Annual Statements Open main menu

PARTNERRE LTD - Quarter Report: 2012 September (Form 10-Q)

10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

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 SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

OR

 

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

For the transition period from              to             .

Commission file number 1-14536

 

 

PartnerRe Ltd.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Bermuda   Not Applicable
(State of incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

90 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke, HM08, Bermuda

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(441) 292-0888

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

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

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨    Smaller reporting company   ¨

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

The number of the registrant’s common shares (par value $1.00 per share) outstanding, net of treasury shares, as of October 31, 2012 was 61,249,448.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PartnerRe Ltd.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

     Page  
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

ITEM 1.

  Financial Statements   
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     3   
 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets—September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011

     4   
 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) —Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011

     5   
 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity—Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011

     6   
 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011

     7   
 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

     8   

ITEM 2.

 

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

     27   

ITEM 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     74   

ITEM 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

     77   
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION   

ITEM 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

     78   

ITEM 1A.

 

Risk Factors

     78   

ITEM 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     79   

ITEM 3.

 

Defaults upon Senior Securities

     79   

ITEM 4.

 

Mine Safety Disclosures

     79   

ITEM 5.

 

Other Information

     79   

ITEM 6.

 

Exhibits

     79   
 

Signatures

     80   
 

Exhibit Index

     81   


Table of Contents

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of PartnerRe Ltd.

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of PartnerRe Ltd. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2012, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, and of shareholders’ equity, and of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

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

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

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of PartnerRe Ltd. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income, shareholders’ equity, and of cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 24, 2012, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche Ltd.

Deloitte & Touche Ltd.

Hamilton, Bermuda

November 2, 2012


Table of Contents

PartnerRe Ltd.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except parenthetical share and per share data)

 

     September 30,     December 31,  
     2012     2011  

Assets

    

Investments:

    

Fixed maturities, trading securities, at fair value (amortized cost: 2012, $13,555,701; 2011, $13,394,404)

   $ 14,338,499     $ 13,941,829  

Short-term investments, trading securities, at fair value (amortized cost: 2012, $161,083; 2011, $42,563)

     161,137       42,571  

Equities, trading securities, at fair value (cost: 2012, $975,023; 2011, $917,613)

     1,071,528       944,691  

Other invested assets

     341,555       358,154  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments

     15,912,719       15,287,245  

Funds held – directly managed (cost: 2012, $1,142,593; 2011, $1,241,222)

     1,188,186       1,268,010  

Cash and cash equivalents, at fair value, which approximates amortized cost

     1,336,362       1,342,257  

Accrued investment income

     175,066       189,074  

Reinsurance balances receivable

     2,329,907       2,059,976  

Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses

     369,960       397,788  

Funds held by reinsured companies

     805,178       796,290  

Deferred acquisition costs

     602,660       547,202  

Deposit assets

     256,587       241,513  

Net tax assets

     34,547       66,574  

Goodwill

     455,533       455,533  

Intangible assets

     107,188       133,867  

Other assets

     66,237       70,044  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 23,640,130     $ 22,855,373  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities

    

Unpaid losses and loss expenses

   $ 10,761,302     $ 11,273,091  

Policy benefits for life and annuity contracts

     1,703,147       1,645,662  

Unearned premiums

     1,810,881       1,448,841  

Other reinsurance balances payable

     504,820       443,873  

Deposit liabilities

     255,986       249,382  

Net tax liabilities

     356,851       297,153  

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other

     347,152       208,840  

Debt related to senior notes

     750,000       750,000  

Debt related to capital efficient notes

     70,989       70,989  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     16,561,128       16,387,831  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity

    

Common shares (par value $1.00; issued: 2012, 85,204,067 shares; 2011, 84,766,693 shares)

     85,204       84,767  

Preferred shares (par value $1.00; issued and outstanding: 2012 and 2011, 35,750,000 shares; aggregate liquidation value: 2012 and 2011, $893,750)

     35,750       35,750  

Additional paid-in capital

     3,840,641       3,803,796  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

    

Currency translation adjustment

     35,309       4,267  

Other accumulated comprehensive loss (net of tax of: 2012, $6,605; 2011, $6,590)

     (17,794     (16,911

Retained earnings

     4,893,729       4,035,103  

Common shares held in treasury, at cost (2012, 23,837,410 shares; 2011, 19,444,365 shares)

     (1,793,837     (1,479,230
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     7,079,002       6,467,542  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 23,640,130     $ 22,855,373  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

PartnerRe Ltd.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

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

 

     For the three
months ended
September 30,
2012
    For the three
months ended
September 30,
2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30,
2012
    For the nine
months ended
September 30,
2011
 

Revenues

        

Gross premiums written

   $ 1,056,076     $ 1,095,326     $ 3,786,802     $ 3,735,091  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums written

   $ 1,043,240     $ 1,079,557     $ 3,652,571     $ 3,606,444  

Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums

     193,851       214,762       (334,772     (140,091
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums earned

     1,237,091       1,294,319       3,317,799       3,466,353  

Net investment income

     135,266       163,647       435,669       473,608  

Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses)

     257,429       26,139       488,296       (7,860

Other income

     2,744       1,434       8,143       4,843  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     1,632,530       1,485,539       4,249,907       3,936,944  

Expenses

        

Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits

     721,137       881,626       2,003,759       3,303,366  

Acquisition costs

     247,058       262,489       691,388       699,589  

Other operating expenses

     94,697       103,822       299,055       321,813  

Interest expense

     12,224       12,216       36,668       36,730  

Amortization of intangible assets

     8,893       9,520       26,679       27,512  

Net foreign exchange losses (gains)

     2,015       (10,587     (3,165     (20,020
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     1,086,024       1,259,086       3,054,384       4,368,990  

Income (loss) before taxes and interest in earnings (losses) of equity investments

     546,506       226,453       1,195,523       (432,046

Income tax expense

     64,149       41,803       181,458       65,632  

Interest in earnings (losses) of equity investments

     4,349       (4,527     8,929       (4,970
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

     486,706       180,123       1,022,994       (502,648

Preferred dividends

     15,405       14,352       46,216       31,614  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) available to common shareholders

   $ 471,301     $ 165,771     $ 976,778     $ (534,262
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

        

Net income (loss)

   $ 486,706     $ 180,123     $ 1,022,994     $ (502,648

Change in currency translation adjustment

     32,992       (54,958     31,042       (10,874

Change in other accumulated comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax

     (827     1,106       (883     (1,049
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 518,871     $ 126,271     $ 1,053,153     $ (514,571
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Per share data

        

Net income (loss) per common share:

        

Basic net income (loss)

   $ 7.62     $ 2.45     $ 15.34     $ (7.88

Diluted net income (loss)

   $ 7.53     $ 2.43     $ 15.19     $ (7.88

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     61,837,328       67,743,296       63,679,114       67,788,427  

Weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding

     62,606,761       68,181,982       64,284,125       67,788,427  

Dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.62     $ 0.60     $ 1.86     $ 1.75  

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

PartnerRe Ltd.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

     For the nine
months ended
September 30,
2012
    For the nine
months ended
September 30,
2011
 

Common shares

    

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 84,767     $ 84,033  

Issuance of common shares

     437       548  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

     85,204       84,581  

Preferred shares

    

Balance at beginning of period

     35,750       20,800  

Issuance of preferred shares

     —          14,950  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

     35,750       35,750  

Additional paid-in capital

    

Balance at beginning of period

     3,803,796       3,419,864  

Issuance of common shares

     36,845       29,774  

Issuance of preferred shares

     —          346,772  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

     3,840,641       3,796,410  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

    

Balance at beginning of period

     (12,644     4,056  

Change in currency translation adjustment

     31,042       (10,874

Change in other accumulated comprehensive loss

     (883     (1,049
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

     17,515       (7,867

Retained earnings

    

Balance at beginning of period

     4,035,103       4,761,178  

Net income (loss)

     1,022,994       (502,648

Dividends on common shares

     (118,152     (118,392

Dividends on preferred shares

     (46,216     (31,614
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

     4,893,729       4,108,524  

Common shares held in treasury

    

Balance at beginning of period

     (1,479,230     (1,083,012

Repurchase of common shares

     (314,607     (226,703
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

     (1,793,837     (1,309,715
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

   $ 7,079,002     $ 6,707,683  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

6


Table of Contents

PartnerRe Ltd.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

     For the nine
months ended
September 30,
2012
    For the nine
months ended
September 30,
2011
 

Cash flows from operating activities

    

Net income (loss)

   $ 1,022,994     $ (502,648

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Amortization of net premium on investments

     99,722       63,268  

Amortization of intangible assets

     26,679       27,512  

Net realized and unrealized investment (gains) losses

     (488,296     7,860  

Changes in:

    

Reinsurance balances, net

     (202,270     (228,133

Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses, net of ceded premiums payable

     59,536       (1,923

Funds held by reinsured companies and funds held – directly managed

     110,096       573,220  

Deferred acquisition costs

     (51,722     8,716  

Net tax assets and liabilities

     89,900       (2,893

Unpaid losses and loss expenses including life policy benefits

     (557,411     500,038  

Unearned premiums

     334,772       140,091  

Other net changes in operating assets and liabilities

     25,355       (1,176
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     469,355       583,932  

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Sales of fixed maturities

     5,016,192       5,049,822  

Redemptions of fixed maturities

     705,423       967,020  

Purchases of fixed maturities

     (5,649,511     (7,412,275

Sales and redemptions of short-term investments

     61,903       242,234  

Purchases of short-term investments

     (176,068     (292,833

Sales of equities

     574,612       492,491  

Purchases of equities

     (577,652     (513,525

Other, net

     33,891       (131,989
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (11,210     (1,599,055

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Cash dividends paid to shareholders

     (164,368     (150,006

Repurchase of common shares

     (312,291     (244,222

Issuance of common shares

     19,117       13,219  

Net proceeds from issuance of preferred shares

     —          361,722  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (457,542     (19,287

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash

     (6,498     (3,242

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (5,895     (1,037,652

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period

     1,342,257       2,111,084  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period

   $ 1,336,362     $ 1,073,432  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow information:

    

Taxes paid

   $ 105,059     $ 136,188  

Interest paid

   $ 24,630     $ 24,630  

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

7


Table of Contents

PartnerRe Ltd.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Organization

PartnerRe Ltd. (the Company) provides reinsurance on a worldwide basis through its principal wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Partner Reinsurance Company Ltd., Partner Reinsurance Europe plc and Partner Reinsurance Company of the U.S. Risks reinsured include, but are not limited to, property, casualty, motor, agriculture, aviation/space, catastrophe, credit/surety, engineering, energy, marine, specialty property, specialty casualty, multiline and other lines, mortality, longevity and health and alternative risk products. The Company’s alternative risk products include weather and credit protection to financial, industrial and service companies on a worldwide basis.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. To facilitate comparison of information across periods, certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current year’s presentation.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires Management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. While Management believes that the amounts included in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect its best estimates and assumptions, actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company’s principal estimates include:

 

   

Unpaid losses and loss expenses;

 

   

Policy benefits for life and annuity contracts;

 

   

Gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned;

 

   

Recoverability of deferred acquisition costs;

 

   

Recoverability of deferred tax assets;

 

   

Valuation of goodwill and intangible assets; and

 

   

Valuation of certain assets and derivative financial instruments that are measured using significant unobservable inputs.

In the opinion of Management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of results for the interim periods have been made. As the Company’s reinsurance operations are exposed to low-frequency, high-severity risk events, some of which are seasonal, results for certain interim periods may include unusually low loss experience, while results for other interim periods may include significant catastrophic losses. Consequently, the Company’s results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. These Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.

3. New Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued new accounting guidance, which amends the existing guidance, related to impairment testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets. The amendments allow the option of performing a qualitative impairment assessment before calculating the fair value of the intangible assets, which could, depending on the results of the assessment, eliminate the need for further impairment testing. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after September 15, 2012 with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have an impact on its consolidated shareholders’ equity or net income.

4. Fair Value

(a) Fair Value of Financial Instrument Assets

The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value by maximizing the use of observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. 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.

 

8


Table of Contents

The Company determines the appropriate level in the hierarchy for each financial instrument that it measures at fair value. In determining fair value, the Company uses various valuation approaches, including market, income and cost approaches. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the observability of inputs as follows:

 

   

Level 1 inputs—Unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access.

The Company’s financial instruments that it measures at fair value using Level 1 inputs generally include: equities listed on a major exchange, exchange traded funds and exchange traded derivatives, including futures and weather derivatives that are actively traded.

 

   

Level 2 inputs—Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets and significant directly or indirectly observable inputs, other than quoted prices, used in industry accepted models.

The Company’s financial instruments that it measures at fair value using Level 2 inputs generally include: U.S. Government issued bonds; U.S. Government sponsored enterprises bonds; U.S. state, territory and municipal entities bonds; Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related bonds consisting primarily of bonds issued by non-U.S. national governments and their agencies, non-U.S. regional governments and supranational organizations; investment grade and high yield corporate bonds; catastrophe bonds; mortality bonds; asset-backed securities; mortgage-backed securities; certain equities traded on foreign exchanges; certain fixed income mutual funds; foreign exchange forward contracts; over-the-counter derivatives such as foreign currency option contracts, non-exchange traded futures, credit default swaps, total return swaps, interest rate swaps and to-be-announced mortgage-backed securities (TBAs).

 

   

Level 3 inputs—Unobservable inputs.

The Company’s financial instruments that it measures at fair value using Level 3 inputs generally include: inactively traded fixed maturities including U.S. state, territory and municipal bonds; privately issued corporate securities; special purpose financing asset-backed bonds; unlisted equities; real estate and certain other mutual fund investments; credit-linked notes; inactively traded weather derivatives; notes, annuities, residuals and loans receivable and longevity and other total return swaps.

The Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value include investments classified as trading securities, certain other invested assets and the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value were classified between Levels 1, 2 and 3 as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

9


Table of Contents

September 30, 2012

   Quoted prices in
active  markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
    Significant other
observable  inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
    Total  

Fixed maturities

        

U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises

   $ —        $ 982,433     $ —        $ 982,433  

U.S. states, territories and municipalities

     —          10,269       208,820       219,089  

Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related

     —          2,638,242       —          2,638,242  

Corporate

     —          6,269,298       108,557       6,377,855  

Asset-backed securities

     —          393,499       329,189       722,688  

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     —          3,319,929       —          3,319,929  

Other mortgage-backed securities

     —          78,263       —          78,263  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

   $ —        $ 13,691,933     $ 646,566     $ 14,338,499  

Short-term investments

   $ —        $ 161,137     $ —        $ 161,137  

Equities

        

Consumer noncyclical

   $ 127,963     $ —        $ —        $ 127,963  

Energy

     118,502       —          —          118,502  

Finance

     81,100       7,585       13,372       102,057  

Technology

     77,032       —          7,093       84,125  

Communications

     69,182       —          —          69,182  

Insurance

     64,983       —          —          64,983  

Industrials

     56,220       —          —          56,220  

Consumer cyclical

     55,453       —          —          55,453  

Other

     84,492       —          —          84,492  

Mutual funds and exchange traded funds

     42,707       258,773       7,071       308,551  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equities

   $ 777,634     $ 266,358     $ 27,536     $ 1,071,528  

Other invested assets

        

Derivative assets

        

Foreign exchange forward contracts

   $ —        $ 11,229     $ —        $ 11,229  

Foreign currency option contracts

     —          1,061       —          1,061  

Credit default swaps (protection purchased)

     —          16       —          16  

Credit default swaps (assumed risks)

     —          452       —          452  

Insurance-linked securities

     —          —          56       56  

Total return swaps

     —          —          6,214       6,214  

TBAs

     —          1,368       —          1,368  

Other assets

     —          —          72,619       72,619  

Derivative liabilities

        

Foreign exchange forward contracts

     —          (3,744     —          (3,744

Futures contracts

     (11,462     —          —          (11,462

Credit default swaps (protection purchased)

     —          (1,071     —          (1,071

Insurance-linked securities

     —          —          (1,290     (1,290

Total return swaps

     —          —          (621     (621

Interest rate swaps

     —          (8,395     —          (8,395
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other invested assets

   $ (11,462   $ 916     $ 76,978     $ 66,432  

Funds held – directly managed

        

U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises

   $ —        $ 356,444     $ —        $ 356,444  

U.S. states, territories and municipalities

     —          —          329       329  

Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related

     —          272,585       —          272,585  

Corporate

     —          414,455       —          414,455  

Other invested assets

     —          —          17,536       17,536  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Funds held – directly managed

   $ —        $ 1,043,484     $ 17,865     $ 1,061,349  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 766,172     $ 15,163,828     $ 768,945     $ 16,698,945  

 

10


Table of Contents

December 31, 2011

   Quoted prices in
active  markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
    Significant other
observable  inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
    Total  

Fixed maturities

        

U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises

   $ —        $ 1,115,777     $ —        $ 1,115,777  

U.S. states, territories and municipalities

     —          12,269       111,415       123,684  

Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related

     —          2,964,091       —          2,964,091  

Corporate

     —          5,635,297       111,700       5,746,997  

Asset-backed securities

     —          376,384       257,415       633,799  

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     —          3,282,901       —          3,282,901  

Other mortgage-backed securities

     —          74,580       —          74,580  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

   $ —        $ 13,461,299     $ 480,530     $ 13,941,829  

Short-term investments

   $ —        $ 42,571     $ —        $ 42,571  

Equities

        

Consumer noncyclical

   $ 124,697     $ 154     $ —        $ 124,851  

Energy

     83,403       858       —          84,261  

Finance

     69,722       191       9,670       79,583  

Technology

     74,729       —          —          74,729  

Communications

     64,036       44       —          64,080  

Industrials

     58,254       —          —          58,254  

Insurance

     58,017       —          —          58,017  

Consumer cyclical

     52,305       108       —          52,413  

Other

     69,457       239       —          69,696  

Mutual funds and exchange traded funds

     35,285       237,027       6,495       278,807  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equities

   $ 689,905     $ 238,621     $ 16,165     $ 944,691  

Other invested assets

        

Derivative assets

        

Foreign exchange forward contracts

   $ —        $ 7,865     $ —        $ 7,865  

Foreign currency option contracts

     —          1,074       —          1,074  

Futures contracts

     13,524       48       —          13,572  

Credit default swaps (protection purchased)

     —          92       —          92  

Credit default swaps (assumed risks)

     —          246       —          246  

Total return swaps

     —          443       7,230       7,673  

TBAs

     —          747       —          747  

Other assets

     —          —          91,405       91,405  

Derivative liabilities

        

Foreign exchange forward contracts

     —          (5,816     —          (5,816

Foreign currency option contracts

     —          (321     —          (321

Futures contracts

     (12,905     (1,268     —          (14,173

Credit default swaps (protection purchased)

     —          (1,285     —          (1,285

Credit default swaps (assumed risks)

     —          (772     —          (772

Insurance-linked securities

     —          —          (968     (968

Total return swaps

     —          —          (640     (640

Interest rate swaps

     —          (7,992     —          (7,992

TBAs

     —          (58     —          (58

Other liabilities

     —          (137     —          (137
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other invested assets

   $ 619     $ (7,134   $ 97,027     $ 90,512  

Funds held – directly managed

        

U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises

   $ —        $ 268,539     $ —        $ 268,539  

U.S. states, territories and municipalities

     —          —          334       334  

Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related

     —          274,665       —          274,665  

Corporate

     —          480,485       —          480,485  

Short-term investments

     —          18,097       —          18,097  

 

11


Table of Contents

Other invested assets

     —             —             15,433          15,433  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Funds held – directly managed

   $ —           $ 1,041,786        $ 15,767        $ 1,057,553  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

   $         690,524        $ 14,777,143        $ 609,489        $ 16,077,156  

At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the aggregate carrying amounts of items included in Other invested assets that the Company did not measure at fair value were $275.1 million and $267.6 million, respectively, which related to the Company’s investments that are accounted for using the cost method of accounting, equity method of accounting or investment company accounting.

In addition to the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account held at fair value of $1,061.3 million and $1,057.6 million at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, the funds held – directly managed account also included cash and cash equivalents, carried at fair value, of $89.6 million and $176.3 million, respectively, and accrued investment income of $15.4 million and $13.7 million, respectively. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the aggregate carrying amounts of items included in the funds held – directly managed account that the Company did not measure at fair value were $21.9 million and $20.4 million, respectively, which primarily related to other assets and liabilities held by Colisée Re related to the underlying business, which are carried at cost (see Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011).

At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, substantially all of the accrued investment income in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets related to the Company’s investments and the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account for which the fair value option was elected.

During the three months ended September 30, 2012, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, certain equities traded on foreign exchanges with a fair value of $1.1 million were transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 given they were trading in an active market at September 30, 2012. During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011, there were no significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.

The Company’s policy is to recognize transfers between the hierarchy levels at the beginning of the period.

Disclosures about the fair value of financial instruments that the Company does not measure at fair value exclude insurance contracts and certain other financial instruments. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the fair values of financial instrument assets recorded in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets not described above, approximate their carrying values.

The following tables are reconciliations of the beginning and ending balances for all financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

12


Table of Contents

For the three months ended

September 30, 2012

   Balance at
beginning
of period
    Realized  and
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
included in
net income
    Purchases
and
issuances
     Sales
and
settlements
    Net
transfers
(out of)/into
Level 3
    Balance
at end
of period
    Change in
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
relating to
assets held at
end of period
 

Fixed maturities

               

U.S. states, territories and municipalities

   $ 117,235     $ 1,618     $ 90,050      $ (83   $ —        $ 208,820     $ 1,618  

Corporate

     111,070       681       56        (3,250     —          108,557       582  

Asset-backed securities

     290,371       699       59,724        (21,605     —          329,189       739  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

   $ 518,676     $ 2,998     $ 149,830      $ (24,938   $ —        $ 646,566     $ 2,939  

Equities

               

Finance

   $ 19,422     $ 750     $ —         $ —        $ (6,800   $ 13,372     $ 750  

Technology

     7,192       (99     —           —          —          7,093       (99

Mutual funds and exchange traded funds

     6,760       311       —           —          —          7,071       311  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equities

   $ 33,374     $ 962     $ —         $ —        $ (6,800   $ 27,536     $ 962  

Other invested assets

               

Derivatives, net

   $ 1,207     $ 3,152     $ —         $ —        $ —        $ 4,359     $ 4,168  

Other assets

     72,529       9,646       25,301        (34,857     —          72,619       4,154  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other invested assets

   $ 73,736     $ 12,798     $ 25,301      $ (34,857   $ —        $ 76,978     $ 8,322  

Funds held – directly managed

               

U.S. states, territories and municipalities

   $ 321     $ 8     $ —         $ —        $ —        $ 329     $ 8  

Other invested assets

     15,076       2,460       —           —          —          17,536       2,460  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Funds held – directly managed

   $ 15,397     $ 2,468     $ —         $ —        $ —        $ 17,865     $ 2,468  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 641,183     $ 19,226     $ 175,131      $ (59,795   $ (6,800   $ 768,945     $ 14,691  

For the three months ended

September 30, 2011

   Balance at
beginning
of period
    Realized  and
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
included in
net income
    Purchases
and
issuances
     Sales and
settlements(1)
    Net
transfers
(out of)/into
Level 3
    Balance
at end of
period
    Change in
unrealized
investment gains
(losses) relating
to assets held
at end of period
 

Fixed maturities

               

U.S. states, territories and municipalities

   $ 86,782     $ 2,100     $ —         $ (37   $ —        $ 88,845     $ 2,100  

Corporate

     116,428       969       195        (5,545     —          112,047       582  

Asset-backed securities

     261,843       2,005       39,159        (53,288     —          249,719       4,627  

Other mortgage-backed securities

     1       (1     —           —          —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

   $ 465,054     $ 5,073     $ 39,354      $ (58,870   $ —        $ 450,611     $ 7,309  

Short-term investments

   $ 2,923     $ —        $ —         $ (2,923   $ —        $ —        $ —     

Equities

               

Finance

   $ 163     $ (10   $ —         $ —        $ —        $ 153     $ (10

Mutual funds and exchange traded funds

     6,542       (29     —           —          —          6,513       (29
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equities

   $ 6,705     $ (39   $ —         $ —        $ —        $ 6,666     $ (39

Other invested assets

               

Derivatives, net

   $ (21,535   $ 3,290     $ 675      $ 10,000     $ —        $ (7,570   $ 3,290  

Other assets

     74,018       (9,391     32,808        (5,392     —          92,043       (11,988
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other invested assets

   $ 52,483     $ (6,101   $ 33,483      $ 4,608     $ —        $ 84,473     $ (8,698

Funds held – directly managed

               

U.S. states, territories and municipalities

   $ 355     $ (21   $ —         $ —        $ —        $ 334     $ (21

Other invested assets

     21,720       (3,882     —           —          —          17,838       (2,954
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Funds held – directly managed

   $ 22,075     $ (3,903   $ —         $ —        $ —        $ 18,172     $ (2,975
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 549,240     $ (4,970   $ 72,837      $ (57,185   $ —        $ 559,922     $ (4,403

 

(1) Sales and settlements of derivatives includes settlements of $10.0 million.

 

13


Table of Contents

During the three months ended September 30, 2012, a certain equity traded on a foreign exchange with a fair value of $6.8 million was transferred from Level 3 into Level 2 given it is valued using observable inputs at September 30, 2012.

The following tables are reconciliations of the beginning and ending balances for all financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

For the nine months ended

September 30, 2012

   Balance at
beginning
of period
     Realized  and
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
included in
net income
    Purchases
and
issuances  (1)
    Sales and
settlements
    Net
transfers
(out of)/into
Level 3
    Balance
at end
of period
     Change in
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
relating to
assets held at
end of period
 

Fixed maturities

                

U.S. states, territories and municipalities

   $ 111,415      $ 2,900     $ 94,750     $ (245   $ —        $ 208,820      $ 2,900  

Corporate

     111,700        111       120       (3,374     —          108,557        (2

Asset-backed securities

     257,415        8,892       142,314       (79,432     —          329,189        8,771  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

   $ 480,530      $ 11,903     $ 237,184     $ (83,051   $ —        $ 646,566      $ 11,669  

Equities

                

Finance

   $ 9,670      $ 3,702     $ 6,800     $ —        $ (6,800   $ 13,372      $ 3,702  

Technology

     —           (99     7,192       —          —          7,093        (99

Mutual funds and exchange traded funds

     6,495        576       —          —          —          7,071        576  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equities

   $ 16,165      $ 4,179     $ 13,992     $ —        $ (6,800   $ 27,536      $ 4,179  

Other invested assets

                

Derivatives, net

   $ 5,622      $ 4,157     $ (5,420   $ —        $ —        $ 4,359      $ 4,874  

Other assets

     91,405        18,464       63,349       (100,599     —          72,619        5,804  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other invested assets

   $ 97,027      $ 22,621     $ 57,929     $ (100,599   $ —        $ 76,978      $ 10,678  

Funds held – directly managed

                

U.S. states, territories and municipalities

   $ 334      $ (5   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 329      $ (5

Other invested assets

     15,433        2,103       —          —          —          17,536        2,103  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Funds held – directly managed

   $ 15,767      $ 2,098     $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 17,865      $ 2,098  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 609,489      $ 40,801     $ 309,105     $ (183,650   $ (6,800   $ 768,945      $ 28,624  

 

(1) Purchases and issuances of derivatives includes issuances of $5.7 million.

 

14


Table of Contents

For the nine months ended

September 30, 2011

   Balance at
beginning
of period
    Realized and
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
included in
net loss
    Purchases
and
issuances  (1)
    Sales
and
settlements (1)
    Net
transfers
into
Level 3
     Balance
at end
of period
    Change in
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
relating to
assets held at
end of period
 

Fixed maturities

               

U.S. states, territories

    and municipalities

   $ 55,124     $ 3,724     $ 30,064     $ (67   $ —         $ 88,845     $ 3,724  

Corporate

     76,982       (36,097     41,073       (10,091     40,180        112,047       2,949  

Asset-backed  securities

     213,139       12,683       140,803       (116,906     —           249,719       12,885  

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     —          1,385       4,212       (5,597     —           —          —     

Other mortgage-backed securities

     290       (225     408       (473     —           —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

   $ 345,535     $ (18,530   $ 216,560     $ (133,134   $ 40,180      $ 450,611     $ 19,558  

Short-term investments

   $ —        $ (1,069   $ 3,992     $ (2,923   $ —         $ —        $ —     

Equities

               

Finance

   $ 2,486     $ 229     $ —        $ (2,562   $ —         $ 153     $ 3  

Mutual funds and exchange traded funds

     40,927       1,213       —          (35,627     —           6,513       (411
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equities

   $ 43,413     $ 1,442     $ —        $ (38,189   $ —         $ 6,666     $ (408

Other invested assets

               

Derivatives, net

   $ (7,954   $ (5,513   $ (4,103   $ 10,000     $ —         $ (7,570   $ 3,790  

Other assets

     86,278       (12,598     39,356       (20,993     —           92,043       (14,485
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other invested assets

   $ 78,324     $ (18,111   $ 35,253     $ (10,993   $ —         $ 84,473     $ (10,695

Funds held – directly managed

               

U.S. states, territories

    and municipalities

   $ 368     $ (34   $ —        $ —        $ —         $ 334     $ (34

Mortgage/asset-backed securities

     12,118       (150     —          (11,968     —           —          —     

Other invested assets

     20,528       (2,690     —          —          —           17,838       (2,030
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Funds held – directly managed

   $ 33,014     $ (2,874   $ —        $ (11,968   $ —         $ 18,172     $ (2,064
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 500,286     $ (39,142   $ 255,805     $ (197,207   $ 40,180      $ 559,922     $ 6,391  

 

(1) Purchases and issuances of derivatives includes issuances of $5.1 million. Sales and settlements of derivatives includes settlements of $10.0 million.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, a certain equity traded on a foreign exchange with a fair value of $6.8 million was transferred from Level 3 into Level 2 given it is valued using observable inputs at September 30, 2012.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, a catastrophe bond (included within corporate fixed maturities) with a fair value of $40.2 million was transferred from Level 2 into Level 3. The transfer into Level 3 was due to the lack of observable market inputs at March 31, 2011, leading the Company to apply inputs that were not directly observable. The catastrophe bond matured during the three months ended June 30, 2011.

The following table shows the significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs at September 30, 2012 (in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

September 30, 2012

   Fair Value     

Valuation Techniques

  

Unobservable Inputs

   Range
(Weighted average)
 

Fixed maturities

           

U.S. states, territories and municipalities

   $ 208,820      Discounted cash flow    Credit spreads      3.0% - 4.7% (3.8%)   

Corporate

     6,877      Discounted cash flow    Discount rate      13.5% (13.5%)   

Asset-backed securities – interest only

     13,051      Discounted cash flow    Credit spreads Prepayment speed     
 
6.9% -11.6% (9.1%)
20.0% (20.0%)
  
  

Asset-backed securities – other

     316,138      Discounted cash flow    Credit spreads      3.9% -12.4% (7.0%)   

Equities

           

Finance

     13,372      Weighted market comparables    Comparable return      6.0% (6.0%)   

Technology

     7,093      Weighted market comparables    Comparable return      -1.4% (-1.4%)   

Other invested assets

           

Total return swaps

     5,593      Discounted cash flow    Credit spreads      2.8% - 4.6% (3.5%)   

 

15


Table of Contents

Notes and loan receivables

     28,877      Discounted cash flow    Credit spreads      17.5% (17.5%
         Gross revenue/fair value      1.6 - 1.8 (1.8

Annuities and residuals

     27,409      Discounted cash flow    Credit spreads      5.0% - 10.1% (7.6%
         Prepayment speed      0.0% - 4.0% (2.7%
         Constant default rate      2.3% - 40.0% (17.6%

Private equity fund

     1,309      Lag reported market value    Net asset value, as reported      100.0% (100.0%
         Market adjustments      5.6% (5.6%

Notes securitization

     14,874      Discounted cash flow    Credit spreads      4.6% (4.6%

Funds held – directly managed

           

Other invested assets

     17,536      Lag reported market value    Net asset value, as reported      100.0% (100.0%
         Market adjustments      -39.9% - 0.0% (-12.2%

The table above does not include financial instruments that are measured using unobservable inputs (Level 3) where the unobservable inputs were obtained from external sources and used without adjustment. These financial instruments include mortality bonds (included within corporate fixed maturities), mutual fund investments (included within equities), and certain insurance-linked securities (included within other invested assets).

The Company has established a Valuation Committee which is responsible for determining the Company’s invested asset valuation policy and related procedures, for reviewing significant changes in the fair value measurements of securities classified as Level 3 from period to period, and for reviewing in accordance with the invested asset valuation policy an independent internal peer analysis that is performed on the fair value measurements of all securities that are classified as Level 3. The Valuation Committee is comprised of members of the Company’s senior management team and meets on a quarterly basis. The Company’s invested asset valuation policy is monitored by the Company’s Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (Board) and approved annually by the Company’s Risk and Finance Committee of the Board.

Changes in the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments subject to the fair value option during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

     For the three
months ended
September 30,
2012
     For the three
months ended
September 30,
2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30,
2012
     For the nine
months ended
September 30,
2011
 

Fixed maturities and short-term investments

   $ 150,046      $ 189,956     $ 230,862      $ 180,189  

Equities

     51,260        (145,095     69,068        (159,174

Other invested assets

     1,574        (10,347     19,734        (13,680

Funds held – directly managed

     9,425        11,921       18,216        8,025  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 212,305      $ 46,435     $ 337,880      $ 15,360  

All of the above changes in fair value are included in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations under the caption Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses).

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair value of each class of financial instrument recorded in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. There have been no material changes in the Company’s valuation techniques during the periods presented.

Fixed maturities

 

   

U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises—U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises securities consist primarily of bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury, corporate debt securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Private Export Funding Corporation. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services. The independent pricing services may use actual transaction prices for securities that have been actively traded. For securities that have not been actively traded, each pricing source has its own proprietary method to determine the fair value, which may incorporate option adjusted spreads (OAS), interest rate data and market news. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.

 

   

U.S. states, territories and municipalities—U.S. states, territories and municipalities securities consist primarily of bonds issued by U.S. states, territories and municipalities. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services using the techniques described for U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises above. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2. Certain of the bonds that are issued by municipal housing authorities are not actively traded and are priced based on internal models using unobservable inputs. Accordingly, the Company classifies these securities in Level 3. The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of these U.S. states, territories and municipalities securities classified as Level 3 is credit spreads. A significant increase (decrease) in credit spreads in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.

 

16


Table of Contents
   

Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related—Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related securities consist primarily of bonds issued by non-U.S. national governments and their agencies, non-U.S. regional governments and supranational organizations. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services using the techniques described for U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises above. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.

 

   

Corporate—Corporate securities consist primarily of bonds issued by U.S. and foreign corporations covering a variety of industries and issuing countries. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. The pricing provider incorporates information including credit spreads, interest rate data and market news into the valuation of each security. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2. When a corporate security is inactively traded or the valuation model uses unobservable inputs, the Company classifies the security in Level 3. The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of corporate securities classified as Level 3 is discount rates. A significant increase (decrease) in discount rates in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.

 

   

Asset-backed securities—Asset-backed securities primarily consist of bonds issued by U.S. and foreign corporations that are backed by student loans, automobile loans, credit card receivables, equipment leases, and special purpose financing. With the exception of special purpose financing, these asset-backed securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. The pricing provider applies dealer quotes and other available trade information, prepayment speeds, yield curves and credit spreads to the valuation. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2. Special purpose financing securities are generally inactively traded and are priced based on valuation models using unobservable inputs. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 3. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of these asset-backed securities classified as Level 3 are prepayment speeds and credit spreads. Significant increases (decreases) in these prepayment speeds and credit spreads in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.

 

   

Residential mortgage-backed securities—Residential mortgage-backed securities primarily consist of bonds issued by the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, as well as private, non-agency issuers. With the exception of private, non-agency issuers, these residential mortgage-backed securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. When current market trades are not available, the pricing provider will employ proprietary models with observable inputs including other trade information, prepayment speeds, yield curves and credit spreads. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.

 

   

Other mortgage-backed securities—Other mortgage-backed securities primarily consist of commercial mortgage-backed securities. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. The pricing provider applies dealer quotes and other available trade information, prepayment speeds, yield curves and credit spreads to the valuation. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.

In general, the methods employed by the independent pricing services to determine the fair value of the securities that have not been actively traded involve the use of “matrix pricing” in which the independent pricing source applies the credit spread for a comparable security that has traded recently to the current yield curve to determine a reasonable fair value. The Company uses a pricing service ranking to consistently select the most appropriate pricing service in instances where it receives multiple quotes on the same security. When fair values are unavailable from these independent pricing sources, quotes are obtained directly from broker-dealers who are active in the corresponding markets. Most of the Company’s fixed maturities are priced from the pricing services or dealer quotes. The Company will typically not make adjustments to prices received from pricing services or dealer quotes; however, in instances where the quoted external price for a security uses significant unobservable inputs, the Company will classify that security as Level 3. The methods used to develop and substantiate the unobservable inputs used are based on the Company’s valuation policy and are dependent upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the individual investments which are generally transaction specific. The Company’s inactively traded fixed maturities are classified as Level 3. For all fixed maturity investments, the bid price is used for estimating fair value.

To validate prices, the Company compares the fair value estimates to its knowledge of the current market and will investigate prices that it considers not to be representative of fair value. The Company also reviews an internally generated fixed maturity price validation report which converts prices received for fixed maturity investments from the independent pricing sources and from broker-dealers quotes and plots OAS and duration on a sector and rating basis. The OAS is calculated using established algorithms developed by an independent risk analytics platform vendor. The OAS on the fixed maturity price validation report are compared for securities in a similar sector and having a similar rating, and outliers are identified and investigated for price reasonableness. In addition, the Company completes quantitative analyses to compare the performance of each fixed maturity investment portfolio to the performance of an appropriate benchmark, with significant differences identified and investigated.

 

17


Table of Contents

Short term investments

Short term investments are valued in a manner similar to the Company’s fixed maturity investments and are generally classified in Level 2.

Equities

Equity securities include U.S. and foreign common and preferred stocks, mutual funds and exchange traded funds. Equities and exchange traded funds are generally classified in Level 1 as the Company uses prices received from independent pricing sources based on quoted prices in active markets. Equities classified as Level 2 are generally mutual funds invested in fixed income securities, where the net asset value of the fund is provided on a daily basis, and common stocks traded in inactive markets. Equities classified as Level 3 are generally mutual funds invested in securities other than the common stock of publicly traded companies, where the net asset value is not provided on a daily basis, and inactively traded common stocks. The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of inactively traded common stocks classified as Level 3 is market return information, weighted using management’s judgment, from comparable selected publicly traded companies in the same industry, in a similar region and of a similar size. Significant increases (decreases) in the market return information could result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement.

To validate prices, the Company completes quantitative analyses to compare the performance of each equity investment portfolio to the performance of an appropriate benchmark, with significant differences identified and investigated.

Other invested assets

The Company’s exchange traded derivatives, such as futures are generally classified as Level 1 as their fair values are quoted prices in active markets. The Company’s foreign exchange forward contracts, foreign currency option contracts, non-exchange traded futures, credit default swaps, total return swaps, interest rate swaps and TBAs are generally classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy and are priced by independent pricing services.

Included in the Company’s Level 3 classification, in general, are credit-linked notes, certain inactively traded weather derivatives, notes, annuities, residuals and loans receivable, longevity and other total return swaps and certain private equity funds. For Level 3 instruments, the Company will generally (i) receive a price based on a manager’s or trustee’s valuation for the asset; (ii) develop an internal discounted cash flow model to measure fair value; or (iii) use market return information, weighted using management’s judgment, from comparable selected publicly traded equity funds, in a similar region and of a similar size. Where the Company receives prices from the manager or trustee, these prices are based on the manager’s or trustee’s estimate of fair value for the assets and are generally audited on an annual basis. Where the Company develops its own discounted cash flow models, the inputs will be specific to the asset in question, based on appropriate historical information, adjusted as necessary, and using appropriate discount rates. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of other invested assets classified as Level 3 include credit spreads, prepayment speeds, constant default rates and gross revenue to fair value ratios. Significant increases (decreases) in any of these inputs in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. As part of the Company’s modeling to determine the fair value of an investment, the Company considers counterparty credit risk as an input to the model, however, the majority of the Company’s counterparties are investment grade rated institutions and the failure of any one counterparty would not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

To validate prices, the Company will compare them to benchmarks, where appropriate, or to the business results generally within that asset class and specifically to those particular assets.

Funds held – directly managed

The segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account is comprised of fixed maturities, short-term investments and other invested assets which are fair valued on a basis consistent with the methods described above. Substantially all fixed maturities and short-term investments within the funds held – directly managed account are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

The other invested assets within the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account, which are classified as Level 3 investments, are primarily real estate mutual fund investments carried at fair value. For the real estate mutual fund investments, the Company receives a price based on the real estate fund manager’s valuation for the asset and further adjusts the price, if necessary, based on appropriate current information on the real estate market. Significant increases (decreases) to the adjustment to the real estate fund manager’s valuation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.

To validate prices within the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account, the Company utilizes the methods described above.

 

18


Table of Contents

(b) Fair Value of Financial Instrument Liabilities

At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the fair values of financial instrument liabilities recorded in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate their carrying values, with the exception of the debt related to senior notes (Senior Notes) and the debt related to capital efficient notes (CENts).

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair value of each class of financial instrument liability recorded in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for which the Company does not measure that instrument at fair value:

 

   

the fair value of the Senior Notes was calculated based on discounted cash flow models using observable market yields and contractual cash flows based on the aggregate principal amount outstanding of $250 million from PartnerRe Finance A LLC and $500 million from PartnerRe Finance B LLC at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011; and

 

   

the fair value of the CENts was calculated based on discounted cash flow models using observable market yields and contractual cash flows based on the aggregate principal amount outstanding from PartnerRe Finance II Inc. of $63 million at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

The carrying values and fair values of the Senior Notes and CENts at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

     September 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     Carrying Value      Fair Value      Carrying Value      Fair Value  

Debt related to senior notes (1)

   $ 750,000      $ 866,128      $ 750,000      $ 781,449  

Debt related to capital efficient notes (2)

     63,384        63,518        63,384        55,678  

 

(1) PartnerRe Finance A LLC and PartnerRe Finance B LLC, the issuers of the Senior Notes, do not meet consolidation requirements under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Company shows the related intercompany debt of $750 million in its Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.
(2) PartnerRe Finance II Inc., the issuer of the CENts, does not meet consolidation requirements under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Company shows the related intercompany debt of $71 million in its Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

At September 30, 2012, the Company’s debt related to the Senior Notes and CENts was classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Disclosures about the fair value of financial instrument liabilities exclude insurance contracts and certain other financial instruments.

5. Derivatives

The Company’s derivative instruments are recorded in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value, with changes in fair value mainly recognized in either net foreign exchange gains and losses or net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations or accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, depending on the nature of the derivative instrument. The Company’s objectives for holding or issuing these derivatives are as follows:

Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts

The Company utilizes foreign exchange forward contracts as part of its overall currency risk management and investment strategies. From time to time, the Company also utilizes foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge a portion of its net investment exposure resulting from the translation of its foreign subsidiaries and branches whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar.

Foreign Currency Option Contracts and Futures Contracts

The Company utilizes foreign currency option contracts to mitigate foreign currency risk. The Company uses exchange traded treasury note futures contracts to manage portfolio duration and commodity and equity futures to hedge certain investments. The Company also uses commodities futures to replicate the investment return on certain benchmarked commodities.

Credit Default Swaps

The Company purchases protection through credit default swaps to mitigate the risk associated with its underwriting operations, most notably in the credit/surety line, and to manage market exposures.

The Company also assumes credit risk through credit default swaps to replicate investment positions. The original term of these credit default swaps is generally five years or less and there are no recourse provisions associated with these swaps. While the Company would be required to perform under exposure assumed through credit default swaps in the event of a default on the

 

19


Table of Contents

underlying issuer, no issuer was in default at September 30, 2012. The counterparties on the Company’s assumed credit default swaps are all investment grade rated financial institutions.

Insurance-Linked Securities

The Company has entered into various weather derivatives and longevity total return swaps for which the underlying risks reference parametric weather risks for the weather derivatives and longevity risk for the longevity total return swaps.

Total Return and Interest Rate Swaps and Interest Rate Derivatives

The Company has entered into total return swaps referencing various project, investments and principal finance obligations. The Company has also entered into interest rate swaps to mitigate the interest rate risk on certain of the total return swaps. The Company also uses other interest rate derivatives to mitigate exposure to interest rate volatility.

To-Be-Announced Mortgage-Backed Securities

The Company utilizes TBAs as part of its overall investment strategy and to enhance investment performance.

The fair values and the related notional values of derivatives included in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

     Asset      Liability     Net derivatives  

September 30, 2012

   derivatives
at fair value
     derivatives
at fair value
    Net notional
exposure
     Fair value  

Foreign exchange forward contracts

   $ 11,229      $ (3,744   $ 2,411,819      $ 7,485  

Foreign currency option contracts

     1,061        —          116,893        1,061  

Futures contracts

     —           (11,462     1,995,581        (11,462

Credit default swaps (protection purchased)

     16        (1,071     60,000        (1,055

Credit default swaps (assumed risks)

     452        —          17,500        452  

Insurance-linked securities (1)

     56        (1,290     155,964        (1,234

Total return swaps

     6,214        (621     68,880        5,593  

Interest rate swaps (2)

     —           (8,395     —           (8,395

TBAs

     1,368        —          123,400        1,368  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total derivatives

   $ 20,396      $ (26,583      $ (6,187
     Asset      Liability     Net derivatives  

December 31, 2011

   derivatives
at fair value
     derivatives
at fair value
    Net notional
exposure
     Fair value  

Foreign exchange forward contracts

   $ 7,865      $ (5,816   $ 2,555,230      $ 2,049  

Foreign currency option contracts

     1,074        (321     110,079        753  

Futures contracts

     13,572        (14,173     2,534,995        (601

Credit default swaps (protection purchased)

     92        (1,285     94,961        (1,193

Credit default swaps (assumed risks)

     246        (772     17,500        (526

Insurance-linked securities (1)

     —           (968     136,375        (968

Total return swaps

     7,673        (640     122,230        7,033  

Interest rate swaps (2)

     —           (7,992     —           (7,992

TBAs

     747        (58     104,315        689  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total derivatives

   $ 31,269      $ (32,025      $ (756

 

(1) At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, insurance-linked securities include a longevity swap for which the notional amount is not reflective of the overall potential exposure of the swap. As such, the Company has included the probable maximum loss under the swap within the net notional exposure as an approximation of the notional amount.
(2) The Company enters into interest rate swaps to mitigate notional exposures on certain total return swaps. Accordingly, the notional value of interest rate swaps is not presented separately in the table.

The fair value of all derivatives at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 is recorded in Other invested assets in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, none of the Company’s derivatives were designated as hedges.

The gains and losses in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for derivatives not designated as hedges for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

20


Table of Contents
     For the three
months ended
September 30, 2012
    For the three
months ended
September 30, 2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2012
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2011
 

Foreign exchange forward contracts

   $ 21,976     $ 21,221     $ 41,686     $ 69,455  

Foreign currency option contracts

     1,061       (13,140     2,559       (10,759
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total included in net foreign exchange gains and losses

   $ 23,037     $ 8,081     $ 44,245     $ 58,696  

Futures contracts

   $ (14,979   $ (82,227   $ (34,758   $ (168,741

Credit default swaps (protection purchased)

     (250     736       (861     185  

Credit default swaps (assumed risks)

     398       (1,670     1,709       (63

Insurance-linked securities

     3,934       (3,970     5,160       (13,590

Total return swaps

     (773     308       (1,242     992  

Interest rate swaps

     (200     (2,913     (402     (2,272

TBAs

     2,568       4,955       7,446       11,883  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total included in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses

   $ (9,302   $ (84,781   $ (22,948   $ (171,606

Total derivatives

   $ 13,735     $ (76,700   $ 21,297     $ (112,910

6. Net Income (Loss) per Share

The reconciliation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars or shares, except per share amounts):

 

     For the three
months ended
September 30, 2012
    For the three
months ended
September 30, 2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2012
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2011
 

Numerator:

        

Net income (loss)

   $ 486,706     $ 180,123     $ 1,022,994     $ (502,648

Less: preferred dividends

     (15,405     (14,352     (46,216     (31,614
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) available to common shareholders

   $ 471,301     $ 165,771     $ 976,778     $ (534,262
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Denominator:

        

Weighted number of common shares outstanding - basic

     61,837.3       67,743.3       63,679.1       67,788.4  

Share options and other (1)

     769.5       438.7       605.0       —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding - diluted

     62,606.8       68,182.0       64,284.1       67,788.4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic net income (loss) per share

   $ 7.62     $ 2.45     $ 15.34     $ (7.88

Diluted net income (loss) per share(1)

   $ 7.53     $ 2.43     $ 15.19     $ (7.88

 

(1) At September 30, 2012 and 2011, share based awards to purchase 1,233.3 thousand and 2,996.1 thousand common shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding because their exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares. In addition, dilutive securities, in the form of share options and other, of 785.2 thousand shares were not included in the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding for the purpose of computing the diluted net loss per share because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

7. Commitments and Contingencies

(a) Concentration of Credit Risk

Financing receivables

Included in the Company’s Other invested assets are certain notes receivable which meet the definition of financing receivables and are accounted for using the cost method of accounting. These notes receivable are collateralized by commercial or residential property. The Company utilizes a third party consultant to determine the initial investment criteria and to monitor the subsequent performance of the notes receivable. The process undertaken prior to the investment in these notes receivable includes an examination of the underlying collateral. The Company reviews its receivable positions on at least a quarterly basis using actual redemption experience. At September 30, 2012, based on the latest available information, the Company recorded an allowance for credit losses related to these notes receivable of $3.0 million.

 

21


Table of Contents

The Company monitors the performance of the notes receivable based on the type of underlying collateral and by assigning a “performing” or a “non-performing” indicator of credit quality to each individual receivable. At September 30, 2012, the Company’s notes receivable of $59.1 million were all performing and were collateralized by residential property and commercial property of $38.0 million and $21.1 million, respectively. At December 31, 2011, the Company’s notes receivable of $80.4 million were all performing and were collateralized by residential property and commercial property of $45.9 million and $34.5 million, respectively.

The Company purchased $0.2 million and $37.6 million of financing receivables during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. The Company purchased financing receivables of $18.5 million and $84.5 million during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. There were no sales of financing receivables during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011. However, the outstanding balances were reduced by settlements of the underlying debt in all the periods above.

(b) Legal Proceedings

There has been no significant change in legal proceedings at September 30, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011. See Note 18(e) to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.

8. Credit Agreements

In the normal course of its operations, the Company enters into agreements with financial institutions to obtain unsecured and secured credit facilities. These facilities are used primarily for the issuance of letters of credit, although a portion of these facilities may also be used for liquidity purposes.

On March 20, 2012, the Company modified its existing three-year syndicated unsecured credit facility to reduce the available facility from $750 million to $500 million. All other terms, and the access to a revolving line of credit, remained unchanged.

See Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 for further information related to the credit facilities available to the Company.

9. Segment Information

The Company monitors the performance of its operations in three segments, Non-life, Life and Corporate and Other as described in Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011. The Non-life segment is further divided into four sub-segments: North America, Global (Non-U.S.) Property and Casualty (Global (Non-U.S.) P&C), Global (Non-U.S.) Specialty and Catastrophe.

Because the Company does not manage its assets by segment, net investment income is not allocated to the Non-life segment. However, because of the interest-sensitive nature of some of the Company’s Life products, net investment income is considered in Management’s assessment of the profitability of the Life segment. The following items are not considered in evaluating the results of the Non-life and Life segments: net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses, interest expense, amortization of intangible assets, net foreign exchange gains and losses, income tax expense or benefit and interest in earnings and losses of equity investments. Segment results are shown before consideration of intercompany transactions.

Management measures results for the Non-life segment on the basis of the loss ratio, acquisition ratio, technical ratio, other operating expense ratio and combined ratio (all defined below). Management measures results for the Non-life sub-segments on the basis of the loss ratio, acquisition ratio and technical ratio. Management measures results for the Life segment on the basis of the allocated underwriting result, which includes revenues from net premiums earned, other income or loss and allocated net investment income for Life, and expenses from life policy benefits, acquisition costs and other operating expenses.

The following tables provide a summary of the segment results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in millions of U.S. dollars, except ratios):

 

22


Table of Contents

Segment Information

For the three months ended September 30, 2012

 

     North
America
    Global
(Non-U.S.)
P&C
    Global
(Non-U.S.)
Specialty
    Catastrophe     Total
Non-life
segment
    Life
segment
    Corporate
and Other
    Total  

Gross premiums written

   $ 311     $ 123     $ 360     $ 75      $ 869     $ 187     $ —        $ 1,056  

Net premiums written

   $ 311     $ 122     $ 354     $ 69      $ 856     $ 187     $ —        $ 1,043  

Decrease in unearned premiums

     24       50       9       99        182       8       4       194  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums earned

   $ 335     $ 172     $ 363     $ 168      $ 1,038     $ 195     $ 4     $ 1,237  

Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits

     (251     (110     (161     (39     (561     (157     (3     (721

Acquisition costs

     (83     (42     (79     (15     (219     (27     (1     (247
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Technical result

   $ 1     $ 20     $ 123     $ 114      $ 258     $ 11     $ —        $ 269  

Other income

             1       1       1       3  

Other operating expenses

             (58     (12     (25     (95
          

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting result

           $ 201     $ —          n/a      $ 177  

Net investment income

               15       120       135  
            

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Allocated underwriting result (1)

             $ 15       n/a        n/a   

Net realized and unrealized investment gains

                 257       257  

Interest expense

                 (12     (12

Amortization of intangible assets

                 (9     (9

Net foreign exchange losses

                 (2     (2

Income tax expense

                 (64     (64

Interest in earnings of equity investments

                 5       5  
              

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

                 n/a      $ 487  
              

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio (2)

     74.9     63.9 %     44.4 %     23.3     54.1      

Acquisition ratio (3)

     24.8       24.9       21.7       8.8        21.1        
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Technical ratio (4)

     99.7     88.8 %     66.1 %     32.1     75.2      

Other operating expense ratio (5)

             5.5        
          

 

 

       

Combined ratio (6)

             80.7      
          

 

 

       

 

(1) Allocated underwriting result is defined as net premiums earned, other income or loss and allocated net investment income less life policy benefits, acquisition costs and other operating expenses.
(2) Loss ratio is obtained by dividing losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
(3) Acquisition ratio is obtained by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
(4) Technical ratio is defined as the sum of the loss ratio and the acquisition ratio.
(5) Other operating expense ratio is obtained by dividing other operating expenses by net premiums earned.
(6) Combined ratio is defined as the sum of the technical ratio and the other operating expense ratio.

 

23


Table of Contents

Segment Information

For the three months ended September 30, 2011

 

           Global     Global           Total                    
     North     (Non-U.S.)     (Non-U.S.)           Non-life     Life     Corporate        
     America     P&C     Specialty     Catastrophe     segment     segment     and Other     Total  

Gross premiums written

   $ 288     $ 144     $ 368     $ 95     $ 895      $ 194     $ 6     $ 1,095  

Net premiums written

   $ 287     $ 144     $ 360     $ 89     $ 880      $ 194     $ 6     $ 1,080  

Decrease in unearned premiums

     42       49       2       110       203        9       2       214  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums earned

   $ 329     $ 193     $ 362     $ 199     $ 1,083      $ 203     $ 8     $ 1,294  

Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits

     (192     (102     (247     (169     (710     (168     (4     (882

Acquisition costs

     (80     (52     (82     (15     (229     (33     —          (262
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Technical result

   $ 57     $ 39     $ 33     $ 15     $ 144      $ 2     $ 4     $ 150  

Other income

             1        —          —          1  

Other operating expenses

             (69     (12     (23     (104
          

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting result

           $ 76      $ (10     n/a      $ 47  

Net investment income

               19       145       164  
            

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Allocated underwriting result

             $ 9       n/a        n/a   

Net realized and unrealized investment gains

                 26       26  

Interest expense

                 (12     (12

Amortization of intangible assets

                 (9     (9

Net foreign exchange gains

                 11       11  

Income tax expense

                 (42     (42

Interest in losses of equity investments

                 (5     (5
              

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

                 n/a      $ 180  
              

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio

     58.4     52.9 %     68.3 %     85.0 %     65.6      

Acquisition ratio

     24.3       26.9       22.7       7.4       21.1         
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Technical ratio

     82.7     79.8 %     91.0 %     92.4 %     86.7      

Other operating expense ratio

             6.4         
          

 

 

       

Combined ratio

             93.1      
          

 

 

       

 

24


Table of Contents

Segment Information

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012

 

           Global     Global           Total                    
     North     (Non-U.S.)     (Non-U.S.)           Non-life     Life     Corporate        
     America     P&C     Specialty     Catastrophe     segment     segment     and Other     Total  

Gross premiums written

   $ 924     $ 600     $ 1,178     $ 475      $ 3,177     $ 604     $ 6     $ 3,787  

Net premiums written

   $ 922     $ 596     $ 1,098     $ 429      $ 3,045     $ 601     $ 6     $ 3,652  

Increase in unearned premiums

     (59     (100     (64     (98     (321     (12     (1     (334
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums earned

   $ 863     $ 496     $ 1,034     $ 331      $ 2,724     $ 589     $ 5     $ 3,318  

Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits

     (568     (327     (569     (58     (1,522     (479     (3     (2,004

Acquisition costs

     (218     (120     (241     (30     (609     (82     —          (691
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Technical result

   $ 77     $ 49     $ 224     $ 243      $ 593     $ 28     $ 2     $ 623  

Other income

             2       3       3       8  

Other operating expenses

             (187     (38     (74     (299
          

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting result

           $ 408     $ (7     n/a      $ 332  

Net investment income

               49       387       436  
            

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Allocated underwriting result

             $ 42       n/a        n/a   

Net realized and unrealized investment gains

                 488       488  

Interest expense

                 (37     (37

Amortization of intangible assets

                 (27     (27

Net foreign exchange gains

                 3       3  

Income tax expense

                 (181     (181

Interest in earnings of equity investments

                 9       9  
              

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

                 n/a      $ 1,023  
              

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio

     65.9     65.9 %     55.1 %     17.4     55.9      

Acquisition ratio

     25.2       24.3       23.3       9.1        22.3        
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Technical ratio

     91.1     90.2 %     78.4 %     26.5     78.2      

Other operating expense ratio

             6.9        
          

 

 

       

Combined ratio

             85.1       
          

 

 

       

 

25


Table of Contents

Segment Information

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011

 

           Global     Global           Total                    
     North     (Non-U.S.)     (Non-U.S.)           Non-life     Life     Corporate        
     America     P&C     Specialty     Catastrophe     segment     segment     and Other     Total  

Gross premiums written

   $ 868     $ 585     $ 1,092     $ 581      $ 3,126     $ 597     $ 12     $ 3,735  

Net premiums written

   $ 868     $ 581     $ 1,007     $ 542      $ 2,998     $ 596     $ 12     $ 3,606  

(Increase) decrease in unearned premiums

     (18     (14     14       (110     (128     (8     (4     (140
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums earned

   $ 850     $ 567     $ 1,021     $ 432      $ 2,870     $ 588     $ 8     $ 3,466  

Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits

     (556     (379     (675     (1,209     (2,819     (479     (5     (3,303

Acquisition costs

     (210     (145     (240     (16     (611     (89     —          (700
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Technical result

   $ 84     $ 43     $ 106     $ (793   $ (560   $ 20     $ 3     $ (537

Other income

             4       —          1       5  

Other operating expenses

             (206     (38     (78     (322
          

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting result

           $ (762   $ (18     n/a      $ (854

Net investment income

               50       424       474  
            

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Allocated underwriting result

             $ 32       n/a        n/a   

Net realized and unrealized investment losses

                 (8     (8

Interest expense

                 (37     (37

Amortization of intangible assets

                 (27     (27

Net foreign exchange gains

                 20       20  

Income tax expense

                 (66     (66

Interest in losses of equity investments

                 (5     (5
              

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

                 n/a      $ (503
              

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss ratio

     65.5     66.8 %     66.1 %     279.9     98.2      

Acquisition ratio

     24.6       25.7       23.5       3.5        21.3        
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Technical ratio

     90.1     92.5 %     89.6 %     283.4     119.5      

Other operating expense ratio

             7.2        
          

 

 

       

Combined ratio

             126.7      
          

 

 

       

10. Subsequent Event

On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey, United States, causing widespread property damage and flooding to large areas of the East Coast and northeastern United States. The Company is currently assessing its potential claims related to this event, but information as of November 2, 2012 is not sufficient to arrive at a reasonable estimate.

 

26


Table of Contents
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Executive Overview

The Company is a leading global reinsurer, with a broadly diversified and balanced portfolio of traditional reinsurance risks and capital markets risks.

Successful risk management is the foundation of the Company’s value proposition, with diversification of risks at the core of its risk management strategy. The Company’s ability to succeed in the risk assumption and management business is dependent on its ability to accurately analyze and quantify risk, to understand volatility and how risks aggregate or correlate, and to establish the appropriate capital requirements and limits for the risks assumed. All risks, whether they are reinsurance related risks or capital market risks, are managed by the Company within an integrated framework of policies and processes to ensure the intelligent and consistent evaluation and valuation of risk, and to ultimately provide an appropriate return to shareholders. The Company’s updated Risk Management framework is discussed below.

The Company’s economic objective is to manage a portfolio of risks that will generate growth in compound annual diluted book value per share and share equivalents outstanding over a reinsurance cycle. Management assesses this economic objective over the reinsurance cycle, rather than any particular quarterly or annual period, given the Company’s profitability is significantly affected by the level of large catastrophic losses that it incurs each period. The Company uses a number of metrics to monitor its performance in meeting its economic objective, which are discussed further below under Key Financial Measures.

Overview of the Results of Operations for the Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

The Company measures its performance in several ways. Among the performance measures accepted under U.S. GAAP is diluted net income or loss per share, a measure that focuses on the return provided to the Company’s common shareholders. Diluted net income or loss per share is obtained by dividing net income or loss available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding. Net income or loss available to common shareholders is defined as net income or loss less preferred dividends. See the discussion of the non-GAAP performance measures that the Company uses (operating earnings or loss and Operating ROE) and the reconciliation of those non-GAAP performance measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures in Key Financial Measures below.

As the Company’s reinsurance operations are exposed to low frequency and high severity risk events, some of which are seasonal, results for certain periods may include unusually low loss experience, while results for other periods may include significant catastrophic losses. Consequently, the Company’s results for interim periods may be volatile from period to period and are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.

The results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 demonstrate this volatility. While the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 and the nine months ended September 30, 2012 included no significant catastrophic losses, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 the Company incurred losses of $1,403 million, net of retrocession, reinstatement premiums and profit commissions, related to the combined impact of the Japan earthquake and resulting tsunami (Japan Earthquake), the New Zealand earthquake that occurred in February 2011 (New Zealand Earthquake), aggregate contracts covering losses in Australia and New Zealand, U.S. tornadoes and the floods in Queensland, Australia (Australian Floods) (collectively, 2011 catastrophic events).

In addition, in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company incurred large losses of $85 million in the agriculture line of business of the Company’s North America sub-segment related to the severe drought conditions in the U.S. during 2012 (U.S. drought).

Net income (loss), preferred dividends, net income (loss) available to common shareholders and diluted net income (loss) per share for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data):

 

      For the three
months ended
September 30, 2012
     % Change     For the three
months ended
September 30, 2011
     For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2012
     % Change     For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2011
 

Net income (loss)

   $ 487        170   $ 180      $ 1,023        NM   $ (503

Less: preferred dividends

     15        7       14        46        46        32  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) available to common shareholders

   $ 472        184     $ 166      $ 977        NM      $ (535

Diluted net income (loss) per share

   $ 7.53        210     $ 2.43      $ 15.19        NM      $ (7.88

 

 

27


Table of Contents

NM: not meaningful

Three-month result

The increase in net income of $307 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 resulted primarily from:

 

   

an increase of $231 million in pre-tax net realized and unrealized investment gains primarily as a result of narrowing credit spreads; and

 

   

an increase of $125 million in the Non-life underwriting result, which was mainly driven by the adverse loss development on prior quarters related to the 2011 catastrophic events in the three months ended September 30, 2011. This increase in the Non-life underwriting result was partially offset by large losses related to the U.S. drought of $85 million which impacted the agriculture line of business in the North America sub-segment in the three months ended September 30, 2012; partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of $29 million in net investment income, driven by lower reinvestment rates; and

 

   

an increase of $22 million in income tax expense, resulting from a higher pre-tax net income.

The increase in net income available to common shareholders and diluted net income per share for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 was primarily due to the above factors. For diluted net income per share specifically, the increase was also due to a decrease in the diluted number of common shares as a result of share repurchases.

Nine-month result

The increase in net income of $1,526 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 resulted primarily from:

 

   

an increase of $1,170 million in the Non-life underwriting result, which was primarily driven by the absence of large catastrophic losses in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to losses of $1,346 million, net of retrocession, reinstatement premiums and profit commissions, related to the 2011 catastrophic events in the same period of 2011 and a lower level of mid-sized loss activity. This increase in the Non-life underwriting result was partially offset by large losses related to the U.S. drought of $85 million which impacted the agriculture line of business in the North America sub-segment in the nine months ended September 30, 2012. In addition, the lower level of net premiums earned in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 in the Catastrophe sub-segment, absent catastrophe losses, directly reduces the underwriting result; and

 

   

an increase of $496 million in pre-tax net realized and unrealized investment gains primarily as a result of narrowing credit spreads and improvements in worldwide equity markets; partially offset by

 

   

an increase of $115 million in income tax expense, resulting from a higher pre-tax net income; and

 

   

a decrease of $38 million in net investment income, driven by lower reinvestment rates.

The increase in net income available to common shareholders and diluted net income per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 was primarily due to the above factors, partially offset by an increase in preferred dividends following the issuance of preferred shares during the three months ended June 30, 2011. For diluted net income per share specifically, the increase was also due to a decrease in the diluted number of common shares as a result of share repurchases.

These factors affecting the year over year comparison of the Company’s results are discussed below in Review of Net Income (Loss), Results by Segment and Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources, and may continue to affect our results of operations and financial condition in the future.

On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey, United States, causing widespread property damage and flooding to large areas of the East Coast and northeastern United States. The Company is currently assessing its potential claims related to this event, but information as of November 2, 2012 is not sufficient to arrive at a reasonable estimate.

Key Financial Measures

In addition to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss), Management uses certain key measures to evaluate its financial performance and the overall growth in value generated for the Company’s common shareholders. The four key measures that Management uses, together with definitions of their calculations, are as follows at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 and for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011:

 

28


Table of Contents
     September 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  

Diluted book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding(1)

   $ 99.54      $ 84.82  

 

     For the three
months ended
September 30, 2012
    For the three
months ended
September 30, 2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2012
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2011
 

Operating earnings (loss) available to common shareholders (in millions of U.S. dollars)(2)

  $ 244     $ 164     $ 568     $ (504

Annualized operating return on beginning diluted book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding(3)

    18.4     10.3     13.9     (10.6 )% 

Combined ratio(4)

    80.7     93.1     85.1     126.7

 

(1) Diluted book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding is calculated using common shareholders’ equity (shareholders’ equity less the aggregate liquidation value of preferred shares) divided by the number of fully diluted common shares and common share equivalents outstanding (assuming exercise of all stock-based awards and other dilutive securities).
(2) Operating earnings or loss available to common shareholders (operating earnings or loss) is calculated as net income or loss available to common shareholders excluding net realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments, net of tax, net foreign exchange gains or losses, net of tax, and interest in earnings or losses of equity investments, net of tax, where the investee’s operations are not insurance or reinsurance related and where the Company does not control the investee companies’ activities, and is calculated after preferred dividends. The presentation of operating earnings or loss is a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G (see Comment on Non-GAAP Measures below) and is reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure below.
(3) Annualized operating return on beginning diluted book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding (Operating ROE) is calculated using annualized operating earnings or loss, as defined above, per diluted common share and common share equivalents outstanding, divided by diluted book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding as of the beginning of the year, as defined above. The presentation of Operating ROE is a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G (see Comment on Non-GAAP Measures below) and is reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure below.
(4) The combined ratio of the Non-life segment is calculated as the sum of the technical ratio (losses and loss expenses and acquisition costs divided by net premiums earned) and the other operating expense ratio (other operating expenses divided by net premiums earned).

Diluted book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding (Diluted Book Value per Share): Management uses compound annual growth rate in Diluted Book Value per Share as a key measure of the value the Company is generating for its common shareholders, as Management believes that growth in the Company’s Diluted Book Value per Share ultimately translates into growth in the Company’s share price. Diluted Book Value per Share is impacted by the Company’s net income or loss, capital resources management and external factors such as foreign exchange, interest rates, credit spreads and equity markets, which can drive changes in realized and unrealized gains or losses on its investment portfolio.

Over the past five years, since September 30, 2007, the Company has generated a compound annual growth rate in Diluted Book Value per Share in excess of 8% and over the past ten years, since September 30, 2002, the Company has generated a compound annual growth rate in Diluted Book Value per Share in excess of 12%.

During 2012, the Company’s Diluted Book Value per Share increased by 17% to $99.54 at September 30, 2012 from $84.82 at December 31, 2011, representing a compound annual growth of 24%, primarily due to the comprehensive income of $1,053 million and the accretive impact of share repurchases. The comprehensive income was mainly driven by the net income of $1,023 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012, which is described in Review of Net Income (Loss) below. Also see Shareholders’ Equity and Capital Resources Management below.

Operating earnings or loss available to common shareholders (operating earnings or loss): Management uses operating earnings or loss to measure its financial performance as this measure focuses on the underlying fundamentals of the Company’s operations by excluding net realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments, certain interest in earnings or losses of equity investments and net foreign exchange gains or losses. Net realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments in any particular period are not indicative of the performance of, and distort trends in, the Company’s business as they predominantly result from general economic and financial market conditions, and the timing of realized gains or losses on investments is largely opportunistic. Interest in earnings or losses of equity investments are also not indicative of the performance of, or trends in, the Company’s business where the investee’s operations are not insurance or reinsurance related and where the Company does not control the investee

 

29


Table of Contents

companies’ activities. Net foreign exchange gains or losses are not indicative of the performance of, and distort trends in, the Company’s business as they predominantly result from general economic and foreign exchange market conditions. Management believes that the use of operating earnings or loss enables investors and other users of the Company’s financial information to analyze its performance in a manner similar to how Management analyzes performance. Management also believes that this measure follows industry practice and, therefore, allows the users of financial information to compare the Company’s performance with its industry peer group, and that the equity analysts and certain rating agencies which follow the Company, and the insurance industry as a whole, generally exclude these items from their analyses for the same reasons.

Operating earnings increased from $164 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 to $244 million in the same period of 2012 and from a loss of $504 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to an income of $568 million in the same period of 2012. The increase for both periods was primarily due to an increase in the Non-life underwriting result as described above, partially offset by an increase in income tax expense on the higher level of operating earnings and a decrease in net investment income due to lower reinvestment rates.

The other lesser factors contributing to the increases or decreases in operating earnings in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 are further described in Review of Net Income (Loss) below.

The presentation of operating earnings or loss available to common shareholders is a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP (see Comment on Non-GAAP Measures). The table below provides a reconciliation of operating earnings or loss to the most comparable GAAP financial measure for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

    For the three
months  ended
September 30,
2012
    For the three
months ended
September 30,
2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30,
2012
    For the nine
months ended
September 30,
2011
 

Net income (loss)

  $ 487     $ 180     $ 1,023     $ (503

Less:

       

Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses), net of tax

    222       6       400       (41

Net foreign exchange gains, net of tax

    2       —          1       16  

Interest in earnings (losses) of equity investments, net of tax

    4       (4     8       (6

Dividends to preferred shareholders

    15       14       46       32  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating earnings (loss) available to common shareholders

  $ 244     $ 164     $ 568     $ (504

Operating ROE: Management uses annualized Operating ROE as a measure of profitability that focuses on the return to common shareholders. To support the Company’s growth objectives, most economic decisions, including capital attribution and underwriting pricing decisions, incorporate an Operating ROE impact analysis. For the purpose of that analysis, an appropriate amount of capital (equity) is attributed to each transaction for determining the transaction’s priced return on attributed capital. Subject to an adequate return for the risk level as well as other factors, such as the contribution of each risk to the overall risk level and risk diversification, capital is attributed to the transactions generating the highest priced return on deployed capital. Management’s challenge consists of (i) attributing an appropriate amount of capital to each transaction based on the risk created by the transaction, (ii) properly estimating the Company’s overall risk level and the impact of each transaction on the overall risk level, (iii) assessing the diversification benefit, if any, of each transaction, and (iv) deploying available capital. The risk for the Company lies in mis-estimating any one of these factors, which are critical in calculating a meaningful priced return on deployed capital, and entering into transactions that do not contribute to the Company’s growth objectives. The Company’s Operating ROE’s for quarterly periods are annualized.

Annualized Operating ROE increased from 10.3% in the three months ended September 30, 2011 to 18.4% in the same period of 2012 and from a loss of 10.6% in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to an income of 13.9% in the same period of 2012. The increase in annualized Operating ROE was primarily due to the increase in operating earnings in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same periods of 2011, as described above. The factors contributing to increases or decreases in operating earnings are described further in Review of Net Income (Loss) below.

The presentation of Operating ROE is a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP (see Comment on Non-GAAP Measures). The table below provides a reconciliation of Operating ROE to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011:

 

30


Table of Contents
    For the three
months ended
September 30, 2012
    For the three
months ended
September 30, 2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2012
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2011
 

Annualized return on beginning diluted book value per common share calculated with net income (loss) per share available to common shareholders

    35.5 %      10.4     23.9 %      (11.2 )% 

Less:

       

Annualized net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses), net of tax, on beginning diluted book value per common share

    16.7       0.4       9.8       (0.9

Annualized net foreign exchange gains, net of tax, on beginning diluted book value per common share

    0.1       —          —          0.4  

Annualized net interest in earnings (losses) of equity investments, net of tax, on beginning diluted book value per common share

    0.3       (0.3     0.2       (0.1
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Annualized operating return on beginning diluted book value per common share

    18.4 %      10.3     13.9 %      (10.6 )% 

Combined ratio: The combined ratio is used industry-wide as a measure of underwriting profitability for Non-life business. A combined ratio under 100% indicates underwriting profitability, as the total losses and loss expenses, acquisition costs and other operating expenses are less than the premiums earned on that business. While an important metric of underwriting profitability, the combined ratio does not reflect all components of profitability, as it does not recognize the impact of investment income earned on premiums between the time premiums are received and the time loss payments are ultimately made to clients. The key challenges in managing the combined ratio metric consist of (i) focusing on underwriting profitable business even in the weaker part of the reinsurance cycle, as opposed to growing the book of business at the cost of profitability, (ii) diversifying the portfolio to achieve a good balance of business, with the expectation that underwriting losses in certain lines or markets may potentially be offset by underwriting profits in other lines or markets, and (iii) maintaining control over expenses.

The Non-life combined ratio decreased by 12.4 points to 80.7% in the three months ended September 30, 2012 from 93.1% in the same period of 2011. The decrease in the combined ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 reflected primarily an increase in combined net favorable loss development on prior years and prior quarters of 20.2 points (primarily due to increased estimates related to the 2011 catastrophic events in the third quarter of 2011). This decrease in the combined ratio was partially offset by large losses related to the U.S. drought in the three months ended September 30, 2012 impacting the agriculture line of business in the North America sub-segment of 8.2 points.

The Non-life combined ratio decreased by 41.6 points to 85.1% in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from 126.7% in the same period of 2011. The decrease in the combined ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 reflected primarily a decrease in the impact of large catastrophe losses of 47.1 points and a lower level of mid-sized loss activity. This decrease in the combined ratio was partially offset by large losses related to the U.S. drought impacting the agriculture line of business in the North America sub-segment of 3.1 points and a lower level of net premiums earned in the Catastrophe sub-segment, which absent catastrophe losses, directly increases the Non-life combined ratio in the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Comment on Non-GAAP Measures

Throughout this filing, the Company’s results of operations have been presented in the way that Management believes will be the most meaningful and useful to investors, analysts, rating agencies and others who use financial information in evaluating the performance of the Company. This presentation includes the use of operating earnings or loss and Operating ROE that are not calculated under standards or rules that comprise U.S. GAAP. These measures are referred to as non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are important to investors, analysts, rating agencies and others who use the Company’s financial information and will help provide a consistent basis for comparison between years and for comparison with the Company’s peer group, although non-GAAP measures may be defined or calculated differently by other companies. Investors should consider these non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, net income or loss and return on beginning common shareholders’ equity calculated with net income or loss available to common shareholders, is presented above.

 

31


Table of Contents

Risk Management

During 2012, the Company updated its Risk Management framework. The following discussion updates Risk Management in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.

In the reinsurance industry, the core of the business model is the assumption and management of risk. A key challenge is to create economic value through the intelligent and optimal assumption and management of reinsurance and capital markets and investment risks while limiting and mitigating those risks that can destroy tangible as well as intangible value, those risks for which the organization is not sufficiently compensated, and those risks that could threaten the ability of the Company to achieve its objectives. While many companies start with a return goal and then attempt to shed risks that may derail that goal, the Company starts with a capital-based risk appetite and then looks for risks that meet its return targets within that framework. Management believes that this construct allows the Company to balance the cedants’ need for certainty of claims payment with the shareholders’ need for an adequate return.

All business decisions entail a risk/return trade-off, and these decisions are applicable to the Company’s risks. In the context of assumed business risks, this requires an accurate evaluation of risks to be assumed, and a determination of the appropriate economic returns required as fair compensation for such risks. In the context of other than voluntarily assumed business risks, the decision relates to comparing the probability and potential severity of a risk event against the costs of risk mitigation strategies. In many cases, the potential impact of a risk event is so severe as to warrant significant, and potentially expensive, risk mitigation strategies. In other cases, the probability and potential severity of a risk does not warrant extensive risk mitigation.

The Company’s results are primarily determined by how well the Company understands, prices and manages assumed risk. Management also believes that every organization faces numerous risks that could threaten the successful achievement of a company’s goals and objectives. These include choice of strategy and markets, economic and business cycles, competition, changes in regulation, data quality and security, fraud, business interruption and management continuity; all factors which can be viewed as either strategic, financial, or operational risks that are common to any industry. See Risk Factors in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The Company has a clearly defined governance structure for risk management. Executive Management and the Board are responsible for setting the overall vision and goals of the Company, which include the Company’s risk appetite and return expectations. The Company’s risk framework, including key risk policies, is recommended by Executive Management and approved by the Risk and Finance Committee of the Board (Risk and Finance Committee). Each of the Company’s risk policies relates to a specific risk and describes the Company’s approach to risk management, defines roles and responsibilities relating to the assumption, mitigation, and control processes for that risk, and an escalation process for exceptions. Key policies are established by the Chief Executive Officer and policies at the next level down are established by Business Unit and functional management. Key policies are approved by the relevant Committee of the Board and other policies are approved by the Chief Executive Officer. Risk management policies and processes are coordinated by Group Risk Management and compliance is verified by Internal Audit on a periodic basis. The results of audits are monitored by the Audit Committee of the Board.

The Company utilizes a multi-level risk management structure, whereby critical exposure limits, return requirement guidelines, capital at risk and key policies are established by the Executive Management and Board, but day-to-day execution of risk assumption activities and related risk mitigation strategies are delegated to the Business Units. Reporting on risk management activities is integrated within the Company’s annual planning process, quarterly operations reports, periodic reports on exposures and large losses, and presentations to the Executive Management and Board. Individual Business Units employ, and are responsible for reporting on, operating risk management procedures and controls, while Internal Audit periodically evaluates the effectiveness of such procedures and controls.

Strategic Risks

Strategic risks are managed by Executive Management and include the direction and governance of the Company, as well as its response to key external factors faced by the reinsurance industry, such as changes in cedants’ risk retention behavior, regulation, competitive structure and macroeconomic, legal and social trends. Management considers that strong governance procedures, including a robust system of processes and internal controls is appropriate to manage risks related to its reputation and risks related to new initiatives, including acquisitions, new products or markets. The Company seeks to preserve its reputation through high professional and ethical standards and manages the impact of identified risks through the adoption and implementation of a sound and comprehensive Assumed Risk Framework.

Assumed Risks

Central to the Company’s assumed risk framework is its risk appetite. The Company’s risk appetite is a statement of how much and how often the Company will tolerate operating losses and economic losses during an annual period. The Company defines an economic loss as a decrease in the Company’s economic value, which is defined as common shareholders’ equity plus the “time value of money” discount of the Non-life reserves that is not recognized in the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, net of tax, plus the embedded value of the Life portfolio that is not recognized in the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, net of tax, less goodwill and intangible assets, net of tax. The Company’s risk appetite is expressed as

 

32


Table of Contents

the maximum operating loss and the maximum economic loss that the Board is willing to incur. The maximum operating loss is a loss expressed as a percentage of common shareholders’ equity with a modeled probability of occurring once every 10 years and 100 years on average. The maximum economic loss is a loss expressed as a percentage of economic capital with a modeled probability of occurring once every 10 years and 100 years on average. The Company defines economic capital as the economic value plus preferred shareholders’ equity. The Company’s risk appetite is approved by the Board on an annual basis.

The Company manages exposure levels from multiple risk sources to provide reasonable assurance that modeled operating or economic losses are contained within the risk appetite approved by the Board. The Company utilizes an internal model to evaluate capital at risk levels and compliance with the Company’s risk appetite. The results of the Company’s assessment of capital at risk levels in relation to the risk appetite are reported to the Board on a periodic basis.

To mitigate the chance of operating losses and economic losses exceeding the risk appetite, the Company relies upon diversification of risk sources and risk limits to manage exposures. Diversification enables losses from one risk source to be offset by profits from other risk sources so that the chance of overall losses exceeding the Company’s risk appetite is reduced. However, if multiple losses from multiple risk sources occur within the same year, there is the potential that operating and economic losses can exceed the risk appetite. In addition, there is the chance that the Company’s internal assessment of capital at risk for a single source of risk or for multiple sources of risk proves insufficient resulting in actual losses exceeding the Company’s risk appetite. To reduce the chance of either of these unfavorable outcomes, the Company uses risk limits to minimize the chance that losses from a single risk source or from multiple risk sources will cause operating losses and economic losses to exceed the Company’s risk appetite.

The Company establishes key risk limits for any risk source deemed by Management to have the potential to cause operating losses or economic losses greater than the Company’s risk appetite. The Risk and Finance Committee approves the key risk limits. Executive and Business Unit Management may set additional specific and aggregate risk limits within the key risk limits approved by the Risk and Finance Committee. The actual level of risk is dependent on current market conditions and the need for balance in the Company’s portfolio of risks. On a periodic basis, Management reviews and reports to the Risk and Finance Committee the actual limits deployed against the approved limits.

Individual Business Units manage assumed risks, subject to the appetite and principles approved by the Board, limits approved by the Risk and Finance Committee, and policies established by Executive and Business Unit Management. At an operational level, Business Units manage assumed risk through risk mitigation strategies including strong processes, technical risk assessment and collaboration among different groups of professionals who each contribute a particular area of expertise.

Management has established key risk limits that are approved by the Risk and Finance Committee for the eight risk sources described below. Following the update to the Risk Management framework, two of the four risks that were managed under the previous framework have remained unchanged in terms of the methodology used to calculate the approved limit and the actual deployed limit. The unchanged methodology relates to the longevity risk and the equity and equity-like sub-limit risk and as such comparatives at December 31, 2011 have only been provided below for these two risks. For the other two risks (catastrophe risk and casualty reserving risk) that were managed under the previous framework and for which the methodologies used to calculate the approved limit and the actual deployed limit have changed, the previously disclosed metrics at December 31, 2011 have not been provided below given they are not comparable to the new metrics.

Natural Catastrophe Risk

The Company defines this risk as the risk that the aggregate losses from natural perils materially exceed the net premiums that are received to cover such risks, which may result in operating and economic losses to the Company. The Company considers both catastrophe losses due to a single large event and catastrophe losses that would occur from multiple (but potentially smaller) events in any year.

Natural catastrophe risk is managed through the allocation of catastrophe exposure capacity in each exposure zone to different Business Units, regular catastrophe modeling and a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis. The Company considers a peril zone to be an area within a geographic region, continent or country in which losses from insurance exposures are likely to be highly correlated to a single catastrophic event. Not all peril zones have the same limit and zones are broadly defined so that it would be unlikely for any single event to substantially erode the aggregate exposure limits from more than one peril zone. Even extremely high severity/low likelihood events will only partially exhaust the limits in any peril zone, as they are likely to only affect a part of the area covered by a wide peril zone.

The Company imposes a limit to natural catastrophe risk from any single loss through exposure limits, net of retrocession, in each zone and to each peril and also utilises probable maximum loss estimates to manage its exposures to specific peril zones. Limits from catastrophe exposed business include limits on both reinsurance treaties and insurance-linked securities. Specifically, the Company uses the lesser of any contractually defined limits or the probable maximum loss per contract as the measure of capacity per treaty including proportional exposures for the key peak exposures. This capacity measure is aggregated by contract within a peril zone to establish the total exposures. At September 30, 2012, the natural catastrophe limit for a peril zone approved by the Risk and Finance Committee, net of retrocession, was $2.3 billion and the actual maximum limit deployed in a single peril zone was $1.6 billion. Actual exposure limits deployed and estimated probable maximum loss in a specific peril zone will vary from period to period

 

33


Table of Contents

depending on Management’s assessment of current market conditions, the results of the Company’s exposure modeling, and other analysis. See Natural Catastrophe Probable Maximum Loss below for a discussion of the Company’s estimated exposures for selected peak industry natural catastrophe perils at September 30, 2012.

Long Tail Reinsurance Risk

The Company defines this risk as the risk that the estimates of ultimate losses for casualty and other long-tail lines will prove to be too low, leading to the need for substantial reserve strengthening, which may result in operating and economic losses to the Company. One of the greatest risks in long-tail lines of business, and particularly in U.S. casualty, is that loss trends are higher than the assumptions underlying the Company’s ultimate loss estimates, resulting in ultimate losses that exceed recorded loss reserves. When loss trends prove to be higher than those underlying the reserving assumptions, the impact can be large because of an accumulation effect: for long-tail lines, the Company carries reserves to cover claims arising from several years of underwriting activity and these reserves are likely to be similarly affected by unfavorable loss trends. The effect is likely to be more pronounced for recent underwriting years because, with the passage of time, actual loss emergence and data provide greater confidence around the adequacy of ultimate liability estimates for older underwriting years. Management believes that the volume of long-tail business most exposed to these reserving uncertainties is limited.

The Company manages and mitigates the reserving risk for long-tail lines in a variety of ways. Underwriters and pricing actuaries follow a disciplined underwriting process that utilizes all available data and information, including industry trends, and the Company establishes prudent reserving policies for determining recorded reserves. These policies are systematic and Management endeavors to apply them consistently over time. See Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Losses and Loss Expenses and Life Policy Benefits in this report below and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The Company’s limit for long tail reinsurance risk represents the written premiums for casualty and other long-tail lines for the four most recent calendar quarters. At September 30, 2012, the long tail reinsurance limit approved by the Risk and Finance Committee was $1.2 billion and the actual limit deployed was $0.7 billion.

Market Risk

The Company defines this risk as the risk of a substantial decline in the value of its Risk Assets. Risk Assets comprise of the Company’s equity and equity-like securities which include all invested assets that are not investment grade standard fixed income securities and certain fixed income asset classes that are not liquid (but excludes insurance-linked securities as that risk is aggregated with liability risks). The Company limits the market value of Risk Assets as well as sub-limits the market value of equity and equity-like securities that it will hold in its investment portfolio.

Assuming equity and equity-like risks within that part of the investment portfolio that is not required to support the Company’s reinsurance liabilities provides valuable diversification from other risk classes, along with the potential for higher returns. However overexposure to equity risk could lead to a large loss in the value of equity and equity-like securities and non-standard fixed income securities in the case of a market crash. The Company sets strict limits on investments in any one name and any one industry, which creates a diversified portfolio and allows Management to focus on the systemic effects of equity risks. Systemic risk is managed by asset allocation, subject to strict caps on Risk Assets as a percentage of shareholders’ equity. The Company’s fully integrated information system provides real-time investment data, allowing for continuous monitoring and decision support. Each portfolio is managed against a pre-determined benchmark to enable alignment with appropriate risk parameters and achievement of desired returns. See Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Equity Price Risk in Item 3A of Part I of this report.

At September 30, 2012, the Risk Assets limit and the equity and equity-like sublimit approved by the Risk and Finance Committee were $3.4 billion and $2.8 billion (at December 31, 2011: $3.3 billion), respectively. At September 30, 2012, the actual Risk Assets limit deployed and the market value of equity and equity-like securities were $2.4 billion and $1.6 billion (at December 31, 2011: $1.4 billion), respectively.

Interest Rate Risk

The Company defines this risk as the risk of a substantial mismatch of asset and liability durations, which may result in economic losses to the Company. Economically, the Company is hedged against changes in asset and liability values resulting from small parallel changes in the risk free yield curve to the degree asset and liability durations are matched. Non-parallel shifts in the yield curve or extremely large changes in yields can introduce interest rate risk and investment losses to the degree asset maturity and coupon payments are not exactly matched to liability payments. Investment losses associated with interest rate risk of a magnitude that have the potential to exceed the Company’s risk appetite are associated with extremely large increases in interest rates over an annual period. As a result, the Company limits the duration of its investment portfolio to minimize the investment losses in the event of an extreme increase in interest rates in an annual period. At September 30, 2012, the duration limit of assets approved by the Risk and Finance Committee was 5.0 years and actual asset duration was 3.0 years.

Default and Credit Spread Risk

 

34


Table of Contents

The Company defines this risk as the risk of a substantial increase in defaults in the Company’s standard fixed income credit securities (which includes investment grade corporate bonds and asset-backed securities) leading to realized investment losses or a significant widening of credit spreads resulting in realized or unrealized investment losses, either of which may result in economic losses to the Company. Investment losses of the magnitude that have the potential to exceed the Company’s risk appetite are associated with the systemic impacts of severe economic and financial stress. As a result, the Company limits the market value of the standard fixed income credit securities so that investment losses will be mitigated in an extreme economic or financial crisis. At September 30, 2012, the limit approved by the Risk and Finance Committee and the actual market value of the Company’s standard fixed income credit securities were $9.5 billion and $6.8 billion, respectively.

Trade Credit Underwriting Risk

The Company defines this risk as the risk that aggregated trade credit losses materially exceed the net premiums that are received to cover such risks, which may result in operating and economic losses to the Company. Trade credit underwriting losses of the magnitude that have the potential to exceed the Company’s risk appetite are associated with the systemic impacts of severe economic and financial stress. In these events, underwriting losses may arise from defaults of single large named insureds and from a high frequency of defaults of smaller insureds. In addition, trade credit underwriting risk is highly correlated with default and credit spread widening risk of the standard investment grade fixed income portfolio during times of economic stress or financial crises.

In order to determine a trade credit underwriting limit metric for the purposes of risk accumulation, the Company examined extreme scenarios and measured its exposure to loss under those scenarios. Examples of these scenarios included, but were not limited to, historical losses from the largest trade credit defaults, prior periods of financial crisis and economic stress (e.g. 1990-1991 recession and 2008-2009 financial crisis), and potential impacts of financial crisis and economic stress scenarios. The Company did not rely upon modeled losses to determine the limit metric, but did benchmark the scenario results against existing tests, scenarios and models. For risk accumulation purposes, the Company examined the extreme scenario that would result in 100% of loss ratio adverse deviation on the trade credit portfolio written on a proportional basis (which far exceeds any adverse deviation of the loss ratio experienced in past periods of economic stress or financial crises) increased by the net probable maximum losses of the two largest named insureds in the Company’s trade credit portfolio.

At September 30, 2012, the trade credit limit approved by the Risk and Finance Committee was $900 million and the actual limit deployed was $630 million.

Longevity Risk

The Company considers longevity exposure to have a material accumulation potential and has established a limit to manage the risk of loss associated with this exposure, which may result in operating and economic losses to the Company. The Company defines longevity risk as the potential for increased actual and future expected annuity payments resulting from annuitants living longer than expected, or the expectation that annuitants will live longer in the future. Assuming longevity risk, through reinsurance or capital markets transactions, is part of the Company’s strategy of building a diversified portfolio of risks. While longevity risk is highly diversifying in relation to other risks in the Company’s portfolio (e.g. mortality products), longevity risk itself is a systemic risk with little opportunity to diversify within the risk class. Longevity risk accumulates across cedants, geographies, and over time because mortality trends can impact diverse populations in the same manner. Longevity risk can manifest slowly over time as experience proves annuitants are living longer than original expectations, or abruptly as in the case of a “miracle drug” that increases the life expectancy of all annuitants simultaneously.

In order to determine a longevity limit metric for the purposes of risk accumulation, the Company examined extreme scenarios and measured its exposure to loss under those scenarios. Examples of these scenarios included, but were not limited to, immediate elimination of major causes of death and an extreme improvement scenario equivalent to the adverse result of every annuitant’s life expectancy increasing to approximately 100 years. The Company did not rely upon modeled losses to determine the limit metric, but did benchmark the scenario results against existing tests, scenarios and models. For risk accumulation purposes, the Company selected the most extreme scenario and added an additional margin for potential deviation.

At September 30, 2012, the longevity limit approved by the Risk and Finance Committee was $2.0 billion (at December 31, 2011: $2.0 billion). To measure utilization of the longevity limit (accumulation of longevity exposure) the Company accumulates the net present value of adverse loss resulting from the application of the selected most extreme scenario, adds an additional margin to every in-force longevity treaty for potential deviation and, where appropriate, includes the notional value of the longevity insurance-linked security. At September 30, 2012, the actual limit deployed was $1.2 billion (at December 31, 2011: $1.2 billion).

Pandemic Risk

The Company considers mortality exposure to have a material accumulation potential to common risk drivers, in particular to pandemic events, which may result in operating and economic losses to the Company. The Company defines pandemic risk as the increase in mortality over an annual period associated with a rapidly spreading virus (either within a highly populated geographic area or on a global basis) with a high mortality rate. Assuming mortality risk, through reinsurance or capital markets transactions, is part of the Company’s strategy of building a diversified portfolio of risks. While mortality risk is highly diversifying in relation to other risks

 

35


Table of Contents

in the Company’s portfolio (e.g. longevity products), mortality risk itself is a systemic risk when the risk driver is a pandemic with little opportunity to diversify within the risk class. Mortality risk from pandemics can accumulate across cedants and geographies.

In order to determine a pandemic limit metric for the purposes of risk accumulation, the Company examined extreme scenarios and measured its exposure to loss under those scenarios. Examples of these scenarios included, but were not limited to, increased mortality associated with past pandemic events (e.g. 1918 Spanish flu) and potential mortality outcomes from transmission scenarios across differing age groups and developed and developing countries. The Company did not rely upon modeled losses to determine the limit metric, but did benchmark the scenario results against existing tests, scenarios and models. For risk accumulation purposes, the Company selected an extreme mortality scenario applied to developing and developed countries that would have twice the fatality rate of the 1918 Spanish flu with the same transmissibility characteristics. At September 30, 2012, the pandemic limit approved by the Risk and Finance Committee was $1.25 billion and the actual limit deployed was $510 million.

Operational and Financial Risks

Operational and financial risks are managed by designated functions within the organization. These risks include, but are not limited to, failures or weaknesses in financial reporting and controls, regulatory non-compliance, poor cash management, fraud, breach of information technology security, disaster recovery planning and reliance on third party vendors. The Company seeks to minimize these risks through robust processes and monitoring processes throughout the organization.

Other Underwriting Risk and Exposure Controls

The Company’s underwriting is conducted at the Business Unit level through specialized underwriting teams with the support of technical staff in disciplines such as actuarial, claims, legal, risk management and finance.

The Company’s underwriters generally speak the local language and/or are native to their country or area of specialization. They develop close working relationships with their ceding company counterparts and brokers through regular visits, gathering detailed information about the cedant’s business and local market conditions and practices. As part of the underwriting process, the underwriters also focus on the reputation and quality of the proposed cedant, the likelihood of establishing a long-term relationship with the cedant, the geographic area in which the cedant does business and the cedant’s market share, historical loss data for the cedant and, where available, historical loss data for the industry as a whole in the relevant regions, in order to compare the cedant’s historical loss experience to industry averages, and to gauge the perceived insurance and reinsurance expertise and financial strength of the cedant. The Company trains its underwriters extensively and strives to maintain continuity of underwriters within specific geographic markets and areas of specialty.

Because the Company underwrites volatile lines of business, such as catastrophe reinsurance, the operating results and financial condition of the Company can be adversely affected by catastrophes and other large losses that may give rise to claims under reinsurance coverages provided by the Company. The Company manages its exposure to catastrophic and other large losses by (i) limiting its aggregate exposure on catastrophe reinsurance in any particular geographic zone, (ii) selective underwriting practices, (iii) diversification of risks by geographic area and by lines and classes of business, and (iv) by purchasing retrocessional reinsurance.

The Company generally underwrites risks with specified limits per treaty program. Like other reinsurance companies, the Company is exposed to multiple insured losses arising out of a single occurrence, whether a natural event such as hurricane, windstorm, tornado, flood or earthquake, or man-made events. Any such catastrophic event could generate insured losses in one or many of the Company’s reinsurance treaties and facultative contracts in one or more lines of business. The Company considers such event scenarios as part of its evaluation and monitoring of its aggregate exposures to catastrophic events.

Retrocessions

The Company uses retrocessional agreements to reduce its exposure on certain reinsurance risks assumed and to mitigate the effect of any single major event or the frequency of medium-sized events. These agreements provide for the recovery of a portion of losses and loss expenses from retrocessionaires. The majority of the Company’s retrocessional agreements cover the property exposures, predominantly those that are catastrophe exposed. The Company also utilizes retrocessions in the Life segment to manage the amount of per-event and per-life risks to which it is exposed. Retrocessionaires are selected based on their financial condition and business practices, with stability, solvency and credit ratings being important criteria.

The Company remains liable to its cedants to the extent that the retrocessionaires do not meet their obligations under retrocessional agreements, and therefore retrocessions are subject to credit risk in all cases and to aggregate loss limits in certain cases. The Company holds collateral, including escrow funds, securities and letters of credit under certain retrocessional agreements. Provisions are made for amounts considered potentially uncollectible and reinsurance losses recoverable from retrocessionaires are reported after allowances for uncollectible amounts.

In addition to the retrocessional agreements, PartnerRe Europe has a Reserve Agreement in place with Colisée Re (see Business—Reserves—Non-life Reserves—Reserve Agreement in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011).

 

36


Table of Contents

Claims

In addition to managing and settling reported claims and consulting with ceding companies on claims matters, the Company conducts periodic audits of specific claims and the overall claims procedures at the offices of ceding companies. The Company attempts to evaluate the ceding company’s claim adjusting techniques and reserve adequacy and whether it follows proper claims processing procedures. The Company also provides recommendations regarding procedures and processes to the ceding company.

Natural Catastrophe Probable Maximum Loss (PML)

The following discussion of the Company’s natural catastrophe probable maximum loss (PML) information contains forward-looking statements based upon assumptions and expectations concerning the potential effect of future events that are subject to uncertainties. See Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 and Item 1A of Part II of this report for a list of the Company’s risk factors. Any of these risk factors could result in actual losses that are materially different from the Company’s PML estimates below.

Natural catastrophe risk is a source of significant aggregate exposure for the Company and is managed by setting risk appetite and limits, as discussed above. Natural catastrophe perils can impact geographic regions of varying size and can have economic repercussions beyond the geographic region directly impacted.

The Company considers a peril zone to be an area within a geographic region, continent or country in which losses from insurance exposures are likely to be highly correlated to a single catastrophic event. The Company defines peril zones to capture the vast majority of exposures likely to be incorporated by typical modeled events. There is, however, no industry standard and the Company’s definitions of peril zones may differ from those of other parties.

The Company has exposure to and monitors more than 300 natural and man-made catastrophe peril zones on a worldwide basis. The peril zones in the disclosure below are major peril zones for the industry. The Company has exposures in other peril zones that can potentially generate losses greater than the PML estimates below.

The Company’s PMLs represent an estimate of loss for a single event for a given return period. The table below discloses the Company’s 1-in-250 and 1-in-500 year return period estimated loss for a single occurrence of a natural catastrophe event in a one-year period. In other words, the 1-in-250 and 1-in-500 year return period PMLs mean that there is a 0.4% and 0.2% chance, respectively, in any given year that an occurrence of a natural catastrophe in a specific peril zone will lead to losses exceeding the stated estimate. For risk management purposes, the Company focuses more on the 1-in-250 PML estimate for wind perils and the 1-in-500 PML for earthquake perils.

The PML estimates below include all significant exposure from our Non-life and Life business operations. This includes coverage for property, marine, energy, aviation, engineering, workers’ compensation and mortality. In addition, the PML estimates include the contractual limits of insurance-linked securities. The PML estimates do not include casualty coverage that could be exposed as a result of a catastrophic event. In addition, they do not include estimates for contingent losses to insureds that are not directly impacted by the event (e.g. loss of earnings due to disruption in supply lines).

The table below shows the Company’s single occurrence estimated net PML exposures (pre-tax and net of retrocession and reinstatement premiums) for certain selected peak industry natural catastrophe perils at July 1, 2012 (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

          Single Occurrence  
          Estimated Net Exposure  

Zone

  

Peril

   1-in-250 year PML      1-in-500 year PML
(Earthquake Perils Only)
 

U.S. Southeast

   Hurricane    $ 1,173        —     

U.S. Northeast

   Hurricane      1,000        —     

U.S. Gulf Coast

   Hurricane      1,069        —     

Caribbean

   Hurricane      272        —     

Europe

   Windstorm      927        —     

Japan

   Typhoon      164        —     

California

   Earthquake      734      $ 923  

British Columbia

   Earthquake      350        526  

Japan

   Earthquake      502        543  

Australia

   Earthquake      468        582  

New Zealand

   Earthquake      320        339  

 

37


Table of Contents

The Company estimates that the incremental loss at the 1-in-250 year return period from a U.S. hurricane impacting more than one of the three hurricane risk zones in the United States would be 20% higher than the PML of the largest zone impacted. In addition, there is the potential for a hurricane to impact the Caribbean peril zone and one or more U.S. hurricane peril zones.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates of the Company at September 30, 2012 have not changed materially compared to December 31, 2011. The following discussion updates specific information related to the Company’s estimates for losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits and valuation of investments and funds held – directly managed, including certain derivative financial instruments. See Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 for a discussion of the Company’s other critical accounting policies which are not specifically updated in this report given they have not changed materially compared to December 31, 2011.

Losses and Loss Expenses and Life Policy Benefits

Losses and Loss Expenses

Because a significant amount of time can elapse between the assumption of risk, occurrence of a loss event, the reporting of the event to an insurance company (the primary company or the cedant), the subsequent reporting to the reinsurance company (the reinsurer) and the ultimate payment of the claim on the loss event by the reinsurer, the Company’s liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses (loss reserves) is based largely upon estimates. The Company categorizes loss reserves into three types of reserves: reported outstanding loss reserves (case reserves), additional case reserves (ACRs) and incurred but not reported (IBNR) reserves. The Company updates its estimates for each of the aforementioned categories on a quarterly basis using information received from its cedants. The Company also estimates the future unallocated loss adjustment expenses (ULAE) associated with the loss reserves and these form part of the Company’s loss adjustment expense reserves. The Company’s Non-life loss reserves for each category and sub-segment are reported in the table included later in this section.

The amount of time that elapses before a claim is reported to the cedant and then subsequently reported to the reinsurer is commonly referred to in the industry as the reporting tail. For all lines, the Company’s objective is to estimate ultimate losses and loss expenses. Total loss reserves are then calculated by subtracting losses paid. Similarly, IBNR reserves are calculated by subtraction of case reserves and ACRs from total loss reserves.

The Company analyzes its ultimate losses and loss expenses after consideration of the loss experience of various reserving cells. The Company assigns treaties to reserving cells and allocates losses from the treaty to the reserving cell. The reserving cells are selected in order to ensure that the underlying treaties have homogeneous loss development characteristics (e.g., reporting tail) but are large enough to make estimation of trends credible. The selection of reserving cells is reviewed annually and changes over time as the business of the Company evolves. For each reserving cell, the Company’s estimates of loss reserves are reached after a review of the results of several commonly accepted actuarial projection methodologies. In selecting its best estimate, the Company considers the appropriateness of each methodology to the individual circumstances of the reserving cell and underwriting year for which the projection is made.

See Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Losses and Loss Expenses and Life Policy Benefits in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 for additional information on the reserving methodologies employed by the Company, the principal reserving methods used for the reserving lines, the principal parameter assumptions underlying the methods and the main underlying factors upon which the estimates of reserving parameters are predicated.

The Company’s best estimate of total loss reserves is typically in excess of the midpoint of the actuarial ultimate liability estimate. The Company believes that there is potentially significant risk in estimating loss reserves for long-tail lines of business and for immature underwriting years that may not be adequately captured through traditional actuarial projection methodologies as these methodologies usually rely heavily on projections of prior year trends into the future. In selecting its best estimate of future liabilities, the Company considers both the results of actuarial point estimates of loss reserves as well as the potential variability of these estimates as captured by a reasonable range of actuarial liability estimates. The selected best estimates of reserves are always within the reasonable range of estimates indicated by the Company’s actuaries.

During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company reviewed its estimate for prior year losses for the Non-life segment (defined below in Results by Segment) and, in light of developing data, adjusted its ultimate loss ratios for prior accident years. The following table summarizes the net prior year favorable loss development for each sub-segment of the Company’s Non-life segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

38


Table of Contents
      For the three
months ended
September 30, 2012
     For the three
months ended
September 30, 2011
     For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2012
     For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2011
 

Net Non-life prior year favorable loss development:

           

North America

   $ 67      $ 75      $ 167      $ 169  

Global (Non-U.S.) P&C

     28        35        74        90  

Global (Non-U.S.) Specialty

     91        30        205        122  

Catastrophe

     3        36        22        98  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net Non-life prior year favorable loss development

   $ 189      $ 176      $ 468      $ 479  

The net Non-life prior year favorable loss development for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was driven by the following factors (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

      For the three
months ended
September 30, 2012
    For the three
months ended
September 30, 2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2012
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2011
 

Net Non-life prior year (adverse) favorable loss development:

        

Net prior year loss development due to changes in premiums(1)

   $ (14   $ (8   $ (75   $ (34

Net prior year loss development due to all other factors(2)

     203       184       543       513  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net Non-life prior year favorable loss development

   $ 189     $ 176     $ 468     $ 479  

 

(1) Net prior year loss development due to changes in premiums includes, but it is not limited to, the impact to prior years reserves associated with (increases) decreases in the estimated or actual premium exposure reported by cedants.
(2) Net prior year loss development due to all other factors includes, but is not limited to, loss experience, changes in assumptions and changes in methodology.

For a discussion of net prior year favorable loss development by Non-life sub-segment, see Results by Segment below. See Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Losses and Loss Expenses and Life Policy Benefits in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 for additional information by reserving lines.

The following table shows the gross reserves reported by cedants (case reserves), those estimated by the Company (ACRs and IBNR reserves) and the total gross, ceded and net loss reserves recorded at September 30, 2012 for each Non-life sub-segment (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

      Case
reserves
     ACRs      IBNR
reserves
     Total gross
loss reserves
recorded
     Ceded loss
reserves
    Total net
loss reserves
recorded
 

North America

   $ 972      $ 143      $ 2,288      $ 3,403      $ (23   $ 3,380  

Global (Non-U.S.) P&C

     1,392        13        1,106        2,511        (18     2,493  

Global (Non-U.S.) Specialty

     2,008        27        1,738        3,773        (196     3,577  

Catastrophe

     629        228        217        1,074        (71     1,003  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Non-life reserves

   $ 5,001      $ 411      $ 5,349      $ 10,761      $ (308   $ 10,453  

The net loss reserves represent the Company’s best estimate of future losses and loss expense amounts based on the information available at September 30, 2012. Loss reserves rely upon estimates involving actuarial and statistical projections at a given time that reflect the Company’s expectations of the costs of the ultimate settlement and administration of claims. These estimates are continually reviewed and the ultimate liability may be in excess of, or less than, the amounts provided, for which any adjustments will be reflected in the period in which the need for an adjustment is determined.

The Company’s best estimates are point estimates within a reasonable range of actuarial liability estimates. These ranges are developed using stochastic simulations and techniques and provide an indication as to the degree of variability of the loss reserves. The Company interprets the ranges produced by these techniques as confidence intervals around the point estimates for each Non-life sub-segment. However, due to the inherent volatility in the business written by the Company, there can be no assurance that the final settlement of the loss reserves will fall within these ranges.

The point estimates related to net loss reserves recorded by the Company and the range of actuarial estimates at September 30, 2012 were as follows for each sub-segment of the Non-life segment (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

39


Table of Contents
      Recorded  Point
Estimate
     High      Low  

Net Non-life sub-segment loss reserves:

        

North America

   $ 3,380      $  3,536      $ 2,664  

Global (Non-U.S.) P&C

     2,493        2,672        2,150  

Global (Non-U.S.) Specialty

     3,577        3,788        3,141  

Catastrophe

     1,003        1,025        881  

It is not appropriate to add together the ranges of each sub-segment in an effort to determine a high and low range around the Company’s total Non-life carried loss reserves.

Of the Company’s $10,453 million of net Non-life loss reserves at September 30, 2012, net loss reserves for accident years 2005 and prior of $860 million are guaranteed by Colisée Re, pursuant to the Reserve Agreement. The Company is not subject to any loss reserve variability associated with the guaranteed reserves. See Business — Reserves in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 for a discussion of the Reserve Agreement.

Given the number and complex nature of the 2011 catastrophic events, a significant amount of judgment was used to estimate the range of potential losses from these events and there remains a considerable degree of uncertainty related to the range of possible ultimate liabilities. These risks and uncertainties include the ongoing cedant and industry revisions of various magnitudes for each of these events, the inability to access certain areas and zones affected by these events to reliably assess claims information, the continuing uncertainty regarding government regulations with respect to the standards of rebuilding in certain affected areas, the degree to which inflation impacts material required to rebuild affected properties, the characteristics of the Company’s program participation for certain affected cedants and potentially affected cedants, and the expected length of the claims settlement period for these events. In addition, there is additional complexity related to the earthquakes that occurred in New Zealand in September 2010, February and June 2011 (the 2010 and the February and June 2011 New Zealand Earthquakes) and the Japan Earthquake given multiple earthquakes have occurred in the same region in a relatively short time period, resulting in cedants revising their allocation of losses between various treaties, under which the Company may provide different amounts of coverage.

Loss estimates arising from earthquakes are inherently more uncertain than those from other catastrophic events. The Company’s actual losses from the 2010 and the February and June 2011 New Zealand Earthquakes may materially exceed the estimated losses as a result of, among other things, an increase in industry insured loss estimates, the expected lengthy claims development period, in particular for earthquake related losses, and the receipt of additional information from cedants, brokers and loss adjusters. In addition, the Company’s loss estimate related to the Japan Earthquake is inherently more uncertain than those from other catastrophic events given the characteristics of the Company’s reinsurance portfolio in the region. Further changes in loss assumptions for specific cedants may have a material impact on the Company’s loss estimate related to this event given a significant portion of the losses are concentrated with a few large cedants. While the Company’s estimates of the ultimate liabilities have not changed materially from December 31, 2011, the Company believes there remains a high degree of uncertainty related to its loss estimates related to the 2010 and the February and June 2011 New Zealand Earthquakes and the Japan Earthquake, and the ultimate losses arising from these events may be materially in excess of, or less than, the amounts provided for in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2012.

Based upon information currently available and the estimated range of potential ultimate liabilities, the Company believes that unpaid loss and loss expense reserves contemplate a reasonable provision for exposure related to the 2011 catastrophic events. In addition to the sum of the point estimates recorded for each of the 2011 catastrophic events, at December 31, 2011 the Company recorded additional gross reserves of $50 million (net reserves of $48 million after the impact of retrocession), specifically related to the 2011 catastrophic events within its Catastrophe sub-segment. The additional gross reserves recorded were in consideration of the number of events, the complexity of certain events and the continuing uncertainties in estimating the ultimate losses for these events in the aggregate. The Company continues to evaluate the additional gross reserves that were recorded as part of its periodic reserving process. At September 30, 2012, as part of its periodic review process, the Company decided to maintain the additional gross reserves and did not record any changes to the amounts recorded given the uncertainties described above remain. Any changes to the amounts recorded are based on updated or new information and Management’s assessment of remaining uncertainty related to the specific factors regarding the 2011 catastrophic events. Changes to the amounts recorded may either result in: i) the reallocation of some or all of the additional reserves to one or more of the 2011 catastrophic events; or ii) the release of some or all of the additional reserves to net income in future periods; or iii) an increase in additional gross reserves recorded.

In addition, the losses related to the U.S. drought are subject to uncertainty as crop yields are not finalized given the harvest is not yet completed. Estimates are further uncertain given commodity prices that will be used for calculating loss of revenue products will be established in the future and may differ from current estimates.

 

40


Table of Contents

Life Policy Benefits

Policy benefits for life and annuity contracts relate to the business in the Company’s Life segment, which predominantly includes reinsurance of longevity, subdivided into standard and non-standard annuities, and mortality business, which includes death and disability covers (with various riders) primarily written in Continental Europe, term assurance and critical illness (TCI) primarily written in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and guaranteed minimum death benefit (GMDB) business primarily written in Continental Europe.

The Company categorizes life reserves into three types of reserves: reported outstanding loss reserves (case reserves), incurred but not reported (IBNR) reserves and reserves for future policy benefits. Such liabilities are established based on methods and underlying assumptions in accordance with U.S. GAAP and applicable actuarial standards. Principal assumptions used in the establishment of reserves for future policy benefits have been determined based upon information reported by ceding companies, supplemented by the Company’s actuarial estimates of mortality, critical illness, persistency and future investment income, with appropriate provision to reflect uncertainty. Case reserves, IBNR reserves and reserves for future policy benefits are generally calculated at the treaty level. The Company updates its estimates for each of the aforementioned categories on a periodic basis using information received from its cedants.

The Company’s reserving practices begin with the categorization of the contracts written as short duration, long duration, or universal life business for U.S. GAAP reserving purposes. This categorization determines the Company’s reserving methodology. See Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Losses and Loss Expenses and Life Policy Benefits—Life Policy Benefits in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 for additional information on the reserving methodologies employed by the Company for its longevity and mortality lines.

The following table provides the Company’s gross and net policy benefits for life and annuity contracts by reserving line at September 30, 2012 (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

     Case
reserves
     IBNR
reserves
     Reserves for
future policy
benefits
     Total gross Life
reserves recorded
     Ceded
reserves
    Total net Life
reserves recorded
 

Mortality

   $ 210      $ 483      $ 486      $ 1,179      $ (5   $ 1,174  

Longevity

     1        84        439        524        (5     519  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total policy benefits for life and annuity contracts

   $ 211      $ 567      $ 925      $ 1,703      $ (10   $ 1,693  

Valuation of Investments and Funds Held – Directly Managed, including certain Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company defines fair value as the price received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company measures the fair value of its financial instruments according to a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to measure fair value into three broad levels.

Under the fair value hierarchy, Management uses certain assumptions and judgments to derive the fair value of its investments, particularly for those assets with significant unobservable inputs, commonly referred to as Level 3 assets. At September 30, 2012, the Company’s financial instruments that were measured at fair value and categorized as Level 3 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

     September 30, 2012  

Fixed maturities

   $ 647  

Equities

     28  

Other invested assets (including certain derivatives)

     77  

Funds held - directly managed account

     18  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 770  

For additional information on the valuation techniques, methods and assumptions that were used by the Company to estimate the fair value of its fixed maturities, short-term investments, equities, other invested assets and investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account, see Note 4 to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report. For information on the Company’s use of derivative financial instruments, see Note 5 to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report.

Results of Operations—for the Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011

The following discussion of Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements based upon assumptions and expectations concerning the potential effect of future events that are subject to uncertainties. See Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 and Item 1A of Part II of this report for a list of the

 

41


Table of Contents

Company’s risk factors. Any of these risk factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such forward-looking statements.

The Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The Company’s significant subsidiaries and branches have one of the following functional currencies: U.S. dollar, euro or Canadian dollar. As a significant portion of the Company’s operations is transacted in foreign currencies, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates may affect year over year comparisons. To the extent that fluctuations in foreign exchange rates affect comparisons, their impact has been quantified, when possible, and discussed in each of the relevant sections. See Note 2(m) to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 for a discussion of translation of foreign currencies.

The foreign exchange fluctuations for the principal currencies in which the Company transacts business were as follows:

 

   

the U.S. dollar average exchange rate was stronger against most currencies, except the Japanese yen, in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same periods of 2011; and

 

   

the U.S. dollar ending exchange rate weakened against most currencies, except the Euro, at September 30, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011.

Review of Net Income (Loss)

Management analyzes the Company’s net income or loss in three parts: underwriting result, investment result and other components of net income or loss. Underwriting result consists of net premiums earned and other income or loss less losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits, acquisition costs and other operating expenses. Investment result consists of net investment income, net realized and unrealized investment gains or losses and interest in earnings or losses of equity investments. Net investment income includes interest and dividends, net of investment expenses, generated by the Company’s investment activities, as well as interest income generated on funds held assets. Net realized and unrealized investment gains or losses include sales of the Company’s fixed income, equity and other invested assets and investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account and changes in net unrealized gains or losses. Interest in earnings or losses of equity investments includes the Company’s strategic investments. Other components of net income or loss include technical result and other income or loss, other operating expenses, interest expense, amortization of intangible assets, net foreign exchange gains or losses and income tax expense or benefit.

The components of net income (loss) for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

      For the three
months ended
September 30, 2012
    % Change     For the three
months ended
September 30, 2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2012
    % Change     For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2011
 

Underwriting result:

            

Non-life

   $ 201       163   $ 76     $ 408       NM   $ (762

Life

     —          NM        (10     (7     (62     (18

Investment result:

            

Net investment income

     135       (17     164       436       (8     474  

Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses)

     257       885       26       488       NM        (8

Interest in earnings (losses) of equity investments(1)

     5       NM        (5     9       NM        (5

Corporate and Other:

            

Technical result(2)

     —          (92     4       2       (24     3  

Other income (2)

     1       328       —          3       79        1  

Other operating expenses

     (25     9       (23     (74     (5     (78

Interest expense

     (12     —          (12     (37     —          (37

Amortization of intangible assets(3)

     (9     (7     (9     (27     (3     (27

Net foreign exchange (losses) gains

     (2     NM        11       3       (84     20  

Income tax expense

     (64     53       (42     (181     176        (66
  

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 487       170     $ 180     $ 1,023       NM      $ (503

 

NM: not meaningful

(1) Interest in earnings of equity investments represents the Company’s aggregate share of earnings related to several private placement investments and limited partnerships within the Corporate and Other segment.

 

42


Table of Contents
(2) Technical result and other income primarily relate to income on insurance-linked securities and principal finance transactions within the Corporate and Other segment.
(3) Amortization of intangible assets relates to intangible assets acquired in the acquisition of Paris Re in 2009.

Underwriting result is a measurement that the Company uses to manage and evaluate its Non-life and Life segments, as it is a primary measure of underlying profitability for the Company’s core reinsurance operations, separate from the investment results. The Company believes that in order to enhance the understanding of its profitability, it is useful for investors to evaluate the components of net income or loss separately and in the aggregate. Underwriting result should not be considered a substitute for net income or loss and does not reflect the overall profitability of the business, which is also impacted by investment results and other items.

Three-month result

The underwriting result for the Non-life segment increased by $125 million, from $76 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 to $201 million in the same period of 2012. The increase was attributable to:

 

   

an increase in net favorable loss development on prior quarters of $195 million, from net adverse loss development of $178 million, primarily due to increased estimates related to the 2011 catastrophic events in the three months ended September 30, 2011, to net favorable loss development of $17 million in the same period of 2012; and

 

   

an increase of approximately $15 million resulting primarily from a lower level of mid-sized loss activity in the North America sub-segment, a modestly higher level of net favorable loss development on prior accident years and a decrease in operating expenses. These increases were reduced by a lower level of net premiums earned in the Catastrophe sub-segment, which absent catastrophe losses, directly reduces the underwriting result; partially offset by

 

   

large losses of $85 million related to the U.S. drought which impacted the agriculture line of business in the North America sub-segment in the three months ended September 30, 2012.

The underwriting result for the Life segment, which does not include allocated investment income, increased by $10 million, from a loss of $10 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 to breakeven in the same period of 2012. The increase in the Life underwriting result was primarily due to higher net favorable prior year loss development, which was driven by the GMDB business. See Results by Segment below.

Net investment income decreased by $29 million, from $164 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 to $135 million in the same period of 2012. The decrease in net investment income of 17% was primarily attributable to a decrease in net investment income from fixed maturities due to lower reinvestment rates. See Corporate and Other – Net Investment Income below for more details.

Net realized and unrealized investment gains increased by $231 million, from $26 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 to $257 million in the same period of 2012. The net realized and unrealized investment gains of $257 million in the three months ended September 30, 2012 were primarily due to narrowing credit spreads, improvements in equity markets and modest declines in U.S. and European risk-free rates. Net realized and unrealized investment gains of $257 million in the three months ended September 30, 2012 primarily consisted of the change in net unrealized investment gains on fixed maturities, short-term investments and equities of $201 million and net realized investment gains on fixed maturities, short-term investments and equities of $49 million.

Other operating expenses included in Corporate and Other increased by $2 million, from $23 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 to $25 million in the same period of 2012. The increase was primarily due to increased personnel and consulting expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2012.

Interest expense in the three months ended September 30, 2012 was comparable to the same period of 2011.

Net foreign exchange gains decreased by $13 million, from a gain of $11 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 to a loss of $2 million in the same period of 2012. The net foreign exchange loss for the three months ended September 30, 2012 resulted primarily from the income statement revaluation which were partially offset by the difference in the forward points embedded in the Company’s hedges.

Income tax expense increased by $22 million, from $42 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 to $64 million in the same period of 2012. The increase in the income tax expense was primarily due to the Company’s taxable jurisdictions generating a higher pre-tax income. See Corporate and Other – Income Taxes below for more details.

 

43


Table of Contents

Nine-month result

The underwriting result for the Non-life segment increased by $1,170 million, from a loss of $762 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to an income of $408 million in the same period of 2012. The increase was primarily attributable to:

 

   

the absence of large catastrophic losses in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to losses of $1,346 million, net of retrocession, reinstatement premiums and profit commissions, related to the 2011 catastrophic events in the same period of 2011; partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of approximately $91 million resulting from a lower level of net premiums earned in the Catastrophe sub-segment, which absent catastrophe losses, directly reduces the underwriting result and a decrease in net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $11 million. These decreases were reduced by a lower level of mid-sized loss activity; and

 

   

large losses of $85 million related to the U.S. drought which impacted the agriculture line of business in the North America sub-segment in the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

The underwriting result for the Life segment, which does not include allocated investment income, improved by $11 million, from a loss of $18 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to a loss of $7 million in the same period of September 30, 2012, primarily due to higher net favorable loss development, which was driven by the mortality line of business. See Results by Segment below.

Net investment income decreased by $38 million, from $474 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to $436 million in the same period of 2012. The decrease in net investment income is primarily attributable to a decrease in net investment income from fixed maturities due to lower reinvestment rates. See Corporate and Other – Net Investment Income below for more details.

Net realized and unrealized investment gains increased by $496 million, from a loss of $8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to a gain of $488 million in the same period of 2012. The net realized and unrealized investment gains of $488 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were primarily due to narrowing credit spreads, improvements in worldwide equity markets and decreases in U.S. and European risk-free interest rates. Net realized and unrealized investment gains of $488 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 primarily consisted of the change in net unrealized investment gains on fixed maturities, short-term investments, equities and other invested assets of $304 million and net realized investment gains on fixed maturities, short-term investments and equities of $176 million.

Other operating expenses included in Corporate and Other decreased by $4 million, from $78 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to $74 million in the same period of 2012. The decrease was primarily due to lower personnel costs in the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Interest expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was comparable to the same period of 2011.

Net foreign exchange gains decreased by $17 million, from $20 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to $3 million in the same period of 2012. The net foreign exchange gains during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 resulted primarily from the difference in the forward points embedded in the Company’s hedges, which were partially offset by the timing of hedging activities. The Company hedges a significant portion of its currency risk exposure as discussed in Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk in Item 3 of Part I of this report.

Income tax expense increased by $115 million, from $66 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to $181 million in the same period of 2012. The increase in the income tax expense was primarily due to the Company’s taxable jurisdictions generating a higher pre-tax income in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. See Corporate and Other – Income Taxes below for more details.

Results by Segment

The Company monitors the performance of its operations in three segments, Non-life, Life and Corporate & Other. The Non-life segment is further divided into four sub-segments, North America, Global (Non-U.S.) Property and Casualty (Global (Non-U.S.) P&C), Global (Non-U.S.) Specialty and Catastrophe. Segments and sub-segments represent markets that are reasonably homogeneous in terms of geography, client types, buying patterns, underlying risk patterns and approach to risk management. See the description of the Company’s segments and sub-segments as well as a discussion of how the Company measures its segment results in Note 22 to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 and in Note 8 to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report.

Segment results are shown before intercompany transactions. Business reported in the Global (Non-U.S.) P&C and Global (Non-U.S.) Specialty Non-life sub-segments and the Life segment is, to a significant extent, denominated in foreign currencies and is reported in U.S. dollars at the average foreign exchange rates for each period. The U.S. dollar has fluctuated against the euro and other

 

44


Table of Contents

currencies in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same periods of 2011 and this should be considered when making period to period comparisons.

Non-life Segment

North America

The North America sub-segment is comprised of lines of business that are considered to be either short, medium or long-tail. The short-tail lines consist primarily of agriculture, property and motor business and represented 47% and 44% of net premiums written in this sub-segment in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. Casualty is considered to be long-tail and represented 42% of net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, while credit/surety and multiline are considered to have a medium-tail and accounted for the balance of net premiums written in this sub-segment. The casualty line typically tends to have a higher loss ratio and a lower technical result, due to the long-tail nature of the risks involved. Casualty treaties typically provide for investment income on premiums invested over a longer period as losses are typically paid later than for other lines. Investment income, however, is not considered in the calculation of technical result.

The following table provides the components of the technical result and the corresponding ratios for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

     For the three
months ended
September 30, 2012
    % Change     For the three
months ended
September 30, 2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2012
    % Change     For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2011
 

Gross premiums written

  $ 311       8   $ 288     $ 924       6   $ 868  

Net premiums written

    311       8       287       922       6       868  

Net premiums earned

  $ 335       2     $ 329     $ 863       1     $ 850  

Losses and loss expenses

    (251     31       (192     (568     2       (556

Acquisition costs

    (83     4       (80     (218     4       (210
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Technical result(1)

  $ 1       (98   $ 57     $ 77       (9   $ 84  

Loss ratio(2)

    74.9       58.4     65.9       65.5

Acquisition ratio(3)

    24.8         24.3       25.2         24.6  
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Technical ratio(4)

    99.7       82.7     91.1       90.1

 

(1) Technical result is defined as net premiums earned less losses and loss expenses and acquisition costs.
(2) Loss ratio is obtained by dividing losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
(3) Acquisition ratio is obtained by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
(4) Technical ratio is defined as the sum of the loss ratio and the acquisition ratio.

Premiums

The North America sub-segment represented 30% and 25% of total net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to 27% and 24% in the same periods of 2011, respectively.

Three-month result

Gross and net premiums written increased by 8% and net premiums earned increased by 2% in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. The increases in gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned were primarily attributable to the casualty and property lines of business. The increase in the casualty line of business was primarily driven by higher upward premium adjustments, while the property line of business benefitted from new business written. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in the agriculture line of business, which was driven primarily by a significant upward premium adjustment in the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in net premiums earned was lower than the increase in gross and net premiums written due to the impact of the non-renewal of certain motor treaties in prior periods due to lower pricing and competitive market conditions.

Nine-month result

Gross and net premiums written increased by 6% and net premiums earned increased by 1% in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. The increases in gross and net premiums written were primarily attributable to the casualty and property lines of business as described in the three-month result. These increases in gross and net premiums written were partially offset by reductions in the motor line of business, as a result of non-renewals, and in the agriculture line of business, as described in the three-month result. The increase in net premiums earned was lower than the increases in gross and net premiums

 

45


Table of Contents

written due to the earning of the reduced level of premiums written in prior periods, primarily in the property line as a result of cancellations and non-renewals during 2011. Notwithstanding the diverse conditions prevailing in various markets within this sub-segment, with terms in most markets static and soft, and price increases generally in loss affected markets only, the Company was able to write business that met its portfolio objectives.

Losses and loss expenses and loss ratio

Three-month result

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the three months ended September 30, 2012 reflected:

 

   

large losses of $85 million, or 25.4 points on the loss ratio, related to the U.S. drought impacting the agriculture line of business;

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $67 million, or 19.9 points on the loss ratio; and

 

   

a lower level of mid-sized loss activity.

The net favorable loss development of $67 million included net favorable loss development for prior accident years in most lines of business, predominantly in the casualty line. Loss information provided by cedants in the three months ended September 30, 2012 for prior accident years was lower than the Company expected and included no individually material losses or reductions but a series of attritional losses or reductions. Based on the Company’s assessment of this loss information, the Company decreased its expected ultimate loss ratios for most lines of business, which had the net effect of decreasing prior year loss estimates.

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the three months ended September 30, 2011 reflected:

 

   

no large catastrophic losses;

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $75 million, or 22.7 points on the loss ratio;

 

   

net adverse loss development on prior quarters of $10 million, or 2.9 points on the loss ratio, primarily driven by adverse development related to the U.S. tornadoes and higher loss estimates in the agriculture line of business;

 

   

a change in the mix of business towards the agriculture line, which generally carries a higher loss ratio compared to most of the other lines of business in this sub-segment; and

 

   

a lower level of loss estimates recorded in the casualty line of business related to financial crisis.

The net favorable loss development of $75 million reported in the three months ended September 30, 2011 included net favorable development for prior accident years in most lines of business, predominantly in the casualty line.

The increase of $59 million in losses and loss expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 included:

 

   

an increase of $85 million in large losses related to the U.S. drought impacting the agriculture line of business; and

 

   

a decrease of $8 million in net favorable prior year development; partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of approximately $24 million in losses and loss expenses resulting from a lower level of mid-sized loss activity and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods; and

 

   

a decrease of $10 million in net adverse prior quarters loss development.

Nine-month result

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 reflected:

 

   

large losses of $85 million, or 9.9 points on the loss ratio, related to the U.S. drought impacting the agriculture line of business;

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $167 million, or 19.4 points on the loss ratio;

 

   

a lower level of mid-sized loss activity; and

 

   

an increase in the book of business and exposure.

The net favorable loss development of $167 million included net favorable loss development for prior accident years in most lines of business, predominantly in the casualty line of business. Loss information provided by cedants in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 for prior accident years was lower than the Company expected and included no individually material losses or

 

46


Table of Contents

reductions but a series of attritional losses or reductions. Based on the Company’s assessment of this loss information, the Company decreased its expected ultimate loss ratios for most lines of business, which had the net effect of decreasing prior year loss estimates.

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 reflected:

 

   

large catastrophic losses, primarily related to the U.S. tornadoes, of $57 million, or 6.7 points on the loss ratio;

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $169 million, or 19.9 points on the loss ratio;

 

   

a change in the mix of business towards the agriculture line, which generally carries a higher loss ratio compared to most of the other lines of business in this sub-segment; and

 

   

a lower level of loss estimates recorded in the casualty line of business related to financial crisis.

The net favorable loss development of $169 million reported in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 included net favorable development for prior accident years in most lines of business, predominantly in the casualty line, while the motor line experienced adverse loss development for prior accident years of $6 million.

The increase of $12 million in losses and loss expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 included:

 

   

an increase of $28 million in the combined level of large and catastrophic losses; partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of approximately $16 million in losses and loss expenses resulting from a lower level of mid-sized loss activity and a modest decrease in net favorable prior year loss development, partially offset by an increase in the book of business and exposure and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods.

Acquisition costs and acquisition ratio

Three-month result

Acquisition costs increased in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 primarily as a result of higher net premiums earned. The acquisition ratio in the three months ended September 30, 2012 was comparable to the same period of 2011.

Nine-month result

Acquisition costs increased in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 primarily as a result of higher net premiums earned and modestly higher profit commission adjustments reported by cedants during the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The acquisition ratio increased in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 due to the modestly higher profit commission adjustments.

Technical result and technical ratio

Three-month result

The decrease of $56 million in the technical result and the corresponding increase in the technical ratio in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 was primarily attributable to an increase of $85 million in large losses and a decrease of $8 million in net favorable prior year loss development and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods. These factors driving the decrease in the technical result were partially offset by a decrease of $10 million in net adverse prior quarters loss development and a lower level of mid-sized loss activity.

Nine-month result

The decrease of $7 million in the technical result and the corresponding increase in the technical ratio in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 was primarily attributable to an increase of $34 million, net of profit commissions, in large and catastrophic losses, a modest decrease in net favorable prior year loss development and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods. These factors driving the decrease in the technical result were partially offset by a lower level of mid-sized loss activity.

Global (Non-U.S.) P&C

The Global (Non-U.S.) P&C sub-segment is composed of short-tail business, in the form of property and proportional motor business, that represented approximately 85% and 83% of net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, and long-tail business, in the form of casualty and non-proportional motor business, that represented the balance of net premiums written.

 

47


Table of Contents

The following table provides the components of the technical result and the corresponding ratios for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

    For the three
months ended
September 30, 2012
    % Change     For the three
months ended
September 30, 2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2012
    % Change     For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2011
 

Gross premiums written

  $ 123       (15 )%    $ 144     $ 600       3   $ 585  

Net premiums written

    122       (15     144       596       3       581  

Net premiums earned

  $ 172       (11   $ 193     $ 496       (13   $ 567  

Losses and loss expenses

    (110     8       (102     (327     (14     (379

Acquisition costs

    (42     (18     (52     (120     (17     (145
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Technical result

  $ 20       (51   $ 39     $ 49       14     $ 43  

Loss ratio

    63.9       52.9     65.9       66.8

Acquisition ratio

    24.9         26.9       24.3         25.7  
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Technical ratio

    88.8       79.8     90.2       92.5

Premiums

The Global (Non-U.S.) P&C sub-segment represented 12% and 17% of total net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to 14% and 17% of total net premiums written in the same periods of 2011.

Three-month result

Gross and net premiums written decreased by 15% and net premiums earned decreased by 11% in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. The decreases in gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned resulted primarily from foreign exchange fluctuations, which decreased gross and net premiums written by 9% and net premiums earned by 10% due to the impact of stronger U.S. dollar in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. The decreases in gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned were also due to the effects of the Company’s decisions in prior periods to reduce certain business to reposition its portfolio, primarily in the property line. Given a significant percentage of the business in this sub-segment is written on a proportional basis, the impact of these reductions is reflected over time. These decreases were partially offset by new business written in the motor line.

Nine-month result

Gross and net premiums written increased by 3% and net premiums earned decreased by 13% in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. The increases in gross and net premiums written were primarily due to new business written in the motor line of business, partially offset by decreases in the property line of business which were driven by the same factors described in the three-month result. Net premiums earned decreased in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 due to the earning of the reduced level of premiums written in prior periods given a significant percentage of the business is written on a proportional basis as described in the three-month result, while new business written is yet to be fully reflected in net premiums earned. Foreign exchange fluctuations decreased gross and net premiums written by 4% and net premiums earned by 5% due to the impact of stronger U.S. dollar in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. Notwithstanding the continued soft market conditions, with terms and conditions stable and price increases only observed in loss affected markets, the Company was able to write business that met its portfolio objectives.

Losses and loss expenses and loss ratio

Three-month result

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the three months ended September 30, 2012 reflected:

 

   

no large catastrophic losses;

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $28 million, or 16.7 points on the loss ratio;

 

   

net adverse loss development on prior quarters of $4 million, or 2.3 points on the loss ratio;

 

   

a modestly lower level of mid-sized loss activity; and

 

   

a decrease in the book of business and exposure and lower pricing.

 

48


Table of Contents

The net favorable loss development of $28 million included net favorable loss development for prior accident years in all lines of business. Loss information provided by cedants in the three months ended September 30, 2012 for prior accident years was lower than the Company expected and included no individually significant losses or reductions but a series of attritional losses or reductions. Based on the Company’s assessment of this loss information, the Company decreased its expected ultimate loss ratios for all lines of business, which had the net effect of decreasing prior year loss estimates.

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the three months ended September 30, 2011 reflected:

 

   

no large catastrophic losses;

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $35 million, or 18.1 points on the loss ratio;

 

   

net adverse loss development on prior quarters of $4 million, or 2.1 points on the loss ratio;

 

   

a higher level of mid-sized loss activity; and

 

   

a decrease in the book of business and exposure and lower pricing.

The net favorable loss development of $35 million reported in the three months ended September 30, 2011 included net favorable development for prior accident years driven primarily by the property line, while the motor line experienced adverse loss development for prior accident years.

The increase of $8 million in losses and loss expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 included:

 

   

a decrease of $7 million in net favorable prior year loss development; and

 

   

a modest increase of approximately $1 million in losses and loss expenses resulting from lower pricing and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods, partially offset by a modestly lower level of mid-sized loss activity and a decrease in the book of business and exposure.

Nine-month result

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 reflected:

 

   

no large catastrophic losses;

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $74 million, or 15.0 points on the loss ratio; and

 

   

a decrease in the book of business and exposure and lower pricing.

The net favorable loss development of $74 million included net favorable loss development for prior accident years in all lines of business. Loss information provided by cedants in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 for prior accident years was lower than the Company expected and included no individually significant losses or reductions but a series of attritional losses or reductions. Based on the Company’s assessment of this loss information, the Company decreased its expected ultimate loss ratios for all lines of business, which had the net effect of decreasing prior year loss estimates.

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 reflected:

 

   

large catastrophic losses related to the Japan Earthquake, New Zealand Earthquake and Australian Floods of $53 million, or 9.4 points on the loss ratio;

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $90 million, or 15.8 points on the loss ratio; and

 

   

a decrease in the book of business and exposure and lower pricing.

The net favorable loss development of $90 million reported in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 included net favorable development for prior accident years in all lines of business.

The decrease of $52 million in losses and loss expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 included:

 

   

a decrease of $53 million in large catastrophic losses; and

 

   

a decrease of approximately $15 million in losses and loss expenses resulting from a decrease in the book of business and exposure, partially reduced by lower pricing and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods; which was partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of $16 million in net favorable prior year loss development.

 

49


Table of Contents

Acquisition costs and acquisition ratio

Three-month result

Acquisition costs decreased in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 primarily as a result of lower net premiums earned and lower profit commission adjustments reported by cedants in the property line of business. The acquisition ratio decreased in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 due to the lower profit commission adjustments in the property line of business.

Nine-month result

Acquisition costs decreased in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 primarily as a result of lower net premiums earned. The acquisition ratio decreased in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 due to lower profit commission adjustments in the property and motor lines of business.

Technical result and technical ratio

Three-month result

The decrease of $19 million in the technical result and the corresponding increase in the technical ratio in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 was primarily attributable to a decrease of $7 million in net favorable prior year loss development, lower pricing, a decrease in the book of business and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods. These decreases were partially offset by a modestly lower level of mid-sized loss activity and lower acquisition costs.

Nine-month result

The increase of $6 million in the technical result and the corresponding decrease in the technical ratio in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 was primarily attributable to a decrease of $53 million in large catastrophic losses and lower acquisition costs. This increase in the technical result was partially offset by a decrease in the book of business, a decrease of $16 million in net favorable prior year loss development, lower pricing and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods.

Global (Non-U.S.) Specialty

The Global (Non-U.S.) Specialty sub-segment is primarily comprised of lines of business that are considered to be either short or medium-tail. The short-tail lines consist of agriculture, energy and specialty property and represented 26% and 24% of net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. Aviation/space, credit/surety, engineering and marine are considered to have a medium-tail and represented 70% and 67% of net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, while specialty casualty is considered to be long-tail and accounted for the balance of net premiums written in this sub-segment.

The following table provides the components of the technical result and the corresponding ratios for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

    For the three
months ended
September 30, 2012
    % Change     For the three
months ended
September 30, 2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2012
    % Change     For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2011
 

Gross premiums written

  $ 360       (2 )%    $ 368     $ 1,178       8   $ 1,092  

Net premiums written

    354       (2     360       1,098       9       1,007  

Net premiums earned

  $ 363       —        $ 362     $ 1,034       1     $ 1,021  

Losses and loss expenses

    (161     (35     (247     (569     (16     (675

Acquisition costs

    (79     (4     (82     (241     —          (240
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Technical result

  $ 123       277     $ 33     $ 224       112     $ 106  

Loss ratio

    44.4       68.3     55.1       66.1

Acquisition ratio

    21.7         22.7       23.3         23.5  
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Technical ratio

    66.1       91.0     78.4       89.6

 

50


Table of Contents

Premiums

The Global (Non-U.S.) Specialty sub-segment represented 34% and 30% of total net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, compared to 33% and 28% of total net premiums written in the same periods of 2011.

Three-month result

Gross and net premiums written decreased by 2% and net premiums earned were flat in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. The decreases in gross and net premiums written were primarily driven by the impact of foreign exchange, and, to a lesser extent, the impact of non-renewals and increased cedant retentions in the energy and aviation/space lines of business. Foreign exchange fluctuations decreased gross and net premiums written by 5% due to the impact of stronger U.S. dollar in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. These decreases in gross and net premiums written were partially offset by new business written in the marine line of business. Net premiums earned were flat in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 as the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations, which decreased net premiums earned by 6%, was offset by new business.

Nine-month result

Gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned increased by 8%, 9% and 1%, respectively, in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. The increases in gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned resulted primarily from the marine, specialty property and agriculture lines of business and were primarily due to new business written. These increases were partially offset by foreign exchange fluctuations that decreased gross and net premiums written by 3% and net premiums earned by 4% due to the impact of stronger U.S. dollar in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. The increase in net premiums earned was lower than the increases in gross and net premiums written due to the earning of the reduced level of premiums written in 2011, partially offset by the new business written in 2012, which is yet to be fully reflected in net premiums earned. Notwithstanding the diverse conditions prevailing in various markets within this sub-segment, with terms in most markets flat and terms in loss affected lines strengthening, the Company was able to write business that met its portfolio objectives.

Losses and loss expenses and loss ratio

Three-month result

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the three months ended September 30, 2012 reflected:

 

   

no large catastrophic losses;

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $91 million, or 25.0 points on the loss ratio; and

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior quarters of $16 million, or 4.4 points on the loss ratio.

The net favorable loss development of $91 million included net favorable loss development for prior accident years in all lines of business, predominantly in the marine, aviation/space and specialty property lines. Loss information provided by cedants in the three months ended September 30, 2012 for prior accident years was lower than the Company expected and included no individually significant losses or reductions but a series of attritional losses or reductions. Based on the Company’s assessment of this loss information, the Company decreased its expected ultimate loss ratios, which had the net effect of decreasing prior year loss estimates.

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the three months ended September 30, 2011 reflected:

 

   

no large catastrophic losses;

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $30 million, or 8.3 points on the loss ratio; and

 

   

a lower level of loss estimates in the credit/surety and specialty casualty lines of business related to the financial crisis.

The net favorable loss development of $30 million reported in the three months ended September 30, 2011 included net favorable development for prior accident years in all lines of business, except the marine line, which experienced adverse loss development for prior accident years of $8 million.

The decrease of $86 million in losses and loss expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 included:

 

   

an increase of $76 million in combined net favorable prior year and prior quarters loss development; and

 

   

a decrease of approximately $10 million in losses and loss expenses resulting from normal fluctuations in profitability.

 

51


Table of Contents

Nine-month result

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 reflected:

 

   

no large catastrophic losses;

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $205 million, or 19.8 points on the loss ratio;

 

   

a lower level of losses recoverable from retrocessional programs; and

 

   

a lower level of mid-sized loss activity.

The net favorable loss development of $205 million included net favorable loss development for prior accident years in all lines of business, predominantly in the aviation/space, specialty property and marine lines. Loss information provided by cedants in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 for prior accident years was lower than the Company expected and included no individually significant losses or reductions but a series of attritional losses or reductions. Based on the Company’s assessment of this loss information, the Company decreased its expected ultimate loss ratios, which had the net effect of decreasing prior year loss estimates.

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 reflected:

 

   

large catastrophic losses related to the Japan Earthquake, U.S. tornadoes, Australian Floods and New Zealand Earthquake of $31 million, or 3.0 points on the loss ratio;

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $122 million, or 12.0 points on the loss ratio;

 

   

a higher level of mid-sized loss activity;

 

   

a lower level of loss estimates in the specialty casualty and credit/surety lines of business related to the financial crisis; and

 

   

a decrease in the book of business and exposure and declines in pricing in certain lines of business.

The net favorable loss development of $122 million reported in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 included net favorable loss development for prior accident years in most lines of business, except for the energy and engineering lines, which experienced combined adverse loss development for prior accident years of $9 million.

The decrease of $106 million in losses and loss expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 included:

 

   

an increase of $83 million in net favorable prior year loss development; and

 

   

a decrease of $31 million related to large catastrophic losses; partially offset by

 

   

an increase of approximately $8 million in losses and loss expenses resulting from the impact of a lower level of losses recoverable from retrocessional programs, partially offset by a lower level of mid-sized loss activity.

Acquisition costs and acquisition ratio

Three-month result

Acquisition costs and the acquisition ratio decreased in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 as a result of lower profit commissions reported by cedants in the energy line of business.

Nine-month result

Acquisition costs and the acquisition ratio in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were comparable to the same period of 2011.

Technical result and technical ratio

Three-month result

The increase of $90 million in the technical result and the corresponding decrease in the technical ratio in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 was primarily attributable to an increase of $76 million in combined net favorable prior year and prior quarters loss development and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods.

Nine-month result

The increase of $118 million in the technical result and the corresponding decrease in the technical ratio in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 was primarily attributable to an increase of $83 million in net favorable prior year loss development, a decrease of $31 million, net of retrocession, related to large catastrophic losses, a lower level of mid-sized loss activity and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods. These factors increasing the technical result were partially offset by the impact from the retrocessional programs.

 

52


Table of Contents

Catastrophe

The Catastrophe sub-segment writes business predominantly on a non-proportional basis and is exposed to volatility resulting from catastrophic losses. Thus, profitability in any one quarter is not necessarily predictive of future profitability. The results for the three months and the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 demonstrate this volatility. The three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 and the nine months ended September 30, 2012 contained no significant catastrophic losses while the results for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 included a significantly higher level of catastrophe losses resulting from the 2011 catastrophic events. The varying amounts of catastrophic losses significantly impacted the technical result and ratio and affected year over year comparisons as discussed below.

The following table provides the components of the technical result and the corresponding ratios for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

    For the three
months ended
September 30, 2012
    % Change     For the three
months ended
September 30, 2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2012
    % Change     For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2011
 

Gross premiums written

  $ 75       (22 )%    $ 95     $ 475       (18 )%    $ 581  

Net premiums written

    69       (23     89       429       (21     542  

Net premiums earned

  $ 168       (16   $ 199     $ 331       (23   $ 432  

Losses and loss expenses

    (39     (77     (169     (58     (95     (1,209

Acquisition costs

    (15     —          (15     (30     98       (16
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Technical result

  $ 114       651     $ 15     $ 243       NM      $ (793

Loss ratio

    23.3       85.0     17.4       279.9

Acquisition ratio

    8.8         7.4       9.1         3.5  
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Technical ratio

    32.1       92.4     26.5       283.4

 

NM: not meaningful

Premiums

The Catastrophe sub-segment represented 6% and 12% of total net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to 8% and 15% of total net premiums written in the same periods of 2011.

Three-month result

Gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned decreased by 22%, 23% and 16%, respectively, in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. The decreases in gross and net premiums written were primarily due to reductions in certain exposures and differences in the timing of certain Japanese and Australian renewals compared to the three months ended September 30, 2011. These decreases were partially offset by new business written in the three months ended September 30, 2012. Net premiums earned are normally significantly higher than gross and net premiums written during the three months ended September 30, 2012 due to the seasonality of the earnings pattern for U.S. wind business, which results in higher earned premiums being recognized in quarters with more exposure.

Nine-month result

Gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned decreased by 18%, 21% and 23%, respectively, in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. The decreases in gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned were primarily due to the Company reducing certain exposures at the January 1 and April 1, 2012 renewals by cancelling and decreasing certain treaty participations and a lower level of reinstatement premiums in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. These decreases in gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned were partially offset by new business written in the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Losses and loss expenses and loss ratio

Three-month result

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the three months ended September 30, 2012 reflected:

 

   

no large catastrophic losses;

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior quarters of $5 million, or 2.9 points on the loss ratio;

 

53


Table of Contents
   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $3 million, or 1.7 points on the loss ratio; and

 

   

a modestly higher level of mid-sized and attritional loss activity.

The net favorable loss development of $3 million was primarily due to favorable loss emergence, as losses reported by cedants in the three months ended September 30, 2012 for prior accident years were lower than the Company expected. Based on the Company’s assessment of this loss information, the Company decreased its expected ultimate loss ratio, which had the effect of decreasing the level of prior year loss estimates.

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the three months ended September 30, 2011 reflected:

 

   

no large catastrophic losses;

 

   

net adverse loss development on prior quarters of $165 million, or 83.2 points on the loss ratio, primarily related to the Japan Earthquake and New Zealand Earthquake; and

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $36 million, or 18.2 points on the loss ratio, primarily related to the Chile Earthquake and lower loss estimates related to Paris Re’s catastrophe portfolio.

The decrease of $130 million in losses and loss expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 included:

 

   

an increase of $137 million in combined net favorable prior year and prior quarters loss development; partially offset by

 

   

an increase of approximately $7 million in losses and loss expenses resulting from a modestly higher level of mid-sized and attritional loss activity and normal fluctuations in profitability.

Nine-month result

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 reflected:

 

   

no significant catastrophic losses;

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $22 million, or 6.5 points on the loss ratio; and

 

   

a modestly higher level of mid-sized and attritional loss activity.

The net favorable loss development of $22 million was primarily due to favorable loss emergence, as losses reported by cedants in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 for prior accident years were lower than the Company expected. Based on the Company’s assessment of this loss information, the Company decreased its expected ultimate loss ratio, which had the effect of decreasing the level of prior year loss estimates.

The losses and loss expenses and loss ratio reported in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 reflected:

 

   

large catastrophic losses related to the 2011 catastrophic events of $1,244 million, or 287.2 points on the loss ratio; and

 

   

net favorable loss development on prior accident years of $98 million, or 22.6 points on the loss ratio.

The decrease of $1,151 million in losses and loss expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 included:

 

   

a decrease of $1,244 million in large catastrophic losses; partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of $76 million in net favorable prior year loss development; and

 

   

an increase of approximately $17 million in losses and loss expenses resulting from a modestly higher level of mid-sized and attritional loss activity and normal fluctuations in profitability.

Acquisition costs and acquisition ratio

Three-month result

Acquisition costs in the three months ended September 30, 2012 were comparable to the same period of 2011 due to the effect of lower net premiums earned in the three months ended September 30, 2012 being offset by lower profit commissions received from cedants in the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in the acquisition cost ratio was due to the lower profit commissions received from cedants in the three months ended September 30, 2011.

 

54


Table of Contents

Nine-month result

Acquisition costs and the acquisition ratio increased in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 primarily due to lower profit commissions in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as a result of the large catastrophic losses.

Technical result and technical ratio

Three-month result

The increase of $99 million in the technical result and the corresponding decrease in the technical ratio in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 was primarily due to an increase of $137 million in combined net favorable prior year and prior quarters loss development. This increase in the technical result was partially offset by the decrease in the book of business and exposure, a modestly higher level of mid-sized and attritional loss activity and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods.

Nine-month result

The increase of $1,036 million in the technical result and the corresponding decrease in the technical ratio in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 was primarily due to a decrease of $1,211 million, net of retrocession, reinstatement premiums and profit commissions, in large catastrophic losses and losses related to an aggregate contract. This increase in the technical result was partially offset by a decrease of $76 million in net favorable prior year loss development, the decrease in the book of business and exposure, a modestly higher level of mid-sized and attritional loss activity and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods.

Life Segment

The following table provides the components of the allocated underwriting result for this segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

    For the three           For the three     For the nine           For the nine  
    months ended           months ended     months ended           months ended  
    September 30, 2012     % Change     September 30, 2011     September 30, 2012     % Change     September 30, 2011  

Gross premiums written

  $ 187       (4 )%    $ 194     $ 604       1   $ 597  

Net premiums written

    187       (4     194       601       1       596  

Net premiums earned

  $ 195       (4   $ 203     $ 589       —        $ 588  

Life policy benefits

    (157     (7     (168     (479     —          (479

Acquisition costs

    (27     (17     (33     (82     (8     (89
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Technical result

  $ 11       414     $ 2     $ 28       36     $ 20  

Other income

    1       330        —          3       NM        —     

Other operating expenses

    (12     (4     (12     (38     —          (38

Net investment income

    15       (19     19       49       (3     50  
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Allocated underwriting result(1)

  $ 15       73     $ 9     $ 42       29     $ 32  

 

NM: not meaningful

(1) Allocated underwriting result is defined as net premiums earned, other income or loss and allocated net investment income less life policy benefits, acquisition costs and other operating expenses.

Premiums

The Life segment represented 18% and 16% of total net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to 18% and 16% of total net premiums written in the same periods of 2011.

Three-month result

Gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned decreased by 4% in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. The decrease in gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned was primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange, and to a lesser extent, a decrease in certain short-term and GMDB business in the mortality line. Foreign exchange fluctuations decreased gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned by 9% due to the impact of the stronger U.S. dollar in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. These decreases in gross and

 

55


Table of Contents

net premiums written and net premiums earned were partially offset by new business written during the fourth quarter of 2011 in the longevity line.

Nine-month result

Gross and net premiums written increased by 1% and net premiums earned were flat in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. The modest increase in gross and net premiums written was primarily due to the increase in the longevity line, as described in the three-month result, which was partially offset by a decrease in the GMDB business in the mortality line and the impact of foreign exchange. Foreign exchange fluctuations decreased gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned by 5% due to the impact of the stronger U.S. dollar in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011.

Allocated underwriting result

Three-month result

The allocated underwriting result increased by $6 million, from $9 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 to $15 million in the same period of 2012. The increase was primarily driven by favorable prior year loss development related to the GMDB business in the mortality line as described below, which was partially offset by a decrease in net investment income.

The increase in net favorable prior year loss development of $11 million resulted from net adverse loss development of $5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to net favorable loss development of $6 million in the same period of 2012. The prior year loss development during both the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was primarily related to the GMDB business, where the payout is linked to the performance of underlying capital market assets.

Net investment income decreased by $4 million, from $19 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 to $15 million in the same period of 2012, primarily as a result of higher positive adjustments on funds held contracts reported by cedants in the three months ended September 30, 2011 .

Nine-month result

The allocated underwriting result increased by $10 million, from $32 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to $42 million in the same period of 2012. The increase was primarily due to an increased level of net favorable prior year loss development in the mortality line of business as described below, improvements in the profitability of the longevity line of business driven by the new business written during the fourth quarter of 2011, and an increase in other income due to higher margins earned on treaties accounted for using deposit accounting. These increases were partially offset by an increase in claims activity on certain long-term treaties in the mortality line of business.

The increase in the net favorable prior year loss development of $19 million reflects net favorable loss development of $15 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to net adverse loss development of $4 million in the same period of 2011. The net favorable prior year loss development of $15 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was primarily due to the GMDB business, mainly driven by an improvement in the capital markets, and certain short-term treaties in the mortality line of business. The net adverse prior year loss development of $4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was primarily driven by certain short-term treaties in the mortality line following the receipt of updated information from cedants and was partially offset by favorable development related to the GMDB business.

Premium Distribution by Line of Business

The distribution of net premiums written by line of business for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was as follows:

 

56


Table of Contents
    For the three     For the three     For the nine     For the nine  
    months ended     months ended     months ended     months ended  
    September 30, 2012     September 30, 2011     September 30, 2012     September 30, 2011  

Non-life

       

Property and casualty

       

Casualty

    14     11     12     11

Motor

    5       5       6       5  

Multiline and other

    2       3       2       2  

Property

    14       14       16       16  

Specialty

       

Agriculture

    7       8       6       6  

Aviation / Space

    5       5       5       4  

Catastrophe

    6       8       12       15  

Credit / Surety

    7       7       7       7  

Energy

    3       4       2       2  

Engineering

    5       4       3       4  

Marine

    9       7       7       6  

Specialty casualty

    1       1       3       3  

Specialty property

    4       5       3       3  

Life

    18       18       16       16  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    100     100     100     100

The changes in the distribution of net premiums written by line of business between the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and the same periods of 2011 reflected the Company’s response to existing market conditions and may also be affected by a change in treaty structure, premium adjustments reported by cedants and significant increases or decreases in other lines of business. In addition, foreign exchange fluctuations affected the comparison for all lines.

 

   

Casualty: the increase in the distribution of net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same periods of 2011 was driven primarily by higher upward premium adjustments in the North America sub-segment.

 

   

Catastrophe: the decrease in the distribution of net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same periods of 2011 reflected the reduction of business written in the Company’s Catastrophe sub-segment.

 

   

Marine: the increase in the distribution of net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same periods of 2011 was primarily driven by new business written in the Global (Non-U.S.) Specialty sub-segment.

Premium Distribution by Reinsurance Type

The Company typically writes business on either a proportional or non-proportional basis. On proportional business, the Company shares proportionally in both the premiums and losses of the cedant. On non-proportional business, the Company is typically exposed to loss events in excess of a predetermined dollar amount or loss ratio. In both proportional and non-proportional business, the Company typically reinsures a large group of primary insurance contracts written by the ceding company. In addition, the Company writes business on a facultative basis. Facultative arrangements are generally specific to an individual risk and can be written on either a proportional or non-proportional basis. Generally, the Company has more influence over pricing, as well as terms and conditions, in non-proportional and facultative arrangements.

The distribution of gross premiums written by reinsurance type for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was as follows:

 

57


Table of Contents
     For the three     For the three     For the nine     For the nine  
     months ended     months ended     months ended     months ended  
     September 30, 2012     September 30, 2011     September 30, 2012     September 30, 2011  

Non-life segment

        

Proportional

     54     50     48     45

Non-proportional

     18       21       29       31  

Facultative

     10       11       7       8  

Life segment(1)

     18       18       16       16  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     100     100     100     100

 

(1) Substantially all of the Life segment’s gross premiums written for the periods presented are proportional.

The distribution of gross premiums written by reinsurance type is affected by changes in the allocation of capacity among lines of business, the timing of receipt by the Company of cedant accounts and premium adjustments by cedants. In addition, foreign exchange fluctuations affected the comparison for all treaty types.

The changes in the distribution of gross premiums written by reinsurance type between the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and the same periods of 2011 primarily reflect a shift from non-proportional business to proportional business in the Non-life segment, which was driven by an increase in the casualty and property lines of business in the North America sub-segment and by a reduction in the business written in the Company’s Catastrophe sub-segment.

Premium Distribution by Geographic Region

The following table provides the geographic distribution of gross premiums written based on the location of the underlying risk for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011:

 

     For the three     For the three     For the nine     For the nine  
     months ended     months ended     months ended     months ended  
     September 30, 2012     September 30, 2011     September 30, 2012     September 30, 2011  

North America

     38     37     36     36

Europe

     37       38       42       41  

Asia, Australia and New Zealand

     12       13       11       12  

Latin America, Caribbean and Africa

     13       12       11       11  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     100     100     100     100

The distribution of gross premiums written during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 was comparable to the same periods of 2011.

Premium Distribution by Production Source

The Company generates its gross premiums written both through brokers and through direct relationships with cedants. The percentage of gross premiums written by production source for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was as follows:

 

     For the three
months ended
September 30, 2012
    For the three
months ended
September 30, 2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2012
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2011
 

Broker

     73     74     74     73

Direct

     27       26       26       27  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     100     100     100     100

The percentage of gross premiums written through brokers in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 was comparable to the same periods of 2011.

Corporate and Other

Corporate and Other is comprised of the Company’s capital markets and investment related activities, including principal finance transactions, insurance-linked securities and strategic investments, and its corporate activities, including other operating expenses.

 

58


Table of Contents

Net Investment Income

The table below provides net investment income by asset source for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

     For the three
months ended
September 30,

2012
    % Change     For the three
months ended
September 30,

2011
    For the nine
months ended
September 30,

2012
    % Change     For the nine
months ended
September 30,

2011
 

Fixed maturities

   $ 123       (15 )%    $ 146     $ 387       (9 )%    $ 423  

Short-term investments, cash and cash equivalents

     1       (39     1       2       (46     3  

Equities

     5       8       4       21       41       15  

Funds held and other

     11       (26     15       35       (10     39  

Funds held – directly managed

     6       (28     9       23       (12     26  

Investment expenses

     (11     (3     (11     (32     (3     (32
  

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net investment income

   $ 135       (17   $ 164     $ 436       (8   $ 474  

Because of the interest-sensitive nature of some of the Company’s Life products, net investment income is considered in Management’s assessment of the profitability of the Life segment (see Life segment above). The following discussion includes net investment income from all investment activities, including the net investment income allocated to the Life segment.

Three-month result

Net investment income decreased in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 primarily due to a decrease in net investment income from fixed maturities as a result of lower reinvestment rates and the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, on average, in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2011, which contributed a 2% decrease in net investment income.

Nine-month result

Net investment income decreased in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 primarily due to the same factors discussed above for the three-month result, which were partially offset by an increase in dividends received from mutual funds in the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Net Realized and Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)

The Company’s portfolio managers have dual investment objectives of optimizing current investment income and achieving capital appreciation. To meet these objectives, it is often desirable to buy and sell securities to take advantage of changing market conditions and to reposition the investment portfolios. Accordingly, recognition of realized gains and losses is considered by the Company to be a normal consequence of its ongoing investment management activities. In addition, the Company records changes in fair value for substantially all of its investments as unrealized investment gains or losses in its Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Realized and unrealized investment gains and losses are generally a function of multiple factors, with the most significant being prevailing interest rates, credit spreads, and equity market conditions.

The components of net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

     For the three     For the three     For the nine     For the nine  
     months ended     months ended     months ended     months ended  
     September 30,
2012
    September 30,
2011
    September 30,
2012
    September 30,
2011
 

Net realized investment gains on fixed maturities and short-term investments

   $ 44     $ 64     $ 123     $ 84  

Net realized investment gains on equities

     5       2       53       66  

Net realized investment losses on other invested assets

     (2     (98     (15     (149

Change in net unrealized investment (losses) gains on other invested assets

     (2     —          4       (45

Change in net unrealized investment gains on fixed maturities and short-term investments

     150       190       231       180  

Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) on equities

     51       (145     69       (159

Net other realized and unrealized investment gains

     2       1       5       1  

 

59


Table of Contents
                                                                                   

Net realized and unrealized investment gains on funds held – directly managed

     9        12        18        14  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses)

   $ 257      $ 26      $ 488      $ (8

Three-month result

Net realized and unrealized investment gains increased by $231 million, from $26 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 to $257 million in the same period of 2012. The net realized and unrealized investment gains of $257 million in the three months ended September 30, 2012 were primarily due to narrowing credit spreads, improvements in equity markets and modest declines in European and U.S. risk-free rates. Net realized and unrealized investment gains of $257 million in the three months ended September 30, 2012 primarily consisted of the change in net unrealized investment gains on fixed maturities, short-term investments and equities of $201 million and net realized investment gains on fixed maturities, short-term investments and equities of $49 million.

Net realized and the change in net unrealized investment losses on other invested assets were a combined loss of $4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2012 and primarily related to net realized and unrealized losses on treasury note futures which were partially offset by realized gains on commodity futures and private placement investments and unrealized gains on weather derivatives. Net realized investment losses on other invested assets were $98 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 and primarily related to losses on treasury note futures.

Net realized and unrealized investment gains on funds held – directly managed of $9 million and $12 million in the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, primarily related to the change in net unrealized investment gains on fixed maturities and short-term investments in the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account and were primarily due to declining risk-free interest rates.

Nine-month result

Net realized and unrealized investment gains increased by $496 million, from a loss of $8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to a gain of $488 million in the same period of 2012. The net realized and unrealized investment gains of $488 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were primarily due to narrowing credit spreads, improvements in worldwide equity markets and decreases in U.S. and European risk-free interest rates. Net realized and unrealized investment gains of $488 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 primarily consisted of the change in net unrealized investment gains on fixed maturities, short-term investments, equities and other invested assets of $304 million and net realized investment gains on fixed maturities, short-term investments and equities of $176 million.

Net realized losses and the change in net unrealized investment gains on other invested assets were a combined loss of $11 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and primarily related to realized and unrealized losses on treasury note futures which were partially offset by net unrealized gains on private placement investments and weather derivatives and realized gains on to-be-announced mortgage-backed securities (TBAs). Net realized and the change in net unrealized investment losses on other invested assets were a combined loss of $194 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and primarily related to realized and unrealized losses on treasury note futures and a realized loss on insurance-linked securities impacted by the Japan Earthquake.

Net realized and unrealized investment gains on funds held – directly managed of $18 million and $14 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, primarily related to the change in net unrealized investment gains on fixed maturities and short-term investments in the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account.

Other Operating Expenses

The Company’s total other operating expenses for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

     For the three            For the three      For the nine            For the nine  
     months ended            months ended      months ended            months ended  
      September 30,
2012
     % Change     September 30,
2011
     September 30,
2012
     % Change     September 30,
2011
 

Other operating expenses

   $ 95        (9 )%    $ 104      $ 299        (7 )%    $ 322  

Three-month result

Other operating expenses represent 7.7%, and 8.0% of net premiums earned (both Non-life and Life) for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Other operating expenses included in Corporate and Other were $25 million and $23 million, of which $23 million and $19 million are related to corporate activities for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

60


Table of Contents

Other operating expenses decreased by 9% in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations, as a result of the stronger U.S. dollar, and reductions in information technology costs.

Nine-month result

Other operating expenses represent 9.0%, and 9.3% of net premiums earned (both Non-life and Life) for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Other operating expenses included in Corporate and Other were $74 million and $78 million, of which $64 million and $66 million are related to corporate activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Other operating expenses decreased by 7% in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations, as a result of the stronger U.S. dollar, and decreases in information technology and various other expenses.

Income Taxes

The Company’s effective income tax rate, which we calculate as income tax expense or benefit divided by net income or loss before taxes, may fluctuate significantly from period to period depending on the geographic distribution of pre-tax net income or loss in any given period between different jurisdictions with comparatively higher tax rates and those with comparatively lower tax rates. The geographic distribution of pre-tax net income or loss can vary significantly between periods due to, but not limited to, the following factors: the business mix of net premiums written and earned; the geographic location, quantum and nature of net losses and loss expenses incurred; the quantum and geographic location of other operating expenses, net investment income, net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses; and the quantum of specific adjustments to determine the income tax basis in each of the Company’s operating jurisdictions. In addition, a significant portion of the Company’s gross and net premiums are currently written and earned in Bermuda, a non-taxable jurisdiction, including the majority of the Company’s catastrophe business, which can result in significant volatility in the Company’s pre-tax net income or loss from period to period.

The Company’s income tax expense and effective income tax rate for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

     For the three     For the three     For the nine     For the nine  
     months ended     months ended     months ended     months ended  
      September 30,
2012
    September 30,
2011
    September 30,
2012
    September 30,
2011
 

Income tax expense

   $ 64     $ 42     $ 181     $ 66  

Effective income tax rate

     11.6     18.8     15.1     (15.0 )% 

Three-month result

Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the three months ended September 30, 2012 were $64 million and 11.6%, respectively. Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the three months ended September 30, 2012 were primarily driven by the geographic distribution of the Company’s pre-tax net income between its various taxable and non-taxable jurisdictions. The income tax expense and the effective income tax rate included a relatively even distribution of the Company’s pre-tax net income between its various jurisdictions. Specifically, the Company’s pre-tax net income recorded in non-taxable jurisdictions and jurisdictions with comparatively lower tax rates was driven by the absence of catastrophe losses and net realized and unrealized gains. The Company’s pre-tax net income recorded in jurisdictions with comparatively higher tax rates was primarily due to net favorable prior year loss development and net realized and unrealized investment gains.

Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the three months ended September 30, 2011 were $42 million and 18.8%, respectively. Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the three months ended September 30, 2011 were primarily driven by the geographic distribution of the Company’s pre-tax net income between its various taxable and non-taxable jurisdictions. Specifically, the income tax expense and the effective income tax rate included an approximately even distribution of the Company’s pre-tax net income between its various jurisdictions. The pre-tax net income of the Company’s non-taxable jurisdictions, and jurisdictions with comparatively lower tax rates, benefitted from the absence of large catastrophic losses and favorable tax adjustments related to foreign branch income taxes which were partially offset by adverse loss development on prior quarters related to the catastrophic events in the first half of 2011 and by net realized and unrealized investment losses. The pre-tax net income of the Company’s jurisdictions with comparatively higher tax rates included significant net realized and unrealized investment gains and certain unfavorable tax adjustments recorded related to foreign exchange fluctuations.

Nine-month result

Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were $181 million and 15.1%, respectively. Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were

 

61


Table of Contents

primarily driven by the geographic distribution of the Company’s pre-tax net income between its various taxable and non-taxable jurisdictions. Specifically, the income tax expense and the effective income tax rate included a relatively even distribution of the Company’s pre-tax net income between its various jurisdictions. The Company’s pre-tax net income recorded in non-taxable jurisdictions and jurisdictions with comparatively lower tax rates was driven by the absence of catastrophe losses and net realized and unrealized investment gains. The Company’s pre-tax net income recorded in jurisdictions with comparatively higher tax rates was driven by net favorable prior year loss development and net realized and unrealized investment gains.

Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 were $66 million and (15.0)%, respectively. Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 were primarily driven by the geographic distribution of the Company’s pre-tax net loss between its various taxable and non-taxable jurisdictions. Specifically, income tax expense and the effective income tax rate included a significant portion of the Company’s pre-tax net loss recorded in non-taxable jurisdictions and jurisdictions with comparatively lower tax rates with no associated tax benefit, which were driven by the 2011 catastrophic events, and a modest pre-tax net income recorded in taxable jurisdictions.

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company purchased, as part of its acquisition of Paris Re, an investment portfolio and a funds held – directly managed account. The discussion of the acquired Paris Re investment portfolio is included in the discussion of Investments below. The discussion of the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account is included separately in Funds Held – Directly Managed below.

Investments

Investment philosophy

The Company employs a prudent investment philosophy. It maintains a high quality, well balanced and liquid portfolio having the dual objectives of optimizing current investment income and achieving capital appreciation. The Company’s invested assets are comprised of total investments, cash and cash equivalents and accrued investment income. From a risk management perspective, the Company allocates its invested assets into two categories: liability funds and capital funds. For additional information on the Company’s capital and liability funds, see Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources—Investments in Item 7 Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.

At September 30, 2012, the liability funds totaled $10.8 billion (including funds held – directly managed), or 58% of the Company’s total invested assets, compared to $11.2 billion at December 31, 2011. The liability funds were comprised of cash and cash equivalents and high quality fixed income securities. The decrease in the liability funds at September 30, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011 reflects a decrease in unpaid losses and loss expenses which was primarily driven by loss payments related to the 2011 catastrophic events.

At September 30, 2012, the capital funds totaled $7.8 billion, or 42% of Company’s total invested assets, and were generally comprised of accrued investment income, investment grade and below investment grade fixed income securities, preferred and common stocks, private placement equity and bond investments, emerging markets and high-yield fixed income securities and certain other specialty asset classes. At September 30, 2012, approximately 47% of the capital funds were invested in investment grade fixed income securities.

Overview

Total investments and cash were $17.2 billion at September 30, 2012 compared to $16.6 billion at December 31, 2011. The major factors resulting in the increase in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were:

 

   

net realized and unrealized gains related to the investment portfolio of $470 million primarily resulting from an increase in the fixed maturity and short-term investment portfolios of $354 million (reflecting narrowing credit spreads and decreasing U.S. and European risk-free interest rates) and an increase in the equity portfolio of $122 million, which were partially offset by a decrease in other invested assets of $11 million (primarily driven by realized and unrealized losses on treasury note futures - see discussion related to duration below);

 

   

net cash provided by operating activities of $469 million; and

 

   

an increase in net payables for securities sold of $140 million; partially offset by

 

   

a net decrease of $278 million, due to the repurchase of common shares of $315 million under the Company’s share repurchase program, partially offset by the issuance of common shares under the Company’s employee equity plans of $37 million;

 

   

dividend payments on common and preferred shares totaling $164 million; and

 

   

various other factors of approximately $18 million.

 

62


Table of Contents

Trading securities

The market value of fixed maturities, short-term investments and equities classified as trading securities (excluding funds held – directly managed) was $15.6 billion at September 30, 2012 compared to $14.9 billion at December 31, 2011. Trading securities are carried at fair value with changes in fair value included in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, the market value of the Company’s other invested assets was $341 million at September 30, 2012 compared to $358 million at December 31, 2011. The Company’s other invested assets and the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account are discussed separately below.

At September 30, 2012, approximately 91% of the Company’s fixed income and short-term investments, which includes fixed income type mutual funds, were rated investment grade (BBB- or higher) by Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent) and 94% were publicly traded. The average credit quality of the Company’s fixed income and short-term investments at September 30, 2012 was A, compared to AA at December 31, 2011. The lower average credit quality at September 30, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011, reflects the impact of Standard & Poor’s decision in January 2012 to downgrade nine European sovereign governments (the Eurozone downgrade) and also reflects a shift in asset allocation to corporate securities from non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related securities (which are predominantly rated AAA and AA) and U.S. treasuries (which are rated AA+). While other ratings agencies did not take a similar rating action, it is the Company’s policy to use Standard & Poor’s ratings, when available, to rate its investments. See Ratings Distribution below.

The average duration of the Company’s investment portfolio was 3.0 years and 2.9 years at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. For the purposes of managing portfolio duration, the Company uses exchange traded treasury note futures. The use of treasury note futures reduced the duration of the investment portfolio from 3.5 years to 3.0 years at September 30, 2012, and reflects the Company’s decision to hedge against potential rises in risk-free interest rates.

The average yield to maturity on fixed maturities, short-term investments and cash and cash equivalents decreased to 1.9% at September 30, 2012, compared to 2.4% at December 31, 2011 primarily due to narrowing credit spreads and declining U.S. and European risk-free interest rates.

The Company’s investment portfolio generated a positive total accounting return (calculated based on the carrying value of all investments in local currency) of 2.4% and 5.6% for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared to 1.0% and 2.8% for the comparable periods of 2011, respectively. The higher total accounting return in the three months ended September 30, 2012 was primarily due to narrowing credit spreads and improvements in equity markets, while the same period of 2011 was primarily impacted by declining equity markets and widening credit spreads. The higher total accounting return in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was mainly due to narrowing credit spreads, improvements in equity markets and modest declines in U.S. and European risk-free interest rates, while the same period of 2011 was primarily impacted by declining equity markets.

The cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value of fixed maturities, short-term investments and equities classified as trading at September 30, 2012 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

September 30, 2012

  Cost(1)     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
 

Fixed maturities

       

U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises

  $ 954     $ 29     $ —        $ 983  

U.S. states, territories and municipalities

    210       9       —          219  

Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related

    2,478       162       (2     2,638  

Corporate

    5,913       470       (5     6,378  

Asset-backed securities

    701       25       (3     723  

Residential mortgage-backed securities

    3,225       135       (40     3,320  

Other mortgage-backed securities

    75       3       —          78  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed maturities

    13,556       833       (50     14,339  

Short-term investments

    161       —          —          161  

Equities

    975       119       (22     1,072  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 14,692     $ 952     $ (72   $ 15,572  

 

 

63


Table of Contents
(1) Cost is amortized cost for fixed maturities and short-term investments and cost for equity securities. For investments acquired from Paris Re, cost is based on the fair value at the date of acquisition and subsequently adjusted for amortization of fixed maturities and short-term investments.

The fair value of the Company’s fixed maturities increased by $0.4 billion from $13.9 billion at December 31, 2011 to $14.3 billion at September 30, 2012, primarily reflecting an increase in the market value of the fixed maturity portfolio due to narrowing credit spreads and modest decreases in U.S. and European risk-free interest rates.

The U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises category includes U.S. treasuries and U.S. government agency securities which accounted for 98% and 2%, respectively, of this category at September 30, 2012. The U.S. treasuries are not rated, however, they are generally considered to have a credit quality equivalent to or greater than AA+ corporate issues. At September 30, 2012, 51% of U.S. government agency securities were rated AA. The remaining 49% of U.S. government agency securities, although not specifically rated, are generally considered to have a credit quality equivalent to AA+ corporate issues.

The U.S. states, territories and municipalities category includes obligations of U.S. states, territories, or counties. At September 30, 2012, 5% of securities in this category were rated investment grade (BBB- or higher) by Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent), with the remaining 95% not rated.

The non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related category includes obligations of non-U.S. sovereign governments, political subdivisions, agencies and supranational debt. At September 30, 2012, 46%, 50% and 4% of this category was rated AAA, AA and A, respectively. Non-U.S. sovereign government obligations comprised 82% of this category, of which 53% were rated AAA. The largest three issuers (France, Canada and Germany) accounted for 66% of non-U.S. sovereign government obligations at September 30, 2012, with the next four largest issuers (Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands and Singapore) accounting for 32% of the remaining 34% of non-U.S. sovereign government obligations. At September 30, 2012, the remaining 18% of this category was comprised of investment grade Canadian government related obligations, non-U.S. government agency obligations (related to France, Canada and South Korea) and non-U.S. government supranational debt representing 14%, 3% and 1% of the total, respectively.

At September 30, 2012, the Company did not have any investments in securities issued by peripheral European Union (EU) sovereign governments (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain). At September 30, 2012, the Company had investments of $1.6 billion in other EU sovereign governments, which were primarily comprised of $562 million, $424 million, $256 million, $162 million and $140 million of French, German, Belgian, Austrian and Dutch sovereign government obligations, respectively, with no other EU sovereign government issuer comprising more than $13 million, less than 1% of the Company’s total EU sovereign government obligations. In addition to its EU sovereign government exposure, the Company also held $61 million of debt issued by French government agencies.

Corporate bonds are comprised of obligations of U.S. and foreign corporations. At September 30, 2012, 94% of these investments were rated investment grade (BBB- or higher) by Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent), while 62% were rated A- or better. At September 30, 2012, the ten largest issuers accounted for 15% of the corporate bonds held by the Company (5% of total investments and cash) and no single issuer accounted for more than 2% of total corporate bonds (1% of total investments and cash). At September 30, 2012, U.S. bonds comprised 62% of this category and no other country accounted for more than 8% of this category. The main exposures by economic sector were 22% in finance (10% were banks), 15% in consumer noncyclical, 11% in communications and 10% in utilities. Within the finance sector, 98% of corporate bonds were rated investment grade and 84% were rated A- or better at September 30, 2012.

At September 30, 2012, the Company’s corporate bond portfolio included $310 million of European government guaranteed corporate debt, comprised of $212 million, $53 million, $29 million, $10 million and $6 million corporate bonds guaranteed by the Dutch, Austrian, German, British and Danish governments, respectively. At September 30, 2012, the Company did not hold any government guaranteed corporate debt issued by companies in peripheral EU countries (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain).

At September 30, 2012, the Company’s corporate bond portfolio (excluding government guaranteed corporate debt) includes $1.4 billion of corporate bonds issued by companies in the finance sector. Included within this were $137 million of corporate bonds issued by companies in the EU finance sector, which were comprised of $74 million, $17 million, $11 million, $7 million and $6 million of British, Dutch, French, Swedish and German finance sector corporate bonds, respectively. The remaining $22 million of EU finance sector corporate bonds were issued by companies in certain peripheral EU countries (Ireland, Spain and Italy).

The asset-backed securities category includes U.S. asset-backed securities, which accounted for 82% of this category at September 30, 2012. Of the U.S. asset-backed securities, 38% were rated investment grade (BBB- or higher) by Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent) and 62% were not rated. Non-U.S. asset-backed securities accounted for the remainder of this category, all of which were rated A- or higher by Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent).

 

64


Table of Contents

Residential mortgage-backed securities includes U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities, which accounted for 89% of this category at September 30, 2012. These securities generally have a low risk of default and 96% of the U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities are backed by U.S. government agencies, which set standards on the mortgages before accepting them into the program. Although these U.S. government backed agency securities do not carry a formal rating, they are generally considered to have a credit quality equivalent to or greater than AA+ corporate issues. They are considered prime mortgages and the major risk is uncertainty of the timing of prepayments. While there have been market concerns regarding sub-prime mortgages, the Company did not have direct exposure to these types of securities in its own portfolio at September 30, 2012, other than $26 million of investments in distressed asset vehicles (included in other invested assets). At September 30, 2012, the Company’s U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities included approximately $8 million (less than 1% of U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities) of collateralized mortgage obligations, where the Company deemed the entry point and price of the investment to be attractive. At September 30, 2012, the remaining 11% of this category was comprised of non-U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities, of which 74% were rated AAA with the remainder rated A- or higher by Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent).

Other mortgaged-backed securities includes U.S. commercial mortgage-backed securities and non-U.S. commercial mortgage backed securities, which accounted for 70% and 30% of this category at September 30, 2012, respectively. Approximately 97% of this category was rated investment grade (BBB- or higher) by Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent).

Short-term investments consisted of obligations of foreign and U.S. governments and corporate bonds. At September 30, 2012, Non-U.S. government obligations, which accounted for 60% of this category, were primarily comprised of bonds issued by the New Zealand government and were rated AA. At September 30, 2012, U.S. treasuries comprised 25% of this category which were rated AA+. At September 30, 2012, corporates (consisting of Dutch utility sector bonds, catastrophe bonds and U.S. consumer cyclical sector bonds) comprised the remaining 15% of this category, of which 4% were rated investment grade and the remaining 96% were rated below investment grade.

Publicly traded common stocks (including public exchange traded funds (ETFs)) comprised 74% of equities at September 30, 2012. The remaining 26% of this category consisted primarily of funds holding fixed income securities, of which 97% (or $259 million) was comprised of emerging markets funds. Of the publicly traded common stocks and ETFs, U.S. issuers represented 76% at September 30, 2012. At September 30, 2012, the ten largest common stocks accounted for 19% of equities (excluding equities held in ETFs and funds holding fixed income securities) and no single common stock issuer accounted for more than 4% of total equities (excluding equities held in ETFs and funds holding fixed income securities) or more than 1% of the Company’s total investments and cash. At September 30, 2012, the largest publicly traded common stock exposures by economic sector were 17% in consumer non-cyclical, 16% in energy, 13% in finance and 11% in technology. At September 30, 2012, the Company held less than $2 million of equities (excluding equities held in EFTs and funds holding fixed income securities) issued by finance sector institutions based in certain peripheral EU countries (Spain and Italy).

Maturity Distribution

The distribution of fixed maturities and short-term investments at September 30, 2012, by contractual maturity date, is shown below (in millions of U.S. dollars). Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain borrowers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

September 30, 2012

   Cost      Fair
Value
 

One year or less

   $ 1,164      $ 1,175  

More than one year through five years

     3,899        4,071  

More than five years through ten years

     3,879        4,232  

More than ten years

     774        901  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     9,716        10,379  

Mortgage/asset-backed securities

     4,001        4,121  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 13,717      $ 14,500  

Ratings Distribution

The following table provides a breakdown of the credit quality of the Company’s fixed maturities and short-term investments at September 30, 2012:

 

65


Table of Contents

Rating Category

   % of total  

AAA

     15

AA

     42  

A

     21  

BBB

     14  

Below investment grade/Unrated

     8  
  

 

 

 

Total

     100

The decrease in the Company’s AAA rated securities, as a percentage of its total fixed income and short-term investments portfolio, from 25% at December 31, 2011 to 15% at September 30, 2012, and the corresponding increase in AA rated securities from 37% at December 31, 2011 to 42% at September 30, 2012, largely reflects the Eurozone downgrade discussed above. The overall average credit quality of the Company’s fixed income and short-term investments portfolio at September 30, 2012 decreased to A, from AA at December 31, 2011, primarily due to the Eurozone downgrade and a shift in asset allocation to corporate securities from non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related securities (which are predominantly rated AAA and AA) and U.S. treasuries (which are rated AA+).

Other Invested Assets

At September 30, 2012, the Company’s other invested assets totaled $341 million. The Company’s other invested assets consisted primarily of investments in asset-backed securities, non-publicly traded companies, notes and loans receivable, private placement equity and bond investments, and other specialty asset classes. These assets, together with the Company’s derivative financial instruments that were in a net unrealized gain or loss position at September 30, 2012, are reported within other invested assets in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

At September 30, 2012, the Company’s principal finance activities included $131 million of investments classified as other invested assets, which were comprised primarily of asset-backed securities (including residuals), notes and loans receivable (including annuities), private placement equity investments and total return, interest rate and credit default swaps (which are accounted for as derivative financial instruments). At September 30, 2012, the carrying value of the Company’s investment in asset-backed securities, loans and notes receivable, and private placement equity investments was $78 million, $52 million and $4 million, respectively, and were partially offset by the combined fair value of total return, interest rate and credit default swaps which was an unrealized loss of $3 million.

For total return swaps within the principal finance portfolio, the Company uses internal valuation models to estimate the fair value of these derivatives and develops assumptions that require significant judgment, such as the timing of future cash flows, credit spreads and the general level of interest rates. For interest rate swaps, the Company uses externally modeled quoted prices that use observable market inputs. At September 30, 2012, the fair value of the Company’s assumed exposure in the form of total return swaps and interest rate swaps was an unrealized loss of $3 million. At September 30, 2012, the notional value of the Company’s assumed exposure in the form of total return swaps was $69 million.

At September 30, 2012, substantially all of the Company’s principal finance total return and interest rate swap portfolio was related to tax advantaged real estate income with the remainder related to apparel and retail future flow income or intellectual property backed transactions, for which the underlying investments were rated investment grade.

For credit default swaps within the principal finance portfolio, the Company uses externally modeled quoted prices that use observable market inputs to estimate the fair value. At September 30, 2012, the fair value of the Company’s assumed exposure in the form of credit default swaps was insignificant and the notional value was $13 million.

The Company continues to utilize credit default swaps to mitigate the risk associated with certain of its underwriting obligations, most notably in the credit/surety line, to replicate investment positions or to manage market exposures and to reduce the credit risk for specific fixed maturities in its investment portfolio. The counterparties to the Company’s credit default swaps are all investment grade financial institutions rated A- or better by Standard & Poor’s at September 30, 2012. The Company uses externally modeled quoted prices that use observable market inputs to estimate the fair value of these swaps. Excluding the credit default swaps within the principal finance portfolio described above, the fair value of these credit default swaps was insignificant September 30, 2012, and the notional value was comprised of $60 million of credit protection purchased and $5 million of credit exposure assumed.

The Company has entered into various weather derivatives and longevity total return swaps for which the underlying risks reference parametric weather risks and longevity risks, respectively. The Company uses internal valuation models to estimate the fair value of these derivatives and develops assumptions that require significant judgment, except for exchange traded weather derivatives. In determining the fair value of exchange traded weather derivatives, the Company uses quoted market prices. At September 30, 2012, the combined fair values of the weather derivatives and the longevity total return swaps was insignificant, while their combined notional values were $156 million.

 

66


Table of Contents

The Company uses exchange traded treasury note futures for the purposes of managing portfolio duration. The Company also uses equity futures to replicate equity investment positions. At September 30, 2012, the combined fair value of the treasury note and equity futures was an unrealized gain of $11 million, while the notional values were a net short position of $1,995 million and insignificant, respectively.

The Company utilizes foreign exchange forward contracts and foreign currency option contracts as part of its overall currency risk management and investment strategies. At September 30, 2012, the combined fair value of foreign exchange forward contracts and foreign currency option contracts was an unrealized gain of $9 million.

The Company utilizes to-be-announced mortgage-backed securities (TBAs) as part of its overall investment strategy and to enhance investment performance. TBAs represent commitments to purchase future issuances of U.S. government agency mortgage backed securities. For the period between purchase of a TBA and issuance of the underlying security, the Company’s position is accounted for as a derivative. The Company’s policy is to maintain designated cash balances at least equal to the amount of outstanding TBA purchases. At September 30, 2012, the fair value of TBAs was insignificant and the notional value was $123 million.

At September 30, 2012, the Company’s strategic investments of $242 million (of which $205 million were included in Other invested assets) includes investments in non-publicly traded companies, private placement equity and bond investments and other specialty asset classes, including the investments in distressed asset vehicles comprised of sub-prime mortgages, which were discussed above in the residential mortgaged-backed securities category of Investments–Trading Securities.

The Company also had $9 million of other invested assets at September 30, 2012.

At September 30, 2012, the Company’s other invested assets did not include any exposure to peripheral EU countries (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain) and included direct exposure to mutual fund investments in other EU countries of less than $5 million. The counterparties to the Company’s credit default swaps, foreign exchange forward contracts and foreign currency option contracts include British, French, and German finance sector institutions rated A- or better by Standard & Poor’s and the Company manages its exposure to individual institutions. The Company also has exposure to the euro related to the utilization of foreign exchange forward contracts and other derivative financial instruments in its hedging strategy (see Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Foreign Currency Risk in Item 3 below).

Funds Held – Directly Managed

For a discussion of the funds held – directly managed account and the related quota share retrocession agreement, see Business—Reserves—Reserve Agreement in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011. See also Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Counterparty Credit Risk in Item 7A of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011. The composition of the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account at September 30, 2012 is discussed below.

At September 30, 2012, approximately 98% of the fixed income investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account were publicly traded and substantially all (more than 99%) were rated investment grade (BBB- or higher) by Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent). The average credit quality of the fixed income investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account was AA at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 and did not change following the Eurozone downgrade.

The average duration of the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account was 2.9 years at September 30, 2012, compared to 2.7 years at December 31, 2011. The average yield to maturity on fixed maturities and cash and cash equivalents underlying the funds held – directly managed account decreased to 1.0% at September 30, 2012 from 1.7% at December 31, 2011 primarily due to decreases in U.S. and European risk-free rates.

The cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value of the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account at September 30, 2012 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

67


Table of Contents

September 30, 2012

   Cost(1)      Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
 

Fixed maturities

          

U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises

   $ 343      $ 14      $ —        $ 357  

Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related

     254        19        —          273  

Corporate

     393        21        —          414  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed maturities

     990        54        —          1,044  

Other invested assets

     26        —           (9     17  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,016      $ 54      $ (9   $ 1,061  

 

 

(1) Cost is based on the fair value at the date of the acquisition of Paris Re and subsequently adjusted for amortization of fixed maturities.

In addition to the investments in the above table at September 30, 2012, the funds held – directly managed account included other assets and liabilities of $22 million, cash and cash equivalents of $90 million and accrued investment income of $15 million. The other assets and liabilities represent working capital assets held by Colisée Re related to the underlying business. The discussion below focuses on the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account.

The U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises category underlying the funds held – directly managed account is comprised of U.S. treasuries and U.S. government agency securities which accounted for 62% and 38% of this category at September 30, 2012, respectively. With the exception of investments totaling $102 million in U.S. government agency securities, which were rated AA, the remaining U.S. government agency securities and all of the U.S. treasuries, although not specifically rated, are generally considered to have a credit quality equivalent to or greater than AA+ corporate issues.

Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related category includes obligations of non-U.S. sovereign governments, agencies, political subdivisions and supranational debt. Investment grade Canadian government related obligations comprised 52% of this category, with investment grade non-U.S. sovereign government obligations, non-U.S. government agency obligations, and supranational debt accounting for the remaining 19%, 17% and 12%, respectively. Within the non-U.S. sovereign government obligations category, 92% related to France, Austria, Belgium and Germany and within the non-U.S. government agency obligations category, 98% related to France, Canada and Austria. At September 30, 2012, 28%, 53% and 19% of this category were rated AAA, AA and A, respectively, by Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent).

At September 30, 2012, the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account included less than $1 million of securities issued by peripheral European Union (EU) sovereign governments (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain). At September 30, 2012, the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account included $50 million of investments in other EU sovereign governments, which were primarily comprised of $21 million, $11 million, $8 million and $6 million of French, Austrian, Belgian and German sovereign government obligations, respectively, with no other EU sovereign government issuer comprising more than $2 million, or 4% of the total EU sovereign government obligations underlying the funds held – directly managed account. In addition to its EU sovereign government obligations, the Company also held $36 million of debt issued by French and Austrian government agencies.

Corporate bonds underlying the funds held – directly managed account are comprised of obligations of U.S. and foreign corporations. At September 30, 2012, all of these investments were rated investment grade (BBB- or higher) by Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent), while 88% were rated A- or better. At September 30, 2012, the ten largest issuers accounted for 25% of the corporate bonds underlying the funds held – directly managed account and no single issuer accounted for more than 4% of corporate bonds underlying the funds held – directly managed account (or more than 2% of the investments and cash underlying the funds held – directly managed account). At September 30, 2012, U.S. and French bonds comprised 41% and 17%, respectively, of this category and no other country accounted for more than 9% of this category. The main exposures of this category by economic sector were 43% in financial (25% were banks), 16% in consumer noncyclical and 12% in energy. At September 30, 2012, all of the finance sector corporate bonds held were rated investment grade (BBB- or higher) by Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent) and 97% were rated A- or better.

At September 30, 2012, corporate bonds underlying the funds held – directly managed account included $17 million of European corporate debt guaranteed by the German, British, and Swedish governments. At September 30, 2012, the corporate bond portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account did not have any exposure to government guaranteed debt issued by companies in peripheral EU countries (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain).

At September 30, 2012, corporate bonds underlying the funds held – directly managed account (excluding government guaranteed corporate debt) included $89 million of corporate bonds issued by companies in the EU finance sector, including $40

 

68


Table of Contents

million, $16 million and $12 million of French, British and Dutch finance sector corporate bonds, respectively. Of the remaining EU finance sector corporate bonds, no single country accounted for more than $9 million, or 5% of total finance sector corporate bonds underlying the funds held – directly managed account. At September 30, 2012, corporate bonds underlying the funds held – directly managed account included less than $16 million in total of finance sector corporate bonds issued by companies in peripheral EU countries (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain).

Other invested assets underlying the funds held – directly managed account consist primarily of real estate fund investments.

Maturity Distribution

The distribution of fixed maturities underlying the funds held – directly managed account at September 30, 2012, by contractual maturity date, is shown below (in millions of U.S. dollars). Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain borrowers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

September 30, 2012

   Cost      Fair
Value
 

One year or less

   $ 212      $ 213  

More than one year through five years

     593        622  

More than five years through ten years

     161        182  

More than ten years

     24        27  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 990      $ 1,044  

Ratings Distribution

The following table provides a breakdown of the credit quality of fixed maturities underlying the funds held – directly managed account at September 30, 2012:

 

Rating Category

   % of total  

AAA

     12 

AA

     61  

A

     22  

BBB

     5  
  

 

 

 

Total

     100 

The decrease in AAA rated fixed maturities and short-term investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account, from 22% at December 31, 2011 to 12% at September 30, 2012, and the corresponding increase in AA rated securities from 50% at December 31, 2011 to 61% at September 30, 2012, largely reflects the Eurozone downgrade described above. The overall average credit quality of the fixed maturities and short-term investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was AA.

European Exposures

For a discussion of the Company’s management of the recent uncertainties related to European sovereign debt exposures, the uncertainties surrounding Europe in general and the Company’s responses to them, see Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources—Investments—European exposures in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.

There have not been any significant changes to the Company’s guidelines adopted in response to the European crisis during the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

The Company’s exposures to European sovereign governments and other European related investment risks are discussed above within each category of the Company’s investment portfolio and the investments underlying the funds held - directly managed account. In addition, the Company’s other investment and derivative exposures to European counterparties are discussed in Other Invested Assets above. See Risk Factors in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 for further discussion of the Company’s exposure to the European sovereign debt crisis.

 

69


Table of Contents

Funds Held by Reinsured Companies (Cedants)

In addition to the funds held – directly managed account described above, the Company writes certain business on a funds held basis. Funds held by reinsured companies at September 30, 2012 have not changed significantly since December 31, 2011. See Funds Held by Reinsured Companies (Cedants) in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses

The Company establishes loss reserves to cover the estimated liability for the payment of all losses and loss expenses incurred with respect to premiums earned on the contracts that the Company writes. Loss reserves do not represent an exact calculation of the liability. Estimates of ultimate liabilities are contingent on many future events and the eventual outcome of these events may be different from the assumptions underlying the reserve estimates. The Company believes that the recorded unpaid losses and loss expenses represent Management’s best estimate of the cost to settle the ultimate liabilities based on information available at September 30, 2012.

At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company recorded gross Non-life reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses of $10,761 million and $11,273 million, respectively, and net Non-life reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses of $10,453 million and $10,920 million, respectively. The net Non-life reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 include $860 million and $1,012 million of reserves guaranteed by Colisée Re (see Item 1 of Part I and Note 9 to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 for a discussion of the Reserve Agreement).

The following table provides a reconciliation of the net Non-life reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

     For the nine
months ended
September 30,
2012
 

Net liability at December 31, 2011

   $ 10,920  

Net incurred losses related to:

  

Current year

     1,993  

Prior years

     (468
  

 

 

 
     1,525  

Change in Paris Re Reserve Agreement

     (67

Net paid losses

     (1,998

Effects of foreign exchange rate changes

     73  
  

 

 

 

Net liability at September 30, 2012

   $ 10,453  

The decrease in net Non-life reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses from $10,920 million at December 31, 2011 to $10,453 million at September 30, 2012 primarily reflects the payment of losses (including a significant level of payments related to the 2011 catastrophic events) during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, which was partially offset by net losses incurred and the impact of foreign exchange.

See Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Losses and Loss Expenses and Life Policy Benefits and Results by Segment above for a discussion of losses and loss expenses and prior years’ reserve developments. See also Business—Reserves in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 for a discussion of the impact of foreign exchange on unpaid losses and loss expenses.

Policy Benefits for Life and Annuity Contracts

At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company recorded gross policy benefits for life and annuity contracts of $1,703 million and $1,646 million, respectively, and net policy benefits for life and annuity contracts of $1,693 million and $1,636 million, respectively.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the net policy benefits for life and annuity contracts for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

70


Table of Contents
     For the nine
months ended
September 30,
2012
 

Net liability at December 31, 2011

   $ 1,636  

Net incurred losses related to:

  

Current year

     494  

Prior years

     (15
  

 

 

 
     479  

Net paid losses

     (449

Effects of foreign exchange rate changes

     27  
  

 

 

 

Net liability at September 30, 2012

   $ 1,693  

The modest increase in net policy benefits for life and annuity contracts from $1,636 million at December 31, 2011 to $1,693 million at September 30, 2012 is primarily due to incurred losses and the impact of foreign exchange, which were partially offset by paid losses.

See Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Losses and Loss Expenses and Life Policy Benefits and Results by Segment above for a discussion of life policy benefits and prior years’ reserve developments. See also Business—Reserves in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses

The Company has exposure to credit risk related to reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses. See Note 10 to Consolidated Financial Statements and Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Counterparty Credit Risk in Item 7A of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 for a discussion of the Company’s risk related to reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses and the Company’s process to evaluate the financial condition of its reinsurers.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

In the normal course of its business, the Company is a party to a variety of contractual obligations, which are discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011. These contractual obligations are considered by the Company when assessing its liquidity requirements and the Company is confident in its ability to meet all of its obligations. The Company’s contractual obligations at September 30, 2012 have not changed materially compared to December 31, 2011.

Shareholders’ Equity and Capital Resources Management

Shareholders’ equity was $7.1 billion at September 30, 2012, a 9% increase compared to $6.5 billion at December 31, 2011. The major factors contributing to the increase in shareholders’ equity during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were:

 

   

comprehensive income of $1,053 million, of which net income contributed $1,023 million; partially offset by

 

   

a net decrease of $278 million, primarily due to the repurchase of common shares of $315 million under the Company’s share repurchase program, partially offset by the issuance of common shares under the Company’s employee equity plans of $37 million; and

 

   

dividends declared of $164 million related to both the Company’s common and preferred shares.

See Results of Operations and Review of Net Income (Loss) above for a discussion of the Company’s net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

As part of its long-term strategy, the Company will continue to actively manage capital resources to support its operations throughout the reinsurance cycle and for the benefit of its shareholders, subject to the ability to maintain strong ratings from the major rating agencies and the unquestioned ability to pay claims as they arise. Generally, the Company seeks to increase its capital when its current capital position is not sufficient to support the volume of attractive business opportunities available. Conversely, the Company will seek to reduce its capital, through the payment of dividends on its common shares or stock repurchases, when available business opportunities are insufficient or unattractive to fully utilize the Company’s capital at adequate returns. The Company may also seek to reduce or restructure its capital through the repayment or purchase of debt obligations, or increase or restructure its capital through the issuance of debt, when opportunities arise.

 

71


Table of Contents

Management uses compound annual growth rate in Diluted Book Value per Share as a measure of the value the Company is generating for its common shareholders, as Management believes that growth in the Company’s Diluted Book Value per Share ultimately translates into growth in the Company’s share price. Diluted Book Value per Share is calculated using common shareholders’ equity (shareholders’ equity less the aggregate liquidation value of preferred shares) divided by the number of fully diluted common shares and common share equivalents outstanding (assuming exercise of all stock-based awards and other dilutive securities). The Company’s Diluted Book Value per Share increased by 17% to $99.54 at September 30, 2012 from $84.82 at December 31, 2011, due to the same factors describing the increase in shareholders’ equity above and the accretive impact of the share repurchases.

The table below sets forth the capital structure of the Company at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

     September 30, 2012     December 31, 2011  

Capital Structure:

          

Senior notes(1)

   $ 750        10   $ 750        10

Capital efficient notes (2)

     63        1       63        1  

Preferred shares, aggregate liquidation value

     894        11       894        12  

Common shareholders’ equity

     6,185        78       5,574        77  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Capital

   $ 7,892        100   $ 7,281        100

 

(1) PartnerRe Finance A LLC and PartnerRe Finance B LLC, the issuers of the Senior Notes, do not meet consolidation requirements under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Company shows the related intercompany debt of $750 million in its Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.
(2) PartnerRe Finance II Inc., the issuer of the CENts, does not meet consolidation requirements under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Company shows the related intercompany debt of $71 million in its Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

The increase in total capital during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was related to the same factors describing the increase in shareholders’ equity above.

Share Repurchases

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company repurchased 4.4 million of its common shares at a total cost of $315 million, representing an average cost of $71.61 per share.

In September 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase authorization up to a total of 6 million common shares, which replaced the prior authorization. Unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors, the program will expire when the Company has repurchased all shares authorized for repurchase thereunder. At September 30, 2012, the Company had approximately 5.9 million common shares remaining under its current share repurchase authorization and approximately 23.8 million common shares were held in treasury and are available for reissuance.

Subsequently, during the period from October 1, 2012 to October 31, 2012, the Company repurchased 0.2 million common shares at a total cost of $12 million, representing an average cost of $77.71 per share. Following these repurchases, the Company had approximately 5.7 million common shares remaining under its current share repurchase authorization and approximately 24.0 million common shares are held in treasury and are available for reissuance. See Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds in Item 2 of Part II of this report.

Debt

There was no change in the Company’s indebtedness at September 30, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011 and the Company did not enter into any short-term borrowing arrangements during the nine months ended September 30, 2012. See Note 11 to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 for a discussion of the Company’s indebtedness.

Liquidity

Liquidity is a measure of the Company’s ability to access sufficient cash flows to meet the short-term and long-term cash requirements of its business operations. Management believes that its significant cash flows from operations and high quality liquid investment portfolio will provide sufficient liquidity for the foreseeable future. Cash and cash equivalents were $1.3 billion at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

 

72


Table of Contents

Cash flows from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 decreased to $469 million from $584 million in the same period of 2011. The decrease in cash flows from operations reflects lower underwriting cash flows. The lower underwriting cash flows were primarily due to cash received of approximately $358 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 related to the release of assets from the Funds Held – Directly Managed account to Partner Reinsurance Europe plc pursuant to an endorsement to a quota share reinsurance agreement with Colisée Re, which was partially offset by a higher level of loss payments in 2011 compared to 2012.

Net cash used in investing activities was $11 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $1,599 million during the same period of 2011. The net cash used in investing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 reflects the investment of cash provided by operations, which was almost entirely offset by the sale and maturity of investments to fund financing activities.

Net cash used in financing activities was $458 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $19 million in the same period of 2011. Net cash used in financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was primarily related to share repurchases and dividend payments on common and preferred shares. Net cash used in financing activities in the same period in 2011 was also related to the Company’s share repurchases and dividend payments on common and preferred shares, but was partially offset by the net proceeds of $362 million related to the issuance of the Series E preferred shares.

The Company believes that annual positive cash flows from operating activities will be sufficient to cover claims payments, absent a series of additional large catastrophic loss activity. In the event that paid losses accelerate beyond the ability to fund such payments from operating cash flows, the Company would use its cash balances available, liquidate a portion of its high quality and liquid investment portfolio or borrow under the Company’s revolving line of credit (see Credit Facilities below). As discussed in Investments above, the Company’s investments and cash totaled $17.2 billion at September 30, 2012, the main components of which were investment grade fixed maturities, short-term investments and cash and cash equivalents totaling $14.7 billion.

Financial strength ratings and senior unsecured debt ratings represent the opinions of rating agencies on the Company’s capacity to meet its claims paying obligations. In the event of a significant downgrade in ratings, the Company’s ability to write business and to access the capital markets could be impacted. The Company’s financial strength ratings have not changed since December 31, 2011, except that A.M. Best reaffirmed the Company’s A+ rating, removed the Company’s financial strength rating from under review with negative implications and assigned a negative outlook to the A+ rating. See Risk Factors in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Credit Facilities

In the normal course of its operations, the Company enters into agreements with financial institutions to obtain unsecured and secured credit facilities. These facilities are used primarily for the issuance of letters of credit, although a portion of these facilities may also be used for liquidity purposes.

On March 20, 2012, the Company modified its existing three-year syndicated unsecured credit facility to reduce the available facility from $750 million to $500 million. All other terms, and the access to a revolving line of credit, remained unchanged.

Other than the modification discussed above, the Company’s credit facilities at September 30, 2012 have not changed significantly since December 31, 2011. See Credit Facilities in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company’s off-balance sheet arrangements have not changed significantly at September 30, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011. See Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Currency

See Results of Operations and Review of Net Income (Loss) above for a discussion of the impact of foreign exchange and net foreign exchange gains and losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

The foreign exchange gain or loss resulting from the translation of the Company’s subsidiaries’ and branches’ financial statements (expressed in euro or Canadian dollar functional currency) into U.S. dollars is classified in the currency translation adjustment account, which is a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in shareholders’ equity. The currency translation adjustment account increased by $31 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 primarily due to the Company’s net asset exposure to the Canadian dollar.

 

73


Table of Contents

The following table provides a reconciliation of the currency translation adjustment for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

     For the nine
months ended
September 30,
2012
 

Currency translation adjustment at December 31, 2011

   $ 4  

Change in currency translation adjustment included in accumulated other comprehensive income

     31  
  

 

 

 

Currency translation adjustment at September 30, 2012

   $ 35  

From time to time, the Company enters into net investment hedges. At September 30, 2012, there were no outstanding foreign exchange contracts hedging the Company’s net investment exposure.

See Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Foreign Currency Risk in Item 3 of Part I below for a discussion of the Company’s risk related to changes in foreign currency movements.

New Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 3 to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Overview

Management believes that the Company is principally exposed to five types of market related risk: interest rate risk, credit spread risk, foreign currency risk, counterparty credit risk and equity price risk. How these risks relate to the Company, and the process used to manage them, is discussed in Item 7A of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011. The following discussion of market risks at September 30, 2012 focuses only on material changes from December 31, 2011 in the Company’s market risk exposures, or how those exposures are managed.

Interest Rate Risk

The Company’s fixed income portfolio and the fixed income securities in the investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account are exposed to interest rate risk. Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on the market valuation of these securities. The Company manages interest rate risk on liability funds by constructing bond portfolios in which the economic impact of a general interest rate shift is comparable to the impact on the related liabilities. The Company believes that this matching process mitigates the overall interest rate risk on an economic basis. The Company manages the exposure to interest rate volatility on capital funds by choosing a duration profile that it believes will optimize the risk-reward relationship. For additional information on liability funds and capital funds, see Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.

At September 30, 2012, the Company estimates that the hypothetical case of an immediate 100 basis points or 200 basis points parallel shift in global bond curves would result in a change in the fair value of investments exposed to interest rate risk, the fair value of funds held – directly managed account exposed to interest rate risk, total invested assets, and shareholders’ equity as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

    -200 Basis
Points
    %
Change
    -100 Basis
Points
    %
Change
    September 30,
2012
    +100 Basis
Points
    %
Change
    +200 Basis
Points
    %
Change
 

Fair value of investments exposed to interest rate risk(1)(2)

  $ 16,887       6   $ 16,408       3   $ 15,929     $ 15,450       (3 )%    $ 14,971       (6 )% 

Fair value of funds held – directly managed account exposed to interest rate risk(2)

    1,197       6       1,165       3       1,133       1,101       (3     1,069       (6

Total invested assets(3)

    19,613       5       19,102       3       18,591       18,080       (3     17,569       (5

Shareholders’ equity

    8,101       14       7,590       7       7,079       6,568       (7     6,057       (14

 

(1) Includes certain other invested assets, certain cash and cash equivalents and funds holding fixed income securities.
(2) Excludes accrued interest.
(3) Includes total investments, cash and cash equivalents, the investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account and accrued interest.

 

74


Table of Contents

The changes do not take into account any potential mitigating impact from the equity market, taxes or the corresponding change in the economic value of the Company’s reinsurance liabilities, which, as noted above, would substantially offset the economic impact on invested assets, although the offset would not be reflected in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The impact of an immediate change in interest rates on the fair value of investments and funds held – directly managed exposed to interest rate risk, the Company’s total invested assets and shareholders’ equity, in both absolute terms and as a percentage of total invested assets and shareholders’ equity, has not changed significantly at September 30, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011.

Interest rate movements also affect the economic value of the Company’s outstanding debt obligations and preferred securities in the same way that they affect the Company’s fixed income investments, and this can result in a liability whose economic value is different from the carrying value reported in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The fair value of the Company’s outstanding debt obligations and preferred securities increased at September 30, 2012, compared to December 31, 2011 primarily as a result of lower risk free rates. For additional information related to the Company’s debt obligations and preferred securities, see Item 7A of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011. For additional information related to the Company’s debt obligations also see Note 4 to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report.

Credit Spread Risk

The Company’s fixed income portfolio and the fixed income securities in the investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account are exposed to credit spread risk. Fluctuations in market credit spreads have a direct impact on the market valuation of these securities. The Company manages credit spread risk by the selection of securities within its fixed income portfolio. Changes in credit spreads directly affect the market value of certain fixed income securities, but do not necessarily result in a change in the future expected cash flows associated with holding individual securities. Other factors, including liquidity, supply and demand, and changing risk preferences of investors, may affect market credit spreads without any change in the underlying credit quality of the security.

At September 30, 2012, the Company estimates that the hypothetical case of an immediate 100 basis points or 200 basis points parallel shift in global credit spreads would result in a change in the fair value of investments and the fair value of funds held – directly managed account exposed to credit spread risk, total invested assets and shareholders’ equity as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

     -200  Basis
Points
     %
Change
    -100 Basis
Points
     %
Change
    September 30,
2012
     +100 Basis
Points
     %
Change
    +200 Basis
Points
     %
Change
 

Fair value of investments exposed to credit spread risk(1)(2)

   $ 16,707        5   $ 16,318        2   $ 15,929      $ 15,540        (2 )%    $ 15,151        (5 )% 

Fair value of funds held – directly managed account exposed to credit spread risk(2)

     1,167        3       1,150        2       1,133        1,116        (2     1,099        (3

Total invested assets(3)

     19,403        4       18,997        2       18,591        18,185        (2     17,779        (4

Shareholders’ equity

     7,891        11       7,485        6       7,079        6,673        (6     6,267        (11

 

(1) Includes certain other invested assets, certain cash and cash equivalents and funds holding fixed income securities.
(2) Excludes accrued interest.
(3) Includes total investments, cash and cash equivalents, the investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account and accrued interest.

The impacts of changes in credit spreads for all parallel shifts in basis points are lower than the impacts of changes in interest rates, as the change in credit spreads does not impact government fixed income securities. However, the change in credit spreads does assume that mortgage-backed securities issued by government sponsored entities are affected, even though these typically exhibit significantly lower spread volatility than corporate fixed income securities. These changes also exclude any potential mitigating impact from the equity market, taxes, and the change in the economic value of the Company’s reinsurance liabilities, which may offset the economic impact on invested assets.

 

75


Table of Contents

The impact of an immediate change in credit spreads on the fair value of investments and funds held – directly managed exposed to credit spread risk, the Company’s total invested assets and shareholders’ equity, in both absolute terms and as a percentage of total invested assets and shareholders’ equity, has not changed significantly at September 30, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011.

Foreign Currency Risk

Through its multinational reinsurance operations, the Company conducts business in a variety of non-U.S. currencies, with the principal exposures being the euro, Canadian dollar, British pound, New Zealand dollar, Australian dollar and Japanese yen. As the Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar, foreign exchange rate fluctuations may materially impact the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

The table below summarizes the Company’s gross and net exposure in its Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2012 to foreign currency as well as the associated foreign currency derivatives the Company has entered into to manage this exposure (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

     euro     CAD     GBP     NZD     AUD     JPY     Other     Total(1)  

Total assets

   $ 4,388     $ 1,351     $ 1,391     $ 140     $ 92     $ 52     $ 629     $ 8,043  

Total liabilities

     (4,311     (739     (972     (423     (299     (261     (1,275     (8,280
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total gross foreign currency exposure

     77       612       419       (283     (207     (209     (646     (237

Total derivative amount

     (94     4       (393     276       186       187       655       821  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net foreign currency exposure

     (17     616       26       (7     (21     (22     9       584  

 

 

(1) As the U.S. dollar is the Company’s reporting currency, there is no currency risk attached to the U.S. dollar and it is excluded from this table. The U.S. dollar accounted for the difference between the Company’s total foreign currency exposure in this table and the total assets and total liabilities in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2012.

The above numbers include the Company’s investment in PartnerRe Holdings Europe Limited, whose functional currency is the euro, and certain of its subsidiaries and branches, whose functional currencies are the euro or Canadian dollar.

Assuming all other variables remain constant and disregarding any tax effects, a change in the U.S. dollar of 10% or 20% relative to the other currencies held by the Company would result in a change in the Company’s net assets of $58 million and $117 million, respectively, inclusive of the effect of foreign exchange forward contracts and other derivative financial instruments.

Counterparty Credit Risk

The Company has exposure to credit risk primarily as a holder of fixed income securities. The Company controls this exposure by emphasizing investment grade credit quality in the fixed income securities it purchases. At September 30, 2012, approximately 14% of the Company’s fixed income portfolio (including the funds held – directly managed account and funds holding fixed income securities) was rated AAA (or equivalent rating). The decline in the percentage of the Company’s fixed income portfolio rated AAA from 25% at December 31, 2011 largely reflects Standard & Poor’s decision in January 2012 to downgrade certain European sovereign government securities, as discussed in Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources—Investments above.

At September 30, 2012, approximately 77% the Company’s fixed income and short-term investments (including funds holding fixed income securities and excluding the funds held – directly managed account) was rated A- or better and 9% was rated below investment grade or not rated. The Company believes this high quality concentration reduces its exposure to credit risk on fixed income investments to an acceptable level. At September 30, 2012, the Company is not exposed to any significant credit concentration risk on its investments, excluding securities issued by the U.S. government which are rated AA+. In addition, the single largest corporate issuer and the top 10 corporate issuers accounted for less than 2% and less than 15% of the Company’s total corporate fixed income securities (excluding the funds held – directly managed account), respectively, at September 30, 2012. Within the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account, the single largest corporate issuer and the top 10 corporate issuers accounted for less than 4% and less than 26% of total corporate fixed income securities underlying the funds held – directly managed account at September 30, 2012, respectively.

The Company keeps cash and cash equivalents in several banks and ensures that there are no significant concentrations at any point in time, in any one bank.

To a lesser extent, the Company is also exposed to the following credit risks:

 

   

as a party to foreign exchange forward contracts and other derivative contracts;

 

   

in its underwriting operations, most notably in the credit/surety line and for alternative risk products;

 

76


Table of Contents
   

the credit risk of its cedants in the event of their insolvency or their failure to honor the value of the funds held balances due to the Company;

 

   

the credit risk of Colisée Re in the event of insolvency or Colisée Re’s failure to honor the value of the funds held balances for any other reason;

 

   

the credit risk of AXA or its affiliates in the event of their insolvency or their failure to honor their obligations under the Acquisition Agreements (see Reserve Agreement in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011);

 

   

as it relates to its business written through brokers if any of the Company’s brokers is unable to fulfill their contractual obligations with respect to payments to the Company;

 

   

as it relates to its reinsurance balances receivable and reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses; and

 

   

under its retrocessional reinsurance contracts.

The concentrations of the Company’s counterparty credit risk exposures have not changed materially at September 30, 2012, compared to December 31, 2011. See Counterparty Credit Risk in Item 7A of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 for additional discussion of credit risks.

Equity Price Risk

The Company invests a portion of its capital funds in marketable equity securities (fair market value of $806 million, excluding funds holding fixed income securities of $266 million) at September 30, 2012. These equity investments are exposed to equity price risk, defined as the potential for loss in market value due to a decline in equity prices. The Company believes that the effects of diversification and the relatively small size of its investments in equities relative to total invested assets mitigate its exposure to equity price risk. The Company estimates that its equity investment portfolio has a beta versus the S&P 500 Index of approximately 0.96 on average. Portfolio beta measures the response of a portfolio’s performance relative to a market return, where a beta of 1 would be an equivalent return to the index. Given the estimated beta for the Company’s equity portfolio, a 10% and 20% movement in the S&P 500 Index would result in a change in the fair value of the Company’s equity portfolio, total invested assets and shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2012 as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

    20%
Decrease
    %
Change
    10%
Decrease
    %
Change
    September 30,
2012
    10%
Increase
    %
Change
    20%
Increase
    %
Change
 

Equities(1)

  $ 650       (19 )%    $ 728       (10 )%    $ 806     $ 884       10   $ 962       19

Total invested assets(2)

    18,435       (1     18,513       —          18,591       18,669       —          18,747       1  

Shareholders’ equity

    6,923       (2     7,001       (1     7,079       7,157       1       7,235       2  

 

(1) Excludes funds holding fixed income securities of $266 million.
(2) Includes total investments, cash and cash equivalents, the investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account and accrued interest.

This change does not take into account any potential mitigating impact from the fixed income securities or taxes.

There was no material change in the absolute or percentage impact of an immediate change of 10% in the S&P 500 Index on the Company’s equity portfolio, total invested assets and shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of Management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as of September 30, 2012, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2012, the disclosure controls and procedures are effective such that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission and is accumulated and communicated to Management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with such evaluation that occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

77


Table of Contents

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

There has been no significant change in legal proceedings at September 30, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011. See Note 18(e) to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this document, including Management’s Discussion and Analysis, may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s assumptions and expectations concerning future events and financial performance of the Company and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The Company’s forward-looking statements could be affected by numerous foreseeable and unforeseeable events and developments such as exposure to catastrophe, or other large property and casualty losses, adequacy of reserves, risks associated with implementing business strategies and integrating new acquisitions, levels and pricing of new and renewal business achieved, credit, interest, currency and other risks associated with the Company’s investment portfolio, changes in accounting policies, and other factors identified in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The words believe, anticipate, estimate, project, plan, expect, intend, hope, forecast, evaluate, will likely result or will continue or words of similar impact generally involve forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The following discussion updates and supplements the risk factors included within Risk Factors in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011. See also Risk Management in Item 2 of Part I of this report for the Company’s updated Risk Management framework.

Given the inherent uncertainty of models, the usefulness of such models as a tool to evaluate risk is subject to a high degree of uncertainty that could result in actual losses that are materially different than our estimates including probable maximum losses (PMLs), and our financial results may be adversely impacted, perhaps significantly.

In addition to our own proprietary catastrophe models, we use third party vendor analytic and modeling capabilities to provide us with objective risk assessment relating to other risks in our reinsurance portfolio. We use these models to help us control risk accumulation, inform management and other stakeholders of capital requirements and to improve the risk/return profile or minimize the amount of capital required to cover the risks in each reinsurance contract in our overall portfolio of reinsurance contracts. However, given the inherent uncertainty of modeling techniques and the application of such techniques, these models and databases may not accurately address a variety of matters which might be deemed to impact certain of our coverages.

For example, catastrophe models that simulate loss estimates based on a set of assumptions are important tools used by us to estimate our PMLs. These assumptions address a number of factors that impact loss potential including, but not limited to, the characteristics of the natural catastrophe event; demand surge resulting from an event; the types, function, location and characteristics of exposed risks; susceptibility of exposed risks to damage from an event with specific characteristics; and the financial and contractual provisions of the (re)insurance contracts that cover losses arising from an event. We run many model simulations in order to understand the impact of these assumptions on its catastrophe loss potential. Furthermore, there are risks associated with catastrophe events, which are either poorly represented or not represented at all by catastrophe models. Each modeling assumption or un-modeled risk introduces uncertainty into PML estimates that management must consider. These uncertainties can include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

   

The models do not address all the possible hazard characteristics of a catastrophe peril (e.g. the precise path and wind speed of a hurricane);

 

   

The models may not accurately reflect the true frequency of events;

 

   

The models may not accurately reflect a risk’s vulnerability or susceptibility to damage for a given event characteristic;

 

   

The models may not accurately represent loss potential to insurance or reinsurance contract coverage limits, terms and conditions; and

 

   

The models may not accurately reflect the impact on the economy of the area affected or the financial, judicial, political, or regulatory impact on insurance claim payments during or following a catastrophe event.

 

78


Table of Contents

Our PMLs are selected after assessment of multiple third party vendor model output, internally constructed independent models, including the Company’s CatFocus® suite of models, and other qualitative and quantitative assessments by management, including assessments of exposure not typically modeled in vendor or internal models. Our methodology for estimating PMLs may differ from methods used by other companies and external parties given the various assumptions and judgments required to estimate a PML.

As a result of these factors and contingencies, our reliance on assumptions and data used to evaluate our entire reinsurance portfolio and specifically to estimate a PML, is subject to a high degree of uncertainty that could result in actual losses that are materially different from our PML estimates and our financial results may be adversely impacted, perhaps significantly.

See Risk Factors in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 for other important risk factors.

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

The following table provides information about purchases by the Company during the three months ended September 30, 2012 of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

 

     Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities                

Period

   Total number of shares
purchased
     Average price paid per
share
     Total number of shares
purchased as part of a
publicly announced
program (1) (2)
     Maximum number of
shares that may yet be
purchased under the
program(1)
 

07/01/2012-07/31/2012

     459,000      $ 74.12        459,000        1,677,679  

08/01/2012-08/31/2012

     668,300        73.63        668,300        1,009,379  

09/01/2012-09/30/2012

     125,600        74.71        125,600        5,874,400  
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total

     1,252,900      $ 73.92        1,252,900     

 

(1) In September 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase authorization up to a total of 6 million common shares, which replaced the prior authorization of 7 million common shares approved in November 2011. Unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors, the program will expire when the Company has repurchased all shares authorized for repurchase thereunder.
(2) At September 30, 2012, approximately 23.8 million common shares were held in treasury and available for reissuance.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibits—Included on page 81.

 

79


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

PartnerRe Ltd.

(Registrant)

By:   /S/ CONSTANTINOS MIRANTHIS
Name:   Constantinos Miranthis
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

Date: November 2, 2012

 

By:   /S/ WILLIAM BABCOCK
Name:   William Babcock
Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

Date: November 2, 2012

 

80


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

   Exhibit
10.1    PartnerRe Ltd. Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors Share Plan, effective May 16, 2012.
10.2    PartnerRe Ltd. Amended and Restated Employee Equity Plan, effective May 10, 2005.
15    Letter Regarding Unaudited Interim Financial Information.
31.1    Section 302 Certification of Constantinos Miranthis.
31.2    Section 302 Certification of William Babcock.
32    Section 906 Certifications.
101.1    The following financial information from PartnerRe Ltd.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10–Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 formatted in XBRL: (i) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011; (ii) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011; (iii) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011; (iv) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011; and (v) Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

81