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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. - Quarter Report: 2011 September (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011

 

Or

 

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

 

Commission file number:  001-26456

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Bermuda

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

Not Applicable

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

Wessex House, 45 Reid Street

Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(441) 278-9250

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x  No o

 

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 (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer x

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o  No x

 

The number of the registrant’s common shares (par value, $0.0033 per share) outstanding as of November 1, 2011 was 134,188,052.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD.

 

INDEX

 

 

Page No.

PART I. Financial Information

 

 

 

Item 1 — Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

2

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

September 30, 2011 (unaudited) and December 31, 2010

3

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (unaudited)

4

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

 

For the nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (unaudited)

5

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

 

For the nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (unaudited)

6

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

For the nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (unaudited)

7

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

8

 

 

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

29

 

 

Item 3 — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

68

 

 

Item 4 — Controls and Procedures

68

 

 

PART II. Other Information

 

 

 

Item 1 — Legal Proceedings

69

 

 

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

69

 

 

Item 5 — Other Information

69

 

 

Item 6 — Exhibits

70

 

1



Table of Contents

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Arch Capital Group Ltd.:

 

We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Arch Capital Group Ltd. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, and the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

 

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters.  It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole.  Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

 

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

We previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein), and in our report dated February 28, 2011, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.  In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet information as of December 31, 2010, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

 

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

New York, NY

November 8, 2011

 

2



Table of Contents

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(U.S. dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $9,304,357 and $8,771,988)

 

$

9,529,834

 

$

8,957,859

 

Short-term investments available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $807,872 and $913,488)

 

799,662

 

915,841

 

Investment of funds received under securities lending, at fair value (amortized cost: $44,695 and $69,682)

 

44,553

 

69,660

 

Equity securities available for sale, at fair value (cost: $300,335 and $292,958)

 

273,213

 

310,194

 

Other investments available for sale, at fair value (cost: $226,089 and $252,590)

 

229,974

 

275,538

 

Investments accounted for using the fair value option

 

319,381

 

219,173

 

TALF investments, at fair value (amortized cost: $376,889 and $389,200)

 

392,455

 

402,449

 

Investments accounted for using the equity method

 

383,543

 

508,334

 

Total investments

 

11,972,615

 

11,659,048

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

369,895

 

362,740

 

Accrued investment income

 

71,264

 

74,837

 

Investment in joint venture (cost: $100,000)

 

107,642

 

105,698

 

Fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged under securities lending, at fair value

 

72,399

 

75,575

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell using funds received under securities lending

 

20,032

 

 

Premiums receivable

 

606,963

 

503,434

 

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid and paid losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

1,840,191

 

1,763,985

 

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

 

267,846

 

263,448

 

Deferred acquisition costs, net

 

306,810

 

277,861

 

Receivable for securities sold

 

1,067,188

 

56,145

 

Other assets

 

727,183

 

669,164

 

Total Assets

 

$

17,430,028

 

$

15,811,935

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

$

8,523,522

 

$

8,098,454

 

Unearned premiums

 

1,578,419

 

1,370,075

 

Reinsurance balances payable

 

123,815

 

132,452

 

Senior notes

 

300,000

 

300,000

 

Revolving credit agreement borrowings

 

100,000

 

100,000

 

TALF borrowings, at fair value (par: $314,371 and $326,219)

 

314,137

 

325,770

 

Securities lending payable

 

74,696

 

78,021

 

Payable for securities purchased

 

1,161,591

 

200,192

 

Other liabilities

 

779,477

 

693,968

 

Total Liabilities

 

12,955,657

 

11,298,932

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cumulative preferred shares - Series A and B

 

325,000

 

325,000

 

Common shares ($0.0033 par, shares issued: 163,267,317 and 160,073,616)

 

544

 

534

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

150,882

 

110,325

 

Retained earnings

 

4,696,256

 

4,422,553

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of deferred income tax

 

146,576

 

204,503

 

Common shares held in treasury, at cost (shares: 30,261,852 and 20,441,391)

 

(844,887

)

(549,912

)

Total Shareholders’ Equity

 

4,474,371

 

4,513,003

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

$

17,430,028

 

$

15,811,935

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

3



Table of Contents

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(U.S. dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net premiums written

 

$

691,381

 

$

636,117

 

$

2,162,202

 

$

2,028,129

 

Change in unearned premiums

 

(9,332

)

(8,708

)

(203,579

)

(107,792

)

Net premiums earned

 

682,049

 

627,409

 

1,958,623

 

1,920,337

 

Net investment income

 

82,753

 

90,768

 

257,731

 

274,277

 

Net realized gains

 

30,199

 

68,828

 

96,104

 

178,724

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other-than-temporary impairment losses

 

(5,180

)

(2,679

)

(10,406

)

(9,732

)

Less investment impairments recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes

 

2,441

 

604

 

3,303

 

1,641

 

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings

 

(2,739

)

(2,075

)

(7,103

)

(8,091

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fee income

 

848

 

874

 

2,447

 

2,551

 

Equity in net income (loss) of investment funds accounted for using the equity method

 

(30,549

)

9,708

 

5,097

 

38,410

 

Other income

 

2,432

 

1,840

 

2,734

 

12,346

 

Total revenues

 

764,993

 

797,352

 

2,315,633

 

2,418,554

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

423,984

 

359,193

 

1,349,486

 

1,150,389

 

Acquisition expenses

 

120,205

 

111,279

 

339,598

 

336,378

 

Other operating expenses

 

105,998

 

103,121

 

318,981

 

311,460

 

Interest expense

 

8,125

 

7,371

 

23,604

 

22,547

 

Net foreign exchange losses (gains)

 

(60,040

)

65,157

 

(4,753

)

(22,069

)

Total expenses

 

598,272

 

646,121

 

2,026,916

 

1,798,705

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

166,721

 

151,231

 

288,717

 

619,849

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

(2,267

)

3,200

 

(4,369

)

11,373

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

168,988

 

148,031

 

293,086

 

608,476

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred dividends

 

6,461

 

6,461

 

19,383

 

19,383

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

162,527

 

$

141,570

 

$

273,703

 

$

589,093

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

1.24

 

$

0.96

 

$

2.07

 

$

3.85

 

Diluted

 

$

1.19

 

$

0.92

 

$

1.98

 

$

3.68

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares and common share equivalents outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

131,560,851

 

146,993,373

 

132,090,354

 

152,979,948

 

Diluted

 

137,140,929

 

153,546,027

 

138,542,558

 

159,951,594

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

4



Table of Contents

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Comprehensive Income

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

293,086

 

$

608,476

 

Other comprehensive income, net of deferred income tax

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized appreciation in value of investments:

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized holding gains arising during period

 

53,371

 

378,543

 

Portion of other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of deferred income tax

 

(3,303

)

(1,641

)

Reclassification of net realized gains, net of income taxes, included in net income

 

(98,565

)

(126,517

)

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

(9,430

)

(541

)

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

(57,927

)

249,844

 

Comprehensive Income

 

$

235,159

 

$

858,320

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

5



Table of Contents

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Non-Cumulative Preferred Shares

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning and end of period

 

$

325,000

 

$

325,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Shares

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

534

 

548

 

Common shares issued, net

 

10

 

13

 

Purchases of common shares under share repurchase program

 

 

(30

)

Balance at end of period

 

544

 

531

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Paid-in Capital

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

110,325

 

253,466

 

Common shares issued

 

3,910

 

3,572

 

Exercise of stock options

 

9,379

 

35,150

 

Common shares retired

 

 

(217,562

)

Amortization of share-based compensation

 

25,286

 

25,450

 

Other

 

1,982

 

564

 

Balance at end of period

 

150,882

 

100,640

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retained Earnings

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

4,422,553

 

3,605,809

 

Dividends declared on preferred shares

 

(19,383

)

(19,383

)

Net income

 

293,086

 

608,476

 

Balance at end of period

 

4,696,256

 

4,194,902

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

204,503

 

138,526

 

Change in unrealized appreciation in value of investments, net of deferred income tax

 

(45,194

)

252,026

 

Portion of other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of deferred income tax

 

(3,303

)

(1,641

)

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of deferred income tax

 

(9,430

)

(541

)

Balance at end of period

 

146,576

 

388,370

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Shares Held in Treasury, at Cost

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

(549,912

)

 

Shares repurchased for treasury

 

(294,975

)

(291,533

)

Balance at end of period

 

(844,887

)

(291,533

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Shareholders’ Equity

 

$

4,474,371

 

$

4,717,910

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

6



Table of Contents

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

293,086

 

$

608,476

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized gains

 

(100,982

)

(184,423

)

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings

 

7,103

 

8,091

 

Equity in net income of investment funds accounted for using the equity method and other income

 

50,324

 

(29,925

)

Share-based compensation

 

25,286

 

25,450

 

Changes in:

 

 

 

 

 

Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses recoverable

 

334,620

 

212,024

 

Unearned premiums, net of prepaid reinsurance premiums

 

204,042

 

105,905

 

Premiums receivable

 

(114,044

)

(73,654

)

Deferred acquisition costs, net

 

(29,146

)

(17,570

)

Reinsurance balances payable

 

(3,381

)

(22,255

)

Other liabilities

 

12,678

 

8,143

 

Other items, net

 

76,885

 

17,299

 

Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities

 

756,471

 

657,561

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturity investments

 

(10,116,781

)

(14,501,938

)

Equity securities

 

(343,062

)

(139,165

)

Other investments

 

(373,814

)

(376,405

)

Proceeds from the sales of:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturity investments

 

8,855,624

 

13,984,442

 

Equity securities

 

311,117

 

55,919

 

Other investments

 

396,514

 

245,889

 

Proceeds from redemptions and maturities of fixed maturity investments

 

738,081

 

683,826

 

Net (purchases) sales of short-term investments

 

112,465

 

(212,093

)

Change in investment of securities lending collateral

 

3,325

 

9,705

 

Purchases of furniture, equipment and other assets

 

(15,526

)

(10,111

)

Net Cash Used By Investing Activities

 

(432,057

)

(259,931

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of common shares under share repurchase program

 

(287,558

)

(503,724

)

Proceeds from common shares issued, net

 

3,087

 

22,956

 

Proceeds from borrowings

 

 

264,526

 

Repayments of borrowings

 

(11,839

)

(125,985

)

Change in securities lending collateral

 

(3,325

)

(9,705

)

Other

 

3,999

 

8,950

 

Preferred dividends paid

 

(19,383

)

(19,383

)

Net Cash Used For Financing Activities

 

(315,019

)

(362,365

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effects of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash

 

(2,240

)

(3,839

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in cash

 

7,155

 

31,426

 

Cash beginning of year

 

362,740

 

334,571

 

Cash end of period

 

$

369,895

 

$

365,997

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Table of Contents

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

1.      General

 

Arch Capital Group Ltd. (“ACGL”) is a Bermuda public limited liability company which provides insurance and reinsurance on a worldwide basis through its wholly owned subsidiaries.

 

The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of ACGL and its wholly owned subsidiaries (together with ACGL, the “Company”). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normally recurring accruals) necessary for a fair statement of results on an interim basis. The results of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year or any future periods.

 

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted; however, management believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. This report should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, including the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and related notes.

 

The Company has reclassified the presentation of certain prior year information to conform to the current presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on the Company’s net income, shareholders’ equity or cash flows. Tabular amounts are in U.S. Dollars in thousands, except share amounts, unless otherwise noted.

 

2.      Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In October 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) that modifies the definition of the types of costs incurred by insurance entities that can be capitalized in the acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts. The amended guidance specifies that certain costs incurred in the successful acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts should be capitalized. Those costs include incremental direct costs of contract acquisition that result directly from and are essential to the contract transaction and would not have been incurred had the contract transaction not occurred. All other acquisition-related costs, such as costs incurred for soliciting business, administration, and unsuccessful acquisition or renewal efforts should be charged to expense as incurred. Administrative costs, including rent, depreciation, occupancy, equipment, and all other general overhead costs are considered indirect costs and should also be charged to expense as incurred. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011 with earlier adoption permitted. Retrospective application to all prior periods presented upon the date of adoption is also permitted but is not required. The Company plans to adopt this ASU on January 1, 2012 using a retrospective application and, based on a preliminary analysis, does not expect the adoption of the ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In applying the retrospective application, deferred policy acquisition costs and related deferred taxes will be reduced as of the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements with a corresponding reduction to shareholders’ equity.

 

In May 2011, the FASB issued an ASU that provides clarification or changes to existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements, including, for example, additional disclosure for fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and is to be applied prospectively. Early application is not

 

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Table of Contents

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact the new guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2011, the FASB issued an ASU that is intended to increase the prominence of other comprehensive income in the financial statements by allowing only two options for reporting comprehensive income: (1) A single statement that presents the components of net income and total net income, the components of other comprehensive income and total other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income or (2) in a two-statement approach that presents the components of net income and total net income in the first statement. That statement must be immediately followed by a financial statement that presents the components of other comprehensive income, a total for other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and should be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not believe that the adoption of this ASU will impact the presentation of its consolidated financial statements.

 

3.       Share Transactions

 

Three-for-One Share Split

 

In May 2011, shareholders approved a proposal to amend the memorandum of association by sub-dividing the authorized common shares of ACGL to effect a three-for-one split of ACGL’s common shares. The share split changed the Company’s authorized common shares to 600 million common shares (200 million previously) with a par value of $0.0033 per share ($0.01 previously). Information pertaining to the composition of the Company’s shareholders’ equity accounts, shares and earnings per share has been retroactively adjusted in the accompanying financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements to reflect the share split.

 

Share Repurchases

 

The board of directors of ACGL has authorized the investment in ACGL’s common shares through a share repurchase program. Repurchases under the program may be effected from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions through December 2012. Since the inception of the share repurchase program, ACGL has repurchased approximately 104.8 million common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $2.56 billion. During the 2011 third quarter, ACGL repurchased 0.7 million common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $20.8 million, compared to 2.0 million common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $53.4 million during the 2010 third quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, ACGL repurchased 9.6 million common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $287.6 million, compared to 20.6 million common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $503.7 million for the 2010 period.

 

At September 30, 2011, $942.0 million of share repurchases were available under the program. The timing and amount of the repurchase transactions under this program will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions and corporate and regulatory considerations.

 

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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

4.      Commitments and Contingencies

 

Letter of Credit and Revolving Credit Facilities

 

As of September 30, 2011, the Company had a $300 million unsecured revolving loan and letter of credit facility and a $500 million secured letter of credit facility (the “Credit Agreement”). The Company was in compliance with all covenants contained in the Credit Agreement at September 30, 2011. The Credit Agreement expires on August 18, 2014. In addition, the Company had access to secured letter of credit facilities of approximately $180 million as of September 30, 2011, which were primarily used to support the Company’s syndicate at Lloyd’s of London, and to other secured letter of credit facilities, some of which are available on a limited basis and for limited purposes (together with the secured portion of the Credit Agreement and these letter of credit facilities, the “LOC Facilities”). The Company was in compliance with all covenants contained in the LOC Facilities at September 30, 2011. At September 30, 2011, the Company had $621.5 million in outstanding letters of credit under the LOC Facilities, which were secured by investments with a fair value of $644.2 million, and had $100.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement.

 

Dividends for Preferred Shares

 

On September 8, 2011, the Company’s board of directors declared dividends with respect to the $200.0 million principal amount of 8.0% series A non-cumulative preferred shares outstanding and $125.0 million principal amount of 7.875% series B non-cumulative preferred shares outstanding (together, “Preferred Shares”). All such dividends will be payable out of lawfully available funds for the payment of dividends under Bermuda law on November 15, 2011 to holders of record of the Preferred Shares as of November 1, 2011, unless determined otherwise by the board of directors or the executive committee of the board of directors on or prior to the applicable effective date. At September 30, 2011, the Company had declared an aggregate of $3.3 million of dividends to be paid to the holders of the Preferred Shares.

 

Investment Commitments

 

The Company’s investment commitments, which are primarily related to investment funds accounted for using the equity method and other investments, were approximately $229.6 million at September 30, 2011.

 

5.      Segment Information

 

The Company classifies its businesses into two underwriting segments — insurance and reinsurance — and corporate and other (non-underwriting). Management measures segment performance based on underwriting income or loss. The Company does not manage its assets by segment and, accordingly, investment income is not allocated to each underwriting segment. In addition, other revenue and expense items are not evaluated by segment.

 

10



Table of Contents

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s underwriting income or loss by segment, together with a reconciliation of underwriting income or loss to net income available to common shareholders, for the 2011 third quarter and 2010 third quarter:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2011

 

September 30, 2010

 

 

 

Insurance

 

Reinsurance

 

Total

 

Insurance

 

Reinsurance

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross premiums written (1)

 

$

634,280

 

$

227,837

 

$

860,289

 

$

624,490

 

$

208,770

 

$

831,788

 

Net premiums written

 

472,986

 

218,395

 

691,381

 

431,361

 

204,756

 

636,117

 

Net premiums earned

 

$

437,970

 

$

244,079

 

$

682,049

 

$

411,881

 

$

215,528

 

$

627,409

 

Fee income

 

661

 

187

 

848

 

864

 

10

 

874

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

(290,608

)

(133,376

)

(423,984

)

(265,411

)

(93,782

)

(359,193

)

Acquisition expenses, net

 

(76,763

)

(43,442

)

(120,205

)

(67,309

)

(43,970

)

(111,279

)

Other operating expenses

 

(77,078

)

(22,740

)

(99,818

)

(77,078

)

(20,247

)

(97,325

)

Underwriting income (loss)

 

$

(5,818

)

$

44,708

 

38,890

 

$

2,947

 

$

57,539

 

60,486

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income

 

 

 

 

 

82,753

 

 

 

 

 

90,768

 

Net realized gains

 

 

 

 

 

30,199

 

 

 

 

 

68,828

 

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings

 

 

 

 

 

(2,739

)

 

 

 

 

(2,075

)

Equity in net income (loss) of investment funds accounted for using the equity method

 

 

 

 

 

(30,549

)

 

 

 

 

9,708

 

Other income

 

 

 

 

 

2,432

 

 

 

 

 

1,840

 

Other expenses

 

 

 

 

 

(6,180

)

 

 

 

 

(5,796

)

Interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

(8,125

)

 

 

 

 

(7,371

)

Net foreign exchange gains (losses)

 

 

 

 

 

60,040

 

 

 

 

 

(65,157

)

Income before income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

166,721

 

 

 

 

 

151,231

 

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

2,267

 

 

 

 

 

(3,200

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

168,988

 

 

 

 

 

148,031

 

Preferred dividends

 

 

 

 

 

(6,461

)

 

 

 

 

(6,461

)

Net income available to common shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

$

162,527

 

 

 

 

 

$

141,570

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting Ratios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss ratio

 

66.4

%

54.6

%

62.2

%

64.4

%

43.5

%

57.3

%

Acquisition expense ratio (2)

 

17.4

%

17.8

%

17.5

%

16.1

%

20.4

%

17.6

%

Other operating expense ratio

 

17.6

%

9.3

%

14.6

%

18.7

%

9.4

%

15.5

%

Combined ratio

 

101.4

%

81.7

%

94.3

%

99.2

%

73.3

%

90.4

%

 


(1)

Certain amounts included in the gross premiums written of each segment are related to intersegment transactions. Accordingly, the sum of gross premiums written for each segment does not agree to the total gross premiums written as shown in the table above due to the elimination of intersegment transactions in the total.

(2)

The acquisition expense ratio is adjusted to include policy-related fee income.

 

11



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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s underwriting income or loss by segment, together with a reconciliation of underwriting income or loss to net income available to common shareholders, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2011

 

September 30, 2010

 

 

 

Insurance

 

Reinsurance

 

Total

 

Insurance

 

Reinsurance

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross premiums written (1)

 

$

1,903,868

 

$

836,616

 

$

2,736,794

 

$

1,874,419

 

$

735,942

 

$

2,602,575

 

Net premiums written

 

1,360,540

 

801,662

 

2,162,202

 

1,307,122

 

721,007

 

2,028,129

 

Net premiums earned

 

$

1,256,380

 

$

702,243

 

$

1,958,623

 

$

1,246,831

 

$

673,506

 

$

1,920,337

 

Fee income

 

2,141

 

306

 

2,447

 

2,491

 

60

 

2,551

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

(889,973

)

(459,513

)

(1,349,486

)

(852,716

)

(297,673

)

(1,150,389

)

Acquisition expenses, net

 

(204,721

)

(134,877

)

(339,598

)

(200,099

)

(136,279

)

(336,378

)

Other operating expenses

 

(228,580

)

(65,798

)

(294,378

)

(229,525

)

(59,948

)

(289,473

)

Underwriting income (loss)

 

$

(64,753

)

$

42,361

 

(22,392

)

$

(33,018

)

$

179,666

 

146,648

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income

 

 

 

 

 

257,731

 

 

 

 

 

274,277

 

Net realized gains

 

 

 

 

 

96,104

 

 

 

 

 

178,724

 

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings

 

 

 

 

 

(7,103

)

 

 

 

 

(8,091

)

Equity in net income of investment funds accounted for using the equity method

 

 

 

 

 

5,097

 

 

 

 

 

38,410

 

Other income

 

 

 

 

 

2,734

 

 

 

 

 

12,346

 

Other expenses

 

 

 

 

 

(24,603

)

 

 

 

 

(21,987

)

Interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

(23,604

)

 

 

 

 

(22,547

)

Net foreign exchange gains

 

 

 

 

 

4,753

 

 

 

 

 

22,069

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

288,717

 

 

 

 

 

619,849

 

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

4,369

 

 

 

 

 

(11,373

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

293,086

 

 

 

 

 

608,476

 

Preferred dividends

 

 

 

 

 

(19,383

)

 

 

 

 

(19,383

)

Net income available to common shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

$

273,703

 

 

 

 

 

$

589,093

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting Ratios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss ratio

 

70.8

%

65.4

%

68.9

%

68.4

%

44.2

%

59.9

%

Acquisition expense ratio (2)

 

16.1

%

19.2

%

17.2

%

15.8

%

20.2

%

17.4

%

Other operating expense ratio

 

18.2

%

9.4

%

15.0

%

18.4

%

8.9

%

15.1

%

Combined ratio

 

105.1

%

94.0

%

101.1

%

102.6

%

73.3

%

92.4

%

 


(1)

Certain amounts included in the gross premiums written of each segment are related to intersegment transactions. Accordingly, the sum of gross premiums written for each segment does not agree to the total gross premiums written as shown in the table above due to the elimination of intersegment transactions in the total.

(2)

The acquisition expense ratio is adjusted to include policy-related fee income.

 

12



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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

6.      Investment Information

 

Available For Sale Securities

 

The following table summarizes the fair value and cost or amortized cost of the Company’s securities classified as available for sale:

 

 

 

Estimated

 

Gross

 

Gross

 

Cost or

 

OTTI

 

 

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

Unrealized

 

Amortized

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

Value

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

Cost

 

Losses (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities and fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds

 

$

2,766,651

 

$

93,418

 

$

(42,230

)

$

2,715,463

 

$

(17,607

)

Mortgage backed securities

 

1,545,321

 

32,503

 

(21,110

)

1,533,928

 

(20,676

)

Municipal bonds

 

1,422,943

 

66,880

 

(2,322

)

1,358,385

 

(105

)

Commercial mortgage backed securities

 

1,118,905

 

26,981

 

(4,230

)

1,096,154

 

(3,259

)

U.S. government and government agencies

 

1,263,665

 

39,866

 

(536

)

1,224,335

 

(207

)

Non-U.S. government securities

 

837,043

 

42,570

 

(15,610

)

810,083

 

 

Asset backed securities

 

647,705

 

19,529

 

(8,572

)

636,748

 

(3,876

)

Total

 

9,602,233

 

321,747

 

(94,610

)

9,375,096

 

(45,730

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity securities

 

273,213

 

9,049

 

(36,171

)

300,335

 

 

Other investments

 

229,974

 

10,530

 

(6,645

)

226,089

 

 

Short-term investments

 

799,662

 

58

 

(8,268

)

807,872

 

 

Total

 

$

10,905,082

 

$

341,384

 

$

(145,694

)

$

10,709,392

 

$

(45,730

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities and fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds

 

$

2,714,375

 

$

97,400

 

$

(18,343

)

$

2,635,318

 

$

(18,047

)

Mortgage backed securities

 

1,806,813

 

18,801

 

(26,893

)

1,814,905

 

(21,147

)

Municipal bonds

 

1,182,100

 

40,410

 

(6,958

)

1,148,648

 

(125

)

Commercial mortgage backed securities

 

1,167,299

 

31,743

 

(6,028

)

1,141,584

 

(3,481

)

U.S. government and government agencies

 

872,149

 

20,150

 

(5,696

)

857,695

 

(207

)

Non-U.S. government securities

 

732,666

 

39,539

 

(11,894

)

705,021

 

(72

)

Asset backed securities

 

558,032

 

20,672

 

(3,990

)

541,350

 

(3,954

)

Total

 

9,033,434

 

268,715

 

(79,802

)

8,844,521

 

(47,033

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity securities

 

310,194

 

20,660

 

(3,424

)

292,958

 

 

Other investments

 

275,538

 

24,280

 

(1,332

)

252,590

 

 

Short-term investments

 

915,841

 

2,845

 

(492

)

913,488

 

 

Total

 

$

10,535,007

 

$

316,500

 

$

(85,050

)

$

10,303,557

 

$

(47,033

)

 


(1)          In securities lending transactions, the Company receives collateral in excess of the fair value of the fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged. For purposes of this table, the Company has excluded the collateral received and reinvested and included the fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged. See “—Securities Lending Agreements.”

(2)          Represents the total other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). It does not include the change in fair value subsequent to the impairment measurement date. At September 30, 2011, the net unrealized loss related to securities for which a non-credit OTTI was recognized in AOCI was $13.8 million, compared to a net unrealized loss of $7.1 million at December 31, 2010.

 

13



Table of Contents

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The following table summarizes, for all available for sale securities in an unrealized loss position, the fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time the security has been in a continual unrealized loss position:

 

 

 

Less than 12 Months

 

12 Months or More

 

Total

 

 

 

Estimated

 

Gross

 

Estimated

 

Gross

 

Estimated

 

Gross

 

 

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

Value

 

Losses

 

Value

 

Losses

 

Value

 

Losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities and fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds

 

$

946,958

 

$

(38,638

)

$

39,640

 

$

(3,592

)

$

986,598

 

$

(42,230

)

Mortgage backed securities

 

377,312

 

(11,221

)

41,759

 

(9,889

)

419,071

 

(21,110

)

Municipal bonds

 

243,629

 

(2,197

)

3,174

 

(125

)

246,803

 

(2,322

)

Commercial mortgage backed securities

 

193,318

 

(3,453

)

8,408

 

(777

)

201,726

 

(4,230

)

U.S. government and government agencies

 

149,684

 

(536

)

 

 

149,684

 

(536

)

Non-U.S. government securities

 

351,494

 

(14,840

)

11,890

 

(770

)

363,384

 

(15,610

)

Asset backed securities

 

200,706

 

(5,922

)

10,716

 

(2,650

)

211,422

 

(8,572

)

Total

 

2,463,101

 

(76,807

)

115,587

 

(17,803

)

2,578,688

 

(94,610

)

Equity securities

 

193,356

 

(36,171

)

 

 

193,356

 

(36,171

)

Other investments

 

103,167

 

(6,229

)

2,906

 

(416

)

106,073

 

(6,645

)

Short-term investments

 

150,061

 

(8,268

)

 

 

150,061

 

(8,268

)

Total

 

$

2,909,685

 

$

(127,475

)

$

118,493

 

$

(18,219

)

$

3,028,178

 

$

(145,694

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities and fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds

 

$

530,956

 

$

(16,580

)

$

20,351

 

$

(1,763

)

$

551,307

 

$

(18,343

)

Mortgage backed securities

 

913,138

 

(20,331

)

57,895

 

(6,562

)

971,033

 

(26,893

)

Municipal bonds

 

294,978

 

(6,440

)

8,465

 

(518

)

303,443

 

(6,958

)

Commercial mortgage backed securities

 

311,703

 

(5,273

)

22,030

 

(755

)

333,733

 

(6,028

)

U.S. government and government agencies

 

190,497

 

(5,696

)

 

 

190,497

 

(5,696

)

Non-U.S. government securities

 

271,446

 

(7,418

)

45,884

 

(4,476

)

317,330

 

(11,894

)

Asset backed securities

 

75,655

 

(827

)

8,126

 

(3,163

)

83,781

 

(3,990

)

Total

 

2,588,373

 

(62,565

)

162,751

 

(17,237

)

2,751,124

 

(79,802

)

Equity securities

 

68,629

 

(3,424

)

 

 

68,629

 

(3,424

)

Other investments

 

46,750

 

(916

)

2,850

 

(416

)

49,600

 

(1,332

)

Short-term investments

 

42,030

 

(492

)

 

 

42,030

 

(492

)

Total

 

$

2,745,782

 

$

(67,397

)

$

165,601

 

$

(17,653

)

$

2,911,383

 

$

(85,050

)

 


(1)          In securities lending transactions, the Company receives collateral in excess of the fair value of the fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged. For purposes of this table, the Company has excluded the collateral received and reinvested and included the fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged. See “—Securities Lending Agreements.”

 

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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

At September 30, 2011, on a lot level basis, approximately 1,830 security lots out of a total of approximately 4,800 security lots were in an unrealized loss position and the largest single unrealized loss from a single lot in the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio was $5.3 million. At December 31, 2010, on a lot level basis, approximately 1,130 security lots out of a total of approximately 4,360 security lots were in an unrealized loss position and the largest single unrealized loss from a single lot in the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio was $2.6 million.

 

The contractual maturities of the Company’s fixed maturities and fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements are shown in the following table. Expected maturities, which are management’s best estimates, will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

 

 

September 30, 2011

 

December 31, 2010

 

 

 

Estimated

 

Amortized

 

Estimated

 

Amortized

 

Maturity

 

Fair Value

 

Cost

 

Fair Value

 

Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due in one year or less

 

$

424,945

 

$

413,387

 

$

414,390

 

$

398,795

 

Due after one year through five years

 

2,950,545

 

2,869,718

 

2,924,879

 

2,833,955

 

Due after five years through 10 years

 

2,446,160

 

2,376,760

 

1,719,446

 

1,671,306

 

Due after 10 years

 

468,652

 

448,401

 

442,575

 

442,626

 

 

 

 6,290,302

 

6,108,266

 

5,501,290

 

5,346,682

 

Mortgage backed securities

 

1,545,321

 

1,533,928

 

1,806,813

 

1,814,905

 

Commercial mortgage backed securities

 

1,118,905

 

1,096,154

 

1,167,299

 

1,141,584

 

Asset backed securities

 

647,705

 

636,748

 

558,032

 

541,350

 

Total

 

$

9,602,233

 

$

9,375,096

 

$

9,033,434

 

$

8,844,521

 

 

Securities Lending Agreements

 

The Company operates a securities lending program under which certain of its fixed income portfolio securities are loaned to third parties, primarily major brokerage firms, for short periods of time through a lending agent. The Company maintains legal control over the securities it lends, retains the earnings and cash flows associated with the loaned securities and receives a fee from the borrower for the temporary use of the securities. At September 30, 2011, the fair value and amortized cost of fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged under securities lending agreements were $72.4 million and $70.7 million, respectively, compared to $75.6 million and $72.5 million at December 31, 2010, respectively. At September 30, 2011, the portfolio of collateral backing the Company’s securities lending program included approximately $8.5 million fair value of sub-prime securities with an average credit quality of “CCC” from Standard & Poor’s and “Caa3” from Moody’s, compared to $13.2 million with an average credit quality of “B-” from Standard & Poor’s and “Caa2” from Moody’s at December 31, 2010.

 

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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

Fair Value Option

 

The Company elected to carry certain fixed maturity securities, equity securities and other investments at fair value under the fair value option afforded by accounting guidance regarding the fair value option for financial assets and liabilities. Changes in fair value of investments accounted for using the fair value option are included in “Net realized gains (losses).” The primary reasons for electing the fair value option were to reflect economic events in earnings on a timely basis and address simplification and cost-benefit considerations.

 

The Company also elected to carry the securities and related borrowings under the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s (“FRBNY”) Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (“TALF”) at fair value under the fair value option. The primary reason for electing the fair value option on the TALF investments and TALF borrowings was to mitigate volatility in equity from using different measurement attributes (i.e., TALF investments carried at fair value whereas the related TALF borrowings would be recorded on an accrual basis absent electing the fair value option). Changes in fair value for both the securities and borrowings are included in “Net realized gains (losses)” while interest income on the TALF investments is reflected in net investment income and interest expense on the TALF borrowings is reflected in interest expense.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities which are accounted for using the fair value option:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

$

122,866

 

$

124,969

 

Equity securities

 

100,719

 

94,204

 

Other investments (par: $100,250 and $0)

 

95,796

 

 

Investments accounted for using the fair value option

 

319,381

 

219,173

 

Securities sold but not yet purchased (1)

 

(46,526

)

(41,143

)

TALF investments

 

392,455

 

402,449

 

TALF borrowings

 

(314,137

)

(325,770

)

Net assets accounted for using the fair value option

 

$

351,173

 

$

254,709

 

 


(1)              Represents the Company’s obligation to deliver securities that it did not own at the time of sale. Such amounts are included in “other liabilities” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

Net Investment Income

 

The components of net investment income were derived from the following sources:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

$

82,686

 

$

94,209

 

$

252,250

 

$

286,051

 

Equity securities

 

1,796

 

120

 

5,187

 

410

 

Short-term investments

 

430

 

473

 

1,613

 

958

 

Other (1)

 

4,264

 

1,174

 

17,625

 

2,296

 

Gross investment income

 

89,176

 

95,976

 

276,675

 

289,715

 

Investment expenses

 

(6,423

)

(5,208

)

(18,944

)

(15,438

)

Net investment income

 

$

82,753

 

$

90,768

 

$

257,731

 

$

274,277

 

 


(1)               Includes interest on term loan investments (included in “investments accounted for using the fair value option”), dividends on investment funds and other items.

 

Net Realized Gains (Losses)

 

Net realized gains (losses) were as follows, excluding the other-than-temporary impairment provisions discussed above:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available for sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross gains on investment sales

 

$

61,008

 

$

87,358

 

$

204,303

 

$

207,368

 

Gross losses on investment sales

 

(21,503

)

(29,819

)

(85,170

)

(71,282

)

Change in fair value of assets and liabilities accounted for using the fair value option:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

(4,366

)

6,240

 

(12,759

)

(2,457

)

Equity securities

 

(28,993

)

5,660

 

(32,043

)

369

 

Other investments

 

(3,755

)

 

(3,432

)

 

TALF investments

 

(2,130

)

6,534

 

2,317

 

14,431

 

TALF borrowings

 

79

 

(1,231

)

(206

)

(691

)

Derivative instruments (1)

 

36,179

 

(7,030

)

28,035

 

28,522

 

Other

 

(6,320

)

1,116

 

(4,941

)

2,464

 

Net realized gains

 

$

30,199

 

$

68,828

 

$

96,104

 

$

178,724

 

 


(1)               See Note 8 for information on the Company’s derivative instruments.

 

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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

Other-Than-Temporary Impairments

 

The Company performs quarterly reviews of its available for sale investments in order to determine whether declines in fair value below the amortized cost basis were considered other-than-temporary in accordance with applicable guidance. The following table details the OTTI recognized in earnings by asset class:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage backed securities

 

$

1,192

 

$

1,835

 

$

3,620

 

$

4,096

 

Asset backed securities

 

 

103

 

10

 

2,077

 

Corporate bonds

 

16

 

137

 

375

 

265

 

Total

 

1,208

 

2,075

 

4,005

 

6,438

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment of funds received under securities lending agreements

 

393

 

 

1,623

 

1,653

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity securities

 

1,138

 

 

1,475

 

 

Total OTTI recognized in earnings

 

$

2,739

 

$

2,075

 

$

7,103

 

$

8,091

 

 

A description of the methodology and significant inputs used to measure the amount of OTTI in the 2011 periods is as follows:

 

·             Mortgage backed securities — the Company utilized underlying data provided by asset managers, cash flow projections and additional information from credit agencies in order to determine an expected recovery value for each security. The analysis includes expected cash flow projections under base case and stress case scenarios which modify the expected default expectations and loss severities and slow down prepayment assumptions. The significant inputs in the models include the expected default rates, delinquency rates and foreclosure costs. The expected recovery values were reduced on a number of mortgage backed securities, primarily as a result of increases in expected default expectations and foreclosure costs. The amortized cost basis of the mortgage backed securities were adjusted down, if required, to the expected recovery value calculated in the OTTI review process;

 

·                  Investment of funds received under securities lending agreements — the Company utilized analysis from its securities lending program manager in order to determine an expected recovery value for certain collateral backing the Company’s securities lending program which was invested in sub-prime securities. The analysis provided expected cash flow projections for the securities using similar criteria as described in the mortgage backed securities section above. The amortized cost basis of the investment of funds received under securities lending agreements was adjusted down, if required, to the expected recovery value calculated in the OTTI review process;

 

·                  Corporate bonds — the Company reviewed the business prospects, credit ratings, estimated loss given default factors, foreign currency impacts and information received from asset managers and rating agencies for certain corporate bonds. The amortized cost basis of the corporate bonds were adjusted down, if required, to the expected recovery value calculated in the OTTI review process;

 

·                  Equity securities — the Company utilized information received from asset managers on common stocks, including the business prospects, recent events, industry and market data and other factors. For certain equities which were in an unrealized loss position and where the Company determined that it did not

 

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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

have the intent or ability to hold such securities for a reasonable period of time by which the fair value of the securities would increase and the Company would recover its cost, the cost basis of such securities was adjusted down accordingly.

 

The Company believes that the $45.7 million of OTTI included in accumulated other comprehensive income at September 30, 2011 on the securities which were considered by the Company to be impaired was due to market and sector-related factors (i.e., not credit losses). At September 30, 2011, the Company did not intend to sell these securities, or any other securities which were in an unrealized loss position, and determined that it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell such securities before recovery of their cost basis.

 

The following table provides a roll forward of the amount related to credit losses recognized in earnings for which a portion of an OTTI was recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at start of period

 

$

86,286

 

$

89,189

 

$

86,040

 

$

84,147

 

Credit loss impairments recognized on securities not previously impaired

 

272

 

557

 

3,135

 

1,110

 

Credit loss impairments recognized on securities previously impaired

 

1,328

 

1,518

 

2,492

 

6,981

 

Reductions for increases in cash flows expected to be collected that are recognized over the remaining life of the security

 

 

 

 

 

Reductions for securities sold during the period

 

(530

)

(558

)

(4,311

)

(1,532

)

Balance at end of period

 

$

87,356

 

$

90,706

 

$

87,356

 

$

90,706

 

 

Restricted Assets

 

The Company is required to maintain assets on deposit, which primarily consist of fixed maturities, with various regulatory authorities to support its insurance and reinsurance operations. The Company’s insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries maintain assets in trust accounts as collateral for insurance and reinsurance transactions with affiliated companies and also have investments in segregated portfolios primarily to provide collateral or guarantees for letters of credit to third parties. See Note 4, “Commitments and Contingencies—Letter of Credit and Revolving Credit Facilities,” for further details. The following table details the value of the Company’s restricted assets:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets used for collateral or guarantees:

 

 

 

 

 

Affiliated transactions

 

$

4,384,970

 

$

4,491,649

 

Third party agreements

 

786,078

 

948,020

 

Deposits with U.S. regulatory authorities

 

290,169

 

263,077

 

Deposits with non-U.S. regulatory authorities

 

169,476

 

122,341

 

Trust funds

 

49,865

 

48,140

 

Total restricted assets

 

$

5,680,558

 

$

5,873,227

 

 

19



Table of Contents

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

7.      Fair Value

 

Accounting guidance regarding fair value measurements addresses how companies should measure fair value when they are required to use a fair value measure for recognition or disclosure purposes under GAAP and provides a common definition of fair value to be used throughout GAAP. It defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly fashion between market participants at the measurement date. In addition, it establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for the disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The level in the hierarchy within which a given fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement (Level 1 being the highest priority and Level 3 being the lowest priority).

 

The levels in the hierarchy are defined as follows:

 

Level 1:

Inputs to the valuation methodology are observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets

 

 

Level 2:

Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument

 

 

Level 3:

Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement

 

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for securities measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such securities pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

 

The Company determines the existence of an active market based on its judgment as to whether transactions for the financial instrument occur in such market with sufficient frequency and volume to provide reliable pricing information. The independent pricing sources obtain market quotations and actual transaction prices for securities that have quoted prices in active markets. The Company uses quoted values and other data provided by nationally recognized independent pricing sources as inputs into its process for determining fair values of its fixed maturity investments. To validate the techniques or models used by pricing sources, the Company’s review process includes, but is not limited to: (i) quantitative analysis (e.g., comparing the quarterly return for each managed portfolio to its target benchmark, with significant differences identified and investigated); (ii) a review of the average number of prices obtained in the pricing process and the range of resulting fair values; (iii) initial and ongoing evaluation of methodologies used by outside parties to calculate fair value including a review of deep dive reports on selected securities which indicated the use of observable inputs in the pricing process; (iv) comparing the fair value estimates to its knowledge of the current market; (v) a comparison of the pricing services’ fair values to other pricing services’ fair values for the same investments; and (vi) back-testing, which includes randomly selecting purchased or sold securities and comparing the executed prices to the fair value estimates from the pricing service. At September 30, 2011, the Company obtained an average of 2.8 quotes per investment, compared to 2.7 quotes at December 31, 2010. Where multiple quotes or prices were obtained, a price source hierarchy was maintained in order to determine which price source provided the fair value (i.e., a price obtained from a pricing service with more seniority in the hierarchy will be used over a less senior one in all cases). The hierarchy prioritizes pricing services based on availability and reliability and assigns the highest priority to index providers. Based on the above review, the Company will challenge any prices for a security or portfolio which are considered not to be representative of fair value. The Company did not adjust the prices or quotes provided by the pricing services at September 30, 2011 or December 31, 2010.

 

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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The independent pricing sources obtain market quotations and actual transaction prices for securities that have quoted prices in active markets. Each source has its own proprietary method for determining the fair value of securities that are not actively traded. In general, these methods involve the use of “matrix pricing” in which the independent pricing source uses observable market inputs including, but not limited to, investment yields, credit risks and spreads, benchmarking of like securities, broker-dealer quotes, reported trades and sector groupings to determine a reasonable fair value. In addition, pricing vendors use model processes, such as an Option Adjusted Spread model, to develop prepayment and interest rate scenarios. The Option Adjusted Spread model is commonly used to estimate fair value for securities such as mortgage backed and asset backed securities. In certain circumstances, when fair values are unavailable from these independent pricing sources, quotes are obtained directly from broker-dealers who are active in the corresponding markets. Such quotes are subject to the validation procedures noted above. Of the $11.98 billion of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value at September 30, 2011, approximately $1.59 billion, or 13.3%, were priced using non-binding broker-dealer quotes. Of the $11.52 billion of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value at December 31, 2010, approximately $1.81 billion, or 15.7%, were priced using non-binding broker-dealer quotes.

 

The Company reviews its securities measured at fair value and discusses the proper classification of such investments with investment advisors and others. Upon adoption of the accounting guidance regarding fair value measurement, the Company determined that Level 1 securities included highly liquid, recent issue U.S. Treasuries and certain of its short-term investments held in highly liquid money market-type funds where it believes that quoted prices are available in an active market. On January 1, 2010, the Company determined that all U.S. Treasuries would be classified as Level 1 securities due to observed levels of trading activity, the high number of strongly correlated pricing quotes received on U.S. Treasuries and other factors. Such determination resulted in $1.09 billion of U.S. Treasuries previously classified as Level 2 being moved into Level 1. In addition, the Company determined that exchange-traded equity securities would be included in Level 1.

 

Where the Company believes that quoted market prices are not available or that the market is not active, fair values are estimated by using quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics, pricing models or matrix pricing and are generally classified as Level 2 securities. The Company determined that Level 2 securities included corporate bonds, mortgage backed securities, municipal bonds, asset backed securities, non-U.S. government securities, TALF investments and TALF borrowings, certain equities, certain short-term securities and certain other investments.

 

The Company determined that certain Euro-denominated corporate bonds which invest in underlying portfolios of fixed income securities for which there is a low level of transparency around inputs to the valuation process should be classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy and certain other corporate bonds. In addition, the Company determined that certain mutual funds, included in other investments, which invest in underlying portfolios of fixed income securities for which there is a low level of transparency around inputs to the valuation process should be classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy. The Company reviews the classification of its investments each quarter.

 

In securities lending transactions, the Company receives collateral in excess of the fair value of the fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged under securities lending agreements. For purposes of this table, the Company has excluded the collateral received and reinvested and included the fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged under securities lending agreements, at fair value.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value by level at September 30, 2011:

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurement Using:

 

 

 

Estimated
Fair

 

Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets

 

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs

 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

 

 

 

Value

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

 

Assets measured at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available for sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities and fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds

 

$

2,766,651

 

$

 

$

2,625,630

 

$

141,021

 

Mortgage backed securities

 

1,545,321

 

 

1,545,321

 

 

Municipal bonds

 

1,422,943

 

 

1,422,943

 

 

Commercial mortgage backed securities

 

1,118,905

 

 

1,118,905

 

 

U.S. government and government agencies

 

1,263,665

 

1,263,665

 

 

 

Non-U.S. government securities

 

837,043

 

 

837,043

 

 

Asset backed securities

 

647,705

 

 

647,705

 

 

Total

 

9,602,233

 

1,263,665

 

8,197,547

 

141,021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity securities

 

273,213

 

273,157

 

56

 

 

Other investments

 

229,974

 

 

223,974

 

6,000

 

Short-term investments

 

799,662

 

771,217

 

28,445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value option:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments accounted for using the fair value option:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds

 

107,215

 

 

107,215

 

 

Non-U.S. government bonds

 

15,651

 

 

15,651

 

 

Equity securities

 

100,719

 

100,719

 

 

 

Other investments

 

95,796

 

 

95,796

 

 

Total

 

319,381

 

100,719

 

218,662

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TALF investments

 

392,455

 

 

392,455

 

 

Total assets measured at fair value

 

$

11,616,918

 

$

2,408,758

 

$

9,061,139

 

$

147,021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities measured at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value option:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TALF borrowings

 

$

314,137

 

$

 

$

314,137

 

$

 

Securities sold but not yet purchased (2)

 

46,526

 

46,526

 

 

 

Total liabilities measured at fair value

 

$

360,663

 

$

46,526

 

$

314,137

 

$

 

 


(1)          In securities lending transactions, the Company receives collateral in excess of the fair value of the fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged. For purposes of this table, the Company has excluded the collateral received and reinvested and included the fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged.

(2)          Represents the Company’s obligation to deliver securities that it did not own at the time of sale. Such amounts are included in “other liabilities” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value by level at December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurement Using:

 

 

 

Estimated
Fair

 

Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets

 

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs

 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

 

 

 

Value

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

 

Assets measured at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available for sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities and fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds

 

$

2,714,375

 

$

 

$

2,560,866

 

$

153,509

 

Mortgage backed securities

 

1,806,813

 

 

1,806,813

 

 

Municipal bonds

 

1,182,100

 

 

1,182,100

 

 

Commercial mortgage backed securities

 

1,167,299

 

 

1,167,299

 

 

U.S. government and government agencies

 

872,149

 

872,149

 

 

 

Non-U.S. government securities

 

732,666

 

 

732,666

 

 

Asset backed securities

 

558,032

 

 

558,032

 

 

Total

 

9,033,434

 

872,149

 

8,007,776

 

153,509

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity securities

 

310,194

 

297,623

 

12,571

 

 

Other investments

 

275,538

 

 

267,680

 

7,858

 

Short-term investments

 

915,841

 

859,042

 

56,799

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value option:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments accounted for using the fair value option:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds

 

124,969

 

 

124,969

 

 

Non-U.S. government bonds

 

 

 

 

 

Equity securities

 

94,204

 

94,204

 

 

 

Other investments

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

219,173

 

94,204

 

124,969

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TALF investments

 

402,449

 

 

402,449

 

 

Total assets measured at fair value

 

$

11,156,629

 

$

2,123,018

 

$

8,872,244

 

$

161,367

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities measured at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value option:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TALF borrowings

 

$

325,770

 

$

 

$

325,770

 

$

 

Securities sold but not yet purchased (2)

 

41,143

 

41,143

 

 

 

Total liabilities measured at fair value

 

$

366,913

 

$

41,143

 

$

325,770

 

$

 

 


(1)          In securities lending transactions, the Company receives collateral in excess of the fair value of the fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged. For purposes of this table, the Company has excluded the collateral received and reinvested and included the fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged.

(2)          Represents the Company’s obligation to deliver securities that it did not own at the time of sale. Such amounts are included in “other liabilities” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for all investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs for the 2011 third quarter and 2010 third quarter:

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using:

 

 

 

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

 

 

 

Corporate
Bonds

 

Other
Investments

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

164,456

 

$

7,929

 

$

172,385

 

Total gains or (losses) (realized/unrealized)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included in earnings (1)

 

(5,742

)

 

(5,742

)

Included in other comprehensive income

 

(17,317

)

(1,929

)

(19,246

)

Purchases, issuances and settlements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases

 

 

 

 

Issuances

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

 

 

 

Settlements

 

(376

)

 

(376

)

Transfers in and/or out of Level 3

 

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

141,021

 

$

6,000

 

$

147,021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

147,891

 

$

48,788

 

$

196,679

 

Total gains or (losses) (realized/unrealized)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included in earnings (1)

 

2,974

 

1,813

 

4,787

 

Included in other comprehensive income

 

18,741

 

1,226

 

19,967

 

Purchases, issuances and settlements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases

 

 

 

 

Issuances

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

 

 

 

Settlements

 

(1

)

(42,157

)

(42,158

)

Transfers in and/or out of Level 3

 

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

169,605

 

$

9,670

 

$

179,275

 

 


(1)                Gains or losses on corporate bonds and other investments were recorded in net realized gains (losses).

 

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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for all investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using:

 

 

 

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

 

 

 

Corporate
Bonds

 

Other
Investments

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

153,509

 

$

7,858

 

$

161,367

 

Total gains or (losses) (realized/unrealized)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included in earnings (1)

 

507

 

1,709

 

2,216

 

Included in other comprehensive income

 

(3,763

)

(2,901

)

(6,664

)

Purchases, issuances and settlements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases

 

 

 

 

Issuances

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

 

(666

)

(666

)

Settlements

 

(9,232

)

 

(9,232

)

Transfers in and/or out of Level 3

 

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

141,021

 

$

6,000

 

$

147,021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

178,385

 

$

49,668

 

$

228,053

 

Total gains or (losses) (realized/unrealized)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included in earnings (1)

 

7,916

 

2,242

 

10,158

 

Included in other comprehensive income

 

(5,618

)

346

 

(5,272

)

Purchases, issuances and settlements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases

 

 

 

 

Issuances

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

 

 

 

Settlements

 

(11,078

)

(42,586

)

(53,664

)

Transfers in and/or out of Level 3

 

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

169,605

 

$

9,670

 

$

179,275

 

 


(1)               Gains or losses on corporate bonds and other investments were recorded in net realized gains (losses).

 

The amount of total losses for the 2011 third quarter included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at September 30, 2011 was $5.7 million, while the amount of total gains for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at September 30, 2011 was $1.9 million. The amount of total gains for the 2010 third quarter included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at September 30, 2010 was $4.8 million while the amount of total gains for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at September 30, 2010 was $10.2 million.

 

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying amount of financial assets and liabilities presented in the consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 approximated their fair values with the exception of the Company’s senior notes, which are carried at their cost of $300.0 million. The fair value of the senior notes at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 was $343.6 million and $310.9 million, respectively.

 

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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

8.      Derivative Instruments

 

The Company’s investment strategy allows for the use of derivative securities. The Company’s derivative instruments are recorded on its consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The fair values of those derivatives are based on quoted market prices. All realized and unrealized contract gains and losses are reflected in the Company’s results of operations. The Company utilizes exchange traded U.S. Treasury note, Eurodollar and other futures contracts and commodity futures to manage portfolio duration or replicate investment positions in its portfolios. Certain of the Company’s corporate bonds are managed in a global bond portfolio which incorporates the use of foreign currency forward contracts which are intended to provide an economic hedge against foreign currency movements on the portfolio’s non-U.S. Dollar denominated holdings. The Company routinely utilizes other foreign currency forward contracts, currency options, index futures contracts and other derivatives as part of its total return objective.

 

In addition, the Company purchases to-be-announced mortgage backed securities (“TBAs”) as part of its investment strategy. TBAs represent commitments to purchase a future issuance of agency mortgage backed securities. For the period between purchase of a TBA and issuance of the underlying security, the Company’s position is accounted for as a derivative. The Company purchases TBAs in both long and short positions to enhance investment performance and as part of its overall investment strategy. The Company did not hold any derivatives which were designated as hedging instruments at September 30, 2011 or December 31, 2010.

 

The following table summarizes information on the fair values and notional values of the Company’s derivative instruments. The fair value of TBAs is included in fixed maturities while the fair value of all other derivatives is included in other investments in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

 

 

Asset Derivatives

 

Liability Derivatives

 

 

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Notional
Value

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Notional
Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures contracts

 

$

4,221

 

$

284,785

 

$

(170

)

$

687,145

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

17,860

 

324,003

 

(5,923

)

122,408

 

TBAs

 

560,860

 

525,730

 

(575,373

)

538,400

 

Other

 

7,038

 

180,918

 

(3,919

)

320,287

 

Total

 

$

589,979

 

 

 

$

(585,385

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures contracts

 

$

1,968

 

$

512,292

 

$

(62

)

$

23,544

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

4,093

 

119,969

 

(13,582

)

277,908

 

TBAs

 

125,397

 

121,100

 

 

 

Other

 

14,236

 

239,552

 

(4,595

)

268,597

 

Total

 

$

145,694

 

 

 

$

(18,239

)

 

 

 

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ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The following table summarizes net realized gains or losses recorded on the Company’s derivative instruments in the consolidated statements of income:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

Derivatives not designated as

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

hedging instruments

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures contracts

 

$

12,142

 

$

10,419

 

$

15,515

 

$

26,136

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

12,155

 

(22,425

)

(4,238

)

(7,016

)

TBAs

 

2,554

 

3,147

 

11,056

 

5,541

 

Other

 

9,328

 

1,829

 

5,702

 

3,861

 

Total

 

$

36,179

 

$

(7,030

)

$

28,035

 

$

28,522

 

 

9.      Earnings Per Common Share

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

168,988

 

$

148,031

 

$

293,086

 

$

608,476

 

Preferred dividends

 

(6,461

)

(6,461

)

(19,383

)

(19,383

)

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

162,527

 

$

141,570

 

$

273,703

 

$

589,093

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic

 

131,560,851

 

146,993,373

 

132,090,354

 

152,979,948

 

Effect of dilutive common share equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonvested restricted shares

 

750,289

 

814,218

 

952,898

 

1,036,353

 

Stock options (1)

 

4,829,789

 

5,738,436

 

5,499,306

 

5,935,293

 

Weighted average common shares and common share equivalents outstanding — diluted

 

137,140,929

 

153,546,027

 

138,542,558

 

159,951,594

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

1.24

 

$

0.96

 

$

2.07

 

$

3.85

 

Diluted

 

$

1.19

 

$

0.92

 

$

1.98

 

$

3.68

 

 


(1)               Certain stock options were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share where the exercise price of the stock options exceeded the average market price and would have been anti-dilutive or where, when applying the treasury stock method to in-the-money options, the sum of the proceeds, including unrecognized compensation, exceeded the average market price and would have been anti-dilutive. For the 2011 third quarter and 2010 third quarter, the number of stock options excluded were 698,912 and 654,933, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the number of stock options excluded were 385,444 and 500,826, respectively.

 

10.    Legal Proceedings

 

The Company, in common with the insurance industry in general, is subject to litigation and arbitration in the normal course of its business. As of September 30, 2011, the Company was not a party to any litigation or arbitration which is expected by management to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition and liquidity.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

11.    Income Taxes

 

ACGL is incorporated under the laws of Bermuda and, under current Bermuda law, is not obligated to pay any taxes in Bermuda based upon income or capital gains. The Company has received a written undertaking from the Minister of Finance in Bermuda under the Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act 1966 that, in the event that any legislation is enacted in Bermuda imposing any tax computed on profits, income, gain or appreciation on any capital asset, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, such tax will not be applicable to ACGL or any of its operations until March 31, 2035 (extended from March 28, 2016). This undertaking does not, however, prevent the imposition of taxes on any person ordinarily resident in Bermuda or any company in respect of its ownership of real property or leasehold interests in Bermuda.

 

ACGL and its non-U.S. subsidiaries will be subject to U.S. federal income tax only to the extent that they derive U.S. source income that is subject to U.S. withholding tax or income that is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. and is not exempt from U.S. tax under an applicable income tax treaty with the U.S. ACGL and its non-U.S. subsidiaries will be subject to a withholding tax on dividends from U.S. investments and interest from certain U.S. payors (subject to reduction by any applicable income tax treaty). ACGL and its non-U.S. subsidiaries intend to conduct their operations in a manner that will not cause them to be treated as engaged in a trade or business in the United States and, therefore, will not be required to pay U.S. federal income taxes (other than U.S. excise taxes on insurance and reinsurance premium and withholding taxes on dividends and certain other U.S. source investment income). However, because there is uncertainty as to the activities which constitute being engaged in a trade or business within the United States, there can be no assurances that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will not contend successfully that ACGL or its non-U.S. subsidiaries are engaged in a trade or business in the United States. If ACGL or any of its non-U.S. subsidiaries were subject to U.S. income tax, ACGL’s shareholders’ equity and earnings could be materially adversely affected. ACGL has subsidiaries and branches that operate in various jurisdictions around the world that are subject to tax in the jurisdictions in which they operate. The significant jurisdictions in which ACGL’s subsidiaries and branches are subject to tax are the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Switzerland and Denmark.

 

The Company’s income tax provision resulted in an effective tax rate on income before income taxes of (1.4)% and (1.5)%, respectively, for the 2011 third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 2.1% and 1.8%, respectively, for the 2010 third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2010. The Company’s effective tax rate, which is based upon the expected annual effective tax rate, may fluctuate from period to period based on the relative mix of income or loss reported by jurisdiction and the varying tax rates in each jurisdiction. The Company had a net deferred tax asset of $66.7 million at September 30, 2011, compared to $66.0 million at December 31, 2010. In addition, the Company paid $9.6 million in income taxes, net of recoveries, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $4.1 million for the 2010 period.

 

The United States also imposes an excise tax on insurance and reinsurance premiums paid to non-U.S. insurers or reinsurers with respect to risks located in the United States. The Company incurs federal excise taxes on certain of its reinsurance transactions, including amounts ceded through intercompany transactions. The Company incurred $2.3 million of federal excise taxes in the 2011 third quarter, compared to $2.8 million in the 2010 third quarter, and $7.3 million of federal excise taxes in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $8.7 million in the 2010 period. Such amounts are reflected as acquisition expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.

 

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Table of Contents

 

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. This should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of this report and also our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (“2010 Form 10-K”). In addition, readers should review “Risk Factors” set forth in Item 1A of Part I of our 2010 Form 10-K. Tabular amounts are in U.S. Dollars in thousands, except share amounts, unless otherwise noted.

 

Arch Capital Group Ltd. (“ACGL” and, together with its subsidiaries, “we” or “us”) is a Bermuda public limited liability company with approximately $4.87 billion in capital at September 30, 2011 and, through operations in Bermuda, the United States, Europe and Canada, writes insurance and reinsurance on a worldwide basis. While we are positioned to provide a full range of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance lines, we focus on writing specialty lines of insurance and reinsurance. It is our belief that our underwriting platform, our experienced management team and our strong capital base that is unencumbered by significant pre-2002 risks have enabled us to establish a strong presence in the insurance and reinsurance markets.

 

Current Outlook

 

The broad market environment continues to be competitive with most long-tail product lines having plenty of capacity available. From a rate standpoint, most lines of business moved into positive territory in the 2011 third quarter. However, even with this slight improvement in the rate environment, additional rate increases are needed in many lines in order for us to achieve adequate returns. In the property and property catastrophe areas, the environment improved with the best increases to date reflected in international, catastrophe exposed businesses. Such improvements were driven, in part, by the impact of higher than expected 2011 catastrophic activity. Our underwriting teams continue to execute a disciplined strategy by emphasizing small and medium-sized accounts over large accounts and focusing more on short-tail business.

 

Our objective is to achieve an average operating return on average equity of 15% or greater over the insurance cycle, which we believe to be an attractive return to our common shareholders given the risks we assume. We continue to look for opportunities to find acceptable books of business to underwrite without sacrificing underwriting discipline and continue to believe that the most attractive area from a pricing point of view remains catastrophe-exposed business. We expect that catastrophe-exposed business will continue to represent a significant proportion of our overall book, which could increase the volatility of our operating results.

 

The current economic conditions could continue to have a material impact on the frequency and severity of claims and, therefore, could negatively impact our underwriting returns. In addition, volatility in the financial markets could continue to significantly affect our investment returns, reported results and shareholders’ equity. We consider the potential impact of economic trends in the estimation process for establishing unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and in determining our investment strategies.

 

In addition, the impact of the continuing weakness of the U.S. and other key economies, projected budget deficits for the U.S. and other governments and the consequences associated with possible additional downgrades of securities of the U.S. and other governments by credit rating agencies is inherently unpredictable and could have a material adverse effect on financial markets and economic conditions in the U.S. and throughout the world. In turn, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and, in particular, this could have a material adverse effect on the value and liquidity of securities in our investment portfolio.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Natural Catastrophe Risk

 

We monitor our natural catastrophe risk globally for all perils and regions, in each case, where we believe there is significant exposure. Our models employ both proprietary and vendor-based systems and include cross-line correlations for property, marine, offshore energy, aviation, workers compensation and personal accident. Currently, we seek to limit our 1-in-250 year return period net probable maximum pre-tax loss from a severe catastrophic event in any geographic zone to approximately 25% of total shareholders’ equity. We reserve the right to change this threshold at any time. Based on in-force exposure estimated as of October 1, 2011, our modeled peak zone catastrophe exposure (using the updated vendor-based system version for both periods presented) is a windstorm affecting the Gulf of Mexico, with a net probable maximum pre-tax loss of $972 million, followed by a windstorm affecting the Northeastern U.S. with a net probable maximum pre-tax loss of $870 million. Based on in-force exposure estimated as of July 1, 2011, our modeled peak zone exposure was a windstorm affecting the Gulf of Mexico, with a net probable maximum pre-tax loss of $960 million, followed by windstorms affecting the Northeastern U.S. areas with a net probable maximum pre-tax losses of $852 million. Our exposures to other perils, such as U.S. earthquake and international events, are less than the exposures arising from U.S. windstorms and hurricanes. As of October 1, 2011, our modeled peak zone earthquake exposure (Los Angeles area earthquake) represented less than 60% of our peak zone catastrophe exposure, and our modeled peak zone international exposure (United Kingdom windstorm) is substantially less than both our peak zone windstorm and earthquake exposures. Net probable maximum pre-tax loss estimates are net of expected reinsurance recoveries, before income tax and before excess reinsurance reinstatement premiums. Loss estimates are reflective of the zone indicated and not the entire portfolio. Since hurricanes and windstorms can affect more than one zone and make multiple landfalls, our loss estimates include clash estimates from other zones.

 

The loss estimates shown above do not represent our maximum exposures and it is highly likely that our actual incurred losses would vary materially from the modeled estimates. There can be no assurances that we will not suffer a net loss greater than 25% of our total shareholders’ equity from one or more catastrophic events due to several factors, including the inherent uncertainties in estimating the frequency and severity of such events and the margin of error in making such determinations resulting from potential inaccuracies and inadequacies in the data provided by clients and brokers, the modeling techniques and the application of such techniques or as a result of a decision to change the percentage of shareholders’ equity exposed to a single catastrophic event. Actual losses may also increase if our reinsurers fail to meet their obligations to us or the reinsurance protections purchased by us are exhausted or are otherwise unavailable. In addition, we are in the process of reviewing recent changes in industry catastrophe models. Although there is much uncertainty regarding the implementation or application of these revised models by our company and the industry as well as ratings agencies, modeled natural catastrophe exposures could increase for us and other insurers and reinsurers in the marketplace. In turn, this could adversely impact capital requirements and lead to restricted capacity and increased pricing for catastrophe-exposed business. See “Risk Factors—Risk Relating to Our Industry” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Natural and Man-Made Catastrophic Events” in our 2010 Form 10-K.

 

Financial Measures

 

Management uses the following three key financial indicators in evaluating our performance and measuring the overall growth in value generated for ACGL’s common shareholders:

 

Book Value per Common Share

 

Book value per common share represents total common shareholders’ equity divided by the number of common shares outstanding. Management uses growth in book value per common share as a key measure of the value generated for our common shareholders each period and believes that book value per common share is the key driver of ACGL’s share price over time. Book value per common share is impacted by, among other factors,

 

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our underwriting results, investment returns and share repurchase activity, which has an accretive or dilutive impact on book value per common share depending on the purchase price.

 

Book value per common share was $31.20 at September 30, 2011, compared to $31.00 at June 30, 2011 and $29.99 at December 31, 2010. The 0.6% change for the 2011 third quarter was generated through operating results, partially offset by a negative total return on investments for the period. The 4.0% change for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was generated through operating results, total return on investments and the accretive impact of share repurchase activity.

 

Operating Return on Average Common Equity

 

Operating return on average common equity (“Operating ROAE”) represents after-tax operating income available to common shareholders divided by the average of beginning and ending common shareholders’ equity during the period. After-tax operating income available to common shareholders, a “non-GAAP measure” as defined in the SEC rules, represents net income available to common shareholders, excluding net realized gains or losses, net impairment losses recognized in earnings, equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method and net foreign exchange gains or losses, net of income taxes. Management uses Operating ROAE as a key measure of the return generated to common shareholders and has set an objective to achieve an average Operating ROAE of 15% or greater over the insurance cycle, which it believes to be an attractive return to common shareholders given the risks we assume. See “Comment on Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

 

Our Operating ROAE was 10.4% for the 2011 third quarter, compared to 12.3% for the 2010 third quarter, and 5.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 11.5% for the 2010 period. The lower Operating ROAE for the 2011 periods resulted from a higher level of catastrophic events than in the 2010 periods along with the impacts of current insurance and reinsurance market conditions and lower interest yields.

 

Total Return on Investments

 

Total return on investments includes net investment income, equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method, net realized gains and losses and the change in unrealized gains and losses generated by our investment portfolio. Total return is calculated on a pre-tax basis and before investment expenses and includes the effect of financial market conditions along with foreign currency fluctuations. Management uses total return on investments as a key measure of the return generated to common shareholders on the capital held in the business, and compares the return generated by our investment portfolio against benchmark returns which we measured our portfolio against during the periods. The benchmark return is a weighted average of the benchmarks assigned to each of our investment managers and vary based on the nature of the portfolios under management.

 

The benchmark return index is a customized combination of indices intended to approximate a target portfolio by asset mix and average credit quality while also matching the approximate estimated duration and currency mix of our insurance and reinsurance liabilities. Although the estimated duration and average credit quality of this index will move as the duration and rating of its constituent securities change, generally we do not adjust the composition of the benchmark return index. The benchmark return index should not be interpreted as expressing a preference for or aversion to any particular sector or sector weight. The index is intended solely to provide, unlike many master indices that change based on the size of their constituent indices, a relatively stable basket of investable indices.

 

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At September 30, 2011, the benchmark return index had an average credit quality of “Aa1” by Moody’s, an estimated duration of 3.26 years and included weightings to the following indices:

 

 

 

Weighting

 

 

 

 

 

Merrill Lynch Unsubordinated U.S. Treasuries/Agencies, 1-10 Years Index

 

30.875

%

Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporates and All Yankees, 1-10 Years Index

 

20.875

%

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Master Index

 

11.875

%

Barclays Capital CMBS, AAA Index

 

10.000

%

Merrill Lynch Municipals, 1-10 Years Index

 

7.125

%

MSCI World Free Index

 

5.000

%

Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Bills, 0-3 Months Index

 

4.750

%

Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Master II Constrained Index

 

2.375

%

Barclays Capital U.S. High-Yield Corporate Loan Index

 

2.375

%

Merrill Lynch U.K. Gilts, 1-10 Years Index

 

2.375

%

Merrill Lynch EMU Direct Government 1-10 Years Index

 

2.375

%

Total

 

100.000

%

 

The following table summarizes the pre-tax total return (before investment expenses) of our investment portfolio compared to the benchmark return against which we measured our portfolio during the periods:

 

 

 

Arch

 

Benchmark

 

 

 

Portfolio (1)

 

Return

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-tax total return (before investment expenses):

 

 

 

 

 

2011 third quarter

 

(0.23

)%

0.46

%

2010 third quarter

 

3.61

%

3.53

%

Nine months ended September 30, 2011

 

2.97

%

3.34

%

Nine months ended September 30, 2010

 

7.08

%

6.80

%

 


(1)   Our investment expenses were approximately 0.22% and 0.19% of average invested assets for the 2011 third quarter and 2010 third quarter, respectively, and 0.22% and 0.18% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

Our portfolio underperformed the benchmark return by 69 basis points for the 2011 third quarter, due in part to our shorter duration compared to the benchmark return, an overweighting in certain sector allocations (in both fixed income securities and equities) compared to the benchmark return and other factors. Excluding foreign exchange, total return was 0.38% for the 2011 third quarter, compared to 2.94% for the 2010 third quarter, and 3.11% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 7.31% for the 2010 period.

 

Comment on Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

Throughout this filing, we present our operations in the way we believe will be the most meaningful and useful to investors, analysts, rating agencies and others who use our financial information in evaluating the performance of our company. This presentation includes the use of after-tax operating income available to common shareholders, which is defined as net income available to common shareholders, excluding net realized gains or losses, net impairment losses recognized in earnings, equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method and net foreign exchange gains or losses, net of income taxes. The presentation of after-tax operating income available to common shareholders is a “non-GAAP financial measure” as defined in Regulation G. The reconciliation of such measure to net income available to common shareholders (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) in accordance with Regulation G is included under “Results of Operations” below.

 

We believe that net realized gains or losses, net impairment losses recognized in earnings, equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method and net foreign exchange gains or losses in any particular period are not indicative of the performance of, or trends in, our business. Although net realized gains or losses, net impairment losses recognized in earnings, equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method and net foreign exchange gains or losses are an integral part of our

 

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operations, the decision to realize investment gains or losses, the recognition of net impairment losses, the recognition of equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method and the recognition of foreign exchange gains or losses are independent of the insurance underwriting process and result, in large part, from general economic and financial market conditions. Furthermore, certain users of our financial information believe that, for many companies, the timing of the realization of investment gains or losses is largely opportunistic. In addition, net impairment losses recognized in earnings on our investments represent other-than-temporary declines in expected recovery values on securities without actual realization. The use of the equity method on certain of our investments in certain funds that invest in fixed maturity securities is driven by the ownership structure of such funds (either limited partnerships or limited liability companies). In applying the equity method, these investments are initially recorded at cost and are subsequently adjusted based on our proportionate share of the net income or loss of the funds (which include changes in the market value of the underlying securities in the funds). This method of accounting is different from the way we account for our other fixed maturity securities and the timing of the recognition of equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method may differ from gains or losses in the future upon sale or maturity of such investments. Due to these reasons, we exclude net realized gains or losses, net impairment losses recognized in earnings, equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method and net foreign exchange gains or losses from the calculation of after-tax operating income available to common shareholders.

 

We believe that showing net income available to common shareholders exclusive of the items referred to above reflects the underlying fundamentals of our business since we evaluate the performance of and manage our business to produce an underwriting profit. In addition to presenting net income available to common shareholders, we believe that this presentation enables investors and other users of our financial information to analyze our performance in a manner similar to how management analyzes performance. We also believe that this measure follows industry practice and, therefore, allows the users of financial information to compare our performance with our industry peer group. We believe that the equity analysts and certain rating agencies which follow us and the insurance industry as a whole generally exclude these items from their analyses for the same reasons.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following table summarizes, on an after-tax basis, our consolidated financial data, including a reconciliation of after-tax operating income available to common shareholders to net income available to common shareholders:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After-tax operating income available to common shareholders

 

$

107,409

 

$

130,672

 

$

176,746

 

$

361,585

 

Net realized gains, net of tax

 

28,458

 

68,611

 

94,842

 

175,233

 

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings, net of tax

 

(2,739

)

(2,075

)

(7,103

)

(8,091

)

Equity in net income (loss) of investment funds accounted for using the equity method, net of tax

 

(30,549

)

9,708

 

5,097

 

38,410

 

Net foreign exchange gains (losses), net of tax

 

59,948

 

(65,346

)

4,121

 

21,956

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

162,527

 

$

141,570

 

$

273,703

 

$

589,093

 

 

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The lower level of after-tax operating income in the 2011 periods compared to the 2010 periods primarily resulted from a higher level of catastrophic events along with the impacts of current insurance and reinsurance market conditions and lower reinvestment yields. Our 2011 third quarter results included losses for current year catastrophic events of $59.6 million, net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums, compared to $24.2 million in the 2010 third quarter, and $333.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $89.3 million for the 2010 period.

 

Segment Information

 

We classify our businesses into two underwriting segments — insurance and reinsurance — and corporate and other (non-underwriting). Management measures segment performance based on underwriting income or loss. We do not manage our assets by segment and, accordingly, investment income is not allocated to each underwriting segment. In addition, other revenue and expense items are not evaluated by segment.

 

Insurance Segment

 

The following table sets forth our insurance segment’s underwriting results:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

% Change

 

2011

 

2010

 

% Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross premiums written

 

$

634,280

 

$

624,490

 

1.6

 

$

1,903,868

 

$

1,874,419

 

1.6

 

Net premiums written

 

472,986

 

431,361

 

9.6

 

1,360,540

 

1,307,122

 

4.1

 

Net premiums earned

 

$

437,970

 

$

411,881

 

6.3

 

$

1,256,380

 

$

1,246,831

 

0.8

 

Fee income

 

661

 

864

 

 

 

2,141

 

2,491

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

(290,608

)

(265,411

)

 

 

(889,973

)

(852,716

)

 

 

Acquisition expenses, net

 

(76,763

)

(67,309

)

 

 

(204,721

)

(200,099

)

 

 

Other operating expenses

 

(77,078

)

(77,078

)

 

 

(228,580

)

(229,525

)

 

 

Underwriting income (loss)

 

$

(5,818

)

$

2,947

 

n/m

 

$

(64,753

)

$

(33,018

)

n/m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% Point

 

 

 

 

 

% Point

 

Underwriting Ratios

 

 

 

 

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

Change

 

Loss ratio

 

66.4

%

64.4

%

2.0

 

70.8

%

68.4

%

2.4

 

Acquisition expense ratio (1)

 

17.4

%

16.1

%

1.3

 

16.1

%

15.8

%

0.3

 

Other operating expense ratio

 

17.6

%

18.7

%

(1.1

)

18.2

%

18.4

%

(0.2

)

Combined ratio

 

101.4

%

99.2

%

2.2

 

105.1

%

102.6

%

2.5

 

 


(1)               The acquisition expense ratio is adjusted to include certain fee income.

 

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The components of the insurance segment’s underwriting results are discussed below.

 

Premiums Written.

 

The following table sets forth our insurance segment’s net premiums written by major line of business:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, energy, marine and aviation

 

$

114,631

 

24

 

$

88,412

 

20

 

$

294,345

 

22

 

$

277,271

 

21

 

Programs

 

79,086

 

17

 

68,264

 

16

 

235,111

 

17

 

212,107

 

16

 

Professional liability

 

66,484

 

14

 

78,873

 

18

 

193,726

 

14

 

216,617

 

17

 

Executive assurance

 

62,328

 

13

 

51,503

 

12

 

162,419

 

12

 

165,010

 

13

 

Construction

 

23,576

 

5

 

20,245

 

5

 

97,493

 

7

 

92,813

 

7

 

Casualty

 

30,563

 

6

 

28,493

 

7

 

85,636

 

6

 

80,573

 

6

 

Travel and accident

 

17,404

 

4

 

19,673

 

5

 

58,189

 

4

 

56,751

 

4

 

National accounts casualty

 

17,275

 

4

 

19,215

 

4

 

61,863

 

5

 

53,901

 

4

 

Lenders products

 

22,551

 

5

 

23,452

 

5

 

65,151

 

5

 

61,979

 

5

 

Surety

 

10,389

 

2

 

11,128

 

3

 

29,741

 

2

 

26,231

 

2

 

Healthcare

 

8,810

 

2

 

8,705

 

2

 

26,349

 

2

 

27,218

 

2

 

Other (1)

 

19,889

 

4

 

13,398

 

3

 

50,517

 

4

 

36,651

 

3

 

Total

 

$

472,986

 

100

 

$

431,361

 

100

 

$

1,360,540

 

100

 

$

1,307,122

 

100

 

 


(1)               Includes excess workers’ compensation, employers’ liability, alternative markets and accident and health business.

 

2011 third quarter versus 2010.  Increases in property and energy business as well as in program and executive assurance business were partially offset by reductions in commercial aviation and professional liability business. The increase in property premiums primarily resulted from new business and a higher retention rate on existing accounts in the insurance segment’s U.S. operations and growth in the insurance segment’s European operations in both global property and energy lines. The increase in program business resulted from growth on existing programs while the higher level of executive assurance business resulted, in part, from growth in middle market business. The reduction in commercial aviation business resulted from a strategic decision to exit the business in early 2010 while the lower level of professional liability business was primarily due to market conditions.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus 2010.  Increases in property and energy business as well as in program business and national accounts casualty were partially offset by reductions in commercial aviation and professional liability lines of business. The increase in property premiums primarily resulted from new business and a higher retention rate on existing accounts in the insurance segment’s U.S. operations and growth in the insurance segment’s European operations in both global property and energy lines. The increase in national accounts casualty resulted from new business while the increase in program business resulted from growth on existing programs. The reduction in commercial aviation business primarily resulted from a strategic decision to exit the business in early 2010 while the lower level of professional liability business was primarily due to market conditions.

 

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Net Premiums Earned.

 

The following table sets forth our insurance segment’s net premiums earned by major line of business:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, energy, marine and aviation

 

$

92,288

 

21

 

$

82,301

 

20

 

$

242,531

 

19

 

$

258,156

 

21

 

Programs

 

73,561

 

17

 

68,404

 

17

 

212,513

 

17

 

202,944

 

16

 

Professional liability

 

64,403

 

15

 

69,900

 

17

 

196,414

 

16

 

201,451

 

16

 

Executive assurance

 

56,783

 

13

 

51,675

 

13

 

164,997

 

13

 

162,865

 

13

 

Construction

 

28,590

 

7

 

25,664

 

6

 

84,195

 

7

 

82,557

 

7

 

Casualty

 

30,305

 

7

 

27,503

 

7

 

83,561

 

7

 

83,720

 

7

 

Travel and accident

 

19,051

 

4

 

17,418

 

4

 

54,105

 

4

 

51,086

 

4

 

National accounts casualty

 

19,642

 

4

 

18,595

 

5

 

58,970

 

5

 

57,178

 

5

 

Lenders products

 

18,293

 

4

 

17,593

 

4

 

56,495

 

4

 

51,553

 

4

 

Surety

 

10,091

 

2

 

9,876

 

2

 

29,272

 

2

 

28,157

 

2

 

Healthcare

 

9,340

 

2

 

9,738

 

2

 

27,081

 

2

 

30,021

 

2

 

Other (1)

 

15,623

 

4

 

13,214

 

3

 

46,246

 

4

 

37,143

 

3

 

Total

 

$

437,970

 

100

 

$

411,881

 

100

 

$

1,256,380

 

100

 

$

1,246,831

 

100

 

 


(1)               Includes excess workers’ compensation, employers’ liability, alternative markets and accident and health business.

 

Net premiums written are primarily earned on a pro rata basis over the terms of the policies for all products, usually 12 months. Net premiums earned reflect changes in net premiums written over the previous five quarters.

 

Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses. The table below shows the components of the insurance segment’s loss ratio:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current year

 

67.6

%

66.6

%

73.0

%

69.5

%

Prior period reserve development

 

(1.2

)%

(2.2

)%

(2.2

)%

(1.1

)%

Loss ratio

 

66.4

%

64.4

%

70.8

%

68.4

%

 

Current Year Loss Ratio.

 

The insurance segment’s current year loss ratio was 1.0 point higher in the 2011 third quarter compared to the 2010 third quarter, due in part to a higher amount of catastrophic event activity. The 2011 third quarter loss ratio reflected 1.6 points of catastrophic activity, with 3.8 points of losses related to Hurricane Irene combined with reductions in catastrophic events from the first six months of 2011, compared to 0.6 points in the 2010 third quarter. The loss ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 reflected 6.4 points of catastrophic activity, compared to 2.4 points in the 2010 period, and was primarily related to the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami event, the April and May U.S. storm events and Hurricane Irene.

 

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Prior Period Reserve Development.

 

2011 third quarter: The insurance segment’s net favorable development of $5.3 million, or 1.2 points, reflected favorable development in short-tailed lines primarily consisting of reductions in property and marine reserves from the 2008 to 2010 accident years (i.e., the year in which a loss occurred) of $3.6 million, $4.7 million and $4.0 million, respectively. The favorable development in property lines was primarily due to a lack of claims activity in the more recent years. The 2011 third quarter results included favorable development in surety business of $1.4 million and $1.6 million from the 2008 and 2009 accident years, respectively, along with $2.8 million of favorable development on healthcare reserves, spread across the 2004 to 2008 accident years. In addition, favorable development in executive assurance business from the 2010 accident year of $6.4 million was substantially offset by $5.8 million of adverse development from the 2008 accident year. Such amounts were partially offset by adverse development in professional liability reserves from the 2005, 2007 and 2010 accident years of $7.4 million, $4.1 million and $3.8 million, respectively, combined with favorable development in the 2006 and 2009 accident years of $4.8 million and $1.6 million, respectively. In addition, adverse development on program business from the 2002 and 2003 accident years contributed $1.4 million and $2.4 million, respectively. These changes were based on the most recent actuarial analyses.

 

2010 third quarter: The insurance segment’s net favorable development of $9.3 million, or 2.2 points, reflected reductions in property reserves from the 2005 to 2008 accident years of $6.5 million, $4.4 million, $1.1 million, and $2.8 million, respectively, and net reductions in healthcare and other reserves of $3.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively. Such amounts were partially offset by adverse development on program business from the 2002 and 2003 accident years of $1.2 million and $5.5 million (which was primarily related to one program following a quarterly reserve review), respectively, adverse development in executive assurance reserves from the 2008 accident year of $4.1 million, partially offset by reductions from the 2006 and 2007 accident years of $1.1 million and $2.8 million, respectively, and reductions in property reserves from the 2004 accident year of $3.8 million.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2011: The insurance segment’s net favorable development of $28.1 million, or 2.2 points, reflected favorable development in short-tailed lines primarily consisting of reductions in property and marine reserves from the 2008 to 2010 accident years of $11.6 million, $16.9 million and $22.6 million (including $9.8 million of favorable development on the 2010 named catastrophic events), respectively, partially offset by adverse development of $4.3 million from the 2006 accident year. The favorable development in property lines was primarily due to a lack of claims emergence in the more recent years. There was favorable development of $9.7 million in healthcare reserves, spread across the 2004 to 2008 accident years, and favorable development in surety business of $2.7 million and $3.2 million from the 2004 and 2008 accident years, respectively. In addition, there was $14.1 million of favorable development in executive assurance reserves, spread across a number of accident years, partially offset by adverse development from the 2006 and 2008 accident years of $1.5 million and $11.0 million, respectively. Such amounts were partially offset by adverse development in casualty reserves from the 2004 and 2010 accident years of $5.0 million and $9.1 million, respectively, and in professional liability reserves from the 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010 accident years of $5.9 million, $4.4 million, $6.6 million and $7.8 million, respectively, partially offset by favorable development of $13.2 million from the 2006 accident year. In addition, adverse development on program business from the 2003 and 2004 accident years contributed $4.4 million and $4.6 million, respectively, while adverse development in alternative markets business from the 2003 and 2010 accident years of $1.5 million and $8.0 million, respectively, was partially offset by $8.1 million of favorable development spread across the 2004 to 2009 accident years.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2010: The insurance segment’s net favorable development of $13.3 million, or 1.1 points, reflected reductions in property reserves from the 2005 to 2008 accident years of $5.1 million, $6.7 million, $5.5 million, and $17.5 million, respectively, and reductions in healthcare and other reserves of $8.1 million and $9.4 million, respectively, which were spread across a number of accident years. In addition, the insurance segment had reductions in professional liability reserves from the 2007 to 2009 accident years of $6.1 million, $3.2 million and $3.7 million, respectively, partially offset by adverse development from the 2006 accident year of $10.6 million. The loss ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 reflected adverse

 

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development in casualty reserves from the 2003 to 2005 accident years of $11.8 million, $7.4 million and $4.4 million, respectively, which was primarily due to a small number of high severity claims, and adverse development in program reserves from the 2002, 2003 and 2009 accident years of $2.2 million, $7.7 million and $8.9 million, respectively, partially offset by reductions from the 2006 to 2008 accident years of $4.4 million, $2.3 million and $3.3 million, respectively. In addition, the insurance segment had adverse development in executive assurance reserves from the 2008 and 2009 accident years of $11.2 million and $10.4 million, respectively, partially offset by reductions from the 2004, 2006 and 2007 accident years of $2.6 million, $3.3 million and $12.3 million, respectively, and adverse development in travel and accident reserves from the 2009 accident year of $5.7 million.

 

Underwriting Expenses.

 

2011 third quarter versus 2010:  The insurance segment’s underwriting expense ratio was 35.0% in the 2011 third quarter, compared to 34.8% in the 2010 third quarter. The acquisition expense ratio was 17.4% in the 2011 third quarter, compared to 16.1% in the 2010 third quarter. The 2011 third quarter acquisition expense ratio included an increase of 1.1 points of commission expense related to the estimated net favorable development in prior year loss reserves, compared to a 0.2 point increase in the 2010 third quarter. The other operating expense ratio was 17.6% for the 2011 third quarter, compared to 18.7% for the 2010 third quarter. The lower 2011 third quarter operating expense ratio primarily resulted from the higher level of net premiums earned in the period.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus 2010:  The insurance segment’s underwriting expense ratio was 34.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 34.2% for the 2010 period. The acquisition expense ratio was 16.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 15.8% for the 2010 period. The other operating expense ratio was 18.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 18.4% for the 2010 period.

 

Reinsurance Segment

 

The following table sets forth our reinsurance segment’s underwriting results:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

% Change

 

2011

 

2010

 

% Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross premiums written

 

$

227,837

 

$

208,770

 

9.1

 

$

836,616

 

$

735,942

 

13.7

 

Net premiums written

 

218,395

 

204,756

 

6.7

 

801,662

 

721,007

 

11.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net premiums earned

 

$

244,079

 

$

215,528

 

13.2

 

$

702,243

 

$

673,506

 

4.3

 

Fee income

 

187

 

10

 

 

 

306

 

60

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

(133,376

)

(93,782

)

 

 

(459,513

)

(297,673

)

 

 

Acquisition expenses, net

 

(43,442

)

(43,970

)

 

 

(134,877

)

(136,279

)

 

 

Other operating expenses

 

(22,740

)

(20,247

)

 

 

(65,798

)

(59,948

)

 

 

Underwriting income

 

$

44,708

 

$

57,539

 

(22.3

)

$

42,361

 

$

179,666

 

(76.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

% Point

 

 

 

 

 

% Point

 

Underwriting Ratios

 

 

 

 

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

Change

 

Loss ratio

 

54.6

%

43.5

%

11.1

 

65.4

%

44.2

%

21.2

 

Acquisition expense ratio

 

17.8

%

20.4

%

(2.6

)

19.2

%

20.2

%

(1.0

)

Other operating expense ratio

 

9.3

%

9.4

%

(0.1

)

9.4

%

8.9

%

0.5

 

Combined ratio

 

81.7

%

73.3

%

8.4

 

94.0

%

73.3

%

20.7

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

The components of the reinsurance segment’s underwriting results are discussed below.

 

Premiums Written.

 

The following table sets forth our reinsurance segment’s net premiums written by major line of business:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property excluding property catastrophe (1)

 

$

64,495

 

30

 

$

70,149

 

34

 

$

189,583

 

24

 

$

202,956

 

28

 

Property catastrophe

 

59,961

 

27

 

40,255

 

20

 

235,157

 

29

 

199,460

 

28

 

Casualty (2)

 

34,873

 

16

 

38,276

 

19

 

146,989

 

18

 

154,500

 

21

 

Other specialty

 

40,882

 

19

 

30,468

 

15

 

162,464

 

20

 

104,150

 

14

 

Marine and aviation

 

17,037

 

8

 

24,913

 

12

 

61,179

 

8

 

55,760

 

8

 

Other

 

1,147

 

 

695

 

 

6,290

 

1

 

4,181

 

1

 

Total

 

$

218,395

 

100

 

$

204,756

 

100

 

$

801,662

 

100

 

$

721,007

 

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro rata

 

$

99,884

 

46

 

$

105,844

 

52

 

$

310,412

 

39

 

$

308,838

 

43

 

Excess of loss

 

118,511

 

54

 

98,912

 

48

 

491,250

 

61

 

412,169

 

57

 

Total

 

$

218,395

 

100

 

$

204,756

 

100

 

$

801,662

 

100

 

$

721,007

 

100

 

 


(1)               Includes facultative business.

(2)               Includes professional liability, executive assurance and healthcare business.

 

2011 third quarter versus 2010.  Increases in property catastrophe and other specialty lines were partially offset by a decrease in marine and aviation, casualty and property other than property catastrophe business. The growth in premiums written in the property catastrophe line in the 2011 third quarter reflected share increases, new business and higher premiums on in force contracts due to market conditions along with $5.7 million of adjustment premiums on an expiring treaty. The higher level of other specialty business primarily resulted from new business written beginning in 2011. Premiums written in the 2011 third quarter in marine and aviation, casualty and property other than property catastrophe lines were lower than in the 2010 third quarter, reflecting non-renewals and share reductions based on market conditions.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus 2010.  Increases in other specialty and property catastrophe lines were partially offset by decreases in property excluding property catastrophe and casualty business. Growth in other specialty business primarily resulted from new business written beginning in 2011. The growth in property catastrophe business reflects new business written and the adjustment premiums noted above in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 while the 2010 period included a two year treaty of $18.2 million which was written in the 2010 first quarter.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Net Premiums Earned.

 

The following table sets forth our reinsurance segment’s net premiums earned by major line of business:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property excluding property catastrophe (1)

 

$

62,565

 

26

 

$

66,438

 

31

 

$

183,095

 

26

 

$

211,419

 

31

 

Property catastrophe

 

64,910

 

27

 

54,206

 

25

 

176,340

 

25

 

160,380

 

24

 

Casualty (2)

 

49,066

 

20

 

52,792

 

24

 

149,053

 

21

 

182,729

 

27

 

Other specialty

 

48,722

 

20

 

25,254

 

12

 

128,202

 

19

 

65,315

 

10

 

Marine and aviation

 

17,739

 

7

 

16,106

 

8

 

60,458

 

9

 

50,441

 

7

 

Other

 

1,077

 

 

732

 

 

5,095

 

 

3,222

 

1

 

Total

 

$

244,079

 

100

 

$

215,528

 

100

 

$

702,243

 

100

 

$

673,506

 

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro rata

 

$

110,091

 

45

 

$

103,698

 

48

 

$

320,711

 

46

 

$

336,943

 

50

 

Excess of loss

 

133,988

 

55

 

111,830

 

52

 

381,532

 

54

 

336,563

 

50

 

Total

 

$

244,079

 

100

 

$

215,528

 

100

 

$

702,243

 

100

 

$

673,506

 

100

 

 


(1)               Includes facultative business.

(2)               Includes professional liability, executive assurance and healthcare business.

 

Net premiums written, irrespective of the class of business, are generally earned on a pro rata basis over the terms of the underlying policies or reinsurance contracts. Net premiums earned reflect changes in net premiums written over the previous five quarters, including the mix and type of business written. The 2011 periods included a higher level of shorter-tail premiums earned than in the 2010 periods.

 

Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses. The table below shows the components of the reinsurance segment’s loss ratio:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current year

 

78.5

%

57.1

%

87.1

%

58.3

%

Prior period reserve development

 

(23.9

)%

(13.6

)%

(21.7

)%

(14.1

)%

Loss ratio

 

54.6

%

43.5

%

65.4

%

44.2

%

 

Current Year Loss Ratio.

 

The reinsurance segment’s current year loss ratio was 21.4 points higher in the 2011 third quarter compared to the 2010 third quarter, primarily due to the higher level of current year catastrophic event activity and a higher level of facultative loss activity. The 2011 third quarter loss ratio reflected 21.6 points related to current year catastrophic activity, with roughly half of the losses due to 2011 third quarter events, including Hurricane Irene and the Denmark floods, and half related to catastrophic events from the first six months of 2011. The 2010 third quarter ratio included 10.0 points of catastrophic activity, primarily related to the Darfield New Zealand earthquake event. In addition, the 2011 third quarter loss ratio reflected two facultative losses in the period which contributed 4.9 points to the loss ratio. The loss ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 reflected 35.9 points of catastrophic activity, compared to 8.8 points in the 2010 period, and were primarily related to the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami event and the New Zealand earthquake from the 2011 first quarter, the 2011 second quarter U.S. storms and the 2011 third quarter activity noted above.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Prior Period Reserve Development.

 

2011 third quarter: The reinsurance segment’s net favorable development of $58.3 million, or 23.9 points, reflected $24.5 million of favorable development on casualty reserves, including $4.0 million, $5.1 million, $8.5 million, $6.0 million and $4.3 million for the 2002 to 2006 underwriting years (i.e., all premiums and losses attributable to contracts having an inception or renewal date within the given twelve-month period), respectively, and $3.6 million from the 2009 underwriting year, partially offset by adverse development in the 2008 underwriting year of $7.4 million which was due, in part, to increases in loss selections based on the reinsurance segment’s view of the current insurance environment. In addition, there was favorable development of $21.1 million on property catastrophe and property other than property catastrophe reserves, including $3.6 million, $3.1 million, $5.6 million and $7.4 million from the 2007 to 2010 underwriting years, respectively. The 2011 third quarter loss ratio also benefited from $8.4 million of favorable development on other specialty business and $4.2 million of favorable development on marine and aviation business. Such amounts were widely spread across underwriting years and were primarily due to better than expected claims emergence.

 

2010 third quarter: The reinsurance segment’s net favorable development of $29.3 million, or 13.6 points, included reductions in property catastrophe and property other than property catastrophe reserves of $19.2 million, including $4.8 million and $6.3 million from the 2008 and 2009 underwriting years, respectively, and $8.1 million from prior underwriting years, reflecting better than expected claims emergence. The 2010 third quarter loss ratio also benefitted from reductions in casualty reserves from the 2002 to 2004 underwriting years of $1.9 million, $2.7 million and $7.9 million, respectively, partially offset by adverse development of $3.7 million and $0.8 million from the 2008 and 2009 underwriting years, respectively. The adverse development in the 2008 and 2009 underwriting years primarily resulted from increases in loss selections due to the reinsurance segment’s view of the current insurance environment. In addition, the reinsurance segment had adverse development of $5.4 million in marine and aviation reserves from the 2008 underwriting year which was partially offset by $3.4 million of favorable development in other underwriting years.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2011: The reinsurance segment’s net favorable development of $152.5 million, or 21.7 points, reflected $66.7 million of favorable development in property catastrophe and property other than property catastrophe reserves, including $6.5 million, $19.3 million and $39.1 million from the 2007, 2009 and 2010 underwriting years, respectively. In addition, there was $53.7 million of favorable development on casualty reserves, including $11.3 million, $14.6 million, $21.7 million and $15.5 million for the 2002 to 2005 underwriting years, respectively, and $6.6 million from the 2007 underwriting year. Such amounts were partially offset by adverse development on casualty reserves in the 2008 to 2010 underwriting years of $6.0 million, $9.2 million and $3.7 million, respectively, which was due, in part, to increases in loss selections based on the reinsurance segment’s view of the current insurance environment. The 2011 loss ratio also benefited from $17.8 million of favorable development on other specialty business and $11.3 million of favorable development from marine and aviation business. Such amounts were widely spread across underwriting years and were primarily due to better than expected claims emergence.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2010: The reinsurance segment’s net favorable development of $94.9 million, or 14.1 points, included reductions in property catastrophe and property other than property catastrophe reserves of $61.2 million, including $15.4 million and $24.0 million from the 2008 and 2009 underwriting years, respectively, and $21.8 million from prior underwriting years, reflecting better than expected claims emergence, and in other specialty reserves, including $6.2 million from the 2009 underwriting year and $11.1 million from prior underwriting years. The loss ratio also benefitted from reductions in casualty reserves from the 2002 to 2004 underwriting years of $5.8 million, $5.6 million and $19.4 million, respectively, partially offset by adverse development of $14.9 million and $1.7 million from the 2008 and 2009 underwriting years, respectively. The adverse development in the 2008 and 2009 underwriting years primarily resulted from increases in loss selections due to the reinsurance segment’s view of the current insurance environment. In addition, the reinsurance segment had favorable development of $2.3 million in marine and aviation reserves, including $6.3 million from the 2007 underwriting year and $5.5 million from other underwriting years, partially offset by adverse development of $9.5 million from the 2008 underwriting year.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Underwriting Expenses.

 

2011 third quarter versus 2010:

 

The underwriting expense ratio for the reinsurance segment was 27.1% in the 2011 third quarter, compared to 29.8% in the 2010 third quarter. The acquisition expense ratio for the 2011 third quarter was 17.8%, compared to 20.4% for the 2010 third quarter. The 2011 third quarter acquisition expense ratio benefited from 1.8 points of non-recurring contingent commission income. In addition, the comparison of the 2011 third quarter and 2010 third quarter acquisition expense ratios is influenced by, among other things, the mix and type of business written and earned and the level of ceding commission income. The operating expense ratio for the 2011 third quarter was 9.3%, compared to 9.4% in the 2010 third quarter.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus 2010:

 

The underwriting expense ratio for the reinsurance segment was 28.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 29.1% for the 2010 period. The acquisition expense ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was 19.2%, compared to 20.2% for the 2010 period. The 2011 acquisition expense ratio benefited from 0.6 points related to the contingent commission item noted above. The operating expense ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was 9.4%, compared to 8.9% for the 2010 period, with the increase primarily due to a higher level of incentive compensation costs, reflecting favorable experience in prior underwriting years, along with higher regulatory costs.

 

Net Investment Income

 

The components of net investment income were derived from the following sources:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

$

82,686

 

$

94,209

 

$

252,250

 

$

286,051

 

Equity securities

 

1,796

 

120

 

5,187

 

410

 

Short-term investments

 

430

 

473

 

1,613

 

958

 

Other (1)

 

4,264

 

1,174

 

17,625

 

2,296

 

Gross investment income

 

89,176

 

95,976

 

276,675

 

289,715

 

Investment expenses

 

(6,423

)

(5,208

)

(18,944

)

(15,438

)

Net investment income

 

$

82,753

 

$

90,768

 

$

257,731

 

$

274,277

 

 


(1) Includes interest on term loan investments (included in “investments accounted for using the fair value option”), dividends on investment funds and other items. Net investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 includes an initial dividend of $5.5 million received on an investment fund.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The comparability of net investment income between the 2011 and 2010 periods was influenced by our share repurchase program. The pre-tax investment income yield, calculated based on amortized cost, was 2.83% for the 2011 third quarter, compared to 3.06% for the 2011 second quarter and 3.27% for the 2010 third quarter. The pre-tax investment income yield was 2.98% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 3.37% for the 2010 period. The decline in yields reflects lower reinvestment yields, changes in duration and in the mix of investments. Yields on future investment income may vary based on financial market conditions, investment allocation decisions and other factors.

 

Other Income (Loss)

 

We record income or loss from our investments in Aeolus LP and Gulf Reinsurance Limited (“Gulf Re”) using the equity method on a quarter lag basis. We recorded $2.4 million of income in the 2011 third quarter, compared to $1.8 million in the 2010 third quarter related to such investments, and $2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $12.3 million for the 2010 period. Income or loss from our investment in Aeolus LP, which operates as an unrated reinsurance platform that provides collateralized property catastrophe protection to insurers and reinsurers on both an ultimate net loss and industry loss warranty basis, may be volatile as actual losses on the 2011 catastrophic events may increase due to the inherent uncertainties in making estimates for such catastrophic events.

 

Equity in Net Income of Investment Funds Accounted for Using the Equity Method

 

We use the equity method on certain investments (which primarily invest in fixed maturity securities) due to the ownership structure of these investment funds, where we do not have a controlling interest and are not the primary beneficiary. In applying the equity method, these investments are initially recorded at cost and are subsequently adjusted based on our proportionate share of the net income or loss of the funds (which include changes in the market value of the underlying securities in the funds). Such investments, which are typically structured as limited partnerships, are generally recorded on a one month lag with some investments reported for on a three month lag based on the availability of reports from the investment funds. Certain of these funds employ leverage to achieve a higher rate of return on their assets under management. While leverage presents opportunities for increasing the total return of such investments, it may increase losses as well. Fluctuations in the carrying value of the investment funds accounted for using the equity method may increase the volatility of our reported results of operations. Investment funds accounted for using the equity method (excluding our investment in Aeolus LP) totaled $342.7 million at September 30, 2011, compared to $434.6 million at December 31, 2010. At September 30, 2011, our portfolio included $300.3 million of investments in bank loan funds, of which $131.7 million are reflected in the investment funds accounted for using the equity method.

 

We recorded $30.5 million of equity in net losses related to investment funds accounted for using the equity method in the 2011 third quarter, compared to $9.7 million of equity in net income for the 2010 third quarter and $5.1 million of equity in net income related to investment funds accounted for using the equity method for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $38.4 million of equity in net income for the 2010 period. Losses in the 2011 third quarter were primarily related to investments in two funds that employ leverage in their investment strategy, one of which that invests in a portfolio of loans and another public-private investment fund (“PPIF”) that invests in high quality U.S. residential and commercial mortgages. Negative returns for both investment funds in the 2011 third quarter reflect the weak economic data in August 2011 and were magnified by the use of leverage.

 

Net Realized Gains or Losses

 

We recorded net realized gains of $30.2 million for the 2011 third quarter, compared to net realized gains of $68.8 million for the 2010 third quarter, and net realized gains of $96.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to net realized gains of $178.7 million for the 2010 period. Currently, our portfolio is actively managed to maximize total return within certain guidelines. In assessing returns under this approach, we include net investment income, net realized gains and losses and the change in unrealized gains

 

43



Table of Contents

 

and losses generated by our investment portfolio. The effect of financial market movements on the investment portfolio will directly impact net realized gains and losses as the portfolio is adjusted and rebalanced. Net realized gains or losses from the sale of fixed maturities primarily resulted from our decisions to reduce credit exposure, to change duration targets, to rebalance our portfolios or due to relative value determinations. In addition, net realized gains or losses include changes in the fair value of assets and liabilities accounted for using the fair value option. See note 6, “Investment Information—Net Realized Gains (Losses),” of the notes accompanying our consolidated financial statements for additional information.

 

Total return on our portfolio under management for the 2011 third quarter was (0.23)%, compared to 3.61% for the 2010 third quarter, and 2.97% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 7.08% for the 2010 period. Excluding foreign exchange, total return was 0.38% for the 2011 third quarter, compared to 2.94% for the 2010 third quarter, and 3.11% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 7.31% for the 2010 period. Total return is calculated on a pre-tax basis and before investment expenses. Total return for the 2011 third quarter reflected significantly wider credit spreads, strengthening of the U.S. Dollar and weak equity and commodity market returns during the period which more than offset the positive returns in the U.S. Treasury market.

 

Net Impairment Losses Recognized in Earnings

 

On a quarterly basis, we perform reviews of our available for sale investments to determine whether declines in fair value below the cost basis are considered other-than-temporary in accordance with applicable accounting guidance regarding the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments. The process of determining whether a security is other-than-temporarily impaired requires judgment and involves analyzing many factors. These factors include (i) an analysis of the liquidity, business prospects and overall financial condition of the issuer, (ii) the time period in which there was a significant decline in value, (iii) the significance of the decline, and (iv) the analysis of specific credit events. We evaluate the unrealized losses of our equity securities by issuer and determine if we can forecast a reasonable period of time by which the fair value of the securities would increase and we would recover our cost. If we are unable to forecast a reasonable period of time in which to recover the cost of our equity securities, we record a net impairment loss in earnings equivalent to the entire unrealized loss. For the 2011 third quarter, we recorded $2.7 million of credit related impairments in earnings, compared to $2.1 million for the 2010 third quarter, and $7.1 million of credit related impairments in earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $8.1 million for the 2010 period. The OTTI recorded in the 2011 periods primarily resulted from reductions in estimated recovery values on certain mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities following the review of such securities. See note 6, “Investment Information—Other-Than-Temporary Impairments,” of the notes accompanying our consolidated financial statements for additional information.

 

Other Expenses

 

Other expenses, which are included in our other operating expenses and part of corporate and other (non-underwriting), were $6.2 million for the 2011 third quarter, compared to $5.8 million for the 2010 third quarter, and $24.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $22.0 million for the 2010 period. Such amounts primarily represent certain holding company costs necessary to support our worldwide insurance and reinsurance operations, share based compensation expense and costs associated with operating as a publicly traded company.

 

Net Foreign Exchange Gains or Losses

 

Net foreign exchange gains for the 2011 third quarter of $60.0 million consisted of net unrealized gains of $62.8 million and net realized losses of $2.8 million, compared to net foreign exchange losses for the 2010 third quarter of $65.2 million which consisted of net unrealized losses of $66.1 million and net realized gains of $0.9 million. Net foreign exchange gains for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 of $4.8 million consisted of net unrealized gains of $7.1 million and net realized losses of $2.3 million, compared to net foreign exchange

 

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Table of Contents

 

gains for the 2010 period of $22.0 million which consisted of net unrealized gains of $20.9 million and net realized gains of $1.1 million. The 2011 third quarter net foreign exchange gains primarily resulted from the strengthening of the U.S. Dollar against the Euro, British Pound Sterling and other major foreign currencies during the period.

 

Net unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses result from the effects of revaluing our net insurance liabilities required to be settled in foreign currencies at each balance sheet date. Historically, we have held investments in foreign currencies which are intended to mitigate our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations in our net insurance liabilities. However, changes in the value of such investments due to foreign currency rate movements are reflected as a direct increase or decrease to shareholders’ equity and are not included in the consolidated statements of income. As a result of the current financial and economic environment as well as the potential for additional investment returns, we may not match a portion of our projected liabilities in foreign currencies with investments in the same currencies, which could increase our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations and increase the volatility in our shareholders’ equity.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES, ESTIMATES AND RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

Critical accounting policies, estimates and recent accounting pronouncements are discussed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our 2010 Form 10-K, updated where applicable in the notes accompanying our consolidated financial statements.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Financial Condition

 

Investable Assets

 

The finance and investment committee of our board of directors establishes our investment policies and sets the parameters for creating guidelines for our investment managers. The finance and investment committee reviews the implementation of the investment strategy on a regular basis. Our current approach stresses preservation of capital, market liquidity and diversification of risk. While maintaining our emphasis on preservation of capital and liquidity, we expect our portfolio to become more diversified and, as a result, we may expand into areas which are not currently part of our investment strategy. Our Chief Investment Officer administers the investment portfolio, oversees our investment managers, formulates investment strategy in conjunction with our finance and investment committee and directly manages certain portions of our fixed income and equity portfolios.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The following table summarizes our invested assets:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities available for sale, at fair value

 

$

9,529,834

 

$

8,957,859

 

Fixed maturities, at fair value (1)

 

122,866

 

124,969

 

Fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements, at fair value (2)

 

72,399

 

75,575

 

Total fixed maturities

 

9,725,099

 

9,158,403

 

Short-term investments available for sale, at fair value

 

799,662

 

915,841

 

Cash

 

369,895

 

362,740

 

Equity securities available for sale, at fair value

 

273,213

 

310,194

 

Equity securities, at fair value (1)

 

100,719

 

94,204

 

Other investments available for sale, at fair value

 

229,974

 

275,538

 

Other investments, at fair value (1)

 

95,796

 

 

TALF investments, at fair value (3)

 

392,455

 

402,449

 

Investments accounted for using the equity method (4)

 

383,543

 

508,334

 

Total cash and investments

 

12,370,356

 

12,027,703

 

Securities sold but not yet purchased (5)

 

(46,526

)

(41,143

)

Securities transactions entered into but not settled at the balance sheet date

 

(94,403

)

(144,047

)

Total investable assets

 

$

12,229,427

 

$

11,842,513

 

 


(1)

Represents securities which are carried at fair value under the fair value option and reflected as “investments accounted for using the fair value option” on our balance sheet. Changes in the carrying value of such securities are recorded in net realized gains or losses.

(2)

This table excludes the collateral received and reinvested and includes the fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged under securities lending agreements, at fair value.

(3)

The Federal Reserve’s Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (“TALF”) provides secured financing for certain asset-backed securities and legacy commercial mortgage-backed securities. TALF financing is non-recourse to us, is collateralized by the purchased securities and provides financing for the purchase price of the securities, less a ‘haircut’ that varies based on the type of collateral. We can deliver the collateralized securities to the Federal Reserve in full defeasance of the loan.

(4)

Changes in the carrying value of investment funds accounted for using the equity method are recorded as “equity in net income (loss) of investments funds accounted for using the equity method” rather than as an unrealized gain or loss component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

(5)

Represents our obligation to deliver equity securities that we did not own at the time of sale. Such amounts are included in “other liabilities” on our balance sheet.

 

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At September 30, 2011, our fixed income portfolio, which includes fixed maturity securities and short-term investments, had a “AA+” average Standard & Poor’s quality rating, an average effective duration of 3.17 years, and an average yield to maturity (imbedded book yield), before investment expenses, of 3.09%. At December 31, 2010, our fixed income portfolio had a “AA+” average Standard & Poor’s quality rating, an average effective duration of 2.83 years, and an average yield to maturity (imbedded book yield), before investment expenses, of 3.52%. At September 30, 2011, approximately $7.89 billion, or 66%, of our total investments and cash was internally managed, compared to $7.48 billion, or 65%, at December 31, 2010.

 

The following table summarizes our fixed maturities by type:

 

 

 

Estimated

 

Gross

 

Gross

 

Cost or

 

OTTI

 

 

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

Unrealized

 

Amortized

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

Value

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

Cost

 

Losses (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities and fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds

 

$

2,873,866

 

$

93,418

 

$

(42,230

)

$

2,822,678

 

$

(17,607

)

Mortgage backed securities

 

1,545,321

 

32,503

 

(21,110

)

1,533,928

 

(20,676

)

Municipal bonds

 

1,422,943

 

66,880

 

(2,322

)

1,358,385

 

(105

)

Commercial mortgage backed securities

 

1,118,905

 

26,981

 

(4,230

)

1,096,154

 

(3,259

)

U.S. government and government agencies

 

1,263,665

 

39,866

 

(536

)

1,224,335

 

(207

)

Non-U.S. government securities

 

852,694

 

42,570

 

(15,610

)

825,734

 

 

Asset backed securities

 

647,705

 

19,529

 

(8,572

)

636,748

 

(3,876

)

Total

 

$

9,725,099

 

$

321,747

 

$

(94,610

)

$

9,497,962

 

$

(45,730

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities and fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds

 

$

2,839,344

 

$

97,400

 

$

(18,343

)

$

2,760,287

 

$

(18,047

)

Mortgage backed securities

 

1,806,813

 

18,801

 

(26,893

)

1,814,905

 

(21,147

)

Municipal bonds

 

1,182,100

 

40,410

 

(6,958

)

1,148,648

 

(125

)

Commercial mortgage backed securities

 

1,167,299

 

31,743

 

(6,028

)

1,141,584

 

(3,481

)

U.S. government and government agencies

 

872,149

 

20,150

 

(5,696

)

857,695

 

(207

)

Non-U.S. government securities

 

732,666

 

39,539

 

(11,894

)

705,021

 

(72

)

Asset backed securities

 

558,032

 

20,672

 

(3,990

)

541,350

 

(3,954

)

Total

 

$

9,158,403

 

$

268,715

 

$

(79,802

)

$

8,969,490

 

$

(47,033

)

 


(1)               In securities lending transactions, we receive collateral in excess of the fair value of the fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged. For purposes of this table, we have excluded the collateral received and reinvested and included the fixed maturities and short-term investments pledged.

(2)               Represents the total other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). It does not include the change in fair value subsequent to the impairment measurement date. At September 30, 2011, the net unrealized loss related to securities for which a non-credit OTTI was recognized in AOCI was $13.8 million, compared to a net unrealized loss of $7.1 million at December 31, 2010.

 

47



Table of Contents

 

The following table provides the credit quality distribution of our fixed maturities and fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements, excluding TALF investments:

 

 

 

September 30, 2011

 

December 31, 2010

 

Rating (1)

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

% of
Total

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

% of
Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AAA

 

$

6,421,366

 

66.0

 

$

6,531,757

 

71.3

 

AA

 

1,531,869

 

15.8

 

1,053,666

 

11.5

 

A

 

754,421

 

7.8

 

605,483

 

6.6

 

BBB

 

555,023

 

5.7

 

388,564

 

4.2

 

BB

 

151,665

 

1.6

 

133,673

 

1.5

 

B

 

140,571

 

1.4

 

242,479

 

2.6

 

Lower than B

 

106,775

 

1.1

 

109,596

 

1.2

 

Not rated

 

63,409

 

0.6

 

93,185

 

1.1

 

Total

 

$

9,725,099

 

100.0

 

$

9,158,403

 

100.0

 

 


(1) Ratings as assigned by the major rating agencies.

 

The following table provides information on the severity of the unrealized loss position as a percentage of amortized cost for all fixed maturities and fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements which were in an unrealized loss position:

 

 

 

September 30, 2011

 

December 31, 2010

 

Severity of
Unrealized Loss

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

% of
Total Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

% of
Total Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0-10%

 

$

2,438,618

 

$

(62,613

)

66.2

 

$

2,650,335

 

$

(58,941

)

73.8

 

10-20%

 

97,896

 

(16,241

)

17.2

 

79,419

 

(11,896

)

14.9

 

20-30%

 

34,389

 

(10,965

)

11.6

 

18,799

 

(5,721

)

7.2

 

30-40%

 

7,673

 

(3,676

)

3.9

 

1,372

 

(689

)

0.9

 

40-50%

 

 

 

 

733

 

(660

)

0.8

 

50-100%

 

112

 

(1,115

)

1.1

 

466

 

(1,895

)

2.4

 

Total

 

$

2,578,688

 

$

(94,610

)

100.0

 

$

2,751,124

 

$

(79,802

)

100.0

 

 

48



Table of Contents

 

The following table provides information on the severity of the unrealized loss position as a percentage of amortized cost for non-investment grade fixed maturities and fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements which were in an unrealized loss position:

 

 

 

September 30, 2011

 

December 31, 2010

 

Severity of
Unrealized Loss

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

% of
Total Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

% of
Total Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0-10%

 

$

203,447

 

$

(8,031

)

8.5

 

$

74,340

 

$

(2,845

)

3.6

 

10-20%

 

61,483

 

(10,887

)

11.5

 

36,900

 

(5,475

)

6.9

 

20-30%

 

22,200

 

(7,350

)

7.8

 

7,918

 

(2,619

)

3.3

 

30-40%

 

5,619

 

(2,683

)

2.8

 

1,054

 

(536

)

0.7

 

40-50%

 

 

 

 

733

 

(660

)

0.8

 

50-100%

 

112

 

(1,114

)

1.1

 

466

 

(1,895

)

2.4

 

Total

 

$

292,861

 

$

(30,065

)

31.7

 

$

121,411

 

$

(14,030

)

17.7

 

 

At September 30, 2011, below-investment grade securities comprised approximately 4.7% of our fixed maturities and fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements, compared to 6.4% at December 31, 2010. In accordance with our investment strategy, we invest in high yield fixed income securities which are included in “Corporate bonds.” Upon issuance, these securities are typically rated below investment grade (i.e., rating assigned by the major rating agencies of “BB” or less). At September 30, 2011, corporate bonds represented 58% of the total below investment grade securities at fair value, mortgage backed securities represented 38% of the total and 4% were in other classes. At December 31, 2010, corporate bonds represented 26% of the total below investment grade securities at fair value, mortgage backed securities represented 69% of the total and 5% were in other classes. Unrealized losses include the impact of foreign exchange movements on certain securities denominated in foreign currencies and, as such, the amount of securities in an unrealized loss position fluctuates due to foreign currency movements.

 

We determine estimated recovery values for our fixed maturities and fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements following a review of the business prospects, credit ratings, estimated loss given default factors and information received from asset managers and rating agencies for each security. For structured securities, we utilize underlying data, where available, for each security provided by asset managers and additional information from credit agencies in order to determine an expected recovery value for each security. The analysis provided by the asset managers includes expected cash flow projections under base case and stress case scenarios which modify expected default expectations and loss severities and slow down prepayment assumptions. In the tables above, securities at September 30, 2011 which were in an unrealized loss position of greater than 20% of amortized cost were primarily in asset backed and mortgage backed securities where the fair value for the securities was lower than our expected recovery value.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The following table summarizes our top ten exposures to fixed income corporate issuers by fair value at September 30, 2011, excluding guaranteed amounts and covered bonds:

 

 

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Credit
Rating (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

 

$

57,539

 

Aa3

 

General Electric Co.

 

56,358

 

Aa2

 

Royal Bank of Canada

 

31,940

 

Aa1

 

Abbey National Treasury Services

 

30,397

 

Aa3

 

National Australia Bank Limited

 

29,229

 

Aa2

 

Total SA

 

29,038

 

Aa1

 

Royal Dutch Shell PLC

 

27,832

 

Aa1

 

Bank of America Corp.

 

26,766

 

Baa1

 

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd

 

25,271

 

Aa3

 

Crown Castle International Corp.

 

25,159

 

A2

 

Total

 

$

339,529

 

 

 

 


(1) Ratings as assigned by the major rating agencies.

 

Our portfolio includes investments, such as mortgage-backed securities, which are subject to prepayment risk. At September 30, 2011, our investments in mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), excluding commercial mortgage-backed securities, amounted to approximately $1.55 billion, or 12.6% of total investable assets, compared to $1.81 billion, or 15.3%, at December 31, 2010.  As with other fixed income investments, the fair value of these securities fluctuates depending on market and other general economic conditions and the interest rate environment. Changes in interest rates can expose us to changes in the prepayment rate on these investments. In periods of declining interest rates, mortgage prepayments generally increase and MBS are prepaid more quickly, requiring us to reinvest the proceeds at the then current market rates. Conversely, in periods of rising rates, mortgage prepayments generally fall, preventing us from taking full advantage of the higher level of rates. However, current economic conditions may curtail prepayment activity as refinancing becomes more difficult, thus limiting prepayments on MBS.

 

Since 2007, the residential mortgage market in the U.S. has experienced a variety of difficulties. During this time, delinquencies and losses with respect to residential mortgage loans generally have increased and may continue to increase, particularly in the subprime sector. In addition, during this period, residential property values in many states have declined or remained stable, after extended periods during which those values appreciated. A continued decline or an extended flattening in those values may result in additional increases in delinquencies and losses on residential mortgage loans generally, especially with respect to second homes and investment properties, and with respect to any residential mortgage loans where the aggregate loan amounts (including any subordinate loans) are close to or greater than the related property values. In addition, the U.S. government is currently considering an expansion of a program which allows borrowers to refinance their existing mortgages into new loans. These developments may have a significant adverse effect on the prices of loans and securities, including those in our investment portfolio. The situation continues to have wide ranging consequences, including downward pressure on economic growth and the potential for increased insurance and reinsurance exposures, which could have an adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition, business and operations. Our portfolio includes commercial mortgage backed securities (“CMBS”). At September 30, 2011, CMBS constituted approximately $1.12 billion, or 9.1% of total investable assets, compared to $1.17 billion, or 9.9%, at December 31, 2010. The commercial real estate market has experienced price deterioration, which could lead to increased delinquencies and defaults on commercial real estate mortgages.

 

50



Table of Contents

 

The following table provides information on our MBS and CMBS at September 30, 2011, excluding amounts guaranteed by the U.S. government and TALF investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated Fair Value

 

 

 

Issuance
Year

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Average
Credit
Quality

 

Total

 

% of
Amortized
Cost

 

% of
Investable
Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-agency MBS:

 

2003

 

$

2,547

 

AAA

 

$

2,482

 

97.4

%

0.0

%

 

 

2004

 

15,950

 

BBB+

 

14,428

 

90.5

%

0.1

%

 

 

2005

 

52,187

 

B+

 

46,412

 

88.9

%

0.4

%

 

 

2006

 

32,009

 

CCC+

 

27,122

 

84.7

%

0.2

%

 

 

2007

 

44,785

 

CCC

 

41,144

 

91.9

%

0.3

%

 

 

2008

 

7,902

 

CCC

 

7,091

 

89.7

%

0.1

%

 

 

2009

(6)

46,621

 

AAA

 

48,740

 

104.5

%

0.4

%

 

 

2010

(6)

40,118

 

AAA

 

38,850

 

96.8

%

0.3

%

Total non-agency MBS

 

 

 

$

242,119

 

BBB-

 

$

226,269

 

93.5

%

1.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-agency CMBS:

 

1998

 

3,536

 

AAA

 

3,606

 

102.0

%

0.0

%

 

 

2002

 

35,360

 

AAA

 

35,509

 

100.4

%

0.3

%

 

 

2003

 

44,363

 

AAA

 

45,870

 

103.4

%

0.4

%

 

 

2004

 

36,615

 

AAA

 

36,471

 

99.6

%

0.3

%

 

 

2005

 

50,112

 

AAA

 

49,673

 

99.1

%

0.4

%

 

 

2006

 

6,688

 

A

 

6,383

 

95.4

%

0.1

%

 

 

2007

 

92,546

 

AA-

 

96,829

 

104.6

%

0.8

%

 

 

2008

 

192

 

AA+

 

193

 

100.5

%

0.0

%

 

 

2010

 

246,180

 

AAA

 

248,777

 

101.1

%

2.0

%

 

 

2011

 

208,311

 

AAA

 

210,061

 

100.8

%

1.7

%

Total non-agency CMBS

 

 

 

$

723,903

 

AAA

 

$

733,372

 

101.3

%

6.0

%

 

Additional Statistics:

 

 

 

Non-Agency MBS

 

Non-Agency

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Re-REMICs

 

All Other

 

CMBS (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average loan age (months)

 

64

 

68

 

45

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average life (months) (2)

 

23

 

65

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average loan-to-value % (3)

 

70.3

%

68.4

%

68.6

%

 

 

 

 

Total delinquencies (4)

 

18.3

%

23.3

%

4.7

%

 

 

 

 

Current credit support % (5)

 

37.9

%

10.7

%

27.7

%

 

 

 

 

 


(1)

Loans defeased with government/agency obligations represented approximately 4% of the collateral underlying our CMBS holdings.

(2)

The weighted average life for MBS is based on the interest rates in effect at September 30, 2011. The weighted average lifefor CMBS reflects the average life of the collateral underlying our CMBS holdings.

(3)

The range of loan-to-values is 32% to 87% on MBS and 31% to 96% on CMBS.

(4)

Total delinquencies includes 60 days and over.

(5)

Current credit support % represents the % for a collateralized mortgage obligation (“CMO”) or CMBS class/tranche from other subordinate classes in the same CMO or CMBS deal.

(6)

Primarily represents Re-REMICs issued in 2009 and 2010 with an average credit quality of “AAA” from Fitch Ratings.

 

51



Table of Contents

 

The following table provides information on our asset backed securities (“ABS”), excluding TALF investments, at September 30, 2011:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated Fair Value

 

 

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Average
Credit
Quality

 

Total

 

% of
Amortized
Cost

 

% of
Investable
Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sector:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit cards (1)

 

$

244,849

 

AAA

 

$

251,417

 

102.7

%

2.1

%

Autos (2)

 

142,453

 

AAA

 

143,377

 

100.6

%

1.2

%

U.K. securitized (3)

 

40,111

 

AAA

 

39,865

 

99.4

%

0.3

%

Student loans (4)

 

29,007

 

AAA

 

29,569

 

101.9

%

0.2

%

Rate reduction bonds (5)

 

80,106

 

AAA

 

84,468

 

105.4

%

0.7

%

Other

 

85,797

 

AA+

 

85,749

 

99.9

%

0.7

%

 

 

622,323

 

AAA

 

634,445

 

101.9

%

5.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home equity (6)

 

$

3,124

 

AAA

 

$

2,677

 

85.7

%

0.0

%

 

 

72

 

A

 

71

 

98.6

%

0.0

%

 

 

7,662

 

BBB to B

 

5,573

 

72.7

%

0.0

%

 

 

3,385

 

CCC to C

 

4,875

 

144.0

%

0.0

%

 

 

182

 

D

 

64

 

35.2

%

0.0

%

 

 

14,425

 

BB-

 

13,260

 

91.9

%

0.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total ABS

 

$

636,748

 

AAA

 

$

647,705

 

101.7

%

5.3

%

 

The effective duration of the total ABS was 1.2 years at September 30, 2011.

 


(1) The weighted average credit support % on credit cards is 18.9%.

(2) The weighted average credit support % on autos is 43.7%.

(3) The weighted average credit support % on U.K. securitized is 17.7%.

(4) The weighted average credit support % on student loans is 10.0%.

(5) The weighted average credit support % on rate reduction bonds is 10.4%.

(6) The weighted average credit support % on home equity is 22.6%.

 

At September 30, 2011, our fixed income portfolio included $42.3 million par value in sub-prime securities with a fair value of $16.7 million and an average credit quality of “BBB-” from Standard & Poor’s and “Ba2” from Moody’s. At December 31, 2010, our fixed income portfolio included $47.1 million par value in sub-prime securities with a fair value of $19.9 million and an average credit quality of “BBB+” from Standard & Poor’s and “Baa3” from Moody’s. Such amounts were primarily in the home equity sector of our asset backed securities, with the balance in other ABS, MBS and CMBS sectors. We define sub-prime mortgage-backed securities as investments in which the underlying loans primarily exhibit one or more of the following characteristics: low FICO scores, above-prime interest rates, high loan-to-value ratios or high debt-to-income ratios. In addition, the portfolio of collateral backing our securities lending program contained $8.5 million fair value of sub-prime securities with an average credit quality of “CCC” from Standard & Poor’s and “Caa3” from Moody’s at September 30, 2011, compared to $13.2 million fair value with an average credit quality of “B-” from Standard & Poor’s and “Caa2” from Moody’s at December 31, 2010.

 

At September 30, 2011, we held insurance enhanced municipal bonds, net of prerefunded bonds that are escrowed in U.S. government obligations, the fair value of which was approximately $261.8 million, or approximately 2.1% of our total investable assets. These securities had an average rating of “Aa2” by Moody’s and “AA+” by Standard & Poor’s. Giving no effect to the insurance enhancement, the overall credit quality of our insured municipal bond portfolio had an average underlying rating of “Aa2” by Moody’s and “AA” by Standard & Poor’s. The ratings were obtained from the individual rating agencies and were assigned a numerical amount with 1 being the highest rating. The average ratings were calculated using the weighted average fair

 

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values of the individual bonds. The average ratings with and without the insurance enhancement are substantially the same at September 30, 2011. This is due to the fact that, in cases where the claims paying ratings of the guarantors are below investment grade, those ratings have been withdrawn from the bonds by the relevant rating agencies, and the insured ratings have been equated to the underlying ratings. Guarantors of our insurance enhanced municipal bonds, net of prerefunded bonds that are escrowed in U.S. government obligations, included National Public Finance Guarantee ($96.8 million), Assured Guaranty Ltd. ($82.9 million), the Texas Permanent School Fund ($52.9 million) and Financial Guaranty Insurance Company ($29.2 million). We do not have a significant exposure to insurance enhanced asset-backed or mortgage-backed securities. We do not have any significant investments in companies which guarantee securities at September 30, 2011.

 

At September 30, 2011, our equity portfolio included $327.4 million of equity securities, compared to $363.3 million at December 31, 2010. Such amounts are shown net of securities sold but not purchased. Our equity portfolio primarily consists of publicly traded common stocks in the natural resources, energy and consumer staples sectors. Certain of our equity managers use leverage to achieve a higher rate of return on their assets under management. While leverage presents opportunities for increasing the total return of such investments, it may increase losses as well. Accordingly, any event that adversely affects the value of the underlying holdings would be magnified to the extent leverage is used and our potential losses would be magnified.

 

The following table provides information on the severity of the unrealized loss position as a percentage of cost for all equity securities classified as available for sale which were in an unrealized loss position:

 

 

 

September 30, 2011

 

December 31, 2010

 

Severity of
Unrealized Loss

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

% of
Total Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

% of
Total Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0-10%

 

$

93,822

 

$

(3,863

)

10.7

 

$

65,892

 

$

(1,993

)

58.2

 

10-20%

 

46,322

 

(7,766

)

21.5

 

2,393

 

(824

)

24.1

 

20-30%

 

32,491

 

(10,971

)

30.3

 

39

 

(145

)

4.2

 

30-40%

 

12,802

 

(6,852

)

18.9

 

 

 

 

40-50%

 

7,055

 

(5,684

)

15.7

 

 

 

 

50-70%

 

864

 

(1,035

)

2.9

 

400

 

(462

)

13.5

 

Total

 

$

193,356

 

$

(36,171

)

100.0

 

$

68,724

 

$

(3,424

)

100.0

 

 

During the 2011 third quarter, falling global equity markets, commodity prices and natural resource stocks contributed to an increase in unrealized losses across many of our equity positions. On a quarterly basis, we evaluate the unrealized losses of our equity securities by issuer and forecast a reasonable period of time by which the fair value of the securities would increase and we would recover its cost basis. A substantial portion of the equity securities with unrealized losses were less than 30% under their cost basis at September 30, 2011. We believe that a reasonable period of time exists to allow for recovery of the cost basis of our equity securities.

 

Other investments totaled $325.8 million at September 30, 2011, compared to $275.5 million at December 31, 2010. Investment funds accounted for using the equity method totaled $342.7 million at September 30, 2011, compared to $434.6 million at December 31, 2010. Certain of our investment managers may use leverage to achieve a higher rate of return on their assets under management, primarily those included in “other investments available for sale, at fair value,” “investments accounted for using the fair value option” and “investments accounted for using the equity method” on our balance sheet. While leverage presents opportunities for increasing the total return of such investments, it may increase losses as well. Accordingly, any event that adversely affects the value of the underlying holdings would be magnified to the extent leverage is used and our potential losses would be magnified. In addition, the structures used to generate leverage may lead to such investments being required to meet covenants based on market valuations and asset coverage. Market valuation

 

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declines could force the sale of investments into a depressed market, which may result in significant additional losses. Alternatively, the levered investments may attempt to deleverage by raising additional equity or potentially changing the terms of the established financing arrangements. We may choose to participate in the additional funding of such investments.

 

Our investment strategy allows for the use of derivative instruments. We utilize various derivative instruments such as futures contracts to enhance investment performance, replicate investment positions or manage market exposures and duration risk that would be allowed under our investment guidelines if implemented in other ways. See note 8, “Derivative Instruments,” of the notes accompanying our consolidated financial statements for additional disclosures concerning derivatives.

 

Accounting guidance regarding fair value measurements addresses how companies should measure fair value when they are required to use a fair value measure for recognition or disclosure purposes under GAAP and provides a common definition of fair value to be used throughout GAAP. See note 7, “Fair Value” of the notes accompanying our consolidated financial statements for a summary of our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 by level.

 

Premiums Receivable and Reinsurance Recoverables

 

At September 30, 2011, 75.5% of premiums receivable of $607.0 million represented amounts not yet due, while amounts in excess of 90 days overdue were 4.5% of the total. At December 31, 2010, 77.9% of premiums receivable of $503.4 million represented amounts not yet due, while amounts in excess of 90 days overdue were 4.4% of the total. Approximately 4.4% of the $34.4 million of paid losses and loss adjustment expenses recoverable were in excess of 90 days overdue at September 30, 2011, compared to 0.6% of the $60.8 million of paid losses and loss adjustment expenses recoverable at December 31, 2010. At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, our reserves for doubtful accounts were approximately $14.9 million and $13.6 million, respectively.

 

At September 30, 2011, approximately 90.5% of reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid losses (not including prepaid reinsurance premiums) of $1.84 billion were due from carriers which had an A.M. Best rating of “A-” or better and the largest reinsurance recoverables from any one carrier was less than 5.7% of our total shareholders’ equity. At December 31, 2010, approximately 91.1% of reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid losses (not including prepaid reinsurance premiums) of $1.76 billion were due from carriers which had an A.M. Best rating of “A-” or better and the largest reinsurance recoverables from any one carrier was less than 5.5% of our total shareholders’ equity.

 

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The effects of reinsurance on written and earned premiums and losses and loss adjustment expenses with unaffiliated reinsurers were as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums Written

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

614,227

 

$

601,918

 

$

1,868,379

 

$

1,819,627

 

Assumed

 

246,062

 

229,870

 

868,415

 

782,948

 

Ceded

 

(168,908

)

(195,671

)

(574,592

)

(574,446

)

Net

 

$

691,381

 

$

636,117

 

$

2,162,202

 

$

2,028,129

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums Earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

603,758

 

$

591,060

 

$

1,764,489

 

$

1,769,707

 

Assumed

 

267,592

 

233,385

 

761,772

 

730,510

 

Ceded

 

(189,301

)

(197,036

)

(567,638

)

(579,880

)

Net

 

$

682,049

 

$

627,409

 

$

1,958,623

 

$

1,920,337

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

363,121

 

$

332,233

 

$

1,211,233

 

$

1,125,291

 

Assumed

 

131,212

 

112,399

 

519,029

 

311,625

 

Ceded

 

(70,349

)

(85,439

)

(380,776

)

(286,527

)

Net

 

$

423,984

 

$

359,193

 

$

1,349,486

 

$

1,150,389

 

 

Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

 

We establish reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“Loss Reserves”) which represent estimates involving actuarial and statistical projections, at a given point in time, of our expectations of the ultimate settlement and administration costs of losses incurred. Estimating Loss Reserves is inherently difficult, which is exacerbated by the fact that we are a relatively new company with relatively limited historical experience upon which to base such estimates. We utilize actuarial models as well as available historical insurance industry loss ratio experience and loss development patterns to assist in the establishment of Loss Reserves. Actual losses and loss adjustment expenses paid will deviate, perhaps substantially, from the reserve estimates reflected in our financial statements.

 

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At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, our Loss Reserves, net of unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses recoverable, by type and by operating segment were as follows:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insurance:

 

 

 

 

 

Case reserves

 

$

1,328,615

 

$

1,251,896

 

IBNR reserves

 

2,757,013

 

2,590,529

 

Total net reserves

 

$

4,085,628

 

$

3,842,425

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reinsurance:

 

 

 

 

 

Case reserves

 

$

786,268

 

$

747,545

 

Additional case reserves

 

153,470

 

93,110

 

IBNR reserves

 

1,692,383

 

1,712,173

 

Total net reserves

 

$

2,632,121

 

$

2,552,828

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total:

 

 

 

 

 

Case reserves

 

$

2,114,883

 

$

1,999,441

 

Additional case reserves

 

153,470

 

93,110

 

IBNR reserves

 

4,449,396

 

4,302,702

 

Total net reserves

 

$

6,717,749

 

$

6,395,253

 

 

At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the insurance segment’s Loss Reserves by major line of business, net of unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses recoverable, were as follows:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casualty

 

$

642,885

 

$

656,446

 

Professional liability

 

647,429

 

603,258

 

Executive assurance

 

635,030

 

598,527

 

Property, energy, marine and aviation

 

600,018

 

519,560

 

Programs

 

540,266

 

504,068

 

Construction

 

394,399

 

391,179

 

National accounts casualty

 

159,990

 

132,064

 

Healthcare

 

141,058

 

145,343

 

Surety

 

74,104

 

79,264

 

Travel and accident

 

39,315

 

31,707

 

Lenders products

 

13,881

 

12,156

 

Other

 

197,253

 

168,853

 

Total net reserves

 

$

4,085,628

 

$

3,842,425

 

 

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At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the reinsurance segment’s Loss Reserves by major line of business, net of unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses recoverable, were as follows:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casualty

 

$

1,671,695

 

$

1,748,888

 

Property excluding property catastrophe

 

352,732

 

295,425

 

Property catastrophe

 

247,760

 

160,237

 

Marine and aviation

 

176,872

 

194,925

 

Other specialty

 

135,628

 

106,241

 

Other

 

47,434

 

47,112

 

Total net reserves

 

$

2,632,121

 

$

2,552,828

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity

 

Our shareholders’ equity was $4.47 billion at September 30, 2011, compared to $4.51 billion at December 31, 2010. The decrease in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was primarily attributable to share repurchase activity which exceeded the net income generated in the period.

 

Book Value per Common Share

 

The following table presents the calculation of book value per common share at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calculation of book value per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

$

4,474,371

 

$

4,513,003

 

Less preferred shareholders’ equity

 

(325,000

)

(325,000

)

Common shareholders’ equity

 

$

4,149,371

 

$

4,188,003

 

Common shares outstanding (1)

 

133,005,465

 

139,632,225

 

Book value per common share

 

$

31.20

 

$

29.99

 

 


(1)       Excludes the effects of 10,348,636 and 12,251,568 stock options and 274,823 and 519,534 restricted stock units outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

ACGL is a holding company whose assets primarily consist of the shares in its subsidiaries. Generally, ACGL depends on its available cash resources, liquid investments and dividends or other distributions from its subsidiaries to make payments, including the payment of debt service obligations and operating expenses it may incur and any dividends or liquidation amounts with respect to the series A non-cumulative and series B non-cumulative preferred shares and common shares. ACGL’s readily available cash, short-term investments and marketable securities, excluding amounts held by our regulated insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries, totaled $4.4 million at September 30, 2011, compared to $14.4 million at December 31, 2010. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, ACGL received dividends of $321.5 million from Arch Reinsurance Ltd. (“Arch Re Bermuda”), our Bermuda-based reinsurer and insurer, which were primarily used to fund the share repurchase program described below.

 

The ability of our regulated insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions or other payments to us is dependent on their ability to meet applicable regulatory standards. Under Bermuda

 

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law, Arch Re Bermuda is required to maintain an enhanced capital requirement which must equal or exceed its minimum solvency margin (i.e., the amount by which the value of its general business assets must exceed its general business liabilities) equal to the greatest of (1) $100.0 million, (2) 50% of net premiums written (being gross premiums written less any premiums ceded by Arch Re Bermuda, but Arch Re Bermuda may not deduct more than 25% of gross premiums when computing net premiums written) and (3) 15% of net discounted aggregated losses and loss expense provisions and other insurance reserves. Arch Re Bermuda is prohibited from declaring or paying any dividends during any financial year if it is not in compliance with its enhanced capital requirement, minimum solvency margin or minimum liquidity ratio. In addition, Arch Re Bermuda is prohibited from declaring or paying in any financial year dividends of more than 25% of its total statutory capital and surplus (as shown on its previous financial year’s statutory balance sheet) unless it files, at least seven days before payment of such dividends, with the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”) an affidavit stating that it will continue to meet the required margins. In addition, Arch Re Bermuda is prohibited, without prior approval of the BMA, from reducing by 15% or more its total statutory capital, as set out in its previous year’s statutory financial statements. Arch Re Bermuda is required to meet enhanced capital requirements and a target capital level (defined as 120% of the enhanced capital requirements) as calculated using a new risk based capital model called the Bermuda Solvency Capital Requirement (“BSCR”) model. At December 31, 2010, as determined under Bermuda law, Arch Re Bermuda had statutory capital of $2.26 billion and statutory capital and surplus of $4.44 billion, which amounts were in compliance with Arch Re Bermuda’s enhanced capital requirement at such date. Such amounts include ownership interests in U.S. insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries. Accordingly, Arch Re Bermuda can pay approximately $789 million to ACGL during the remainder of 2011 without providing an affidavit to the BMA, as discussed above. In addition to meeting applicable regulatory standards, the ability of our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries to pay dividends to intermediate parent companies owned by Arch Re Bermuda is also constrained by our dependence on the financial strength ratings of our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries from independent rating agencies. The ratings from these agencies depend to a large extent on the capitalization levels of our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries. We believe that ACGL has sufficient cash resources and available dividend capacity to service its indebtedness and other current outstanding obligations.

 

Our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are required to maintain assets on deposit, which primarily consist of fixed maturities, with various regulatory authorities to support their operations. The assets on deposit are available to settle insurance and reinsurance liabilities to third parties. Our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries maintain assets in trust accounts as collateral for insurance and reinsurance transactions with affiliated companies and also have investments in segregated portfolios primarily to provide collateral or guarantees for letters of credit to third parties. At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, such amounts approximated $5.68 billion and $5.87 billion, respectively.

 

Our non-U.S. operations account for a significant percentage of our net premiums written. In the current market environment, the business written in our non-U.S. operations has been more profitable than the business written in our U.S. operations, which has significantly increased the non-U.S. group’s contribution to our overall pre-tax income. Additionally, a significant component of our pre-tax income is generated through our investment performance, especially in this competitive insurance and reinsurance market. We hold a substantial amount of our investable assets in our non-U.S. operations and, accordingly, a large portion of our investment income is produced in our non-U.S. operations. In addition, ACGL, through its subsidiaries, provides financial support to certain of its insurance subsidiaries and affiliates, through certain reinsurance arrangements beneficial to the ratings of such subsidiaries. Our U.S.-based insurance and reinsurance groups enter into separate reinsurance arrangements with Arch Re Bermuda covering individual lines of business. As of September 30, 2011, for the 2011 underwriting year, the U.S. groups cede business to Arch Re Bermuda at net cession rates (i.e., net of third party reinsurance) ranging up to 50%.

 

Except as described in the above paragraph, or where express reinsurance, guarantee or other financial support contractual arrangements are in place, each of ACGL’s subsidiaries or affiliates is solely responsible for its own liabilities and commitments (and no other ACGL subsidiary or affiliate is so responsible). Any reinsurance arrangements, guarantees or other financial support contractual arrangements that are in place are

 

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solely for the benefit of the ACGL subsidiary or affiliate involved and third parties (creditors or insureds of such entity) are not express beneficiaries of such arrangements.

 

Our insurance and reinsurance operations provide liquidity in that premiums are received in advance, sometimes substantially in advance, of the time losses are paid. The period of time from the occurrence of a claim through the settlement of the liability may extend many years into the future. Sources of liquidity include cash flows from operations, financing arrangements or routine sales of investments.

 

As part of our investment strategy, we seek to establish a level of cash and highly liquid short-term and intermediate-term securities which, combined with expected cash flow, is believed by us to be adequate to meet our foreseeable payment obligations. However, due to the nature of our operations, cash flows are affected by claim payments that may comprise large payments on a limited number of claims and which can fluctuate from year to year. We believe that our liquid investments and cash flow will provide us with sufficient liquidity in order to meet our claim payment obligations. However, the timing and amounts of actual claim payments related to recorded Loss Reserves vary based on many factors, including large individual losses, changes in the legal environment, as well as general market conditions. The ultimate amount of the claim payments could differ materially from our estimated amounts. Certain lines of business written by us, such as excess casualty, have loss experience characterized as low frequency and high severity. The foregoing may result in significant variability in loss payment patterns. The impact of this variability can be exacerbated by the fact that the timing of the receipt of reinsurance recoverables owed to us may be slower than anticipated by us. Therefore, the irregular timing of claim payments can create significant variations in cash flows from operations between periods and may require us to utilize other sources of liquidity to make these payments, which may include the sale of investments or utilization of existing or new credit facilities or capital market transactions. If the source of liquidity is the sale of investments, we may be forced to sell such investments at a loss, which may be material.

 

Our investments in certain securities, including certain fixed income and structured securities, investments in funds accounted for using the equity method, other investments and our investment in Gulf Re (joint venture) may be illiquid due to contractual provisions or investment market conditions. If we require significant amounts of cash on short notice in excess of anticipated cash requirements, then we may have difficulty selling these investments in a timely manner or may be forced to sell or terminate them at unfavorable values.

 

Consolidated net cash provided by operating activities was $756.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $657.6 million for the 2010 period. The increase in operating cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 over the 2010 period was primarily due higher premium collected, the timing of dividend receipts on other investments and the timing of certain expense payments. Cash flow from operating activities are provided by premiums collected, fee income, investment income and collected reinsurance recoverables, offset by losses and loss adjustment expense payments, reinsurance premiums paid, operating costs and current taxes paid.

 

On a consolidated basis, our aggregate investable assets totaled $12.23 billion at September 30, 2011, compared to $11.84 billion at December 31, 2010. The primary goals of our asset liability management process are to satisfy the insurance liabilities, manage the interest rate risk embedded in those insurance liabilities and maintain sufficient liquidity to cover fluctuations in projected liability cash flows, including debt service obligations. Generally, the expected principal and interest payments produced by our fixed income portfolio adequately fund the estimated runoff of our insurance reserves. Although this is not an exact cash flow match in each period, the substantial degree by which the fair value of the fixed income portfolio exceeds the expected present value of the net insurance liabilities, as well as the positive cash flow from newly sold policies and the large amount of high quality liquid bonds, provide assurance of our ability to fund the payment of claims and to service our outstanding debt without having to sell securities at distressed prices or access credit facilities. Our unfunded investment commitments totaled approximately $229.6 million at September 30, 2011.

 

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In August 2011, Standard & Poor’s Corp. downgraded the United States’ credit rating from “AAA” to “AA+” with a negative outlook and warned it could lower the credit rating to “AA” within the next two years if it sees less reduction in spending than agreed to, higher interest rates, or new fiscal pressures during the period result in a higher general government debt trajectory. In addition, both Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings have announced the possibility of a downgrade to the United States’ credit rating. The impact of the continuing weakness of the U.S. and other key economies, projected budget deficits for the U.S. and other governments and the consequences associated with possible additional downgrades of securities of the U.S. and other governments by credit rating agencies is inherently unpredictable and could have a material adverse effect on financial markets and economic conditions in the U.S. and throughout the world. In turn, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and, in particular, this could have a material adverse effect on the value and liquidity of securities in our investment portfolio. Our investment portfolio as of September 30, 2011 included $1.26 billion of obligations of the U.S. government and government agencies at fair value and $1.42 billion of municipal bonds at fair value. Please refer to Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 for a discussion of other risks relating to our business and investment portfolio.

 

We expect that our liquidity needs, including our anticipated insurance obligations and operating and capital expenditure needs, for the next twelve months, at a minimum, will be met by funds generated from underwriting activities and investment income, as well as by our balance of cash, short-term investments, proceeds on the sale or maturity of our investments, and our credit facilities.

 

We monitor our capital adequacy on a regular basis and will seek to adjust our capital base (up or down) according to the needs of our business. The future capital requirements of our business will depend on many factors, including our ability to write new business successfully and to establish premium rates and reserves at levels sufficient to cover losses. Our ability to underwrite is largely dependent upon the quality of our claims paying and financial strength ratings as evaluated by independent rating agencies. In particular, we require (1) sufficient capital to maintain our financial strength ratings, as issued by several ratings agencies, at a level considered necessary by management to enable our key operating subsidiaries to compete; (2) sufficient capital to enable our underwriting subsidiaries to meet the capital adequacy tests performed by statutory agencies in the U.S. and other key markets; and (3) letters of credit and other forms of collateral that are necessary for our non-U.S. operating companies because they are “non-admitted” under U.S. state insurance regulations.

 

As part of our capital management program, we may seek to raise additional capital or may seek to return capital to our shareholders through share repurchases, cash dividends or other methods (or a combination of such methods). Any such determination will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will be dependent upon our profits, financial requirements and other factors, including legal restrictions, rating agency requirements and such other factors as our board of directors deems relevant.

 

The board of directors of ACGL has authorized the investment in ACGL’s common shares through a share repurchase program. Since the inception of the share repurchase program, ACGL has repurchased 104.8 million common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $2.56 billion. Repurchases under the program may be effected from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions through December 2012. At September 30, 2011, $942.0 million of share repurchases were available under the program. The timing and amount of the repurchase transactions under this program will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions and corporate and regulatory considerations. We will continue to monitor our share price and, depending upon results of operations, market conditions and the development of the economy, as well as other factors, we will consider share repurchases on an opportunistic basis.

 

To the extent that our existing capital is insufficient to fund our future operating requirements or maintain such ratings, we may need to raise additional funds through financings or limit our growth. We can provide no assurance that, if needed, we would be able to obtain additional funds through financing on satisfactory terms or at all. Adverse developments in the financial markets, such as disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the capital and credit markets, may result in realized and unrealized capital losses that could have a material adverse effect

 

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on our results of operations, financial position and our businesses, and may also limit our access to capital required to operate our business.

 

If we are not able to obtain adequate capital, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected, which could include, among other things, the following possible outcomes: (1) potential downgrades in the financial strength ratings assigned by ratings agencies to our operating subsidiaries, which could place those operating subsidiaries at a competitive disadvantage compared to higher-rated competitors; (2) reductions in the amount of business that our operating subsidiaries are able to write in order to meet capital adequacy-based tests enforced by statutory agencies; and (3) any resultant ratings downgrades could, among other things, affect our ability to write business and increase the cost of bank credit and letters of credit. In addition, under certain of the reinsurance agreements assumed by our reinsurance operations, upon the occurrence of a ratings downgrade or other specified triggering event with respect to our reinsurance operations, such as a reduction in surplus by specified amounts during specified periods, our ceding company clients may be provided with certain rights, including, among other things, the right to terminate the subject reinsurance agreement and/or to require that our reinsurance operations post additional collateral.

 

In addition to common share capital, we depend on external sources of finance to support our underwriting activities, which can be in the form (or any combination) of debt securities, preference shares, common equity and bank credit facilities providing loans and/or letters of credit. As noted above, equity or debt financing, if available at all, may be on terms that are unfavorable to us. In the case of equity financings, dilution to our shareholders could result, and, in any case, such securities may have rights, preferences and privileges that are senior to those of our outstanding securities.

 

In August 2011, we entered into a three-year agreement for a $300 million unsecured revolving loan and letter of credit facility and a $500 million secured letter of credit facility. Under the terms of the agreement, Arch Reinsurance Company (“Arch Re U.S.”) is limited to issuing $100 million of unsecured letters of credit as part of the unsecured revolving loan. In addition, we have access to secured letter of credit facilities of approximately $180 million, which are primarily used to support our syndicate at Lloyd’s of London, and to other secured letter of credit facilities, some of which are available on a limited basis and for limited purposes. Refer to note 4, “Commitments and Contingencies—Letter of Credit and Revolving Credit Facilities,” of the notes accompanying our consolidated financial statements for a discussion of our available facilities, applicable covenants on such facilities and available capacity.

 

During 2006, ACGL completed two public offerings of non-cumulative preferred shares. On February 1, 2006, $200.0 million principal amount of 8.0% series A preferred shares were issued and, on May 24, 2006, $125.0 million principal amount of 7.875% series B preferred shares (together with the series A preferred shares, the “preferred shares”) were issued. ACGL has the right to redeem all or a portion of the preferred shares at a redemption price of $25.00 per share. Dividends on the preferred shares are non-cumulative. Consequently, in the event dividends are not declared on the preferred shares for any dividend period, holders of preferred shares will not be entitled to receive a dividend for such period, and such undeclared dividend will not accrue and will not be payable. Holders of preferred shares will be entitled to receive dividend payments only when, as and if declared by ACGL’s board of directors or a duly authorized committee of ACGL’s board of directors. Any such dividends will be payable from the date of original issue on a non-cumulative basis, quarterly in arrears. To the extent declared, these dividends will accumulate, with respect to each dividend period, in an amount per share equal to 8.0% of the $25.00 liquidation preference per annum for the series A preferred shares and 7.875% of the $25.00 liquidation preference per annum for the series B preferred shares. At September 30, 2011, we had declared an aggregate of $3.3 million of dividends to be paid to holders of the preferred shares.

 

In March 2009, ACGL and Arch Capital Group (U.S.) Inc. filed a universal shelf registration statement with the SEC. This registration statement allows for the possible future offer and sale by us of various types of securities, including unsecured debt securities, preference shares, common shares, warrants, share purchase contracts and units and depositary shares. The shelf registration statement enables us to efficiently access the public debt and/or equity capital markets in order to meet our future capital needs. The shelf registration

 

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statement also allows selling shareholders to resell common shares that they own in one or more offerings from time to time. We will not receive any proceeds from any shares offered by the selling shareholders. This report is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

 

We purchased asset-backed and commercial mortgage-backed securities under the FRBNY’s TALF program. As of September 30, 2011, we had $392.5 million of securities under TALF which are reflected as “TALF investments, at fair value” and $314.1 million of secured financing from the FRBNY which is reflected as “TALF borrowings, at fair value.” As of December 31, 2010, we had $402.4 million of TALF investments, at fair value and $325.8 million of TALF borrowings, at fair value.

 

At September 30, 2011, ACGL’s capital of $4.87 billion consisted of $300.0 million of senior notes, representing 6.2% of the total, $100.0 million of revolving credit agreement borrowings due in August 2014, representing 2.1% of the total, $325.0 million of preferred shares, representing 6.7% of the total, and common shareholders’ equity of $4.15 billion, representing the balance. At December 31, 2010, ACGL’s capital of $4.91 billion consisted of $300.0 million of senior notes, representing 6.1% of the total, $100.0 million of revolving credit agreement borrowings due in August 2014, representing 2.0% of the total, $325.0 million of preferred shares, representing 6.6% of the total, and common shareholders’ equity of $4.19 billion, representing the balance. The reduction in capital during the 2011 third quarter was primarily attributable to share repurchase activity.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

Off-balance sheet arrangements are discussed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Market Sensitive Instruments and Risk Management

 

In accordance with the SEC’s Financial Reporting Release No. 48, we performed a sensitivity analysis to determine the effects that market risk exposures could have on the future earnings, fair values or cash flows of our financial instruments as of September 30, 2011. Market risk represents the risk of changes in the fair value of a financial instrument and is comprised of several components, including liquidity, basis and price risks. An analysis of material changes in market risk exposures at September 30, 2011 that affect the quantitative and qualitative disclosures presented in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2010 (see section captioned “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Market Sensitive Instruments and Risk Management”) were as follows:

 

Investment Market Risk

 

Fixed Income Securities. We invest in interest rate sensitive securities, primarily debt securities. We consider the effect of interest rate movements on the fair value of our fixed maturities, fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements, short-term investments and certain of our other investments which invest in fixed income securities and the corresponding change in unrealized appreciation. As interest rates rise, the fair value of our interest rate sensitive securities falls, and the converse is also true. Based on historical observations, there is a low probability that all interest rate yield curves would shift in the same direction at the same time. Furthermore, in recent months interest rate movements in many credit sectors have exhibited a much lower correlation to changes in U.S. Treasury yields. Accordingly, the actual effect of interest rate movements may differ materially from the amounts set forth in the following tables.

 

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The following table summarizes the effect that an immediate, parallel shift in the interest rate yield curve would have had on the portfolio at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

Interest Rate Shift in Basis Points

 

(U.S. dollars in millions)

 

-100

 

-50

 

-

 

50

 

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total fair value

 

$

11,356.6

 

$

11,227.3

 

$

11,022.6

 

$

10,886.7

 

$

10,713.8

 

Change from base

 

3.03

%

1.86

%

 

(1.23

)%

(2.80

)%

Change in unrealized value

 

$

334.0

 

$

204.7

 

$

 

$

(135.9

)

$

(308.8

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total fair value

 

$

10,668.3

 

$

10,542.6

 

$

10,404.9

 

$

10,249.0

 

$

10,100.0

 

Change from base

 

2.53

%

1.32

%

 

(1.50

)%

(2.93

)%

Change in unrealized value

 

$

263.4

 

$

137.7

 

$

 

$

(155.9

)

$

(304.9

)

 

In addition, we consider the effect of credit spread movements on the fair value of our fixed maturities, fixed maturities pledged under securities lending agreements, short-term investments and certain of our other investments and investment funds accounted for using the equity method which invest in fixed income securities and the corresponding change in unrealized appreciation. As credit spreads widen, the fair value of our fixed income securities falls, and the converse is also true.

 

The following table summarizes the effect that an immediate, parallel shift in credit spreads in a static interest rate environment would have had on the portfolio at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

Credit Spread Shift in Basis Points

 

(U.S. dollars in millions)

 

-100

 

-50

 

-

 

50

 

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total fair value

 

$

11,257.7

 

$

11,146.4

 

$

11,022.6

 

$

10,904.6

 

$

10,786.6

 

Change from base

 

2.13

%

1.12

%

 

(1.07

)%

(2.14

)%

Change in unrealized value

 

$

235.1

 

$

123.8

 

$

 

$

(118.0

)

$

(236.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total fair value

 

$

10,608.2

 

$

10,506.5

 

$

10,404.9

 

$

10,304.2

 

$

10,204.4

 

Change from base

 

1.95

%

0.98

%

 

(0.97

)%

(1.93

)%

Change in unrealized value

 

$

203.3

 

$

101.6

 

$

 

$

(100.7

)

$

(200.5

)

 

Another method that attempts to measure portfolio risk is Value-at-Risk (“VaR”). VaR attempts to take into account a broad cross-section of risks facing a portfolio by utilizing relevant securities volatility data skewed towards the most recent months and quarters. VaR measures the amount of a portfolio at risk for outcomes 1.65 standard deviations from the mean based on normal market conditions over a one year time horizon and is expressed as a percentage of the portfolio’s initial value. In other words, 95% of the time, should the risks taken into account in the VaR model perform per their historical tendencies, the portfolio’s loss in any one year period is expected to be less than or equal to the calculated VaR, stated as a percentage of the measured portfolio’s initial value. As of September 30, 2011, our portfolio’s VaR was estimated to be 3.75%, compared to an estimated 3.76% at December 31, 2010.

 

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Equity Securities, Privately Held Securities and Other Investments. Our investment portfolio includes an allocation to equity securities, privately held securities and certain other investments.  At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the fair value of our investments in privately held securities, equity securities (excluding our investment in Aeolus LP which is accounted for using the equity method) and certain other investments totaled $474.7 million and $587.1 million, respectively. These securities are exposed to price risk, which is the potential loss arising from decreases in fair value. An immediate hypothetical 10% decline in the value of each position would reduce the fair value of such investments by approximately $47.5 million and $58.7 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, and would have decreased book value per common share by approximately $0.36 and $0.42, respectively. An immediate hypothetical 10% increase in the value of each position would increase the fair value of such investments by approximately $47.5 million and $58.7 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, and would have increased book value per common share by approximately $0.36 and $0.42, respectively.

 

Investment-Related Derivatives. Derivative instruments may be used to enhance investment performance, replicate investment positions or manage market exposures and duration risk that would be allowed under our investment guidelines if implemented in other ways. The fair values of those derivatives are based on quoted market prices. See note 8, “Derivative Instruments,” of the notes accompanying our consolidated financial statements for additional disclosures concerning derivatives. At September 30, 2011, the notional value of the net long position of derivative instruments (excluding to-be-announced mortgage backed securities which are included in the fixed income securities analysis above and foreign currency forward contracts which are included in the foreign currency exchange risk analysis below) was $1.47 billion, compared to $1.04 billion at December 31, 2010. A 100 basis point depreciation of the underlying exposure to these derivative instruments at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 would have resulted in a reduction in net income of approximately $14.7 million and $10.4 million, respectively, and would have decreased book value per common share by $0.11 and $0.07, respectively. A 100 basis point appreciation of the underlying exposure to these derivative instruments at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 would have resulted in an increase in net income of approximately $14.7 million and $10.4 million, respectively, and would have increased book value per common share by $0.11 and $0.07, respectively.

 

For further discussion on investment activity, please refer to “—Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources—Financial Condition—Investable Assets.”

 

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

 

Foreign currency rate risk is the potential change in value, income and cash flow arising from adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Through our subsidiaries and branches located in various foreign countries, we conduct our insurance and reinsurance operations in a variety of local currencies other than the U.S. Dollar. We generally hold investments in foreign currencies which are intended to mitigate our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations in our net insurance liabilities. We may also utilize foreign currency forward contracts and currency options as part of our investment strategy. See Note 8, “Derivative Instruments,” of the notes accompanying our consolidated financial statements for additional information.

 

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The following table provides a summary of our net foreign currency exchange exposures, as well as foreign currency derivatives in place to manage these exposures, at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets, net of insurance liabilities, denominated in foreign currencies, excluding shareholders’ equity and derivatives

 

$

164,993

 

$

161,357

 

Shareholders’ equity denominated in foreign currencies (1)

 

106,775

 

108,575

 

Net foreign currency forward contracts outstanding (2)

 

(54,888

)

(105,022

)

Net assets denominated in foreign currencies

 

$

216,880

 

$

164,910

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-tax impact of a hypothetical 10% appreciation of the U.S. Dollar against foreign currencies:

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

$

(21,688

)

$

(16,491

)

Book value per common share

 

$

(0.16

)

$

(0.12

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-tax impact of a hypothetical 10% decline of the U.S. Dollar against foreign currencies:

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

$

21,688

 

$

16,491

 

Book value per common share

 

$

0.16

 

$

0.12

 

 


(1) Represents capital contributions held in the foreign currencies of our operating units.

(2) Notional value of the outstanding foreign currency forward contracts in U.S. Dollars.

 

As a result of the current financial and economic environment as well as the potential for additional investment returns, we may not match a portion of our projected liabilities in foreign currencies with investments in the same currencies, which would increase our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations and increase the volatility in our results of operations. Historical observations indicate a low probability that all foreign currency exchange rates would shift against the U.S. Dollar in the same direction and at the same time and, accordingly, the actual effect of foreign currency rate movements may differ materially from the amounts set forth above. For further discussion on foreign exchange activity, please refer to “—Results of Operations.”

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PLSRA”) provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. This release or any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of us may include forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in or incorporated by reference in this release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, for purposes of the PLSRA or otherwise, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe” or “continue” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature or their negative or variations or similar terminology.

 

Forward-looking statements involve our current assessment of risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Important factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements are discussed below and elsewhere in this release and in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and include:

 

·                  our ability to successfully implement its business strategy during “soft” as well as “hard” markets;

 

·                  acceptance of our business strategy, security and financial condition by rating agencies and regulators, as well as by brokers and our insureds and reinsureds;

 

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·                  our ability to maintain or improve our ratings, which may be affected by our ability to raise additional equity or debt financings, by ratings agencies’ existing or new policies and practices, as well as other factors described herein;

 

·                  general economic and market conditions (including inflation, interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, prevailing credit terms and the depth and duration of a recession) and conditions specific to the reinsurance and insurance markets (including the length and magnitude of the current “soft” market) in which we operate;

 

·                  competition, including increased competition, on the basis of pricing, capacity, coverage terms or other factors;

 

·                  developments in the world’s financial and capital markets and our access to such markets;

 

·                  our ability to successfully integrate, establish and maintain operating procedures (including the implementation of improved computerized systems and programs to replace and support manual systems) to effectively support its underwriting initiatives and to develop accurate actuarial data;

 

·                  the loss of key personnel;

 

·                  the integration of businesses we have acquired or may acquire into our existing operations;

 

·                  accuracy of those estimates and judgments utilized in the preparation of our financial statements, including those related to revenue recognition, insurance and other reserves, reinsurance recoverables, investment valuations, intangible assets, bad debts, income taxes, contingencies and litigation, and any determination to use the deposit method of accounting, which for a relatively new insurance and reinsurance company, like our company, are even more difficult to make than those made in a mature company since relatively limited historical information has been reported to us through September 30, 2011;

 

·                  greater than expected loss ratios on business written by us and adverse development on claim and/or claim expense liabilities related to business written by our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries;

 

·                  severity and/or frequency of losses;

 

·                  claims for natural or man-made catastrophic events in our insurance or reinsurance business could cause large losses and substantial volatility in our results of operations;

 

·                  acts of terrorism, political unrest and other hostilities or other unforecasted and unpredictable events;

 

·                  losses relating to aviation business and business produced by a certain managing underwriting agency for which we may be liable to the purchaser of its prior reinsurance business or to others in connection with the May 5, 2000 asset sale described in our periodic reports filed with the SEC;

 

·                  availability to us of reinsurance to manage our gross and net exposures and the cost of such reinsurance;

 

·                  the failure of reinsurers, managing general agents, third party administrators or others to meet their obligations to us;

 

·                  the timing of loss payments being faster or the receipt of reinsurance recoverables being slower than anticipated by us;

 

·                  our investment performance, including legislative or regulatory developments that may adversely affect the fair value of our investments;

 

·                  the impact of the continued weakness of the U.S. or other key economies, projected budget deficits for the U.S. and other governments and the consequences associated with possible additional downgrades of securities of the U.S. and other governments by credit rating agencies and the resulting effect on the value and liquidity of securities in our investment portfolio as well as the uncertainty in the market generally;

 

·                  changes in accounting principles or policies or in our application of such accounting principles or policies;

 

·                  changes in the political environment of certain countries in which we operates, underwrites business or invests;

 

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·                  statutory or regulatory developments, including as to tax policy matters and insurance and other regulatory matters such as the adoption of proposed legislation that would affect Bermuda-headquartered companies and/or Bermuda-based insurers or reinsurers and/or changes in regulations or tax laws applicable to us, our subsidiaries, brokers or customers; and

 

·                  the other matters set forth under Item 1A “Risk Factors”, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and other sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the other factors set forth in our other documents on file with the SEC, and management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors.

 

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with other cautionary statements that are included herein or elsewhere. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Other Financial Information

 

The consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2011 and for the three month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 have been reviewed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. Their report (dated November 8, 2011) is included on page 2. The report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that unaudited financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their report on the unaudited financial information because that report is not a “report” or a “part” of the registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act of 1933.

 

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ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Reference is made to the information appearing above under the subheading “Market Sensitive Instruments and Risk Management” under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which information is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

In connection with the filing of this Form 10-Q, our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to applicable Exchange Act Rules as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of and during the period covered by this report with respect to information being recorded, processed, summarized and reported within time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and with respect to timely communication to them and other members of management responsible for preparing periodic reports of all material information required to be disclosed in this report as it relates to ACGL and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

We continue to enhance our operating procedures and internal controls to effectively support our business and our regulatory and reporting requirements. Our management does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal controls will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. As a result of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons or by collusion of two or more people. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. As a result of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatement due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Accordingly, our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the disclosure controls and procedures are met.

 

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Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

 

We, in common with the insurance industry in general, are subject to litigation and arbitration in the normal course of our business. As of September 30, 2011, we were not a party to any litigation or arbitration which is expected by management to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and liquidity.

 

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

 

The following table summarizes our purchases of our common shares for the 2011 third quarter:

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands,
except share data)

 

 

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

 

 

Period

 

Total Number of
Shares
Purchased (1)

 

Average Price Paid
per Share

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs (2)

 

Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that
May Yet be
Purchased Under the
Plan or Programs

 

7/1/2011-7/31/2011

 

207,719

 

$

32.31

 

199,931

 

$

956,351

 

8/1/2011-8/31/2011

 

354,795

 

31.63

 

350,562

 

$

945,268

 

9/1/2011-9/30/2011

 

107,374

 

31.36

 

105,279

 

$

941,970

 

Total

 

669,888

 

$

31.80

 

655,772

 

$

941,970

 

 


(1)         Includes repurchases by ACGL of shares, from time to time, from employees in order to facilitate the payment of withholding taxes on restricted shares granted and the exercise of stock appreciation rights. We purchased these shares at their fair value, as determined by reference to the closing price of our common shares on the day the restricted shares vested or the stock appreciation rights were exercised.

(2)         The board of directors of ACGL has authorized the investment in ACGL’s common shares through a share repurchase program. Repurchases under the program may be effected from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions through December 2012. Since the inception of the share repurchase program, ACGL has repurchased approximately 104.8 million common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $2.56 billion. The timing and amount of the repurchase transactions under this program will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions and corporate and regulatory considerations.

 

Item 5.  Other Information

 

In accordance with Section 10a(i)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we are responsible for disclosing non-audit services to be provided by our independent auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which are approved by the Audit Committee of our board of directors. During the 2011 third quarter, the Audit Committee approved engagements of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for permitted non-audit services, substantially all of which consisted of tax services, tax consulting and tax compliance.

 

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Item 6.  Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Restricted Share Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011, between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and W. Preston Hutchings

10.2

 

Restricted Share Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011, between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and John C.R. Hele

10.3

 

Restricted Share Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011, between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Marc Grandisson

10.4

 

Restricted Share Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011, between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Constantine Iordanou

10.5

 

Restricted Share Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011, between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Louis T. Petrillo

10.6

 

Restricted Share Unit Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011, between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Mark D. Lyons

10.7

 

Share Appreciation Right Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011 between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Marc Grandisson

10.8

 

Share Appreciation Right Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011 between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and John C.R. Hele

10.9

 

Share Appreciation Right Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011 between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and W. Preston Hutchings

10.10

 

Share Appreciation Right Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011 between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Constantine Iordanou

10.11

 

Share Appreciation Right Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011 between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Mark D. Lyons

10.12

 

Share Appreciation Right Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011 between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Louis T. Petrillo

15

 

Accountants’ Awareness Letter (regarding unaudited interim financial information)

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

101

 

The following financial information from Arch Capital Group Ltd.’s Quarterly Report for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.*

 


* This exhibit will not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78r) , or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such exhibit will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or Securities Exchange Act, except to the extent that Arch Capital Group Ltd. specifically incorporates it by reference.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD.

 

(REGISTRANT)

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Constantine Iordanou

Date: November 8, 2011

Constantine Iordanou

 

President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ John C.R. Hele

Date: November 8, 2011

John C.R. Hele

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Restricted Share Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011, between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and W. Preston Hutchings

10.2

 

Restricted Share Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011, between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and John C.R. Hele

10.3

 

Restricted Share Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011, between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Marc Grandisson

10.4

 

Restricted Share Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011, between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Constantine Iordanou

10.5

 

Restricted Share Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011, between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Louis T. Petrillo

10.6

 

Restricted Share Unit Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011, between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Mark D. Lyons

10.7

 

Share Appreciation Right Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011 between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Marc Grandisson

10.8

 

Share Appreciation Right Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011 between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and John C.R. Hele

10.9

 

Share Appreciation Right Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011 between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and W. Preston Hutchings

10.10

 

Share Appreciation Right Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011 between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Constantine Iordanou

10.11

 

Share Appreciation Right Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011 between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Mark D. Lyons

10.12

 

Share Appreciation Right Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2011 between Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Louis T. Petrillo

15

 

Accountants’ Awareness Letter (regarding unaudited interim financial information)

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

101

 

The following financial information from Arch Capital Group Ltd.’s Quarterly Report for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.*

 


* This exhibit will not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78r) , or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such exhibit will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or Securities Exchange Act, except to the extent that Arch Capital Group Ltd. specifically incorporates it by reference.

 

72