EVEREST GROUP, LTD. - Quarter Report: 2008 June (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Wessex House – 2^nd Floor

45 Reid Street

PO Box HM 845

Hamilton HM DX, Bermuda

441-295-0006

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,

of registrant’s principal executive office)

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.

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

       EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD

               Index To Form 10-Q

 

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             PART I

     FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                                                                                         PART II

              OTHER INFORMATION

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

1. General

As used in this document, “Group” means Everest Re Group, Ltd.; “Holdings” means Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc.; “Everest Re” means Everest Reinsurance Company and its subsidiaries (unless the context otherwise requires); and the “Company” means Everest Re Group, Ltd. and its subsidiaries.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the results on an interim basis. Certain financial information, which is normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), has been omitted since it is not required for interim reporting purposes. The year end consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. The results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 included in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K filing.

2. New Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Financial Accounting Standards (“FAS”) No. 159 “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - including an amendment to FASB Statement No. 115” (“FAS 159”). FAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The objective is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. The Company adopted FAS 159 as of January 1, 2007.

In March 2008, the FASB issued FAS No. 161 “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“FAS 161”). FAS 161 requires entities to provide additional disclosures on derivative and hedging activities regarding their affect on financial position, financial performance and cash flows. This statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. The impact of a January 1, 2009 adoption should be immaterial.

3. Fair Value

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted and implemented FAS 159 for its actively managed equity securities. In conjunction with the Company implementing a more active management strategy for these securities, FAS 159 provided guidance on accounting and presentation of these investments in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Upon adoption of FAS 159, the Company recognized a $250.8 million cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings, net of $110.3 million of tax. The Company records fair value re-measurements as net realized capital gains or losses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The Company recorded $28.5 million and $150.0 million in net realized capital losses due to fair value re-measurement for the three and six months ended

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June 30, 2008, respectively. The Company recorded $69.3 million and $109.8 million in net realized capital gains due to fair value re-measurements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively.

The following table presents the fair value measurement levels for all assets and liabilities, which the Company has recorded at fair value as of the periods indicated:

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The following table presents the fixed maturity investments for which fair value was measured under level 3 for the periods indicated:

The fixed maturities valued under level 3 were valued by investment brokers for which the Company believes reflects fair value, but was unable to verify that inputs to the valuation model were observable.

The following table presents the equity index put options for which fair value was measured under level 3 for the periods indicated:

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Since there is no active market for these long dated equity index put options, their valuation was considered as level 3.

The Company sold seven equity put options, which are outstanding. These products meet the definition of a derivative under FAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“FAS 133”). The Company’s position in these contracts is unhedged and is accounted for as a derivative in accordance with FAS 133. Accordingly, these contracts are carried at fair value and are recorded in “Other liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheets and changes in fair value are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The Company recorded net derivative income of $2.1 million and $6.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, The Company recorded net derivative expense of $1.7 million and net derivative income of $3.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

The fair value was calculated using an industry accepted option pricing model, Black-Scholes, which used the following assumptions:

4. Capital Transactions

On December 1, 2005, the Company filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as a Well Known Seasoned Issuer. This shelf registration statement was used by Group to register common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, share purchase contracts and share purchase units; by Holdings to register debt securities and by Everest Re Capital Trust III (“Capital Trust III”) to register trust preferred securities.

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5. Earnings Per Common Share

Net income per common share has been computed below, based upon weighted average common and diluted shares outstanding.

Options to purchase 922,950 and 917,950 common shares for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, at prices ranging from $91.41 to $99.98 were outstanding but were not included in the computation of earnings per diluted share as the options’ exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares for the relevant periods. Options to purchase 4,000 and 10,000 common shares for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, at prices ranging from $99.98 to $106.275 were outstanding but were not included in the computation of earnings per diluted share as the options’ exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares for the relevant periods. All outstanding options expire on or between September 25, 2008 and February 20, 2018.

6. Contingencies

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in lawsuits, arbitrations and other formal and informal dispute resolution procedures, the outcomes of which will determine the Company’s rights and obligations under insurance, reinsurance and other contractual agreements. In some disputes, the Company seeks to enforce its rights under an agreement or to collect funds owing to it. In other matters, the Company is resisting attempts by others to collect funds or enforce alleged rights. These disputes arise from time to time and are ultimately resolved through both informal and formal means, including negotiated resolution, arbitration and litigation. In all such matters, the Company believes that its positions are legally and commercially reasonable. While the final outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company does not believe that any of these matters, when finally resolved, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or liquidity. However, an adverse resolution of one or more of these items in any one quarter or fiscal year could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations in that period.

In 1993 and prior, the Company had a business arrangement with The Prudential Insurance Company of America ("The Prudential") wherein, for a fee, the Company accepted settled claim payment obligations of certain property and casualty insurers, and, concurrently, became the owner of the annuity or assignee of the annuity proceeds funded by the property and casualty insurers specifically to fulfill these fully settled obligations. In these circumstances, the Company would be liable if The Prudential, which has an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from A.M. Best Company (“A.M. Best”), was unable to make the annuity

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payments. At June 30, 2008, the estimated cost to replace all such annuities for which the Company was contingently liable was $151.8 million. 

Prior to its 1995 initial public offering, the Company had purchased annuities from an unaffiliated life insurance company with an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from A.M. Best to settle certain claim liabilities of the company. Should the life insurance company become unable to make the annuity payments, the Company would be liable for those claim liabilities. At June 30, 2008, the estimated cost to replace such annuities was $22.2 million.

7. Other Comprehensive Loss

The following table presents the components of other comprehensive loss for the periods indicated:

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8. Letters of Credit

The Company has arrangements available for the issuance of letters of credit, which letters are generally collateralized by the Company’s cash and investments. The Company’s agreement with Citibank is a bilateral letter of credit agreement only. On November 6, 2007 the Citibank bilateral letter of credit agreement was decreased by $50.0 million to $300.0 million. All other terms of this agreement remain the same. The Company’s other facility, the Wachovia Group Credit Facility, involves a syndicate of lenders (see Note 13 of the Group Credit Facility), with Wachovia acting as administrative agent. The Citibank Holdings Credit Facility involves a syndicate of lenders (see Note 13 of the Holdings Credit Facility), with Citibank acting as administrative agent. At June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, letters of credit for $486.6 million and $491.1 million, respectively, were issued and outstanding. The letters of credit collateralize reinsurance obligations of the Company’s non-U.S. operations. The following table summarizes the Company’s letters of credit as of June 30, 2008.

9. Trust Agreements

Certain subsidiaries of Group, principally Everest Reinsurance (Bermuda), Ltd. (“Bermuda Re”), a Bermuda insurance company and direct subsidiary of Group, have established trust agreements, which effectively use the Company's investments as collateral, as security for assumed losses payable to certain non-affiliated ceding companies. At June 30, 2008, the total amount on deposit in trust accounts was $104.5 million.

10. Senior Notes

On October 12, 2004, Holdings completed a public offering of $250.0 million principal amount of 5.40% senior notes due October 15, 2014. On March 14, 2000, Holdings completed a public offering of $200.0 million principal amount of 8.75% senior notes due March 15, 2010.

Interest expense incurred in connection with these senior notes was $7.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and $15.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007. Market value, which is based on quoted market price at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, was $220.8

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million and $235.3 million, respectively, for the 5.40% senior notes and $208.0 million and $215.9 million, respectively, for the 8.75% senior notes.

11. Long Term Subordinated Notes

On April 26, 2007, Holdings completed a public offering of $400.0 million principal amount of 6.6% fixed to floating rate long term subordinated notes with a scheduled maturity date of May 15, 2037 and a final maturity date of May 1, 2067. During the fixed rate interest period from May 3, 2007 through May 14, 2017, interest will be at the annual rate of 6.6%, payable semi-annually in arrears on November 15 and May 15 of each year, commencing on November 15, 2007, subject to Holdings’ right to defer interest on one or more occasions for up to ten consecutive years. During the floating rate interest period from May 15, 2017 through maturity, interest will be based on the 3 month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 238.5 basis points, reset quarterly, payable quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, subject to Holdings’ right to defer interest on one or more occasions for up to ten consecutive years. Deferred interest will accumulate interest at the applicable rate compounded semi-annually for periods prior to May 15, 2017, and compounded quarterly for periods from and including May 15, 2017.

Holdings can redeem the long term subordinated notes prior to May 15, 2017, in whole but not in part at the applicable redemption price, which will equal the greater of (a) 100% of the principal amount being redeemed and (b) the present value of the principal payment on May 15, 2017 and scheduled payments of interest that would have accrued from the redemption date to May 15, 2017 on the long term subordinated notes being redeemed, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at a discount rate equal to the treasury rate plus an applicable spread of either 0.25% or 0.50%, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest. Holdings may redeem the long term subordinated notes on or after May 15, 2017, in whole or in part at 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest; however, redemption on or after the scheduled maturity date and prior to May 1, 2047 is subject to a replacement capital covenant. This covenant is for the benefit of certain senior note holders and it mandates that Holdings receive proceeds from the sale of another subordinated debt issue, of at least similar size, before it may redeem the subordinated notes.

Interest expense incurred in connection with these long term notes was $6.6 million and $13.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, and $4.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007. Market value, which is based on quoted market price at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, was $288.0 million and $349.8 million for the 6.6% long term subordinated notes.

12. Junior Subordinated Debt Securities Payable

On March 29, 2004, Holdings issued $329.9 million of 6.20% junior subordinated debt securities due March 29, 2034 to Everest Re Capital Trust II (“Capital Trust II”). Holdings may redeem the junior subordinated debt securities before their maturity at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest as of the date of redemption. The securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, on one or more occasions at any time on or after March 30, 2009; or at any time, in whole, but not in part, within 90 days of the occurrence and continuation of a determination that the Trust may become subject to tax or the Investment Company Act.

On November 14, 2002, Holdings issued $216.5 million of 7.85% junior subordinated debt securities due November 15, 2032 to Everest Re Capital Trust (“Capital Trust”). Holdings redeemed all of the junior subordinated debt securities at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest on November 15, 2007.

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Fair value, which is primarily based on quoted market price of the related trust preferred securities, at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 was $248.2 million and $250.8 million, respectively, for the 6.20% junior subordinated debt securities.

Interest expense incurred in connection with these junior subordinated notes was $5.1 million and $9.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $10.2 million and $18.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Capital Trust II is a wholly owned finance subsidiary of Holdings. Capital Trust was dissolved upon the completion of the redemption of the trust preferred securities on November 15, 2007.

Holdings considers that the mechanisms and obligations relating to the trust preferred securities, taken together, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by Holdings of Capital Trust II’s payment obligations with respect to the trust preferred securities.

Capital Trust II will redeem all of the outstanding trust preferred securities when the junior subordinated debt securities are paid at maturity on March 29, 2034. The Company may elect to redeem the junior subordinated debt securities, in whole or in part, at any time on or after March 30, 2009. If such an early redemption occurs, the outstanding trust preferred securities would also be proportionately redeemed.

There are certain regulatory and contractual restrictions on the ability of Holdings’ operating subsidiaries to transfer funds to Holdings in the form of cash dividends, loans or advances. The insurance laws of the State of Delaware, where Holdings’ direct insurance subsidiaries are domiciled, require regulatory approval before those subsidiaries can pay dividends or make loans or advances to Holdings that exceed certain statutory thresholds. In addition, the terms of Holdings’ Credit Facility (discussed in Note 13) require Everest Re, Holdings’ principal insurance subsidiary, to maintain a certain statutory surplus level as measured at the end of each fiscal year. At December 31, 2007, $2,595.1 million of the $3,248.5 million in net assets of Holdings’ consolidated subsidiaries were subject to the foregoing regulatory restrictions.

13. Credit Line

Effective July 27, 2007, Group, Bermuda Re and Everest International Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Everest International”) entered into a new five year, $850.0 million senior credit facility with a syndicate of lenders, replacing the December 8, 2004, senior credit facilities, which would have expired on December 8, 2007. Both the July 27, 2007 and December 8, 2004 senior credit facilities are referred to as the “Group Credit Facility”. Wachovia Bank is the administrative agent for the Group Credit Facility, which consists of two tranches. Tranche one provides up to $350.0 million of revolving credit for liquidity and general corporate purposes, and for the issuance of unsecured standby letters of credit. The interest on the revolving loans shall, at the Company’s option, be either (1) the Base Rate (as defined below) or (2) an adjusted LIBOR plus a margin. The Base Rate is the higher of (a) the prime commercial lending rate established by Wachovia Bank or (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% per annum. The amount of margin and the fees payable for the Group Credit Facility depends on Group’s senior unsecured debt rating. Tranche two exclusively provides up to $500.0 million for the issuance of standby letters of credit on a collateralized basis.

The Group Credit Facility requires Group to maintain a debt to capital ratio of not greater than 0.35 to 1 and to maintain a minimum net worth. Minimum net worth is an amount equal to the sum of $3,575.4 million plus 25% of consolidated net income for each of Group’s fiscal quarters, for which statements are available ending on or after January 1, 2007 and for which consolidated net income is positive, plus 25% of any increase in consolidated net worth during such period attributable to the issuance of ordinary and preferred shares. As of June 30, 2008, the Company was in compliance with all Group Credit Facility covenants.

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At June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, there were outstanding letters of credit of $22.0 million under tranche one of the Group Credit Facility. At June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, there were outstanding standby letters of credit of $289.8 million and $288.0 million, respectively, under tranche two of the Group Credit Facility.

Effective August 23, 2006, Holdings entered into a new five year, $150.0 million senior revolving credit facility with a syndicate of lenders, referred to as the “Holdings Credit Facility”. Citibank N.A. is the administrative agent for the Holdings Credit Facility. The Holdings Credit Facility is used for liquidity and general corporate purposes. The Holdings Credit Facility provides for the borrowing of up to $150.0 million with interest at a rate selected by Holdings equal to either, (1) the Base Rate (as defined below) or (2) a periodic fixed rate equal to the Eurodollar Rate plus an applicable margin. The Base Rate means a fluctuating interest rate per annum in effect from time to time to be equal to the higher of (a) the rate of interest publicly announced by Citibank as its prime rate or (b) 0.5% per annum above the Federal Funds Rate, in each case plus the applicable margin. The amount of margin and the fees payable for the Holdings Credit Facility depends upon Holdings’ senior unsecured debt rating.

The Holdings Credit Facility requires Holdings to maintain a debt to capital ratio of not greater than 0.35 to 1 and Everest Re to maintain its statutory surplus at $1.5 billion plus 25% of future aggregate net income and 25% of future aggregate capital contributions after December 31, 2005. As of June 30, 2008, Holdings was in compliance with all Holdings Credit Facility covenants.

At June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, there were outstanding letters of credit of $17.2 million under the Holdings Credit Facility.

Costs incurred in connection with the Group Credit Facility and the Holdings Credit Facility were $0.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and $0.7 million and $0.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

14. Segment Results

The Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in five segments: U.S. Reinsurance, U.S. Insurance, Specialty Underwriting, International and Bermuda. The U.S. Reinsurance operation writes property and casualty reinsurance, on both a treaty and facultative basis, through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies within the U.S. The U.S. Insurance operation writes property and casualty insurance primarily through general agents and surplus lines brokers within the U.S. The Specialty Underwriting operation writes accident and health (“A&H”), marine, aviation and surety business within the U.S. and worldwide through brokers and directly with ceding companies. The International operation writes non-U.S. property and casualty reinsurance through Everest Re’s branches in Canada and Singapore and offices in Miami and New Jersey. The Bermuda operation provides reinsurance and insurance to worldwide property and casualty markets and reinsurance to life insurers through brokers and directly with ceding companies from its Bermuda office and reinsurance to the United Kingdom and European markets through its UK branch.

These segments are managed in a coordinated fashion with respect to pricing, risk management, control of aggregate catastrophe exposures, capital, investments and support operations. Management generally monitors and evaluates the financial performance of these operating segments based upon their underwriting results.

Underwriting results include earned premium less losses and loss adjustment expenses ("LAE") incurred, commission and brokerage expenses and other underwriting expenses. Underwriting results are measured

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using ratios, in particular loss, commission and brokerage and other underwriting expense ratios, which, respectively, divide incurred losses, commissions and brokerage and other underwriting expenses by premiums earned. The Company utilizes inter-affiliate reinsurance, although such reinsurance does not materially impact segment results, as business is generally reported within the segment in which the business was first produced.

The Company does not maintain separate balance sheet data for its operating segments. Accordingly, the Company does not review and evaluate the financial results of its operating segments based upon balance sheet data.

The following tables present the underwriting results for the operating segments for the periods indicated:

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The following table reconciles the underwriting results for the operating segments to income before taxes as reported in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the periods indicated:

The Company produces business in the U.S., Bermuda and internationally. The net income deriving from and assets residing in the individual foreign countries in which the Company writes business are not identifiable in the Company’s financial records. Based on written premium, the largest country, other than the U.S., in which the Company writes business, is the United Kingdom, with $90.6 million and $200.1 million of written premium for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. No other country represented more than 5% of the Company’s revenues.

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15. Share-Based Compensation Plans

There were no share-based compensation awards granted for the three months ended June 30, 2008.

For the six months ended June 30, 2008, share-based compensation awards granted were 95,000 restricted shares and 378,500 options. The grant exercise price was $99.70 per share. The fair value of $25.43 per option was calculated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The following assumptions were used in calculating the fair value of the options granted for the six months ended June 30, 2008:

16. Retirement Benefits

The Company maintains both qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans for its U.S. employees. In addition, the Company has a retiree health plan for eligible retired employees.

Net periodic benefit cost for U.S. employees included the following components for the periods indicated:

The Company contributed $1.2 million to the pension benefit plan for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008. The Company contributed $1.6 million to the pension benefit plan for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007.

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17. Related-Party Transactions

During the normal course of business, the Company, through its affiliates, engages in reinsurance and brokerage and commission business transactions with companies controlled by or affiliated with its outside directors. Such transactions, individually and in the aggregate, are not material to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

18. Income Taxes

The Company uses a projected annual effective tax rate in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" ("FAS 109"), to calculate its quarterly tax expense. Under this methodology, when an interim quarter’s pre-tax income (loss) varies significantly from a full year’s income (loss) projection, the tax impact resulting from the income (loss) variance is effectively spread between the impacted quarter and the remaining quarters of the year, except for discreet items impacting an individual quarter.

The Company recognizes accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties in income taxes. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, the Company accrued and recognized approximately $0.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively, in interest and penalties.

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ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION