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ALLEGHANY CORP /DE - Quarter Report: 2014 March (Form 10-Q)

Form 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 MARCH 31, 2014

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.

16,464,233 SHARES, PAR VALUE $1.00 PER SHARE, AS OF APRIL 30, 2014

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

            Page    

 

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

 

ITEM 1.

  

Financial Statements

     1   
  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2014 (unaudited) and December 31, 2013

     1   
  

 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (unaudited)

     2   
  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (unaudited)

     3   
  

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

     4   

ITEM 2.

  

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

     18   

ITEM 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

     35   

ITEM 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

     37   
PART II OTHER INFORMATION   

ITEM 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

     37   

ITEM 1A.

  

Risk Factors

     37   

ITEM 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     37   

ITEM 4.

  

Mine Safety Disclosures

     37   

ITEM 6.

  

Exhibits

     38   

SIGNATURES

     39   

EXHIBIT INDEX

     40   


Table of Contents

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

ALLEGHANY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

             March 31,        
2014
           December 31,      
2013
 
          (unaudited)         
    

 

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

Assets

     

Investments:

     

Available-for-sale securities at fair value:

     

Equity securities (cost: 2014 – $2,265,027; 2013 – $1,804,698)

     $ 2,637,802           $ 2,229,453     

Debt securities (amortized cost: 2014 – $14,682,684; 2013 – $14,875,750)

     14,802,122           14,802,890     

Short-term investments

     926,674           1,317,895     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     18,366,598           18,350,238     

Other invested assets

     619,674           641,924     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments

     18,986,272           18,992,162     

Cash

     481,414           498,315     

Accrued investment income

     141,820           146,381     

Premium balances receivable

     788,260           675,255     

Reinsurance recoverables

     1,354,229           1,363,707     

Ceded unearned premiums

     185,159           173,148     

Deferred acquisition costs

     358,398           334,740     

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

     67,777           58,974     

Goodwill

     99,747           99,747     

Intangible assets, net of amortization

     129,145           127,284     

Current taxes receivable

     25,644           13,049     

Net deferred tax assets

     412,697           469,787     

Other assets

     463,774           408,539     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     $ 23,494,336           $ 23,361,088     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

     

Loss and loss adjustment expenses

     $ 11,864,719           $ 11,952,541     

Unearned premiums

     1,857,948           1,765,550     

Senior Notes

     1,790,041           1,794,407     

Reinsurance payable

     107,402           90,562     

Other liabilities

     736,147           810,507     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     16,356,257           16,413,567     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Common stock (shares authorized: 2014 and 2013 – 22,000,000; shares issued: 2014 –17,459,961; 2013 – 17,459,961)

     17,460           17,460     

Contributed capital

     3,611,300           3,613,151     

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     279,049           186,930     

Treasury stock, at cost (2014 – 924,370 shares; 2013 – 693,769 shares)

     (304,760)          (213,911)    

Retained earnings

     3,525,007           3,320,127     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Alleghany stockholders

     7,128,056           6,923,757     

Noncontrolling interest

     10,023           23,764     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     7,138,079           6,947,521     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

     $     23,494,336           $     23,361,088     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

ALLEGHANY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income

(unaudited)

 

                 Three Months Ended March 31,               
     2014      2013  
     (in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Revenues

     

Net premiums earned

     $     1,053,997           $     1,075,013     

Net investment income

     110,583           118,811     

Net realized capital gains

     96,836           50,902     

Other than temporary impairment losses

     (5,220)          (32,312)    

Other income

     30,446           11,141     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

     1,286,642           1,223,555     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Costs and Expenses

     

Net loss and loss adjustment expenses

     611,159           567,413     

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     324,236           326,227     

Other operating expenses

     53,342           30,738     

Corporate administration

     9,632           12,422     

Amortization of intangible assets

     (1,861)          11,630     

Interest expense

     21,811           21,736     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

     1,018,319           970,166     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

     268,323           253,389     

Income taxes

     63,682           57,095     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net earnings

     204,641           196,294     

Net losses attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (239)          -     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to Alleghany stockholders

     $ 204,880           $ 196,294     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net earnings

     $ 204,641           $ 196,294     

Other comprehensive income:

     

Change in unrealized gains, net of deferred taxes of $81,364 and $45,877 for 2014 and 2013, respectively

     151,104           85,200     

Less: reclassification for net realized capital gains and other than temporary impairment losses, net of taxes of ($32,066) and ($6,507) for 2014 and 2013, respectively

     (59,550)          (12,084)    

Change in unrealized currency translation adjustment, net of deferred taxes of $233 and ($5,366) for 2014 and 2013, respectively

     432           (9,966)    

Retirement plans

     133           (154)    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

     296,760           259,290     

Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (239)          -     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to Alleghany stockholders

     $ 296,999           $ 259,290     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share attributable to Alleghany stockholders

     $ 12.28           $ 11.67     

Diluted earnings per share attributable to Alleghany stockholders

     12.28           11.67     

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ALLEGHANY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

 

           Three Months Ended March 31,        
     2014      2013  
     (in thousands)  

Cash flows from operating activities

     

Net earnings

     $ 204,641           $ 196,294     

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

     

Depreciation and amortization

     34,406           65,199     

Net realized capital (gains) losses

     (96,836)          (50,902)    

Other than temporary impairment losses

     5,220           32,312     

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

     26,318           50,668     

(Increase) decrease in premium balances receivable

     (113,005)          (87,487)    

(Increase) decrease in ceded unearned premiums

     (12,011)          (14,029)    

(Increase) decrease in deferred acquisition costs

     (23,658)          (17,960)    

Increase (decrease) in unearned premiums

     92,398           18,338     

Increase (decrease) in loss and loss adjustment expenses

     (87,822)          (188,267)    

Change in unrealized foreign exchange (losses) gains

     (18,543)          78,955     

Other, net

     (126,845)          67,433     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net adjustments

     (320,378)          (45,740)    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     (115,737)          150,554     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

     

Purchases of debt securities

     (1,744,739)          (1,903,342)    

Purchases of equity securities

     (704,290)          (1,376,991)    

Sales of debt securities

     1,668,560           2,178,552     

Maturities and redemptions of debt securities

     244,451           432,542     

Sales of equity securities

     314,160           863,175     

Net (purchase) sale in short-term investments

     418,649           (372,447)    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (12,019)          (1,557)    

Other, net

     (1,499)          20,439     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     183,273           (159,629)    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

     

Treasury stock acquisitions

     (94,642)          (31,576)    

Other, net

     8,929           (8,735)    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (85,713)          (40,311)    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     1,276           (25,259)    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash

     (16,901)          (74,645)    

Cash at beginning of period

     498,315           649,524     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash at end of period

     $ 481,414           $ 574,879     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information

     

Cash paid during the period for:

     

Interest paid

     $ 8,580           $ 8,438     

Income taxes paid (refunds received)

     71,106           (45,366)    

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, 2013 (the “2013 10-K”) of Alleghany Corporation (“Alleghany”), a Delaware corporation. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “Alleghany” include Alleghany together with its subsidiaries.

Alleghany owns and manages operating subsidiaries and investments, anchored by a core position in property and casualty reinsurance and insurance. Alleghany was incorporated in 1984 under the laws of the State of Delaware and in December 1986, it succeeded to the business of its parent company, Alleghany Corporation, which was incorporated in 1929. Prior to March 6, 2012, Alleghany was primarily engaged, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Alleghany Insurance Holdings LLC (“AIHL”) and its subsidiaries, in the property and casualty insurance business. AIHL’s insurance operations are principally conducted by its subsidiaries RSUI Group, Inc. (“RSUI”), Capitol Transamerica Corporation (“Capitol”), and Pacific Compensation Corporation (“PCC”). Capitol 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 LLC (“AIHL Re”) has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alleghany since its formation in 2006. AIHL Re is a captive reinsurance company which provides reinsurance to our insurance operating subsidiaries and affiliates. On March 6, 2012, Alleghany consummated a merger transaction with Transatlantic Holdings, Inc. (“TransRe”), at which time TransRe became one of Alleghany’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, and Alleghany’s reinsurance operations commenced. Alleghany’s public equity investments, including those held by TransRe’s and AIHL’s operating subsidiaries, are managed primarily by Alleghany’s wholly-owned subsidiary Roundwood Asset Management LLC (“Roundwood”).

Although Alleghany’s primary sources of revenues and earnings are its reinsurance and insurance operations and investments, it also conducts other activities. Alleghany manages, sources, executes and monitors its private capital investments primarily through its wholly-owned subsidiary Alleghany Capital Corporation (“ACC”). ACC’s private capital investments include: (i) Stranded Oil Resources Corporation (“SORC”), an exploration and production company focused on enhanced oil recovery, headquartered in Austin, Texas; (ii) Bourn & Koch, Inc. (“BKI”), a manufacturer and remanufacturer/retrofitter of precision machine tools and supplier of replacement parts, headquartered in Rockford, Illinois; (iii) 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; and (iv) an approximately 39 percent equity interest in ORX Exploration, Inc. (“ORX”), a regional oil and gas exploration and production company, headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Alleghany also owns and manages properties in the Sacramento, California region through its wholly-owned subsidiary Alleghany Properties Holdings LLC (“Alleghany Properties”).

Alleghany owned a minority stake in Homesite Group Incorporated (“Homesite”), a national, full-service, mono-line provider of homeowners insurance, until its sale to American Family Insurance Company, a Wisconsin-based mutual insurance company, on December 31, 2013.

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 subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”). All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The results of Kentucky Trailer have been included in Alleghany’s consolidated financial statements 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

 

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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 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 10-K.

(c) Recent Accounting Standards

Future Application of Accounting Standards

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued guidance that changed the criteria for reporting discontinued operations. Under the new guidance, only disposals that represent a strategic shift in operations would qualify as discontinued operations. In addition, the new guidance requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2015. Alleghany will adopt this guidance in the 2015 first quarter, and Alleghany does not currently believe that the implementation will have an impact on its results of operations and financial condition.

 

2. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying values and estimated fair values of Alleghany’s consolidated financial instruments as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

     March 31, 2014      December 31, 2013  
     Carrying
Value
     Fair Value      Carrying
Value
     Fair Value  
Assets   

 

(in millions)

 

Investments (excluding equity method investments)(1)

     $     18,633.8          $     18,633.8          $     18,632.2          $     18,632.2    

Liabilities

           

Senior Notes(2)

     $ 1,790.0          $ 1,934.8          $ 1,794.4          $ 1,887.7    

 

(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. Fair value for all other categories of investments is discussed in Note 1(c) to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 10-K.
(2) See Note 8 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 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 March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
     (in millions)  

As of March 31, 2014

           

Equity securities:

           

Common stock

    $ 2,637.8         $ -           $ -           $ 2,637.8    

Preferred stock

     -            -            -            -      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     2,637.8          -            -            2,637.8    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities:

           

U.S. Government obligations

     -            826.0          -            826.0    

Municipal bonds

     -            5,610.9          -            5,610.9    

Foreign government obligations

     -            948.4          -            948.4    

U.S. corporate bonds

     -            2,357.4          34.8          2,392.2    

Foreign corporate bonds

     -            1,731.0          1.2          1,732.2    

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

Residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”)(1)

     -            1,274.8          77.9          1,352.7    

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)

     -            921.3          60.6          981.9    

Other asset-backed securities

     -            336.6          621.2          957.8    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     -            14,006.4          795.7          14,802.1    

Short-term investments

     -            926.7          -            926.7    

Other invested assets(2)

     -            -            267.2          267.2    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments (excluding equity method investments)

    $     2,637.8         $     14,933.1         $     1,062.9         $     18,633.8    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Senior Notes

    $ -            $ 1,934.8         $ -            $ 1,934.8    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
     (in millions)  

As of December 31, 2013

           

Equity securities:

           

Common stock

    $ 2,229.4         $ -           $ -           $ 2,229.4    

Preferred stock

     -            -            -            -      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     2,229.4          -            -            2,229.4    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities:

           

U.S. Government obligations

     -            955.0          -            955.0    

Municipal bonds

     -            5,590.1          -            5,590.1    

Foreign government obligations

     -            975.4          -            975.4    

U.S. corporate bonds

     -            2,285.4          27.5          2,312.9    

Foreign corporate bonds

     -            1,830.7          1.0          1,831.7    

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

RMBS(1)

     -            1,469.0          78.8          1,547.8    

CMBS

     -            824.8          60.8          885.6    

Other asset-backed securities

     -            446.0          258.4          704.4    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     -            14,376.4          426.5          14,802.9    

Short-term investments

     -            1,317.9          -            1,317.9    

Other invested assets(2)

     -            -            282.0          282.0    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments (excluding equity method investments)

    $ 2,229.4         $     15,694.3         $     708.5         $     18,632.2    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Senior Notes

    $ -           $ 1,887.7         $ -           $ 1,887.7    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Primarily includes government agency pass-through securities guaranteed by a government agency or government sponsored enterprise, among other types of RMBS.
(2) Includes partnership and non-marketable equity investments accounted for on an AFS basis, and excludes investments accounted for using the equity method and certain loans receivable that are carried at cost.

 

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In the three months ended March 31, 2014, there were transfers totaling $35.0 million of primarily other asset-backed securities (specifically, collateralized loan obligations) out of Level 2 into Level 3 that were principally due to a decrease in observable inputs related to the valuation of such securities. There were no other significant transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 in the three months ended March 31, 2014. There were no transfers among Levels 1, 2 or 3 in the three months ended March 31, 2013.

The following tables present reconciliations of the changes during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 in Level 3 assets measured at fair value:

 

    Debt Securities              
                Mortgage and asset-backed              

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

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

Balance as of January 1, 2014

    $ 27.5          $ 1.0          $ 78.8          $ 60.8          $     258.4          $ 282.0          $ 708.5     

Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in:

             

Net earnings(2)

    -             -             1.0          (0.1)         0.2          (0.1)         1.0     

Other comprehensive income

    0.1          -             0.3          (0.6)         0.6          0.3          0.7     

Purchases

    8.1          1.3          -             14.0          335.4          -             358.8     

Sales

    (7.6)         (1.1)         -             (1.0)         (0.2)         -             (9.9)    

Issuances

    -             -             -             -             -             -             -        

Settlements

    0.8          -             (2.2)         (12.5)         (2.3)         (9.8)         (26.0)    

Transfers into Level 3

    5.9          -             -             -             29.1          -             35.0     

Transfers out of Level 3

    -             -             -             -             -             (5.2)         (5.2)    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of March 31, 2014

    $     34.8          $     1.2          $     77.9          $     60.6          $ 621.2          $     267.2          $     1,062.9     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    Debt Securities              
                Mortgage and asset-backed              

Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

  U.S. Corporate
Bonds
    Foreign
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          -             (0.8)         (0.2)         0.1          -             (0.6)    

Other comprehensive income

    (0.4)         -             5.2          (1.0)         (0.4)         0.6          4.0     

Purchases

    -             -             -             -             -             100.0          100.0     

Sales

    (23.8)         -             -             -             -             -             (23.8)    

Issuances

    -             -             -             -             -             -             -        

Settlements

    (0.4)         -             (2.1)         (1.0)         (1.5)         -             (5.0)    

Transfers into Level 3

    -             -             -             -             -             -             -        

Transfers out of Level 3

    -             -             -             -             -             -             -        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of March 31, 2013

    $ 6.1          $     -             $     61.9          $     73.9          $ 4.1          $     142.9          $ 288.9     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(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 March 31, 2014 and 2013.

Net unrealized losses related to Level 3 investments as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were not material.

See Note 1(c) to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 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 March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are summarized as follows:

 

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

As of March 31, 2014

           

Equity securities:

           

Common stock

     $ 2,265.0          $ 382.2          $ (9.4)          $ 2,637.8    

Preferred stock

     -            -            -             -      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     2,265.0          382.2          (9.4)          2,637.8    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities:

           

U.S. Government obligations

     807.0          22.3          (3.3)          826.0    

Municipal bonds

     5,583.5          81.5          (54.1)          5,610.9    

Foreign government obligations

     943.3          8.0          (2.9)          948.4    

U.S. corporate bonds

     2,366.5          39.0          (13.3)          2,392.2    

Foreign corporate bonds

     1,699.7          34.0          (1.5)          1,732.2    

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

RMBS

     1,354.9          34.7          (36.9)          1,352.7    

CMBS

     971.2          15.1          (4.4)          981.9    

Other asset-backed securities

     956.6          2.9          (1.7)          957.8    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     14,682.7          237.5          (118.1)          14,802.1    

Short-term investments

     926.7          -            -             926.7    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     $ 17,874.4          $ 619.7          $ (127.5)          $ 18,366.6    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

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

As of December 31, 2013

           

Equity securities:

           

Common stock

     $ 1,804.7          $     426.6          $ (1.9)         $      2,229.4    

Preferred stock

     -            -            -            -      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     1,804.7          426.6          (1.9)         2,229.4    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities:

           

U.S. Government obligations

     982.1          3.0          (30.1)         955.0    

Municipal bonds

     5,650.5          51.7          (112.1)         5,590.1    

Foreign government obligations

     979.3          4.6          (8.5)         975.4    

U.S. corporate bonds

     2,307.2          29.4          (23.7)         2,312.9    

Foreign corporate bonds

     1,810.6          27.0          (5.9)         1,831.7    

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

RMBS

     1,559.5          36.1          (47.8)         1,547.8    

CMBS

     881.6          12.8          (8.8)         885.6    

Other asset-backed securities

     705.0          1.7          (2.3)         704.4    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     14,875.8          166.3          (239.2)         14,802.9    

Short-term investments

     1,317.9          -            -            1,317.9    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     $     17,998.4          $ 592.9          $     (241.1)         $ 18,350.2    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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(b) Contractual Maturity

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities as of March 31, 2014 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

     $ 926.7           $ 926.7     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Mortgage and asset-backed securities(1)

     3,282.7           3,292.4     

Debt securities with maturity dates:

     

One year or less

     568.4           573.0     

Over one through five years

     3,557.9           3,599.6     

Over five through ten years

     3,550.3           3,588.6     

Over ten years

     3,723.4           3,748.5     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     14,682.7           14,802.1     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity securities

     2,265.0           2,637.8     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     $ 17,874.4           $ 18,366.6     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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

(c) Net Investment Income

Net investment income in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:

 

                                                 
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014      2013  
     (in millions)  

Interest income

     $ 95.3           $ 83.5     

Dividend income

     13.6           15.1     

Investment expenses

     (7.0)          (5.0)    

Equity results of Homesite(1)

     -             21.4     

Equity results of ORX

     0.4           0.7     

Equity results of Pillar Investments(2)

     3.9           1.6     

Investment in Ares(2)

     0.1           -       

Other investment results

     4.3           1.5     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     $ 110.6           $ 118.8     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Homesite was sold on December 31, 2013.
(2) See Note 3(g) for discussion of the Pillar Investments and the investment in Ares.

As of March 31, 2014, non-income producing invested assets were insignificant.

(d) Realized Gains and Losses

The proceeds from sales of AFS securities were $2.0 billion and $3.0 billion in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

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Realized capital gains and losses in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 arose primarily from the sales of equity securities. The amounts of gross realized capital gains and gross realized capital losses were as follows:

 

                                     
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014      2013  
     (in millions)  

Gross realized capital gains

     $ 107.7           $ 61.7     

Gross realized capital losses

     (10.9)          (10.8)    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net realized capital gains

     $ 96.8           $ 50.9     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

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.

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

 

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Table of Contents

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 in the first three months of 2014 reflect $5.2 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 the 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. All of the $5.2 million of OTTI losses related to equity securities in the mining and technology sectors. The determination that unrealized losses on such securities were other than temporary was primarily based on the fact that Alleghany lacked the intent to hold the equity securities for a period of time sufficient to allow for an anticipated recovery.

OTTI losses in the first three months of 2013 reflect $32.3 million of unrealized losses that were deemed to be other than temporary and, as such, were required to be charged against earnings. Of the $32.3 million of OTTI losses, $31.9 million related to the equity securities of a single issuer in the chemical sector, and $0.4 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.

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 March 31, 2014 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 March 31, 2014); (ii) the absence of compelling evidence that would cause Alleghany to call into question the financial condition or near-term business 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.

(f) Aging of Gross Unrealized Losses

As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, 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 March 31, 2014

           

Equity securities:

           

Common stock

    $ 256.4          $ 9.4          $ -             $ -             $ 256.4          $ 9.4     

Preferred stock

    -            -            -            -            -            -       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

    256.4          9.4          -            -            256.4          9.4     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt securities:

           

U.S. Government obligations

    145.3          2.9          4.9          0.4          150.2          3.3     

Municipal bonds

    1,286.4          35.9          253.2          18.2          1,539.6          54.1     

Foreign government obligations

    285.2          2.6          8.9          0.3          294.1          2.9     

U.S. corporate bonds

    560.5          11.3          36.6          2.0          597.1          13.3     

Foreign corporate bonds

    175.3          1.4          1.5          0.1          176.8          1.5     

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

RMBS

    538.4          19.4          329.2          17.5          867.6          36.9     

CMBS

    207.8          4.1          26.4          0.3          234.2          4.4     

Other asset-backed securities

    453.9          1.7          7.5          -            461.4          1.7     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt securities

    3,652.8          79.3          668.2          38.8          4,321.0          118.1     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total temporarily impaired securities

    $ 3,909.2          $ 88.7          $ 668.2          $ 38.8          $ 4,577.4          $ 127.5     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents
                                                                                                     
    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, 2013

           

Equity securities:

           

Common stock

    $ 148.7          $ 1.9          $ -              $ -              $ 148.7          $ 1.9     

Preferred stock

    -            -            -            -            -            -       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

    148.7          1.9          -            -            148.7          1.9     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt securities:

           

U.S. Government obligations

    698.9          29.6          4.8          0.5          703.7          30.1     

Municipal bonds

    2,426.2          105.2          117.8          6.9          2,544.0          112.1     

Foreign government obligations

    625.6          8.2          8.8          0.3          634.4          8.5     

U.S. corporate bonds

    920.0          21.1          34.2          2.6          954.2          23.7     

Foreign corporate bonds

    528.3          5.8          4.9          0.1          533.2          5.9     

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

RMBS

    779.4          30.7          267.9          17.1          1,047.3          47.8     

CMBS

    375.2          8.5          16.9          0.3          392.1          8.8     

Other asset-backed securities

    461.0          2.3          -            -            461.0          2.3     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt securities

    6,814.6          211.4          455.3          27.8          7,269.9          239.2     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total temporarily impaired securities

    $ 6,963.3          $ 213.3          $ 455.3          $ 27.8          $ 7,418.6          $ 241.1     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2014, Alleghany held a total of 787 debt securities and equity securities that were in an unrealized loss position, of which 93 securities, all debt securities, were in an unrealized loss position continuously for 12 months or more. The unrealized losses associated with the 93 debt securities consisted primarily of losses related to RMBS and, to a lesser extent, municipal bonds and U.S. corporate bonds.

As of March 31, 2014, the vast majority of Alleghany’s debt securities were rated investment grade, with approximately 4.0 percent of debt securities having issuer credit ratings that were below investment grade or not rated.

(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. 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 March 31, 2014, Alleghany’s carrying value in the Pillar Investments, as determined under the equity method of accounting, was $216.7 million, which is reported in other invested assets on Alleghany’s consolidated balance sheets.

In July 2013, AIHL invested $250.0 million in Ares Management LLC (“Ares”), a privately-held asset manager, in exchange for a 6.25 percent equity stake in Ares, with an agreement to engage Ares to manage up to $1.0 billion in certain investment strategies. AIHL’s investment in Ares is reported in other invested assets on Alleghany’s consolidated balance sheets. On March 31, 2014, Ares filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering.

 

4. Reinsurance Ceded

(a) Overview

Alleghany’s reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries 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. Our reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries purchase reinsurance / retrocessional coverages from highly-rated third party reinsurers. If the assuming reinsurers are unable or unwilling to meet the obligations assumed under the applicable reinsurance agreements, Alleghany’s reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries would remain liable for such reinsurance portion not paid by these reinsurers. As such, funds, trust agreements and letters of credit are held to collateralize a portion of our reinsurance recoverables and Alleghany’s reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries reinsure portions of the risks they underwrite or assume with multiple reinsurance programs.

 

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(b) Significant Reinsurance Contracts

As discussed in Note 5 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 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, 2014.

RSUI placed its catastrophe reinsurance program for the 2014-2015 period on May 1, 2014. The new catastrophe reinsurance program provides coverage in three layers for $600.0 million of losses in excess of a $200.0 million net retention after application of the surplus share treaties and facultative reinsurance. The first layer provides coverage for $300.0 million of losses, before a 5.0 percent co-participation by RSUI, in excess of $200.0 million, the second layer provides coverage for $100.0 million of losses in excess of $500.0 million, with no co-participation by RSUI, and the third layer provides coverage for $200.0 million of losses in excess of $600.0 million, with no co-participation. In addition, RSUI’s property per risk reinsurance program for the 2014-2015 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.

 

5. Income Taxes

The effective tax rate on earnings before income taxes in the first three months of 2014 was 23.7 percent, compared with 22.5 percent in the first three months of 2013. The slightly higher effective tax rate in the first three months of 2014 primarily reflects higher taxable income in the first quarter of 2014. Alleghany believes that, as of March 31, 2014, 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 March 31, 2014.

 

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 the Board of Directors authorization, during the first three months of 2014, Alleghany repurchased an aggregate of 242,608 shares of its common stock in the open market for $94.6 million, at an average price per share of $390.10. During the first three months of 2013, Alleghany repurchased an aggregate of 89,751 shares of its common stock in the open market for $31.6 million, at an average price per share of $351.82.

 

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(b) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The following table presents a reconciliation of the changes during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 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, 2014

    $ 238.4          $ (49.3)         $ (2.2)         $ 186.9     

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

       

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

    151.1          0.4          0.1          151.6     

Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income

    (59.5)         -              -              (59.5)    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    91.6          0.4          0.1          92.1     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of March 31, 2014

    $ 330.0          $ (48.9)         $ (2.1)         $ 279.0     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    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

    85.2          (10.0)         (0.1)         75.1     

Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income

    (12.1)         -              -              (12.1)    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    73.1          (10.0)         (0.1)         63.0     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of March 31, 2013

    $ 336.4          $ (23.4)         $ 0.5          $ 313.5     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to Alleghany stockholders during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

         Three Months Ended
March 31,
 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Component

  

Line in Consolidated Statement of Earnings

          2014                     2013          
         (in millions)  

Unrealized appreciation of investments:

   Net realized capital gains     $ (96.8)         $ (50.9)    
   Other than temporary impairment losses     5.2          32.3     
   Income taxes     32.1          6.5     
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total reclassifications:

   Net earnings     $ (59.5)         $ (12.1)    
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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 months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
    2014     2013  
        (in millions, except share amounts)      

Net earnings available to Alleghany stockholders

    $ 204.9          $ 196.3     

Effect of dilutive securities

    -            -       
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income available to common stockholders for diluted earnings per share

    $ 204.9          $ 196.3     
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding applicable to basic earnings per share

    16,683,864          16,822,056     

Effect of dilutive securities

    -            -       
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

    16,683,864          16,822,056     
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Contingently issuable shares of 63,338 and 53,720 were potentially available during the first three months of 2014 and 2013, 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 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 10-K.

(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 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 10-K.

(d) Asbestos and Environmental Impairment Exposure

Loss and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) include amounts for risks relating to asbestos-related illness and environmental impairment. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, such gross and net reserves were as follows:

 

    March 31, 2014     December 31, 2013  
            Gross                     Net                     Gross                     Net          
    (in millions)  

 

TransRe

    $ 597.9          $ 440.3          $ 583.8          $ 431.9     

 

Capitol

    10.5          10.4          10.4          10.3     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Total

    $ 608.4          $ 450.7          $ 594.2          $ 442.2     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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 illness and environmental impairment losses, particularly for those occurring in 1985 and prior, which represents the majority of TransRe’s asbestos-related illness and environmental impairment reserves. This uncertainty is due to inconsistent and changing 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 future 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 March 31, 2014, Alleghany had a concentration of market risk in its AFS equity securities portfolio with respect to certain energy sector businesses of $588.6 million.

 

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 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 10-K.

 

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The reinsurance segment consists of property and casualty reinsurance operations conducted by TransRe’s reinsurance operating subsidiaries 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 U.S. 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 its insurance operating subsidiaries RSUI, Capitol and PCC. RSUI also writes a modest amount of assumed reinsurance business, which is included in the insurance segment.

The primary components of “corporate activities” are Alleghany Properties, SORC, BKI, Alleghany’s investments in Homesite (prior to its sale on December 31, 2013) and ORX and other activities at the parent level. Beginning August 30, 2013, corporate activities also includes the operating results of Kentucky Trailer. 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. On January 2, 2014, Alleghany exercised its option to increase its common equity interest in Kentucky Trailer to 80.0 percent for an additional investment of $15.0 million.

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 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 10-K.

(b) Results

Segment results for Alleghany’s two reportable segments and for corporate activities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 are shown in the tables below:

 

    Reinsurance Segment     Insurance Segment                    

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2014

    Property        Casualty & 
  Other(1)  
        Total             RSUI             Capitol             PCC(2)             Total           Total  
  Segments  
      Corporate  
  Activities(3)  
      Consolidated    
    (in millions)  

Gross premiums written

    $ 298.6          $ 642.7          $ 941.3          $ 302.3          $ 49.1          $ 15.8          $ 367.2          $ 1,308.5          $ (7.4)         $ 1,301.1     

Net premiums written

    250.6          629.2          879.8          195.4          43.3          15.5          254.2          1,134.0          -            1,134.0     

Net premiums earned

    234.5          558.8          793.3          204.0          42.3          14.4          260.7          1,054.0          -            1,054.0     

Net loss and LAE

    61.3          402.6          463.9          112.4          24.0          10.9          147.3          611.2          -            611.2     

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    65.3          174.1          239.4          54.8          22.0          8.0          84.8          324.2          -            324.2     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(4)

    $ 107.9          $ (17.9)         $ 90.0          $ 36.8          $ (3.7)         $ (4.5)         $ 28.6          118.6          -            118.6     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Net investment income

  

    109.2          1.4          110.6     

Net realized capital gains

  

    75.1          21.7          96.8     

Other than temporary impairment losses

  

    (5.2)         -            (5.2)    

Other income

  

    3.4          27.0          30.4     

Other operating expenses

  

    21.3          32.0          53.3     

Corporate administration

  

    -            9.6          9.6     

Amortization of intangible assets

  

    (1.9)         0.1          (1.8)    

Interest expense

  

    12.3          9.5          21.8     
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (losses) before income taxes

  

    $ 269.4          $ (1.1)         $ 268.3     
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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    Reinsurance Segment     Insurance Segment                    

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2013

    Property        Casualty & 
Other(1)
        Total             RSUI             Capitol             PCC(2)             Total           Total  
  Segments  
      Corporate  
  Activities(3)  
      Consolidated    
    (in millions)  

Gross premiums written

    $ 270.1          $ 637.6          $ 907.7          $ 285.8          $ 40.2          $ 9.1          $ 335.1          $ 1,242.8          $ (5.3)         $ 1,237.5     

Net premiums written

    236.7          629.3          866.0          181.2          37.8          8.9          227.9          1,093.9          -            1,093.9     

Net premiums earned

    250.1          603.8          853.9          175.7          37.3          8.1          221.1          1,075.0          -            1,075.0     

Net loss and LAE

    56.2          415.0          471.2          70.4          18.1          7.7          96.2          567.4          -            567.4     

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    62.4          188.9          251.3          48.4          19.5          7.0          74.9          326.2          -            326.2     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(4)

    $ 131.5          $ (0.1)         $ 131.4          $ 56.9          $ (0.3)         $ (6.6)         $ 50.0          181.4          -            181.4     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Net investment income

  

    93.3          25.5          118.8     

Net realized capital gains

  

    49.3          1.6          50.9     

Other than temporary impairment losses

  

    (32.3)         -            (32.3)    

Other income

  

    0.7          10.5          11.2     

Other operating expenses

  

    20.4          10.4          30.8     

Corporate administration

  

    -            12.4          12.4     

Amortization of intangible assets

  

    11.6          -            11.6     

Interest expense

  

    12.4          9.4          21.8     
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

  

    $ 248.0          $ 5.4          $ 253.4     
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Primarily consists of the following assumed reinsurance lines of business: 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 underwriting results of AIHL Re.
(3) Includes elimination of minor reinsurance activity between segments.
(4) Underwriting profit 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 March 31, 2014, the identifiable assets of the reinsurance segment, insurance segment and corporate activities were $16.5 billion, $6.3 billion and $0.7 billion, respectively, of which cash and invested assets represented $14.3 billion, $4.8 billion and $0.4 billion, respectively. As of March 31, 2014, Alleghany’s equity attributable to the reinsurance segment, insurance segment and corporate activities was $4.5 billion, $2.8 billion and ($0.2) billion, respectively.

 

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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 March 31, 2014, 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 wholly-owned reinsurance holding company subsidiary Transatlantic Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries,

 

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

 

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

 

    “Capitol” are to our wholly-owned subsidiary Capitol Transamerica Corporation and its subsidiaries,

 

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

 

    “AIHL Re” are to our wholly-owned subsidiary AIHL Re LLC,

 

    “Roundwood” are to our wholly-owned subsidiary Roundwood Asset Management LLC,

 

    “ACC” are to our wholly-owned subsidiary Alleghany Capital Corporation,

 

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

 

    “SORC” are to our wholly-owned subsidiary Stranded Oil Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries,

 

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

 

    “Kentucky Trailer” are to our majority-owned 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 subsidiaries 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 subsidiaries;

 

    the cost and availability of reinsurance;

 

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

 

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

 

    exposure to terrorist acts and acts of war;

 

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

 

    changes in the ratings assigned to our reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries;

 

    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 loss of key personnel of our reinsurance or insurance operating subsidiaries;

 

    fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates;

 

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

 

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

 

    risks inherent in international operations; and

 

    difficult and volatile conditions in the global market.

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, “Risk Factors” of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, or the “2013 10-K,” for a more detailed discussion of these risks and uncertainties.

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 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
March 31,
 
            2014                     2013          
Revenues   (in millions)  

Net premiums earned

    $       1,054.0          $       1,075.0     

Net investment income

    110.6          118.8     

Net realized capital gains

    96.8          50.9     

Other than temporary impairment losses

    (5.2)         (32.3)    

Other income

    30.4          11.2     
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

    1,286.6          1,223.6     
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs and Expenses

   

Net loss and LAE

    611.2          567.4     

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    324.2          326.2     

Other operating expenses

    53.3          30.8     

Corporate administration

    9.6          12.4     

Amortization of intangible assets

    (1.8)         11.6     

Interest expense

    21.8          21.8     
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

    1,018.3          970.2     
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

    268.3          253.4     

Income taxes

    63.7          57.1     
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

    204.6          196.3     

Net losses attributable to noncontrolling interest

    (0.3)         -         
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to Alleghany stockholders

    $ 204.9          $ 196.3     
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenues:

   

Total reinsurance and insurance segments

    $ 1,236.5          $ 1,186.0     

Corporate activities(1)

    50.1          37.6     

Earnings before income taxes:

   

Total reinsurance and insurance segments

    $ 269.4          $ 248.0     

Corporate activities(1)

    (1.1)         5.4     

 

(1) Consists of Alleghany Properties, SORC, BKI, our investments in Homesite Group Incorporated, or “Homesite,” (prior to its sale on December 31, 2013) and ORX Exploration, Inc., or “ORX,” and corporate activities at the parent level. In addition, beginning August 30, 2013, corporate activities includes the operating results of Kentucky Trailer. 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 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 10-K.

Our earnings before income taxes in the first quarter of 2014 increased from the first quarter of 2013, primarily reflecting increases in net realized capital gains and other income, as well as decreases in OTTI losses and amortization of intangible assets, partially offset by increases in net loss and LAE and other operating expenses, as well as decreases in net premiums earned and net investment income. The increases in other income and other operating expenses primarily reflect our inclusion of the results of Kentucky Trailer beginning August 30, 2013. The decrease in amortization of intangible assets reflects a lack of amortization expense related to certain TransRe intangible assets in the first quarter of 2014, which was present in the first quarter of 2013. The increase in loss and LAE primarily reflects less favorable prior accident year development on loss reserves in 2014 and higher property losses, including catastrophe losses, incurred by our insurance subsidiaries in the first quarter of 2014. The decrease in net premiums earned reflects decreases at TransRe, partially offset by increases at our insurance subsidiaries. The decrease in net investment income reflects an absence of earnings from Homesite in the first quarter of 2014, which was present in the first quarter of 2013, partially offset by increased interest income and, to a lesser extent, income from other invested assets.

 

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The effective tax rate on earnings before income taxes for the first three months of 2014 was 23.7 percent, compared with 22.5 percent for the first three months of 2013. The slightly higher effective tax rate in the first three months of 2014 primarily reflects higher taxable income in the first quarter of 2014.

Total Reinsurance and Insurance Segment Results

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

 

    Three Months Ended
March 31, 2014
    Three Months Ended
March 31, 2013
 
        Reinsurance               Insurance                   Total(1)                  Reinsurance               Insurance                   Total(1)           
    (in millions, except ratios)  

Gross premiums written

    $ 941.3          $ 367.2          $ 1,308.5          $ 907.7          $ 335.1          $ 1,242.8     

Net premiums written

    879.8          254.2          1,134.0          866.0          227.9          1,093.9     

Net premiums earned

    $ 793.3          $ 260.7          $ 1,054.0          $ 853.9          $ 221.1          $ 1,075.0     

Net loss and LAE

    463.9          147.3          611.2          471.2          96.2          567.4     

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    239.4          84.8          324.2          251.3          74.9          326.2     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (2)

    $ 90.0          $ 28.6          118.6          $ 131.4          $ 50.0          181.4     
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net investment income

        109.2              93.3     

Net realized capital gains

        75.1              49.3     

Other than temporary impairment losses

        (5.2)             (32.3)    

Other income

        3.4              0.7     

Other operating expenses

        21.3              20.4     

Corporate administration

        -                  -         

Amortization of intangible assets

        (1.9)             11.6     

Interest expense

        12.3              12.4     
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

        $ 269.4              $ 248.0     
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3)

    58.5%         56.5%         58.0%         55.2%         43.5%         52.8%    

Expense ratio(4)

    30.2%         32.5%         30.8%         29.4%         33.9%         30.3%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

    88.7%         89.0%         88.8%         84.6%         77.4%         83.1%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Total excludes elimination of minor reinsurance activity between segments which is reported in corporate activities.
(2) Underwriting profit 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 earnings before income taxes determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of profitability. See “Comment on Non-GAAP Financial Measures” herein for additional detail on the presentation of our results of operations.
(3) The loss ratio is derived by dividing the amount of net loss and LAE by net premiums earned, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
(4) The expense ratio is derived by dividing the amount of commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses by net premiums earned, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
(5) The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and expense ratio, all as determined in accordance with GAAP. The combined ratio represents 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 earnings before income taxes of our total reinsurance and insurance segments in the first quarter of 2014 increased from the first quarter of 2013, primarily reflecting increases in net realized capital gains and net investment income, as well as decreases in OTTI losses and amortization of intangible assets, partially offset by an increase in net loss and LAE, as well as a decrease in net premiums earned. The increase in net investment income reflects higher interest income and, to a lesser extent, higher income from other invested assets. The decrease in amortization of intangible assets reflects a lack of amortization expense related to certain TransRe intangible assets in the first quarter of 2014, which was present in the first quarter of 2013. The increase in loss and LAE primarily reflects less favorable prior accident year development on loss reserves in 2014 and higher property losses, including catastrophe losses, incurred by our insurance subsidiaries in the first quarter of 2014. The decrease in net premiums earned reflects decreases at TransRe, partially offset by increases at our insurance subsidiaries.

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 2013 10-K.

 

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The underwriting results of the reinsurance segment are presented below.

 

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

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

        

Gross premiums written

    $ 298.6           $ 642.7          $ 941.3      

Net premiums written

     250.6            629.2           879.8      

Net premiums earned

    $ 234.5           $ 558.8          $ 793.3      

Net loss and LAE

     61.3            402.6           463.9      

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     65.3            174.1           239.4      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(2)

    $ 107.9           $ (17.9)         $ 90.0      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3)

     26.1%          72.0%          58.5%    

Expense ratio(4)

     27.8%          31.2%          30.2%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

     53.9%          103.2%          88.7%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

        

Gross premiums written

    $ 270.1           $ 637.6          $ 907.7      

Net premiums written

     236.7            629.3           866.0      

Net premiums earned

    $ 250.1           $         603.8          $         853.9      

Net loss and LAE

     56.2            415.0           471.2      

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     62.4            188.9           251.3      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(2)

    $         131.5           $ (0.1)         $ 131.4      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3)

     22.5%          68.7%          55.2%    

Expense ratio(4)

     25.0%          31.3%          29.4%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

     47.5%          100.0%          84.6%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Primarily consists of the following assumed reinsurance lines of business: 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) Underwriting profit 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 earnings before income taxes determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of profitability. See “Comment on Non-GAAP Financial Measures” herein for additional detail on the presentation of our results of operations.
(3) The loss ratio is derived by dividing the amount of net loss and LAE by net premiums earned, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
(4) The expense ratio is derived by dividing the amount of commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses by net premiums earned, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
(5) The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and expense ratio, all as determined in accordance with GAAP. The combined ratio represents 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.

Reinsurance Segment – Property. Gross premiums written in the first quarter of 2014 increased by $28.5 million or 10.6 percent from the first quarter of 2013, primarily reflecting new business written and premiums related to a fronting arrangement with unrelated retrocessionaires. As part of this arrangement, gross premiums written are entirely ceded to such retrocessionaires, with no impact on TransRe’s net premiums written. Absent this arrangement, gross premiums written would have increased by 4.7 percent in the first quarter of 2014.

Net premiums earned in the first quarter of 2014 decreased by $15.6 million or 6.2 percent from the first quarter of 2013. The decrease in net premiums earned in the first quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects a decrease in net premiums written in recent quarters, and a decrease in reinstatement premiums earned, reflecting a decrease in catastrophe losses in recent quarters.

The increase in net loss and LAE in the first quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects the impact of higher non-catastrophe property losses, partially offset by more favorable prior accident year development on loss reserves. There were no significant catastrophe losses in the first quarter of 2014 or 2013.

 

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Net loss and LAE in the first quarter of 2014 reflect $39.3 million of favorable prior accident year development on loss reserves, compared with $36.6 million of favorable development in the first quarter of 2013. The $39.3 million of favorable development in the first quarter of 2014 reflects $13.0 million of favorable development relating to Super Storm Sandy, $17.4 million of favorable development relating to other prior year catastrophe losses, and $8.9 million of favorable development relating to large, non-catastrophe property losses. The $39.3 million of favorable development relates primarily to the 2010 through 2013 accident years. The $36.6 million of favorable development in the first quarter of 2013 reflects $18.5 million of favorable development related to Super Storm Sandy, and $18.1 million of favorable development relating primarily to non-catastrophe property losses in the 2012 accident year. The favorable development in the first quarter of 2014 and 2013 reflects favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods. The $39.3 million of favorable development in the first quarter of 2014 did not impact the assumptions used in estimating TransRe’s loss and LAE liabilities for business earned in 2014.

The increase in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the first quarter of 2014 compared with the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects the lack of favorable impact arising from the acquisition method of accounting, which was present in the first quarter of 2013, partially offset by the impact of lower net premiums earned. The acquisition method of accounting was applied by TransRe upon its merger with Alleghany on March 6, 2012.

The decrease in underwriting profit in the first quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects a decrease in net premiums earned, an increase in net loss and LAE and an increase in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses, all as discussed above.

Reinsurance Segment – Casualty & Other. Gross premiums written in the first quarter of 2014 increased by $5.1 million or 0.8 percent from the first quarter of 2013. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency rates, gross premiums written in the first quarter of 2014 decreased by $5.3 million or 0.8 percent from the first quarter of 2013. The decrease in gross premiums written, excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency rates, primarily reflects an increasingly competitive reinsurance market and a decreasing amount of risk premium being ceded by insurers, partially offset by the impact of certain expanded treaty participations with existing long-term clients in the first quarter of 2014.

Net premiums earned in the first quarter of 2014 decreased by $45.0 million or 7.5 percent from the first quarter of 2013. The decrease in net premiums earned in the first quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects a decrease in gross premiums written in recent quarters and, to a lesser extent, an increase in ceded premiums earned.

The decrease in net loss and LAE in the first quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects the impact of lower net premiums earned, partially offset by the impact of less favorable prior accident year development on loss reserves, and a $17.0 million loss incurred upon commutation of a foreign accident & health treaty in the first quarter of 2014.

Net loss and LAE in the first quarter of 2014 reflect $6.0 million of favorable prior accident year development on loss reserves, compared with $22.7 million of favorable development in the first quarter of 2013. The favorable development in the first quarter of 2014 relates primarily to favorable emergence from a variety of casualty lines of business relating to the 2003 through 2013 accident years, partially offset by unfavorable emergence relating to the 2002 and prior accident years. The $6.0 million reflects favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods. The $6.0 million of favorable development in the first quarter of 2014 did not impact the assumptions used in estimating TransRe’s loss and LAE liabilities for business earned in 2014. Of the $22.7 million of favorable development in the first quarter of 2013, $18.0 million of the favorable development relates to certain medical malpractice treaties, or “the Malpractice Treaties.” Under the terms of the Malpractice Treaties, the increased underwriting profits created by the favorable development are to be retained by the cedants. As a result, TransRe recorded an offsetting increase in profit commission expense incurred. The remaining $4.7 million of favorable development related to a variety of casualty & other lines of business. The favorable development in the first quarter of 2013 reflected favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods.

The decrease in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the first quarter of 2014 compared with the first quarter of 2013 is due primarily to the impact of lower net premiums earned, and the impact of profit commissions related to the Malpractice Treaties in the first quarter of 2013, partially offset by the absence of the favorable impact arising from the acquisition method of accounting, which was present in first quarter of 2013.

The increase in underwriting losses in the first quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects a decrease in net premiums earned, partially offset by a decrease in net loss and LAE and a decrease in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses, all as discussed above.

 

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Insurance Segment Underwriting Results

The insurance segment is comprised of AIHL’s RSUI, Capitol and PCC operating subsidiaries. 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 2013 10-K.

The underwriting results of the insurance segment are presented below.

 

     RSUI     Capitol     PCC(1)     Total  
     (in millions, except ratios)  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

        

Gross premiums written

    $ 302.3          $ 49.1         $ 15.8         $ 367.2      

Net premiums written

     195.4           43.3          15.5          254.2      

Net premiums earned

    $ 204.0          $ 42.3         $ 14.4         $ 260.7      

Net loss and LAE

     112.4           24.0          10.9          147.3      

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     54.8           22.0          8.0          84.8      
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(2)

    $ 36.8          $ (3.7)        $ (4.5)        $ 28.6      
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3)

     55.1%         56.6%         75.7%         56.5%    

Expense ratio(4)

     26.8%         52.0%         55.5%         32.5%    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

     81.9%                 108.6%               131.2%         89.0%    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

        

Gross premiums written

    $ 285.8          $ 40.2         $ 9.1         $         335.1      

Net premiums written

     181.2           37.8          8.9          227.9      

Net premiums earned

    $         175.7          $ 37.3         $ 8.1         $ 221.1      

Net loss and LAE

     70.4           18.1          7.7          96.2      

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     48.4           19.5          7.0          74.9      
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(2)

    $ 56.9          $ (0.3)        $ (6.6)        $ 50.0      
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3)

     40.1%         48.5%         94.6%         43.5%    

Expense ratio(4)

     27.5%         52.4%         86.7%         33.9%    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

     67.6%         100.9%         181.3%         77.4%    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes underwriting results of AIHL Re.
(2) Underwriting profit 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 earnings before income taxes determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of profitability. See “Comment on Non-GAAP Financial Measures” herein for additional detail on the presentation of our results of operations.
(3) The loss ratio is derived by dividing the amount of net loss and LAE incurred by net premiums earned, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
(4) The expense ratio is derived by dividing the amount of commission, brokerage and other underwriting expenses by net premiums earned, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
(5) The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and expense ratio, all as determined in accordance with GAAP. The combined ratio represents the percentage of each premium dollar a reinsurance or insurance company has to spend on net loss and LAE, and commission, brokerage and other underwriting expenses.

RSUI. The increase in gross premiums written in the first quarter of 2014 from 2013 primarily reflects favorable market conditions in most lines of business, particularly for the directors’ and officers’ liability and binding authority lines of business, partially offset by a decline in the property line of business due to an increase in competition. The increase in net premiums earned in the first three months of 2014 from 2013 primarily reflects an increase in gross premiums written in recent quarters and, to a lesser extent, a decrease in ceded premiums earned.

The increase in net loss and LAE in the first quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects the impact of higher net premiums earned, higher catastrophe losses, higher non-catastrophe property losses resulting from several large fires, and less favorable prior accident year development on loss reserves.

 

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Catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, were $9.6 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared with $0.6 million of catastrophe losses in the first quarter of 2013. The $9.6 million of catastrophe losses in the first quarter of 2014 primarily reflect net losses from severe winter weather, which impacted much of the United States in January and February of 2014.

Net loss and LAE in the first quarter of 2014 reflect $0.6 million of favorable prior accident year development on property loss reserves, compared with $3.5 million of favorable prior accident year development in the first quarter of 2013.

Net loss and LAE in the first quarter of 2014 reflect $5.3 million of favorable prior accident year development on casualty loss reserves, compared with $10.0 million of favorable development in the first quarter of 2013. The $5.3 million favorable development in the first quarter of 2014 relates primarily to professional liability, umbrella/excess and general liability lines of business, primarily for the 2005 through 2010 accident years, partially offset by unfavorable development related primarily to the directors’ and officers’ liability line of business in the 2011 accident year. The $10.0 million favorable development in the first quarter of 2013 related primarily to umbrella/excess, professional liability and general liability lines of business, primarily for the 2005 through 2009 accident years. Overall, the favorable development on casualty loss reserves in the first quarters of 2014 and 2013 reflect favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods for certain casualty lines of business.

With respect to the $5.3 million of favorable prior accident year development on casualty loss reserves in the first quarter of 2014, actual losses from prior accident years for such lines of business, which include both loss payments and case reserves, were lower than expected through March 31, 2014. The amount of lower than expected actual losses, expressed as a percentage of carried loss and LAE reserves at the beginning of the year, was 1.3 percent. Such reduction did not impact the assumptions used in estimating RSUI’s loss and LAE liabilities for business earned in 2014.

The increase in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the first quarter of 2014 compared with the first quarter of 2013 is due primarily to the impact of higher net premiums earned.

The decrease in RSUI’s underwriting profit in the first quarter of 2014 compared with the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects the impact of higher net loss and LAE and, to a lesser extent, commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses, partially offset by higher net premiums earned, all as discussed above.

As discussed in Part I, Item 1, “Business—Reinsurance Protection” of the 2013 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, 2014.

RSUI placed its catastrophe reinsurance program for the 2014-2015 period on May 1, 2014. The new catastrophe reinsurance program provides coverage in three layers for $600.0 million of losses in excess of a $200.0 million net retention after application of the surplus share treaties and facultative reinsurance. The first layer provides coverage for $300.0 million of losses, before a 5.0 percent co-participation by RSUI, in excess of $200.0 million, the second layer provides coverage for $100.0 million of losses in excess of $500.0 million, with no co-participation by RSUI, and the third layer provides coverage for $200.0 million of losses in excess of $600.0 million, with no co-participation. In addition, RSUI’s property per risk reinsurance program for the 2014-2015 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.

On April 2, 2014, A.M. Best Company, Inc. upgraded the financial strength rating to A+ (Superior) from A (Excellent) for RSUI’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, RSUI Indemnity Company, Landmark American Insurance Company and Covington Specialty Insurance Company, with the latter two companies being rated on a reinsured basis.

Capitol. The increase in gross premiums written in the first quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects growth in Capitol’s property and casualty lines of business, including strong growth in the professional lines of business. Net premiums earned increased in the first three months of 2014 from the first three months of 2013 primarily reflecting an increase in gross premiums written in recent quarters, partially offset by higher ceded premiums earned arising from an increase in reinsurance coverage effective January 1, 2014.

The increase in net loss and LAE in the first quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects the impact of higher net premiums earned and higher property losses from severe winter weather and fires, partially offset by favorable prior accident year development on loss reserves compared with unfavorable prior accident year development in the first quarter of 2013.

Net loss and LAE in the first quarter of 2014 reflects $1.0 million of favorable prior accident year development, compared to $1.0 million of unfavorable development in the first quarter of 2013. The $1.0 million favorable development in the first quarter of 2014 primarily related to Capitol’s surety lines of business, and was related to the 2013 and 2012 accident years. The $1.0 million of unfavorable development in the first quarter of 2013 relates primarily to Capitol’s property and workers’ compensation lines of business and was related to the 2012 and 2010 accident years.

 

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The increase in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the first quarter of 2014 compared with the first quarter of 2013 is due primarily to the impact of higher net premiums earned.

The increase in Capitol’s underwriting loss in the first quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects the 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.

PCC. The increase in gross premiums written and net premiums earned in the first quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects improved market conditions.

The increase in net loss and LAE and commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the first quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects the impact of higher net premiums earned. Net loss and LAE include $0.6 million and $0.9 million of unfavorable prior accident year development on loss reserves in the first quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively.

PCC reported an underwriting loss of $4.5 million and $6.6 million in the first quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively. The underwriting losses are primarily due to PCC’s ongoing expenses relative to comparatively low premiums earned and unfavorable prior accident year development on loss reserves.

Total Reinsurance and Insurance Segments Investment Results

Following is information relating to segment investment results.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014      2013  
     (in millions)  

Net investment income

     $                 109.2          $                   93.3    

Net realized capital gains

     75.1          49.3    

Other than temporary impairment losses

     (5.2)         (32.3)   

Net Investment Income. The increase in net investment income for the reinsurance and insurance segments in the first quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2013 is due primarily to higher interest income and, to a lesser extent, higher income from other invested assets. Higher interest income reflects an increased allocation of our debt securities portfolio to higher yielding securities, as well as more favorable reinvestment rates overall. The increased allocation of our debt securities portfolio to higher yielding securities primarily reflects certain investment strategies used by Ares Management LLC, or “Ares,” a privately-held asset manager.

Net Realized Capital Gains. Net realized capital gains in the first quarter of 2014 and 2013 relate primarily to sales of equity securities.

Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses. OTTI losses in the first quarter of 2014 reflect $5.2 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 the 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. All of the $5.2 million of OTTI losses related to equity securities in the mining and technology sectors. The determination that unrealized losses on such securities were other than temporary was primarily based on the fact that we lacked the intent to hold the equity securities for a period of time sufficient to allow for an anticipated recovery.

OTTI losses in the first quarter of 2013 reflect $32.3 million of unrealized losses that were deemed to be other than temporary and, as such, were required to be charged against earnings. Of the $32.3 million of OTTI losses, $31.9 million related to the equity securities of a single issuer in the chemical sector and $0.4 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.

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 March 31, 2014 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 March 31, 2014); (ii) the absence of compelling evidence that would cause us to call into question the financial condition or near-term business 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.

 

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See Note 3 to Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part I, Item 1, “Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q for additional detail on gross unrealized investment losses for debt securities and equity securities as of March 31, 2014.

Corporate Activities Operating Results

The operating results of corporate activities are presented below.

 

    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
    2014      2013  
    (in millions)  

Net premiums earned

    $ -             $ -        

Net investment income

    1.4          25.5     

Net realized capital gains

    21.7          1.6     

Other than temporary impairment losses

    -             -        

Other income

    27.0          10.5     
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

    50.1          37.6     
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss and LAE

    -             -        

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    -             -        

Other operating expenses

    32.0          10.4     

Corporate administration

    9.6          12.4     

Amortization of intangible assets

    0.1          -        

Interest expense

                    9.5                          9.4     
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

(Losses) earnings before income taxes

    $ (1.1)         $ 5.4     
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

Corporate activities results include the results of Kentucky Trailer beginning August 30, 2013. As a result, other income and other operating expenses increased in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013.

Corporate activities recorded a net loss before income taxes in the first quarter of 2014, compared with net earnings in the first quarter of 2013, primarily reflecting a decrease in investment income and an increase in other operating expenses, partially offset by increases in net realized capital gains and other income. As further explained below, the decrease in net investment income reflects the absence of earnings from Homesite in the first quarter of 2014, which was significant in the first quarter of 2013.

Net investment income for corporate activities includes our equity share of results in Homesite (prior to its sale on December 31, 2013) and ORX, as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014      2013  
     (in millions)  

Homesite(1)

     $ -             $ 21.4     

ORX

     0.4           0.7     

Interest, dividends and other - net

     1.0           3.4     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income

     $                1.4           $                25.5     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Homesite was sold on December 31, 2013.

The Homesite gain in the first quarter of 2013 reflects favorable tax-related adjustments, the absence of large catastrophe losses and favorable development on Homesite’s loss and LAE reserves.

The decrease in interest, dividends and other – net in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013 primarily reflects a decrease in dividend income, reflecting lower-yielding equity securities held at the parent company in the first quarter of 2014.

 

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Reserve Review Process

Our reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries analyze, at least quarterly, liabilities for unpaid loss and LAE established in prior years and adjust their expected ultimate cost, where necessary, to reflect favorable or unfavorable 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 favorable and unfavorable, 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 subsidiaries 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 March 31, 2014     As of December 31, 2013  
    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

    $ 1,020.7          $ (52.5)         $ 968.2          $ 1,109.4          $ (47.2)         $ 1,062.2     

Casualty & other(1)

    8,367.3          (414.3)         7,953.0          8,363.7          (406.9)         7,956.8     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    9,388.0          (466.8)         8,921.2          9,473.1          (454.1)         9,019.0     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Insurance Segment

           

Property

    353.5          (150.6)         202.9          384.9          (176.3)         208.6     

Casualty(2)

    1,855.7          (657.8)         1,197.9          1,827.5          (648.9)         1,178.6     

Workers’ Compensation

    156.5          (3.8)         152.7          156.4          (3.8)         152.6     

All other(3)

    167.4          (72.8)         94.6          165.5          (73.9)         91.6     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    2,533.1          (885.0)         1,648.1          2,534.3          (902.9)         1,631.4     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Eliminations

    (56.4)         56.4          -            (54.9)         54.9          -         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    $ 11,864.7          $ (1,295.4)         $ 10,569.3          $ 11,952.5          $ (1,302.1)         $ 10,650.4     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Primarily consists of the following reinsurance lines of business: directors’ and officers’ liability; errors and omissions liability; general liability; medical malpractice; ocean marine and aviation; auto liability; accident and health; surety; asbestos-related illness 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 March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. Gross and net loss and LAE reserves as of March 31, 2014 decreased from December 31, 2013, reflecting a decrease in our reinsurance segment loss and LAE reserves. The decrease in net loss and LAE reserves was partially offset by an 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 favorable development from prior accident years, the impact of decreasing premium written volume and payments related to catastrophic events occurring in prior years. The increase in net loss and LAE reserves in the insurance segment primarily reflects decreases in reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses primarily from payments related to catastrophic events occurring in prior years.

 

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Reinsurance Recoverables

In the normal course of their business, our reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries purchase reinsurance from highly-rated third party reinsurers in order to minimize loss from large losses or catastrophic events. The reinsurance purchased by our reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries does not relieve them from their obligations to their policyholders and cedants, and therefore, the financial strength of their reinsurers is important. As of March 31, 2014, our reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries had total reinsurance recoverables of $1,354.2 million, consisting of $1,295.4 million of ceded outstanding loss and LAE and $58.8 million of recoverables on paid losses. See Part I, Item 1, “Business — Reinsurance Protection” of the 2013 Form 10-K for additional information on the reinsurance purchased by our reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries.

Information regarding concentration of our reinsurance recoverables and the ratings profile of our reinsurers as of March 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

Reinsurer(1)

 

        Rating(2)        

  Amount    

    Percentage    

        (dollars in millions)          

Swiss Reinsurance Company

  A+ (Superior)     $ 156.3        11.5   %  

American International Group, Inc.

  A (Excellent)     137.4        10.1  

PartnerRe Ltd.

  A+ (Superior)     107.6        7.9  

Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd.

  A (Excellent)     95.2        7.0  

Syndicates at Lloyd’s of London

  A (Excellent)     89.2        6.6  

W.R. Berkley Corporation

  A+ (Superior)     80.7        6.0  

Chubb Corporation

  A+ (Superior)     71.7        5.3  

Ace Ltd

  A+ (Superior)     52.0        3.8  

Munich Reinsurance

  A+ (Superior)     41.7        3.1  

Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd.

  A (Excellent)     40.0        3.0  

All other reinsurers

      482.4        35.7  
   

 

 

   

 

Total reinsurance recoverables(3)

      $     1,354.2                100.0   %
   

 

 

   

 

Secured reinsurance recoverables(4)

      $ 144.0        10.6   %
   

 

 

   

 

 

(1) Reinsurance recoverables reflect amounts due from one or more reinsurance subsidiaries of the listed company.
(2) Represents the A.M. Best Company, Inc. financial strength rating for the applicable reinsurance subsidiary or subsidiaries from which the reinsurance recoverable is due.
(3) Approximately 95 percent of our reinsurance recoverables balance as of March 31, 2014 was due from reinsurers having an A.M. Best Company, Inc. 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 March 31, 2014.

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.

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 2013 10-K for a more complete description of our critical accounting estimates.

 

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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 March 31, 2014, we held total marketable securities and cash of $947.9 million, compared with $840.0 million as of December 31, 2013. The increase during the first quarter of 2014 primarily reflects the receipt of dividends from TransRe and RSUI, partially offset by repurchases of shares of our common stock, as further disclosed below. The $947.9 million is comprised of $295.1 million at the parent company, $519.5 million at AIHL and $133.3 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 March 31, 2014.

Stockholders’ equity attributable to Alleghany stockholders was approximately $7.1 billion as of March 31, 2014, compared with approximately $6.9 billion as of December 31, 2013. The increase in stockholders’ equity primarily reflects net earnings and an increase in unrealized appreciation on our debt securities portfolio in the first quarter of 2013, due to a modest decrease in longer-term interest rates during the quarter, partially offset by repurchases of our common stock in the first quarter of 2013. As of March 31, 2014, we had 16,535,591 shares of our common stock outstanding, compared with 16,766,192 shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2013.

Debt. As discussed in Note 8 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 10-K, 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 and, 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.

Credit Agreement. As discussed in Note 7 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 10-K, on October 15, 2013, we entered into a four-year credit agreement, or the “Credit Agreement,” with certain lenders, which provides for an unsecured credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $200.0 million. There were no borrowings under the Credit Agreement since its inception through March 31, 2014.

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. During the first three months of 2014, we repurchased an aggregate of 242,608 shares of our common stock in the open market for $94.6 million, at an average price per share of $390.10.

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. 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 in the Pillar Investments is limited to our cumulative investment. As of March 31, 2014, our carrying value in the Pillar Investments, as determined under the equity method of accounting, was $216.7 million, which is reported in other invested assets on our consolidated balance sheets.

In July 2013, AIHL invested $250.0 million in Ares in exchange for a 6.25 percent equity stake in Ares, with an agreement to engage Ares to manage up to $1.0 billion in certain investment strategies. AIHL’s investment in Ares is reported in other invested assets on our consolidated balance sheets. On March 31, 2014, Ares filed a registration statement with the SEC for an initial public offering.

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 March 31, 2014.

 

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The obligations and cash outflow of our reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries 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 subsidiaries portfolios consist primarily of debt securities and short-term investments to ensure the availability of funds and maintain a sufficient amount of liquid securities.

With respect to our non-insurance operating subsidiaries, they depend on Alleghany to support their growth, particularly for SORC. From formation in 2011 through March 31, 2014, we have invested $81.9 million in SORC.

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 lowest of the Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, Moody’s Investors Services Inc. or Fitch’s Ratings rating. In this regard, the overall weighted-average credit quality rating of our debt securities portfolio as of March 31, 2014 was AA-. Although many of our debt 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 March 31, 2014. As of March 31, 2014, the ratings of our debt securities portfolio were as follows:

 

    Ratings as of March 31, 2014  
    AAA / Aaa     AA / Aa     A         BBB / Baa         Below
BBB / Baa
or Not-Rated(1)
    Total  
    (dollars in millions)  

U.S. Government obligations

    $ -             $ 826.0           $ -             $ -             $ -             $ 826.0      

Municipal bonds

    804.9           3,731.6           990.6           83.8           -             5,610.9      

Foreign government obligations

    469.9           245.1           218.2           15.2           -             948.4      

U.S. corporate bonds

    18.0           151.5           675.5           1,147.9           399.3           2,392.2      

Foreign corporate bonds

    218.8           445.7           753.4           239.0           75.3           1,732.2      

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

Residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”)

    32.6           1,183.3           39.0           15.8           82.0           1,352.7      

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)

    398.0           299.4           160.2           98.3           26.0           981.9      

Other asset-backed securities

    608.0           22.4           77.5           239.6           10.3           957.8      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt securities

    $     2,550.2           $     6,905.0           $     2,914.4           $     1,839.6           $     592.9           $     14,802.1      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Percentage of debt securities

    17.2%         46.7%         19.7%         12.4%         4.0%         100.0%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Consists of $111.7 million of securities rated BB / Ba, $290.4 million of securities rated B, $112.5 million of securities rated CCC, $26.0 million of securities rated CC, $12.8 million of securities rated below CC and $39.5 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 March 31, 2014, our debt securities portfolio had an effective duration of approximately 4.2 years compared with 4.5 years as of December 31, 2013. As of March 31, 2014, approximately $4.2 billion, or 28.2 percent, of our debt securities portfolio represented securities with maturities of five years or less. See Note 3(b) to Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part I, Item 1, “Financial Statements” 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.

 

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In the event paid losses accelerate beyond the ability of our reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries to fund these paid losses from current cash balances, current operating cash flow, dividend and interest receipts and security maturities, we would need to liquidate a portion of our investment portfolio, make capital contributions to our reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries, 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 $19.0 billion as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, reflecting the impact of an increase in unrealized appreciation on our debt securities portfolio in the first quarter of 2014, due to a modest decrease in longer-term interest rates during the quarter, offset by repurchases of our common stock in the first quarter of 2013.

Fair Value. The carrying values and estimated fair values of our consolidated financial instruments as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

    March 31, 2014     December 31, 2013  
    Carrying
Value
    Fair Value     Carrying
Value
    Fair Value  
Assets   (in millions)  

Investments (excluding equity method investments)(1)

    $     18,633.8        $     18,633.8        $     18,632.2        $     18,632.2   

Liabilities

       

Senior Notes(2)

    $ 1,790.0        $ 1,934.8        $ 1,794.4        $ 1,887.7   

 

 

(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 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 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

 

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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.

 

    “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-backed 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 (primarily, collateralized debt obligations), partnership investments and non-marketable equity investments. See Note 1(c) to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 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 March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
    (in millions)  

As of March 31, 2014

       

Equity securities:

       

Common stock

    $ 2,637.8          $ -              $ -              $ 2,637.8     

Preferred stock

    -              -              -              -         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

    2,637.8          -              -              2,637.8     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt securities:

       

U.S. Government obligations

    -              826.0          -              826.0     

Municipal bonds

    -              5,610.9          -              5,610.9     

Foreign government obligations

    -              948.4          -              948.4     

U.S. corporate bonds

    -              2,357.4          34.8          2,392.2     

Foreign corporate bonds

    -              1,731.0          1.2          1,732.2     

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

       

RMBS(1)

    -              1,274.8          77.9          1,352.7     

CMBS

    -              921.3          60.6          981.9     

Other asset-backed securities

    -              336.6          621.2          957.8     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt securities

    -              14,006.4          795.7          14,802.1     

Short-term investments

    -              926.7          -              926.7     

Other invested assets(2)

    -              -            267.2          267.2     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments (excluding equity method investments)

    $     2,637.8          $   14,933.1          $     1,062.9          $   18,633.8     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Senior Notes

    $ -              $ 1,934.8          $ -              $ 1,934.8     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
    (in millions)  

As of December 31, 2013

       

Equity securities:

       

Common stock

    $ 2,229.4          $ -              $ -              $ 2,229.4     

Preferred stock

    -            -            -            -       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

    2,229.4          -            -            2,229.4     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt securities:

       

U.S. Government obligations

    -            955.0          -            955.0     

Municipal bonds

    -            5,590.1          -            5,590.1     

Foreign government obligations

    -            975.4          -            975.4     

U.S. corporate bonds

    -            2,285.4          27.5          2,312.9     

Foreign corporate bonds

    -            1,830.7          1.0          1,831.7     

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

       

RMBS(1)

    -            1,469.0          78.8          1,547.8     

CMBS

    -            824.8          60.8          885.6     

Other asset-backed securities

    -            446.0          258.4          704.4     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt securities

    -            14,376.4          426.5          14,802.9     

Short-term investments

    -            1,317.9          -            1,317.9     

Other invested assets(2)

    -            -            282.0          282.0     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments (excluding equity method investments)

    $ 2,229.4          $ 15,694.3          $ 708.5          $ 18,632.2     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Senior Notes

    $ -            $ 1,887.7          $ -              $ 1,887.7     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Primarily includes government agency pass-through securities guaranteed by a government agency or government sponsored enterprise, among other types of RMBS.
(2) Includes partnership and non-marketable equity investments accounted for on an AFS basis, and excludes investments accounted for using the equity method and certain loans receivable that are carried at cost.

 

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Municipal Bonds. The following table provides the fair value of our municipal bonds as of March 31, 2014, 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

   $ 41.1        $ -            $ -            $ -            $ 21.3        $ 87.7        $ 102.2        $ -            $ 252.3        $ 267.0        $ 519.3    

New York

    19.4         -             5.3         -             43.1         156.7         97.6         61.9         384.0         28.6         412.6    

California

    14.5         29.9         -             34.6         5.0         45.4         73.6         6.5         209.5         184.1         393.6    

Massachusetts

    17.0         24.3         3.9         -             33.0         58.4         1.6         6.1         144.3         129.6         273.9    

North Carolina

    18.5         16.6         5.9         -             -             0.6         24.9         22.6         89.1         127.6         216.7    

Missouri

    4.5         74.1         3.0         -             4.6         32.3         44.6         33.0         196.1         6.3         202.4    

Arizona

    1.8         26.7         -             -             31.2         5.6         122.8         -             188.1         -             188.1    

Illinois

    14.6         30.4         1.8         -             15.0         25.8         11.8         10.5         109.9         38.3         148.2    

Florida

    -             -             1.4         45.9         5.8         52.1         6.3         2.6         114.1         33.2         147.3    

Connecticut

    3.6         -             1.1         -             54.9         7.4         -             -             67.0         78.8         145.8    

All other states

    217.4         27.2         85.1         145.4         127.8         316.8         340.2         88.9         1,348.8         515.1         1,863.9    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Total

   $    352.4        $    229.2        $    107.5        $    225.9        $    341.7        $    788.8        $    825.6        $    232.1        $    3,103.2        $    1,408.6         4,511.8    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total advance refunded / escrowed maturity bonds

  

                  1,099.1    
                     

 

 

 

 

Total municipal bonds

  

                 $    5,610.9    
                     

 

 

 

 

Recent Accounting Standards

Future Application of Accounting Standards

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued guidance that changed the criteria for reporting discontinued operations. Under the new guidance, only disposals that represent a strategic shift in operations would qualify as discontinued operations. In addition, the new guidance requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2015. We will adopt this guidance in the 2015 first quarter, and we do not currently believe that the implementation will have an 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. The primary market risk related to our debt securities 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. 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 reserves 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 generally 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 market interest rates, equity market prices 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.

Interest Rate Risk

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 March 31, 2014 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

 

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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 March 31, 2014 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  
Assets:   (dollars in millions)  

Debt securities, fair value

   $    16,055.9        $    15,783.5        $    15,363.1        $    14,802.1        $    14,181.9         $    13,579.5         $    13,011.1     

Estimated change in fair value

   $ 1,253.8        $ 981.4        $ 561.0        $ -            $ (620.2)        $ (1,222.6)        $ (1,791.0)    

Liabilities:

             

Senior notes, fair value

   $ 2,329.7        $ 2,181.4        $ 2,053.6        $ 1,934.8        $ 1,830.1         $ 1,737.2         $ 1,654.4     

Estimated change in fair value

   $ 394.9        $ 246.6        $ 118.8        $ -            $ (104.7)        $ (197.6)        $ (280.4)    

Equity Risk

Our equity securities are subject to fluctuations in market value. The table below summarizes our equity market price risk and reflects the effect of a hypothetical increase or decrease in market prices as of March 31, 2014 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 March 31, 2014

(dollars in millions)

 

Estimated
      Fair Value      
     Hypothetical
                Price Change                 
        Estimated Fair Value      
After Hypothetical
Change in Price
     Hypothetical Percentage Increase
  (Decrease) in Stockholders’ Equity  
  $ 2,637.8         20% Increase     $ 3,165.4         4.8%
   20% Decrease     2,110.2         -4.8%

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 $274.3 million as of March 31, 2014.

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. 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 March 31, 2014 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 March 31, 2014

(dollars in millions)

 

Estimated
      Fair Value      
    Hypothetical
                Price Change                 
        Estimated Fair Value      
After Hypothetical
Change in Price
     Hypothetical Percentage Increase
  (Decrease) in Stockholders’ Equity  
  $ 285.4    (1)    20% Increase     $ 342.5         0.5%
  20% Decrease     228.3         -0.5%

 

 

(1) Denotes a net asset position as of March 31, 2014.

 

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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 March 31, 2014 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.

Certain of 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 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2013 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 2013 10-K. Please refer to that section for disclosures regarding what we believe are the more significant risks and uncertainties related to our businesses.

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

(c) Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

The following table summarizes our common stock repurchases in the quarter ended March 31, 2014:

 

    Total Number of
 Shares Repurchased 
     Average Price Paid 
per Share
    Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
  Announced Plans or  
Programs(1)
    Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares
That May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
(in millions)(1)
 

January 1 to January 31

    18,592          $ 376.43          18,592          $ 234.9     

February 1 to February 28

    61,527          373.79          61,527            211.9     

March 1 to March 31

    162,489          397.84          162,489            147.3     
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total

    242,608          390.10          242,608       
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

(1)  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.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

The information concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by SEC regulations is included in Exhibit 95.0 to this Form 10-Q.

 

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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.
  95.0   Mine Safety Disclosure required under Regulation 104 of Item S-K.
101.1   Interactive Data Files formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013; and (iv) Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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: May 5, 2014   By:  

/s/ John L. Sennott, Jr.

    John L. Sennott, Jr.
   

Senior Vice President and chief financial officer

(principal financial officer)

 

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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.
  95.0   Mine Safety Disclosure required under Regulation 104 of Item S-K.
101.1   Interactive Data Files formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013; and (iv) Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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