117.2         1,379.8         601.8         1,981.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 349.9       $ 233.8       $ 114.6       $ 244.6       $ 370.4       $ 824.2       $ 841.6       $ 270.9       $ 3,250.0       $ 1,497.0         4,747.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total advance refunded / escrowed maturity bonds

  

              1,227.9   
                                

 

 

 

Total municipal bonds

  

            $ 5,974.9   
                                

 

 

 

Recent Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the “FASB,” issued guidance on the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income includes gains and losses that are initially excluded from net earnings for a given period, and later reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into net earnings. This guidance requires companies to disclose information about reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income in one place. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012. We adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2013, and the implementation did not have an impact on our results of operations and financial condition. See Note 6(b) to the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part I, Item 1, of this Form 10-Q.

In December 2011, the FASB issued guidance on disclosure requirements related to offsetting arrangements. The guidance provides for additional financial statement disclosure regarding offsetting and related arrangements to enable financial statement users to understand the effect of those arrangements on an entity’s financial position. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. We adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2013, and the implementation did not have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

Market risk is the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and rates, such as interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices. The primary market risk related to our financial instruments is the risk of loss associated with adverse changes in interest rates. We also invest in equity securities which are subject to fluctuations in market value, and purchase debt securities with fixed maturities that expose us to risks related to adverse changes in interest rates. We hold our equity securities and debt securities as AFS. Any changes in the fair value in these securities, net of tax, would be recorded as a component of other comprehensive income. However, if a decline in fair value relative to cost is believed to be other than temporary, a loss is generally recorded on our statement of earnings. In addition, significant portions of our assets (principally investments) and liabilities (principally loss and LAE and unearned premiums) are exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The net change in the carrying value of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income.

The sensitivity analyses presented below provide only a limited, point-in-time view of the market risk of our financial instruments. The actual impact of changes in equity market prices, market interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates may differ significantly from those shown in these sensitivity analyses. The sensitivity analyses are further limited because they do not consider any actions we could take in response to actual and/or anticipated changes in equity market prices, market interest rates, or foreign currency exchange rates. In addition, these sensitivity analyses do not provide weight to risks relating to market issues such as liquidity and the credit worthiness of investments.

 

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Equity Securities. The table below summarizes our equity market price risk and reflects the effect of a hypothetical increase or decrease in market prices as of September 30, 2013 on the estimated fair value of our consolidated equity securities portfolio. The selected hypothetical price changes do not reflect what could be the potential best or worst case scenarios.

 

As of September 30, 2013

(dollars in millions)

Estimated

Fair Value

   Hypothetical
Price Change
  Estimated Fair Value
After Hypothetical
Change in Price
   Hypothetical Percentage
Increase (Decrease) in
Stockholders’ Equity
$2,035.2    20% Increase   $2,442.2     3.9%
   20% Decrease     1,628.2    -3.9%

Debt Securities and Senior Notes. The primary market risk for our and our subsidiaries’ debt securities is interest rate risk at the time of refinancing. We monitor the interest rate environment to evaluate reinvestment and refinancing opportunities. We generally do not use derivatives to manage market and interest rate risks. The table below presents sensitivity analyses as of September 30, 2013 of our (i) consolidated debt securities and (ii) senior notes, which are sensitive to changes in interest rates. Sensitivity analysis is defined as the measurement of potential change in future earnings, fair values, or cash flows of market sensitive instruments resulting from one or more selected hypothetical changes in interest rates over a selected time period. In the sensitivity analysis model below, we use a +/- 300 basis point range of change in interest rates to measure the hypothetical change in fair value of the financial instruments included in the analysis. The change in fair value is determined by calculating hypothetical September 30, 2013 ending prices based on yields adjusted to reflect a +/- 300 basis point range of change in interest rates, comparing these hypothetical ending prices to actual ending prices, and multiplying the difference by the par outstanding. The selected hypothetical changes in interest rates do not reflect what could be the potential best or worst case scenarios.

 

Interest Rate Shifts

   -300      -200      -100      0      100     200     300  
     (dollars in millions)  

Assets:

                  

Debt securities, fair value

   $ 16,106.0       $ 15,949.6       $ 15,597.6       $ 15,041.1       $ 14,392.8      $ 13,759.6      $ 13,161.0   

Estimated change in fair value

   $ 1,064.9       $ 908.5       $ 556.5       $ —         $ (648.3   $ (1,281.5   $ (1,880.1

Liabilities:

                  

Senior Notes, fair value

   $ 2,264.9       $ 2,125.8       $ 2,005.6       $ 1,908.8       $ 1,786.8      $ 1,695.0      $ 1,612.6   

Estimated change in fair value

   $ 356.1       $ 217.0       $ 96.8       $ —         $ (122.0   $ (213.8   $ (296.2

Partnership Investments. In addition to debt securities and equity securities, we invest in several partnerships which are subject to fluctuations in market value. Our partnership investments are included in other invested assets and are accounted for as AFS or using the equity method, and had a carrying value of $268.7 million as of September 30, 2013.

 

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Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk. Foreign currency exchange rate risk is the potential change in value arising from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Our reinsurance operations located in foreign countries maintain some or all of their capital in their local currency, and conduct business in their local currency, as well as the currencies of the other countries in which they operate. Prior to the merger, we did not have any material assets or liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. The table below summarizes our foreign currency exchange rate risk and shows the effect of a hypothetical increase or decrease in foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar as of September 30, 2013 on the estimated net carrying value of our foreign currency denominated assets, net of our foreign currency denominated liabilities. The selected hypothetical changes do not reflect what could be the potential best or worst case scenarios.

 

As of September 30, 2013

(dollars in millions)

Estimated

Fair Value

   Hypothetical
Price Change
  Estimated Fair Value
After Hypothetical
Change in Price
   Hypothetical Percentage
Increase (Decrease) in
Stockholders’ Equity
$118.6*    20% Increase   $142.3     0.2%
   20% Decrease       94.9    -0.2%

 

* Denotes a net asset position as of September 30, 2013.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer, or “CEO,” and our chief financial officer, or “CFO,” of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act.” Based on that evaluation, our management, including our CEO and CFO, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of that date to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized, and timely reported as specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our disclosure controls and procedures were designed to provide such assurance; however, we note that the design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and we cannot assure you that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions, regardless of how remote.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

No changes occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2013 in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

Our subsidiaries are parties to pending litigation and claims in connection with the ordinary course of their businesses. Each such subsidiary makes provisions for estimated losses to be incurred in such litigation and claims, including legal costs. We believe such provisions are adequate and do not believe that any pending litigation will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows. See Note 12(a) to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, of the 2012 10-K.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

There are no material changes from the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of the 2012 10-K. Please refer to that section for disclosures regarding what we believe are the more significant risks and uncertainties related to our businesses.

 

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

(c) Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

There were no common stock repurchases for the three months ended September 30, 2013.

 

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Table of Contents

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number
   Description
  31.1    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15(d)-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
  31.2    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15(d)-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
  32.1    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” as a part of this Form 10-Q.
  32.2    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” as a part of this Form 10-Q.
101.1    Interactive Data Files formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012; and (iv) Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  ALLEGHANY CORPORATION
  Registrant
Date: November 4, 2013   By:  

/s/ John L. Sennott, Jr.

    John L. Sennott, Jr.
   

Senior Vice President and chief financial officer

(principal financial officer)

 

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Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number
   Description
  31.1    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15(d)-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
  31.2    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15(d)-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
  32.1    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” as a part of this Form 10-Q.
  32.2    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” as a part of this Form 10-Q.
101.1    Interactive Data Files formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012; and (iv) Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

55