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ALLEGHANY CORP /DE - Quarter Report: 2017 September (Form 10-Q)

10-Q
Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(MARK ONE)

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

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017

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.

1411 BROADWAY, 34TH FLOOR, NY, NY 10018

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  ☒    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  ☒    NO  ☐

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

 

LARGE ACCELERATED FILER       ☒      ACCELERATED FILER             EMERGING GROWTH COMPANY   ☐            
NON-ACCELERATED FILER       ☐      SMALLER REPORTING COMPANY        

IF AN EMERGING GROWTH COMPANY, INDICATE BY CHECK MARK IF THE REGISTRANT HAS ELECTED NOT TO USE THE EXTENDED TRANSITION PERIOD FOR COMPLYING WITH ANY NEW OR REVISED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO SECTION 13(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT.  ☐

INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISRANT IS A SHELL COMPANY (AS DEFINED IN RULE 12b-2 OF THE ACT).    YES  ☐    NO  ☒

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

15,389,970 SHARES, PAR VALUE $1.00 PER SHARE, AS OF OCTOBER 26, 2017

 

 


Table of Contents

ALLEGHANY CORPORATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              Page      
PART I  

ITEM 1.

   Financial Statements      1  

ITEM 2.

  

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

     24  

ITEM 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     66  

ITEM 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

     67  
PART II  

ITEM 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

     69  

ITEM 1A.

  

Risk Factors

     69  

ITEM 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     69  

ITEM 4.

  

Mine Safety Disclosures

     69  

ITEM 6.

  

Exhibits

     70  

SIGNATURES

     71  


Table of Contents

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

ALLEGHANY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

    September 30,
2017
    December 31,
2016
 
    (unaudited)        
    ($ in thousands, except share amounts)  

Assets

   

Investments:

   

Available-for-sale securities at fair value:

   

Equity securities (cost: 2017 – $3,174,837; 2016 – $2,816,572)

   $ 3,821,601        $ 3,109,523    

Debt securities (amortized cost: 2017 – $13,027,581; 2016 – $12,927,103)

    13,212,395         12,983,213    

Short-term investments

    547,787         778,410    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 
    17,581,783         16,871,146    

Commercial mortgage loans

    649,700         594,878    

Other invested assets

    739,339         645,245    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments

    18,970,822         18,111,269    

Cash

    701,841         594,091    

Accrued investment income

    107,095         113,763    

Premium balances receivable

    877,780         743,692    

Reinsurance recoverables

    1,738,391         1,272,219    

Ceded unearned premiums

    208,391         201,023    

Deferred acquisition costs

    476,634         448,634    

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

    130,524         112,920    

Goodwill

    333,748         284,974    

Intangible assets, net of amortization

    464,956         378,680    

Current taxes receivable

    83,634         25,950    

Net deferred tax assets

    266,267         354,852    

Funds held under reinsurance agreements

    685,824         591,602    

Other assets

    668,328         522,922    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 25,714,235        $ 23,756,591    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests and Stockholders’ Equity

   

Loss and loss adjustment expenses

   $ 12,456,375        $ 11,087,199    

Unearned premiums

    2,295,954         2,175,498    

Senior Notes and other debt

    1,486,375         1,476,489    

Reinsurance payable

    143,283         90,659    

Other liabilities

    1,027,746         912,081    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    17,409,733         15,741,926    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

    103,479         74,720    

Common stock (shares authorized: 2017 and 2016 – 22,000,000; shares issued: 2017 and
2016 – 17,459,961)

    17,460         17,460    

Contributed capital

    3,611,900         3,611,993    

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    438,403         109,284    

Treasury stock, at cost (2017 – 2,056,203 shares; 2016 – 2,049,797 shares)

    (817,618)        (812,840)   

Retained earnings

    4,950,878         5,014,048    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Alleghany stockholders

    8,201,023         7,939,945    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders’ equity

   $       25,714,235        $       23,756,591    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

September 30,

 
    2017     2016  
    ($ in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Revenues

   

Net premiums earned

   $ 1,239,721        $ 1,253,515    

Net investment income

    104,663         120,603    

Net realized capital gains

    32,921         27,221    

Other than temporary impairment losses

    (6,131)        (11,729)   

Other revenue

    296,309         225,006    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

         1,667,483              1,614,616    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs and Expenses

   

Net loss and loss adjustment expenses

    1,491,848         718,556    

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    398,163         423,042    

Other operating expenses

    277,918         228,408    

Corporate administration

    (4,689)        10,745    

Amortization of intangible assets

    5,765         6,008    

Interest expense

    20,804         20,682    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

    2,189,809         1,407,441    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Losses) earnings before income taxes

    (522,326)        207,175    

Income taxes

    (212,379)        48,328    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (losses) earnings

    (309,947)        158,847    

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

    4,210         3,016    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (losses) earnings attributable to Alleghany stockholders

   $ (314,157)       $ 155,831    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (losses) earnings

   $ (309,947)       $ 158,847    

Other comprehensive (loss) income :

   

Change in unrealized gains (losses), net of deferred taxes of  $52,766 and $25,123 for 2017 and 2016, respectively

    97,994         46,657    

Less: reclassification for net realized capital gains and other  than temporary impairment losses, net of taxes of ($9,377) and ($5,422) for 2017 and 2016, respectively

    (17,414)        (10,070)   

Change in unrealized currency translation adjustment, net of deferred  taxes of $3,967 and ($1,637) for 2017 and 2016, respectively

    7,368         (3,041)   

Retirement plans

    98         95    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income

    (221,901)        192,488    

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

    4,210         3,016    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Alleghany stockholders

   $ (226,111)       $ 189,472    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic (losses) earnings per share attributable to Alleghany stockholders

   $ (20.38)       $ 10.09    

Diluted (losses) earnings per share attributable to Alleghany stockholders

    (20.90)        10.09    

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ALLEGHANY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income

(unaudited)

 

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
    2017     2016  
    ($ in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Revenues

   

Net premiums earned

   $       3,692,838        $       3,736,596    

Net investment income

    321,857         332,326    

Net realized capital gains

    101,840         117,126    

Other than temporary impairment losses

    (13,095)        (38,216)   

Other revenue

    650,413         527,765    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

    4,753,853         4,675,597    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs and Expenses

   

Net loss and loss adjustment expenses

    2,926,039         2,198,512    

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    1,220,415         1,238,712    

Other operating expenses

    678,226         575,527    

Corporate administration

    26,601         33,938    

Amortization of intangible assets

    14,140         14,490    

Interest expense

    62,728         61,384    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

    4,928,149         4,122,563    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Losses) earnings before income taxes

    (174,296)        553,034    

Income taxes

    (116,368)        162,274    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (losses) earnings

    (57,928)        390,760    

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

    5,242         3,353    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (losses) earnings attributable to Alleghany stockholders

   $ (63,170)       $ 387,407    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (losses) earnings

   $ (57,928)       $ 390,760    

Other comprehensive (loss) income :

   

Change in unrealized gains (losses), net of deferred taxes of  $196,336 and $128,379 for 2017 and 2016, respectively

    364,623         238,418    

Less: reclassification for net realized capital gains and other  than temporary impairment losses, net of taxes of ($31,061) and ($22,999) for 2017 and 2016, respectively

    (57,684)        (42,712)   

Change in unrealized currency translation adjustment, net of deferred  taxes of $12,050 and $10,318 for 2017 and 2016, respectively

    22,379         19,162    

Retirement plans

    (199)        452    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income

    271,191         606,080    

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

    5,242         3,353    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Alleghany stockholders

   $ 265,949        $ 602,727    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic (losses) earnings per share attributable to Alleghany stockholders

   $ (4.10)       $ 25.09    

Diluted (losses) earnings per share attributable to Alleghany stockholders

    (4.10)        25.08    

 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ALLEGHANY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

 

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
    2017     2016  
    ($ in thousands)  

Cash flows from operating activities

   

Net (losses) earnings

   $ (57,928)       $ 390,760    

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

   

Depreciation and amortization

    106,197         115,020    

Net realized capital (gains) losses

    (101,840)        (117,126)   

Other than temporary impairment losses

    13,095         38,216    

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

    (413,548)        73,781    

(Increase) decrease in premium balances receivable

    (134,088)        (44,341)   

(Increase) decrease in ceded unearned premiums

    (7,368)        (17,588)   

(Increase) decrease in deferred acquisition costs

    (28,000)        (39,962)   

(Increase) decrease in funds held under reinsurance agreements

    (94,222)        (299,372)   

Increase (decrease) in unearned premiums

    120,456         164,078    

Increase (decrease) in loss and loss adjustment expenses

    1,369,176         258,861    

Change in unrealized foreign exchange losses (gains)

    (134,404)        78,615    

Other, net

    (211,479)        (27,283)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net adjustments

    483,975         182,899    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

    426,047         573,659    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

   

Purchases of debt securities

        (4,181,182)            (4,665,980)   

Purchases of equity securities

    (3,218,941)        (1,163,687)   

Sales of debt securities

    2,836,272         3,953,367    

Maturities and redemptions of debt securities

    1,397,408         996,548    

Sales of equity securities

    2,970,760         1,197,612    

Net (purchases) sales of short-term investments

    174,501         (417,186)   

Net (purchases) sales and maturities of commercial mortgage loans

    (54,822)        (336,944)   

(Purchases) sales of property and equipment

    10,268         (18,982)   

Purchases of affiliates and subsidiaries, net of cash acquired

    (244,311)        (145,253)   

Other, net

    28,302         128,731    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    (281,745)        (471,774)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

   

Treasury stock acquisitions

    (8,549)        (55,678)   

Increase (decrease) in other debt

    (27,202)        43,135    

Other, net

    (17,070)        (4,274)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    (52,821)        (16,817)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

    16,269         8,572    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash

    107,750         93,640    

Cash at beginning of period

    594,091         475,267    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash at end of period

   $ 701,841        $ 568,907    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information

   

Cash paid during period for:

   

Interest paid

   $ 58,133        $ 56,423    

Income taxes paid (refund received)

    29,320         51,969    

 

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 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Form 10-Q”) should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the “2016 Form 10-K”) and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017 of Alleghany Corporation (“Alleghany”).

Alleghany, a Delaware corporation, owns and manages certain operating subsidiaries and investments, anchored by a core position in property and casualty reinsurance and insurance. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Alleghany Insurance Holdings LLC (“AIHL”) and its subsidiaries, Alleghany is engaged in the property and casualty insurance business. AIHL’s insurance operations are principally conducted by its subsidiaries RSUI Group, Inc. (“RSUI”), CapSpecialty, Inc. (“CapSpecialty”) and Pacific Compensation Corporation (“PacificComp”). CapSpecialty has been a subsidiary of AIHL since January 2002, RSUI has been a subsidiary of AIHL since July 2003 and PacificComp has been a subsidiary of AIHL since July 2007. AIHL Re LLC (“AIHL Re”), a captive reinsurance company which provides reinsurance to Alleghany’s insurance operating subsidiaries and affiliates, has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alleghany since its formation in May 2006. Alleghany’s reinsurance operations commenced on March 6, 2012 when Alleghany consummated a merger with Transatlantic Holdings, Inc. (“TransRe”) and TransRe became one of Alleghany’s wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Although Alleghany’s primary sources of revenues and earnings are its reinsurance and insurance operations and investments, Alleghany also sources, executes, manages and monitors certain private capital investments primarily through its wholly-owned subsidiary Alleghany Capital Corporation (“Alleghany Capital”). Alleghany Capital’s investments are included in other activities for segment reporting purposes and include:

 

    Stranded Oil Resources Corporation (“SORC”), an exploration and production company focused on enhanced oil recovery, headquartered in Golden, Colorado;

 

    Bourn & Koch, Inc. (“Bourn & Koch”), a manufacturer/remanufacturer of specialty machine tools and supplier of replacement parts, accessories and services for a variety of cutting technologies, headquartered in Rockford, Illinois;

 

    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;

 

    IPS-Integrated Project Services, LLC (“IPS”), a technical engineering-focused service provider focused on the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania;

 

    Jazwares, LLC (together with its affiliates, “Jazwares”), a global toy, entertainment and musical instrument company, headquartered in Sunrise, Florida;

 

    WWSC Holdings, LLC (“W&W|AFCO Steel”), a structural steel fabricator and erector, headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, acquired on April 28, 2017; and

 

    a 45 percent equity interest in Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. (“Wilbert”), a provider of products and services for the funeral and cemetery industries and precast concrete markets, headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, acquired on August 1, 2017. Wilbert is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and is included in other invested assets.

On April 15, 2016, Alleghany Capital acquired an additional 50 percent of Jazwares’ outstanding equity, bringing its equity ownership interest to 80 percent and, as of that date, the results of Jazwares have been included in Alleghany’s consolidated results. Prior to April 15, 2016, Jazwares was accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

In addition, Alleghany owns and manages properties in the Sacramento, California region through its wholly-owned subsidiary Alleghany Properties Holdings LLC (“Alleghany Properties”). Alleghany’s public equity investments are managed primarily through Alleghany’s wholly-owned subsidiary Roundwood Asset Management LLC.

On September 12, 2017, AIHL signed a definitive agreement to sell PacificComp to CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Company (“CopperPoint”) for total cash consideration of approximately $150 million. In connection with the transaction, AIHL Re will continue to provide adverse development reinsurance coverage on PacificComp’s pre-acquisition claims, subject to certain terms and conditions. The transaction, which is subject to customary regulatory review and approvals, is expected to close on December 31, 2017. Upon closing, Alleghany expects to record an estimated after-tax gain of approximately $25 million, which amount includes a tax benefit. As of September 30, 2017, PacificComp’s total assets were $440.6 million, consisting primarily of debt securities, and PacificComp’s total liabilities were $313.7 million, consisting primarily of loss and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) reserves.

Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “Alleghany” include Alleghany together with its subsidiaries.

 

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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 material inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

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 interests. Because all noncontrolling interests have the option to sell their ownership interests to Alleghany in the future (generally through 2024), the portion of stockholders’ equity that is not attributable to Alleghany stockholders is presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as redeemable noncontrolling interests for all periods presented. During the first nine months of 2017, Bourn & Koch had approximately 11 percent noncontrolling interests outstanding, Kentucky Trailer had approximately 21 percent noncontrolling interests outstanding, IPS had approximately 16 percent noncontrolling interests outstanding and Jazwares had approximately 20 percent noncontrolling interests outstanding. W&W|AFCO Steel had approximately 20 percent noncontrolling interests outstanding from its April 28, 2017 acquisition date through September 30, 2017.

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 as of the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Alleghany relies on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances to make judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from those reported results to the extent that those estimates and assumptions prove to be inaccurate. Changes in estimates are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income in the period in which the changes are made.

(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 2016 Form 10-K.

(c) Recent Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted

In May 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued guidance that requires disclosures related to short-duration insurance contracts. The guidance applies to property and casualty insurance and reinsurance entities, among others, and requires the following annual disclosure related to the liability for loss and LAE: (i) net incurred and paid claims development information by accident year for up to ten years; (ii) a reconciliation of incurred and paid claims development information to the aggregate carrying amount of the liability for loss and LAE; (iii) liabilities for losses that have been incurred but not yet reported by accident year and in total; (iv) a description of reserving methodologies (as well as any changes to those methodologies); (v) quantitative information about claim frequency by accident year; and (vi) the average annual percentage payout of incurred claims by age and accident year. In addition, the guidance also requires insurance entities to disclose for annual and interim reporting periods a roll-forward of the liability for loss and LAE. This guidance was effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. Alleghany adopted this guidance as of December 31, 2016 and the implementation did not have an impact on its results of operations and financial condition. See Note 5 of this Form 10-Q and Note 1(k) and Note 6 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2016 Form 10-K for the new disclosures.

Future Application of Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB, together with the International Accounting Standards Board, issued guidance on the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. Under this guidance, revenue is recognized as the transfer of goods and services to customers takes place and in amounts that reflect the payment or payments that are expected to be received from the customers for those goods and services. This guidance also requires new disclosures about revenue. Revenues related to insurance and reinsurance are not impacted by this guidance. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2018 for public entities, with early adoption permitted in 2017. Alleghany will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2018 and does not currently believe that the implementation will have a material impact on its results of operations and financial condition.

In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance that changes the recognition and measurement of certain financial instruments. This guidance requires investments in equity securities (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. For equity securities that do not have readily determinable fair values, measurement may be at cost, adjusted for any impairment and changes resulting from observable price changes for a similar investment of the same issuer. This guidance also changes the presentation and disclosure of financial instruments by: (i) requiring that financial instrument disclosures of fair value use the exit price notion; (ii) requiring separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form, either on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements; (iii) requiring separate presentation in other comprehensive income for the portion of the change in a liability’s fair value resulting

 

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from instrument-specific credit risk when an election has been made to measure the liability at fair value; and (iv) eliminating the requirement to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 for public entities, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Except for the change in presentation for instrument-specific credit risk, this guidance does not permit early adoption. Alleghany will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2018. As of January 1, 2018, unrealized gains or losses of equity securities, net of deferred taxes, will be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. Subsequently, all changes in unrealized gains or losses of equity securities, net of deferred taxes, will be presented in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings rather than the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Alleghany does not currently believe that the implementation will have a material impact on its financial condition. See Note 3(a) of this Form 10-Q for further information on Alleghany’s unrealized gains and losses of equity securities.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance on leases. Under this guidance, a lessee is required to recognize lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets for leases with terms of more than one year, whereas under current guidance, a lessee is only required to recognize assets and liabilities for those leases qualifying as capital leases. This guidance also requires new disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The accounting by lessors is to remain largely unchanged. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2019 for public entities, with early adoption permitted. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for all leases in existence as of, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. Alleghany will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2019 and does not currently believe that the implementation will have a material impact on its results of operations and financial condition. See Note 12(b) to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2016 Form 10-K for further information on Alleghany’s leases.

In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance on credit losses. Under this guidance, a company is required to measure all expected credit losses on loans, reinsurance recoverables and other financial assets accounted for at cost or amortized cost, as applicable. Estimates of expected credit losses are to be based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Credit losses for securities accounted for on an available-for-sale (“AFS”) basis are to be measured in a manner similar to GAAP as currently applied and cannot exceed the amount by which the fair value is less than the amortized cost. Credit losses for all financial assets are to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. Subsequent reversals in credit loss estimates are permitted and are to be recognized in earnings. This guidance also requires new disclosures about the significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality of financial assets. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2020 for public entities, with early adoption permitted. Alleghany will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2020 and does not currently believe that the implementation will have a material impact on its results of operations and financial condition.

In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance that simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill. Under this guidance, if an initial qualitative assessment indicates that the fair value of an operating subsidiary may be less than its carrying amount, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the operating subsidiary exceeds its estimated fair value. Any resulting impairment loss recognized cannot exceed the total amount of goodwill associated with the operating subsidiary. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2020 for public entities, with early adoption permitted. Alleghany will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2020 and does not currently believe that the implementation will have a material impact on its results of operations and financial condition.

In March 2017, the FASB issued guidance that reduces the amortization period for the premium on certain purchased callable debt securities to the earliest call date. The guidance applies specifically to noncontingent call features that are callable at a predetermined and fixed price and date. The accounting for purchased callable debt securities held at a discount is not affected. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2019 for public entities, with early adoption permitted. Alleghany will adopt this guidance in the fourth quarter of 2017, and will record a cumulative effect reduction directly to opening 2017 retained earnings and an offsetting increase in opening 2017 accumulated other comprehensive income at that time. Alleghany does not currently believe that the implementation will have a material impact on its results of operations and financial condition.

In August 2017, the FASB issued guidance that simplifies the requirements to achieve hedge accounting, better reflects the economic results of hedging in the financial statements and better aligns hedge accounting with a company’s risk management activities. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2019 for public entities, with early adoption permitted. Alleghany will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2019 and does not currently believe that the implementation will have a material impact on its results of operations and financial condition.

 

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2. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following table presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of Alleghany’s consolidated financial instruments as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 

    September 30, 2017     December 31, 2016  
    Carrying Value     Fair Value     Carrying Value     Fair Value  
   

 

($ in millions)

 

Assets

       

 

Investments (excluding equity method investments and loans)(1)

   $       17,590.2      $       17,590.2      $       16,899.2      $       16,899.2  

Liabilities

       

 

Senior Notes and other debt(2)

   $ 1,486.4      $ 1,655.5      $ 1,476.5      $ 1,584.3  

 

 

(1) This table includes 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 commercial mortgage loans that are carried at unpaid principal balance. 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 2016 Form 10-K for additional information on the senior notes and other debt.

The following tables present Alleghany’s financial instruments measured at fair value and the level of the fair value hierarchy of inputs used as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 

    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
   

 

($ in millions)

 

As of September 30, 2017

       

Equity securities:

       

Common stock

   $ 3,815.2       $ 0.5       $ 0.9       $ 3,816.6   

Preferred stock

    -           -            5.0        5.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

    3,815.2        0.5        5.9        3,821.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt securities:

       

U.S. Government obligations

    -           1,020.7        -            1,020.7   

Municipal bonds

    -           4,131.7        -            4,131.7   

Foreign government obligations

    -           1,136.2        4.7        1,140.9   

U.S. corporate bonds

    -           2,202.2        278.8        2,481.0   

Foreign corporate bonds

    -           1,254.3        39.9        1,294.2   

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

       

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

    -           948.8        5.4        954.2   

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)

    -           505.5        11.4        516.9   

Other asset-backed securities(2)

    -           490.3        1,182.5        1,672.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt securities

    -           11,689.7        1,522.7        13,212.4   

Short-term investments

    -           547.8        -            547.8   

Other invested assets(3)

    -           -            8.4        8.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments (excluding equity method investments and loans)

   $     3,815.2       $     12,238.0       $     1,537.0       $     17,590.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Senior Notes and other debt

   $ -          $ 1,553.0       $ 102.5       $ 1,655.5   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
    ($ in millions)  

As of December 31, 2016

       

Equity securities:

       

Common stock

   $ 3,105.2       $ -          $ 4.3       $ 3,109.5   

Preferred stock

    -           -           -            -       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

   Total equity securities

    3,105.2        -           4.3        3,109.5   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt securities:

       

U.S. Government obligations

    -           1,243.3        -           1,243.3   

Municipal bonds

    -           4,185.8        -           4,185.8   

Foreign government obligations

    -           1,047.1        -           1,047.1   

U.S. corporate bonds

    -           2,120.2        72.9        2,193.1   

Foreign corporate bonds

    -           1,088.4        0.4        1,088.8   

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

       

  RMBS(1)

    -           994.5        5.9        1,000.4   

  CMBS

    -           730.5        4.3        734.8   

  Other asset-backed securities(2)

    -           586.1        903.8        1,489.9   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

   Total debt securities

    -           11,995.9        987.3        12,983.2   

Short-term investments

    -           778.4        -            778.4   

Other invested assets(3)

    -           -           28.1        28.1   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

   Total investments (excluding equity method investments and  loans)

   $       3,105.2      $       12,774.3       $       1,019.7       $       16,899.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Senior Notes and other debt

   $ -          $ 1,491.5       $ 92.8       $ 1,584.3   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Primarily includes government agency pass-through securities guaranteed by a government agency or government sponsored enterprise, among other types of RMBS.
(2) Includes $1,146.2 million and $903.8 million of collateralized loan obligations as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
(3) Includes partnership and non-marketable equity investments accounted for on an AFS basis, and excludes investments accounted for using the equity method.

In the nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alleghany transferred $7.2 million of financial instruments out of Level 3 principally due to an increase in observable inputs related to the valuation of such assets and, specifically, an increase in broker quotes. Of the $7.2 million of transfers, $4.8 million related to U.S. corporate bonds and $2.4 million related to common stock. There were no transfers of financial instruments out of Level 3 in the third quarter of 2017.

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, Alleghany transferred $0.8 million and $5.5 million, respectively, of financial instruments into Level 3 principally due to a decrease in observable inputs related to the valuation of such assets and, specifically, a decrease in broker quotes. Of the $5.5 million of transfers, $3.8 million related to U.S. corporate bonds, $1.4 million related to common stock and $0.3 million related to foreign corporate bonds. There were no other material transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, Alleghany transferred $5.1 million and $5.4 million, respectively, of debt securities out of Level 3 principally due to an increase in observable inputs related to the valuation of such assets and, specifically, an increase in broker quotes. Of the $5.4 million of transfers, $5.1 million related to U.S. corporate bonds and $0.3 million related to other invested assets.

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, Alleghany transfered $5.7 million and $8.4 million, respectively, of securities into Level 3 principally due to a decrease in observable inputs related to the valuation of such assets, and specifically, a decrease in broker quotes. Of the $8.4 million of transfers, $5.5 million related to U.S. corporate bonds, $1.9 million related to foreign corporate bonds and $1.0 million related to common stock. There were no other material transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

 

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The following tables present reconciliations of the changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 in Level 3 assets measured at fair value:

 

     Equity Securities      Debt Securities                
                                        Mortgage and asset-backed                

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2017

     Common  
Stock
       Preferred  
Stock
     Foreign
 Government 
Obligations
     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, 2017

     $ 4.3         $ -             $ -             $ 72.9         $ 0.4         $ 5.9         $ 4.3         $ 903.8         $ 28.1         $ 1,019.7   

Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in:

                             

Net earnings(2)

     0.2         (0.2)        -             (0.2)        -             0.2         -             3.9         10.8         14.7   

Other comprehensive income

     -             0.2         -             3.2         0.8         0.3         0.1         15.0         (8.9)        10.7   

Purchases

     -             5.6         4.7          220.4         38.6         -             9.6         746.7         -               1,025.6   

Sales

     (2.6)        (0.6)        -             (10.2)        (0.2)        -             (2.2)        (59.5)        (21.6)        (96.9)  

Issuances

     -             -             -             -             -             -             -             -             -             -       

Settlements

     -             -             -             (6.3)        -             (1.0)        (0.4)        (427.4)        -             (435.1)  

Transfers into Level 3

     1.4         -             -             3.8         0.3         -             -             -             -             5.5   

Transfers out of Level 3

     (2.4)        -             -             (4.8)        -             -             -             -             -             (7.2)  
  

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2017

     $ 0.9         $ 5.0         $ 4.7          $ 278.8         $ 39.9         $ 5.4         $ 11.4         $ 1,182.5         $ 8.4         $   1,537.0   
  

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                               
            Debt Securities                
                          Mortgage and asset-backed                

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016

       Common    
Stock
     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, 2016

     $ -             $ 49.8         $         -             $       14.9         $ 20.2         $    953.0         $      29.9         $   1,067.8   

Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in:

                       

Net earnings(2)

     (0.1)        (0.5)        -             0.3         (0.1)        2.2         4.2         6.0   

Other comprehensive income

     1.8         1.4         -             (0.7)        0.8         25.1         (2.9)        25.5   

Purchases

     2.2         39.4         -             -             -           32.1         -             73.7   

Sales

     -           (14.5)        -             (7.0)        (8.2)        (70.7)        (4.2)        (104.6)  

Issuances

     -           -             -             -             -           -             -             -       

Settlements

     -           (1.7)        -             (1.5)        (0.5)        (33.6)        -             (37.3)  

Transfers into Level 3

     1.0         5.5         1.9         -             -           -             -             8.4   

Transfers out of Level 3

     -           (5.1)        -             -             -           -             (0.3)        (5.4)  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2016

     $ 4.9         $ 74.3         $ 1.9         $ 6.0         $ 12.2         $ 908.1         $ 26.7         $ 1,034.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(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 assets still held as of September 30, 2017 and 2016.

Net unrealized losses related to Level 3 assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 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 2016 Form 10-K for Alleghany’s accounting policy on fair value.

 

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3. Investments

(a) Unrealized Gains and Losses

The following tables present the amortized cost or cost and the fair value of AFS securities as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 

                                                                               
     Amortized
Cost
or Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
     Fair Value  
    

($ in millions)

 

 

As of September 30, 2017

           

Equity securities:

           

Common stock

     $ 3,170.0          $ 662.8          $ (16.2)          $ 3,816.6    

Preferred stock

     4.8          0.2          -              5.0    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     3,174.8          663.0          (16.2)          3,821.6    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities:

           

U.S. Government obligations

     1,033.1          1.6          (14.0)          1,020.7    

Municipal bonds

     4,039.6          106.9          (14.8)          4,131.7    

Foreign government obligations

     1,134.6          14.0          (7.7)          1,140.9    

U.S. corporate bonds

     2,425.6          63.6          (8.2)          2,481.0    

Foreign corporate bonds

     1,270.5          27.1          (3.4)          1,294.2    

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

RMBS

     953.9          7.7          (7.4)          954.2    

CMBS

     509.2          10.0          (2.3)          516.9    

Other asset-backed securities(1)

     1,661.1          13.4          (1.7)          1,672.8    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     13,027.6          244.3          (59.5)          13,212.4    

Short-term investments

     547.8          -              -              547.8    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments

     $ 16,750.2          $ 907.3          $ (75.7)          $ 17,581.8    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Amortized
Cost
or Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
     Fair Value  
    

($ in millions)

 

 

As of December 31, 2016

           

Equity securities:

           

Common stock

     $ 2,816.6          $ 332.1          $ (39.2)          $ 3,109.5    

Preferred stock

     -              -              -              -        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     2,816.6          332.1          (39.2)          3,109.5    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities:

           

U.S. Government obligations

     1,265.7          2.2          (24.6)          1,243.3    

Municipal bonds

     4,161.0          66.9          (42.1)          4,185.8    

Foreign government obligations

     1,030.9          20.2          (4.0)          1,047.1    

U.S. corporate bonds

     2,168.9          43.5          (19.3)          2,193.1    

Foreign corporate bonds

     1,068.3          27.3          (6.8)          1,088.8    

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

           

RMBS

     1,005.9          7.0          (12.5)          1,000.4    

CMBS

     728.8          9.6          (3.6)          734.8    

Other asset-backed securities(1)

     1,497.6          4.0          (11.7)          1,489.9    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     12,927.1          180.7          (124.6)          12,983.2    

Short-term investments

     778.4          -              -              778.4    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments

     $ 16,522.1          $ 512.8          $ (163.8)          $ 16,871.1    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (1) Includes $1,146.2 million and $903.8 million of collateralized loan obligations as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

 

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(b) Contractual Maturity

The amortized cost or cost and estimated fair value of debt securities by contractual maturity as of September 30, 2017 are presented 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)  

As of September 30, 2017

   

Short-term investments due in one year or less

   $ 547.8        $ 547.8    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Mortgage and asset-backed securities(1)

    3,124.2         3,143.9    

Debt securities with maturity dates:

   

One year or less

    385.2         386.1    

Over one through five years

    3,089.6         3,124.6    

Over five through ten years

    3,359.4         3,414.9    

Over ten years

    3,069.2         3,142.9    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt securities

    13,027.6         13,212.4    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity securities

    3,174.8         3,821.6    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 16,750.2        $ 17,581.8    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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

(c) Net Investment Income

The following table presents net investment income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

 

                                                                                   
   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
    2017     2016     2017     2016  
    ($ in millions)  

Interest income

   $ 104.6        $ 99.0        $ 306.3        $ 299.0    

Dividend income

    6.7         12.2         27.9         35.5    

Investment expenses

    (5.8)        (6.2)        (20.1)        (19.8)   

Equity in results of Pillar Investments(1)

    (9.4)        5.9         (2.9)        12.9    

Equity in results of Ares(1)

    6.9         4.6         (0.4)        5.1    

Other investment results

    1.7         5.1         11.1         (0.4)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 104.7        $ 120.6        $ 321.9        $ 332.3    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) See Note 3(g) of this Form 10-Q for discussion of the Pillar Investments and the investment in Ares, each as defined therein.

As of September 30, 2017, non-income producing invested assets were immaterial.

(d) Realized Gains and Losses

The proceeds from sales of AFS securities were $1.6 billion and $0.8 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $5.8 billion and $5.2 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Realized capital gains and losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily reflect sales of equity securities and certain exchange-traded funds. Realized capital gains in the first nine months of 2017 include the sale of certain equity securities resulting from a partial restructuring of the equity portfolio. Realized capital gains and losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 primarily reflect sales of equity and debt securities. In addition, Alleghany Capital recognized a gain of $13.2 million on April 15, 2016 in connection with the acquisition of an additional 50 percent equity ownership in Jazwares, when its pre-existing 30 percent equity ownership was remeasured at estimated fair value (the “Jazwares Remeasurement Gain”).

 

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The following table presents amounts of gross realized capital gains and gross realized capital losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

 

                                                           
     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2017      2016      2017      2016  
     ($ in millions)  

Gross realized capital gains

    $ 47.0         $ 32.7         $ 189.7         $ 217.7    

Gross realized capital losses

           (14.1)         (5.5)         (87.9)               (100.6)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net realized capital gains

    $ 32.9         $       27.2         $       101.8         $   117.1    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

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 equity and debt investments, which involves uncertainty as to whether declines in value are temporary in nature. The analysis of a security’s decline in value is performed in its functional currency. If the decline 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 security and records an OTTI loss on its statement of earnings. In addition, any portion of such decline related to a debt security 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 12 months 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 at least 20 percent of cost as of the balance sheet date or that 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 issuer, such as negative news releases and rating agency downgrades with respect to the issuer of the equity security.

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 discount of at least 20 percent to amortized cost for an extended period of time (nine consecutive months or more); (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 that 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, which 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

 

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enhancements and pre-refunding. For mortgage and asset-backed securities, Alleghany discounts its best estimate of future cash flows at an effective rate equal to the original effective yield of the security or, in the case of floating rate securities, at the current coupon. Alleghany’s models include assumptions about prepayment speeds, default and delinquency rates, underlying collateral (if any), 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 nine months of 2017 reflect $13.1 million of unrealized losses that were deemed to be other than temporary and, as such, were required to be charged against earnings. Of the $13.1 million of OTTI losses, $11.8 million related to equity securities, primarily in the retail sector, and $1.3 million related to debt securities. The determination that unrealized losses on equity and debt securities were other than temporary was primarily due to the duration of the decline in the fair value of equity and debt securities relative to their costs. Of the $13.1 million of OTTI losses, $6.1 million was incurred in the third quarter of 2017.

OTTI losses in the first nine months of 2016 reflect $38.2 million of unrealized losses that were deemed to be other than temporary and, as such, were required to be charged against earnings. Of the $38.2 million of OTTI losses, $16.6 million related to equity securities, primarily in the retail, financial services, technology and chemical sectors, and $21.6 million related to debt securities, primarily in the energy sector. The determination that unrealized losses on equity and debt securities were other than temporary was primarily due to the severity and duration of the decline in the fair value of equity and debt securities relative to their costs. Of the $38.2 million of OTTI losses, $11.7 million was incurred in the third quarter of 2016.

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. After adjusting the cost basis of securities for the recognition of OTTI losses, the remaining gross unrealized investment losses for debt and equity securities as of September 30, 2017 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; (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 security; and (iii) Alleghany’s ability and intent to hold the security 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’s methodology for assessing other than temporary declines in value contains inherent risks and uncertainties which could include, but are not limited to, incorrect assumptions about financial condition, liquidity or future prospects, inadequacy of any underlying collateral and unfavorable changes in economic conditions or social trends, interest rates or credit ratings.

 

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(f) Aging of Gross Unrealized Losses

The following tables present gross unrealized losses and related fair values for equity securities and debt securities, grouped by duration of time in a continuous unrealized loss position, as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 

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

As of September 30, 2017

                 

Equity securities:

                 

Common stock

     $ 998.5          $ 16.2          $ -              $ -              $ 998.5          $ 16.2    

Preferred stock

     -              -              -              -              -              -        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     998.5          16.2          -              -              998.5          16.2    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities:

                 

U.S. Government obligations

     626.0          5.9          242.9          8.1          868.9          14.0    

Municipal bonds

     404.5          2.5          358.4          12.3          762.9          14.8    

Foreign government obligations

     408.2          4.9          76.0          2.8          484.2          7.7    

U.S. corporate bonds

     399.3          5.0          206.3          3.2          605.6          8.2    

Foreign corporate bonds

     236.6          1.6          117.3          1.8          353.9          3.4    

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

                 

RMBS

     429.7          4.7          132.8          2.7          562.5          7.4    

CMBS

     24.8          0.2          41.8          2.1          66.6          2.3    

Other asset-backed securities

     232.5          0.7          90.8          1.0          323.3          1.7    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     2,761.6          25.5          1,266.3          34.0          4,027.9          59.5    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total temporarily impaired securities

     $     3,760.1          $     41.7          $     1,266.3          $       34.0          $     5,026.4          $       75.7    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     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, 2016

                 

Equity securities:

                 

Common stock

     $ 619.4          $ 39.2          $ -              $ -              $ 619.4          $ 39.2    

Preferred stock

     -              -              -              -              -              -        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     619.4          39.2          -              -              619.4          39.2    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities:

                 

U.S. Government obligations

     975.0          24.6          -              -              975.0          24.6    

Municipal bonds

     1,464.5          39.7          41.6          2.4          1,506.1          42.1    

Foreign government obligations

     238.3          4.0          -              -              238.3          4.0    

U.S. corporate bonds

     727.9          18.1          52.6          1.2          780.5          19.3    

Foreign corporate bonds

     331.0          6.6          4.1          0.2          335.1          6.8    

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

                 

RMBS

     652.0          11.4          43.4          1.1          695.4          12.5    

CMBS

     148.9          1.4          117.7          2.2          266.6          3.6    

Other asset-backed securities

     334.7          1.6          550.4          10.1          885.1          11.7    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

     4,872.3          107.4          809.8          17.2          5,682.1          124.6    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total temporarily impaired securities

     $ 5,491.7          $ 146.6          $ 809.8          $ 17.2          $ 6,301.5          $ 163.8    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2017, Alleghany held a total of 1,111 debt and equity securities that were in an unrealized loss position, of which 363, all debt securities, were in an unrealized loss position continuously for 12 months or more. The unrealized losses

 

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associated with these debt securities consisted primarily of losses related primarily to municipal bonds and U.S. Government obligations.

As of September 30, 2017, the vast majority of Alleghany’s debt securities were rated investment grade, with 7.3 percent of debt securities having issuer credit ratings that were below investment grade or not rated, compared with 5.1 percent as of December 31, 2016.

(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 managed by Pillar Holdings (the “Funds”). The objective of the Funds is to create portfolios with attractive risk-reward characteristics and low correlation with other asset classes, using the extensive reinsurance and capital market experience of the principals of Pillar Holdings. Alleghany has concluded that both Pillar Holdings and the Funds (collectively, the “Pillar Investments”) represent variable interest entities and that Alleghany is not the primary beneficiary, as it does not have the ability to direct the activities that most significantly impact each entity’s economic performance. Therefore, the Pillar Investments are not consolidated and are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Alleghany’s potential maximum loss in the Pillar Investments is limited to its cumulative net investment. As of September 30, 2017, Alleghany’s carrying value in the Pillar Investments, as determined under the equity method of accounting, was $216.7 million, which is net of returns of capital received from the Pillar Investments.

In July 2013, AIHL invested $250.0 million in Ares Management LLC (“Ares”), an 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. In May 2014, Ares completed an initial public offering of its common units. Upon completion of the initial public offering, Alleghany’s equity investment in Ares converted to limited partner interests in certain Ares subsidiaries that are convertible into an aggregate 5.9 percent interest in Ares common units. These interests may be converted at any time at Alleghany’s discretion. Until Alleghany determines to convert its limited partner interests into Ares common units, Alleghany classifies its investment in Ares as a component of other invested assets and accounts for its investment using the equity method of accounting. As of September 30, 2017, AIHL’s carrying value in Ares was $213.9 million, which is net of returns of capital received from Ares.

(h) Investments in Commercial Mortgage Loans

As of September 30, 2017, the carrying value of Alleghany’s commercial mortgage loan portfolio was $649.7 million, representing the unpaid principal balance on the loans. As of September 30, 2017, there was no allowance for loan losses. The commercial mortgage loan portfolio consists primarily of first mortgages on commercial properties in major metropolitan areas in the U.S. The loans earn interest at fixed- and floating-rates, mature in two to ten years from loan origination and the principal amounts of the loans were no more than approximately two-thirds of the property’s appraised value at the time the loans were made.

4. Reinsurance Ceded

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 of business, improve risk-adjusted portfolio returns and enable them to increase gross premium writings and risk capacity without requiring additional capital. Alleghany’s reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries purchase reinsurance and 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 Alleghany’s reinsurance recoverables and Alleghany’s reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries reinsure portions of the risks they underwrite or assume with multiple reinsurance programs.

TransRe enters into retrocession arrangements, including property catastrophe retrocession arrangements, in order to reduce the effect of individual or aggregate exposure to losses, reduce volatility in specific lines of business, improve risk-adjusted portfolio returns and increase gross premium writings and risk capacity without requiring additional capital.

As discussed in Note 5(d) to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2016 Form 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 property per risk reinsurance program run on an annual basis from May 1 to the following April 30 and portions expired on April 30, 2017. Both programs were renewed on May 1, 2017 with substantially similar terms as the expired programs.

 

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5. Liability for Loss and LAE

(a) Liability Rollforward

The following table presents the activity in the liability for loss and LAE in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

 

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
     2017      2016  
     ($ in millions)  

Reserves as of January 1

     $ 11,087.2          $ 10,799.2    

Less: reinsurance recoverables(1)

     1,236.2          1,169.3    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net reserves as of January 1

     9,851.0          9,629.9    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other adjustments

     (0.7)         3.2    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Incurred loss and LAE, net of reinsurance, related to:

     

Current year

     3,099.0          2,460.2    

Prior years

     (173.0)         (261.7)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total incurred loss and LAE, net of reinsurance

     2,926.0          2,198.5    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Paid loss and LAE, net of reinsurance, related to:(2)

     

Current year

     390.6          206.0    

Prior years

     1,743.2          1,702.7    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total paid loss and LAE, net of reinsurance

     2,133.8          1,908.7    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Foreign exchange effect

     120.5          (22.6)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net reserves as of September 30

     10,763.0          9,900.3    

Reinsurance recoverables as of September 30(1)

     1,693.4          1,157.8    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Reserves as of September 30

     $     12,456.4          $     11,058.1    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Reinsurance recoverables in this table include only ceded loss and LAE reserves.
(2) Includes paid losses, net of reinsurance, related to commutations.

Gross loss and LAE reserves and reinsurance recoverables as of September 30, 2017 increased from December 31, 2016, primarily reflecting significant catastrophe losses. Catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 included $264.6 million related to Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, $312.0 million related to Hurricane Irma in September 2017, and $170.3 million related to Hurricane Maria in September 2017.

 

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(b) Liability Development

The following table presents the (favorable) unfavorable prior accident year loss reserve development for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30,
   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
    2017     2016     2017     2016  
    ($ in millions)  

Reinsurance Segment

       

 

Property:

       

 

Catastrophe events

   $ (7.8)  (1)      $ (1.2)  (2)      $ (12.2)  (1)      $ (9.0)  (2) 

 

Non-catastrophe

    (0.3)        (9.6)  (3)      (50.4)  (4)      (70.3)  (3) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property

    (8.1)        (10.8)        (62.6)        (79.3)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Casualty & other:

       

 

Malpractice Treaties(5)

    -             (2.0)        (2.0)        (10.8)   

 

Ogden rate impact(6)

    -             -             24.4         -        

 

Other

    (41.7)  (7)      (56.2)  (8)      (100.6)  (9)      (127.9)  (8) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total casualty & other

    (41.7)        (58.2)        (78.2)        (138.7)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Reinsurance Segment

    (49.8)        (69.0)        (140.8)        (218.0)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Insurance Segment

       

 

RSUI:

       

 

Casualty

    (6.9)  (10)      (11.9)  (11)      (28.5)  (10)      (32.1)  (11) 

 

Property and other

    (1.7)  (12)      (4.6)  (13)      1.2   (14)      (8.4)  (13) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total RSUI

    (8.6)        (16.5)        (27.3)        (40.5)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CapSpecialty:

       

 

Asbestos-related illness and environmental impairment  liability

    -             -             -             (2.0)   

 

Other

    (2.3)  (15)      (0.9)  (16)      (3.1)  (15)      (1.2)  (16) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total CapSpecialty

    (2.3)        (0.9)        (3.1)        (3.2)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

PacificComp

    (0.8)  (17)      -             (1.8)  (17)      -        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total incurred related to prior years

   $       (61.5)        $       (86.4)        $       (173.0)        $       (261.7)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development from several catastrophes that occurred in the 2010 through 2016 accident years.
(2) Reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development from several catastrophes that occurred in the 2010 through 2015 accident years.
(3) Reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development primarily related to the 2014 through 2015 accident years.
(4) Reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development primarily related to the 2013 through 2016 accident years.
(5) Represents certain medical malpractice treaties pursuant to which the increased underwriting profits created by the favorable prior accident year loss reserve development are largely retained by the cedants. As a result, the favorable prior accident year loss reserve development is largely offset by an increase in profit commission expense incurred when such favorable prior accident year loss reserve development occurs.
(6) Represents unfavorable prior accident year loss reserve development arising from the U.K. Ministry of Justice’s decision to significantly reduce the discount rate, referred to as the Ogden rate, used to calculate lump-sum bodily injury payouts in personal injury insurance claims in the U.K. As of March 20, 2017, the Ogden rate changed from 2.50 percent to negative 0.75 percent.
(7) Primarily reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in longer-tailed U.S. professional liability lines of business related to older accident years and shorter-tailed casualty lines of business in the U.K. related to recent accident years.
(8) Generally reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in a variety of casualty & other lines of business primarily related to the 2005, 2006 and 2008 through 2015 accident years.
(9) Primarily reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in longer-tailed U.S. professional liability lines of business related to the 2005 through 2014 accident years, partially offset by net unfavorable prior accident year loss reserve development in shorter-tailed casualty lines of business related to the 2015 accident year in the U.S. and the U.K.
(10) Primarily reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the umbrella/excess lines of business related to the 2005 through 2011 accident years.
(11) Primarily reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the umbrella/excess, general liability and professional liability lines of business related to the 2006 through 2012 accident years.
(12) Primarily reflects favorable unallocated LAE development.
(13) Primarily reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the non-catastrophe property lines of business in recent accident years.
(14) Primarily reflects unfavorable prior accident year property loss reserve development in the binding authority lines of business primarily related to the 2015 and 2016 accident years, partially offset by favorable catastrophe prior accident year loss reserve development related to the 2016 accident year.
(15) Primarily reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the casualty lines of business related to the 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016 accident years.
(16) Primarily reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the surety lines of business related to the 2015 accident year.
(17) Primarily reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development related to the 2013 and prior accident years.

 

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6. Income Taxes

The effective tax rate on earnings before income taxes for the first nine months of 2017 was 66.8 percent, compared with 29.3 percent for the first nine months of 2016. The 66.8 percent effective tax rate is calculated based on actual results through September 30, 2017 because management was not able to reliably estimate the annual effective tax rate in light of the recent catastrophe losses incurred. The effective tax rate in the first nine months of 2017 compared with the first nine months of 2016 primarily reflects income tax benefits from taxable losses arising from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in the first nine months of 2017, and prior period income tax expense adjustments in the first nine months of 2016, which include $16.1 million of out-of-period reductions to current and deferred TransRe tax assets recorded in the first nine months of 2016 that related primarily to periods prior to Alleghany’s merger with TransRe in 2012.

Alleghany believes that, as of September 30, 2017, 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 were no material liabilities for interest or penalties accrued as of September 30, 2017.

7. Stockholders’ Equity

(a) Common Stock Repurchases

In July 2014, the Alleghany Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of shares of common stock of Alleghany, par value $1.00 per share (“Common Stock”), at such times and at prices as management determines to be advisable, up to an aggregate of $350.0 million (the “2014 Repurchase Program”). In November 2015, the Alleghany Board of Directors authorized the repurchase, upon the completion of the 2014 Repurchase Program, of additional shares of Common Stock, at such times and at prices as management determines to be advisable, up to an aggregate of $400.0 million (the “2015 Repurchase Program”). In the first quarter of 2016, Alleghany completed the 2014 Repurchase Program and subsequent repurchases have been made pursuant to the 2015 Repurchase Program. As of September 30, 2017, Alleghany had $370.7 million remaining under its share repurchase authorization.

The following table presents the shares of Common Stock that Alleghany repurchased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 pursuant to the 2014 Repurchase Program and the 2015 Repurchase Program, as applicable:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2017      2016      2017      2016  

Shares repurchased

     15,916          4,621          15,916              117,721    

Cost of shares repurchased (in millions)

   $ 8.5        $ 2.4        $ 8.5        $ 55.7    

Average price per share repurchased

   $     537.14        $     517.40        $     537.14        $ 472.97    

(b) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The following tables present a reconciliation of the changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 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, 2017

   $ 232.2        $       (111.2)       $       (11.7)       $       109.3    

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

           

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications

     364.6          22.4          (0.2)         386.8    

Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income

     (57.7)         -             -              (57.7)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     306.9          22.4          (0.2)         329.1    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2017

   $       539.1        $ (88.8)       $ (11.9)       $ 438.4    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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

Balance as of January 1, 2016

   $ 231.9        $       (104.0)       $       (11.6)       $       116.3    

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

           

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications

     238.4          19.2          0.4          258.0    

Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income

     (42.7)         -             -              (42.7)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     195.7          19.2          0.4          215.3    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2016

   $       427.6        $ (84.8)       $ (11.2)       $ 331.6    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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The following table presents reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to Alleghany stockholders during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

 

Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income Component

       Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  

    Line in Consolidated Statement of  Earnings    

  2017     2016     2017     2016  
         ($ in millions)  

Unrealized appreciation of investments:

   Net realized capital gains(1)   $     (32.9)      $ (27.2)      $     (101.8)      $     (103.9)   
   Other than temporary impairment losses     6.1         11.7         13.1         38.2    
   Income taxes     9.4         5.4         31.0         23.0    
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total reclassifications:

   Net earnings   $     (17.4)      $     (10.1)      $ (57.7)      $ (42.7)   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Net realized capital gains for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 exclude the Jazwares Remeasurement Gain of $13.2 million.

8. Earnings Per Share of Common Stock

The following is a reconciliation of the earnings and share data used in the basic and diluted (losses) earnings per share computations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
    2017     2016     2017     2016  
    ($ in millions, except share amounts)  

Net (losses) earnings available to Alleghany stockholders

  $ (314.2)      $ 155.8       $ (63.2)      $ 387.4    

Effect of dilutive securities

    (8.9)        -             -             -        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Losses) Income available to common stockholders for diluted earnings per share

  $ (323.1)      $ 155.8       $ (63.2)      $ 387.4    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding applicable to basic earnings  per share

    15,416,014         15,438,399         15,416,249         15,443,150    

Effect of dilutive securities

    42,310         -             -             6,330    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

    15,458,324         15,438,399         15,416,249         15,449,480    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

63,567 and 70,881 contingently issuable shares were potentially available during the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively, but were not included in the diluted earnings per share computations because the impact was anti-dilutive to the earnings per share calculation.

9. 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.

 

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Table of Contents

(b) Leases

Alleghany and its subsidiaries lease certain facilities, furniture and equipment under long-term lease agreements. Additional information about leases 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 2016 Form 10-K.

(c) Energy Holdings

As of September 30, 2017, Alleghany had holdings in energy sector businesses of $519.3 million, comprised of $319.4 million of debt securities, $50.7 million of equity securities and $149.2 million of Alleghany’s equity attributable to SORC.

10. 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. Other activities include Alleghany Capital and corporate activities. In addition, reinsurance and insurance underwriting activities are evaluated separately from investment and other 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 2016 Form 10-K.

The reinsurance segment consists of property and casualty reinsurance operations conducted by TransRe’s reinsurance operating subsidiaries and is further reported through two 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. Over one-third 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 in the U.S. by AIHL through its insurance operating subsidiaries RSUI, CapSpecialty and PacificComp. RSUI also writes a modest amount of assumed reinsurance business, which is included in the insurance segment.

The components of other activities are Alleghany Capital and corporate activities. Alleghany Capital consists of manufacturing and service operations, oil and gas operations and corporate operations and investments at the Alleghany Capital level. Manufacturing and service operations are conducted through Bourn & Koch, Kentucky Trailer, IPS, Jazwares, W&W|AFCO Steel, beginning April 28, 2017, and Alleghany Capital’s investment in Wilbert, beginning August 1, 2017. Oil and gas operations are conducted through SORC.

On August 1, 2017, Alleghany Capital acquired a 45 percent equity interest in Wilbert for $72.3 million.

On April 28, 2017, Alleghany Capital acquired approximately 80 percent of the equity in W&W|AFCO Steel for $164.5 million, including $163.9 million in cash paid on May 1, 2017 and $0.6 million of estimated purchase price adjustments. In connection with the acquisition, Alleghany recorded $39.9 million, $25.3 million and $70.0 million of goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and finite-lived intangible assets, respectively. Indefinite-lived intangible assets relate to trade name and finite-lived intangible assets relate to customer relationships. The customer relationship asset is estimated to have a useful life of ten years.

On April 15, 2016, Alleghany Capital acquired an additional 50 percent of Jazwares’ outstanding equity, bringing its equity ownership interest to 80 percent and, as of that date, the results of Jazwares have been included in Alleghany’s consolidated results. Prior to April 15, 2016, Jazwares was accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

The primary components of corporate activities are Alleghany Properties and other activities at the Alleghany parent company.

In addition, corporate activities include interest expense associated with the senior notes issued by Alleghany, whereas interest expense associated with senior notes issued by TransRe is included in “Total Segments” and interest expense associated with other debt is included in Alleghany Capital. Information related to the senior notes and other debt 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 2016 Form 10-K.

 

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Table of Contents

(b) Results

The following tables present the results for Alleghany’s two reportable segments and for other activities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

 

    Reinsurance Segment     Insurance Segment           Other Activities        

Three Months ended
September 30, 2017                                                                 

  Property     Casualty
& Other(1)
    Total     RSUI     Cap
Specialty
    Pacific
Comp
    Total     Total
Segments
    Alleghany
Capital
    Corporate
Activities (2)
    Consolidated  
    ($ in millions)   

Gross premiums written

   $ 445.5       $ 681.1       $ 1,126.6       $     234.6       $     74.3       $     41.6       $ 350.5      $ 1,477.1       $ -         $ (5.3)      $ 1,471.8   

Net premiums written

    329.0        649.5        978.5        170.8        69.5        41.5        281.8        1,260.3        -          -            1,260.3   

Net premiums earned

    310.8        642.4        953.2        179.0        66.1        41.4        286.5        1,239.7        -          -            1,239.7   

Net loss and LAE

    659.9        459.3        1,119.2        305.4        37.0        30.3        372.7        1,491.9        -          -            1,491.9   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    105.2        203.7        308.9        50.3        28.4        10.6        89.3        398.2        -          -            398.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting (loss) profit (3)

   $     (454.3)      $     (20.6)      $     (474.9)      $ (176.7)      $ 0.7       $ 0.5       $     (175.5)       (650.4)       -          -            (650.4)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

         

Net investment income

 

    101.4        1.6        1.7        104.7   

Net realized capital gains

 

    21.5        0.7        10.7        32.9   

Other than temporary impairment losses

 

    (6.1)       -          -            (6.1)  

Other revenue

 

    4.7        291.7        (0.1)       296.3   

Other operating expenses

 

    8.3          269.1        0.5        277.9   

Corporate administration

 

    (1.5)       -          (3.2)       (4.7)  

Amortization of intangible assets

 

    (0.3)       6.0        -            5.7   

Interest expense

 

    6.6        1.2        13.0        20.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Losses) earnings before income taxes

 

   $   (542.0)      $ 17.7       $       2.0       $     (522.3)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    Reinsurance Segment     Insurance Segment           Other Activities        

Three Months ended
September 30, 2016                                                                 

  Property     Casualty
& Other(1)
    Total     RSUI     Cap
Specialty
    Pacific
Comp
    Total     Total
Segments
    Alleghany
Capital
    Corporate
Activities (2)
    Consolidated  
    ($ in millions)  

Gross premiums written

    $ 400.2        $ 665.2        $ 1,065.4        $ 243.7        $ 68.5        $ 37.8        $ 350.0        $ 1,415.4        $ -            $ (7.5)       $ 1,407.9   

Net premiums written

    320.5        646.4        966.9        168.3        64.4        37.1        269.8        1,236.7        -            -            1,236.7   

Net premiums earned

    314.6        654.8        969.4        186.8        61.6        35.7        284.1        1,253.5        -            -            1,253.5   

Net loss and LAE

    157.6        404.6        562.2        94.8        34.5        27.1        156.4        718.6        -            -            718.6   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    105.4        227.7        333.1        53.9        26.4        9.6        89.9        423.0        -            -            423.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss) (3)

    $ 51.6        $ 22.5        $ 74.1        $ 38.1        $ 0.7        $ (1.0)       $ 37.8        111.9        -            -            111.9   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

         

Net investment income

 

    118.7        -            1.9        120.6   

Net realized capital gains

 

    27.1        0.1        -            27.2   

Other than temporary impairment losses

 

    (11.7)       -            -            (11.7)  

Other revenue

 

    0.3        218.6        6.1        225.0   

Other operating expenses

 

    23.6        203.6        1.2        228.4   

Corporate administration

 

    0.3        -           10.4        10.7   

Amortization of intangible assets

 

    (0.7)       6.7        -            6.0   

Interest expense

 

    6.8        0.6        13.3        20.7   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (losses) before income taxes

 

    $ 216.3        $ 7.8        $ (16.9)       $ 207.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    Reinsurance Segment     Insurance Segment           Other Activities        

Nine Months ended
September 30, 2017                                                                 

  Property     Casualty
& Other(1)
    Total     RSUI     Cap
Specialty
    Pacific
Comp
    Total     Total
Segments
    Alleghany
Capital
    Corporate
Activities (2)
    Consolidated  
    ($ in millions)  

Gross premiums written

    $ 1,190.0        $ 2,037.7        $ 3,227.7        $ 794.1        $ 213.2        $ 124.2        $ 1,131.5        $ 4,359.2        $ -            $ (16.5)       $ 4,342.7   

Net premiums written

    931.4        1,975.3        2,906.7        558.0        198.9        122.9        879.8        3,786.5        -            -            3,786.5   

Net premiums earned

    868.1        1,968.7        2,836.8        540.3        192.2        123.5        856.0        3,692.8        -            -            3,692.8   

Net loss and LAE

    904.6        1,344.7        2,249.3        479.7        105.7        91.3        676.7        2,926.0        -            -            2,926.0   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    283.7        662.9        946.6        158.3        83.3        32.2        273.8        1,220.4        -            -            1,220.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting (loss) profit (3)

    $ (320.2)       $ (38.9)       $ (359.1)       $ (97.7)       $ 3.2        $ -            $ (94.5)       (453.6)       -            -            (453.6)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

         

Net investment income

 

    311.7        2.1        8.1        321.9   

Net realized capital gains

 

    90.8        0.9        10.1        101.8   

Other than temporary impairment losses

 

    (13.1)       -            -            (13.1)  

Other revenue

 

    10.5        634.3        5.6        650.4   

Other operating expenses

 

    57.4        618.2        2.6        678.2   

Corporate administration

 

    0.2        -            26.4        26.6   

Amortization of intangible assets

 

    (1.2)       15.4        -            14.2   

Interest expense

 

    20.2        3.0        39.5        62.7   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Losses) earnings before income taxes

 

    $ (130.3)       $ 0.7        $ (44.7)       $ (174.3)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents
    Reinsurance Segment     Insurance Segment           Other Activities        

Nine Months ended
September 30, 2016                                                                 

  Property     Casualty
& Other(1)
    Total     RSUI     Cap
Specialty
    Pacific
Comp
    Total     Total
Segments
    Alleghany
Capital
    Corporate
Activities (2)
    Consolidated  
    ($ in millions)  

Gross premiums written

    $     1,173.3        $     2,136.7        $     3,310.0        $ 808.3        $     201.5        $     105.9        $     1,115.7        $     4,425.7        $ -             $     (19.0)       $   4,406.7   

Net premiums written

    945.1        2,088.3        3,033.4        566.3        189.0        104.5        859.8        3,893.2        -             -            3,893.2   

Net premiums earned

    857.9        2,030.6        2,888.5        567.4        175.8        104.9        848.1        3,736.6        -             -            3,736.6   

Net loss and LAE

    454.9        1,282.7        1,737.6        289.0        92.4        79.5        460.9        2,198.5        -             -            2,198.5   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    275.6        693.6        969.2        161.9        78.7        28.9        269.5        1,238.7        -             -            1,238.7   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss) (3)

    $ 127.4        $ 54.3        $ 181.7        $     116.5        $ 4.7        $ (3.5)       $ 117.7        299.4        -             -            299.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

         

Net investment income

 

    326.4        -             5.9        332.3   

Net realized capital gains

 

    107.6        13.0        (3.5)       117.1   

Other than temporary impairment losses

 

    (38.2)       -             -            (38.2)  

Other revenue

 

    3.8        517.3        6.7        527.8   

Other operating expenses

 

    65.1            508.0        2.4        575.5   

Corporate administration

 

    1.0        -             33.0        34.0   

Amortization of intangible assets

 

    (2.4)       16.9        -            14.5   

Interest expense

 

    20.6        1.2        39.6        61.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (losses) before income taxes

 

    $ 614.7        $ 4.2        $     (65.9)       $ 553.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(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 elimination of minor reinsurance activity between segments.
(3) 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 revenue, other operating expenses, corporate administration, 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 may show a profit despite an underlying underwriting loss. Where underwriting losses persist over extended periods, a reinsurance or an insurance company’s ability to continue as an ongoing concern may be at risk. Therefore, Alleghany views underwriting profit as an important measure in the overall evaluation of performance.

(c) Identifiable assets and equity

As of September 30, 2017, the identifiable assets of the reinsurance segment, insurance segment and other activities were $16.9 billion, $7.0 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively, of which cash and invested assets represented $13.6 billion, $5.4 billion and $0.7 billion, respectively. As of September 30, 2017, Alleghany’s equity attributable to the reinsurance segment, insurance segment and other activities was $5.1 billion, $2.8 billion and $0.3 billion, respectively.

Included in other activities is debt associated with Alleghany Capital’s operating subsidiaries, which totaled $102.5 million as of September 30, 2017. The $102.5 million includes $31.2 million of borrowings by Jazwares under its available credit facility, $23.0 million of borrowings by W&W|AFCO Steel under its available credit facility and term loans, $17.0 million of debt at Kentucky Trailer related primarily to a mortgage loan, borrowings to finance small acquisitions and borrowings under its available credit facility, $15.9 million of borrowings by IPS under its available credit facility and $15.4 million of term loans at Bourn & Koch related to borrowings to finance an acquisition. None of these liabilities are guaranteed by Alleghany or Alleghany Capital.

11. Credit Agreement

On July 31, 2017, Alleghany entered into a five-year credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with certain lenders party thereto, which provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $300.0 million. The credit facility is scheduled to expire on July 31, 2022, unless earlier terminated. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement will be available for working capital and general corporate purposes, including permitted acquisitions and repurchases of Common Stock. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear a floating rate of interest based in part on Alleghany’s credit rating, among other factors. The Credit Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants customary for bank loan facilities of this nature. There were no borrowings under the Credit Agreement from July 31, 2017 through September 30, 2017.

The Credit Agreement replaced Alleghany’s previous four-year credit agreement (the “Prior Credit Agreement”), which provided for an unsecured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $200.0 million. The Prior Credit Agreement was terminated on July 31, 2017 in advance of its scheduled October 15, 2017 expiration date. There were no borrowings under the Prior Credit Agreement in the seven months ended July 31, 2017.

 

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

The following is a discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part I, Item 1, “Financial Statements” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, or this “Form 10-Q,” and our audited consolidated financial statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, or the “2016 Form 10-K.”

  References in 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;

 

    “CapSpecialty” are to our wholly-owned subsidiary CapSpecialty, Inc. and its subsidiaries;

 

    “PacificComp” are to our wholly-owned subsidiary Pacific Compensation Corporation and its subsidiary;

 

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

 

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

 

    “Alleghany Capital” are to our wholly-owned subsidiary Alleghany Capital Corporation and its subsidiaries;

 

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

 

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

 

    “Kentucky Trailer” are to our majority-owned subsidiary R.C. Tway Company, LLC and its subsidiaries;

 

    “IPS” are to our majority-owned subsidiary IPS-Integrated Project Services, LLC and its subsidiaries;

 

    “Jazwares” are to our majority-owned subsidiary Jazwares, LLC and its subsidiaries and affiliates;

 

    “W&W|AFCO Steel” are to our majority-owned subsidiary WWSC Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries; and

 

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

 

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Note on Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this Form 10-Q may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “should” or the negative versions of those words or other comparable words. Forward-looking statements do not relate solely to historical or current facts, rather they are based on management’s expectations as well as certain assumptions and estimates made by, and information available to, management at the time. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements are based upon Alleghany’s current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect current plans, anticipated actions and Alleghany’s future financial condition and results. Factors that could cause these forward-looking statements to differ, possibly materially, from that currently contemplated include:

 

    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 and insurance operating subsidiaries on a limited number of brokers;

 

    legal, political, judicial and regulatory changes;

 

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

 

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

 

    claims development and the process of estimating reserves;

 

    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;

 

    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;

 

    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; changes in our plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, or intentions, which may happen at any time at our discretion; and other factors discussed in the 2016 Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC.” All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are based on information available at that time. Alleghany does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent circumstances or events. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of the 2016 Form 10-K for additional information.

 

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Table of Contents

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 U.S., 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 our performance. This presentation includes the use of underwriting profit and Adjusted EBITDA, which are “non-GAAP financial measures,” as such term is defined in Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC. The presentation of these financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. These measures may also be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, limiting their usefulness for comparison purposes. A discussion of our calculation and use of these financial measures is provided below.

Underwriting profit is a non-GAAP financial measure for our reinsurance and insurance segments. 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: (i) net investment income; (ii) net realized capital gains; (iii) other than temporary impairment, or “OTTI,” losses; (iv) other revenue; (v) other operating expenses; (vi) corporate administration; (vii) amortization of intangible assets; and (viii) 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. A reconciliation of underwriting profit to earnings before income taxes is presented within “Consolidated Results of Operations.”

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure for our non-insurance operating subsidiaries and investments held by Alleghany Capital. Adjusted EBITDA represents other revenue less certain other expenses and does not include: (i) depreciation expense (a component of other operating expenses); (ii) amortization of intangible assets; (iii) interest expense; (iv) net realized capital gains; (v) OTTI losses; and (vi) income taxes. Because Adjusted EBITDA excludes interest, income taxes, net realized capital gains, OTTI losses, depreciation and amortization, it provides an indication of economic performance that is not affected by levels of debt, interest rates, effective tax rates or levels of depreciation and amortization resulting from acquisition accounting. We use Adjusted EBITDA as a supplement to earnings before income taxes, the most comparable GAAP financial measure, to evaluate the performance of certain of our non-insurance operating subsidiaries and investments. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to earnings before income taxes is presented within “Consolidated Results of Operations.”

 

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Table of Contents

Overview

The following overview does not address all of the matters covered in the other sections of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations or contain all of the information that may be important to our stockholders or the investing public. This overview should be read in conjunction with the other sections of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

    Net losses attributable to Alleghany stockholders were $314.2 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared with net earnings attributable to Alleghany stockholders of $155.8 million in the third quarter of 2016, and net losses attributable to Alleghany stockholders were $63.2 million in the first nine months of 2017, compared with net earnings attributable to Alleghany stockholders of $387.4 million in the first nine months of 2016.

 

    Losses before income taxes were $522.3 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared with earnings before income taxes of $207.2 million in the third quarter of 2016, and losses before income taxes were $174.3 million in the first nine months of 2017, compared with net earnings before income taxes of $553.0 million in the first nine months of 2016.

 

    Net investment income decreased by 13.2 percent and 3.1 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively, from the corresponding 2016 periods.

 

    Net premiums written increased by 1.9 percent and decreased by 2.7 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively, from the corresponding 2016 periods.

 

    Underwriting loss was $650.4 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared with underwriting profit of $111.9 million in the third quarter of 2016, and underwriting loss was $453.6 million in the first nine months of 2017, compared with underwriting profit of $299.4 million in the first nine months of 2016.

 

    The combined ratio for our reinsurance and insurance segments was 152.4 percent in the third quarter of 2017, compared with 91.0 percent in the third quarter of 2016, and 112.2 percent in the first nine months of 2017, compared with 92.0 percent in the first nine months of 2016.

 

    Catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, were $792.5 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared with $32.1 million in the third quarter of 2016, and $807.9 million in the first nine months of 2017, compared with $160.0 million in the first nine months of 2016.

 

    Net favorable prior accident year loss reserve development was $61.5 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared with $86.4 million in the third quarter of 2016, and $173.0 million in the first nine months of 2017, compared with $261.7 million in the first nine months of 2016.

 

    Sales revenues for Alleghany Capital were $291.7 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared with $218.6 million in the third quarter of 2016, and $634.3 million in the first nine months of 2017, compared with $517.3 million in the first nine months of 2016.

 

    Earnings before income taxes for Alleghany Capital were $17.7 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared with $7.8 million in the third quarter of 2016, and earnings before income taxes were $0.7 million in the first nine months of 2017, compared with $4.2 million in the first nine months of 2016. Adjusted EBITDA was $31.3 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared with $20.3 million in the third quarter of 2016, and $35.8 million in the first nine months of 2017, compared with $24.9 million in the first nine months of 2016.

As of September 30, 2017, we had total assets of $25.7 billion and total stockholders’ equity attributable to Alleghany stockholders of $8.2 billion. As of September 30, 2017, we had consolidated total investments of approximately $19.0 billion, consisting of $13.2 billion invested in debt securities, $3.8 billion invested in equity securities, $0.6 billion invested in short-term investments, $0.7 billion invested in commercial mortgage loans and $0.7 billion invested in other invested assets.

We incurred significant catastrophe losses in the third quarter of 2017, primarily arising from three major hurricanes. Hurricane Harvey caused widespread property damage and flooding in August 2017, primarily in the State of Texas. Hurricane Irma caused widespread property damage and flooding in September 2017, primarily in the State of Florida. Hurricane Maria caused widespread property damage and flooding in September 2017, primarily in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Our loss estimates for these catastrophes are based on an analysis of reported claims, an underwriting review of in-force contracts, estimates of losses resulting from wind and other perils, including storm surge and flooding to the extent covered by applicable policies, and other factors requiring considerable judgment. The ultimate amount of our actual losses from these catastrophes may be materially different from these estimates due to the size and complexity of the events and the preliminary nature of the information available to prepare the estimates.

 

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The following table presents the impact of our catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, for the 2017 third quarter:

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017

   Reinsurance
Segment
    Insurance
Segment
    Total
Segments
      
     ($ in millions)     

Net loss and LAE:

         

Hurricane Harvey

     $    181.0         $     83.6    (1)      $    264.6       

Hurricane Irma

     208.3         103.7    (2)      312.0       

Hurricane Maria

     156.0         14.3    (2)      170.3       

Other

     30.7    (3)      14.9         45.6       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

Total net loss and LAE

     576.0         216.5         792.5       

Net reinstatement premiums (earned) (4)

     (37.1)        -             (37.1)      
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

Losses before income taxes

     538.9         216.5         755.4       

Income taxes

     188.6         75.8         264.4       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

Net losses attributables to Alleghany stockholders

     $    350.3         $    140.7         $    491.0       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

(1) Includes $83.3 million attributable to RSUI and $0.3 million attributable to CapSpecialty.
(2) All attributable to RSUI.
(3) Attributable to earthquakes in Mexico.
(4) Represents an increase to net premiums earned.

Our catastrophe losses are more fully described in the following pages.

Consolidated Results of Operations

The following table presents our consolidated revenues, costs and expenses and earnings:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2017      2016      2017      2016  
     ($ in millions)  

Revenues

           

Net premiums earned

     $    1,239.7          $  1,253.5          $  3,692.8          $  3,736.6    

Net investment income

     104.7          120.6          321.9          332.3    

Net realized capital gains

     32.9          27.2          101.8          117.1    

Other than temporary impairment losses

     (6.1)         (11.7)         (13.1)         (38.2)   

Other revenue

     296.3          225.0          650.4          527.8    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

     1,667.5          1,614.6          4,753.8          4,675.6    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Costs and Expenses

           

Net loss and loss adjustment expenses

     1,491.9          718.6          2,926.0          2,198.5    

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     398.2          423.0          1,220.4          1,238.7    

Other operating expenses

     277.9          228.4          678.2          575.5    

Corporate administration

     (4.7)         10.7          26.6          34.0    

Amortization of intangible assets

     5.7          6.0          14.2          14.5    

Interest expense

     20.8          20.7          62.7          61.4    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

     2,189.8          1,407.4          4,928.1          4,122.6    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

(Losses) earnings before income taxes

     (522.3)         207.2          (174.3)         553.0    

Income taxes

     (212.3)         48.4          (116.3)         162.3    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net (losses) earnings

     (310.0)         158.8          (58.0)         390.7    

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

     4.2          3.0          5.2          3.3    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net (losses) earnings attributable to Alleghany stockholders

     $     (314.2)         $     155.8          $     (63.2)         $     387.4    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

28


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Alleghany’s segments are reported in a manner consistent with the way management evaluates the businesses. As such, we classify our businesses into two reportable segments – reinsurance and insurance. Other activities include Alleghany Capital and corporate activities. See Note 10 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 our segments and other activities. The tables below present the results for our segments and for other activities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

    Segments     Other Activities        

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017

  Reinsurance
Segment
    Insurance
Segment
    Total
Segments
    Alleghany
Capital
    Corporate
Activities(1)
    Consolidated  
    ($ in millions)  

Gross premiums written

   $ 1,126.6          $ 350.5          $ 1,477.1          $ -           $ (5.3)      $ 1,471.8   

Net premiums written

    978.5           281.8           1,260.3           -            -            1,260.3   

Net premiums earned

    953.2           286.5           1,239.7           -            -            1,239.7   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss and LAE:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    593.0           167.9           760.9           -            -            760.9   

Current year catastrophe losses

    576.0           216.5           792.5           -            -            792.5   

Prior years

    (49.8)          (11.7)          (61.5)          -            -            (61.5)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

    1,119.2           372.7           1,491.9           -            -            1,491.9   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    308.9           89.3           398.2           -            -            398.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting (loss)(2)

   $   (474.9)         $   (175.5)          (650.4)          -            -            (650.4)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

         

Net investment income

        101.4           1.6        1.7        104.7   

Net realized capital gains

        21.5           0.7        10.7        32.9   

Other than temporary impairment losses

        (6.1)          -            -            (6.1)  

Other revenue

        4.7           291.7        (0.1)       296.3   

Other operating expenses

        8.3           269.1        0.5        277.9   

Corporate administration

        (1.5)          -            (3.2)       (4.7)  

Amortization of intangible assets

        (0.3)          6.0        -            5.7   

Interest expense

        6.6           1.2        13.0        20.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (losses) before income taxes

       $   (542.0)         $     17.7       $     2.0       $     (522.3)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3):

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    62.3%        58.6%        61.4%         

Current year catastrophe losses

    60.4%        75.6%        63.9%         

Prior years

    (5.2%)       (4.1%)       (5.0%)        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Total net loss and LAE

    117.5%        130.1%        120.3%         

Expense ratio(4)

    32.3%        31.2%        32.1%         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Combined ratio(5)

    149.8%        161.3%        152.4%         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

29


Table of Contents
    Segments     Other Activities        

Three Months Ended September 30, 2016

  Reinsurance
Segment
    Insurance
Segment
    Total
Segments
    Alleghany
Capital
    Corporate
Activities(1)
    Consolidated  
    ($ in millions)  

Gross premiums written

   $   1,065.4          $     350.0          $   1,415.4          $ -           $ (7.5)      $   1,407.9   

Net premiums written

    966.9           269.8           1,236.7           -            -            1,236.7   

Net premiums earned

    969.4           284.1           1,253.5           -            -            1,253.5   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss and LAE:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    609.6           163.3           772.9           -            -            772.9   

Current year catastrophe losses

    21.6           10.5           32.1           -            -            32.1   

Prior years

    (69.0)          (17.4)          (86.4)          -            -            (86.4)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

    562.2           156.4           718.6           -            -            718.6   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    333.1           89.9           423.0          -            -            423.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit(2)

   $ 74.1          $ 37.8           111.9           -            -            111.9   
 

 

 

   

 

 

         

Net investment income

        118.7           -            1.9        120.6   

Net realized capital gains

        27.1           0.1       -            27.2   

Other than temporary impairment losses

        (11.7)          -            -            (11.7)  

Other revenue

        0.3             218.6       6.1        225.0   

Other operating expenses

        23.6           203.6       1.2        228.4   

Corporate administration

        0.3           -            10.4        10.7   

Amortization of intangible assets

        (0.7)          6.7       -            6.0   

Interest expense

        6.8           0.6       13.3        20.7   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (losses) before income taxes

       $ 216.3          $ 7.8      $       (16.9)     $ 207.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3):

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    62.8%        57.5%        61.7%         

Current year catastrophe losses

    2.2%        3.7%        2.6%         

Prior years

    (7.1%)       (6.1%)       (7.0%)        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Total net loss and LAE

    57.9%        55.1%        57.3%         

Expense ratio(4)

    34.4%        31.7%        33.7%         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Combined ratio(5)

    92.3%        86.8%        91.0%         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

30


Table of Contents
    Segments     Other Activities        

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

  Reinsurance
Segment
    Insurance
Segment
    Total
Segments
    Alleghany
Capital
    Corporate
Activities(1)
    Consolidated  
    ($ in millions)  

Gross premiums written

   $   3,227.7          $   1,131.5          $   4,359.2          $ -          $       (16.5)      $   4,342.7   

Net premiums written

    2,906.7           879.8           3,786.5           -           -           3,786.5   

Net premiums earned

    2,836.8           856.0           3,692.8           -           -           3,692.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss and LAE:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    1,814.1           477.0           2,291.1           -           -           2,291.1   

Current year catastrophe losses

    576.0           231.9           807.9           -           -           807.9   

Prior years

    (140.8)          (32.2)          (173.0)          -           -           (173.0)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

    2,249.3           676.7           2,926.0           -           -           2,926.0   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    946.6           273.8           1,220.4           -           -           1,220.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting (loss)(2)

   $ (359.1)         $ (94.5)          (453.6)          -           -           (453.6)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

         

Net investment income

        311.7           2.1        8.1        321.9   

Net realized capital gains

        90.8           0.9        10.1        101.8   

Other than temporary impairment losses

        (13.1)          -           -           (13.1)  

Other revenue

        10.5           634.3        5.6        650.4   

Other operating expenses

        57.4             618.2        2.6        678.2   

Corporate administration

        0.2           -           26.4        26.6   

Amortization of intangible assets

        (1.2)          15.4        -           14.2   

Interest expense

        20.2           3.0        39.5        62.7   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (losses) before income taxes

       $ (130.3)         $ 0.7       $ (44.7)      $ (174.3)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3):

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    63.9%        55.8%        62.0%         

Current year catastrophe losses

    20.3%        27.1%        21.9%         

Prior years

    (5.0%)       (3.8%)       (4.7%)        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Total net loss and LAE

    79.2%        79.1%        79.2%         

Expense ratio(4)

    33.4%        32.0%        33.0%         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Combined ratio(5)

    112.6%        111.1%        112.2%         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

31


Table of Contents
    Segments     Other Activities        

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016

  Reinsurance
Segment
    Insurance
Segment
    Total
Segments
    Alleghany
Capital
    Corporate
Activities(1)
    Consolidated  
    ($ in millions)  

Gross premiums written

   $   3,310.0          $   1,115.7          $   4,425.7          $ -           $       (19.0)      $    4,406.7   

Net premiums written

    3,033.4           859.8           3,893.2           -            -            3,893.2   

Net premiums earned

    2,888.5           848.1           3,736.6           -            -            3,736.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss and LAE:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    1,838.2           462.0           2,300.2           -            -            2,300.2   

Current year catastrophe losses

    117.4           42.6           160.0           -            -            160.0   

Prior years

    (218.0)          (43.7)          (261.7)          -            -            (261.7)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

    1,737.6           460.9           2,198.5           -            -            2,198.5   

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    969.2           269.5           1,238.7           -            -            1,238.7   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit(2)

   $ 181.7          $ 117.7           299.4           -            -            299.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

         

Net investment income

        326.4           -            5.9        332.3   

Net realized capital gains

        107.6           13.0        (3.5)       117.1   

Other than temporary impairment losses

        (38.2)          -            -            (38.2)  

Other revenue

        3.8             517.3        6.7        527.8   

Other operating expenses

        65.1           508.0        2.4        575.5   

Corporate administration

        1.0           -            33.0        34.0   

Amortization of intangible assets

        (2.4)          16.9        -            14.5   

Interest expense

        20.6           1.2        39.6        61.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (losses) before income taxes

       $ 614.7          $ 4.2       $ (65.9)      $ 553.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3):

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    63.6%        54.5%        61.6%         

Current year catastrophe losses

    4.1%        5.0%        4.3%         

Prior years

    (7.4%)       (5.2%)       (7.1%)        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Total net loss and LAE

    60.3%        54.3%        58.8%         

Expense ratio(4)

    33.6%        31.8%        33.2%         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Combined ratio(5)

    93.9%        86.1%        92.0%         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

(1) Includes elimination of minor reinsurance activity between segments.
(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 revenue, other operating expenses, corporate administration, amortization of intangible assets and 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 the 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.

 

32


Table of Contents

Comparison of the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

Premiums. The following table presents our consolidated premiums:

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30,
          Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
            2017                           2016             Percent Change             2017                           2016             Percent Change  
   

($ in millions)

 

 

Premiums written:

               

Gross premiums written

  $ 1,471.8       $ 1,407.9       4.5   $ 4,342.7       $ 4,406.7       (1.5 %) 

Net premiums written

    1,260.3         1,236.7       1.9     3,786.5         3,893.2       (2.7 %) 

Net premiums earned

    1,239.7         1,253.5       (1.1 %)      3,692.8         3,736.6       (1.2 %) 

The increases in gross and net premiums written in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016 are mainly attributable to increases at our reinsurance segment, primarily reflecting reinstatement premiums written related to the significant catastrophe losses that occurred in the third quarter of 2017. The increase in net premiums written in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016 is also due to an increase at our insurance segment, reflecting growth at PacificComp, CapSpecialty and, to a lesser extent, RSUI.

The decreases in gross and net premiums written in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016 are mainly attributable to decreases at our reinsurance segment, primarily related to cancellations, non-renewals and reduced participations in certain international treaties, the impact of rate pressures and increased retentions by cedants and, to a lesser extent, the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, partially offset by gross and net premiums written in the third quarter of 2017 related to reinstatement premiums written. The decrease at our reinsurance segment in gross and net premiums written in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016 also reflects lower premiums related to a large whole account quota share treaty, or the “Quota Share Treaty.” Premiums related to the Quota Share Treaty were $205.8 million and $199.4 million in the third quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $579.9 million and $624.2 million in the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively. Premiums related to the Quota Share Treaty in the first nine months of 2016 reflect elevated premiums written in the first quarter of 2016 due to differences between initial premium estimates at contract inception, which were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015, and actual data subsequently reported. As a consequence of this change in estimate, premiums written in the fourth quarter of 2015 were understated and premiums written in the first quarter of 2016 were correspondingly increased. In general, when actual data has not been reported by ceding companies, premiums written are estimated based on historical patterns and other relevant factors. Any differences between these estimates and actual data subsequently reported are recorded in the period when actual data becomes available.

The decreases in net premiums earned in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect decreases at our reinsurance segment due mainly to a decrease in net premiums written in recent quarters.

A comparison of premiums by segment for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 and 2016 is more fully described in the following pages.

Net loss and LAE. The following table presents our consolidated net loss and LAE:

 

          Three Months Ended
September 30,
          Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
                  2017                     2016             Percent Change             2017                     2016             Percent Change  
         

 

($ in millions)

 

 

Net loss and LAE:

             

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

     $ 760.9          $ 772.9           (1.6 %)     $ 2,291.1          $ 2,300.2           (0.4%)  

Current year catastrophe losses

      792.5           32.1           2,368.8     807.9           160.0           404.9%   

Prior years

      (61.5)          (86.4)          (28.8 %)      (173.0)          (261.7)          (33.9%)  
   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

     $     1,491.9          $     718.6           107.6    $     2,926.0          $     2,198.5           33.1%   
   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Loss ratio:

             

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

      61.4%        61.7%          62.0%        61.6%     

Current year catastrophe losses

      63.9%        2.6%          21.9%        4.3%     

Prior years

      (5.0%)       (7.0%)         (4.7%)       (7.1%)    
   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

      120.3%        57.3%          79.2%        58.8%     
   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

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The increases in net loss and LAE in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect significant increases in catastrophe losses at our reinsurance and insurance segments. The catastrophe losses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 include $264.6 million related to Hurricane Harvey, $312.0 million related to Hurricane Irma and $170.3 million related to Hurricane Maria.

The catastrophe losses in the third quarter of 2016 related primarily to typhoons and floods in China and flooding and severe weather primarily in the State of Louisiana. In addition to the losses in the third quarter of 2016, the catastrophe losses in the first nine months of 2016 included wildfire losses in Alberta, Canada and earthquake losses in Japan and Ecuador.

Net loss and LAE in the first nine months of 2017 for the reinsurance segment includes $24.4 million of unfavorable prior accident year loss reserve development arising from the U.K. Ministry of Justice’s decision to significantly reduce the discount rate, referred to as the Ogden rate, used to calculate lump-sum bodily injury payouts in personal injury insurance claims in the U.K.

A comparison of net loss and LAE by segment for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 and 2016 is more fully described in the following pages.

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses. The following table presents our consolidated commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses:

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

         

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

       
    2017     2016     Percent Change     2017     2016     Percent Change  
    ($ in millions)  

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    $    398.2          $    423.0          (5.9%)       $    1,220.4          $    1,238.7          (1.5%)  

Expense ratio

    32.1%       33.7%         33.0%       33.2%    

 

The decreases in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods reflect the impact of lower net premiums earned and the impact of losses arising from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria on short-term incentive compensation expense accruals at our reinsurance segment and RSUI.

 

A comparison of commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 and 2016 is more fully described in the following pages.

 

Underwriting profit. The following table presents our consolidated underwriting (loss) profit:

 

 

 

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

         

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

       
    2017     2016     Percent Change     2017     2016     Percent Change  
    ($ in millions)  

Underwriting (loss) profit

    $    (650.4)         $    111.9          (681.2%)       $    (453.6)         $    299.4          (251.5%)  

Combined ratio

    152.4%       91.0%         112.2%       92.0%    

 

The underwriting losses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, compared with underwriting profits in the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect significant catastrophe losses from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria at our reinsurance and insurance segments, as discussed above.

 

A comparison of underwriting profit for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 and 2016 is more fully described in the following pages.

 

Investment results. The following table presents our consolidated investment results:

 

 

 

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

         

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

       
    2017     2016     Percent Change     2017     2016     Percent Change  
    ($ in millions)  

Net investment income

    $    104.7        $    120.6        (13.2%)       $    321.9        $    332.3        (3.1%)  

Net realized capital gains

    32.9        27.2        21.0%        101.8        117.1        (13.1%)  

Other than temporary impairment losses

    (6.1)       (11.7)       (47.9%)       (13.1)       (38.2)       (65.7%)  

 

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The decreases in net investment income in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily relate to losses incurred on our equity interests in Pillar Capital Holdings Limited and related funds, or “Pillar Investments,” arising from significant catastrophe losses incurred in August and September 2017. The decrease in net investment income in the first nine months of 2017 also relates to a $12.6 million charge on our equity investment in Ares Management LLC, or “Ares.” The charge on our equity investment in Ares reflects our share of a one-time payment recorded by Ares related to an acquisition by its affiliated entity. In connection with this acquisition, Ares agreed to make certain transaction support payments to the sellers of the acquired entity. Ares expects to receive future management fees derived from the assets under management of the acquired entity.

The increase in net realized capital gains in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016 primarily reflects gains on the sale of certain exchange-traded funds in the third quarter of 2017 that exceeded gains for the equity and bond portfolio in the third quarter of 2016. The decrease in net realized capital gains in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016 primarily reflects lower gains for the equity and bond portfolio and a one-time $13.2 million realized gain recorded on April 15, 2016 by Alleghany Capital, as more fully described in the following pages, partially offset by gains on the sale of certain exchange-traded funds in the third quarter of 2017.

The decreases in OTTI losses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods reflect decreases in OTTI losses related to debt and equity securities.

A comparison of investment results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 and 2016 is more fully described in the following pages.

Other revenue and expenses. The following table presents our consolidated other revenue and expenses:

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,

         

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

      
    

2017

   2016     

Percent Change

   2017      2016     

Percent Change

     ($ in millions)

Other revenue

   $      296.3      $       225.0        31.7%      $       650.4        $       527.8        23.2%  

Other operating expenses

   277.9        228.4        21.7%        678.2          575.5        17.8%  

Corporate administration

   (4.7)       10.7        (143.9%)       26.6          34.0        (21.8%) 

Amortization of intangible assets

   5.7        6.0        (5.0%)       14.2          14.5        (2.1%) 

Interest expense

   20.8        20.7        0.5%        62.7          61.4        2.1%  

Other revenue and Other operating expenses. Other revenue and other operating expenses primarily include sales revenues and expenses associated with Alleghany Capital. Other operating expenses also include the long-term incentive compensation at our reinsurance and insurance segments, which totaled $5.4 million and $19.4 million in the third quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $50.4 million and $61.5 million in the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively. The decreases in long-term incentive compensation at our reinsurance and insurance segments in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect the impact of losses arising from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria on long-term incentive compensation expense accruals at TransRe and RSUI.

On April 28, 2017, Alleghany Capital acquired approximately 80 percent of the equity in W&W|AFCO Steel for $164.5 million, including $163.9 million in cash paid on May 1, 2017 and $0.6 million of estimated purchase price adjustments.

The increases in other revenue in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect the acquisition of W&W|AFCO Steel. The increases in other operating expenses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect the acquisition of W&W|AFCO Steel, partially offset by decreases in the long-term incentive compensation of our reinsurance and insurance segments. The increase in other operating expenses in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016 also reflects finders fees, legal and accounting costs and other transaction-related expenses at the Alleghany Capital level.

Corporate administration. The negative corporate administration expense in the third quarter of 2017, compared with corporate administration expense in the third quarter of 2016, and the decrease in corporate administration expense in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016, primarily reflect the impact of losses arising from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria on long-term incentive compensation expense accruals at Alleghany.

Amortization of intangible assets. The decreases in amortization expenses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect decreases in amortization expense at IPS, as certain of IPS’s intangible assets were fully amortized as of December 31, 2016, partially offset by the amortization of net intangible assets related to the acquisition of W&W|AFCO Steel.

 

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Interest expense. The increases in interest expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods reflect new or increased borrowings at Bourn & Koch and Jazwares and borrowings at W&W|AFCO Steel.

Income taxes. The following table presents our consolidated income tax expense:

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

       

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

   
   

2017

  2016    

Percent Change

 

2017

 

2016

 

Percent Change

    ($ in millions)

Income taxes

    $    (212.3)      $     48.4       (538.6%)      $    (116.3)       $    162.3      (171.7%) 

Effective tax rate

        66.8%   29.3%  

 

The income tax benefits in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared with income tax expenses in the corresponding 2016 periods reflect the impact of taxable losses arising from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. The 66.8 percent effective tax rate is calculated based on actual results through September 30, 2017, because management was not able to reliably estimate the annual effective tax rate in light of the recent catastrophe losses incurred. In addition, income taxes in the first nine months of 2016 include prior period income tax expense adjustments. The effective tax rate in the first nine months of 2017 compared with the first nine months of 2016 primarily reflects income tax benefits from taxable losses arising from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in the first nine months of 2017, and prior period income tax expense adjustments in the first nine months of 2016, which include $16.1 million of out-of-period reductions to current and deferred TransRe tax assets recorded in the first nine months of 2016 that relate primarily to periods prior to our merger with TransRe in 2012.

 

Earnings. The following table presents our consolidated earnings:

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

       

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

   
   

2017

  2016    

Percent Change

 

2017

 

2016

 

Percent Change

    ($ in millions)

(Losses) earnings before income taxes

    $    (522.3)      $     207.2       (352.1%)      $    (174.3)       $    553.0      (131.5%) 

Net (losses) earnings attributable to Alleghany
stockholders

  (314.2)      155.8       (301.7%)    (63.2)     387.4      (116.3%) 

The losses before income taxes and net losses attributable to Alleghany stockholders in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, compared with earnings before income taxes and net earnings attributable to Alleghany stockholders in the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect significant catastrophe losses from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria at our reinsurance and insurance segments, as discussed above.

 

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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 2016 Form 10-K.

The underwriting results of the reinsurance segment are presented below.

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017

   Property      Casualty &
Other(1)
     Total  
     ($ in millions)  

Gross premiums written

     $     445.5             $     681.1             $     1,126.6       

Net premiums written

     329.0             649.5             978.5       

Net premiums earned

     310.8             642.4             953.2       

Net loss and LAE:

        

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

     162.0             431.0             593.0       

Current year catastrophe losses

     506.0             70.0             576.0       

Prior years

     (8.1)            (41.7)            (49.8)      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

     659.9             459.3             1,119.2       

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     105.2             203.7             308.9       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Underwriting (loss)(2)

     $     (454.3)            $     (20.6)            $     (474.9)      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3):

        

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

     52.1%          67.1%          62.3%    

Current year catastrophe losses

     162.8%          10.9%          60.4%    

Prior years

     (2.6%)         (6.5%)         (5.2%)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

     212.3%          71.5%          117.5%    

Expense ratio(4)

     33.8%          31.7%          32.3%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

     246.1%          103.2%          149.8%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Three Months Ended September 30, 2016

   Property      Casualty &
Other(1)
     Total  
     ($ in millions)  

Gross premiums written

     $     400.2             $     665.2             $     1,065.4       

Net premiums written

     320.5             646.4             966.9       

Net premiums earned

     314.6             654.8             969.4       

Net loss and LAE:

        

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

     147.0             462.6             609.6       

Current year catastrophe losses

     21.4             0.2             21.6       

Prior years

     (10.8)            (58.2)            (69.0)      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

     157.6             404.6             562.2       

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     105.4             227.7             333.1       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Underwriting profit(2)

     $     51.6             $     22.5             $     74.1       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3):

        

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

     46.7%          70.6%          62.8%    

Current year catastrophe losses

     6.8%          -  %          2.2%    

Prior years

     (3.4%)         (8.9%)         (7.1%)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

     50.1%          61.7%          57.9%    

Expense ratio(4)

     33.5%          34.8%          34.4%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

     83.6%          96.5%          92.3%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

   Property      Casualty &
Other(1)
     Total  
     ($ in millions)  

Gross premiums written

     $     1,190.0             $     2,037.7             $     3,227.7       

Net premiums written

     931.4             1,975.3             2,906.7       

Net premiums earned

     868.1             1,968.7             2,836.8       

Net loss and LAE:

        

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

     461.2             1,352.9             1,814.1       

Current year catastrophe losses

     506.0             70.0             576.0       

Prior years

     (62.6)            (78.2)            (140.8)      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

     904.6             1,344.7             2,249.3       

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     283.7             662.9             946.6       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Underwriting (loss)(2)

     $     (320.2)            $     (38.9)            $     (359.1)      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3):

        

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

     53.1%          68.7%          63.9%    

Current year catastrophe losses

     58.3%          3.6%          20.3%    

Prior years

     (7.2%)         (4.0%)         (5.0%)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

     104.2%          68.3%          79.2%    

Expense ratio(4)

     32.7%          33.7%          33.4%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

     136.9%          102.0%          112.6%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016

  Property     Casualty &
Other(1)
    Total  
    ($ in millions)  

Gross premiums written

    $     1,173.3            $     2,136.7            $     3,310.0       

Net premiums written

    945.1            2,088.3            3,033.4       

Net premiums earned

    857.9            2,030.6            2,888.5       

Net loss and LAE:

     

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    418.7            1,419.5            1,838.2       

Current year catastrophe losses

    115.5            1.9            117.4       

Prior years

    (79.3)           (138.7)           (218.0)      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

    454.9            1,282.7            1,737.6       

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    275.6            693.6            969.2       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit(2)

    $     127.4            $     54.3            $     181.7       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(3):

     

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    48.8%         69.9%         63.6%    

Current year catastrophe losses

    13.5%         0.1%         4.1%    

Prior years

    (9.2%)        (6.8%)        (7.4%)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

    53.1%         63.2%         60.3%    

Expense ratio(4)

    32.1%         34.2%         33.6%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(5)

    85.2%         97.4%         93.9%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(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 revenue, other operating expenses, corporate administration, amortization of intangible assets and 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 the 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.

 

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Table of Contents

Reinsurance Segment: Premiums. The following table presents premiums for the reinsurance segment:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
            Nine Months Ended
September 30,
        
     2017      2016      Percent Change      2017      2016      Percent Change  
     ($ in millions)  

Property

                 

Premiums written:

                 

Gross premiums written

     $     445.5          $     400.2          11.3%          $     1,190.0          $     1,173.3          1.4%    

Net premiums written

     329.0          320.5          2.7%          931.4          945.1          (1.4%)   

Net premiums earned

     310.8          314.6          (1.2%)         868.1          857.9          1.2%    

Casualty & other

                 

Premiums written:

                 

Gross premiums written

     $     681.1          $     665.2          2.4%          $     2,037.7          $     2,136.7          (4.6%)   

Net premiums written

     649.5          646.4          0.5%          1,975.3          2,088.3          (5.4%)   

Net premiums earned

     642.4          654.8          (1.9%)         1,968.7          2,030.6          (3.0%)   

Total

                 

Premiums written:

                 

Gross premiums written

     $     1,126.6          $     1,065.4          5.7%          $     3,227.7          $     3,310.0          (2.5%)   

Net premiums written

     978.5          966.9          1.2%          2,906.7          3,033.4          (4.2%)   

Net premiums earned

     953.2          969.4          (1.7%)         2,836.8          2,888.5          (1.8%)   

Property. The increase in gross premiums written in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016 primarily reflects reinstatement premiums written related to the significant catastrophe losses that occurred in the third quarter of 2017 and, to a lesser extent, the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The increase in gross premiums written for the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016 primarily reflects reinstatement premiums written, partially offset by cancellations, non-renewals and reduced participations in certain international treaties and the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Gross premiums written related to the Quota Share Treaty were $92.5 million and $93.5 million in the third quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $263.2 million and $265.3 million in the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, gross premiums written increased 10.9 percent in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016, and 1.7 percent in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016.

The decrease in net premiums earned in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016 primarily reflects a decrease in net premiums written in recent quarters, partially offset by $32.1 million of net reinstatement premiums earned related to the significant catastrophe losses that occurred in the third quarter of 2017. The increase in net premiums earned in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016 primarily reflects increased premiums earned related to the Quota Share Treaty and $32.1 million of net reinstatement premiums earned, partially offset by a decrease in net premiums written in recent quarters. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, net premiums earned decreased 1.5 percent in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016, and increased 1.7 percent in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016.

Casualty & other. The increase in gross premiums written in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016 primarily reflects an increase in premiums written related to the Quota Share Treaty and reinstatement premiums written related to the significant catastrophe losses that occurred in the third quarter of 2017. The decrease in gross premiums written in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016 primarily reflects cancellations, non-renewals and reduced participations in certain international treaties, as well as the impact of rate pressures and increased retentions by cedants, the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and a decrease in casualty-related premiums written related to the Quota Share Treaty, partially offset by reinstatement premiums written related to the significant catastrophe losses that occurred in the third quarter of 2017. Gross premiums written related to the Quota Share Treaty were $113.3 million and $105.9 million in the third quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $316.7 million and $358.9 million in the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively. Premiums related to the Quota Share Treaty in the first nine months of 2016 reflect elevated premiums written in the first quarter of 2016 due to differences between initial premium estimates at contract inception, which were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015, and actual data subsequently reported. As a consequence of this change in estimate, premiums written in the fourth quarter of 2015 were understated and premiums written in the first quarter of 2016 were correspondingly increased. In general, when actual data has not been reported by ceding companies, premiums written are estimated based on historical patterns and other relevant factors. Any differences between these estimates and actual data subsequently reported are recorded in the period when actual data becomes available. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange

 

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rates, gross premiums written increased 2.3 percent in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016, and decreased 3.9 percent in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016.

The decrease in net premiums earned in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016 primarily reflects a decrease in net premiums written in recent quarters, partially offset by $5.0 million of net reinstatement premiums earned related to the significant catastrophe losses that occurred in the third quarter of 2017. The decrease in net premiums earned in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016 primarily reflects the decline in net premiums written in recent quarters and the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, partially offset by $5.0 million of net reinstatement premiums earned. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, net premiums earned decreased 2.0 percent in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016, and decreased 2.1 percent in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016.

Reinsurance Segment: Net loss and LAE. The following table presents net loss and LAE for the reinsurance segment:

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30,
          Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
    2017     2016     Percent Change     2017     2016     Percent Change  
    ($ in millions)        

Property

           

Net loss and LAE:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    $     162.0            $     147.0            10.2%         $     461.2            $     418.7            10.2%    

Current year catastrophe losses

    506.0            21.4            2,264.5%         506.0            115.5            338.1%    

Prior years

    (8.1)           (10.8)           (25.0%)        (62.6)           (79.3)           (21.1%)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

    $     659.9            $     157.6            318.7%         $     904.6            $     454.9            98.9%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Loss ratio:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    52.1%         46.7%           53.1%         48.8%      

Current year catastrophe losses

    162.8%         6.8%           58.3%         13.5%      

Prior years

    (2.6%)        (3.4%)          (7.2%)        (9.2%)     
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

    212.3%         50.1%           104.2%         53.1%      
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Casualty & other

           

Net loss and LAE:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    $     431.0            $     462.6            (6.8%)        $     1,352.9            $     1,419.5            (4.7%)   

Current year catastrophe losses

    70.0            0.2            34,900%         70.0            1.9            3,584%    

Prior years

    (41.7)           (58.2)           (28.4%)        (78.2)           (138.7)           (43.6%)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

    $     459.3            $     404.6            13.5%         $     1,344.7            $     1,282.7            4.8%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Loss ratio:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    67.1%         70.6%           68.7%         69.9%      

Current year catastrophe losses

    10.9%         -    %           3.6%         0.1%      

Prior years

    (6.5%)        (8.9%)          (4.0%)        (6.8%)     
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

    71.5%         61.7%           68.3%         63.2%      
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

           

Net loss and LAE:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    $     593.0            $     609.6            (2.7%)        $     1,814.1            $     1,838.2            (1.3%)   

Current year catastrophe losses

    576.0            21.6            2,566.7%         576.0            117.4            390.6%    

Prior years

    (49.8)           (69.0)           (27.8%)        (140.8)           (218.0)           (35.4%)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

    $     1,119.2            $     562.2            99.1%         $     2,249.3            $     1,737.6            29.4%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Loss ratio:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    62.3%         62.8%           63.9%         63.6%      

Current year catastrophe losses

    60.4%         2.2%           20.3%         4.1%      

Prior years

    (5.2%)        (7.1%)          (5.0%)        (7.4%)     
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

    117.5%         57.9%           79.2%         60.3%      
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

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Property. The increases in net loss and LAE in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods, primarily reflect higher catastrophe losses. Catastrophe losses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 include $160.7 million related to Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, $175.0 million related to Hurricane Irma in September 2017, $142.4 million related to Hurricane Maria in September 2017 and $27.9 million related to earthquakes in Mexico in September 2017. The catastrophe losses in the first nine months of 2016 relate to wildfire losses in Alberta, Canada, earthquake losses in Japan and earthquake losses in Ecuador, all of which occurred in the second quarter of 2016, and catastrophe losses in the third quarter of 2016 that relate primarily to typhoons and floods in China.

Net loss and LAE in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 and 2016 include (favorable) unfavorable prior accident year loss reserve development as shown in the table below.

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
     2017     2016     2017     2016  
     ($ in millions)  

Catastrophe events

    $         (7.8)   (1)     $         (1.2)   (2)     $         (12.2)   (1)     $ (9.0)   (2) 

Non-catastrophe

     (0.3)        (9.6)   (3)      (50.4)   (4)              (70.3)   (3) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    $ (8.1)       $ (10.8)       $ (62.6)       $ (79.3)   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development from several catastrophes that occurred in the 2010 through 2016 accident years.
(2) Reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development from several catastrophes that occurred in the 2010 through 2015 accident years.
(3) Reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development primarily related to the 2014 through 2015 accident years.
(4) Reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development primarily related to the 2013 through 2016 accident years.

The favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 and 2016 reflects favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods. The favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 did not impact assumptions used in estimating TransRe’s loss and LAE liabilities for business earned in the first nine months of 2017.

Casualty & other. The increases in net loss and LAE in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect higher catastrophe losses and less favorable prior accident year loss reserve development.

Catastrophe losses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 relate primarily to the marine lines of business, and include $20.3 million related to Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, $33.3 million related to Hurricane Irma in September 2017, $13.6 million related to Hurricane Maria in September 2017 and $2.8 million related to earthquakes in Mexico in September 2017. Catastrophe losses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 relate to earthquake losses in Ecuador.

Net loss and LAE in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 and 2016 include (favorable) unfavorable prior accident year loss reserve development as shown in the table below.

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30,
   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
    2017     2016     2017     2016  
    ($ in millions)  

Malpractice Treaties(1)

   $         -            $         (2.0)        $         (2.0)       $         (10.8)   

Ogden rate impact(2)

    -             -            24.4         -       

Other

    (41.7)  (3)      (56.2)   (4)      (100.6)   (5)      (127.9)   (4) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ (41.7)       $         (58.2)         $ (78.2)       $ (138.7)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Represents certain medical malpractice treaties, or the “Malpractice Treaties,” pursuant to which the increased underwriting profits created by the favorable prior accident year loss reserve development are largely retained by the cedants. As a result, the favorable prior accident year loss reserve development is largely offset by an increase in profit commission expense incurred when such favorable prior accident year loss reserve development occurs.
(2) Represents unfavorable prior accident year loss reserve development arising from the U.K. Ministry of Justice’s decision to significantly reduce the discount rate, referred to as the Ogden rate, used to calculate lump-sum bodily injury payouts in personal injury insurance claims in the U.K. As of March 20, 2017, the Ogden rate changed from 2.50 percent to negative 0.75 percent.
(3) Primarily reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in longer-tailed U.S. professional liability lines of business related to older accident years and shorter-tailed casualty lines of business in the U.K. related to recent accident years.
(4) Generally reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in a variety of casualty & other lines of business primarily related to the 2005, 2006 and 2008 through 2015 accident years.
(5) Primarily reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in longer-tailed U.S. professional liability lines of business related to the 2005 through 2014 accident years, partially offset by net unfavorable prior accident year loss reserve development in shorter-tailed casualty lines of business in the 2015 accident year in the U.S. and the U.K.

 

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The favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 and 2016 reflects favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods. The favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 did not impact assumptions used in estimating TransRe’s loss and LAE liabilities for business earned in the first nine months of 2017.

Reinsurance Segment: Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses. The following table presents commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses for the reinsurance segment:

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

         

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

       
    2017     2016     Percent Change     2017     2016     Percent Change  
    ($ in millions)  

Property

           

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

   $       105.2         $       105.4          (0.2%)       $       283.7         $       275.6          2.9%    

Expense ratio

    33.8%       33.5%         32.7%       32.1%    

Casualty & other

           

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

   $ 203.7        $ 227.7          (10.5%)      $ 662.9        $ 693.6          (4.4%)   

Expense ratio

    31.7%       34.8%         33.7%       34.2%    

Total

           

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

   $ 308.9        $ 333.1          (7.3%)      $ 946.6        $ 969.2          (2.3%)   

Expense ratio

    32.3%       34.4%         33.4%       33.6%    

Property. The increase in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016 primarily reflects the impact of higher net premiums earned and an increase in commission rates, partially offset by lower short-term incentive compensation expense accruals arising from the significant catastrophe losses that occurred in the third quarter of 2017.

Casualty & other. The decreases in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect lower short-term incentive compensation expense accruals arising from the significant catastrophe losses that occurred in the third quarter of 2017, the impact of lower net premiums earned and a decrease in profit commissions related to the Malpractice Treaties.

Reinsurance Segment: Underwriting profit. The following table presents underwriting profit for the reinsurance segment:

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

         

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

       
    2017     2016     Percent Change     2017     2016     Percent Change  
    ($ in millions)  

Property

           

Underwriting (loss) profit

   $     (454.3)        $         51.6          (980.4%)       $     (320.2)        $         127.4          (351.3%)   

Combined ratio

    246.1%       83.6%         136.9%       85.2%    

Casualty & other

           

Underwriting (loss) profit

   $ (20.6)        $ 22.5          (191.6%)       $ (38.9)        $ 54.3          (171.6%)   

Combined ratio

    103.2%       96.5%         102.0%       97.4%    

Total

           

Underwriting (loss) profit

   $ (474.9)        $ 74.1          (740.9%)       $ (359.1)        $ 181.7          (297.6%)   

Combined ratio

    149.8%       92.3%         112.6%       93.9%    

 

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Property. The underwriting losses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, compared with underwriting profits in the corresponding 2016 periods, primarily reflect significant catastrophe losses from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as discussed above.

Casualty & other. The underwriting losses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, compared with underwriting profits in the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect significant catastrophe losses from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as less favorable prior accident year loss reserve development, as discussed above.

Insurance Segment Underwriting Results

The insurance segment is comprised of AIHL’s RSUI, CapSpecialty and PacificComp 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 2016 Form 10-K.

The underwriting results of the insurance segment are presented below.

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017

             RSUI                  CapSpecialty          PacificComp        Total  
     ($ in millions)  

Gross premiums written

     $ 234.6             $ 74.3             $ 41.6             $ 350.5       

Net premiums written

     170.8             69.5             41.5             281.8       

Net premiums earned

     179.0             66.1             41.4             286.5       

Net loss and LAE:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

     99.3             37.5             31.1             167.9       

Current year catastrophe losses

     214.7             1.8             -                 216.5       

Prior years

     (8.6)            (2.3)            (0.8)            (11.7)      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

     305.4             37.0             30.3             372.7       

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

     50.3             28.4             10.6             89.3       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Underwriting (loss) profit(1)

     $ (176.7)            $ 0.7             $ 0.5             $   (175.5)      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss ratio(2):

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

     55.5%          56.8%          75.2%          58.6%    

Current year catastrophe losses

     119.9%          2.7%          -    %          75.6%    

Prior years

     (4.8%)         (3.5%)         (1.9%)         (4.1%)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

     170.6%          56.0%          73.3%          130.1%    

Expense ratio(3)

     28.1%          43.0%          25.5%          31.2%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Combined ratio(4)

     198.7%          99.0%          98.8%          161.3%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Three Months Ended September 30, 2016

  RSUI     CapSpecialty     PacificComp     Total  
   

($ in millions)

 

 

Gross premiums written

    $     243.7            $     68.5            $     37.8            $ 350.0       

Net premiums written

    168.3            64.4            37.1            269.8       

Net premiums earned

    186.8            61.6            35.7            284.1       

Net loss and LAE:

       

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    102.6            33.6            27.1            163.3       

Current year catastrophe losses

    8.7            1.8            -                10.5       

Prior years

    (16.5)           (0.9)           -                (17.4)      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

    94.8            34.5            27.1            156.4       

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    53.9            26.4            9.6            89.9       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(1)

    $ 38.1            $ 0.7            $ (1.0)           $ 37.8       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(2):

       

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    54.9%         54.6%         76.0%         57.5%    

Current year catastrophe losses

    4.7%         2.9%         -   %         3.7%    

Prior years

    (8.8%)        (1.5%)        -   %         (6.1%)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

    50.8%         56.0%         76.0%         55.1%    

Expense ratio(3)

    28.9%         42.9%         26.9%         31.7%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(4)

    79.7%         98.9%         102.9%         86.8%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

  RSUI     CapSpecialty     PacificComp     Total  
   

($ in millions)

 

 

Gross premiums written

    $     794.1            $     213.2            $     124.2            $   1,131.5       

Net premiums written

    558.0            198.9            122.9            879.8       

Net premiums earned

    540.3            192.2            123.5            856.0       

Net loss and LAE:

       

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    279.1            104.8            93.1            477.0       

Current year catastrophe losses

    227.9            4.0            -                231.9       

Prior years

    (27.3)           (3.1)           (1.8)           (32.2)      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

    479.7            105.7            91.3            676.7       

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    158.3            83.3            32.2            273.8       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting (loss) profit(1)

    $ (97.7)           $ 3.2            $ -                $ (94.5)      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(2):

       

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    51.7%         54.5%         75.4%         55.8%    

Current year catastrophe losses

    42.2%         2.1%         -   %         27.1%    

Prior years

    (5.1%)        (1.6%)        (1.5%)        (3.8%)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

    88.8%         55.0%         73.9%         79.1%    

Expense ratio(3)

    29.3%         43.4%         26.1%         32.0%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(4)

    118.1%         98.4%         100.0%         111.1%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016

  RSUI         CapSpecialty             PacificComp                   Total            
    ($ in millions)  

Gross premiums written

    $ 808.3            $ 201.5            $ 105.9            $ 1,115.7       

Net premiums written

    566.3            189.0            104.5            859.8       

Net premiums earned

    567.4            175.8            104.9            848.1       

Net loss and LAE:

       

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    291.9            90.6            79.5            462.0       

Current year catastrophe losses

    37.6            5.0            -                42.6       

Prior years

    (40.5)           (3.2)           -                (43.7)      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

    289.0            92.4            79.5            460.9       

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    161.9            78.7            28.9            269.5       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)(1)

    $     116.5            $ 4.7            $ (3.5)           $ 117.7       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio(2):

       

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    51.4%         51.6%         75.8%         54.5%    

Current year catastrophe losses

    6.6%         2.8%         -    %         5.0%    

Prior years

    (7.1%)        (1.8%)        -    %         (5.2%)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net loss and LAE

    50.9%         52.6%         75.8%         54.3%    

Expense ratio(3)

    28.5%         44.8%         27.6%         31.8%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio(4)

    79.4%         97.4%         103.4%         86.1%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(1) 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 revenue, other operating expenses, corporate administration, amortization of intangible assets and 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.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the 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.

 

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Insurance Segment: Premiums. The following table presents premiums for the insurance segment:

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30,
          Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
    2017     2016     Percent Change     2017     2016     Percent Change  
   

 

($ in millions)

 

RSUI

           

Premiums written:

           

Gross premiums written

   $ 234.6       $ 243.7        (3.7%)      $ 794.1       $ 808.3        (1.8%)  

Net premiums written

    170.8        168.3        1.5%        558.0        566.3        (1.5%)  

Net premiums earned

    179.0        186.8        (4.2%)       540.3        567.4        (4.8%)  

CapSpecialty

           

Premiums written:

           

Gross premiums written

   $ 74.3       $ 68.5        8.5%       $ 213.2       $ 201.5        5.8%   

Net premiums written

    69.5        64.4        7.9%        198.9        189.0        5.2%   

Net premiums earned

    66.1        61.6        7.3%        192.2        175.8        9.3%   

PacificComp

           

Premiums written:

           

Gross premiums written

   $ 41.6       $ 37.8        10.1%       $ 124.2       $ 105.9        17.3%   

Net premiums written

    41.5        37.1        11.9%        122.9        104.5        17.6%   

Net premiums earned

    41.4        35.7        16.0%        123.5        104.9        17.7%   

Total

           

Premiums written:

           

Gross premiums written

   $       350.5       $       350.0        0.1%       $     1,131.5       $     1,115.7        1.4%   

Net premiums written

    281.8        269.8        4.4%        879.8        859.8        2.3%   

Net premiums earned

    286.5        284.1        0.8%        856.0        848.1        0.9%   

RSUI. The decreases in gross premiums written in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect decreases in the property and directors’ and officers’ liability lines of business, all due to an increase in competition and a reduction in pricing, partially offset by growth in the general liability lines of business.

The decreases in net premiums earned in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect a decrease in gross premiums written in the second and third quarters of 2017 and the fourth quarter of 2016, partially offset by a modest increase in gross premiums written in the first quarter of 2017.

CapSpecialty. The increases in gross premiums written in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect growth in the professional liability and miscellaneous medical lines of business due to CapSpecialty’s distribution initiatives, partially offset by a decrease in the environmental and construction liability lines of business.

The increases in net premiums earned in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect an increase in gross premiums written in recent quarters.

PacificComp. The increases in gross premiums written and net premiums earned in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect premium growth due to PacificComp’s distribution initiatives and growth in targeted segments of the workers’ compensation market in the State of California.

 

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Table of Contents

Insurance Segment: Net loss and LAE. The following table presents net loss and LAE for the insurance segment:

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30,
          Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
    2017     2016     Percent Change     2017     2016     Percent Change  
   

 

($ in millions)

 

RSUI

           

Net loss and LAE:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

   $ 99.3          $ 102.6           (3.2%)      $ 279.1          $ 291.9           (4.4%)  

Current year catastrophe losses

    214.7           8.7               2,367.8%        227.9           37.6           506.1%   

Prior years

    (8.6)          (16.5)          (47.9%)       (27.3)          (40.5)          (32.6%)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

   $       305.4          $ 94.8           222.2%       $ 479.7          $ 289.0           66.0%   
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Loss ratio:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    55.5%        54.9%          51.7%        51.4%     

Current year catastrophe losses

    119.9%        4.7%          42.2%        6.6%     

Prior years

    (4.8%)       (8.8%)         (5.1%)       (7.1%)    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

    170.6%        50.8%          88.8%        50.9%     
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

CapSpecialty

           

Net loss and LAE:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

   $ 37.5          $ 33.6           11.6%       $ 104.8          $ 90.6           15.7%   

Current year catastrophe losses

    1.8           1.8           -   %        4.0           5.0           (20.0%)  

Prior years

    (2.3)          (0.9)          155.6%        (3.1)          (3.2)          (3.1%)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

   $ 37.0          $ 34.5           7.2%       $ 105.7          $ 92.4           14.4%   
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Loss ratio:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    56.8%        54.6%          54.5%        51.6%     

Current year catastrophe losses

    2.7%        2.9%          2.1%        2.8%     

Prior years

    (3.5%)       (1.5%)         (1.6%)       (1.8%)    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

    56.0%        56.0%          55.0%        52.6%     
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

PacificComp

           

Net loss and LAE:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

   $ 31.1          $ 27.1           14.8%       $ 93.1          $ 79.5           17.1%   

Current year catastrophe losses

    -              -               –        -              -              –   

Prior years

    (0.8)          -               –        (1.8)          -              –   
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

   $ 30.3          $ 27.1           11.8%       $ 91.3          $ 79.5           14.8%   
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Loss ratio:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    75.2%        76.0%          75.4%        75.8%     

Current year catastrophe losses

    -   %        -   %          -   %        -   %     

Prior years

    (1.9%)       -   %          (1.5%)       -   %     
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

    73.3%        76.0%          73.9%        75.8%     
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

           

Net loss and LAE:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

   $ 167.9          $ 163.3           2.8%       $ 477.0          $ 462.0           3.2%   

Current year catastrophe losses

    216.5           10.5           1,961.9%        231.9           42.6           444.4%   

Prior years

    (11.7)          (17.4)          (32.8%)       (32.2)          (43.7)          (26.3%)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

   $ 372.7          $       156.4           138.3%       $       676.7          $       460.9           46.8%   
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Loss ratio:

           

Current year (excluding catastrophe losses)

    58.6%        57.5%          55.8%        54.5%     

Current year catastrophe losses

    75.6%        3.7%          27.1%        5.0%     

Prior years

    (4.1%)       (6.1%)         (3.8%)       (5.2%)    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net loss and LAE

    130.1%        55.1%          79.1%        54.3%     
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

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Table of Contents

RSUI. The increases in net loss and LAE in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect higher catastrophe losses.

Catastrophe losses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 include $83.3 million related to Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, $103.7 million related to Hurricane Irma in September 2017 and $14.3 million related to Hurricane Maria in September 2017. Catastrophe losses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 also reflect losses from flooding in the State of California and severe weather primarily in the Southeastern and Midwestern U.S. Catastrophe losses in the third quarter of 2016 primarily reflect losses from flooding and severe weather primarily in the State of Louisiana and the Midwestern U.S. Catastrophe losses in the first nine months of 2016 also reflect losses from flooding and severe weather primarily in the State of Texas in April and May and, to a lesser extent, losses from wildfires in Alberta, Canada in May.

Net loss and LAE in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 and 2016 include (favorable) unfavorable prior accident year loss reserve development as shown in the table below.

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
    2017     2016     2017     2016  
   

 

($ in millions)

 

Casualty

   $ (6.9)  (1)      $ (11.9)  (2)     $ (28.5)  (1)      $ (32.1)  (2) 

Property and other

    (1.7)  (3)       (4.6)  (4)      1.2   (5)      (8.4)  (4) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $         (8.6)       $         (16.5)       $         (27.3)        $       (40.5)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Primarily reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the umbrella/excess lines of business related to the 2005 through 2011 accident years.
(2) Primarily reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the umbrella/excess, general liability and professional liability lines of business related to the 2006 through 2012 accident years.
(3) Primarily reflects favorable unallocated LAE development.
(4) Primarily reflects favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the non-catastrophe property lines of business in recent accident years.
(5) Primarily reflects unfavorable prior accident year property loss reserve development in the binding authority lines of business primarily related to the 2015 and 2016 accident years, partially offset by favorable catastrophe prior accident year loss reserve development related to the 2016 accident year.

The favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 and 2016 reflects favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods. The favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 did not impact assumptions used in estimating RSUI’s loss and LAE liabilities for business earned in the first nine months of 2017.

CapSpecialty. The increases in net loss and LAE in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect the impact of higher net premiums earned and higher property losses. The increase in net loss and LAE in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016 was partially offset by more favorable prior accident year loss reserve development. Catastrophe losses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 include $0.3 million related to Hurricane Harvey in August 2017.

Net loss and LAE in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 include favorable prior accident year loss reserve development primarily in the casualty lines of business primarily related to the 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016 accident years. The favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the first nine months of 2017 reflects net favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods. Net loss and LAE in the third quarter of 2016 includes favorable prior accident year loss reserve development primarily in the surety lines of business related to the 2015 accident year. Net loss and LAE in the first nine months of 2016 includes favorable prior accident year loss reserve development primarily related to CapSpecialty’s legacy asbestos-related illness and environmental impairment liabilities and the surety lines of business.

PacificComp. The increases in net loss and LAE in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect the impact of higher net premiums earned, partially offset by favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the corresponding 2017 periods.

The favorable prior accident year loss reserve development in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 relates primarily to the 2013 and prior accident years, and reflects favorable loss emergence compared with loss emergence patterns assumed in earlier periods.

 

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Table of Contents

Insurance Segment: Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses. The following table presents commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses for the insurance segment:

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30,
          Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
    2017     2016     Percent Change     2017     2016     Percent Change  
    ($ in millions)  

RSUI

           

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

   $ 50.3          $ 53.9           (6.7%)      $ 158.3          $ 161.9           (2.2%)  

Expense ratio

        28.1%            28.9%              29.3%            28.5%     

CapSpecialty

           

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

   $ 28.4          $ 26.4           7.6%       $ 83.3          $ 78.7           5.8%   

Expense ratio

    43.0%        42.9%          43.4%        44.8%     

PacificComp

           

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

   $ 10.6          $ 9.6           10.4%       $ 32.2          $ 28.9           11.4%   

Expense ratio

    25.5%        26.9%          26.1%        27.6%     

Total

           

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

   $ 89.3          $ 89.9           (0.7%)      $ 273.8          $ 269.5           1.6%   

Expense ratio

    31.2%        31.7%          32.0%        31.8%     

RSUI. The decreases in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect the impact of lower net premiums earned and the impact of losses arising from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria on short-term incentive compensation expense accruals.

CapSpecialty. The increases in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect the impact of higher net premiums earned and relatively stable overhead expenses.

PacificComp. The increases in commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect the impact of higher net premiums earned and relatively stable overhead expenses.

 

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Table of Contents

Insurance Segment: Underwriting profit. The following table presents underwriting profit for the insurance segment:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
            Nine Months Ended
September 30,
        
     2017      2016      Percent Change      2017      2016      Percent Change  
     ($ in millions)  

RSUI

                 

Underwriting (loss) profit

     $      (176.7)          $        38.1           (563.8%)        $        (97.7)          $        116.5           (183.9%)   

Combined ratio

     198.7%        79.7%           118.1%        79.4%     

CapSpecialty

                 

Underwriting profit

     $           0.7            $          0.7           -    %         $           3.2           $            4.7           (31.9%)   

Combined ratio

     99.0%        98.9%           98.4%        97.4%     

PacificComp

                 

Underwriting profit (loss)

     $           0.5            $        (1.0)          (150.0%)        $             -            $           (3.5)          (100.0%)   

Combined ratio

     98.8%        102.9%           100.0%        103.4%     

Total

                 

Underwriting (loss) profit

     $     (175.5)          $        37.8           (564.3%)        $      (94.5)          $         117.7           (180.3%)   

Combined ratio

     161.3%        86.8%           111.1%        86.1%     

RSUI. The underwriting losses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, compared with underwriting profits in the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect the impact of significant catastrophe losses from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as discussed above.

CapSpecialty. The decrease in underwriting profit in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016 primarily reflects the impact of higher property losses, as discussed above.

PacificComp. The underwriting profit in the third quarter of 2017 compared with the underwriting loss in the third quarter of 2016, and the decrease in underwriting loss in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016, primarily reflect favorable prior accident year loss reserve development and the impact of growing net premiums earned, all as discussed above.

Investment Results for the Reinsurance and Insurance Segments

The following table presents the investment results for our reinsurance and insurance segments:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
          Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
     2017     2016     Percent Change     2017     2016     Percent Change  
     ($ in millions)  

Net investment income

     $        101.4        $        118.7        (14.6%)       $        311.7        $        326.4        (4.5%)  

Net realized capital gains

     21.5        27.1        (20.7%)       90.8        107.6        (15.6%)  

Other than temporary impairment losses

     (6.1)       (11.7)       (47.9%)       (13.1)       (38.2)       (65.7%)  

Net Investment Income. The decreases in net investment income in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily relate to losses incurred on our equity interests in the Pillar Investments arising from significant catastrophe losses incurred in August and September 2017 and, for the first nine months of 2017 only, a $12.6 million charge on our equity investment in Ares. The charge on our equity investment in Ares reflects our share of a one-time payment recorded by Ares related to an acquisition by its affiliated entity. In connection with this acquisition, Ares agreed to make certain transaction support payments to the sellers of the acquired entity. Ares expects to receive future management fees derived from the assets under management of the acquired entity.

 

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Net Realized Capital Gains. The decreases in net realized capital gains in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect lower gains for the equity and bond portfolio, partially offset by gains on the sale of certain exchange-traded funds in the third quarter of 2017. In addition, the first nine months of 2016 reflected a one-time $13.2 million realized gain recorded on April 15, 2016 by Alleghany Capital, as more fully described in the following pages.

Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses. OTTI losses in the first nine months of 2017 reflect $13.1 million of unrealized losses that were deemed to be other than temporary and, as such, were required to be charged against earnings. Of the $13.1 million of OTTI losses, $11.8 million related to equity securities, primarily in the retail sector, and $1.3 million related to debt securities. The determination that unrealized losses on equity and debt securities were other than temporary was primarily due to the duration of the decline in the fair value of equity and debt securities relative to their costs. Of the $13.1 million of OTTI losses, $6.1 million was incurred in the third quarter of 2017.

OTTI losses in the first nine months of 2016 reflect $38.2 million of unrealized losses that were deemed to be other than temporary and, as such, were required to be charged against earnings. Of the $38.2 million of OTTI losses, $16.6 million related to equity securities, primarily in the retail, financial services, technology and chemical sectors, and $21.6 million related to debt securities, primarily in the energy sector. The determination that unrealized losses on equity and debt securities were other than temporary was primarily due to the severity and duration of the decline in the fair value of equity and debt securities relative to their costs. Of the $38.2 million of OTTI losses, $11.7 million was incurred in the third quarter of 2016.

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. After adjusting the cost basis of securities for the recognition of OTTI losses, the remaining gross unrealized investment losses for debt and equity securities as of September 30, 2017 were deemed to be temporary, based on, among other factors: (i) the duration of time and the relative magnitude to which the fair values of these securities had been below cost were not indicative of an OTTI loss; (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.

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 and equity securities as of September 30, 2017.

Alleghany Capital Results

Alleghany Capital consists of: (i) manufacturing and service operations conducted through Bourn & Koch, Kentucky Trailer, IPS, Jazwares, W&W|AFCO Steel, beginning April 28, 2017, and a 45 percent equity interest in Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc., or “Wilbert,” beginning August 1, 2017; (ii) oil and gas operations conducted through SORC; and (iii) corporate operations and investments at the Alleghany Capital level.

On August 1, 2017, Alleghany Capital acquired a 45 percent equity interest in Wilbert, a provider of products and services for the funeral and cemetery industries and precast concrete markets, headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, for $72.3 million. Wilbert is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and is included in other invested assets.

On April 28, 2017, Alleghany Capital acquired approximately 80 percent of the equity in W&W|AFCO Steel, a structural steel fabricator and erector headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for $164.5 million, including $163.9 million in cash paid on May 1, 2017 and $0.6 million of estimated purchase price adjustments.

In July 2014, Alleghany Capital acquired a 30 percent equity interest in Jazwares. On April 15, 2016, Alleghany Capital acquired an additional 50 percent of Jazwares’ outstanding equity, bringing its equity ownership interest to 80 percent and, as of that date, the results of Jazwares have been included in our consolidated results. Prior to April 15, 2016, Jazwares was accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

 

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The results of Alleghany Capital for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 and 2016 are presented below.

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,  
     2017      2016  
     Mfg. &
Svcs.
     Oil & Gas      Corp. &
other
     Total      Mfg. &
Svcs.
     Oil & Gas      Corp. &
other
     Total  
     ($ in millions)  

Net investment income

     $ 0.9          $ -              $ 0.7          $ 1.6          $ -              $ -              $ -              $ -        

Net realized capital gains

     0.7          -              -              0.7          0.1          -              -              0.1    

Other than temporary impairment losses

     -              -              -              -              -              -              -              -        

Other revenue

       288.8              2.4          0.5            291.7            216.7          2.4              (0.5)         218.6    

Other operating expenses

     259.6          9.1          0.4          269.1          192.9          9.3          1.4            203.6    

Corporate administration

     -              -              -              -              -              -              -              -        

Amortization of intangible assets

     6.0          -              -              6.0          6.7          -              -              6.7    

Interest expense

     1.2          -              -              1.2          0.5          -              0.1          0.6    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings (losses) before income taxes

     $ 23.6          $ (6.7)         $ 0.8          $ 17.7          $ 16.7          $     (6.9)         $ (2.0)         $ 7.8    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

     $ 34.3          $ (3.8)         $ 0.8          $ 31.3          $ 25.6          $ (3.4)         $ (1.9)         $ 20.3    

Less: depreciation expense

     (3.2)         (2.9)         -              (6.1)         (1.8)         (3.5)         -              (5.3)   

Less: amortization of intangible assets

     (6.0)         -              -              (6.0)         (6.7)         -              -              (6.7)   

Less: interest expense

     (1.2)         -              -              (1.2)         (0.5)         -              (0.1)         (0.6)   

Add: net realized capital gains

     0.7          -              -              0.7          0.1          -              -              0.1    

Adjustments to equity in earnings of Wilbert

     (1.0)         -              -              (1.0)         -              -              -              -        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings (losses) before income taxes

     $ 23.6          $ (6.7)         $     0.8          $ 17.7          $ 16.7          $ (6.9)         $ (2.0)         $ 7.8    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2017      2016  
     Mfg. &
Svcs.
     Oil & Gas      Corp. &
other
     Total      Mfg. &
Svcs.
     Oil & Gas      Corp. &
other
     Total  
     ($ in millions)  

Net investment income

     $ 1.1          $ -              $   1.0          $ 2.1          $ 0.2          $ -              $ (0.2)         $ -        

Net realized capital gains

     0.9          -              -              0.9          (0.2)         -              13.2          13.0    

Other than temporary impairment losses

     -              -              -              -              -              -              -              -        

Other revenue

       626.3                7.5          0.5            634.3            511.0          6.8          (0.5)         517.3    

Other operating expenses

     579.4          27.2          11.6          618.2          474.6              27.6              5.8            508.0    

Corporate administration

     -              -              -              -              -              -              -              -        

Amortization of intangible assets

     15.4          -              -              15.4          16.9          -              -              16.9    

Interest expense

     2.9          -              0.1          3.0          1.1          -              0.1          1.2    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings (losses) before income taxes

     $ 30.6          $ (19.7)         $ (10.2)         $ 0.7          $ 18.4          $ (20.8)         $ 6.6          $ 4.2    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

     $ 56.8          $ (10.9)         $ (10.1)         $ 35.8          $ 41.5          $ (10.1)         $ (6.5)         $ 24.9    

Less: depreciation expense

     (7.8)         (8.8)         -              (16.6)         (4.9)         (10.7)         -              (15.6)   

Less: amortization of intangible assets

     (15.4)         -              -              (15.4)         (16.9)         -              -              (16.9)   

Less: interest expense

     (2.9)         -              (0.1)         (3.0)         (1.1)         -              (0.1)         (1.2)   

Add: net realized capital gains

     0.9          -              -              0.9          (0.2)         -              13.2          13.0    

Adjustments to equity in earnings of Wilbert

     (1.0)         -              -              (1.0)         -              -              -              -        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings (losses) before income taxes

     $ 30.6          $ (19.7)         $   (10.2)         $ 0.7          $ 18.4          $ (20.8)         $ 6.6          $ 4.2    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Adjusted EBITDA 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. Adjusted EBITDA represents other revenue less certain other expenses and does not include: (i) depreciation expense (a component of other operating expenses); (ii) amortization of intangible assets; (iii) interest expense; (iv) net realized capital gains; (v) OTTI impairment losses; and (vi) income taxes.

 

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The following table presents the changes in Alleghany Capital’s equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017:

 

         Three Months Ended September 30, 2017              Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017      
     Mfg. &
Svcs.
     Oil &
Gas
     Corp. &
other
     Total      Mfg. &
Svcs.
     Oil &
Gas
     Corp. &
other
     Total  
     ($ in millions)  

Equity, beginning of period

     $ 607.5          $ 146.0          $ (5.2)         $ 748.3          $ 453.4          $ 149.2          $ (12.1)         $ 590.5    

Earnings (losses) before income taxes

     23.6          (6.7)         0.8          17.7          30.6          (19.7)         (10.2)         0.7    

Income taxes(1)

     (0.7)         2.6          (5.2)         (3.3)           (0.9)         7.2          (3.6)         2.7    

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (4.2)         -              -              (4.2)         (5.2)         -              -              (5.2)   

Capital contributions (returns of capital) and other(2)

     67.0          7.3          0.5          74.8          215.3          12.5          16.8          244.6    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity, end of period

     $ 693.2          $ 149.2          $ (9.1)         $ 833.3          $ 693.2          $ 149.2          $ (9.1)         $ 833.3    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Income taxes for certain Alleghany Capital subsidiaries are incurred at the Alleghany Capital level.
(2) For the third quarter of 2017, primarily reflects the investment in Wilbert, and for the first nine months of 2017, also reflects the acquisition of W&W|AFCO Steel.

Net investment income. The increases in net investment income in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect Alleghany Capital’s earnings from its investment in Wilbert.

Net realized capital gains. Net realized capital gains in the first nine months of 2016 primarily reflect a gain of $13.2 million recognized by Alleghany Capital on April 15, 2016 in connection with the acquisition of an additional 50 percent equity ownership in Jazwares, when its pre-existing 30 percent equity ownership was remeasured at estimated fair value, or the “Jazwares Remeasurement Gain.”

Other revenue and Other operating expenses. The increases in other revenue and other operating expenses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect the acquisition of W&W|AFCO Steel. The increases in other operating expenses in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016 also reflect finders fees, legal and accounting costs and other transaction-related expenses at the Alleghany Capital level.

Amortization of intangible assets. The decreases in amortization expenses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods primarily reflect decreases in amortization expense at IPS, as certain of IPS’s intangible assets were fully amortized as of December 31, 2016, partially offset by the amortization of net intangible assets related to the acquisition of W&W|AFCO Steel.

Interest expense. The increases in interest expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 from the corresponding 2016 periods reflect new or increased borrowings at Bourn & Koch and Jazwares and borrowings at W&W|AFCO Steel.

Earnings (losses) before income taxes. The increase in earnings before income taxes in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016 primarily reflects higher margins of the manufacturing and service operations, as well as the inclusion of W&W|AFCO Steel and our investment in Wilbert, as discussed above. The decrease in earnings before income taxes in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016 primarily reflects the $13.2 million Jazwares Remeasurement Gain in the 2016 period, partially offset by higher margins of the manufacturing and service operations, as well as the inclusion of W&W|AFCO Steel and our investment in Wilbert, all as discussed above.

 

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Corporate Activities Results

The primary components of corporate activities are Alleghany Properties and activities at the Alleghany parent company. The following table presents the results for corporate activities:

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
    2017     2016     2017     2016  
    ($ in millions)  

Net premiums earned

    $ -             $ -             $ -             $ -        

Net investment income

    1.7         1.9         8.1         5.9    

Net realized capital gains

            10.7         -                     10.1             (3.5)   

Other than temporary impairment losses

    -             -             -             -        

Other revenue

    (0.1)        6.1         5.6         6.7    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

    12.3         8.0         23.8         9.1    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss and loss adjustment expenses

    -             -             -             -        

Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses

    -             -             -             -        

Other operating expenses

    0.5         1.2         2.6         2.4    

Corporate administration

    (3.2)                10.4                 26.4                 33.0    

Amortization of intangible assets

    -             -             -             -        

Interest expense

    13.0         13.3         39.5         39.6    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (losses) before income taxes

    $ 2.0         $ (16.9)        $ (44.7)        $ (65.9)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income. The increase in net investment income in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016 primarily reflects higher income from new investments in other invested assets resulting from the purchase of certain non-marketable equity investments at the Alleghany parent company.

Net realized capital gains. The net realized capital gains in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 primarily reflect gains on the sale of certain exchange-traded funds. The net realized capital losses in the first nine months of 2016 primarily reflect the sale at a loss of equity securities in the health care sector in the first quarter of 2016.

Other revenue. The decrease in other revenue in the third quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2016 reflects a gain on the sale of a retail shopping center by Alleghany Properties in July 2016. The decrease in other revenue in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016 reflects lower real estate sales activity at Alleghany Properties.

Corporate administration. The negative corporate administration expense in the third quarter of 2017 compared with corporate administration expense in the third quarter of 2016, and the decrease in corporate administration expense in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016, primarily reflect the impact of losses arising from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria on long-term incentive compensation expense accruals at Alleghany.

Earnings (losses) before income taxes. The earnings before income taxes in the third quarter of 2017 compared with the net losses before income taxes in the third quarter of 2016, and the decrease in losses before income taxes in the first nine months of 2017 from the first nine months of 2016, primarily reflect the impact of losses arising from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria on long-term incentive compensation expense accruals and net realized capital gains in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, as explained above.

 

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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 catastrophe 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 segments on a gross and net basis by line of business. These reserve amounts represent the accumulation of estimates of ultimate loss (including for losses that have been incurred but not yet reported, or “IBNR”) and LAE.

 

    As of September 30, 2017     As of December 31, 2016  
    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

    $ 1,891.3         $ (523.9)        $ 1,367.4         $ 952.7         $ (106.7)        $ 846.0    

Casualty & other(1)

    7,524.7         (259.9)        7,264.8         7,324.4         (226.0)        7,098.4    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    9,416.0         (783.8)        8,632.2         8,277.1         (332.7)        7,944.4    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Insurance Segment

           

Property

    581.6         (231.1)        350.5         362.2         (186.8)        175.4    

Casualty(2)

        2,076.1               (672.7)            1,403.4             2,083.1               (696.0)            1,387.1    

Workers’ Compensation

    274.2         (1.1)        273.1         241.2         (1.8)        239.4    

All other(3)

    181.4         (77.6)        103.8         192.1         (87.4)        104.7    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    3,113.3         (982.5)        2,130.8         2,878.6         (972.0)        1,906.6    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Eliminations

    (72.9)        72.9         -           (68.5)        68.5         -      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    $ 12,456.4         $ (1,693.4)        $ 10,763.0         $ 11,087.2         $ (1,236.2)        $ 9,851.0    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(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 the following direct lines of business: umbrella/excess; directors’ and officers’ liability; professional liability; and general liability.
(3) Primarily consists of commercial multi-peril and surety lines of business, as well as loss and LAE reserves for terminated lines of business and loss reserves acquired in connection with prior acquisitions for which the sellers provided loss reserve guarantees.

Changes in Gross and Net Loss and LAE Reserves between September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Gross and net loss and LAE reserves, and reinsurance recoverables as of September 30, 2017 increased from December 31, 2016, primarily reflecting significant catastrophe losses. Catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 included $264.6 million related to Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, $312.0 million related to Hurricane Irma in September 2017, and $170.3 million related to Hurricane Maria in September 2017, all as discussed above.

Reinsurance Recoverables

Our 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 of business, 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 and 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, our 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 and insurance subsidiaries’ reinsurance recoverables, and our reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries reinsure portions of the risks they underwrite or assume with multiple reinsurance programs.

As of September 30, 2017, our reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries had total reinsurance recoverables of $1,738.4 million, consisting of $1,693.4 million of ceded outstanding loss and LAE and $45.0 million of recoverables on paid losses. See Part I, Item 1,

 

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“Business—Reinsurance Protection” of the 2016 Form 10-K for additional information on the reinsurance purchased by our reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries.

The following table presents information regarding concentration of our reinsurance recoverables and the ratings profile of our reinsurers as of September 30, 2017:

 

                                                           

Reinsurer(1)

  Rating(2)     Amount         Percentage      
          ($ in millions)        

 

Swiss Reinsurance Company

    A+ (Superior)      $ 159.5        9.2%    

Syndicates at Lloyd’s of London

    A (Excellent)       135.8        7.8%    

PartnerRe Ltd

    A (Excellent)       122.5        7.0%    

Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd(3)

    A (Excellent)       102.0        5.9%    

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd

    A+ (Superior)       99.1        5.7%    

Chubb Corporation

    A++ (Superior)       89.4        5.1%    

W.R. Berkley Corporation

    A+ (Superior)       88.3        5.1%    

Liberty Mutual

    A (Excellent)       72.6        4.2%    

Kane SAC Ltd (4)

    not rated       70.4        4.0%    

Hannover Ruck SE

    A+ (Superior)       53.5        3.1%    

All other reinsurers

      745.3        42.9%    
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total reinsurance recoverables(5)

     $ 1,738.4        100.0%    
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Secured reinsurance recoverables(4)

     $ 477.7        27.5%    
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(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) In July 2017, Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd acquired Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG.
(4) Represents reinsurance recoverables secured by funds held, trust agreements or letters of credit.
(5) Approximately 80 percent of our reinsurance recoverables balance as of September 30, 2017 was due from reinsurers having an A.M. Best Company, Inc. financial strength rating of A (Excellent) or higher.

We had no allowance for uncollectible reinsurance as of September 30, 2017.

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 as of 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.

See Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Estimates” of the 2016 Form 10-K for a more complete description of our critical accounting estimates.

Financial Condition

Parent Level

General. In general, we follow a policy of maintaining a relatively liquid financial condition at our unrestricted holding companies. This policy has permitted us to expand our operations through internal growth at our subsidiaries and through acquisitions

 

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of, or substantial investments in, operating companies. As of September 30, 2017, we held total marketable securities and cash of $1,110.3 million, compared with $1,047.4 million as of December 31, 2016. The increase in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily reflects the receipt of dividends from TransRe and RSUI, partially offset by contributions to Alleghany Capital to fund the acquisition of approximately 80 percent of the equity in W&W|AFCO Steel and the 45 percent equity interest in Wilbert, as well as the purchase of certain non-marketable equity investments at the Alleghany parent company. The $1,110.3 million is comprised of $549.4 million at the Alleghany parent company, $533.2 million at AIHL and $27.7 million at the TransRe holding company. We also hold certain non-marketable investments at our unrestricted holding companies. We believe that we have and will have adequate internally generated funds, cash resources and unused credit facilities to provide for the currently foreseeable needs of our business, and we had no material commitments for capital expenditures as of September 30, 2017.

Stockholders’ equity attributable to Alleghany stockholders was approximately $8.2 billion as of September 30, 2017, compared with approximately $7.9 billion as of December 31, 2016. The increase in stockholders’ equity in the first nine months of 2017 primarily reflects an increase in unrealized appreciation on our equity and, to a lesser extent, bond portfolios, partially offset by net losses attributable to Alleghany stockholders in the first nine months of 2017. Net losses attributable to Alleghany stockholders in the first nine months of 2017 primarily reflect significant catastrophe losses from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria at our reinsurance and insurance segments, as discussed above. As of September 30, 2017, we had 15,403,758 shares of our common stock outstanding, compared with 15,410,164 shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2016.

Sale of Subsidiary. On September 12, 2017, AIHL signed a definitive agreement to sell PacificComp to CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Company (“CopperPoint”) for total cash consideration of approximately $150 million. In connection with the transaction, AIHL Re will continue to provide adverse development reinsurance coverage on PacificComp’s pre-acquisition claims, subject to certain terms and conditions. The transaction, which is subject to customary regulatory review and approvals, is expected to close on December 31, 2017. Upon closing, we expect to record an estimated after-tax gain of approximately $25 million, which amount includes a tax benefit. As of September 30, 2017, PacificComp’s total assets were $440.6 million, consisting primarily of debt securities, and PacificComp’s total liabilities were $313.7 million, consisting primarily of loss and LAE reserves.

Debt. On September 9, 2014, we completed a public offering of $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 4.90% senior notes due on September 15, 2044. On June 26, 2012, we completed a public offering of $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 4.95% senior notes due on June 27, 2022. On 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. See Note 8 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2016 Form 10-K for additional information on the senior notes.

Credit Agreement. On July 31, 2017, we entered into a five-year credit agreement, or the “Credit Agreement,” with certain lenders party thereto, which provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $300.0 million. The credit facility is scheduled to expire on July 31, 2022, unless earlier terminated. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement will be available for working capital and general corporate purposes, including permitted acquisitions and repurchases of Common Stock. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear a floating rate of interest based in part on our credit rating, among other factors. The Credit Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants customary for bank loan facilities of this nature. There were no borrowings under the Credit Agreement from July 31, 2017 through September 30, 2017.

The Credit Agreement replaced our previous four-year credit agreement, or the “Prior Credit Agreement,” which provided for an unsecured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $200.0 million. The Prior Credit Agreement was terminated on July 31, 2017 in advance of its scheduled October 15, 2017 expiration date. There were no borrowings under the Prior Credit Agreement in the seven months ended July 31, 2017.

Common Stock Repurchases. In July 2014, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of shares of our common stock at such times and at prices as management determines to be advisable, up to an aggregate of $350.0 million, or the “2014 Repurchase Program.” In November 2015, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase, upon the completion of the 2014 Repurchase Program, of additional shares of our common stock, at such times and at prices as management determines to be advisable, up to an aggregate of $400.0 million, or the “2015 Repurchase Program.” In the first quarter of 2016, we completed the 2014 Repurchase Program and subsequent repurchases have been made pursuant to the 2015 Repurchase Program. As of September 30, 2017, we had $370.7 million remaining under our share repurchase authorization.

 

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The following table presents the shares of our common stock that we repurchased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 pursuant to the 2014 Repurchase Program and the 2015 Repurchase Program, as applicable:

 

                                                                   
     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2017      2016      2017      2016  

Shares repurchased

     15,916        4,621        15,916        117,721  

Cost of shares repurchased (in millions)

   $ 8.5      $ 2.4      $ 8.5      $ 55.7  

Average price per share repurchased

   $ 537.14      $ 517.40      $ 537.14      $ 472.97  

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 managed by Pillar Holdings, or the “Funds.” The objective of the Funds is to create portfolios with attractive risk-reward characteristics and low correlation with other asset classes, using the extensive reinsurance and capital market experience of the principals of Pillar Holdings. We have concluded that 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 net investment. As of September 30, 2017, our carrying value in the Pillar Investments, as determined under the equity method of accounting, was $216.7 million, which is net of returns of capital received from the Pillar Investments.

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. In May 2014, Ares completed an initial public offering of its common units. Upon completion of the initial public offering, Alleghany’s equity investment in Ares converted to limited partner interests in certain Ares subsidiaries that are convertible into an aggregate 5.9 percent interest in Ares common units. These interests may be converted at any time at our discretion. Until we determine to convert our limited partner interests into Ares common units, we classify our investment in Ares as a component of other invested assets and we account for our investment using the equity method of accounting. As of September 30, 2017, AIHL’s carrying value in Ares was $213.9 million, which is net of returns of capital received from Ares.

Investments in Commercial Mortgage Loans. As of September 30, 2017, the carrying value of our commercial mortgage loan portfolio was $649.7 million, representing the unpaid principal balance on the loans. As of September 30, 2017, there was no allowance for loan losses. The commercial mortgage loan portfolio consists primarily of first mortgages on commercial properties in major metropolitan areas in the U.S. The loans earn interest at fixed- and floating-rates, mature in two to ten years from loan origination and the principal amounts of the loans were no more than approximately two-thirds of the property’s appraised value at the time the loans were made.

Energy Holdings. As of September 30, 2017, we had holdings in energy sector businesses of $519.3 million, comprised of $319.4 million of debt securities, $50.7 million of equity securities and $149.2 million of Alleghany’s equity attributable to SORC.

Subsidiaries

Financial strength is also a high priority of our subsidiaries, whose assets stand behind their financial commitments to their customers and vendors. We believe that our subsidiaries have and will have adequate internally generated funds, cash resources and unused credit facilities to provide for the currently foreseeable needs of their businesses. Our subsidiaries had no material commitments for capital expenditures as of September 30, 2017.

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 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, the portfolios of our reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries 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, SORC has relied on Alleghany almost entirely to support its operations. From its formation in 2011 through September 30, 2017, we have invested $281.8 million in SORC.

 

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Included in other activities is debt associated with Alleghany Capital’s operating subsidiaries, which totaled $102.5 million as of September 30, 2017. The $102.5 million includes $31.2 million of borrowings by Jazwares under its available credit facility, $23.0 million of borrowings by W&W|AFCO Steel under its available credit facility and term loans, $17.0 million of debt at Kentucky Trailer related primarily to a mortgage loan, borrowings to finance small acquisitions and borrowings under its available credit facility, $15.9 million of borrowings by IPS under its available credit facility, and $15.4 million of term loans at Bourn & Koch related to borrowings to finance an acquisition. None of these liabilities are guaranteed by Alleghany or Alleghany Capital.

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 and equity securities listed on national securities exchanges. The overall credit quality of the debt securities portfolio is measured using the lowest rating of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch Ratings, Inc. In this regard, the overall weighted-average credit quality rating of our debt securities portfolio as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 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 September 30, 2017. The following table presents the ratings of our debt securities portfolio as of September 30, 2017:

 

     Ratings as of September 30, 2017  
     AAA / Aaa      AA / Aa      A      BBB / Baa      Below
BBB / Baa or
Not-Rated(1)
     Total  
     ($ in millions)  

U.S. Government obligations

    $ -                $ 1,020.7            $ -                $ -                $ -                $ 1,020.7       

Municipal bonds

     549.3             2,574.2             835.6             124.8             47.8             4,131.7       

Foreign government obligations

     572.6             338.0             210.7             19.6             -                 1,140.9       

U.S. corporate bonds

     4.7             91.0             628.3             995.6             761.4             2,481.0       

Foreign corporate bonds

     202.9             149.9             543.1             285.5             112.8             1,294.2       

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

                 

Residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”)

     15.3             923.6             0.1             7.2             8.0             954.2       

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)

     172.4             270.3             66.5             1.4             6.3             516.9       

Other asset-backed securities

     712.7             234.4             356.8             339.9             29.0             1,672.8       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt securities

    $   2,229.9            $   5,602.1            $   2,641.1            $   1,774.0            $   965.3            $   13,212.4       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Percentage of debt securities

     16.9%          42.4%          20.0%          13.4%          7.3%          100.0%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Consists of $223.0 million of securities rated BB / Ba, $286.8 million of securities rated B, $51.5 million of securities rated CCC, $3.2 million of securities rated CC, $3.7 million of securities rated below CC and $397.1 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 changes in interest rates. In this regard, as of September 30, 2017, our debt securities portfolio had an effective duration of approximately 4.5 years, approximately the same duration as of December 31, 2016. As of September 30, 2017, approximately $3.5 billion, or 26.6 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 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 catastrophe 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 increased to approximately $19.0 billion as of September 30, 2017 from approximately $18.1 billion as of December 31, 2016, primarily reflecting the impact of an increase in unrealized appreciation on our equity portfolio and, to a lesser extent, our bond portfolio, partially offset by the acquisition of approximately 80 percent of the equity in W&W|AFCO Steel.

Fair Value. The following table presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of our consolidated financial instruments as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 

     September 30, 2017      December 31, 2016  
     Carrying Value      Fair Value      Carrying Value      Fair Value  
     ($ in millions)  

Assets

           

Investments (excluding equity method investments and loans)(1)

     $    17,590.2          $    17,590.2          $    16,899.2          $    16,899.2    

Liabilities

           

Senior Notes and other debt(2)

     $      1,486.4          $      1,655.5          $      1,476.5          $      1,584.3    

 

(1) This table includes 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 commercial mortgage loans that are carried at unpaid principal balance. 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 2016 Form 10-K for additional information on the senior notes.

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

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

 

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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 (such provisions may apply to all debt securities except U.S. Government obligations). Market-based inputs include interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals and current credit rating(s) of the security. Market-based inputs may also include credit spreads of all debt securities except U.S. Government obligations, and currency rates for certain foreign government obligations and foreign corporate bonds denominated in foreign currencies. Fair values are determined using a market approach that relies on the securities’ relationships to quoted prices for similar assets in active markets, as well as the other inputs described above. In determining the fair values for the vast majority of CMBS and other asset-backed securities, as well as a small portion of RMBS, an income approach is used to corroborate and further support the fair values determined by the market approach. The income approach primarily involves developing a discounted cash flow model using the future projected cash flows of the underlying collateral, and the terms 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. Assets classified as Level 3 principally include certain RMBS, CMBS, other asset-backed securities (primarily, collateralized loan obligations), U.S. corporate bonds, partnership investments and non-marketable equity investments.

Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are initially valued at the transaction price. Subsequently, we use widely accepted valuation practices that produce a fair value measurement. The vast majority of fair values are determined using an income approach. The income approach primarily involves developing a discounted cash flow model using the future projected cash flows of the underlying collateral, as well as other inputs described below. A few 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, and as such, an income approach is not feasible.

Since Level 3 valuations are based on techniques that use significant inputs that are unobservable with little or no market activity, the fair values under the market approach for Level 3 securities are less credible than under the income approach; however, the market approach, where feasible, is used to corroborate the fair values determined by the income approach. The market approach primarily relies on the securities’ relationships to quoted transaction prices for similarly structured instruments. To the extent that transaction prices for similarly structured instruments are not available for a particular security, other market approaches are used to corroborate the fair values determined by the income approach, including option adjusted spread analyses.

Unobservable inputs, significant to the measurement and valuation of mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, are generally used in the income approach, and include assumptions about prepayment speed and collateral performance, including default, delinquency and loss severity rates. Significant changes to any one of these inputs, or combination of inputs, could significantly change the fair value measurement for these securities.

The impact of prepayment speeds on fair value is dependent on a number of variables including whether the securities were purchased at a premium or discount. A decrease in interest rates generally increases the assumed rate of prepayments, and an increase in interest rates generally decreases the assumed speed of prepayments. Increased prepayments increase the yield on securities purchased at a discount and reduce the yield on securities purchased at a premium. In a decreasing prepayment environment, yields on securities purchased at a discount are reduced but are increased for securities purchased at a premium. Changes in default assumptions on underlying collateral are generally accompanied by directionally similar changes in other collateral performance factors, but generally result in a directionally opposite change in prepayment assumptions.

 

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Our Level 3 liabilities consist of the debt of Alleghany Capital’s operating subsidiaries.

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.

The following tables present the estimated fair values of our financial instruments measured at fair value and the level of the fair value hierarchy of inputs used as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 

    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
    ($ in millions)  

As of September 30, 2017

       

Equity securities:

       

Common stock

    $     3,815.2         $             0.5         $              0.9         $      3,816.6    

Preferred stock

    -             -             5.0         5.0    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

    3,815.2         0.5         5.9         3,821.6    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt securities:

       

U.S. Government obligations

    -             1,020.7         -             1,020.7    

Municipal bonds

    -             4,131.7         -             4,131.7    

Foreign government obligations

    -             1,136.2         4.7         1,140.9    

U.S. corporate bonds

    -             2,202.2         278.8         2,481.0    

Foreign corporate bonds

    -             1,254.3         39.9         1,294.2    

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

       

RMBS(1)

    -             948.8         5.4         954.2    

CMBS

    -             505.5         11.4         516.9    

Other asset-backed securities(2)

    -             490.3         1,182.5         1,672.8    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt securities

    -             11,689.7         1,522.7         13,212.4    

Short-term investments

    -             547.8         -             547.8    

Other invested assets(3)

    -             -             8.4         8.4    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments (excluding equity method investments and loans)

    $     3,815.2         $    12,238.0         $      1,537.0         $    17,590.2    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Senior Notes and other debt

    $            -             $      1,553.0         $         102.5         $      1,655.5    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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        Level 1             Level 2             Level 3             Total      
          ($ in millions)        

As of December 31, 2016

       

Equity securities:

       

Common stock

    $     3,105.2         $ -             $ 4.3         $ 3,109.5    

Preferred stock

    -             -             -             -        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

    3,105.2         -             4.3         3,109.5    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt securities:

       

U.S. Government obligations

    -             1,243.3         -             1,243.3    

Municipal bonds

    -             4,185.8         -             4,185.8    

Foreign government obligations

    -             1,047.1         -             1,047.1    

U.S. corporate bonds

    -             2,120.2         72.9         2,193.1    

Foreign corporate bonds

    -             1,088.4         0.4         1,088.8    

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

       

RMBS(1)

    -             994.5         5.9         1,000.4    

CMBS

    -             730.5         4.3         734.8    

Other asset-backed securities(2)

    -             586.1         903.8         1,489.9    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt securities

    -             11,995.9         987.3         12,983.2    

Short-term investments

    -             778.4         -             778.4    

Other invested assets(3)

    -             -             28.1         28.1    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments (excluding equity method investments and loans)

    $ 3,105.2         $ 12,774.3         $     1,019.7         $ 16,899.2    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Senior Notes and other debt

    $     -             $     1,491.5         $     92.8         $     1,584.3    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Primarily includes government agency pass-through securities guaranteed by a government agency or government sponsored enterprise, among other types of RMBS.
(2) Includes $1,146.2 million and $903.8 million of collateralized loan obligations as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
(3) Includes partnership and non-marketable equity investments accounted for on an AFS basis, and excludes investments accounted for using the equity method.

Municipal Bonds. The following table provides the fair value of our municipal bonds as of September 30, 2017, 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)                                

New York

   $ 18.6       $ -           $ -           $ -           $ 100.0       $ 163.3       $ 83.7       $ 49.5       $ 415.1       $ 15.4       $ 430.5   

California

    9.8        46.7        -            9.4        1.3        27.4        113.5        7.5        215.6        99.7        315.3   

Texas

    13.0        -            0.2        -            26.4        96.5        75.3        2.4        213.8        81.9        295.7   

Massachusetts

    28.9        24.9        -            -            29.6        40.3        32.3        0.2        156.2        115.9        272.1   

Washington

    1.2        -            -            -            13.6        21.1        56.6        2.3        94.8        69.1        163.9   

Ohio

    46.3        1.5        0.2        1.5        2.1        -             49.2        2.2        103.0        59.5        162.5   

Colorado

    25.1        14.0        -            13.4        8.4        32.1        6.9        2.3        102.2        22.8        125.0   

North Carolina

    11.4        26.2        1.8        0.3        -             0.5        6.8        9.5        56.5        52.6        109.1   

Florida

    9.4        0.3        -            -            14.2        32.6        14.7        10.1        81.3        27.6        108.9   

Pennsylvania

    2.5        0.6        10.4        -            -             41.7        2.2        6.3        63.7        44.9        108.6   

All other states

    215.6        115.4        26.9        75.3        152.6        191.3        221.2        107.9        1,106.2        323.4        1,429.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $     381.8       $     229.6       $     39.5       $     99.9       $     348.2       $     646.8       $     662.4       $     200.2       $     2,608.4       $     912.8        3,521.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total advance refunded / escrowed maturity bonds

 

    610.5   
 

 

 

 

Total municipal bonds

 

   $     4,131.7   
 

 

 

 

 

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Recent Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted

In May 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the “FASB,” issued guidance that requires disclosures related to short-duration insurance contracts. The guidance applies to property and casualty insurance and reinsurance entities, among others, and requires the following annual disclosure related to the liability for loss and LAE: (i) net incurred and paid claims development information by accident year for up to ten years; (ii) a reconciliation of incurred and paid claims development information to the aggregate carrying amount of the liability for loss and LAE; (iii) liabilities for IBNR by accident year and in total; (iv) a description of reserving methodologies (as well as any changes to those methodologies); (v) quantitative information about claim frequency by accident year; and (vi) the average annual percentage payout of incurred claims by age and accident year. In addition, the guidance also requires insurance entities to disclose for annual and interim reporting periods a roll-forward of the liability for loss and LAE. This guidance was effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. We adopted this guidance as of December 31, 2016 and the implementation did not have an impact on our results of operations and financial condition. See Note 5 to Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part I, Item 1, “Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q and Note 1(k) and Note 6 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2016 Form 10-K for the new disclosures.

Future Application of Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB, together with the International Accounting Standards Board, issued guidance on the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. Under this guidance, revenue is recognized as the transfer of goods and services to customers takes place and in amounts that reflect the payment or payments that are expected to be received from the customers for those goods and services. This guidance also requires new disclosures about revenue. Revenues related to insurance and reinsurance are not impacted by this guidance. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2018 for public entities, with early adoption permitted in 2017. We will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2018 and do not currently believe that the implementation will have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance that changes the recognition and measurement of certain financial instruments. This guidance requires investments in equity securities (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. For equity securities that do not have readily determinable fair values, measurement may be at cost, adjusted for any impairment and changes resulting from observable price changes for a similar investment of the same issuer. This guidance also changes the presentation and disclosure of financial instruments by: (i) requiring that financial instrument disclosures of fair value use the exit price notion; (ii) requiring separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form, either on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements; (iii) requiring separate presentation in other comprehensive income for the portion of the change in a liability’s fair value resulting from instrument-specific credit risk when an election has been made to measure the liability at fair value; and (iv) eliminating the requirement to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 for public entities, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Except for the change in presentation for instrument-specific credit risk, this guidance does not permit early adoption. We will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2018. As of January 1, 2018, unrealized gains or losses of equity securities, net of deferred taxes, will be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. Subsequently, all changes in unrealized gains or losses of equity securities, net of deferred taxes, will be presented in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings rather than the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. We do not currently believe that the implementation will have a material impact on our financial condition. See Note 3(a) to Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part I, Item 1, “Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q for further information on our unrealized gains and losses of equity securities.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance on leases. Under this guidance, a lessee is required to recognize lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets for leases with terms of more than one year, whereas under current guidance, a lessee is only required to recognize assets and liabilities for those leases qualifying as capital leases. This guidance also requires new disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The accounting by lessors is to remain largely unchanged. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2019 for public entities, with early adoption permitted. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for all leases in existence as of, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. We will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2019 and do not currently believe that the implementation will have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition. See Note 12(b) to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the 2016 Form 10-K for further information on our leases.

In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance on credit losses. Under this guidance, a company is required to measure all expected credit losses on loans, reinsurance recoverables and other financial assets accounted for at cost or amortized cost, as applicable.

 

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Estimates of expected credit losses are to be based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Credit losses for securities accounted for on an AFS basis are to be measured in a manner similar to GAAP as currently applied and cannot exceed the amount by which the fair value is less than the amortized cost. Credit losses for all financial assets are to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. Subsequent reversals in credit loss estimates are permitted and are to be recognized in earnings. This guidance also requires new disclosures about the significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality of financial assets. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2020 for public entities, with early adoption permitted. We will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2020 and do not currently believe that the implementation will have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance that simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill. Under this guidance, if an initial qualitative assessment indicates that the fair value of an operating subsidiary may be less than its carrying amount, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the operating subsidiary exceeds its estimated fair value. Any resulting impairment loss recognized cannot exceed the total amount of goodwill associated with the operating subsidiary. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2020 for public entities, with early adoption permitted. We will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2020 and do not currently believe that the implementation will have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

In March 2017, the FASB issued guidance that reduces the amortization period for the premium on certain purchased callable debt securities to the earliest call date. The guidance applies specifically to noncontingent call features that are callable at a predetermined and fixed price and date. The accounting for purchased callable debt securities held at a discount is not affected. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2019 for public entities, with early adoption permitted. We will adopt this guidance in the fourth quarter of 2017, and we will record a cumulative effect reduction directly to opening 2017 retained earnings and an offsetting increase in opening 2017 accumulated other comprehensive income at that time. We do not currently believe that the implementation will have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

In August 2017, the FASB issued guidance that simplifies the requirements to achieve hedge accounting, better reflects the economic results of hedging in the financial statements and better aligns hedge accounting with a company’s risk management activities. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2019 for public entities, with early adoption permitted. We will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2019 and do not currently believe that the implementation will have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Market risk is the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and rates. 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 debt securities is interest rate risk at the time of refinancing. We monitor the interest rate environment to evaluate reinvestment and refinancing opportunities. We generally do not use derivatives to manage market and interest rate risks. The table below presents sensitivity analyses as of September 30, 2017 of our (i) consolidated debt securities and (ii) senior notes and other debt, which are sensitive to changes in interest rates. Sensitivity analysis is defined as the measurement of potential change in future earnings, fair values or cash flows of market sensitive instruments resulting from one or more selected hypothetical changes in interest rates over a selected time period. In the sensitivity analysis model below, we use a +/- 300 basis point range of change in interest rates to measure the hypothetical change in fair value of the financial instruments included in the analysis. The change in fair value is determined by calculating hypothetical September 30, 2017 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.

 

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

Assets:

             

Debt securities, fair value

  $   14,546.9     $   14,286.6     $   13,808.3     $   13,212.4     $   12,632.4     $   12,078.8     $   11,556.9  

Estimated change in fair value

    1,334.5       1,074.2       595.9       -          (580.0     (1,133.6     (1,655.5

Liabilities:

             

Senior Notes and other debt, fair value

  $ 2,129.5     $ 1,959.9     $ 1,795.2     $ 1,655.5     $ 1,536.8     $ 1,434.6     $ 1,346.2  

Estimated change in fair value

    474.0       304.4       139.7       -          (118.7     (220.9     (309.3

Equity Risk

Our equity securities are subject to fluctuations in market value. The table below presents our equity market price risk and reflects the effect of a hypothetical increase or decrease in market prices as of September 30, 2017 on the estimated fair value of our consolidated equity portfolio. The selected hypothetical price changes do not reflect what could be the potential best or worst case scenarios.

 

As of September 30, 2017

($ in millions)

Estimated  

            Fair Value               

 

        Hypothetical        

        Price Change         

 

Estimated Fair Value

After Hypothetical

  Change in Price  

 

Hypothetical

Percentage Increase

(Decrease) in

  Stockholders’ Equity  

  $          3,821.6

  20% Increase   $            4,585.9     6.1%
  20% Decrease   $            3,057.3     (6.1%)

In addition to debt 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 $338.0 million as of September 30, 2017.

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. To mitigate this risk, we maintain investments denominated in certain foreign currencies in which the claims payments will be made, and we have recently initiated a hedging program that is designed to reduce this risk for a portion of our exposure to certain currencies. As of September 30, 2017, the largest foreign currency exposures for these foreign operations were the Euro, the Canadian Dollar, the Japanese Yen and the Australian Dollar. The table below presents our foreign currency exchange rate risk and shows the effect of a hypothetical increase or decrease in foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. Dollar as of September 30, 2017 on the estimated net carrying value of our foreign currency denominated assets, net of our foreign currency denominated liabilities. The selected hypothetical changes do not reflect what could be the potential best or worst case scenarios.

 

As of September 30, 2017

($ in millions)

Estimated  

          Fair Value           

 

        Hypothetical        

        Price Change         

 

Estimated Fair Value

After Hypothetical

  Change in Price  

 

Hypothetical

Percentage Increase

(Decrease) in

  Stockholders’ Equity  

  $          223.7 (1)

  20% Increase   $            268.4   0.4%
  20% Decrease   $            179.0   (0.4%)

 

(1) Denotes a net asset position as of September 30, 2017.

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

 

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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 quarter ended September 30, 2017 in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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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 2016 Form 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 2016 Form 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 presents our common stock repurchases for the quarter ended September 30, 2017:

 

     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(1)
(in millions)
 

July 1 to July 31

     -            $ -                -            $ 379.2    

August 1 to August 31

     -              -                -              379.2    

September 1 to September 30

     15,916          537.14          15,916          370.7    
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total

     15,916          537.14          15,916       
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

  (1) In November 2015, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of shares of common stock, at such times and at prices as management determines to be advisable, up to an aggregate of $400.0 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 to this Form 10-Q.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

    Number    

 

Description

  10.1(a)

  Credit Agreement, dated as of July  31, 2017, among Alleghany Corporation, the Lenders which are signatories thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as administrative agent for the Lenders, filed as Exhibit 10.1(a) to Alleghany’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 1, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference.

  10.1(b)

  List of Contents of Exhibits and Schedules to the Credit Agreement, filed as Exhibit 10.1(b) to Alleghany’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 1, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference. Alleghany agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted exhibit or schedule to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

  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

  Mine Safety Disclosure required under Item 104 of Regulation S-K.

  101

  Interactive Data Files formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016; and (iv) Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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SIGNATURES

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: November 2, 2017     By:  

/s/ John L. Sennott, Jr.

     

John L. Sennott, Jr.

Senior Vice President and chief financial officer

(principal financial officer)

 

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