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EVEREST GROUP, LTD. - Quarter Report: 2020 March (Form 10-Q)

57

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

_X_ Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020

 

___ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Commission file number 1-15731

 

 

EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Bermuda

 

98-0365432

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

Seon Place – 4th Floor

141 Front Street

PO Box HM 845

HamiltonHM 19, 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.

 

Yes

X

 

No

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

 

Yes

X

 

No

 

 

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

 

Large Accelerated Filer

X

 

Accelerated filer

 

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

 

 

Smaller reporting company

 

 

 

 

Emerging growth company

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is an emerging growth company and has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange act.

 

YES

 

 

NO

X

 

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

 

YES

 

 

NO

X

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Class

 

Trading Symbol

Name of Exchange where Registered

Number of Shares Outstanding

At May 1, 2020

 

Common Shares, $0.01 par value

 

RE

 

New York Stock Exchange

 

39,987,014

 

 


 

EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD

 

Table of Contents

Form 10-Q

 

 

Page

PART I

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets March 31, 2020 (unaudited)

 

 

and December 31, 2019

1

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the

 

 

three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (unaudited)

2

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three

 

 

months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (unaudited)

3

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended

 

 

March 31, 2020 and 2019 (unaudited)

4

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (unaudited)

5

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and

 

 

Results of Operation

35

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

54

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

54

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

55

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

55

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

55

 

 

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

55

 

 

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

56

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

56

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

56

 

 

 

 

 


 

EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

(Dollars and share amounts in thousands, except par value per share)

2020

 

2019

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities - available for sale, at market value

$

16,545,895

 

$

16,824,944

(amortized cost: 2020, $16,493,187; 2019, $16,473,491, credit allowances: 2020, $21,774; 2019, $0)

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities - available for sale, at fair value

 

4,703

 

 

5,826

Equity securities, at fair value

 

722,851

 

 

931,457

Short-term investments (cost: 2020, $441,707; 2019, $414,639)

 

441,722

 

 

414,706

Other invested assets (cost: 2020, $1,803,785; 2019, $1,763,531)

 

1,803,785

 

 

1,763,531

Cash

 

817,626

 

 

808,036

Total investments and cash

 

20,336,582

 

 

20,748,500

Accrued investment income

 

117,791

 

 

116,804

Premiums receivable

 

2,340,392

 

 

2,259,088

Reinsurance receivables

 

1,808,601

 

 

1,763,471

Funds held by reinsureds

 

515,076

 

 

489,901

Deferred acquisition costs

 

603,735

 

 

581,863

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

 

438,308

 

 

445,716

Income taxes

 

406,413

 

 

305,711

Other assets

 

655,740

 

 

612,997

TOTAL ASSETS

$

27,222,638

 

$

27,324,051

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses

$

13,820,504

 

$

13,611,313

Future policy benefit reserve

 

41,677

 

 

42,592

Unearned premium reserve

 

3,176,292

 

 

3,056,735

Funds held under reinsurance treaties

 

9,163

 

 

10,668

Other net payable to reinsurers

 

369,385

 

 

291,660

Losses in course of payment

 

50,510

 

 

51,950

Senior notes due 06/01/2044

 

397,104

 

 

397,074

Long term notes due 05/01/2067

 

235,083

 

 

236,758

Revolving credit borrowings

 

50,000

 

 

-

Accrued interest on debt and borrowings

 

7,589

 

 

2,878

Equity index put option liability

 

20,958

 

 

5,584

Unsettled securities payable

 

77,042

 

 

30,650

Other liabilities

 

386,387

 

 

453,264

Total liabilities

 

18,641,694

 

 

18,191,126

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred shares, par value: $0.01; 50,000 shares authorized;

 

 

 

 

 

no shares issued and outstanding

 

-

 

 

-

Common shares, par value: $0.01; 200,000 shares authorized; (2020) 69,624

 

 

 

 

 

and (2019) 69,464 outstanding before treasury shares

 

696

 

 

694

Additional paid-in capital

 

2,216,479

 

 

2,219,660

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of deferred income

 

 

 

 

 

tax expense (benefit) of $(5,682) at 2020 and $30,996 at 2019

 

(269,751)

 

 

28,152

Treasury shares, at cost; 29,636 shares (2020) and 28,665 shares (2019)

 

(3,622,172)

 

 

(3,422,152)

Retained earnings

 

10,255,692

 

 

10,306,571

Total shareholders' equity

 

8,580,944

 

 

9,132,925

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

$

27,222,638

 

$

27,324,051

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

1


 

EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

2020

 

2019

 

(unaudited)

REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

$

2,036,814

 

$

1,732,697

Net investment income

 

147,800

 

 

140,976

Net realized capital gains (losses):

 

 

 

 

 

Credit allowances on fixed maturity securities

 

(21,774)

 

 

-

Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities

 

-

 

 

(2,933)

Other net realized capital gains (losses)

 

(188,814)

 

 

95,165

Total net realized capital gains (losses)

 

(210,588)

 

 

92,232

Net derivative gain (loss)

 

(15,373)

 

 

3,231

Other income (expense)

 

23,363

 

 

(3,300)

Total revenues

 

1,982,016

 

 

1,965,836

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLAIMS AND EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

1,430,840

 

 

1,048,550

Commission, brokerage, taxes and fees

 

448,522

 

 

389,474

Other underwriting expenses

 

128,860

 

 

98,985

Corporate expenses

 

9,833

 

 

6,652

Interest, fees and bond issue cost amortization expense

 

7,583

 

 

7,631

Total claims and expenses

 

2,025,638

 

 

1,551,292

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES

 

(43,622)

 

 

414,544

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

(60,234)

 

 

59,993

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

$

16,612

 

$

354,551

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) ("URA(D)") on securities arising during the period

 

(279,398)

 

 

233,065

Reclassification adjustment for realized losses (gains) included in net income (loss)

 

31,399

 

 

(1,822)

Total URA(D) on securities arising during the period

 

(247,999)

 

 

231,243

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

(50,824)

 

 

14,052

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net (gain) loss included in net income (loss)

 

920

 

 

1,151

Total benefit plan net gain (loss) for the period

 

920

 

 

1,151

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

(297,903)

 

 

246,446

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

$

(281,291)

 

$

600,997

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

0.41

 

$

8.70

Diluted

 

0.41

 

 

8.67

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

2


 

EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF

CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

(Dollars in thousands, except share and dividends per share amounts)

2020

 

2019

 

(unaudited)

COMMON SHARES (shares outstanding):

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, January 1

 

40,798,963

 

 

40,651,148

Issued during the period, net

 

159,423

 

 

194,584

Treasury shares acquired

 

(970,892)

 

 

(75,193)

Balance, March 31

 

39,987,494

 

 

40,770,539

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMON SHARES (par value):

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, January 1

$

694

 

$

692

Issued during the period, net

 

2

 

 

2

Balance, March 31

 

696

 

 

694

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL:

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, January 1

 

2,219,660

 

 

2,188,777

Share-based compensation plans

 

(3,181)

 

 

767

Balance, March 31

 

2,216,479

 

 

2,189,544

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS),

 

 

 

 

 

NET OF DEFERRED INCOME TAXES:

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, January 1

 

28,152

 

 

(462,557)

Net increase (decrease) during the period

 

(297,903)

 

 

246,446

Balance, March 31

 

(269,751)

 

 

(216,111)

 

 

 

 

 

 

RETAINED EARNINGS:

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, January 1

 

10,306,571

 

 

9,531,433

Change to beginning balance due to adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2016-13

 

(4,214)

 

 

-

Net income (loss)

 

16,612

 

 

354,551

Dividends declared ($1.55 per share in 2020 and $1.40 per share in 2019)

 

(63,277)

 

 

(57,137)

Balance, March 31

 

10,255,692

 

 

9,828,847

 

 

 

 

 

 

TREASURY SHARES AT COST:

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, January 1

 

(3,422,152)

 

 

(3,397,548)

Purchase of treasury shares

 

(200,020)

 

 

(16,153)

Balance, March 31

 

(3,622,172)

 

 

(3,413,701)

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY, March 31

$

8,580,944

 

$

8,389,273

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3


 

EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

 

(unaudited)

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$

16,612

 

$

354,551

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

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease (increase) in premiums receivable

 

(119,548)

 

 

(168,377)

Decrease (increase) in funds held by reinsureds, net

 

(28,973)

 

 

9,353

Decrease (increase) in reinsurance receivables

 

(130,593)

 

 

34,556

Decrease (increase) in income taxes

 

(65,114)

 

 

91,856

Decrease (increase) in prepaid reinsurance premiums

 

(10,572)

 

 

(11,677)

Increase (decrease) in reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

406,257

 

 

58,073

Increase (decrease) in future policy benefit reserve

 

(915)

 

 

103

Increase (decrease) in unearned premiums

 

158,744

 

 

135,157

Increase (decrease) in other net payable to reinsurers

 

95,555

 

 

63,326

Increase (decrease) in losses in course of payment

 

(1,422)

 

 

(66,714)

Change in equity adjustments in limited partnerships

 

(8,512)

 

 

(8,079)

Distribution of limited partnership income

 

11,108

 

 

14,799

Change in other assets and liabilities, net

 

(45,259)

 

 

30,152

Non-cash compensation expense

 

9,393

 

 

9,056

Amortization of bond premium (accrual of bond discount)

 

8,640

 

 

5,899

Net realized capital (gains) losses

 

210,588

 

 

(92,232)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

505,989

 

 

459,802

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from fixed maturities matured/called - available for sale, at market value

 

656,070

 

 

460,537

Proceeds from fixed maturities sold - available for sale, at market value

 

501,953

 

 

1,798,226

Proceeds from equity securities sold, at fair value

 

112,841

 

 

69,500

Distributions from other invested assets

 

104,085

 

 

54,692

Cost of fixed maturities acquired - available for sale, at market value

 

(1,359,281)

 

 

(2,249,663)

Cost of equity securities acquired, at fair value

 

(76,513)

 

 

(146,435)

Cost of other invested assets acquired

 

(152,269)

 

 

(115,028)

Net change in short-term investments

 

(27,882)

 

 

(354,388)

Net change in unsettled securities transactions

 

(17,185)

 

 

49,809

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

(258,181)

 

 

(432,750)

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares issued during the period for share-based compensation, net of expense

 

(12,573)

 

 

(8,288)

Purchase of treasury shares

 

(200,020)

 

 

(16,153)

Dividends paid to shareholders

 

(63,277)

 

 

(57,137)

Proceeds from revolving credit borrowings

 

50,000

 

 

-

Cost of debt repurchase

 

(1,198)

 

 

-

Cost of shares withheld on settlements of share-based compensation awards

 

(13,982)

 

 

(11,443)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

(241,050)

 

 

(93,021)

 

 

 

 

 

 

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH

 

2,832

 

 

(6,152)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash

 

9,590

 

 

(72,121)

Cash, beginning of period

 

808,036

 

 

656,095

Cash, end of period

 

817,626

 

 

583,974

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes paid (recovered)

$

4,920

 

$

(90,846)

Interest paid

 

2,817

 

 

3,154

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

4


 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019

 

1. GENERAL

 

Everest Re Group, Ltd. (“Group”), a Bermuda company, through its subsidiaries, principally provides reinsurance and insurance in the U.S., Bermuda and international markets. As used in this document, “Company” means Group and its subsidiaries.

 

2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 and for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 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 December 31, 2019 consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 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, 2019, 2018 and 2017 included in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K filing.

 

The Company consolidates the results of operations and financial position of all voting interest entities ("VOE") in which the Company has a controlling financial interest and all variable interest entities ("VIE") in which the Company is considered to be the primary beneficiary. The consolidation assessment, including the determination as to whether an entity qualifies as a VIE or VOE, depends on the facts and circumstances surrounding each entity.

 

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. Ultimate actual results could differ, possibly materially, from those estimates. This is particularly true given the fluid and continuing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an ongoing event and so is the Company’s evaluation and analysis. While the Company’s analysis considers all aspects of its operations, it does not take into account legal, regulatory or legislative intervention that could retroactively mandate or expand coverage provisions. Given the uncertainties in the current public health and economic environment, there could be an adverse impact on results for the Property & Casualty industry and the Company for the remainder of the year. The impact is dependent on the shape and length of the economic recovery.

 

With recent changes in executive management and organizational structure, the Company manages its reinsurance and insurance operations as autonomous units and key strategic decisions are based on the aggregate operating results and projections for these segments of business. Accordingly, effective January 1, 2020, the Company revised it reporting segments to Reinsurance Operations and Insurance Operations. This replaces the previous reported segments of U.S. Reinsurance, International (reinsurance), Bermuda (reinsurance) and Insurance. The prior year presented segment information has been reformatted to reflect this change.

 

All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

 

5


 

Certain reclassifications and format changes have been made to prior years’ amounts to conform to the 2020 presentation.

 

Application of Recently Issued Accounting Standard Changes.

 

Accounting for Income Taxes. In December 2019, The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2019-12, which provides simplification of existing guidance for income taxes, including the removal of certain exceptions related to recognition of deferred tax liabilities on foreign subsidiaries. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within that annual reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2019-12 on its financial statements.

 

Simplification of Disclosure Requirements. In August 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued Final Rule Release #33-10532 (“the Rule”) which addresses the simplification of the SEC’s disclosure requirements for quarterly and annual financial reports. The main changes addressed by the Rule that are applicable to the Company are 1) elimination of the requirement to disclose dividend per share information on the face of the Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) and 2) a new requirement to disclose changes in equity by line item with subtotals for each interim reporting period on the Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity. The Rule became effective for all financial reports filed after November 5, 2018 (30 days after its publication in the Federal Register), except for the additional requirement for the Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity which was to be implemented for first quarter 2019 reporting. The Company has adopted the portions of the Rule that became effective November 5, 2018. The portion of the Rule related to the new requirement for the Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity was adopted by the Company in the first quarter of 2019.

 

Accounting for Cloud Computing Arrangement. In August 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-15, which outlines accounting for implementation costs of a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. This guidance requires that implementation costs of a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract must be capitalized and expensed in accordance with the existing provisions provided in Subtopic 350-40 regarding development of internal use software. In addition, any capitalized implementation costs should be amortized over the term of the hosting arrangement. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within that annual reporting period. The Company adopted the guidance as of January 1, 2020. The adoption of ASU 2018-15 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

Accounting for Long Duration Contracts. In August 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-12, which discusses changes to the recognition, measurement and presentation of long duration contracts. The main provisions of this guidance address the following: 1) In determining liability for future policy benefits, companies must review cash flow assumptions at least annually and the discount rate assumption at each reporting period date 2) Amortization of deferred acquisition costs has been simplified to be in constant level proportion to either premiums, gross profits or gross margins 3) Disaggregated roll forwards of beginning and ending liabilities for future policy benefits are required. The guidance was originally effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within that annual reporting period. However, FASB issued ASU 2019-09 in November 2019 which defers the effective date of ASU 2018-12 until annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2018-12 on its financial statements.

 

Accounting for Impact on Income Taxes due to Tax Reform. In December 2017, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 118 which provides guidance on the application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 740, Income Taxes, due to the enactment of TCJA. SAB 118 became effective upon release. The Company has adopted the provisions of SAB 118 with respect to measuring the tax effects for the modifications to the determination of tax basis loss reserves. In 2018, the Company recorded adjustments to the amount of

6


 

tax expense it recorded in 2017 with respect to the TCJA as estimated amounts were finalized, which did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

Amortization of Bond Premium. In March 2017, FASB issued ASU 2017-08 which outlines guidance on the amortization period for premium on callable debt securities. The new guidance requires that the premium on callable debt securities be amortized through the earliest call date rather than through the maturity date of the callable security. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2019. The adoption of ASU 2017-08 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

Valuation of Financial Instruments. In June 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-13 (and has subsequently issued related guidance and amendments in ASU 2019-11 and ASU 2019-10 in November 2019) which outline guidance on the valuation of and accounting for assets measured at amortized cost and available for sale debt securities. The carrying value of assets measured at amortized cost will now be presented as the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset (amortized cost less an allowance for credit losses valuation account). Available for sale debt securities will now record credit losses through an allowance for credit losses, which will be limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2020. The adoption resulted in a cumulative reduction of $4,214 thousand in retained earnings, which is disclosed separately within the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity.

 

Leases. In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02 (and subsequently issued ASU 2018-11 in July, 2018) which outline new guidance on the accounting for leases. The new guidance requires the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheets for most leases that were previously deemed operating leases and required only lease expense presentation in the statements of operations. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 effective January 1, 2019 and elected to utilize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings for the year of adoption. Accordingly, the Company’s reporting for the comparative periods prior to adoption continue to be presented in the financial statements in accordance with previous lease accounting guidance. The Company also elected to apply the package of practical expedients applicable to the Company in the updated guidance for transition for leases in effect at adoption. The Company did not elect the hindsight practical expedient to determine the lease term of existing leases (e.g. The Company did not re-assess lease renewals, termination options nor purchase options in determining lease terms). The adoption of the updated guidance resulted in the Company recognizing a right-of-use asset of $69,869 thousand as part of other assets and a lease liability of $77,270 thousand as part of other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at the time of adoption, as well as de-recognizing the liability for deferred rent that was required under the previous guidance. The cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings was zero. The adoption of the updated guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or liquidity.

 

Any issued guidance and pronouncements, other than those directly referenced above, are deemed by the Company to be either not applicable or immaterial to its financial statements.

 

 

3. REVISIONS TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

In preparing third quarter 2019 financial statements, the Company identified errors in the handling of foreign exchange related to premium funds held from reinsureds. Although management determined that the impact of the foreign exchange differences were not material to prior period financial statements, the impact of recording the cumulative difference would have significantly impacted results within the third quarter 2019. As a result, prior period balances have been revised in the applicable financial statements and corresponding footnotes to correct the foreign exchange adjustments.

 

7


 

Management assessed the materiality of this change within prior period financial statements based upon SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Number 99, Materiality, which is since codified in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections. The prior period comparative financial statements that are presented herein have been revised.

 

The following tables present line items for prior period financial statements that have been affected by the revision. For these line items, the tables detail the amounts as previously reported, the impact upon those line items due to the revision, and the amounts as currently revised within the financial statements.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS):

 

As Previously

 

Impact of

 

 

 

 

 

Reported

 

Revisions

 

As Revised

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense)

 

$

(9,053)

 

$

5,753

 

$

(3,300)

Total revenues

 

$

1,960,083

 

$

5,753

 

$

1,965,836

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES

 

$

408,791

 

$

5,753

 

$

414,544

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

59,891

 

 

102

 

 

59,993

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

348,900

 

$

5,651

 

$

354,551

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

595,346

 

$

5,651

 

$

600,997

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

8.57

 

$

0.13

 

$

8.70

Diluted

 

$

8.54

 

$

0.13

 

$

8.67

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY

 

As Previously

 

Impact of

 

 

 

 

 

Reported

 

Revisions

 

As Revised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RETAINED EARNINGS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, January 1

 

$

9,574,440

 

$

(43,007)

 

$

9,531,433

Net income (loss)

 

 

348,900

 

 

5,651

 

 

354,551

Balance, March 31

 

 

9,866,203

 

 

(37,356)

 

 

9,828,847

 

8


 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

 

 

As Previously

 

Impact of

 

 

 

 

 

Reported

 

Revisions

 

As Revised

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

348,900

 

$

5,651

 

$

354,551

Decrease (increase) in premiums receivable

 

 

(163,108)

 

 

(5,269)

 

 

(168,377)

Decrease (increase) in funds held by reinsureds, net

 

 

9,837

 

 

(484)

 

 

9,353

Decrease (increase) in income taxes

 

 

91,754

 

 

102

 

 

91,856

 

4. INVESTMENTS

 

Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13 which provides guidance on the accounting for fixed maturity securities. The guidance requires the Company to record allowances for credit losses for securities that are deemed to have valuation deterioration due to credit risk issues. The initial table below presents the amortized cost, allowance for credit losses, gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and market value of fixed maturity securities as of March 31, 2020 in accordance with ASU 2016-13 guidance. The second table presents the amortized cost, gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation), market value and other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”) in AOCI as of December 31, 2019, in accordance with previously applicable guidance.

 

 

 

At March 31, 2020

 

 

Amortized

 

Allowance for

 

Unrealized

 

Unrealized

 

Market

(Dollars in thousands)

Cost

 

Credit Losses

 

Appreciation

 

Depreciation

 

Value

Fixed maturity securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government agencies and corporations

$

1,346,812

 

$

-

 

$

86,893

 

$

(894)

 

$

1,432,811

 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

 

508,158

 

 

-

 

 

21,737

 

 

(4,993)

 

 

524,902

 

Corporate securities

 

6,422,137

 

 

(17,305)

 

 

145,334

 

 

(202,844)

 

 

6,347,322

 

Asset-backed securities

 

981,323

 

 

-

 

 

1,987

 

 

(79,157)

 

 

904,153

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial

 

816,098

 

 

-

 

 

29,302

 

 

(5,301)

 

 

840,099

 

Agency residential

 

2,156,914

 

 

-

 

 

67,111

 

 

(2,854)

 

 

2,221,171

 

Non-agency residential

 

4,153

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(156)

 

 

3,997

 

Foreign government securities

 

1,471,398

 

 

(519)

 

 

57,335

 

 

(50,496)

 

 

1,477,718

 

Foreign corporate securities

 

2,786,194

 

 

(3,950)

 

 

105,630

 

 

(94,152)

 

 

2,793,722

Total fixed maturity securities

$

16,493,187

 

 

(21,774)

 

$

515,329

 

$

(440,847)

 

$

16,545,895

 

 

 

At December 31, 2019

 

 

Amortized

 

Unrealized

 

Unrealized

 

Market

 

OTTI in AOCI

(Dollars in thousands)

Cost

 

Appreciation

 

Depreciation

 

Value

 

(a)

Fixed maturity securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government agencies and corporations

$

1,489,660

 

$

28,357

 

$

(2,214)

 

$

1,515,803

 

$

-

 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

 

507,353

 

 

29,651

 

 

(89)

 

 

536,915

 

 

-

 

Corporate securities

 

6,227,661

 

 

185,052

 

 

(37,767)

 

 

6,374,946

 

 

469

 

Asset-backed securities

 

892,373

 

 

6,818

 

 

(1,858)

 

 

897,333

 

 

-

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial

 

814,570

 

 

31,236

 

 

(1,249)

 

 

844,557

 

 

-

 

Agency residential

 

2,173,099

 

 

36,361

 

 

(10,879)

 

 

2,198,581

 

 

-

 

Non-agency residential

 

5,723

 

 

-

 

 

(20)

 

 

5,703

 

 

-

 

Foreign government securities

 

1,492,315

 

 

47,148

 

 

(33,513)

 

 

1,505,950

 

 

71

 

Foreign corporate securities

 

2,870,737

 

 

107,999

 

 

(33,580)

 

 

2,945,156

 

 

447

Total fixed maturity securities

$

16,473,491

 

$

472,622

 

$

(121,169)

 

$

16,824,944

 

$

987

 

(a) Represents the amount of OTTI recognized in AOCI. Amount includes unrealized gains and losses on impaired securities relating to changes in the value of such securities subsequent to the impairment measurement date.

9


 

 

The amortized cost and market value of fixed maturity securities are shown in the following table by contractual maturity. Mortgage-backed securities are generally more likely to be prepaid than other fixed maturity securities. As the stated maturity of such securities may not be indicative of actual maturities, the totals for mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are shown separately.

 

 

At March 31, 2020

 

At December 31, 2019

 

Amortized

 

Market

 

Amortized

 

Market

(Dollars in thousands)

Cost

 

Value

 

Cost

 

Value

Fixed maturity securities – available for sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due in one year or less

$

1,344,371

 

$

1,344,301

 

$

1,456,960

 

$

1,457,919

Due after one year through five years

 

6,615,039

 

 

6,631,502

 

 

6,757,107

 

 

6,869,359

Due after five years through ten years

 

3,689,664

 

 

3,742,527

 

 

3,471,370

 

 

3,609,816

Due after ten years

 

885,625

 

 

858,145

 

 

902,289

 

 

941,676

Asset-backed securities

 

981,323

 

 

904,153

 

 

892,373

 

 

897,333

Mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial

 

816,098

 

 

840,099

 

 

814,570

 

 

844,557

Agency residential

 

2,156,914

 

 

2,221,171

 

 

2,173,099

 

 

2,198,581

Non-agency residential

 

4,153

 

 

3,997

 

 

5,723

 

 

5,703

Total fixed maturity securities

$

16,493,187

 

$

16,545,895

 

$

16,473,491

 

$

16,824,944

 

The changes in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for the Company’s investments are derived from the following sources for the periods indicated:

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Increase (decrease) during the period between the market value and cost

 

 

 

 

 

of investments carried at market value, and deferred taxes thereon:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturity securities

$

(277,023)

 

$

253,894

Fixed maturity securities, other-than-temporary impairment

 

-

 

 

(244)

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation), pre-tax

 

(277,023)

 

 

253,650

Deferred tax benefit (expense)

 

29,024

 

 

(22,477)

Deferred tax benefit (expense), other-than-temporary impairment

 

-

 

 

70

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation),

 

 

 

 

 

net of deferred taxes, included in shareholders’ equity

$

(247,999)

 

$

231,243

 

The Company reviews all of its fixed maturity, available for sale securities whose fair value has fallen below their amortized cost at the time of review. The Company then assesses whether the decline in value is temporary or credit related. In making its assessment, the Company evaluates the current market and interest rate environment as well as specific issuer information. Generally, a change in a security’s value caused by a change in the market, interest rate or foreign exchange environment does not constitute a credit impairment, but rather a temporary decline in market value. Temporary declines in market value are recorded as unrealized losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). If the Company intends to sell the security or is more likely than not to sell the security, the Company records the entire fair value adjustment in net realized capital gains (losses) in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). If the Company determines that the decline is credit related and the Company does not have the intent to sell the security; and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis, the Company establishes a credit allowance equal to the estimated credit loss and is recorded in net realized capital gains (losses) in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The amount of the allowance for a given security will generally be the difference between a discounted cash flow model and the Company’s carrying value. The fair value adjustment that is non-credit related is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, and is included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. We will adjust the credit allowance account for future changes in credit loss estimates for a security and record this adjustment through net realized capital gains (losses) in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

10


 

 

The Company does not create an allowance for uncollectible interest. If interest is not received when due, the interest receivable is immediately reversed and no additional interest is accrued. If future interest is received that has not been accrued, it is recorded as income at that time.

 

Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13 effective January 1, 2020, estimated credit losses were recorded as adjustments to the carrying value of the security and any subsequent improvement in market value were recorded through other comprehensive income.

 

The Company’s assessments are based on the issuers’ current and expected future financial position, timeliness with respect to interest and/or principal payments, speed of repayments and any applicable credit enhancements or breakeven constant default rates on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, as well as relevant information provided by rating agencies, investment advisors and analysts.

 

Retrospective adjustments are employed to recalculate the values of asset-backed securities. All of the Company’s asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities have a pass-through structure. Each acquisition lot is reviewed to recalculate the effective yield. The recalculated effective yield is used to derive a book value as if the new yield were applied at the time of acquisition. Outstanding principal factors from the time of acquisition to the adjustment date are used to calculate the prepayment history for all applicable securities. Conditional prepayment rates, computed with life to date factor histories and weighted average maturities, are used in the calculation of projected prepayments for pass-through security types.  

 

The tables below display the aggregate market value and gross unrealized depreciation of fixed maturity and equity securities, by security type and contractual maturity, in each case subdivided according to length of time that individual securities had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Duration of Unrealized Loss at March 31, 2020 By Security Type

 

Less than 12 months

 

Greater than 12 months

 

Total

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

(Dollars in thousands)

Market Value

 

Depreciation

 

Market Value

 

Depreciation

 

Market Value

 

Depreciation

Fixed maturity securities - available for sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government agencies and corporations

$

12,543

 

$

(59)

 

$

9,003

 

$

(835)

 

$

21,546

 

$

(894)

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

 

78,392

 

 

(4,745)

 

 

3,309

 

 

(248)

 

 

81,701

 

 

(4,993)

Corporate securities

 

2,298,849

 

 

(135,869)

 

 

196,450

 

 

(66,975)

 

 

2,495,299

 

 

(202,844)

Asset-backed securities

 

661,772

 

 

(70,133)

 

 

121,979

 

 

(9,024)

 

 

783,751

 

 

(79,157)

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial

 

89,848

 

 

(4,325)

 

 

17,004

 

 

(976)

 

 

106,852

 

 

(5,301)

Agency residential

 

54,106

 

 

(1,263)

 

 

132,631

 

 

(1,591)

 

 

186,737

 

 

(2,854)

Non-agency residential

 

652

 

 

(15)

 

 

3,314

 

 

(141)

 

 

3,966

 

 

(156)

Foreign government securities

 

331,099

 

 

(11,540)

 

 

198,695

 

 

(38,956)

 

 

529,794

 

 

(50,496)

Foreign corporate securities

 

984,854

 

 

(56,831)

 

 

253,965

 

 

(37,321)

 

 

1,238,819

 

 

(94,152)

Total fixed maturity securities

$

4,512,115

 

$

(284,780)

 

$

936,350

 

$

(156,067)

 

$

5,448,465

 

$

(440,847)

 

11


 

 

 

Duration of Unrealized Loss at March 31, 2020 By Maturity

 

Less than 12 months

 

Greater than 12 months

 

Total

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

(Dollars in thousands)

Market Value

 

Depreciation

 

Market Value

 

Depreciation

 

Market Value

 

Depreciation

Fixed maturity securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due in one year or less

$

289,680

 

$

(5,701)

 

$

167,508

 

$

(26,447)

 

$

457,188

 

$

(32,148)

Due in one year through five years

 

1,856,090

 

 

(88,884)

 

 

392,979

 

 

(57,252)

 

 

2,249,069

 

 

(146,136)

Due in five years through ten years

 

1,337,038

 

 

(95,295)

 

 

59,440

 

 

(9,244)

 

 

1,396,478

 

 

(104,539)

Due after ten years

 

222,929

 

 

(19,164)

 

 

41,495

 

 

(51,392)

 

 

264,424

 

 

(70,556)

Asset-backed securities

 

661,772

 

 

(70,133)

 

 

121,979

 

 

(9,024)

 

 

783,751

 

 

(79,157)

Mortgage-backed securities

 

144,606

 

 

(5,603)

 

 

152,949

 

 

(2,708)

 

 

297,555

 

 

(8,311)

Total fixed maturity securities

$

4,512,115

 

$

(284,780)

 

$

936,350

 

$

(156,067)

 

$

5,448,465

 

$

(440,847)

 

The aggregate market value and gross unrealized losses related to investments in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2020 were $5,448,465 thousand and $440,847 thousand, respectively. The market value of securities for the single issuer whose securities comprised the largest unrealized loss position at March 31, 2020, did not exceed 0.03% of the overall market value of the Company’s fixed maturity securities. In addition, as indicated on the above table, there was no significant concentration of unrealized losses in any one market sector. The $284,780 thousand of unrealized losses related to fixed maturity securities that have been in an unrealized loss position for less than one year were generally comprised of domestic and foreign corporate securities, asset-backed securities and foreign government securities. Of these unrealized losses, $220,751 thousand were related to securities that were rated investment grade by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating agency. The $156,067 thousand of unrealized losses related to fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position for more than one year related primarily to domestic and foreign corporate securities, foreign government securities and asset-backed securities. Of these unrealized losses, $96,914 thousand were related to securities that were rated investment grade by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating agency. There was no gross unrealized depreciation for mortgage-backed securities related to sub-prime and alt-A loans. In all instances, there were no projected cash flow shortfalls to recover the full book value of the investments and the related interest obligations. The mortgage-backed securities still have excess credit coverage and are current on interest and principal payments.

 

The Company, given the size of its investment portfolio and capital position, does not have the intent to sell these securities; and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis. In addition, all securities currently in an unrealized loss position are current with respect to principal and interest payments.

 

12


 

The tables below display the aggregate market value and gross unrealized depreciation of fixed maturity and equity securities, by security type and contractual maturity, in each case subdivided according to length of time that individual securities had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for the periods indicated:

 

 

Duration of Unrealized Loss at December 31, 2019 By Security Type

 

Less than 12 months

 

Greater than 12 months

 

Total

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

(Dollars in thousands)

Market Value

 

Depreciation

 

Market Value

 

Depreciation

 

Market Value

 

Depreciation

Fixed maturity securities - available for sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government agencies and corporations

$

85,527

 

$

(1,005)

 

$

249,371

 

$

(1,209)

 

$

334,898

 

$

(2,214)

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

 

4,600

 

 

(38)

 

 

5,522

 

 

(51)

 

 

10,122

 

 

(89)

Corporate securities

 

547,120

 

 

(9,877)

 

 

395,369

 

 

(27,890)

 

 

942,489

 

 

(37,767)

Asset-backed securities

 

176,222

 

 

(1,027)

 

 

94,190

 

 

(831)

 

 

270,412

 

 

(1,858)

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial

 

83,127

 

 

(689)

 

 

23,063

 

 

(560)

 

 

106,190

 

 

(1,249)

Agency residential

 

344,267

 

 

(1,834)

 

 

488,680

 

 

(9,045)

 

 

832,947

 

 

(10,879)

Non-agency residential

 

332

 

 

-

 

 

3,976

 

 

(20)

 

 

4,308

 

 

(20)

Foreign government securities

 

210,766

 

 

(4,770)

 

 

283,648

 

 

(28,743)

 

 

494,414

 

 

(33,513)

Foreign corporate securities

 

278,403

 

 

(7,553)

 

 

365,808

 

 

(26,027)

 

 

644,211

 

 

(33,580)

Total fixed maturity securities

$

1,730,364

 

$

(26,793)

 

$

1,909,627

 

$

(94,376)

 

$

3,639,991

 

$

(121,169)

 

 

 

Duration of Unrealized Loss at December 31, 2019 By Maturity

 

Less than 12 months

 

Greater than 12 months

 

Total

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

(Dollars in thousands)

Market Value

 

Depreciation

 

Market Value

 

Depreciation

 

Market Value

 

Depreciation

Fixed maturity securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due in one year or less

$

67,879

 

$

(1,237)

 

$

416,583

 

$

(23,004)

 

$

484,462

 

$

(24,241)

Due in one year through five years

 

464,753

 

 

(7,960)

 

 

689,195

 

 

(38,138)

 

 

1,153,948

 

 

(46,098)

Due in five years through ten years

 

495,741

 

 

(12,388)

 

 

103,612

 

 

(11,100)

 

 

599,353

 

 

(23,488)

Due after ten years

 

98,043

 

 

(1,658)

 

 

90,328

 

 

(11,678)

 

 

188,371

 

 

(13,336)

Asset-backed securities

 

176,222

 

 

(1,027)

 

 

94,190

 

 

(831)

 

 

270,412

 

 

(1,858)

Mortgage-backed securities

 

427,726

 

 

(2,523)

 

 

515,719

 

 

(9,625)

 

 

943,445

 

 

(12,148)

Total fixed maturity securities

$

1,730,364

 

$

(26,793)

 

$

1,909,627

 

$

(94,376)

 

$

3,639,991

 

$

(121,169)

 

 

The aggregate market value and gross unrealized losses related to investments in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2019 were $3,639,991 thousand and $121,169 thousand, respectively. The market value of securities for the single issuer whose securities comprised the largest unrealized loss position at December 31, 2019, did not exceed 0.8% of the overall market value of the Company’s fixed maturity securities. In addition, as indicated on the above table, there was no significant concentration of unrealized losses in any one market sector. The $26,793 thousand of unrealized losses related to fixed maturity securities that have been in an unrealized loss position for less than one year were generally comprised of domestic and foreign corporate securities and foreign government securities. Of these unrealized losses, $23,104 thousand were related to securities that were rated investment grade by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating agency. The $94,376 thousand of unrealized losses related to fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position for more than one year related primarily to domestic and foreign corporate securities, foreign government securities and agency residential mortgage-backed securities. Of these unrealized losses, $73,144 thousand were related to securities that were rated investment grade by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating agency. There was no gross unrealized depreciation for mortgage-backed securities related to sub-prime and alt-A loans. In all instances, there were no projected cash flow shortfalls to recover the full book value of the investments and the related interest obligations. The mortgage-backed securities still have excess credit coverage and are current on interest and principal payments.

 

13


 

The components of net investment income are presented in the table below for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Fixed maturities

$

137,924

 

$

126,708

Equity securities

 

3,521

 

 

3,507

Short-term investments and cash

 

2,175

 

 

4,205

Other invested assets

 

 

 

 

 

Limited partnerships

 

21,568

 

 

8,297

Other

 

(13,071)

 

 

2,980

Gross investment income before adjustments

 

152,117

 

 

145,697

Funds held interest income (expense)

 

8,216

 

 

5,968

Future policy benefit reserve income (expense)

 

(211)

 

 

(234)

Gross investment income

 

160,122

 

 

151,431

Investment expenses

 

(12,322)

 

 

(10,455)

Net investment income

$

147,800

 

$

140,976

 

The Company records results from limited partnership investments on the equity method of accounting with changes in value reported through net investment income. Due to the timing of receiving financial information from these partnerships, the results are generally reported on a one month or quarter lag. If the Company determines there has been a significant decline in value of a limited partnership during this lag period, a loss will be recorded in the period in which the Company identifies the decline.

 

The Company had contractual commitments to invest up to an additional $1,365,631 thousand in limited partnerships and private placement loans at March 31, 2020. These commitments will be funded when called in accordance with the partnership and loan agreements, which have investment periods that expire, unless extended, through 2026.

 

The Company participates in a private placement liquidity sweep facility (“the facility”). The primary purpose of the facility is to enhance the Company’s return on its short-term investments and cash positions. The facility invests in high quality, short-duration securities and permits daily liquidity. The Company consolidates its participation in the facility. As of March 31, 2020, the market value of investments in the facility consolidated within the Company’s balance sheets was $339,983 thousand.

 

The components of net realized capital gains (losses) are presented in the tables below for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

 

2019

Fixed maturity securities, market value:

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for credit losses

$

(21,774)

 

$

-

Other-than-temporary impairments

 

-

 

 

(2,933)

Gains (losses) from sales

 

(14,076)

 

 

5,273

Fixed maturity securities, fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

Gains (losses) from sales

 

-

 

 

-

Gains (losses) from fair value adjustments

 

(1,123)

 

 

13

Equity securities, fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

Gains (losses) from sales

 

(27,599)

 

 

5,048

Gains (losses) from fair value adjustments

 

(144,003)

 

 

84,441

Other invested assets

 

(2,327)

 

 

396

Short-term investments gain (loss)

 

314

 

 

(6)

Total net realized capital gains (losses)

$

(210,588)

 

$

92,232

14


 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate

 

Government

 

Corporate

 

 

 

 

 

Securities

 

Securities

 

Securities

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2019

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

-

Provision for credit losses

 

(17,305)

 

 

(519)

 

 

(3,950)

 

 

(21,774)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of March 31, 2020

$

(17,305)

 

$

(519)

 

$

(3,950)

 

$

(21,774)

 

The Company recorded as net realized capital gains (losses) in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) fair value re-measurements, allowances for credit losses per ASU 2016-13 and write-downs in the value of securities deemed to be impaired on an other-than-temporary basis in prior years as displayed in the table above. The Company had no other-than-temporary impaired securities where the impairment had both a credit and non-credit component.

 

The proceeds and split between gross gains and losses, from sales of fixed maturity and equity securities, are presented in the table below for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Proceeds from sales of fixed maturity securities

$

501,953

 

$

1,798,226

Gross gains from sales

 

14,001

 

 

16,138

Gross losses from sales

 

(28,077)

 

 

(10,865)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sales of equity securities

$

112,841

 

$

69,500

Gross gains from sales

 

2,584

 

 

5,675

Gross losses from sales

 

(30,183)

 

 

(627)

 

15


 

5. RESERVE FOR LOSSES, LAE AND FUTURE POLICY BENEFIT RESERVE

 

Activity in the reserve for losses and LAE is summarized for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Gross reserves beginning of period

$

13,611,313

 

$

13,119,090

Less reinsurance recoverables

 

(1,640,712)

 

 

(1,619,641)

Net reserves beginning of period

 

11,970,601

 

 

11,499,449

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incurred related to:

 

 

 

 

 

Current year

 

1,433,440

 

 

1,050,116

Prior years

 

(2,600)

 

 

(1,566)

Total incurred losses and LAE

 

1,430,840

 

 

1,048,550

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paid related to:

 

 

 

 

 

Current year

 

168,528

 

 

103,688

Prior years

 

907,790

 

 

817,006

Total paid losses and LAE

 

1,076,318

 

 

920,694

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange/translation adjustment and cumulative adjustment due to adoption of ASU 2016-13

 

(156,565)

 

 

(1,496)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net reserves end of period

 

12,168,558

 

 

11,625,810

Plus reinsurance recoverables

 

1,651,946

 

 

1,621,292

Gross reserves end of period

$

13,820,504

 

$

13,247,102

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

Current year incurred losses were $1,433,440 thousand and $1,050,116 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase in current year incurred losses in 2020 compared to 2019 was primarily due to $150,000 thousand of incurred losses due to COVID-19 as well as the impact of the increase in premiums earned.

 

6. DERIVATIVES

 

The Company sold seven equity index put option contracts, based on two indices, in 2001 and 2005. The Company sold these equity index put options as insurance products with the intent of achieving a profit. These equity index put option contracts meet the definition of a derivative under FASB guidance and the Company’s position in these equity index put option contracts is unhedged. Accordingly, these equity index put option contracts are carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets with changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Five of these contracts had expired prior to March 31, 2020 with no liabilities due under the terms of the expired contracts.

 

The Company had one remaining equity index put option contract at March 31, 2020, based on the Standard & Poor’s 500 (“S&P 500”) index. Based on historical index volatilities and trends and the March 31, 2020 S&P 500 index value, the Company estimates the probability that the equity index put option contract of the S&P 500 index falling below the strike price on the exercise date to be less than 3%. The theoretical maximum payout under this equity index put option contract would occur if on the exercise date the S&P 500 index value was zero. At March 31, 2020, the present value of the theoretical maximum payout using a 3% discount factor was $144,636 thousand. Conversely, if the contract had expired on March 31, 2020, with the S&P index at 2,584.59, there would have been no settlement amount.

 

16


 

The Company has one equity index put option contract based on the FTSE 100 index. Based on historical index volatilities and trends and the March 31, 2020 FTSE 100 index value, the Company estimates the probability that the equity index put option contract of the FTSE 100 index will fall below the strike price on the exercise date to be approximately 70%. The theoretical maximum payout under the equity index put option contract would occur if on the exercise date the FTSE 100 index value was zero. At March 31, 2020, the present value of the theoretical maximum payout using a 3% discount factor and current exchange rate was $40,003 thousand. Conversely, if the contract had expired on March 31, 2020, with the FTSE index at 5,671.96, there would have been a settlement amount of $2,142 thousand.

 

At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the fair value for these equity put options was $20,958 thousand and $5,584 thousand, respectively.

 

The fair value of the equity index put options can be found in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as

 

Location of fair value

 

At

 

At

hedging instruments

 

in balance sheets

 

March 31, 2020

 

December 31, 2019

Equity index put option contracts

 

Equity index put option liability

 

$

20,958

 

$

5,584

Total

 

 

 

$

20,958

 

$

5,584

 

The change in fair value of the equity index put option contracts can be found in the Company’s statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

Derivatives not designated as

 

Location of gain (loss) in statements of

 

March 31,

hedging instruments

 

operations and comprehensive income (loss)

 

2020

 

2019

Equity index put option contracts

 

Net derivative gain (loss)

 

$

(15,373)

 

$

3,231

Total

 

 

 

$

(15,373)

 

$

3,231

 

7. FAIR VALUE

 

GAAP guidance regarding fair value measurements address how companies should measure fair value when they are required to use fair value measures 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 on the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. 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, with 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 unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market;

 

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.

 

The Company’s fixed maturity and equity securities are primarily managed by third party investment asset managers. The investment asset managers managing publicly traded securities obtain prices from nationally

17


 

recognized pricing services. These services seek to utilize market data and observations in their evaluation process. They use pricing applications that vary by asset class and incorporate available market information and when fixed maturity securities do not trade on a daily basis the services will apply available information through processes such as benchmark curves, benchmarking of like securities, sector groupings and matrix pricing. In addition, they use model processes, such as the Option Adjusted Spread model to develop prepayment and interest rate scenarios for securities that have prepayment features.

 

In limited instances where prices are not provided by pricing services or in rare instances when a manager may not agree with the pricing service, price quotes on a non-binding basis are obtained from investment brokers. The investment asset managers do not make any changes to prices received from either the pricing services or the investment brokers. In addition, the investment asset managers have procedures in place to review the reasonableness of the prices from the service providers and may request verification of the prices. In addition, the Company continually performs analytical reviews of price changes and tests the prices on a random basis to an independent pricing source. No material variances were noted during these price validation procedures. In limited situations, where financial markets are inactive or illiquid, the Company may use its own assumptions about future cash flows and risk-adjusted discount rates to determine fair value. At March 31, 2020, $951,712 thousand of fixed maturities, market value and $4,703 thousand of fixed maturities, fair value were fair valued using unobservable inputs. The majority of the fixed maturities, market value, $722,948 thousand, were valued by investment managers’ valuation committees and many of these fair values and all of the $4,703 thousand of fixed maturities, fair value were substantiated by valuations from independent third parties. The Company has procedures in place to review and evaluate these independent third party valuations. The remaining Level 3 fixed maturities of $228,765 thousand were valued at either par or amortized cost, which the Company believes approximates fair value. At December 31, 2019, $772,979 thousand of fixed maturities, market value and $5,826 thousand of fixed maturities, fair value were fair valued using unobservable inputs. The majority of the fixed maturities, market value, $610,873 thousand, were valued by investment managers’ valuation committees and a majority of these fair values and all of the $5,826 thousand of fixed maturities, fair value were substantiated by valuations from independent third parties. The Company has procedures in place to review and evaluate these independent third party valuations. The remaining Level 3 fixed maturities of $162,106 thousand were valued at either par or amortized cost, which the Company believes approximates fair value.

 

The Company internally manages a public equity portfolio which had a fair value at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 of $210,845 thousand and $170,888 thousand, respectively, and all prices were obtained from publicly published sources.

 

Equity securities denominated in U.S. currency with quoted prices in active markets for identical assets are categorized as level 1 since the quoted prices are directly observable. Equity securities traded on foreign exchanges are categorized as level 2 due to the added input of a foreign exchange conversion rate to determine fair or market value. The Company uses foreign currency exchange rates published by nationally recognized sources.

 

All categories of fixed maturity securities listed in the tables below are generally categorized as level 2, since a particular security may not have traded but the pricing services are able to use valuation models with observable market inputs such as interest rate yield curves and prices for similar fixed maturity securities in terms of issuer, maturity and seniority. For foreign government securities and foreign corporate securities, the fair values provided by the third party pricing services in local currencies, and where applicable, are converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates from nationally recognized sources.

 

The fixed maturities with fair values categorized as level 3 result when prices are not available from the nationally recognized pricing services.

 

18


 

The composition and valuation inputs for the presented fixed maturities categories are as follows:

 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies and corporations are primarily comprised of U.S. Treasury bonds and the fair value is based on observable market inputs such as quoted prices, reported trades, quoted prices for similar issuances or benchmark yields;

 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions are comprised of state and municipal bond issuances and the fair values are based on observable market inputs such as quoted market prices, quoted prices for similar securities, benchmark yields and credit spreads;

 

Corporate securities are primarily comprised of U.S. corporate and public utility bond issuances and the fair values are based on observable market inputs such as quoted market prices, quoted prices for similar securities, benchmark yields and credit spreads;

 

Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities fair values are based on observable inputs such as quoted prices, reported trades, quoted prices for similar issuances or benchmark yields and cash flow models using observable inputs such as prepayment speeds, collateral performance and default spreads;

 

Foreign government securities are comprised of global non-U.S. sovereign bond issuances and the fair values are based on observable market inputs such as quoted market prices, quoted prices for similar securities and models with observable inputs such as benchmark yields and credit spreads and then, where applicable, converted to U.S. dollars using an exchange rate from a nationally recognized source;

 

Foreign corporate securities are comprised of global non-U.S. corporate bond issuances and the fair values are based on observable market inputs such as quoted market prices, quoted prices for similar securities and models with observable inputs such as benchmark yields and credit spreads and then, where applicable, converted to U.S. dollars using an exchange rate from a nationally recognized source.

 

The Company’s liability for equity index put options is categorized as level 3 since there is no active market for these equity put options. The fair values for these options are calculated by the Company using an industry accepted pricing model, Black-Scholes. The model inputs and assumptions are: risk free interest rates, equity market indexes values, volatilities and dividend yields and duration. The model results are then adjusted for the Company’s credit default swap rate. All of these inputs and assumptions are updated quarterly. One of the option contacts is in British Pound Sterling so the fair value for this contract is converted to U.S. dollars using an exchange rate from a nationally recognized source.

 

19


 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurement Using:

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in Active

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Markets for

 

Other

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

Identical

 

Observable

 

Unobservable

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

Inputs

 

Inputs

(Dollars in thousands)

 

March 31, 2020

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities, market value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government agencies and corporations

 

$

1,432,811

 

$

-

 

$

1,432,811

 

$

-

Obligations of U.S. States and political subdivisions

 

 

524,902

 

 

-

 

 

524,902

 

 

-

Corporate securities

 

 

6,347,322

 

 

-

 

 

5,634,241

 

 

713,081

Asset-backed securities

 

 

904,153

 

 

-

 

 

665,522

 

 

238,631

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial

 

 

840,099

 

 

-

 

 

840,099

 

 

-

Agency residential

 

 

2,221,171

 

 

-

 

 

2,221,171

 

 

-

Non-agency residential

 

 

3,997

 

 

-

 

 

3,997

 

 

-

Foreign government securities

 

 

1,477,718

 

 

-

 

 

1,477,718

 

 

-

Foreign corporate securities

 

 

2,793,722

 

 

-

 

 

2,793,722

 

 

-

Total fixed maturities, market value

 

 

16,545,895

 

 

-

 

 

15,594,183

 

 

951,712

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities, fair value

 

 

4,703

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

4,703

Equity securities, fair value

 

 

722,851

 

 

666,266

 

 

56,585

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity index put option contracts

 

$

20,958

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

20,958

 

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

 

20


 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurement Using:

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in Active

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Markets for

 

Other

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

Identical

 

Observable

 

Unobservable

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

Inputs

 

Inputs

(Dollars in thousands)

 

December 31, 2019

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities, market value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government agencies and corporations

 

$

1,515,803

 

$

-

 

$

1,515,803

 

$

-

Obligations of U.S. States and political subdivisions

 

 

536,915

 

 

-

 

 

536,915

 

 

-

Corporate securities

 

 

6,374,946

 

 

-

 

 

5,757,358

 

 

617,588

Asset-backed securities

 

 

897,333

 

 

-

 

 

743,692

 

 

153,641

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial

 

 

844,557

 

 

-

 

 

844,557

 

 

-

Agency residential

 

 

2,198,581

 

 

-

 

 

2,198,581

 

 

-

Non-agency residential

 

 

5,703

 

 

-

 

 

5,703

 

 

-

Foreign government securities

 

 

1,505,950

 

 

-

 

 

1,505,950

 

 

-

Foreign corporate securities

 

 

2,945,156

 

 

-

 

 

2,943,406

 

 

1,750

Total fixed maturities, market value

 

 

16,824,944

 

 

-

 

 

16,051,965

 

 

772,979

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities, fair value

 

 

5,826

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

5,826

Equity securities, fair value

 

 

931,457

 

 

864,584

 

 

66,873

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity index put option contracts

 

$

5,584

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

5,584

 

In addition, $212,677 thousand and $209,578 thousand of investments within other invested assets on the consolidated balance sheets as March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, are not included within the fair value hierarchy tables as the assets are measured at NAV as a practical expedient to determine fair value.

 

The following tables present the activity under Level 3, fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs by asset type, for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

 

Total Fixed Maturities, Market Value

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

 

 

Corporate

 

Asset-Backed

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

Corporate

 

Foreign

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Securities

 

Securities

 

Corporate

 

Total

 

Securities

 

Corporate

 

Total

Beginning balance fixed maturities at market value

 

$

617,588

 

$

153,641

 

$

1,750

 

$

772,979

 

$

428,215

 

$

7,744

 

$

435,959

Total gains or (losses) (realized/unrealized)

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included in earnings

 

 

(214)

 

 

4

 

 

-

 

 

(210)

 

 

4,858

 

 

119

 

 

4,977

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

(3,357)

 

 

(15,882)

 

 

-

 

 

(19,239)

 

 

573

 

 

-

 

 

573

Purchases, issuances and settlements

 

 

99,064

 

 

100,868

 

 

(1,750)

 

 

198,182

 

 

6,638

 

 

(565)

 

 

6,073

Transfers in and/or (out) of Level 3

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(2,458)

 

 

-

 

 

(2,458)

Ending balance

 

$

713,081

 

$

238,631

 

$

-

 

$

951,712

 

$

437,826

 

$

7,298

 

$

445,124

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The amount of total gains or losses for the period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

included in earnings (or changes in net assets)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

attributable to the change in unrealized gains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or losses relating to assets still held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

at the reporting date

 

$

(539)

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

(539)

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21


 

 

Total Fixed Maturities, Fair Value

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

Foreign

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

Corporate

 

Total

 

Corporate

 

Total

Beginning balance fixed maturities at market value

 

$

5,826

 

$

5,826

 

$

2,337

 

$

2,337

Total gains or (losses) (realized/unrealized)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included in earnings

 

 

(1,123)

 

 

(1,123)

 

 

13

 

 

13

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

Purchases, issuances and settlements

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

Transfers in and/or (out) of Level 3

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

Ending balance

 

$

4,703

 

$

4,703

 

$

2,350

 

$

2,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The amount of total gains or losses for the period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

included in earnings (or changes in net assets)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

attributable to the change in unrealized gains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or losses relating to assets still held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

at the reporting date

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

The net transfers to/(from) level 3, fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs for fixed maturities, market value were $0 thousand and $(2,458) thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The transfers during 2019 were related to securities that were priced using investment managers as of December 31, 2018 and were subsequently priced by a recognized pricing service as of March 31, 2019.

 

The following table presents the activity under Level 3, fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs for equity index put option contracts, for the periods indicated:

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

$

5,584

 

$

11,958

Total (gains) or losses (realized/unrealized)

 

 

 

 

 

Included in earnings

 

15,373

 

 

(3,231)

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

 

-

 

 

-

Purchases, issuances and settlements

 

-

 

 

-

Transfers in and/or (out) of Level 3

 

-

 

 

-

Balance, end of period

$

20,958

 

$

8,727

 

 

 

 

 

 

The amount of total gains or losses for the period included in earnings

 

 

 

 

 

(or changes in net assets) attributable to the change in unrealized

 

 

 

 

 

gains or losses relating to liabilities still held at the reporting date

$

-

 

$

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

8. EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

 

Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution that would occur if options granted under various share-based compensation plans were exercised resulting in the issuance of common shares that would participate in the earnings of the entity.

 

22


 

Net income (loss) per common share has been computed as per below, based upon weighted average common basic and dilutive shares outstanding.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

2020

 

 

2019

 

Net income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$

16,612

 

 

$

354,551

 

 

Less: dividends declared-common shares and nonvested common shares

 

(63,277)

 

 

 

(57,137)

 

 

Undistributed earnings

 

(46,666)

 

 

 

297,415

 

 

Percentage allocated to common shareholders (1)

 

98.7

%

 

 

99.0

%

 

 

 

(46,082)

 

 

 

294,298

 

 

Add: dividends declared-common shareholders

 

62,488

 

 

 

56,531

 

 

Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per common share

$

16,406

 

 

$

350,829

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator for basic earnings per weighted-average common shares

 

40,204

 

 

 

40,304

 

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options

 

92

 

 

 

141

 

 

Denominator for diluted earnings per adjusted weighted-average common shares

 

40,296

 

 

 

40,445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per common share net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

0.41

 

 

$

8.70

 

 

Diluted

$

0.41

 

 

$

8.67

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding

 

40,204

 

 

 

40,304

 

 

Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding and nonvested common shares expected to vest

 

40,713

 

 

 

40,731

 

 

Percentage allocated to common shareholders

 

98.7

%

 

 

99.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

There were no anti-diluted options outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

 

All outstanding options expire on or between February 24, 2021 and September 19, 2022.

 

 

9. COMMITMENTS AND 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 and reinsurance 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. The Company considers the statuses of these proceedings when determining its reserves for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses.

 

Aside from litigation and arbitrations related to these insurance and reinsurance agreements, the Company is not a party to any other material litigation or arbitration.

 

The Company has entered into separate annuity agreements with The Prudential Insurance of America (“The Prudential”) and an additional unaffiliated life insurance company in which the Company has either purchased annuity contracts or become the assignee of annuity proceeds that are meant to settle claim payment obligations in the future. In both instances, the Company would become contingently liable if either The

23


 

Prudential or the unaffiliated life insurance company were unable to make payments related to the respective annuity contract.

 

The table below presents the estimated cost to replace all such annuities for which the Company was contingently liable for the periods indicated:

 

 

At March 31,

 

At December 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

The Prudential

$

141,281

 

$

141,703

Unaffiliated life insurance company

 

33,116

 

 

35,082

 

10. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

The following table presents the components of comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

(Dollars in thousands)

Before Tax

 

Tax Effect

 

Net of Tax

 

Before Tax

 

Tax Effect

 

Net of Tax

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) ("URA(D)") on securities - temporary

$

(315,200)

 

$

35,802

 

$

(279,398)

 

$

256,630

 

$

(23,391)

 

$

233,239

URA(D) on securities - OTTI

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(244)

 

 

70

 

 

(174)

Reclassification of net realized losses (gains) included in net income (loss)

 

38,177

 

 

(6,778)

 

 

31,399

 

 

(2,736)

 

 

914

 

 

(1,822)

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

(58,723)

 

 

7,899

 

 

(50,824)

 

 

16,598

 

 

(2,546)

 

 

14,052

Benefit plan actuarial net gain (loss)

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

Reclassification of benefit plan liability amortization included in net income (loss)

 

1,165

 

 

(245)

 

 

920

 

 

1,457

 

 

(306)

 

 

1,151

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

$

(334,581)

 

$

36,678

 

$

(297,903)

 

$

271,705

 

$

(25,259)

 

$

246,446

 

The following table presents details of the amounts reclassified from AOCI for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

Affected line item within the statements of

AOCI component

 

2020

 

2019

 

operations and comprehensive income (loss)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

URA(D) on securities

 

$

38,177

 

$

(2,736)

 

Other net realized capital gains (losses)

 

 

 

(6,778)

 

 

914

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

$

31,399

 

$

(1,822)

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit plan net gain (loss)

 

$

1,165

 

$

1,457

 

Other underwriting expenses

 

 

 

(245)

 

 

(306)

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

$

920

 

$

1,151

 

Net income (loss)

 

24


 

The following table presents the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, in the consolidated balance sheets for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Beginning balance of URA (D) on securities

$

304,425

 

$

(179,392)

Current period change in URA (D) of investments - temporary

 

(247,999)

 

 

231,417

Current period change in URA (D) of investments - non-credit OTTI

 

-

 

 

(174)

Ending balance of URA (D) on securities

 

56,426

 

 

51,851

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance of foreign currency translation adjustments

 

(201,717)

 

 

(215,747)

Current period change in foreign currency translation adjustments

 

(50,824)

 

 

14,052

Ending balance of foreign currency translation adjustments

 

(252,541)

 

 

(201,695)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance of benefit plan net gain (loss)

 

(74,556)

 

 

(67,418)

Current period change in benefit plan net gain (loss)

 

920

 

 

1,151

Ending balance of benefit plan net gain (loss)

 

(73,636)

 

 

(66,267)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending balance of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

$

(269,751)

 

$

(216,111)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

11. CREDIT FACILITIES

 

The Company has two active credit facilities for a total commitment of up to $1,000,000 thousand and an additional credit facility for a total commitment of up to £47,000 thousand, providing for the issuance of letters of credit and/or unsecured revolving credit lines. The following table presents the interest and fees incurred in connection with the two credit facilities for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Credit facility interest and fees incurred

$

123

 

$

105

 

The terms and outstanding amounts for each facility are discussed below:

 

Group Credit Facility

 

Effective May 26, 2016, Group, Everest Reinsurance (Bermuda), Ltd. (“Bermuda Re”) and Everest International Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Everest International”), both direct subsidiaries of Group, entered into a five year, $800,000 thousand senior credit facility with a syndicate of lenders, which amended and restated in its entirety the June 22, 2012, four year, $800,000 thousand senior credit facility. Both the May 26, 2016 and June 22, 2012 senior credit facilities, which have similar terms, are referred to as the “Group Credit Facility”. Wells Fargo Corporation (“Wells Fargo Bank”) is the administrative agent for the Group Credit Facility, which consists of two tranches. Tranche one provides up to $200,000 thousand of unsecured 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 London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a margin. The Base Rate is the higher of (a) the prime commercial lending rate established by Wells Fargo Bank, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% per annum or (c) the one month LIBOR Rate plus 1.0% 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 $600,000 thousand 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 $5,370,979 thousand plus 25% of consolidated net income for each of Group’s fiscal quarters, for which statements are available ending

25


 

on or after March 31, 2016 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, which at March 31, 2020, was $6,259,452 thousand. As of March 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all Group Credit Facility covenants.

 

On March 25, 2020, Group borrowed $50,000 thousand under Tranche one of the credit facility as an unsecured revolving credit loan. The loan period is for two months with the LIBOR rate. There were no revolving credit borrowings from the facility during the year ended 2019.

 

The following table summarizes the outstanding letters of credit and/or borrowings for the periods indicated:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

At March 31, 2020

 

 

At December 31, 2019

Bank

 

 

 

Commitment

 

In Use

 

Date of Expiry

 

Commitment

 

In Use

 

Date of Expiry

Wells Fargo Bank Group Credit Facility

 

Tranche One

 

$

200,000

 

$

50,000

 

5/26/2020

 

$

200,000

 

$

-

 

 

 

 

Tranche One

 

 

 

 

 

91,816

 

12/31/2020

 

 

 

 

 

33,737

 

12/31/2020

 

 

Tranche Two

 

 

600,000

 

 

5,161

 

7/29/2020

 

 

600,000

 

 

2,381

 

7/29/2020

 

 

Tranche Two

 

 

 

 

 

1,649

 

9/30/2020

 

 

 

 

 

1,649

 

9/30/2020

 

 

Tranche Two

 

 

 

 

 

569,136

 

12/31/2020

 

 

 

 

 

573,353

 

12/31/2020

 

 

Tranche Two

 

 

 

 

 

13,215

 

1/4/2021

 

 

 

 

 

12,364

 

1/4/2021

Total Wells Fargo Bank Group Credit Facility

 

 

 

$

800,000

 

$

730,977

 

 

 

$

800,000

 

$

623,484

 

 

 

Bermuda Re Letter of Credit Facility

 

Effective December 31, 2019, Bermuda Re renewed its letter of credit issuance facility with Citibank N.A. referred to as the “Bermuda Re Letter of Credit Facility”, which commitment is reconfirmed annually with updated fees. The current renewal of the Bermuda Re Letter of Credit Facility provides for the issuance of up to $200,000 thousand of secured letters of credit to collateralize reinsurance obligations as a non-admitted reinsurer. The interest on drawn letters of credit shall be (A) 0.35% per annum of the principal amount of issued standard letters of credit (expiry of 15 months or less) and (B) 0.45% per annum of the principal amount of issued extended tenor letters of credit (expiry maximum of up to 60 months). The commitment fee on undrawn credit shall be 0.15% per annum.

 

The following table summarizes the outstanding letters of credit for the periods indicated:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

At March 31, 2020

 

At December 31, 2019

Bank

 

Commitment

 

In Use

 

Date of Expiry

 

Commitment

 

In Use

 

Date of Expiry

Citibank Bilateral Letter of Credit Agreement

 

$

200,000

 

$

3,672

 

11/24/2020

 

$

200,000

 

$

4,425

 

02/29/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

93,578

 

12/31/2020

 

 

 

 

 

512

 

09/03/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,425

 

02/28/2021

 

 

 

 

 

3,672

 

11/24/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

493

 

08/15/2021

 

 

 

 

 

177

 

12/16/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

156

 

12/16/2021

 

 

 

 

 

125

 

12/20/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

110

 

12/20/2021

 

 

 

 

 

101,404

 

12/31/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,663

 

12/31/2021

 

 

 

 

 

559

 

08/15/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

166

 

01/21/2024

 

 

 

 

 

37,096

 

12/30/2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

36,413

 

3/30/2024

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

Total Citibank Bilateral Agreement

 

$

200,000

 

$

143,676

 

 

 

$

200,000

 

$

147,970

 

 

 

Everest International Credit Facility

 

Effective November 7, 2019, Everest International renewed its credit facility with Lloyds Bank plc (“Everest International Credit Facility”). The current renewal of the Everest International Credit Facility has a four year term and provides up to £47,000 thousand for the issuance of standby letters of credit on a collateralized basis. The Company pays a commitment fee of 0.1% per annum on the average daily amount of the remainder of (1) the aggregate amount available under the facility and (2) the aggregate amount of drawings outstanding under the facility. The Company pays a credit commission fee of 0.35% per annum on drawings outstanding under the facility.

 

26


 

The Everest International 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 $5,532,663 thousand (70% of consolidated net worth as of December 31, 2018), plus 25% of consolidated net income for each of Group’s fiscal quarters, for which statements are available ending on or after January 1, 2019 and for which net income is positive, plus 25% of any increase in consolidated net worth of Group during such period attributable to the issuance of ordinary and preferred shares, which at March 31, 2020, was $5,797,191 thousand. As of March 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all Everest International Credit Facility requirements.

 

The following table summarizes the outstanding letters of credit for the periods indicated:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

At March 31, 2020

 

At December 31, 2019

Bank

 

Commitment

 

In Use

 

Date of Expiry

 

Commitment

 

In Use

 

Date of Expiry

Lloyd's Bank plc

 

£

47,000

 

£

47,000

 

12/31/2023

 

£

47,000

 

£

47,000

 

12/31/2023

 

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

Total Lloyd's Bank Credit Facility

 

£

47,000

 

£

47,000

 

 

 

£

47,000

 

£

47,000

 

 

 

Federal Home Loan Bank Membership

 

Effective August 15, 2019, Everest Reinsurance Company (“Everest Re”) became a member of the Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLB”) organization, which allows Everest Re to borrow up to 10% of its statutory admitted assets. As of March 31, 2020, Everest Re had admitted assets of approximately $12,879,681 thousand which provides borrowing capacity of up to approximately $1,287,968 thousand. Through March 31, 2020, Everest had no borrowings through the FLHB.

 

12. COLLATERALIZED REINSURANCE AND TRUST AGREEMENTS

 

Certain subsidiaries 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 March 31, 2020, the total amount on deposit in trust accounts was $1,056,172 thousand.

 

The Company reinsures some of its catastrophe exposures with the segregated accounts of Mt. Logan Re. Mt. Logan Re is a Class 3 insurer registered in Bermuda effective February 27, 2013 under The Segregated Accounts Companies Act 2000 and 100% of the voting common shares are owned by Group. Separate segregated accounts for Mt. Logan Re began being established effective July 1, 2013 and non-voting, redeemable preferred shares have been issued to capitalize the segregated accounts. Each segregated account invests predominantly in a diversified set of catastrophe exposures, diversified by risk/peril and across different geographic regions globally.

 

The following table summarizes the premiums and losses that are ceded by the Company to Mt. Logan Re segregated accounts and assumed by the Company from Mt. Logan Re segregated accounts.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

Mt. Logan Re Segregated Accounts

 

2020

 

2019

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

Ceded written premiums

 

110,188

 

80,028

Ceded earned premiums

 

90,550

 

56,732

Ceded losses and LAE

 

45,115

 

45,613

 

 

 

 

 

Assumed written premiums

 

2,759

 

2,309

Assumed earned premiums

 

2,759

 

2,309

Assumed losses and LAE

 

-

 

-

 

27


 

Each segregated account is permitted to assume net risk exposures equal to the amount of its available posted collateral, which in the aggregate was $942,548 thousand and $993,036 thousand at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Of this amount, Group had investments recorded at $50,270 thousand and $46,390 thousand at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, in the segregated accounts.

 

Effective April 1, 2018, the Company entered into a retroactive reinsurance transaction with one of the Mt. Logan Re segregated accounts to retrocede $269,198 thousand of casualty reserves held by Bermuda Re related to accident years 2002 through 2015. As consideration for entering the agreement, the Company transferred cash of $252,000 thousand to the Mt. Logan Re segregated account. The maximum liability to be retroceded under the agreement will be $319,000 thousand. The Company will retain liability for any amounts exceeding the maximum liability.

 

On April 24, 2014, the Company entered into two collateralized reinsurance agreements with Kilimanjaro Re Limited (“Kilimanjaro”), a Bermuda based special purpose reinsurer, to provide the Company with catastrophe reinsurance coverage. These agreements are multi-year reinsurance contracts which cover specified named storm and earthquake events. The first agreement provides up to $250,000 thousand of reinsurance coverage from named storms in specified states of the Southeastern United States. The second agreement provides up to $200,000 thousand of reinsurance coverage from named storms in specified states of the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the United States and Puerto Rico as well as reinsurance coverage from earthquakes in specified states of the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and West regions of the United States, Puerto Rico and British Columbia. These reinsurance agreements expired in April, 2018.

 

On November 18, 2014, the Company entered into a collateralized reinsurance agreement with Kilimanjaro to provide the Company with catastrophe reinsurance coverage. This agreement is a multi-year reinsurance contract which covers specified earthquake events. The agreement provides up to $500,000 thousand of reinsurance coverage from earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. These reinsurance agreements expired in November 2019.

 

On December 1, 2015 the Company entered into two collateralized reinsurance agreements with Kilimanjaro to provide the Company with catastrophe reinsurance coverage. These agreements are multi-year reinsurance contracts which cover named storm and earthquake events. The first agreement provides up to $300,000 thousand of reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. The second agreement provides up to $325,000 thousand of reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.

 

On April 13, 2017 the Company entered into six collateralized reinsurance agreements with Kilimanjaro to provide the Company with annual aggregate catastrophe reinsurance coverage. The initial three agreements are four year reinsurance contracts which cover named storm and earthquake events. These agreements provide up to $225,000 thousand, $400,000 thousand and $325,000 thousand, respectively, of annual aggregate reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. The subsequent three agreements are five year reinsurance contracts which cover named storm and earthquake events. These agreements provide up to $50,000 thousand, $75,000 thousand and $175,000 thousand, respectively, of annual aggregate reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.

 

On April 30, 2018 the Company entered into four collateralized reinsurance agreements with Kilimanjaro to provide the Company with catastrophe reinsurance coverage. These agreements are multi-year reinsurance contracts which cover named storm and earthquake events. The first two agreements are four year reinsurance contracts which provide up to $62,500 thousand and $200,000 thousand, respectively, of annual aggregate reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. The remaining two agreements are five year reinsurance contracts which provide up to $62,500 thousand and $200,000 thousand, respectively, of annual aggregate reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.

28


 

 

On December 12, 2019, the Company entered into four collateralized reinsurance agreements with Kilimanjaro to provide the Company with catastrophe reinsurance coverage. These agreements are multi-year reinsurance contracts which cover named storm and earthquake events. The first two agreements are four year reinsurance contracts which provide up to $150,000 thousand and $275,000 thousand, respectively, of annual aggregate reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. The remaining two agreements are five year reinsurance contracts which provide up to $150,000 thousand and $275,000 thousand, respectively, of annual aggregate reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United State, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.

 

Recoveries under these collateralized reinsurance agreements with Kilimanjaro are primarily dependent on estimated industry level insured losses from covered events, as well as, the geographic location of the events. The estimated industry level of insured losses is obtained from published estimates by an independent recognized authority on insured property losses. Currently, none of the published insured loss estimates for catastrophe events during the applicable covered periods of the various agreements have exceeded the single event retentions or aggregate retentions under the terms of the agreements that would result in a recovery.

 

Kilimanjaro has financed the various property catastrophe reinsurance coverages by issuing catastrophe bonds to unrelated, external investors. On April 24, 2014, Kilimanjaro issued $450,000 thousand of notes (“Series 2014-1 Notes”). The $450,000 thousand of Series 2014-1 Notes were fully redeemed on April 30, 2018 and are no longer outstanding. On November 18, 2014, Kilimanjaro issued $500,000 thousand of notes (“Series 2014-2 Notes”). The $450,000 thousand of Series 2014-2 Notes were fully redeemed in November 2019 and are no longer outstanding. On December 1, 2015, Kilimanjaro issued $625,000 thousand of notes (“Series 2015-1 Notes). On April 13, 2017, Kilimanjaro issued $950,000 thousand of notes (“Series 2017-1 Notes) and $300,000 thousand of notes (“Series 2017-2 Notes). On April 30, 2018, Kilimanjaro issued $262,500 thousand of notes (“Series 2018-1 Notes”) and $262,500 thousand of notes (“Series 2018-2 Notes”). On December 12, 2019 Kilimanjaro issued $425,000 thousand of notes (“Series 2019-1 Notes”) and $425,000 of notes (“Series 2019-2 Notes”). The proceeds from the issuance of the Notes listed above are held in reinsurance trust throughout the duration of the applicable reinsurance agreements and invested solely in US government money market funds with a rating of at least “AAAm” by Standard & Poor’s.

 

13. SENIOR NOTES

 

The table below displays Holdings’ outstanding senior notes. Market value is based on quoted market prices, but due to limited trading activity, these senior notes are considered Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Date Issued

 

Date Due

 

Principal Amounts

 

Sheet Amount

 

Market Value

 

Sheet Amount

 

Market Value

Senior notes

06-05-2014

 

06-01-2044

 

400,000

 

$

397,104

 

$

454,224

 

$

397,074

 

$

452,848

 

On June 5, 2014, Holdings issued $400,000 thousand of 30 year senior notes at 4.868%, which will mature on June 1, 2044. Interest will be paid semi-annually on June 1 and December 1 of each year.

 

Interest expense incurred in connection with these senior notes is as follows for the periods indicated:

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars In thousands

2020

 

2019

Interest expense incurred

$

4,868

 

$

4,868

 

29


 

14. LONG TERM SUBORDINATED NOTES

 

The table below displays Holdings’ outstanding fixed to floating rate long term subordinated notes. Market value is based on quoted market prices, but due to limited trading activity, these subordinated notes are considered Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maturity Date

 

March 31, 2020

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

Original

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Date Issued

 

Principal Amount

 

Scheduled

 

Final

 

Sheet Amount

 

Market Value

 

Sheet Amount

 

Market Value

Long term subordinated notes

04-26-2007

 

$

400,000

 

05-15-2037

 

05-01-2067

 

$

235,083

 

$

181,834

 

$

236,758

 

$

233,191

 

During the fixed rate interest period from May 3, 2007 through May 14, 2017, interest was 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. During the floating rate interest period from May 15, 2017 through maturity, interest will be based on the 3 month 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 quarterly for periods from and including May 15, 2017. The reset quarterly interest rate for February 18, 2020 to May 14, 2020 is 4.08%.

 

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. Effective upon the maturity of the Company’s 5.40% senior notes on October 15, 2014, the Company’s 4.868% senior notes, due on June 1, 2044, have become the Company’s long term indebtedness that ranks senior to the long term subordinated notes.

 

The Company repurchased and retired $1,700 thousand of its outstanding long term subordinated notes during the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Company realized a gain of $502 thousand from the repurchase of the long term subordinated notes.

 

On March 19, 2009, Group announced the commencement of a cash tender offer for any and all of the 6.60% fixed to floating rate long term subordinated notes. Upon expiration of the tender offer, the Company had reduced its outstanding debt by $161,441 thousand.

 

Interest expense incurred in connection with these long term subordinated notes is as follows for the periods indicated:

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Interest expense incurred

$

2,538

 

$

2,605

 

15. LEASES

 

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02 and ASU 2018-11 which outline new guidance on the accounting for leases. The Company enters into lease agreements for real estate that is primarily used for office space in the ordinary course of business. These leases are accounted for as operating leases, whereby lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Most leases include an option to extend or renew the lease term. The exercise of the renewal is at the Company’s discretion. The operating lease liability includes lease payments related to options to extend or renew the lease term if the Company is reasonably certain of exercise those options. The Company, in determining the present value of lease

30


 

payments utilizes either the rate implicit in the lease if that rate is readily determinable or the Company’s incremental secured borrowing rate commensurate with terms of the underlying lease.

 

Supplemental information related to operating leases is as follows for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

 

 

2019

Lease expense incurred:

 

 

 

 

 

Operating lease cost

$

7,890

 

$

5,187

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At March 31,

 

At December 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Operating lease right of use assets

$

156,626

 

$

161,435

Operating lease liabilities

 

167,072

 

 

169,909

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Operating cash flows from operating leases

$

(4,919)

 

$

(4,431)

 

 

At March 31,

 

At December 31,

 

2020

 

2019

Weighted average remaining operating lease term

12.4 years

 

 

12.6 years

 

Weighted average discount rate on operating leases

3.87

%

 

3.91

%

 

Maturities of the existing lease liabilities are expected to occur as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

Remainder of 2020

$

15,187

2021

 

17,836

2022

 

19,888

2023

 

19,099

2024

 

18,831

2025

 

15,822

Thereafter

 

113,475

Undiscounted lease payments

 

220,138

Less: present value adjustment

 

53,066

Total operating lease liability

$

167,072

 

On July 2, 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement to relocate its corporate offices from Liberty Corner, New Jersey to a corporate complex in Warren, New Jersey. The new lease, which covers approximately 315,000 square feet of office space, will be effective October 1, 2019 and runs through 2036. The initial base rent payment of the lease will be approximately $650 thousand per month or $7,800 thousand per year. The Company expects to relocate the existing operations and employees of the Liberty Corner, New Jersey facility to the new corporate complex during 2021.

 

 

16. SEGMENT REPORTING

 

The Reinsurance operation writes worldwide property and casualty reinsurance and specialty lines of business, on both a treaty and facultative basis, through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies. Business is written in the U.S., Bermuda, and Ireland offices, as well as, through branches in Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The Insurance operation writes property and casualty insurance directly and through brokers, surplus lines brokers and general agents within the U.S., Canada and Europe through its offices in the U.S., Canada, Ireland and a branch located in Zurich.

31


 

 

These segments are managed independently, but conform with corporate guidelines 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. We measure our underwriting results 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 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

 

 

Three Months Ended

Reinsurance

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Gross written premiums

$

1,777,771

 

$

1,532,051

Net written premiums

 

1,613,094

 

 

1,394,553

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

$

1,485,221

 

$

1,307,519

Incurred losses and LAE

 

1,020,642

 

 

772,198

Commission and brokerage

 

370,356

 

 

322,637

Other underwriting expenses

 

44,139

 

 

35,769

Underwriting gain (loss)

$

50,084

 

$

176,915

 

 

Three Months Ended

Insurance

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Gross written premiums

$

793,100

 

$

595,057

Net written premiums

 

588,385

 

 

457,145

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

$

551,593

 

$

425,178

Incurred losses and LAE

 

410,198

 

 

276,352

Commission and brokerage

 

78,166

 

 

66,837

Other underwriting expenses

 

84,721

 

 

63,216

Underwriting gain (loss)

$

(21,492)

 

$

18,773

 

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 (loss) for the periods indicated:

 

 

32


 

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Underwriting gain (loss)

$

28,592

 

$

195,688

Net investment income

 

147,800

 

 

140,976

Net realized capital gains (losses)

 

(210,588)

 

 

92,232

Net derivative gain (loss)

 

(15,373)

 

 

3,231

Corporate expenses

 

(9,833)

 

 

(6,652)

Interest, fee and bond issue cost amortization expense

 

(7,583)

 

 

(7,631)

Other income (expense)

 

23,363

 

 

(3,300)

Income (loss) before taxes

$

(43,622)

 

$

414,544

 

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 gross written premium, the table below presents the largest country, other than the U.S., in which the Company writes business, for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

United Kingdom gross written premium

$

306,708

 

$

263,857

 

No other country represented more than 5% of the Company’s revenues.

 

17. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2020, 167,829 restricted stock awards were granted on February 26, 2020, with a fair value of $277.145 per share and, 16,120 performance share unit awards were granted on February 26, 2020, with a fair value of $277.145 per unit.

 

 

18. RETIREMENT BENEFITS

 

The Company maintains both qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans for its U.S. employees employed prior to April 1, 2010. Generally, the Company computes the benefits based on average earnings over a period prescribed by the plans and credited length of service. The Company’s non-qualified defined benefit pension plan provided compensating pension benefits for participants whose benefits have been curtailed under the qualified plan due to Internal Revenue Code limitations. Effective January 1, 2018, participants of the Company’s non-qualified defined benefit pension plan may no longer accrue additional service benefits.

 

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

 

Pension Benefits

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Service cost

$

4,011

 

$

2,276

Interest cost

 

2,483

 

 

2,930

Expected return on plan assets

 

(5,197)

 

 

(5,016)

Amortization of net (income) loss

 

1,213

 

 

1,601

FAS 88 settlement charge

 

-

 

 

104

Net periodic benefit cost

$

2,510

 

$

1,895

 

33


 

Other Benefits

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Service cost

$

141

 

$

286

Interest cost

 

215

 

 

295

Amortization of prior service cost

 

(48)

 

 

(144)

Net periodic benefit cost

$

308

 

$

437

 

The service cost component of net periodic benefit costs is included within other underwriting expenses on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss). In accordance with ASU 2017-07, other staff compensation costs are also primarily recorded within this line item.

 

The Company did not make any contributions to the qualified pension benefit plan for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

19. INCOME TAXES

 

The Company is domiciled in Bermuda and has significant subsidiaries and/or branches in Canada, Ireland, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Company’s Bermuda domiciled subsidiaries are exempt from income taxation under Bermuda law until 2035. The Company’s non-Bermudian subsidiaries and branches are subject to income taxation at varying rates in their respective domiciles.

 

The Company generally applies the estimated Annualized Effective Tax Rate (“AETR”) approach for calculating its tax provision for interim periods as prescribed by ASC 740-270, Interim Reporting. Under the AETR approach, the estimated annualized effective tax rate is applied to the interim year-to-date pre-tax income/loss to determine the income tax expense or benefit for the year-to-date period. If the AETR approach produces a year-to-date tax benefit which exceeds the amount which is estimated to be recoverable for the full year, then the tax benefit for the interim reporting period will be limited as prescribed under ASC 740-270 to the estimated recoverable based on the year-to-date result. The tax expense or benefit for the quarter represents the difference between the year-to-date tax expense or benefit for the current year-to-date period less such amount for the immediately preceding year-to-date period. Management considers the impact of all known events in its estimation of the Company’s annual pre-tax income/loss and annualized effective tax rate.

 

20. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

The Company has evaluated known recognized and non-recognized subsequent events. The Company does not have any subsequent events to report.

34


 

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

 

Industry Conditions.

The worldwide reinsurance and insurance businesses are highly competitive, as well as cyclical by product and market. As such, financial results tend to fluctuate with periods of constrained availability, higher rates and stronger profits followed by periods of abundant capacity, lower rates and constrained profitability. Competition in the types of reinsurance and insurance business that we underwrite is based on many factors, including the perceived overall financial strength of the reinsurer or insurer, ratings of the reinsurer or insurer by A.M. Best and/or Standard & Poor’s, underwriting expertise, the jurisdictions where the reinsurer or insurer is licensed or otherwise authorized, capacity and coverages offered, premiums charged, other terms and conditions of the reinsurance and insurance business offered, services offered, speed of claims payment and reputation and experience in lines written. Furthermore, the market impact from these competitive factors related to reinsurance and insurance is generally not consistent across lines of business, domestic and international geographical areas and distribution channels.

 

We compete in the global reinsurance and insurance markets with numerous global competitors. Our competitors include independent reinsurance and insurance companies, subsidiaries or affiliates of established worldwide insurance companies, reinsurance departments of certain insurance companies, domestic and international underwriting operations, including underwriting syndicates at Lloyd’s of London and certain government sponsored risk transfer vehicles. Some of these competitors have greater financial resources than we do and have established long term and continuing business relationships, which can be a significant competitive advantage. In addition, the lack of strong barriers to entry into the reinsurance business and recently, the securitization of reinsurance and insurance risks through capital markets provide additional sources of potential reinsurance and insurance capacity and competition.

 

Worldwide insurance and reinsurance market conditions continued to be very competitive, particularly in the property catastrophe and casualty reinsurance lines of business. Generally, there was ample insurance and reinsurance capacity relative to demand, as well as, additional capital from the capital markets through insurance linked financial instruments. These financial instruments such as side cars, catastrophe bonds and collateralized reinsurance funds, provide capital markets with access to insurance and reinsurance risk exposure. The capital markets demand for these products is being primarily driven by the current low interest environment and the desire to achieve greater risk diversification and potentially higher returns on their investments. This increased competition is generally having a negative impact on rates, terms and conditions; however, the impact varies widely by market and coverage.

 

The industry is currently dealing with the impacts of a global pandemic, COVID-19. Globally, many countries have mandated that their citizens remain at home and non-essential businesses have been physically closed. We have closed our physical offices; however, we have activated our operational resiliency plan across our global footprint and all of our critical operations are functioning effectively from remote locations. We continue to service and meet the needs of our clients while ensuring the safety and health of our employees and customers.

 

The pandemic has caused significant volatility in the global financial markets. Interest rates plummeted, credit spreads widened and the equity markets lost value. We saw our fixed maturity and equity portfolios decline in value; however, some of the declines reflected in our March 31, 2020 financial statements have already recovered in April. Nevertheless, the lack of business activity may lead to an increase in bankruptcies and corresponding credit losses. Our other invested assets are comprised primarily of limited partnership investments. The change in limited partnership values are generally recorded on a quarter lag, As a result, the impact on the limited partnership values during the first quarter volatility will not be reflected in our results until the second quarter of 2020.

 

35


 

There will also be a negative impact on the industry underwriting results. With the closing of non-essential businesses, there has been a significant decline in business activity. To the extent that premiums are based on business activity, there will be a decline in premium volume. Incurred losses from the pandemic will be impacted by the duration of the event and will vary by line of business and geographical location. For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, our underwriting results include $150 million of estimated losses related to the pandemic. We anticipate this pandemic could have a meaningful impact on our revenue, as well as net and operating income in future quarters as a result of reinsurance and insurance claims due to the pandemic and resulting macro-economic market conditions.

 

Many regulators have issued moratoriums on the cancellation of policies for the non-payment of premiums and also on non-renewals. We are complying with the various regulatory requests for accommodations to policyholders during this difficult period. The moratoriums combined with the forced closure of businesses may lead to an increase in uncollectible premium expense.

 

Prior to the pandemic, there was a growing industry consensus that there was some firming of (re)insurance rates for the areas impacted by the recent catastrophes. Rates also appeared to be firming in some of the casualty lines of business, particularly in the casualty lines that had seen significant losses such as excess casualty and directors’ and officers’ liability. Other casualty lines were experiencing modest rate increase, while some lines such as workers’ compensation were experiencing softer market conditions. It is too early to tell what will be the impact on pricing conditions but it is likely to change depending on the line of business and geography.

 

While we are unable to predict the full impact the pandemic will have on the insurance industry as it continues to have a negative impact on the global economy, we are well positioned to continue to service our clients. Our capital position remains a source of strength, with high quality invested assets, significant liquidity, low financial leverage, and a low operating expense ratio. Our diversified global platform with its broad mix of products, distribution and geography is resilient.

 

36


 

Financial Summary.

We monitor and evaluate our overall performance based upon financial results. The following table displays a summary of the consolidated net income (loss), ratios and shareholders’ equity for the periods indicated.

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Percentage

 

March 31,

 

Increase/

(Dollars in millions)

2020

 

2019

 

(Decrease)

Gross written premiums

$

2,570.9

 

 

$

2,127.1

 

 

20.9

%

Net written premiums

 

2,201.5

 

 

 

1,851.7

 

 

18.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

$

2,036.8

 

 

$

1,732.7

 

 

17.6

%

Net investment income

 

147.8

 

 

 

141.0

 

 

4.8

%

Net realized capital gains (losses)

 

(210.6)

 

 

 

92.2

 

 

NM

%

Net derivative gain (loss)

 

(15.4)

 

 

 

3.2

 

 

NM

%

Other income (expense)

 

23.4

 

 

 

(3.3)

 

 

NM

%

Total revenues

 

1,982.0

 

 

 

1,965.8

 

 

0.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLAIMS AND EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

1,430.8

 

 

 

1,048.6

 

 

36.5

%

Commission, brokerage, taxes and fees

 

448.5

 

 

 

389.5

 

 

15.2

%

Other underwriting expenses

 

128.9

 

 

 

99.0

 

 

30.2

%

Corporate expenses

 

9.8

 

 

 

6.7

 

 

47.8

%

Interest, fees and bond issue cost amortization expense

 

7.6

 

 

 

7.6

 

 

(0.6)

%

Total claims and expenses

 

2,025.6

 

 

 

1,551.3

 

 

30.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES

 

(43.6)

 

 

 

414.5

 

 

(110.5)

%

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

(60.2)

 

 

 

60.0

 

 

(200.4)

%

NET INCOME (LOSS)

$

16.6

 

 

$

354.6

 

 

(95.3)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RATIOS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Point Change

Loss ratio

 

70.3

%

 

 

60.5

%

 

9.8

 

Commission and brokerage ratio

 

22.0

%

 

 

22.5

%

 

(0.5)

 

Other underwriting expense ratio

 

6.3

%

 

 

5.7

%

 

0.6

 

Combined ratio

 

98.6

%

 

 

88.7

%

 

9.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At

 

At

 

Percentage

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

Increase/

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

2020

 

2019

 

(Decrease)

Balance sheet data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total investments and cash

$

20,336.6

 

 

$

20,748.5

 

 

(2.0)

%

Total assets

 

27,222.6

 

 

 

27,324.1

 

 

(0.4)

%

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves

 

13,820.5

 

 

 

13,611.3

 

 

1.5

%

Total debt

 

682.2

 

 

 

633.8

 

 

7.7

%

Total liabilities

 

18,641.7

 

 

 

18,191.1

 

 

2.5

%

Shareholders' equity

 

8,580.9

 

 

 

9,132.9

 

 

(6.0)

%

Book value per share

 

214.59

 

 

 

223.85

 

 

(4.1)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(NM, not meaningful)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues.

Premiums. Gross written premiums increased by 20.9% to $2,570.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $2,127.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, reflecting a $245.7 million, or 16.0%, increase in our reinsurance business and a $198.0 million, or 33.3%, increase in our insurance business. The increase in reinsurance premiums was mainly due to increases in treaty casualty writings, treaty property business, facultative business and financial lines. The rise in insurance premiums was primarily due to increases in many lines of business, including property, casualty, energy, specialty lines, accident and health and business written through the Lloyd’s Syndicate.

 

Net written premiums increased by 18.9% to $2,201.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $1,851.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The changes are consistent with the change in gross written premiums. Premiums earned increased by 17.6% to $2,036.8 million for the three

37


 

months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $1,732.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The change in premiums earned relative to net written premiums is the result of timing; premiums are earned ratably over the coverage period whereas written premiums are recorded at the initiation of the coverage period.

 

Net Investment Income. Net investment income increased by 4.8% to $147.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with investment income of $141.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. Net pre-tax investment income, as a percentage of average invested assets, was 2.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to 3.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in income was primarily the result of higher income from our growing fixed maturity portfolio and from our limited partnerships, partially offset by lower income from other invested assets.

 

Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses). Net realized capital losses were $210.6 million and net realized capital gains were $92.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The net realized capital losses of $210.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were comprised of $145.1 million of net losses from fair value re-measurements, $43.7 million of net realized capital losses from sales of investments and $21.8 million of allowances for credit losses. The net realized capital gains of $92.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were comprised of $84.4 million of net gains from fair value re-measurements and $10.7 million of net realized capital gains from sales of investments, partially offset by $2.9 million of other-than-temporary impairments.

 

Net Derivative Gain (Loss). In 2005 and prior, we sold seven equity index put option contracts, two of which remained outstanding at March 31, 2020. These contracts meet the definition of a derivative in accordance with FASB guidance and as such, are fair valued each quarter with the change recorded as net derivative gain or loss in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). As a result of these adjustments in value, we recognized net derivative losses of $15.4 million and net derivative gains of $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The change in the fair value of these equity index put option contracts is generally indicative of the change in the equity markets and interest rates over the same periods.

 

Other Income (Expense). We recorded other income of $23.4 million and other expense of $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The change was primarily the result of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, income related to Mt. Logan Re and changes in deferred gains related to any retroactive reinsurance transactions. We recognized foreign currency exchange income of $20.6 million and foreign currency exchange expense of $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

38


 

Claims and Expenses.

Incurred Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses. The following tables present our incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) for the periods indicated.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

Current

 

Ratio %/

 

Prior

 

Ratio %/

 

Total

 

Ratio %/

(Dollar in millions)

Year

 

Pt Change

 

Years

 

Pt Change

 

Incurred

 

Pt Change

2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attritional

$

1,403.4

 

68.9

%

 

$

(2.6)

 

-0.1

%

 

$

1,400.8

 

68.8

%

Catastrophes

 

30.0

 

1.5

%

 

 

-

 

-

%

 

 

30.0

 

1.5

%

Total

$

1,433.4

 

70.4

%

 

$

(2.6)

 

-0.1

%

 

$

1,430.8

 

70.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attritional

$

1,025.1

 

59.2

%

 

$

(1.6)

 

-0.1

%

 

$

1,023.6

 

59.1

%

Catastrophes

 

25.0

 

1.4

%

 

 

-

 

-

%

 

 

25.0

 

1.4

%

Total

$

1,050.1

 

60.6

%

 

$

(1.6)

 

-0.1

%

 

$

1,048.6

 

60.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variance 2020/2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attritional

$

378.3

 

9.7

pts

 

$

(1.0)

 

-

pts

 

$

377.2

 

9.7

pts

Catastrophes

 

5.0

 

0.1

pts

 

 

-

 

-

pts

 

 

5.0

 

0.1

pts

Total

$

383.3

 

9.8

pts

 

$

(1.0)

 

-

pts

 

$

382.2

 

9.8

pts

 

Incurred losses and LAE increased by 36.5% to $1,430.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $1,048.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, primarily due to an Increase of $378.3 million in current year attritional losses, mainly due to $150.0 million of losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the increase in premiums earned and an increase of $5.0 million in current year catastrophe losses. The current year catastrophe losses of $30.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 related to the Nashville tornadoes ($10.0 million), Australia East Coast Storm ($10.0 million) and the 2020 Australia fires ($10.0 million). The $25.0 million of current year catastrophe losses for the three months ended March 31, 2019 related to the Townsville monsoon in Australia ($25.0 million).

 

Commission, Brokerage, Taxes and Fees. Commission, brokerage, taxes and fees increased by 15.2% to $448.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $389.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was primarily due to the impact of the increases in premiums earned and changes in the mix of business.

 

Other Underwriting Expenses. Other underwriting expenses were $128.9 million and $99.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase in other underwriting expenses was mainly due to the impact of the increase in premiums earned.

 

Corporate Expenses. Corporate expenses, which are general operating expenses that are not allocated to segments, were $9.8 million and $6.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase was mainly due to higher incentive compensation expenses.

 

Interest, Fees and Bond Issue Cost Amortization Expense. Interest, fees and other bond amortization expense was $7.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. Any variance in expense was primarily due to the movement in the floating interest rate related to the long term subordinated notes, which is reset quarterly per the note agreement. The floating rate was 4.08% as of March 31, 2020.

 

Income Tax Expense (Benefit). We had an income tax benefit of $60.2 million and an income tax expense of $60.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Income tax benefit or expense is primarily a function of the geographic location of the Company’s pre-tax income and the statutory tax rates in those jurisdictions. The effective tax rate (“ETR”) is primarily affected by tax-exempt investment income, foreign tax credits and dividends. Variations in the ETR generally result from changes in the relative levels of pre-tax income, including the impact of catastrophe losses and net capital gains (losses), among jurisdictions with different tax rates. The change in income tax expense (benefit) for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019 was primarily due to estimated incurred losses from the

39


 

COVID-19 pandemic and the impact from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Securities Act (“the CARES Act”).

 

The CARES Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President on March 27, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the provisions of the CARES Act was a special tax provision which allows companies to elect to carryback five years net operating losses incurred in the 2018, 2019 and/or 2020 tax years. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 had eliminated net operating loss carrybacks for most companies. The Company determined that the special 5 year loss carryback tax provision provided a tax benefit of $31.0 million which it recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

 

Net Income (Loss).

Our net income was $16.6 million and $354.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The change was primarily driven by the financial component fluctuations explained above.

 

Ratios.

Our combined ratio increased by 9.9 points to 98.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to 88.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The loss ratio component increased 9.8 points for the three months ended March 31, 2020 over the same period last year mainly due to 7.4 points related to the $150.0 million of attritional losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission and brokerage ratio component decreased slightly to 22.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to 22.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The decrease was mainly due to changes in the mix of business. The other underwriting expense ratio increased to 6.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 from 5.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was mainly due to higher incentive compensation expenses.

 

Shareholders’ Equity.

Shareholders’ equity decreased by $552.0 million to $8,580.9 million at March 31, 2020 from $9,132.9 million at December 31, 2019, principally as a result of $248.0 million of unrealized depreciation on investments net of tax, the repurchase of 970,892 common shares for $200.0 million, $63.3 million of shareholder dividends, $50.8 million of net foreign currency translation adjustments, $4.2 million of cumulative adjustment from the adoption of ASU 2016-13 and $3.2 million of share-based compensation transactions, partially offset by $16.6 million of net income, and $0.9 million of net benefit plan obligation adjustments.

 

Consolidated Investment Results

 

Net Investment Income.

Net investment income increased by 4.8% to $147.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared with investment income of $141.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was primarily the result of higher income from our growing fixed maturity portfolio and from our limited partnerships, partially offset by lower income from other invested assets.

 

40


 

The following table shows the components of net investment income for the periods indicated.

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

(Dollars in millions)

2020

 

2019

Fixed maturities

$

137.9

 

$

126.7

Equity securities

 

3.5

 

 

3.5

Short-term investments and cash

 

2.2

 

 

4.2

Other invested assets

 

 

 

 

 

Limited partnerships

 

21.6

 

 

8.3

Other

 

(13.1)

 

 

3.0

Gross investment income before adjustments

 

152.1

 

 

145.7

Funds held interest income (expense)

 

8.2

 

 

6.0

Future policy benefit reserve income (expense)

 

(0.2)

 

 

(0.2)

Gross investment income

 

160.1

 

 

151.4

Investment expenses

 

(12.3)

 

 

(10.5)

Net investment income

$

147.8

 

$

141.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

The following tables show a comparison of various investment yields for the periods indicated.

 

 

At

 

At

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

2020

 

2019

Imbedded pre-tax yield of cash and invested assets

3.4

%

 

3.4

%

Imbedded after-tax yield of cash and invested assets

3.0

%

 

3.0

%

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

 

2020

 

2019

Annualized pre-tax yield on average cash and invested assets

2.9

%

 

3.0

%

Annualized after-tax yield on average cash and invested assets

2.6

%

 

2.6

%

 

41


 

Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses).

The following table presents the composition of our net realized capital gains (losses) for the periods indicated.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

(Dollars in millions)

2020

 

2019

 

Variance

Gains (losses) from sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturity securities, market value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gains

$

14.0

 

$

16.1

 

$

(2.1)

Losses

 

(28.1)

 

 

(10.9)

 

 

(17.2)

Total

 

(14.1)

 

 

5.3

 

 

(19.3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity securities, fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gains

 

2.6

 

 

5.7

 

 

(3.1)

Losses

 

(30.2)

 

 

(0.6)

 

 

(29.6)

Total

 

(27.6)

 

 

5.0

 

 

(32.6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Invested Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gains

 

3.0

 

 

0.4

 

 

2.6

Losses

 

(5.4)

 

 

-

 

 

(5.4)

Total

 

(2.3)

 

 

0.4

 

 

(2.7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short Term Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gains

 

0.3

 

 

-

 

 

0.3

Total

 

0.3

 

 

-

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total net realized gains (losses) from sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gains

 

19.9

 

 

22.2

 

 

(2.3)

Losses

 

(63.6)

 

 

(11.5)

 

 

(52.1)

Total

 

(43.7)

 

 

10.7

 

 

(54.4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for credit losses

 

(21.8)

 

 

-

 

 

(21.8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other-than-temporary impairments:

 

-

 

 

(2.9)

 

 

2.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gains (losses) from fair value adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities, fair value

 

(1.1)

 

 

-

 

 

(1.1)

Equity securities, fair value

 

(144.0)

 

 

84.4

 

 

(228.4)

Total

 

(145.1)

 

 

84.4

 

 

(229.5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total net realized capital gains (losses)

$

(210.6)

 

$

92.2

 

$

(302.8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized capital losses were $210.6 million and net realized capital gains were $92.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, we recorded $145.1 million of net losses from fair value re-measurements, $43.7 million of net realized capital losses from sales of investments and $21.8 million of allowances for credit losses. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, we recorded $84.4 million of net gains from fair value re-measurements and $10.7 million of net realized capital gains from sales of investments, partially offset by $2.9 million of other-than-temporary impairments. The fixed maturity and equity sales for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 related primarily to adjusting the portfolios for overall market changes and individual credit shifts.

 

 

Segment Results.

The Reinsurance operation writes worldwide property and casualty reinsurance and specialty lines of business, on both a treaty and facultative basis, through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies. Business is written in the U.S., Bermuda, and Ireland offices, as well as, through branches in Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The Insurance operation writes property and casualty insurance directly and through

42


 

brokers, surplus lines brokers and general agents within the U.S., Canada and Europe through its offices in the U.S., Canada, Ireland and a branch located in Zurich.

 

These segments are managed independently, but conform with corporate guidelines 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. We measure our underwriting results 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 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 discusses the underwriting results for each of our segments for the periods indicated.

 

Reinsurance.

The following table presents the underwriting results and ratios for the Reinsurance segment for the periods indicated.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

(Dollars in millions)

2020

 

2019

 

Variance

 

% Change

Gross written premiums

$

1,777.8

 

 

$

1,532.1

 

 

$

245.7

 

16.0

%

Net written premiums

 

1,613.1

 

 

 

1,394.6

 

 

 

218.5

 

15.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

$

1,485.2

 

 

$

1,307.5

 

 

$

177.7

 

13.6

%

Incurred losses and LAE

 

1,020.6

 

 

 

772.2

 

 

 

248.4

 

32.2

%

Commission and brokerage

 

370.4

 

 

 

322.6

 

 

 

47.7

 

14.8

%

Other underwriting expenses

 

44.1

 

 

 

35.8

 

 

 

8.4

 

23.5

%

Underwriting gain (loss)

$

50.1

 

 

$

176.9

 

 

$

(126.8)

 

-71.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Point Chg

Loss ratio

 

68.7

%

 

 

59.1

%

 

 

 

 

9.6

 

Commission and brokerage ratio

 

24.9

%

 

 

24.7

%

 

 

 

 

0.2

 

Other underwriting expense ratio

 

3.0

%

 

 

2.7

%

 

 

 

 

0.3

 

Combined ratio

 

96.6

%

 

 

86.5

%

 

 

 

 

10.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(NM, Not Meaningful)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

Premiums. Gross written premiums increased by 16.0% to $1,777.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 from $1,532.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, primarily due to an increase in treaty casualty business, treaty property writings, facultative business and business written through our Bermuda and Ireland offices. Net written premiums increased by 15.7% to $1,613.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $1,394.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, which is consistent with the change in gross written premiums. Premiums earned increased by 13.6% to $1,485.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $1,307.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The change in premiums earned relative to net written premiums is primarily the result of timing; premiums are earned ratably over the coverage period whereas written premiums are recorded at the initiation of the coverage period.

 

43


 

Incurred Losses and LAE. The following table presents the incurred losses and LAE for the Reinsurance segment for the periods indicated.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

Current

 

Ratio %/

 

Prior

 

Ratio %/

 

Total

 

 

Ratio %/

(Dollars in millions)

Year

 

Pt Change

 

Years

 

Pt Change

 

Incurred

 

 

Pt Change

2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attritional

$

998.8

 

67.2

%

 

$

(2.6)

 

-0.2

%

 

$

996.1

 

 

67.0

%

Catastrophes

 

24.5

 

1.7

%

 

 

-

 

-

%

 

 

24.5

 

 

1.7

%

Total Segment

$

1,023.3

 

68.9

%

 

$

(2.6)

 

-0.2

%

 

$

1,020.6

 

 

68.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attritional

$

748.8

 

57.3

%

 

$

(1.6)

 

-0.1

%

 

 

747.2

 

 

57.2

%

Catastrophes

 

25.0

 

1.9

%

 

 

-

 

-

%

 

 

25.0

 

 

1.9

%

Total Segment

$

773.8

 

59.2

%

 

$

(1.6)

 

-0.1

%

 

$

772.2

 

 

59.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variance 2020/2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attritional

$

250.0

 

9.9

pts

 

$

(1.1)

 

(0.1)

pts

 

 

248.9

 

 

9.8

pts

Catastrophes

 

(0.5)

 

(0.2)

pts

 

 

-

 

-

pts

 

 

(0.5)

 

 

(0.2)

pts

Total Segment

$

249.5

 

9.7

pts

 

$

(1.1)

 

(0.1)

pts

 

$

248.4

 

 

9.6

pts

 

Incurred losses increased by 32.2% to $1,020.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $772.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $250.0 million in current year attritional losses, mainly related to $110.0 million of losses from the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the increase in premiums earned. The current year catastrophe losses of $24.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 related primarily to the Australia East Coast storm ($10.0 million), Australia fires ($10.0 million) and the Nashville tornadoes ($4.5 million). The current year catastrophe losses of $25.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 related to the Townsville monsoon in Australia ($25.0 million).

 

Segment Expenses. Commission and brokerage expenses increased by 14.8% to $370.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $322.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was mainly due to the impact of the increase in premiums earned and changes in the mix of business. Segment other underwriting expenses increased to $44.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 from $35.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was mainly due to the impact of the increases in premiums earned and changes in the mix of business.

 

Insurance.

The following table presents the underwriting results and ratios for the Insurance segment for the periods indicated.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

(Dollars in millions)

2020

 

2019

 

Variance

 

% Change

Gross written premiums

$

793.1

 

 

$

595.1

 

 

$

198.0

 

33.3

%

Net written premiums

 

588.4

 

 

 

457.1

 

 

 

131.3

 

28.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

$

551.6

 

 

$

425.2

 

 

$

126.4

 

29.7

%

Incurred losses and LAE

 

410.2

 

 

 

276.4

 

 

 

133.8

 

48.4

%

Commission and brokerage

 

78.2

 

 

 

66.8

 

 

 

11.4

 

17.1

%

Other underwriting expenses

 

84.7

 

 

 

63.2

 

 

 

21.5

 

34.0

%

Underwriting gain (loss)

$

(21.5)

 

 

$

18.8

 

 

$

(40.3)

 

-214.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Point Chg

Loss ratio

 

74.4

%

 

 

65.0

%

 

 

 

 

9.4

 

Commission and brokerage ratio

 

14.2

%

 

 

15.7

%

 

 

 

 

(1.5)

 

Other underwriting expense ratio

 

15.3

%

 

 

14.9

%

 

 

 

 

0.4

 

Combined ratio

 

103.9

%

 

 

95.6

%

 

 

 

 

8.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(NM not meaningful)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

44


 

Premiums. Gross written premiums increased by 33.3% to $793.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $595.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. This increase was related to most lines of business including property, casualty, energy, specialty lines, accident and health and business written through Lloyd’s syndicate. Net written premiums increased by 28.7% to $588.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $457.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The change is consistent with the change in gross written premiums. Premiums earned increased 29.7% to $551.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $425.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The change in premiums earned relative to net written premiums is the result of timing; premiums are earned ratably over the coverage period whereas written premiums are recorded at the initiation of the coverage period.

 

Incurred Losses and LAE. The following table presents the incurred losses and LAE for the Insurance segment for the periods indicated.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

Current

 

Ratio %/

 

Prior

 

Ratio %/

 

Total

 

 

Ratio %/

(Dollars in millions)

Year

 

Pt Change

 

Years

 

Pt Change

 

Incurred

 

 

Pt Change

2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attritional

$

404.7

 

73.4

%

 

$

-

 

-

%

 

$

404.7

 

 

73.4

%

Catastrophes

 

5.5

 

1.0

%

 

 

-

 

-

%

 

 

5.5

 

 

1.0

%

Total Segment

$

410.2

 

74.4

%

 

$

-

 

-

%

 

$

410.2

 

 

74.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attritional

$

276.4

 

65.0

%

 

$

-

 

-

%

 

$

276.4

 

 

65.0

%

Catastrophes

 

-

 

-

%

 

 

-

 

-

%

 

 

-

 

 

-

%

Total Segment

$

276.4

 

65.0

%

 

$

-

 

-

%

 

$

276.4

 

 

65.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variance 2020/2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attritional

$

128.3

 

8.4

pts

 

$

-

 

-

pts

 

$

128.3

 

 

8.4

pts

Catastrophes

 

5.5

 

1.0

pts

 

 

-

 

-

pts

 

 

5.5

 

 

1.0

pts

Total Segment

$

133.8

 

9.4

pts

 

$

-

 

-

pts

 

$

133.8

 

 

9.4

pts

 

Incurred losses and LAE increased by 48.4% to $410.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $276.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, mainly due to an increase of $128.3 million in current year attritional losses, primarily related to $40.0 million of losses from the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the increase in premiums earned and an increase of $5.5 million in current year catastrophe losses. The current year catastrophe losses of $5.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 related to the Nashville tornadoes ($5.5 million). There were no current year catastrophe losses for the three months ended March 31, 2019

 

Segment Expenses. Commission and brokerage increased by 17.1% to $78.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $66.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was mainly due to the impact of the increase in premiums earned. Segment other underwriting expenses increased to $84.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $63.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increases were mainly due to the impact of the increase in premiums earned and increased expenses related to the continued build out of the insurance business.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

Cash and Invested Assets. Aggregate invested assets, including cash and short-term investments, were $20,336.6 million at March 31, 2020, a decrease of $411.9 million compared to $20,748.5 million at December 31, 2019. This decrease was primarily the result of $277.1 million of pre-tax unrealized depreciation, repurchases of 970,892 million common shares for $200.0 million, $160.8 million due to fluctuations in foreign currencies, $157.7 million in fair value re-measurements, $63.3 million paid out in dividends to shareholders, $21.8 million of allowance for credit losses, $17.2 million of unsettled securities and $8.6 million of amortization bond premium, partially offset by $506.0 million of cash flows from operations, $50.0 million from revolving credit borrowings and $8.5 million in equity adjustments of our limited partnership investments.

45


 

 

Our principal investment objectives are to ensure funds are available to meet our insurance and reinsurance obligations and to maximize after-tax investment income while maintaining a high quality diversified investment portfolio. Considering these objectives, we view our investment portfolio as having two components: 1) the investments needed to satisfy outstanding liabilities (our core fixed maturities portfolio) and 2) investments funded by our shareholders’ equity.

 

For the portion needed to satisfy global outstanding liabilities, we generally invest in taxable and tax-preferenced fixed income securities with an average credit quality of Aa3. For the U.S. portion of this portfolio, our mix of taxable and tax-preferenced investments is adjusted periodically, consistent with our current and projected U.S. operating results, market conditions and our tax position. This global fixed maturity securities portfolio is externally managed by independent, professional investment managers using portfolio guidelines approved by internal management.

 

Over the past several years, we have expanded the allocation of our investments funded by shareholders’ equity to include: 1) a greater percentage of publicly traded equity securities, 2) emerging market fixed maturities through mutual fund structures, as well as individual holdings, 3) high yield fixed maturities, 4) bank and private loan securities and 5) private equity limited partnership investments. The objective of this portfolio diversification is to enhance the risk-adjusted total return of the investment portfolio by allocating a prudent portion of the portfolio to higher return asset classes, which are also less subject to changes in value with movements in interest rates. We limit our allocation to these asset classes because of 1) the potential for volatility in their values and 2) the impact of these investments on regulatory and rating agency capital adequacy models. We use investment managers experienced in these markets and adjust our allocation to these investments based upon market conditions. At March 31, 2020, the market value of investments in these investment market sectors, carried at both market and fair value, approximated 55.0% of shareholders’ equity.

 

The Company’s limited partnership investments are comprised of limited partnerships that invest in private equities. Generally, the limited partnerships are reported on a quarter lag. We receive annual audited financial statements for all of the limited partnerships which are prepared using fair value accounting in accordance with FASB guidance. For the quarterly reports, the Company’s staff performs reviews of the financial reports for any unusual changes in carrying value. If the Company becomes aware of a significant decline in value during the lag reporting period, the loss will be recorded in the period in which the Company identifies the decline.

 

The tables below summarize the composition and characteristics of our investment portfolio as of the dates indicated.

 

(Dollars in millions)

At March 31, 2020

 

At December 31, 2019

Fixed maturities, market value

$

16,545.9

 

81.4

%

 

$

16,824.9

 

81.1

%

Fixed maturities, fair value

 

4.7

 

0.0

%

 

 

5.8

 

0.0

%

Equity securities, fair value

 

722.9

 

3.6

%

 

 

931.5

 

4.5

%

Short-term investments

 

441.7

 

2.2

%

 

 

414.7

 

2.0

%

Other invested assets

 

1,803.8

 

8.8

%

 

 

1,763.5

 

8.5

%

Cash

 

817.6

 

4.0

%

 

 

808.0

 

3.9

%

Total investments and cash

$

20,336.6

 

100.0

%

 

$

20,748.5

 

100.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

 

At

 

At

 

March 31, 2020

 

December 31, 2019

Fixed income portfolio duration (years)

3.6

 

 

3.5

 

Fixed income composite credit quality

Aa3

 

 

A1

 

Imbedded end of period yield, pre-tax

3.4

%

 

3.4

%

Imbedded end of period yield, after-tax

3.0

%

 

3.0

%

 

46


 

The following table provides a comparison of our total return by asset class relative to broadly accepted industry benchmarks for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

March 31, 2020

 

December 31, 2019

Fixed income portfolio total return

(0.8)

%

 

6.2

%

Barclay's Capital - U.S. aggregate index

3.2

%

 

8.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common equity portfolio total return

(17.6)

%

 

23.8

%

S&P 500 index

(19.6)

%

 

31.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other invested asset portfolio total return

0.7

%

 

9.9

%

 

The pre-tax equivalent total return for the bond portfolio was approximately (0.8)% and 6.3%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2019. The pre-tax equivalent return adjusts the yield on tax-exempt bonds to the fully taxable equivalent.

 

Our fixed income and equity portfolios have different compositions than the benchmark indexes. Our fixed income portfolios have a shorter duration because we align our investment portfolio with our liabilities. We also hold foreign securities to match our foreign liabilities while the index is comprised of only U.S. securities. Our equity portfolios reflect an emphasis on dividend yield and growth equities, while the index is comprised of the largest 500 equities by market capitalization.

 

Reinsurance Receivables.  

Reinsurance receivables for both paid and recoverable on unpaid losses totaled $1,808.6 million and $1,763.5 million at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. At March 31, 2020, $686.9 million, or 38.0%, was receivable from Mt. Logan Re collateralized segregated accounts and $155.5 million, or 8.6%, was receivable from Munich Reinsurance America, Inc. (“Munich Re”). No other retrocessionaire accounted for more than 5% of our receivables.

 

Loss and LAE Reserves. Gross loss and LAE reserves totaled $13,820.5 million and $13,611.3 million at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

 

The following tables summarize gross outstanding loss and LAE reserves by segment, classified by case reserves and IBNR reserves, for the periods indicated.

 

 

At March 31, 2020

 

Case

 

IBNR

 

Total

 

% of

(Dollars in millions)

Reserves

 

 

Reserves

 

Reserves

 

Total

Reinsurance

$

4,853.5

 

$

5,080.3

 

$

9,933.8

 

71.9

%

Insurance

 

1,092.9

 

 

2,546.1

 

 

3,639.0

 

26.3

%

Total excluding A&E

 

5,946.4

 

 

7,626.4

 

 

13,572.8

 

98.2

%

A&E

 

196.8

 

 

50.9

 

 

247.7

 

1.8

%

Total including A&E

$

6,143.2

 

$

7,677.3

 

$

13,820.5

 

100.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

47


 

 

At December 31, 2019

 

Case

 

IBNR

 

Total

 

% of

(Dollars in millions)

Reserves

 

Reserves

 

Reserves

 

Total

Reinsurance

$

5,050.5

 

$

4,839.4

 

$

9,889.9

 

72.7

%

Insurance

 

1,090.4

 

 

2,373.2

 

 

3,463.5

 

25.4

%

Total excluding A&E

 

6,140.9

 

 

7,212.5

 

 

13,353.4

 

98.1

%

A&E

 

203.4

 

 

54.5

 

 

257.9

 

1.9

%

Total including A&E

$

6,344.3

 

$

7,267.0

 

$

13,611.3

 

100.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in premiums earned and business mix, reserve re-estimations, catastrophe losses and changes in catastrophe loss reserves and claim settlement activity all impact loss and LAE reserves by segment and in total.

 

Our loss and LAE reserves represent management’s best estimate of our ultimate liability for unpaid claims. We continuously re-evaluate our reserves, including re-estimates of prior period reserves, taking into consideration all available information and, in particular, newly reported loss and claim experience. Changes in reserves resulting from such re-evaluations are reflected in incurred losses in the period when the re-evaluation is made. Our analytical methods and processes operate at multiple levels including individual contracts, groupings of like contracts, classes and lines of business, internal business units, segments, legal entities, and in the aggregate. In order to set appropriate reserves, we make qualitative and quantitative analyses and judgments at these various levels. Additionally, the attribution of reserves, changes in reserves and incurred losses among accident years requires qualitative and quantitative adjustments and allocations at these various levels. We utilize actuarial science, business expertise and management judgment in a manner intended to ensure the accuracy and consistency of our reserving practices. Nevertheless, our reserves are estimates, which are subject to variation, which may be significant.

 

There can be no assurance that reserves for, and losses from, claim obligations will not increase in the future, possibly by a material amount. However, we believe that our existing reserves and reserving methodologies lessen the probability that any such increase would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Asbestos and Environmental Exposures. A&E exposures represent a separate exposure group for monitoring and evaluating reserve adequacy. The following table summarizes the outstanding loss reserves with respect to A&E reserves on both a gross and net of retrocessions basis for the periods indicated.

 

 

At

 

At

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

(Dollars in millions)

2020

 

2019

Gross reserves

$

249.8

 

$

257.9

Reinsurance receivable

 

(28.4)

 

 

(29.2)

Net reserves

$

221.4

 

$

228.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

With respect to asbestos only, at March 31, 2020, we had net asbestos loss reserves of $216.4 million, or 97.7%, of total net A&E reserves, all of which was for assumed business.

 

In 2015, we sold Mt. McKinley to Clearwater Insurance Company. Concurrently with the closing, we entered into a retrocession treaty with an affiliate of Clearwater. Per the retrocession treaty, we retroceded 100% of the liabilities associated with certain Mt. McKinley policies, which had been reinsured by Bermuda Re. As consideration for entering into the retrocession treaty, Bermuda Re transferred cash of $140.3 million, an amount equal to the net loss reserves as of the closing date. Of the $140.3 million of net loss reserves retroceded, $100.5 million were related to A&E business. The maximum liability retroceded under the

48


 

retrocession treaty will be $440.3 million, equal to the retrocession payment plus $300.0 million. We will retain liability for any amounts exceeding the maximum liability retroceded under the retrocession treaty.

 

On December 20, 2019, the retrocession treaty was amended and included a partial commutation. As a result of this amendment and partial commutation, gross A&E reserves and correspondingly reinsurance receivable were reduced by $43,362 thousand. In addition, the maximum liability permitted to be retroceded increased to $450,298 thousand.

 

Ultimate loss projections for A&E liabilities cannot be accomplished using standard actuarial techniques. We believe that our A&E reserves represent management’s best estimate of the ultimate liability; however, there can be no assurance that ultimate loss payments will not exceed such reserves, perhaps by a significant amount.

 

Industry analysts use the “survival ratio” to compare the A&E reserves among companies with such liabilities. The survival ratio is typically calculated by dividing a company’s current net reserves by the three year average of annual paid losses. Hence, the survival ratio equals the number of years that it would take to exhaust the current reserves if future loss payments were to continue at historical levels. Using this measurement, our net three year asbestos survival ratio was 5.6 years at March 31, 2020. These metrics can be skewed by individual large settlements occurring in the prior three years and therefore, may not be indicative of the timing of future payments.

 

Shareholders’ Equity. Our shareholders’ equity decreased to $8,580.9 million as of March 31, 2020 from $9,132.9 million as of December 31, 2019. This decrease was the result of $248.0 million of unrealized depreciation on investments net of tax, the repurchase of 970,892 common shares for $200.0 million, $63.3 million of shareholder dividends, $50.8 million of net foreign currency translation adjustments, $4.2 million of cumulative adjustment from the adoption of ASU 2016-13 and $3.2 million of share-based compensation transactions, partially offset by $16.6 million of net income, and $0.9 million of net benefit plan obligation adjustments

 

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Capital. Shareholders’ equity at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was $8,580.9 million and $9,132.9 million, respectively. Management’s objective in managing capital is to ensure its overall capital level, as well as the capital levels of its operating subsidiaries, exceed the amounts required by regulators, the amount needed to support our current financial strength ratings from rating agencies and our own economic capital models. The Company’s capital has historically exceeded these benchmark levels.

 

Our two main operating companies Bermuda Re and Everest Re are regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”) and the State of Delaware, Department of Insurance, respectively. Both regulatory bodies have their own capital adequacy models based on statutory capital as opposed to GAAP basis equity. Failure to meet the required statutory capital levels could result in various regulatory restrictions, including business activity and the payment of dividends to their parent companies.

 

The regulatory targeted capital and the actual statutory capital for Bermuda Re and Everest Re were as follows:

 

 

Bermuda Re (1)

 

Everest Re (2)

 

At December 31,

 

At December 31,

(Dollars in millions)

2019

 

2018

 

2019

 

2018

Regulatory targeted capital

$

2,061.1

 

$

1,753.2

 

$

2,001.2

 

$

2,173.0

Actual capital

$

3,197.4

 

$

3,068.5

 

$

3,739.1

 

$

3,650.6

 

(1) Regulatory targeted capital represents the target capital level from the applicable year's BSCR calculation.

(2) Regulatory targeted capital represents 200% of the RBC authorized control level calculation for the applicable year.

 

49


 

Our financial strength ratings as determined by A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s are important as they provide our customers and investors with an independent assessment of our financial strength using a rating scale that provides for relative comparisons. We continue to possess significant financial flexibility and access to debt and equity markets as a result of our financial strength, as evidenced by the financial strength ratings as assigned by independent rating agencies.

 

We maintain our own economic capital models to monitor and project our overall capital, as well as, the capital at our operating subsidiaries. A key input to the economic models is projected income and this input is continually compared to actual results, which may require a change in the capital strategy.

 

During the first quarter of 2020, we repurchased 970,892 shares for $200.0 million in the open market and paid $63.3 million in dividends to adjust our capital position and enhance long term expected returns to our shareholders. We also repurchased $1.7 million of our long-term subordinated notes in the first quarter of 2020. We recognized a realized gain of $0.5 million on the repurchase.

 

We may continue, from time to time, to seek to retire portions of our outstanding debt securities through cash repurchases, in open-market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases, if any, will be subject to and depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. The amounts involved in any such transactions, individually or in the aggregate, may be material.

 

In 2019, we repurchased 114,633 shares for $24.6 million in the open market and paid $234.3 million in dividends. We may at times enter into a Rule 10b5-1 repurchase plan agreement to facilitate the repurchase of shares. On November 19, 2014, our existing Board authorization to purchase up to 25 million of our shares was amended to authorize the purchase of up to 30 million shares. As of March 31, 2020, we had repurchased 29.6 million shares under this authorization.

 

Liquidity. Our liquidity requirements are generally met from positive cash flow from operations. Positive cash flow results from reinsurance and insurance premiums being collected prior to disbursements for claims, which disbursements generally take place over an extended period after the collection of premiums, sometimes a period of many years. Collected premiums are generally invested, prior to their use in such disbursements, and investment income provides additional funding for loss payments. Our net cash flows from operating activities were $506.0 million and $459.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Additionally, these cash flows reflected net tax payments of $4.9 million and net tax recoveries of $90.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and net catastrophe loss payments of $229.3 million and $249.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

If disbursements for claims and benefits, policy acquisition costs and other operating expenses were to exceed premium inflows, cash flow from reinsurance and insurance operations would be negative. The effect on cash flow from insurance operations would be partially offset by cash flow from investment income. Additionally, cash inflows from investment maturities and dispositions, both short-term investments and longer term maturities are available to supplement other operating cash flows.

 

As the timing of payments for claims and benefits cannot be predicted with certainty, we maintain portfolios of long term invested assets with varying maturities, along with short-term investments that provide additional liquidity for payment of claims. At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we held cash and short-term investments of $1,259.3 million and $1,222.7 million, respectively. Our short-term investments are generally readily marketable and can be converted to cash. In addition to these cash and short-term investments, at March 31, 2020, we had $1,344.3 million of available for sale fixed maturity securities maturing within one year or less, $6,631.5 million maturing within one to five years and $4,600.7 million maturing after five years. Our $722.9 million of equity securities are comprised primarily of publicly traded securities that can be easily liquidated. We believe that these fixed maturity and equity securities, in conjunction with the short-term investments and positive cash flow from operations, provide ample sources of liquidity for the expected

50


 

payment of losses in the near future. We do not anticipate selling a significant amount of securities or using available credit facilities to pay losses and LAE but have the ability to do so. Sales of securities might result in realized capital gains or losses. At March 31, 2020 we had $74.5 million of net pre-tax unrealized appreciation related to fixed maturity securities, comprised of $515.3 million of pre-tax unrealized appreciation and $440.8 million of pre-tax unrealized depreciation.

 

Management generally expects annual positive cash flow from operations, which reflects the strength of overall pricing. Cash flow from operations may decline and could become negative; however, as indicated above, the Company has ample liquidity to settle its claims.

 

In addition to our cash flows from operations and liquid investments, we also have multiple credit facilities that provide up to $200.0 million of unsecured revolving credit for liquidity and letters of credit but more importantly provide for up to $600.0 million and £47.0 million of collateralized standby letters of credit to support business written by our Bermuda operating subsidiaries.

 

Effective May 26, 2016, Group, Bermuda Re and Everest International entered into a five year, $800.0 million senior credit facility with a syndicate of lenders, which amended and restated in its entirety the June 22, 2012, four year, $800.0 million senior credit facility. Both the May 26, 2016 and June 22, 2012 senior credit facilities, which have similar terms, are referred to as the “Group Credit Facility”. Wells Fargo Corporation (“Wells Fargo Bank”) is the administrative agent for the Group Credit Facility, which consists of two tranches. Tranche one provides up to $200.0 million of unsecured 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 London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a margin. The Base Rate is the higher of (a) the prime commercial lending rate established by Wells Fargo Bank, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% per annum or (c) the one month LIBOR Rate plus 1.0% 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 $600.0 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 $5,371.0 million plus 25% of consolidated net income for each of Group’s fiscal quarters, for which statements are available ending on or after March 31, 2016 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, which at March 31, 2020, was $6,259.5 million. As of March 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all Group Credit Facility covenants.

 

At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had $50.0 million and $0.0 million of outstanding short-term borrowings from the Group Credit Facility revolving credit line, respectively. At March 31, 2020, the Group Credit Facility had $91.8 million outstanding letters of credit under tranche one and $589.2 million outstanding letters of credit under tranche two. At December 31, 2019, the Group Credit Facility had $33.7 million outstanding letters of credit under tranche one and $589.7 million outstanding letters of credit under tranche two.

 

Effective November 7, 2019, Everest International renewed its credit facility with Lloyds Bank plc (“Everest International Credit Facility”). The current renewal of the Everest International Credit Facility has a four year term and provides up to £47,000 thousand for the issuance of standby letters of credit on a collateralized basis. The Company pays a commitment fee of 0.1% per annum on the average daily amount of the remainder of (1) the aggregate amount available under the facility and (2) the aggregate amount of drawings outstanding under the facility. The Company pays a credit commission fee of 0.35% per annum on drawings outstanding under the facility.

 

51


 

The Everest International 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 $5,532.7 million (70% of consolidated net worth as of December 31, 2018), plus 25% of consolidated net income for each of Group’s fiscal quarters, for which statements are available ending on or after January 1, 2019 and for which net income is positive, plus 25% of any increase in consolidated net worth of Group during such period attributable to the issuance of ordinary and preferred shares, which at March 31, 2020, was $5,797.2 million. As of March 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all Everest International Credit Facility requirements.

 

At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, Everest International Credit Facility had £47.0 million outstanding letters of credit.

 

Costs incurred in connection with the Group Credit Facility and Everest International Credit Facility were $0.1 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

 

Market Sensitive Instruments.

The SEC’s Financial Reporting Release #48 requires registrants to clarify and expand upon the existing financial statement disclosure requirements for derivative financial instruments, derivative commodity instruments and other financial instruments (collectively, “market sensitive instruments”). We do not generally enter into market sensitive instruments for trading purposes.

 

Our current investment strategy seeks to maximize after-tax income through a high quality, diversified, taxable and tax-preferenced fixed maturity portfolio, while maintaining an adequate level of liquidity. Our mix of taxable and tax-preferenced investments is adjusted periodically, consistent with our current and projected operating results, market conditions and our tax position. The fixed maturity securities in the investment portfolio are comprised of non-trading available for sale securities. Additionally, we have invested in equity securities.

 

The overall investment strategy considers the scope of present and anticipated Company operations. In particular, estimates of the financial impact resulting from non-investment asset and liability transactions, together with our capital structure and other factors, are used to develop a net liability analysis. This analysis includes estimated payout characteristics for which our investments provide liquidity. This analysis is considered in the development of specific investment strategies for asset allocation, duration and credit quality. The change in overall market sensitive risk exposure principally reflects the asset changes that took place during the period.

 

Interest Rate Risk. Our $20.3 billion investment portfolio, at March 31, 2020, is principally comprised of fixed maturity securities, which are generally subject to interest rate risk and some foreign currency exchange rate risk, and some equity securities, which are subject to price fluctuations and some foreign exchange rate risk. The overall economic impact of the foreign exchange risks on the investment portfolio is partially mitigated by changes in the dollar value of foreign currency denominated liabilities and their associated income statement impact.

 

Interest rate risk is the potential change in value of the fixed maturity securities portfolio, including short-term investments, from a change in market interest rates. In a declining interest rate environment, it includes prepayment risk on the $3,065.3 million of mortgage-backed securities in the $16,550.6 million fixed maturity portfolio. Prepayment risk results from potential accelerated principal payments that shorten the average life and thus the expected yield of the security.

 

The table below displays the potential impact of market value fluctuations and after-tax unrealized appreciation on our fixed maturity portfolio (including $441.7 million of short-term investments) for the period indicated based on upward and downward parallel and immediate 100 and 200 basis point shifts in interest rates. For legal entities with a U.S. dollar functional currency, this modeling was performed on each security individually. To generate appropriate price estimates on mortgage-backed securities, changes in prepayment expectations

52


 

under different interest rate environments were taken into account. For legal entities with a non-U.S. dollar functional currency, the effective duration of the involved portfolio of securities was used as a proxy for the market value change under the various interest rate change scenarios.

 

 

Impact of Interest Rate Shift in Basis Points

 

At March 31, 2020

 

-200

 

 

-100

 

0

 

 

100

 

200

(Dollars in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Market/Fair Value

$

18,222.2

 

 

$

17,607.2

 

 

$

16,992.3

 

 

$

16,377.4

 

 

 

15,762.5

 

Market/Fair Value Change from Base (%)

 

7.2

%

 

 

3.6

%

 

 

0.0

%

 

 

(3.6)

%

 

 

(7.2)

%

Change in Unrealized Appreciation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After-tax from Base ($)

$

1,088.7

 

 

$

544.3

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

(544.3)

 

 

$

(1,088.7)

 

 

We had $13,820.5 million and $13,611.3 million of gross reserves for losses and LAE as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. These amounts are recorded at their nominal value, as opposed to present value, which would reflect a discount adjustment to reflect the time value of money. Since losses are paid out over a period of time, the present value of the reserves is less than the nominal value. As interest rates rise, the present value of the reserves decreases and, conversely, as interest rates decline, the present value increases. These movements are the opposite of the interest rate impacts on the fair value of investments. While the difference between present value and nominal value is not reflected in our financial statements, our financial results will include investment income over time from the investment portfolio until the claims are paid. Our loss and loss reserve obligations have an expected duration of approximately 3.0 years, which is reasonably consistent with our fixed income portfolio. If we were to discount our loss and LAE reserves, net of ceded reserves, the discount would be approximately $1.3 billion resulting in a discounted reserve balance of approximately $10.8 billion, representing approximately 63.8% of the value of the fixed maturity investment portfolio funds.

 

Equity Risk. Equity risk is the potential change in fair and/or market value of the common stock, preferred stock and mutual fund portfolios arising from changing prices. Our equity investments consist of a diversified portfolio of individual securities and mutual funds, which invest principally in high quality common and preferred stocks that are traded on the major exchanges, and mutual fund investments in emerging market debt. The primary objective of the equity portfolio is to obtain greater total return relative to our core bonds over time through market appreciation and income.

 

The table below displays the impact on fair/market value and after-tax change in fair/market value of a 10% and 20% change in equity prices up and down for the period indicated.

 

 

Impact of Percentage Change in Equity Fair/Market Values

 

At March 31, 2020

(Dollars in millions)

-20%

 

-10%

 

0%

 

10%

 

20%

Fair/Market Value of the Equity Portfolio

$

578.3

 

$

650.6

 

$

722.9

 

$

795.1

 

$

867.4

After-tax Change in Fair/Market Value

$

(119.6)

 

$

(59.8)

 

$

-

 

$

59.8

 

$

119.6

 

Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign currency risk is the potential change in value, income and cash flow arising from adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Each of our non-U.S./Bermuda (“foreign”) operations maintains capital in the currency of the country of its geographic location consistent with local regulatory guidelines. Each foreign operation may conduct business in its local currency, as well as the currency of other countries in which it operates. The primary foreign currency exposures for these foreign operations are the Canadian Dollar, the Singapore Dollar, the British Pound Sterling and the Euro. We mitigate foreign exchange exposure by generally matching the currency and duration of our assets to our corresponding operating liabilities. In accordance with FASB guidance, the impact on the market value of available for sale fixed maturities due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, in relation to functional currency, is reflected as part of other comprehensive income. Conversely, the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, in relation to functional currency, on other assets and liabilities is reflected through net income as a component of

53


 

other income (expense). In addition, we translate the assets, liabilities and income of non-U.S. dollar functional currency legal entities to the U.S. dollar. This translation amount is reported as a component of other comprehensive income.

 

In January 2020, the United Kingdom exited the European Union (commonly referred to as "Brexit"). The Company has a Lloyd’s of London Syndicate and Bermuda Re has a branch operation in the United Kingdom. The nature and extent of the long term impact of Brexit on regulation, interest rates, currency exchange rates and financial markets is still uncertain and may adversely affect our operations.

 

Safe Harbor Disclosure.

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the federal securities laws. In some cases, these statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “plan”, “believe”, “predict”, “potential” and “intend”. Forward-looking statements contained in this report include information regarding our reserves for losses and LAE, the CARES Act, the impact of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act, the adequacy of capital in relation to regulatory required capital, the adequacy of our provision for uncollectible balances, estimates of our catastrophe exposure, the effects of catastrophic and pandemic events on our financial statements, the ability of Everest Re, Holdings, Holdings Ireland, Dublin Holdings, Bermuda Re and Everest International to pay dividends and the settlement costs of our specialized equity index put option contracts. Forward-looking statements only reflect our expectations and are not guarantees of performance. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual events or results may differ materially from our expectations. Important factors that could cause our actual events or results to be materially different from our expectations include those discussed under the caption ITEM 1A, “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent 10-K filing. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



ITEM 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Market Risk Instruments. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources - Market Sensitive Instruments” in PART I – ITEM 2.



ITEM 4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, our management carried out an evaluation, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Based on their evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Our management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, also conducted an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any changes occurred during the quarter covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Based on that evaluation, there has been no such change during the quarter covered by this report.

 

54


 

PART II

 

ITEM 1.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

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 and reinsurance 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. The Company considers the statuses of these proceedings when determining its reserves for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses.

 

Aside from litigation and arbitrations related to these insurance and reinsurance agreements, the Company is not a party to any other material litigation or arbitration.

 

ITEM 1A.RISK FACTORS

 

No material changes.



ITEM 2.UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

 

 

 

 

Maximum Number (or

 

 

 

Total Number of

Approximate Dollar

 

 

 

Shares (or Units)

Value) of Shares (or

 

 

 

Purchased as Part

Units) that May Yet

 

Total Number of

 

of Publicly

Be Purchased Under

 

Shares (or Units)

Average Price Paid

Announced Plans or

the Plans or

Period

Purchased

per Share (or Unit)

Programs

Programs (1)

January 1 - 31, 2020

-

$ -

-

1,328,695

February 1 - 29, 2020

43,044

$280.0587

-

1,328,695

March 1 - 31, 2020

970,892

$ 206.0159

970,892

357,803

Total

1,013,936

$-

970,892

357,803

 

(1)On September 21, 2004, the Company’s board of directors approved an amended share repurchase program authorizing the Company and/or its subsidiary Holdings to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 of the Company’s common shares through open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or both. On July 21, 2008; February 24, 2010; February 22, 2012; May 15, 2013; and November 19, 2014, the Company’s executive committee of the Board of Directors has approved subsequent amendments to the share repurchase program authorizing the Company and/or its subsidiary Holdings, to purchase up to a current aggregate of 30,000,000 of the Company’s shares (recognizing that the number of shares authorized for repurchase has been reduced by those shares that have already been purchased) in open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or both.



ITEM 3.DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.



55


 

ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.



ITEM 5.OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.



ITEM 6.EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit Index

 

 

Exhibit No.

Description

 

 

4.1

Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Exchange Act

 

 

31.1

Section 302 Certification of Juan C. Andrade

 

 

31.2

Section 302 Certification of Craig Howie

 

 

32.1

Section 906 Certification of Juan C. Andrade and Craig Howie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

56


 

Everest Re Group, Ltd.

 

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.

 

 

 

Everest Re Group, Ltd.

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/S/ CRAIG HOWIE

 

 

Craig Howie

 

 

Executive Vice President and

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

Dated: May 11, 2020