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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
þ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007
OR
o | 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 001-31341
Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Bermuda | 98-0416483 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
incorporation or organization) | ||
The Belvedere Building | ||
69 Pitts Bay Road | ||
Pembroke, Bermuda | HM 08 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(441) 295-7195
(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. Yesþ Noo
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filerþ Accelerated filero Non-accelerated filero
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yeso Noþ
As of April 13, 2007, there were outstanding 59,853,816 common shares, par value $0.01 per share, of the registrant.
PLATINUM UNDERWRITERS HOLDINGS, LTD.
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2007
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
($ in thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Investments: | ||||||||
Fixed maturity available-for-sale securities at fair value (amortized cost – $3,465,677 and $3,276,970, respectively) | $ | 3,425,804 | $ | 3,226,354 | ||||
Fixed maturity trading securities at fair value (amortized cost – $129,730 and $110,845, respectively) | 126,509 | 108,291 | ||||||
Preferred stocks (cost – $11,246 and $11,246, respectively) | 10,839 | 10,772 | ||||||
Other invested asset | — | 4,745 | ||||||
Short-term investments | 8,299 | 27,123 | ||||||
Total investments | 3,571,451 | 3,377,285 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 803,652 | 851,652 | ||||||
Accrued investment income | 32,597 | 32,682 | ||||||
Reinsurance premiums receivable | 364,173 | 377,183 | ||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on ceded losses and loss adjustment expenses | 50,344 | 57,956 | ||||||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | 6,725 | 9,680 | ||||||
Funds held by ceding companies | 235,319 | 238,499 | ||||||
Deferred acquisition costs | 84,538 | 82,610 | ||||||
Deferred tax assets | 41,867 | 38,577 | ||||||
Other assets | 11,295 | 27,443 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 5,201,961 | $ | 5,093,567 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses | $ | 2,411,319 | $ | 2,368,482 | ||||
Unearned premiums | 361,147 | 349,792 | ||||||
Reinsurance deposit liabilities | 4,079 | 4,009 | ||||||
Debt obligations | 292,840 | 292,840 | ||||||
Ceded premiums payable | 6,055 | 17,597 | ||||||
Commissions payable | 134,749 | 140,835 | ||||||
Deferred tax liabilities | 5,473 | 4,234 | ||||||
Other liabilities | 49,016 | 57,717 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 3,264,678 | 3,235,506 | ||||||
Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||||
Preferred shares, $.01 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized, 5,750,000 shares issued and outstanding | 57 | 57 | ||||||
Common shares, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 59,825,816 and 59,671,959 shares issued and outstanding, respectively | 598 | 597 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 1,550,368 | 1,545,979 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (34,904 | ) | (44,289 | ) | ||||
Retained earnings | 421,164 | 355,717 | ||||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 1,937,283 | 1,858,061 | ||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 5,201,961 | $ | 5,093,567 | ||||
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
($ in thousands, except per share data)
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
Revenue: | ||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | 284,848 | $ | 344,301 | ||||
Net investment income | 51,699 | 43,515 | ||||||
Net realized gains (losses) on investments | (18 | ) | 65 | |||||
Other expense | (780 | ) | (1,317 | ) | ||||
Total revenue | 335,749 | 386,564 | ||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses | 181,913 | 206,774 | ||||||
Net acquisition expenses | 48,120 | 69,239 | ||||||
Operating expenses | 23,206 | 22,988 | ||||||
Net foreign currency exchange gains | (42 | ) | (275 | ) | ||||
Interest expense | 5,455 | 5,450 | ||||||
Total expenses | 258,652 | 304,176 | ||||||
Income before income tax expense | 77,097 | 82,388 | ||||||
Income tax expense | 4,264 | 5,352 | ||||||
Net income | 72,833 | 77,036 | ||||||
Preferred dividends | 2,602 | 2,576 | ||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ | 70,231 | $ | 74,460 | ||||
Earnings per share: | ||||||||
Basic earnings per share | $ | 1.18 | $ | 1.26 | ||||
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 1.08 | $ | 1.16 | ||||
Comprehensive income: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 72,833 | $ | 77,036 | ||||
Other comprehensive income: | ||||||||
Net change in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of deferred taxes | 9,429 | (35,315 | ) | |||||
Cumulative translation adjustments, net of deferred taxes | (44 | ) | 4 | |||||
Comprehensive income | $ | 82,218 | $ | 41,725 | ||||
Shareholder dividends: | ||||||||
Preferred dividends declared | $ | 2,602 | $ | 2,012 | ||||
Preferred dividends declared per share | 0.45 | 0.35 | ||||||
Common dividends declared | 4,784 | 4,733 | ||||||
Common dividends declared per share | $ | 0.08 | $ | 0.08 |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity (Unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
($ in thousands)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
($ in thousands)
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
Preferred shares: | ||||||||
Balances at beginning and end of periods | $ | 57 | $ | 57 | ||||
Common shares: | ||||||||
Balances at beginning of period | 597 | 590 | ||||||
Exercise of share options | 1 | 1 | ||||||
Issuance of restricted shares | — | 1 | ||||||
Balances at end of period | 598 | 592 | ||||||
Additional paid-in-capital: | ||||||||
Balances at beginning of period | 1,545,979 | 1,527,316 | ||||||
Exercise of common share options | 2,991 | 1,435 | ||||||
Share based compensation | 1,398 | 1,736 | ||||||
Transfer of unearned common share grant compensation | — | (2,467 | ) | |||||
Balances at end of period | 1,550,368 | 1,528,020 | ||||||
Unearned common share grant compensation: | ||||||||
Balances at beginning of period | — | (2,467 | ) | |||||
Transfer of unearned common share grant compensation | — | 2,467 | ||||||
Balances at end of period | — | — | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss: | ||||||||
Balances at beginning of period | (44,289 | ) | (40,718 | ) | ||||
Net change in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of deferred tax | 9,429 | (35,315 | ) | |||||
Net change in cumulative translation adjustments, net of deferred tax | (44 | ) | 4 | |||||
Balances at end of period | (34,904 | ) | (76,029 | ) | ||||
Retained earnings: | ||||||||
Balances at beginning of period | 355,717 | 55,471 | ||||||
Net income | 72,833 | 77,036 | ||||||
Preferred share dividends | (2,602 | ) | (2,576 | ) | ||||
Common share dividends | (4,784 | ) | (4,733 | ) | ||||
Balances at end of period | 421,164 | 125,198 | ||||||
Total shareholders’ equity | $ | 1,937,283 | $ | 1,577,838 | ||||
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
($ in thousands)
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
Operating Activities: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 72,833 | $ | 77,036 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operations: | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 3,586 | 3,803 | ||||||
Net realized (gains) losses on investments | 18 | (65 | ) | |||||
Net foreign currency exchange gains | (42 | ) | (275 | ) | ||||
Share based compensation | 1,398 | 1,736 | ||||||
Deferred income tax expense | (3,411 | ) | 87 | |||||
Trading securities activities | 2,230 | 717 | ||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
(Increase) decrease in accrued investment income | 85 | (351 | ) | |||||
Decrease in reinsurance premiums receivable | 13,221 | 50,020 | ||||||
Decrease in funds held by ceding companies | 3,180 | 25,088 | ||||||
(Increase) decrease in deferred acquisition costs | (1,928 | ) | 25,101 | |||||
Increase in net unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses | 49,136 | 53,256 | ||||||
Increase (decrease) in net unearned premiums | 14,310 | (50,546 | ) | |||||
Increase (decrease) in reinsurance deposit liabilities | 70 | (7 | ) | |||||
Increase (decrease) in ceded premiums payable | (11,542 | ) | 15,562 | |||||
Decrease in commissions payable | (6,086 | ) | (43,828 | ) | ||||
Net changes in other assets and liabilities | (17,826 | ) | 29,634 | |||||
Other net | 314 | (12 | ) | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 119,546 | 186,956 | ||||||
Investing Activities: | ||||||||
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale fixed maturity securities | — | 179,119 | ||||||
Proceeds from maturity or paydown of available-for-sale fixed maturity securities | 271,035 | 32,535 | ||||||
Acquisition of available-for-sale fixed maturity securities | (457,939 | ) | (572,201 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sale of other invested asset | 4,745 | — | ||||||
Net change in short-term investments | 19,006 | (71,816 | ) | |||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (163,153 | ) | (432,363 | ) | ||||
Financing Activities: | ||||||||
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders | (2,602 | ) | (2,012 | ) | ||||
Dividends paid to common shareholders | (4,784 | ) | (4,733 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from exercise of share options | 2,993 | 1,436 | ||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (4,393 | ) | (5,309 | ) | ||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (48,000 | ) | (250,716 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 851,652 | 820,746 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 803,652 | $ | 570,030 | ||||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | ||||||||
Income taxes paid (recovered) | $ | 20 | $ | (8,699 | ) | |||
Interest paid | $ | — | $ | — |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
1.Basis of Presentation
Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. (“Platinum Holdings”) is a Bermuda holding company organized in 2002. We provide property and marine, casualty and finite risk reinsurance coverages, through reinsurance intermediaries, to a diverse clientele of insurers and select reinsurers on a worldwide basis. Platinum Holdings and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) operate through two licensed reinsurance subsidiaries: Platinum Underwriters Bermuda, Ltd. (“Platinum Bermuda”) and Platinum Underwriters Reinsurance, Inc. (“Platinum US”). Through December 31, 2006 we also underwrote business in Platinum Re (UK) Limited (“Platinum UK”), our other licensed reinsurance subsidiary. In 2007 we ceased underwriting reinsurance business in Platinum UK.
The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts of Platinum Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Platinum Bermuda, Platinum US, Platinum UK, Platinum Underwriters Finance, Inc. (“Platinum Finance”), Platinum Regency Holdings (“Platinum Regency”), Platinum Administrative Services, Inc. and Platinum UK Services Company Limited. The terms “we”, “us”, and “our” also refer to Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise indicates. All material inter-company transactions have been eliminated in preparing these condensed consolidated financial statements. The condensed consolidated financial statements included in this report as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 are unaudited and include adjustments consisting of normal recurring items that management considers necessary for a fair presentation under U.S. GAAP. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
The preparation of financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In February 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Instruments, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140” (“SFAS 155”). SFAS 155 became effective in 2007 and requires that investments in securitized financial instruments, such as mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, be evaluated to identify whether they are freestanding investments or hybrid financial instruments containing an embedded derivative that requires bifurcation. Subsequent to the issuance of SFAS 155, the FASB issued additional guidance in the form of Implementation Issue B40. Implementation Issue B40 provides a narrow scope exception for certain securitized interests in prepayable financial assets, subject to certain criteria. Securitized financial instruments with the potential for prepayment are evaluated under SFAS 155 and related guidance, possibly resulting in the bifurcation of an embedded derivative. The embedded derivative is recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in other income and the related deferred income tax included in income tax expense. SFAS 155 and related guidance is effective for all financial instruments acquired, issued, or subject to a remeasurement event occurring for the Company after December 31, 2006. The Company does not have any securities with imbedded
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
derivatives that require bifurcation under SFAS 155.
The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”) on January 1, 2007. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The adoption of FIN 48 did not have an effect on our results of operations or financial condition. We did not have any unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1, 2007 or March 31, 2007.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2006 financial statements in order to conform to the 2007 presentation.
2.Investments
Investments classified as available-for-sale are carried at fair value as of the balance sheet date. Net change in unrealized investment gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of deferred taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows ($ in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
Fixed maturities | $ | 10,808 | $ | (39,353 | ) | |||
Less — deferred taxes | (1,379 | ) | 4,038 | |||||
Net change in unrealized investment gains and losses | $ | 9,429 | $ | (35,315 | ) | |||
Gross unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities as of March 31, 2007 were $3,057,000 and $43,337,000, respectively.
The unrealized losses on securities classified as available-for-sale, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position as of March 31, 2007 were as follows ($ in thousands):
Unrealized | ||||||||
Fair Value | Loss | |||||||
Less than twelve months: | ||||||||
U.S. Government | $ | 11,441 | $ | 98 | ||||
Corporate bonds | 438,322 | 1,185 | ||||||
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities | 273,003 | 953 | ||||||
Municipal bonds | 9,870 | 26 | ||||||
Foreign governments and states | 3,959 | 57 | ||||||
Total | 736,595 | 2,319 | ||||||
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Unrealized | ||||||||
Fair Value | Loss | |||||||
Twelve months or more: | ||||||||
U.S. Government | 119,733 | 1,660 | ||||||
Corporate bonds | 1,016,317 | 18,483 | ||||||
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities | 773,620 | 17,312 | ||||||
Municipal bonds | 181,192 | 2,516 | ||||||
Foreign governments and states | 37,061 | 640 | ||||||
Preferred stocks | 10,839 | 407 | ||||||
Total | 2,138,762 | 41,018 | ||||||
Total of securities with unrealized losses: | ||||||||
U.S. Government | 131,174 | 1,758 | ||||||
Corporate bonds | 1,454,639 | 19,668 | ||||||
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities | 1,046,623 | 18,265 | ||||||
Municipal bonds | 191,062 | 2,542 | ||||||
Foreign governments and states | 41,020 | 697 | ||||||
Preferred stocks | 10,839 | 407 | ||||||
Total | $ | 2,875,357 | $ | 43,337 | ||||
We routinely review our available-for-sale investments to determine whether unrealized losses represent temporary changes in fair value or were the result of “other-than-temporary impairments.” The process of determining whether a security is other than temporarily impaired is subjective and involves analyzing many factors. These factors include but are not limited to: the overall financial condition of the issuer, the length and magnitude of an unrealized loss, specific credit events, and our ability and intent to hold a security for a sufficient period of time for the value to recover the unrealized loss, which is based, in part, on current and anticipated future positive net cash flows from operations that generate sufficient liquidity in order to meet our obligations. If we determine that an unrealized loss on a security is other than temporary, we write down the carrying value of the security and record a realized loss in the statement of operations.
As of March 31, 2007, there were a total of 579 issues in an unrealized loss position in our investment portfolio, with the single largest unrealized loss being $928,000. Corporate, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities represent our largest categories within our available-for-sale portfolio and consequently account for the greatest amount of our overall unrealized loss as of March 31, 2007. Investment holdings within our corporate portfolio were diversified across approximately 30 sub-portfolios, ranging from aerospace to telecommunications, and within each sub-portfolio across many individual issuers and issues. As of March 31, 2007 there were 270 corporate issues in an unrealized loss position, with the single largest unrealized loss being $720,000. Investment holdings within the mortgage-backed and asset-backed portfolio were diversified across a number of sub-categories. As of March 31, 2007 there were 232 issues within the mortgage-backed and asset-backed portfolio in an unrealized loss position, with the single largest unrealized loss being $928,000.
As of December 31, 2006, other invested assets included an investment in Inter-Ocean Holdings
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Ltd., a non-public reinsurance company. During the first quarter of 2007 we sold this investment at its carrying value resulting in no gain or loss.
Overall, our unrealized loss position as of March 31, 2007 was primarily the result of interest rate increases that impacted all investment categories. We do not consider any of our available-for-sale investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of March 31, 2007.
3.Earnings Per Share
Following is a calculation of the basic and diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 ($ in thousands, except per share data):
Weighted | ||||||||||||
Average | Earnings | |||||||||||
Common | Per | |||||||||||
Net | Shares | Common | ||||||||||
Income | Outstanding | Share | ||||||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, 2007: | ||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share: | ||||||||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ | 70,231 | 59,718 | $ | 1.18 | |||||||
Effect of dilutive securities: | ||||||||||||
Common share options, restricted common shares and common share units | — | 1,965 | ||||||||||
Conversion of preferred shares | — | 5,574 | ||||||||||
Preferred share dividends | 2,602 | — | ||||||||||
Adjusted net income for diluted earnings per share | $ | 72,833 | 67,257 | $ | 1.08 | |||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, 2006: | ||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share: | ||||||||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ | 74,460 | 59,097 | $ | 1.26 | |||||||
Effect of dilutive securities: | ||||||||||||
Common share options, restricted common shares and common share units | — | 1,810 | ||||||||||
Conversion of preferred shares | — | 5,690 | ||||||||||
Preferred share dividends | 2,576 | — | ||||||||||
Adjusted net income for diluted earnings per share | $ | 77,036 | 66,597 | $ | 1.16 | |||||||
4.Operating Segment Information
We conduct our worldwide reinsurance business through three operating segments: Property and Marine, Casualty and Finite Risk. The Property and Marine operating segment includes principally property and marine reinsurance coverages that were written in the United States and international
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
markets. This operating segment includes property reinsurance, crop reinsurance and marine and aviation reinsurance. The Property and Marine reinsurance contracts are either catastrophe excess-of-loss, per-risk excess-of-loss or proportional contracts. The Casualty operating segment includes principally reinsurance contracts that cover umbrella liability, general and product liability, professional liability, workers’ compensation, casualty clash, automobile liability, surety, trade credit and accident and health. The Finite Risk operating segment includes principally structured reinsurance contracts with ceding companies whose needs may not be met efficiently through traditional reinsurance products. In exchange for contractual features that limit our downside risk, reinsurance contracts that we classify as finite risk provide the potential for significant profit commission to the ceding company. The classes of risks underwritten through finite risk contracts are generally consistent with the classes covered by traditional products. The finite risk contracts that we underwrite generally provide prospective protection, meaning coverage is provided for losses that are incurred after inception of the contract, as contrasted with retrospective coverage, which covers losses that are incurred prior to inception of the contract. The three main categories of finite risk contracts are quota share, multi-year excess-of-loss and whole account aggregate stop loss.
In managing our operating segments, we use measures such as underwriting income and underwriting ratios to evaluate segment performance. We do not allocate by segment our assets or certain income and expenses such as investment income, interest expense and certain corporate expenses. Total underwriting income is reconciled to income before income tax expense. The measures we use in evaluating our operating segments should not be used as a substitute for measures determined under U.S. GAAP. The following table summarizes underwriting activity and ratios for the operating segments together with a reconciliation of total underwriting income to income before income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 ($ in thousands):
Property | ||||||||||||||||
and Marine | Casualty | Finite Risk | Total | |||||||||||||
Three months ended March 31, 2007: | ||||||||||||||||
Net premiums written | $ | 137,654 | 152,183 | 9,080 | $ | 298,917 | ||||||||||
Net premiums earned | 119,710 | 154,019 | 11,119 | 284,848 | ||||||||||||
Net losses and LAE | 62,627 | 112,382 | 6,904 | 181,913 | ||||||||||||
Net acquisition expenses | 15,935 | 32,035 | 150 | 48,120 | ||||||||||||
Other underwriting expenses | 10,028 | 6,717 | 1,034 | 17,779 | ||||||||||||
Segment underwriting income | $ | 31,120 | 2,885 | 3,031 | 37,036 | |||||||||||
Net investment income | 51,699 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized losses on investments | (18 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net foreign currency exchange gains | 42 | |||||||||||||||
Other expense | (780 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Corporate expenses not allocated to segments | (5,427 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (5,455 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Income before income tax expense | $ | 77,097 | ||||||||||||||
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Property | ||||||||||||||||
and Marine | Casualty | Finite Risk | Total | |||||||||||||
Ratios: | ||||||||||||||||
Net loss and LAE | 52.3 | % | 73.0 | % | 62.1 | % | 63.9 | % | ||||||||
Net acquisition expense | 13.3 | % | 20.8 | % | 1.3 | % | 16.9 | % | ||||||||
Other underwriting expense | 8.4 | % | 4.4 | % | 9.3 | % | 6.2 | % | ||||||||
Combined | 74.0 | % | 98.2 | % | 72.7 | % | 87.0 | % | ||||||||
Three months ended March 31, 2006: | ||||||||||||||||
Net premiums written | $ | 165,264 | 182,350 | (54,336 | ) | $ | 293,278 | |||||||||
Net premiums earned | 131,544 | 173,668 | 39,089 | 344,301 | ||||||||||||
Net losses and LAE | 59,828 | 116,565 | 30,381 | 206,774 | ||||||||||||
Net acquisition expenses | 19,649 | 41,354 | 8,236 | 69,239 | ||||||||||||
Other underwriting expenses | 10,028 | 6,335 | 925 | 17,288 | ||||||||||||
Segment underwriting income (loss) | $ | 42,039 | 9,414 | (453 | ) | 51,000 | ||||||||||
Net investment income | 43,515 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized gains on investments | 65 | |||||||||||||||
Net foreign currency exchange gains | 275 | |||||||||||||||
Other expense | (1,317 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Corporate expenses not allocated to segments | (5,700 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (5,450 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Income before income tax expense | $ | 82,388 | ||||||||||||||
Ratios: | ||||||||||||||||
Net loss and LAE | 45.5 | % | 67.1 | % | 77.7 | % | 60.1 | % | ||||||||
Net acquisition expense | 14.9 | % | 23.8 | % | 21.1 | % | 20.1 | % | ||||||||
Other underwriting expense | 7.6 | % | 3.6 | % | 2.4 | % | 5.0 | % | ||||||||
Combined | 68.0 | % | 94.5 | % | 101.2 | % | 85.2 | % | ||||||||
5.Income Taxes
We provide for income tax expense based upon income reported in the consolidated financial statements and the provisions of currently enacted tax laws. Platinum Holdings and Platinum Bermuda are incorporated in Bermuda. Under current Bermuda law, they are not taxed on any Bermuda income or capital gains and they have received an assurance that if any legislation is enacted in Bermuda that would impose tax computed on profits or income, or computed on any capital asset, gain or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, then the imposition of any such tax will not be applicable to Platinum Holdings or Platinum Bermuda or any of their respective operations, shares, debentures or other obligations until March 28, 2016. We also have subsidiaries in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland that are subject to the tax laws thereof. The income tax returns of our U.S. based subsidiaries that remain open to examination are for calendar years 2003 and forward.
A reconciliation of expected income tax expense, computed by applying a 35% income tax rate to income before income taxes, to actual income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
and 2006 was as follows ($ in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
Expected income tax expense at 35% | $ | 26,984 | $ | 28,836 | ||||
Effect of foreign income subject to tax at rates other than 35% | (22,235 | ) | (23,226 | ) | ||||
Tax exempt investment income | (389 | ) | (553 | ) | ||||
Other, net | (96 | ) | 295 | |||||
Income tax expense | $ | 4,264 | $ | 5,352 | ||||
6.Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Platinum Finance is a U.S. based intermediate holding company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Platinum Regency. The outstanding Series B 7.5% Notes, due June 1, 2017, issued by Platinum Finance are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Platinum Holdings. The outstanding Series B 6.371% Remarketed Senior Guaranteed Notes, due November 16, 2007, issued by Platinum Finance are also fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Platinum Holdings.
The payment of dividends from our regulated reinsurance subsidiaries is limited by applicable laws and statutory requirements of the jurisdictions in which the subsidiaries operate, including Bermuda, the United States and the United Kingdom. Based on the regulatory restrictions of the applicable jurisdictions, the maximum amount available for payment of dividends or other distributions by our reinsurance subsidiaries in 2007 without prior regulatory approval is estimated to be approximately $307,000,000.
The tables below present condensed consolidating financial information of Platinum Holdings, Platinum Finance and the non-guarantor subsidiaries of Platinum Holdings as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 and for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 ($ in thousands):
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Non- | ||||||||||||||||||||
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet | Platinum | Platinum | guarantor | Consolidating | ||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2007 | Holdings | Finance | Subsidiaries | Adjustments | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total investments | $ | — | 10,765 | 3,560,686 | — | $ | 3,571,451 | |||||||||||||
Investment in subsidiaries | 1,836,102 | 487,072 | 414,176 | (2,737,350 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 97,740 | 40,469 | 665,443 | — | 803,652 | |||||||||||||||
Reinsurance assets | — | — | 741,099 | — | 741,099 | |||||||||||||||
Other assets | 6,000 | 4,164 | 75,595 | — | 85,759 | |||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 1,939,842 | 542,470 | 5,456,999 | (2,737,350 | ) | $ | 5,201,961 | ||||||||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reinsurance liabilities | $ | — | — | 2,917,349 | — | $ | 2,917,349 | |||||||||||||
Debt obligations | — | 292,840 | — | — | 292,840 | |||||||||||||||
Other liabilities | 2,559 | 7,129 | 44,801 | — | 54,489 | |||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 2,559 | 299,969 | 2,962,150 | — | 3,264,678 | |||||||||||||||
Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred shares | 57 | — | — | — | 57 | |||||||||||||||
Common shares | 598 | — | 6,250 | (6,250 | ) | 598 | ||||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 1,550,368 | 192,203 | 2,051,468 | (2,243,671 | ) | 1,550,368 | ||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (34,904 | ) | (6,834 | ) | (43,041 | ) | 49,875 | (34,904 | ) | |||||||||||
Retained earnings | 421,164 | 57,132 | 480,172 | (537,304 | ) | 421,164 | ||||||||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 1,937,283 | 242,501 | 2,494,849 | (2,737,350 | ) | 1,937,283 | ||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 1,939,842 | 542,470 | 5,456,999 | (2,737,350 | ) | $ | 5,201,961 | ||||||||||||
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Non- | ||||||||||||||||||||
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet | Platinum | Platinum | guarantor | Consolidating | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2006 | Holdings | Finance | Subsidiaries | Adjustments | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total investments | $ | — | 11,342 | 3,365,943 | — | $ | 3,377,285 | |||||||||||||
Investment in subsidiaries | 1,749,762 | 475,194 | 402,098 | (2,627,054 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 106,039 | 39,294 | 706,319 | — | 851,652 | |||||||||||||||
Reinsurance assets | — | — | 765,928 | — | 765,928 | |||||||||||||||
Other assets | 9,296 | 2,374 | 87,032 | — | 98,702 | |||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 1,865,097 | 528,204 | 5,327,320 | (2,627,054 | ) | $ | 5,093,567 | ||||||||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reinsurance liabilities | $ | — | — | 2,880,715 | — | $ | 2,880,715 | |||||||||||||
Debt obligations | — | 292,840 | — | — | 292,840 | |||||||||||||||
Other liabilities | 7,036 | 2,024 | 52,891 | — | 61,951 | |||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 7,036 | 294,864 | 2,933,606 | — | 3,235,506 | |||||||||||||||
Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred shares | 57 | — | — | — | 57 | |||||||||||||||
Common shares | 597 | — | 6,250 | (6,250 | ) | 597 | ||||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 1,545,979 | 192,203 | 2,051,468 | (2,243,671 | ) | 1,545,979 | ||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (44,289 | ) | (9,071 | ) | (55,012 | ) | 64,083 | (44,289 | ) | |||||||||||
Retained earnings | 355,717 | 50,208 | 391,008 | (441,216 | ) | 355,717 | ||||||||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 1,858,061 | 233,340 | 2,393,714 | (2,627,054 | ) | 1,858,061 | ||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 1,865,097 | 528,204 | 5,327,320 | (2,627,054 | ) | $ | 5,093,567 | ||||||||||||
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Consolidating Statement of Operations | Non- | |||||||||||||||||||
For the Three Months Ended | Platinum | Platinum | guarantor | Consolidating | ||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2007 | Holdings | Finance | Subsidiaries | Adjustments | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | — | — | 284,848 | — | $ | 284,848 | |||||||||||||
Net investment income | 1,358 | 638 | 49,703 | — | 51,699 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized losses on investments | — | — | (18 | ) | — | (18 | ) | |||||||||||||
Other expense, net | (170 | ) | — | (610 | ) | — | (780 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total revenue | 1,188 | 638 | 333,923 | — | 335,749 | |||||||||||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses | — | — | 181,913 | — | 181,913 | |||||||||||||||
Net acquisition expenses | — | — | 48,120 | — | 48,120 | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | 5,311 | 96 | 17,799 | — | 23,206 | |||||||||||||||
Net foreign currency exchange gains | — | — | (42 | ) | — | (42 | ) | |||||||||||||
Interest expense | — | 5,455 | — | — | 5,455 | |||||||||||||||
Total expenses | 5,311 | 5,551 | 247,790 | — | 258,652 | |||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) | (4,123 | ) | (4,913 | ) | 86,133 | — | 77,097 | |||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | — | (2,182 | ) | 6,446 | — | 4,264 | ||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries | (4,123 | ) | (2,731 | ) | 79,687 | — | 72,833 | |||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries | 76,956 | 9,655 | 9,470 | (96,081 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Net income | 72,833 | 6,924 | 89,157 | (96,081 | ) | 72,833 | ||||||||||||||
Preferred dividends | (2,602 | ) | — | — | — | (2,602 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ | 70,231 | 6,924 | 89,157 | (96,081 | ) | $ | 70,231 | ||||||||||||
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Consolidating Statement of Operations | Non- | |||||||||||||||||||
For the Three Months Ended | Platinum | Platinum | guarantor | Consolidating | ||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2006 | Holdings | Finance | Subsidiaries | Adjustments | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | — | — | 344,301 | — | $ | 344,301 | |||||||||||||
Net investment income | 1,434 | 220 | 41,861 | — | 43,515 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized gains on investments | — | — | 65 | — | 65 | |||||||||||||||
Other income (expense), net | 1,100 | — | (2,417 | ) | — | (1,317 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total revenue | 2,534 | 220 | 383,810 | — | 386,564 | |||||||||||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses | — | — | 206,774 | — | 206,774 | |||||||||||||||
Net acquisition expenses | — | — | 69,239 | — | 69,239 | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | 5,321 | 258 | 17,409 | — | 22,988 | |||||||||||||||
Net foreign currency exchange gains | — | — | (275 | ) | — | (275 | ) | |||||||||||||
Interest expense | — | 5,450 | — | — | 5,450 | |||||||||||||||
Total expenses | 5,321 | 5,708 | 293,147 | — | 304,176 | |||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) | (2,787 | ) | (5,488 | ) | 90,663 | — | 82,388 | |||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | — | (1,920 | ) | 7,272 | — | 5,352 | ||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries | (2,787 | ) | (3,568 | ) | 83,391 | — | 77,036 | |||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries | 79,823 | 10,464 | 10,837 | (101,124 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Net income | 77,036 | 6,896 | 94,228 | (101,124 | ) | 77,036 | ||||||||||||||
Preferred dividends | (2,576 | ) | — | — | — | (2,576 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ | 74,460 | 6,896 | 94,228 | (101,124 | ) | $ | 74,460 | ||||||||||||
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows | Non- | |||||||||||||||||||
For the Three Months Ended | guarantor | Consolidating | ||||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2007 | Platinum Holdings | Platinum Finance | Subsidiaries | Adjustments | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | (3,906 | ) | 577 | 122,875 | — | $ | 119,546 | ||||||||||||
Investing Activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from maturity or paydown of available-for-sale fixed maturities | — | 599 | 270,436 | — | 271,035 | |||||||||||||||
Acquisition of available-for-sale fixed maturities | — | — | (457,939 | ) | — | (457,939 | ) | |||||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of other invested asset | — | — | 4,745 | — | 4,745 | |||||||||||||||
Increase in short-term investments | — | — | 19,006 | — | 19,006 | |||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | — | 599 | (163,752 | ) | — | (163,153 | ) | |||||||||||||
Financing Activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders | (2,602 | ) | — | — | — | (2,602 | ) | |||||||||||||
Dividends paid to common shareholders | (4,784 | ) | — | — | — | (4,784 | ) | |||||||||||||
Proceeds from exercise of share options | 2,993 | — | — | — | 2,993 | |||||||||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (4,393 | ) | — | — | — | (4,393 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (8,299 | ) | 1,176 | (40,877 | ) | — | (48,000 | ) | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 106,039 | 39,294 | 706,319 | — | 851,652 | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 97,740 | 40,470 | 665,442 | — | $ | 803,652 | |||||||||||||
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Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows | Non- | |||||||||||||||||||
For the Three Months Ended | Platinum | Platinum | guarantor | Consolidating | ||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2006 | Holdings | Finance | Subsidiaries | Adjustments | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | (3,320 | ) | 5,621 | 184,655 | — | $ | 186,956 | ||||||||||||
Investing Activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale fixed maturities | — | — | 179,119 | — | 179,119 | |||||||||||||||
Proceeds from maturity or paydown of available-for-sale fixed maturities | — | 302 | 32,233 | — | 32,535 | |||||||||||||||
Acquisition of available-for-sale fixed maturities | — | (498 | ) | (571,703 | ) | — | (572,201 | ) | ||||||||||||
Increase in short-term investments | — | (554 | ) | (71,262 | ) | — | (71,816 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | — | (750 | ) | (431,613 | ) | — | (432,363 | ) | ||||||||||||
Financing Activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends paid to common shareholders | (4,733 | ) | — | — | — | (4,733 | ) | |||||||||||||
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders | (2,012 | ) | — | — | — | (2,012 | ) | |||||||||||||
Proceeds from exercise of share options | 1,436 | — | — | — | 1,436 | |||||||||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (5,309 | ) | — | — | — | (5,309 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (8,629 | ) | 4,871 | (246,958 | ) | — | (250,716 | ) | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 129,962 | 5,010 | 685,774 | — | 820,746 | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 121,333 | 9,881 | 438,816 | — | $ | 570,030 | |||||||||||||
7.Subsequent Event — Regulatory Approval of Plan to Cease Underwriting in the United Kingdom
During 2006 we expanded the scale and scope of Platinum Bermuda to become the principal carrier for our global catastrophe and financial lines reinsurance portfolios. After successfully renewing substantially all of the reinsurance business written by Platinum UK in Platinum Bermuda, we ceased underwriting reinsurance in Platinum UK in 2007. Platinum UK filed a Scheme of Operation with the U.K. Financial Services Authority (the “FSA”) in 2007 which outlined actions to be taken for its transformation to a non-underwriting operation and which requested permission for the return of a significant portion of its capital to Platinum Holdings. These actions include a 100% loss portfolio transfer of Platinum UK’s reinsurance business to Platinum Bermuda and a plan for the administration of inforce contracts and related claims. Subsequent to March 31, 2007, the FSA approved the Scheme of Operations and we plan to implement it and transfer a significant portion of the capital of Platinum UK to Platinum Holdings.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Business Overview
Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. (“Platinum Holdings”) is a Bermuda holding company organized in 2002. Platinum Holdings and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) operate through two licensed reinsurance subsidiaries: Platinum Underwriters Bermuda, Ltd. (“Platinum Bermuda”) and Platinum Underwriters Reinsurance, Inc. (“Platinum US”). The terms “we”, “us”, and “our” also refer to Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise indicates. We provide property and marine, casualty and finite risk reinsurance coverages, through reinsurance intermediaries, to a diverse clientele of insurers and select reinsurers on a worldwide basis. Through December 31, 2006 we also underwrote business in Platinum Re (UK) Ltd. (“Platinum UK”). In 2007 we ceased underwriting reinsurance business in Platinum UK.
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).
We write property and casualty reinsurance. Property reinsurance protects a ceding company against financial loss arising out of damage to the insured’s property or loss of its use caused by an insured peril. Property reinsurance protects against damage principally to buildings and their contents and may be in the form of catastrophe coverage or per-risk coverage. Catastrophe reinsurance coverage protects a ceding company against losses arising out of multiple claims for a single event while per-risk reinsurance coverage protects a ceding company against loss arising out of a single claim for a single risk or policy. We also write marine reinsurance which protects against financial loss arising out of damage to ships and cargo. Casualty reinsurance protects a ceding company against financial loss arising out of the insured’s obligation to others for loss or damage to their persons or property. Examples of casualty coverages are umbrella liability, general and product liability, professional liability, workers’ compensation, casualty clash, automobile liability, surety, trade credit, political risk and accident and health. Casualty reinsurance may also be in the form of catastrophe and per-risk contracts.
The property and casualty reinsurance industry is highly competitive. We compete with reinsurers worldwide, many of which have greater financial, marketing and management resources. Our competitors can vary by type of business. Large multi-national and multi-line reinsurers represent some of our competitors in all lines and classes, while other specialty reinsurance companies in the United States compete in selective lines. Financial institutions have also created alternative capital market products that compete with reinsurance products, such as reinsurance securitization. Bermuda-based reinsurers tend to be the significant competitors on property catastrophe business. Lloyd’s of London syndicates are significant competitors on marine business. For casualty and other international classes of business, the large U.S. and European reinsurers are significant competitors.
The reinsurance industry historically has been cyclical, characterized by periods of price competition due to excessive underwriting capacity as well as periods of favorable pricing due to shortages of underwriting capacity. Cyclical trends in the industry and the industry’s profitability can also be significantly affected by volatile developments, including natural and other catastrophes, such as hurricanes, windstorms, earthquakes, floods, fires, explosions and terrorist attacks, the frequency and severity of which are inherently difficult to predict. Property and casualty reinsurance rates often rise in
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the aftermath of significant catastrophe losses. To the extent that actual claim liabilities are higher than anticipated, the industry’s capacity to write new business diminishes. The industry is also affected by changes in the propensity of courts to expand insurance coverage and grant large liability awards, as well as fluctuations in interest rates, inflation and other changes in the economic environment that affect market prices of investments.
Results of Operations
Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 was as follows ($ in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | Decrease | ||||||||||
Net income | $ | 72,833 | 77,036 | $ | (4,203 | ) |
The decline in net income is primarily due to a decline in underwriting income of $13,964,000 partially offset by an increase in investment income of $8,184,000. Underwriting income consists of net premiums earned, less net losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”), net acquisition expenses and operating costs related to underwriting operations. The decline in underwriting income was primarily due to the estimated net adverse impact of $20,000,000 from European storm Kyrill in January 2007. Net favorable development, which includes the development of prior years’ unpaid losses and LAE and the related impact on premiums and commissions, contributed positively to underwriting income. Net favorable development was $13,895,000 in 2007 as compared with net unfavorable development of $1,245,000 in 2006. Net income in 2007 was also favorably affected by a decrease in income tax expense of $1,088,000.
Gross, ceded and net premiums written and earned for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows ($ in thousands):
Increase | ||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | (decrease) | ||||||||||
Gross premiums written | $ | 303,135 | 335,127 | $ | (31,992 | ) | ||||||
Ceded premiums written | 4,218 | 41,849 | (37,631 | ) | ||||||||
Net premiums written | 298,917 | 293,278 | 5,639 | |||||||||
Gross premiums earned | 292,023 | 363,212 | (71,189 | ) | ||||||||
Ceded premiums earned | 7,175 | 18,911 | (11,736 | ) | ||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | 284,848 | 344,301 | $ | (59,453 | ) | ||||||
The decrease in gross premiums written in 2007 as compared with 2006 was attributable to several items. Gross premiums written in the Property and Marine segment decreased as a result of the continued shift from proportional contracts to excess-of-loss contracts. Gross premiums written in the Casualty segment decreased reflecting fewer opportunities that met our underwriting standards. The decrease in ceded written premiums, which resulted in an increase in net premiums written, was attributable to the non-renewal of a quota share retrocession agreement effective January 1, 2006 (the “Property Quota Share Agreement”) under which Platinum US and Platinum UK ceded 30% of their new and renewal property catastrophe business effective on or after January 1, 2006 to a non-affiliated reinsurer. Net premiums written were also impacted by several additional items that had no impact on net earned premiums. The termination of a quota share contract in the Finite Risk segment effective January 1, 2006 on a cut-off basis resulted in the return of previously written but unearned premium of $56,589,000 in 2006. While this item resulted in an increase in net premiums written in 2007 as compared with 2006, it was offset by the effect of different methods for estimating premiums written by Platinum UK and Platinum Bermuda. Platinum UK estimated that the ultimate premium related to its
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reinsurance contracts were written at contract inception. Platinum Bermuda and Platinum US estimate premiums written on the basis that the policies underlying its reinsurance contracts incept at later periods throughout the term of the reinsurance contract. Consequently, the estimates of premiums written for reinsurance contracts written by Platinum UK in 2006 were higher at inception, and for the first calendar quarter, than for reinsurance contracts written by Platinum Bermuda and Platinum US. In 2007 Platinum UK ceased underwriting business and all business is now written by Platinum Bermuda and Platinum US. This difference in timing for estimates of written premium resulted in decreases in gross and net premiums written of approximately $58,700,000 and $48,000,000, respectively, in 2007 as compared with 2006. The basis for recording net premiums earned was consistent for all subsidiaries and, therefore, this difference had no impact on net premiums earned, underwriting income or net income.
Net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 was $51,699,000 and $43,515,000, respectively. Net investment income increased in 2007 as compared with 2006 due to increased invested assets as well as a slight increase in yields on invested assets. The increase in invested assets was attributable to positive net cash flows from operations in the twelve months since March 31, 2006. Net investment income includes interest earned on funds held of $1,705,000 and $2,353,000 in 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Other expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 was $780,000 and $1,317,000, respectively. Other expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007 includes $665,000 of net unrealized losses relating to changes in fair value of fixed maturities classified as trading and $115,000 of net expense on reinsurance contracts accounted for as deposits. Other expense for the three months ended March 31, 2006 includes $1,672,000 of net unrealized losses relating to fixed maturities classified as trading and $355,000 of net earnings on reinsurance contracts accounted for as deposits.
Net losses and LAE and the resulting net loss and LAE ratios for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 was as follows ($ in thousands):
Increase | ||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | (decrease) | ||||||||||
Net losses and LAE | $ | 181,913 | 206,774 | $ | (24,861 | ) | ||||||
Net loss and LAE ratios | 63.9 | % | 60.1 | % | 3.8 points |
The decrease in net losses and LAE was primarily due to the decrease in net premiums earned, partially offset by losses from European storm Kyrill in 2007. The increase in the net loss and LAE ratio is primarily due to losses from Kyrill of approximately $24,500,000, representing 8.6% of net premiums earned, as compared with no catastrophe losses in 2006. Net losses and LAE and the resulting net loss and LAE ratios were also impacted by net favorable loss development of $12,577,000, representing 4.4% of net premiums earned in 2007 and net unfavorable loss development of $4,359,000, representing 1.3% of net premiums earned in 2006. The net loss and LAE ratios were also affected by changes in the mix of business.
Net acquisition expenses and resulting net acquisition expense ratios for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows ($ in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | Decrease | ||||||||||
Net acquisition expenses | $ | 48,120 | 69,239 | $ | (21,119 | ) | ||||||
Net acquisition expense ratios | 16.9 | % | 20.1 | % | (3.2) points |
The decrease in net acquisition expenses in 2007 as compared with 2006 was primarily due to the decrease in net premiums earned. The decrease in the net acquisition expense ratio in 2007 as compared
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with 2006 was primarily due to the decrease in assumed proportional contracts with higher ceding commissions than the remaining business in the Property and Marine and Finite Risk segments as well changes in the mix of Casualty business toward contracts with higher loss and LAE ratios and lower acquisition expense ratios.
Operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were comparable at $23,206,000 and $22,988,000, respectively. Operating expenses include costs such as salaries, rent and like items related to reinsurance operations as well as costs associated with Platinum Holdings and its non-operating intermediate holding company subsidiaries.
Net foreign currency exchange gains for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were $42,000 and $275,000, respectively. We routinely transact business in various foreign currencies. Foreign currency exchange gains and losses result from the re-valuation into U.S. dollars of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. We periodically monitor our largest foreign currency exposures and purchase or sell foreign currency denominated invested assets to match these exposures. Net foreign currency exchange gains and losses arise as a result of fluctuations in the amounts of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies as well as fluctuations in the currency exchange rates.
Interest expense was $5,455,000 and $5,450,000, respectively for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006. The amounts are substantially the same as the debt outstanding and related interest rates for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were unchanged.
Income tax expense and the effective income tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows ($ in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | Decrease | ||||||||||
Income tax expense | $ | 4,264 | 5,352 | $ | (1,088 | ) | ||||||
Effective income tax rates | 5.5 | % | 6.5 | % | (1.0) points |
The decrease in income tax expense in 2007 as compared with 2006 was primarily due to a decline in income before income tax expense in 2007 as compared with 2006. The effective tax rate in any given year is based on income before income tax expense of our subsidiaries that operate in various jurisdictions each with its own corporate income tax rate. Platinum Holdings and Platinum Bermuda are not subject to corporate income tax. A higher percentage of income before income tax expense was generated by Platinum Holdings and Platinum Bermuda in 2007, which are not subject to corporate income tax. In 2007, the combined income before income tax expense derived from Platinum Holdings and Platinum Bermuda was approximately 81% of the total income before income tax expense as compared with 79% in 2006. The increasing percentage of income before income tax expense derived from Platinum Holdings and Platinum Bermuda is the result of our efforts to expand the scale and scope of Platinum Bermuda to become the principal carrier for our global catastrophe and financial lines reinsurance portfolios.
Segment Information
We conduct our worldwide reinsurance business through three operating segments: Property and Marine, Casualty and Finite Risk. In managing our operating segments, we use measures such as underwriting income and underwriting ratios to evaluate segment performance. We do not allocate by segment our assets or certain income and expenses such as investment income, interest expense and certain corporate expenses. Total underwriting income is reconciled to income before income tax expense. The measures we use in evaluating our operating segments should not be used as a substitute for
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measures determined under U.S. GAAP. The following table summarizes underwriting activity and ratios for the three operating segments for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 ($ in thousands):
Property | ||||||||||||||||
and Marine | Casualty | Finite Risk | Total | |||||||||||||
Three months ended March 31, 2007: | ||||||||||||||||
Net premiums written | $ | 137,654 | 152,183 | 9,080 | $ | 298,917 | ||||||||||
Net premiums earned | 119,710 | 154,019 | 11,119 | 284,848 | ||||||||||||
Net losses and LAE | 62,627 | 112,382 | 6,904 | 181,913 | ||||||||||||
Net acquisition expenses | 15,935 | 32,035 | 150 | 48,120 | ||||||||||||
Other underwriting expenses | 10,028 | 6,717 | 1,034 | 17,779 | ||||||||||||
Segment underwriting income | $ | 31,120 | 2,885 | 3,031 | 37,036 | |||||||||||
Net investment income | 51,699 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized losses on investments | (18 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net foreign currency exchange gains | 42 | |||||||||||||||
Other expense | (780 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Corporate expenses not allocated to segments | (5,427 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (5,455 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Income before income tax expense | $ | 77,097 | ||||||||||||||
Ratios: | ||||||||||||||||
Net loss and LAE | 52.3 | % | 73.0 | % | 62.1 | % | 63.9 | % | ||||||||
Net acquisition expense | 13.3 | % | 20.8 | % | 1.3 | % | 16.9 | % | ||||||||
Other underwriting expense | 8.4 | % | 4.4 | % | 9.3 | % | 6.2 | % | ||||||||
Combined | 74.0 | % | 98.2 | % | 72.7 | % | 87.0 | % | ||||||||
Three months ended March 31, 2006: | ||||||||||||||||
Net premiums written | $ | 165,264 | 182,350 | (54,336 | ) | $ | 293,278 | |||||||||
Net premiums earned | 131,544 | 173,668 | 39,089 | 344,301 | ||||||||||||
Net losses and LAE | 59,828 | 116,565 | 30,381 | 206,774 | ||||||||||||
Net acquisition expenses | 19,649 | 41,354 | 8,236 | 69,239 | ||||||||||||
Other underwriting expenses | 10,028 | 6,335 | 925 | 17,288 | ||||||||||||
Segment underwriting income (loss) | $ | 42,039 | 9,414 | (453 | ) | 51,000 | ||||||||||
Net investment income | 43,515 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized gains on investments | 65 | |||||||||||||||
Net foreign currency exchange gains | 275 | |||||||||||||||
Other expense | (1,317 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Corporate expenses not allocated to segments | (5,700 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (5,450 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Income before income tax expense | $ | 82,388 | ||||||||||||||
Ratios: | ||||||||||||||||
Net loss and LAE | 45.5 | % | 67.1 | % | 77.7 | % | 60.1 | % | ||||||||
Net acquisition expense | 14.9 | % | 23.8 | % | 21.1 | % | 20.1 | % | ||||||||
Other underwriting expense | 7.6 | % | 3.6 | % | 2.4 | % | 5.0 | % | ||||||||
Combined | 68.0 | % | 94.5 | % | 101.2 | % | 85.2 | % | ||||||||
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Property and Marine
The Property and Marine operating segment includes principally property (including crop) and marine reinsurance coverages that are written in the United States and international markets. This business includes property catastrophe excess-of-loss contracts, property per-risk excess-of-loss contracts and property proportional contracts. This operating segment represents 46.1% and 56.3% of our net premiums written for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Gross, ceded and net premiums written and earned for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows ($ in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | Decrease | ||||||||||
Gross premiums written | $ | 143,791 | 206,991 | $ | (63,200 | ) | ||||||
Ceded premiums written | 6,137 | 41,727 | (35,590 | ) | ||||||||
Net premiums written | 137,654 | 165,264 | (27,610 | ) | ||||||||
Gross premiums earned | 128,817 | 148,979 | (20,162 | ) | ||||||||
Ceded premiums earned | 9,107 | 17,435 | (8,328 | ) | ||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | 119,710 | 131,544 | $ | (11,834 | ) | ||||||
The decrease in gross premiums written in 2007 as compared with 2006 was due, in part, to different methods of estimating net premiums written between Platinum UK and Platinum Bermuda, which contributed approximately $49,200,000 to the decrease in gross premiums written, and to a decrease in property proportional business. Partially offsetting these decreases was an increase in property catastrophe excess business. The decline in ceded premiums written is attributable to the non-renewal of the Property Quota Share Agreement. The decrease in net premiums earned in 2007 as compared with 2006 was primarily due the shift of business from proportional contracts to excess-of-loss contracts.
Net losses and LAE and the resulting net loss and LAE ratios for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows ($ in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | Increase | ||||||||||
Net losses and LAE | $ | 62,627 | 59,828 | $ | 2,799 | |||||||
Net loss and LAE ratios | 52.3 | % | 45.5 | % | 6.8 points |
The increase in net losses and LAE and related ratios were primarily due to losses from European storm Kyrill in 2007 of approximately $24,500,000 as compared with no catastrophe losses in 2006, partially offset by the difference in net favorable loss development. Net favorable loss development was $8,195,000, representing 6.8% of net premiums earned in 2007 and net unfavorable loss development was $2,616,000, representing 2.0% of net premiums earned in 2006. Exclusive of Kyrill and net favorable loss development, the net loss and LAE ratio decreased by approximately five percentage points due to an increase in the proportion of catastrophe business which has a lower loss and LAE ratio than the remainder of the segment. The net loss and LAE ratios were also affected by other changes in the mix of business.
Net acquisition expenses and resulting net acquisition expense ratios for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows ($ in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | Decrease | ||||||||||
Net acquisition expenses | $ | 15,935 | 19,649 | $ | (3,714 | ) | ||||||
Net acquisition expense ratios | 13.3 | % | 14.9 | % | (1.6) points |
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The decrease in net acquisition expenses in 2007 as compared with 2006 was primarily due to the decrease in net premiums earned. The decrease in the net acquisition expense ratio is primarily due to a decrease in property proportional business and an increase in property catastrophe business which has a lower acquisition expense ratio than property proportional business. The net acquisition expense ratios were also impacted by changes in the mix of business.
Other underwriting expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were the same at $10,028,000.
Casualty
The Casualty operating segment principally includes reinsurance contracts that cover umbrella liability, general and product liability, professional liability, workers’ compensation, casualty clash, automobile liability, surety, trade credit political risk and accident and health. This operating segment represents 50.9% and 62.2% of our net premiums written for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Gross, ceded and net premiums written and earned for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows ($ in thousands):
Increase | ||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | (decrease) | ||||||||||
Gross premiums written | $ | 152,206 | 182,332 | $ | (30,126 | ) | ||||||
Ceded premiums written | 23 | (18 | ) | 41 | ||||||||
Net premiums written | 152,183 | 182,350 | (30,167 | ) | ||||||||
Gross premiums earned | 154,029 | 173,651 | (19,622 | ) | ||||||||
Ceded premiums earned | 10 | (17 | ) | 27 | ||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | 154,019 | 173,668 | $ | (19,649 | ) | ||||||
The decrease in net premiums written in 2007 as compared with 2006 was primarily due to decreases in business underwritten in 2006 across most North American casualty classes reflecting fewer opportunities that met our underwriting standards. The different methods of estimating net premiums written between Platinum UK and Platinum Bermuda also contributed approximately $8,777,000 to the decrease in net premiums written. Net premiums written and earned were also affected by changes in the mix of business and the structure of the underlying reinsurance contracts.
Net losses and LAE and the resulting net loss and LAE ratios for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows ($ in thousands):
Increase | ||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | (decrease) | ||||||||||
Net losses and LAE | $ | 112,382 | 116,565 | $ | (4,183 | ) | ||||||
Net loss and LAE ratios | 73.0 | % | 67.1 | % | 5.9 points |
The decrease in net losses and LAE in 2007 as compared with 2006 was primarily due to the decrease in net premiums earned, partially offset by an increase in the net loss and LAE ratio. The increase in the net loss and LAE ratio in 2007 as compared with 2006 was due to higher initial expected loss ratios in certain significant classes reflecting a decline in price adequacy. Net losses and LAE include net favorable loss development of approximately $1,397,000, representing 0.9% of net premiums earned in 2007 and approximately $902,000 of net favorable loss development, representing 0.5% of net
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premiums earned in 2006. The net loss and LAE ratio in 2007 was also affected by the changes in the mix of business within the segment toward contracts with higher loss and LAE ratios and lower acquisition expense ratios.
Net acquisition expenses and resulting net acquisition expense ratios for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows ($ in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | Decrease | ||||||||||
Net acquisition expenses | $ | 32,035 | 41,354 | $ | (9,319 | ) | ||||||
Net acquisition expense ratios | 20.8 | % | 23.8 | % | (3.0) points |
The decrease in net acquisition expenses in 2007 as compared with 2006 is due primarily to changes in the mix of business within the segment toward contracts with higher loss and LAE ratios and lower acquisition expense ratios. The net acquisition expense ratio was also favorably affected by reductions in adjustable commissions related to prior years’ loss development. Decreases in commissions related to prior years’ loss development were $2,190,000 in 2007, representing 1.4% of net premiums earned, as compared with $1,434,000 in 2006, representing 0.8% of net premiums earned.
Other underwriting expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were comparable at $6,717,000 and $6,335,000 respectively.
Finite Risk
The Finite Risk operating segment includes principally structured reinsurance contracts with ceding companies whose needs may not be met efficiently through traditional reinsurance products. In exchange for contractual features that limit our downside risk, reinsurance contracts that we classify as finite risk provide the potential for significant profit commission to the ceding company. The classes of risks underwritten through finite risk contracts are generally consistent with the classes covered by traditional products. The finite risk contracts that we underwrite generally provide prospective protection, meaning coverage is provided for losses that are incurred after inception of the contract, as contrasted with retrospective coverage, which covers losses that are incurred prior to inception of the contract. The three main categories of our finite risk contracts are quota share, multi-year excess-of-loss and whole account aggregate stop loss. Due to the often significant inverse relationship between losses and commissions for this segment, we believe it is important to evaluate the overall combined ratio, rather than its component parts of net loss and loss adjustment expense ratio and net acquisition expense ratio. The ongoing industry-wide investigations by legal and regulatory authorities into potential misuse of finite products have curtailed demand for finite risk products in 2007 and 2006. This operating segment represents 3.0% and (18.5%) of our net premiums written for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Gross, ceded and net premiums written and earned for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows ($ in thousands):
Increase | ||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | (decrease) | ||||||||||
Gross premiums written | $ | 7,138 | (54,196 | ) | $ | 61,334 | ||||||
Ceded premiums written | (1,942 | ) | 140 | (2,082 | ) | |||||||
Net premiums written | 9,080 | (54,336 | ) | 63,416 | ||||||||
Gross premiums earned | 9,177 | 40,582 | (31,405 | ) | ||||||||
Ceded premiums earned | (1,942 | ) | 1,493 | (3,435 | ) | |||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | 11,119 | 39,089 | $ | (27,970 | ) | ||||||
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The increase in net premiums written in 2007 as compared with 2006 was primarily attributable to the termination of a significant finite casualty proportional contract effective January 1, 2006 on a cut-off basis, which resulted in the return of $56,589,000 of previously written but unearned premium. The decrease in net premiums earned reflects the reduction in our finite business in 2006.
Net losses and LAE, net acquisition expenses and the resulting net loss and LAE and acquisition ratios for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows ($ in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | Decrease | ||||||||||
Net losses and LAE | $ | 6,904 | 30,381 | $ | (23,477 | ) | ||||||
Net loss and LAE ratios | 62.1 | % | 77.7 | % | (15.6) points | |||||||
Net acquisition expenses | $ | 150 | 8,236 | $ | (8,086 | ) | ||||||
Net acquisition expense ratios | 1.3 | % | 21.1 | % | (19.8) points | |||||||
Net losses, LAE and acquisition expenses | $ | 7,054 | 38,617 | $ | (31,563 | ) | ||||||
Net loss, LAE and acquisition expense ratios | 63.4 | % | 98.8 | % | (35.4) points |
The decrease in net losses, LAE and acquisition expenses in 2007 as compared with 2006 was primarily due to the decrease in net premiums earned. The decrease in the net loss, LAE and acquisition expense ratio was primarily due to the difference in net favorable development from prior years. Net favorable development was $2,688,000 in 2007, representing 24.2% of net premiums earned, as compared with net unfavorable development of approximately $2,186,000 in 2006, representing 5.6% of net premiums earned. Also contributing to the decrease in the net loss, LAE and acquisition ratio in 2007 was the termination of a significant finite casualty proportional contracts that had a higher combined ratio than the remainder of the Finite Risk portfolio.
Other underwriting expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were comparable at $1,034,000 and $925,000, respectively.
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
Financial Condition
Cash and cash equivalents and investments as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 were as follows ($ in thousands):
March 31, | December 31, | Increase | ||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | (decrease) | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 803,652 | 851,652 | $ | (48,000 | ) | ||||||
Fixed maturity securities | 3,552,313 | 3,334,645 | 217,668 | |||||||||
Preferred stocks | 10,839 | 10,772 | 67 | |||||||||
Short-term investments | 8,299 | 27,123 | (18,824 | ) | ||||||||
Other invested asset | — | 4,745 | (4,745 | ) | ||||||||
Total | $ | 4,375,103 | 4,228,937 | $ | 146,166 | |||||||
The net increase in total cash and cash equivalents and investments was due to positive net cash flows from operations in the three months ended March 31, 2007. Our available-for-sale and trading portfolios are composed primarily of diversified, high quality, predominantly publicly traded fixed maturity securities. Our investment portfolio, excluding cash and cash equivalents, had a weighted average duration of 2.6 years as of March 31, 2007. We maintain and periodically update our overall
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duration target for the portfolio and routinely monitor the composition of, and cash flows from, the portfolio to maintain liquidity necessary to meet our obligations.
Certain assets and liabilities associated with underwriting include significant estimates. Reinsurance premiums receivable, deferred acquisition costs, unpaid losses and LAE, unearned premiums and commissions payable all represent or include significant estimates. Reinsurance premiums receivable as of March 31, 2007 of $364,173,000 include $318,937,000 that is based upon estimates. Reinsurance premiums receivable as of December 31, 2006 of $377,183,000 include $315,243,000 that is based upon estimates. The decrease in reinsurance premiums receivable as of March 31, 2007 as compared with December 31, 2006 is due to the decrease in premiums written. An allowance for uncollectible reinsurance premiums is considered for possible non-payment of such amounts due, as deemed necessary. As of March 31, 2007, based on our historical experience, the general profile of our ceding companies and our ability, in most cases, to contractually offset reinsurance premiums receivable with losses and LAE or other amounts payable to the same parties, we did not establish an allowance for uncollectible reinsurance premiums receivable.
Gross unpaid losses and LAE as of March 31, 2007 of $2,411,319,000 include $1,686,290,000 of estimates of claims that are incurred but not reported (“IBNR”). Gross unpaid losses and LAE as of December 31, 2006 of $2,368,482 includes $1,648,635 of IBNR. Gross losses paid related to hurricane losses of 2005 during the three months ended March 31, 2007 were approximately $44,823,000.
Commissions payable as of March 31, 2007 of $134,749,000 include $118,353,000 that is based on premium estimates. Commissions payable as of December 31, 2006 of $140,835,000 include $124,906,000 that is based upon premium estimates. The decrease in commissions payable as of March 31, 2007 as compared with December 31, 2006 is due to the decrease in premiums written and is consistent with the decrease in reinsurance premiums receivable.
Sources of Liquidity
Our consolidated sources of funds consist primarily of premiums written, investment income, proceeds from sales and redemption of investments, losses recovered from retrocessionaires, issuance of securities and actual cash and cash equivalents held by us. Net cash flows provided by operations, excluding trading security activities, for the three months ended March 31, 2007 were $117,316,000.
Platinum Holdings is a holding company that conducts no reinsurance operations of its own. All of its reinsurance operations are conducted through its wholly owned operating subsidiaries: Platinum Bermuda and Platinum US. As a holding company, the cash flows of Platinum Holdings consist primarily of interest, dividends and other permissible payments from its subsidiaries and issuances of securities. Platinum Holdings depends on such payments for general corporate purposes and to meet its obligations, including the payment of dividends to its preferred and common shareholders.
In addition to the net cash flows generated from operations, the Company has an effective universal shelf registration statement whereby we may issue and sell, in one or more offerings, up to $750,000,000 of debt, equity and other types of securities or a combination of the above, including debt securities of Platinum Finance, unconditionally guaranteed by Platinum Holdings. This shelf registration statement had approximately $440,000,000 of remaining capacity as of March 31, 2007. The Company also has a five year, $400,000,000 credit facility with a syndicate of lenders available for revolving borrowings and letters of credit. The credit facility is generally available for our working capital, liquidity and general corporate requirements and those of our subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2007 this facility had $324,784,000 that was unused.
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Liquidity Requirements
Our principal consolidated cash requirements are the payment of losses and LAE, commissions, brokerage, operating expenses, dividends to our preferred and common shareholders, the servicing of debt, the acquisition of and investment in businesses, capital expenditures, purchase of retrocessional contracts and payment of taxes. The catastrophe losses of 2005 may result in a surge of loss payments over the next year that could adversely affect net cash flows from operations.
Platinum Bermuda and Platinum UK are not licensed, approved or accredited as reinsurers anywhere in the United States and, therefore, under the terms of most of their contracts with United States ceding companies, they are required to provide collateral to their ceding companies for unpaid ceded liabilities in a form acceptable to state insurance commissioners. Typically, this type of collateral takes the form of letters of credit issued by a bank, the establishment of a trust, or funds withheld. Platinum Bermuda and Platinum UK provide letters of credit through commercial banks and may be required to provide the banks with a security interest in certain investments of Platinum Bermuda and Platinum UK. Platinum Bermuda may provide letters of credit through the credit facility described above.
In 2002, we entered into several agreements with The Travelers Companies, Inc., formerly The St. Paul Companies, Inc. (“St. Paul”), for the transfer of continuing reinsurance business and certain related assets of St. Paul. Among these agreements are quota share retrocession agreements effective November 2, 2002 under which we assumed from St. Paul unearned premiums, unpaid losses and LAE and certain other liabilities on reinsurance contracts becoming effective in 2002 (the “Quota Share Retrocession Agreements”). Platinum US is obligated to collateralize the liabilities assumed from St. Paul under the Quota Share Retrocession Agreements. In addition, Platinum Bermuda and Platinum US have reinsurance and other contracts that also require them to provide collateral to ceding companies should certain events occur, such as a decline in the rating by A.M. Best Company, Inc. (“A.M. Best”) below specified levels or a decline in statutory equity below specified amounts, or the attainment of specified levels of assumed liabilities from certain ceding companies. Some reinsurance contracts also have special termination provisions that permit early termination should certain events occur.
We believe that the net cash flows generated by the operating activities of our subsidiaries in combination with cash and cash equivalents on hand will provide sufficient funds to meet our liquidity needs over the next twelve months. Beyond the next twelve months, cash flows available to us may be influenced by a variety of factors, including economic conditions in general and in the insurance and reinsurance markets, legal and regulatory changes as well as fluctuations from year to year in claims experience and the occurrence or absence of large catastrophic events. If our liquidity needs accelerate beyond our ability to fund such obligations from current operating cash flows, we may need to liquidate a portion of our investment portfolio, borrow under the credit facility described above or raise additional capital in the capital markets. Our ability to meet our liquidity needs by selling investments or raising additional capital is subject to the timing and pricing risks inherent in the capital markets.
Capital Resources
Platinum Holdings, Platinum Bermuda, Platinum US and Platinum UK do not have any material commitments for capital expenditures as of March 31, 2007.
Economic Conditions
Periods of moderate economic recession or inflation tend not to have a significant direct effect on our underwriting operations. Significant unexpected inflationary or recessionary periods can, however, impact our underwriting operations and investment portfolio. Management considers the potential impact of economic trends in the estimation process for establishing unpaid losses and LAE.
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Current Outlook
From January through April of 2007 approximately 65% of our business was up for renewal. We were able to modestly grow our net portfolio of business as terms and conditions improved in some lines of business and deteriorated in others.
For the Property and Marine segment, during 2007 we achieved average rate increases of over 20% on our U.S. property catastrophe excess renewal business while rates on our non-U.S. property catastrophe excess renewal business were approximately equal to expiring. In addition, we have achieved average rate increases of approximately 6% on our marine renewal business. Per risk excess rates were approximately equal to expiring in both our U.S. and non-U.S. renewal business.
During the first quarter of 2007 we wrote approximately 12% more U.S. catastrophe excess-of-loss premium than we did during the same period in 2006. We elected not to renew the collateralized Property Quota Share Agreement. As a consequence of reducing our use of retrocession and writing a larger gross portfolio of catastrophe excess-of-loss business in 2007, our net retained risk and potential profit has increased for 2007. For 2007 we plan to deploy capacity such that up to approximately 22.5% of our total capital could be exposed to an event with a probability of 1 in 250 years.
The lack of significant catastrophe activity in 2006 contributed to excellent financial results, stronger balance sheets and increased capacity for many reinsurers. In January 2007, there were a number of government initiatives in Florida designed to decrease insurance rates in the state. Of most significance to reinsurers was the large increase in the capacity of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”), a state-run reinsurer. We believe the increase in capacity of the FHCF and non-governmental reinsurers will cause downward pressure on windstorm catastrophe rates for the remainder of the 2007, particularly for Florida residential exposures. We believe that most other classes within the Property and Marine segment will also experience some rate deterioration for the remainder of 2007.
For the Casualty segment, although we believe that the market generally offers adequate returns, pricing has been softening. Ceding companies are willing to increase retentions and reinsurers are competing for participation on the best contracts. During 2007 rate changes by class of business have ranged from an increase of approximately 6% to a decrease of approximately 10%. The overall average was a decrease of approximately 2%, against a background of upward trending loss costs. As a result, we believe the business underwritten in 2007 will have a lower level of expected profitability as compared with the business underwritten in 2006.
During the first quarter of 2007 we wrote approximately 17% less casualty business than we did during the same period in 2006. We expect market conditions will continue to weaken through the remainder of 2007 and that fewer casualty opportunities will be attractive. We believe that financial security remains a significant concern for buyers of long-tailed reinsurance protection who typically seek reinsurers with strong balance sheets, quality ratings, and a proven claims-paying record. We believe that our rating, capitalization and reputation as a lead casualty reinsurer position us well to write profitable business as opportunities arise.
In the Finite Risk segment, we believe that the ongoing investigations by the SEC, the office of the Attorney General for the State of New York, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York as well as various non-U.S. regulatory authorities continues to reduce demand for limited risk transfer products. We believe we can deploy our human and financial capital more profitably in other lines of business. As a result, we are devoting fewer underwriting and pricing resources to this segment than in prior years. We expect the relatively low level of demand will continue during 2007. We expect to
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continue de-emphasizing this segment and instead focus our efforts on our Property and Marine and Casualty segments.
In 2006 we expanded the operations of Platinum Bermuda in order to make it our principal reinsurer of our global catastrophe and financial lines reinsurance portfolios. As part of this plan, we began to renew business previously written by Platinum UK in Platinum Bermuda. We also renewed certain property catastrophe contracts of Platinum US in Platinum Bermuda. After successfully renewing substantially all of the reinsurance business written by Platinum UK in Platinum Bermuda, we ceased underwriting reinsurance in Platinum UK in 2007.
Critical Accounting Estimates
It is important to understand our accounting estimates in order to understand our financial position and results of operations. We consider certain of these estimates to be critical to the presentation of the financial results since they require management to make estimates and valuation assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures. Certain of the estimates and assumptions result from judgments that are necessarily subjective and consequently actual results may materially differ from these estimates. Our critical accounting estimates include premiums written and earned, unpaid losses and LAE, valuation of investments and evaluation of risk transfer. For a detailed discussion of the Company’s critical accounting estimates please refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. There have been no material changes in the application of the Company’s critical accounting estimates subsequent to December 31, 2006.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market and Credit Risk
Our principal invested assets are fixed maturity securities, which are subject to the risk of potential losses from adverse changes in market rates and prices and credit risk resulting from adverse changes in the borrower’s ability to meet its debt service obligations. Our strategy to limit this risk is to place our investments in high quality credit issues and to limit the amount of credit exposure with respect to any one issuer or asset class. We also select investments with characteristics such as duration, yield, currency and liquidity to reflect, in the aggregate, the underlying characteristics of our unpaid losses and LAE. We attempt to minimize the credit risk by actively monitoring the portfolio and requiring a minimum average credit rating for our portfolio of A2 as defined by Moody’s Investor Service (“Moody’s”). As of March 31, 2007, the portfolio, excluding cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, had a dollar weighted average credit rating of Aa1 as defined by Moody’s.
We have other receivable amounts subject to credit risk. The most significant of these are reinsurance premiums receivable from ceding companies. We also have reinsurance recoverable amounts from our retrocessionaires. To mitigate credit risk related to premium receivables, we have established standards for ceding companies and, in most cases, have a contractual right of offset thereby allowing us to settle claims net of any premium receivable. To mitigate credit risk related to our reinsurance recoverable amounts, we consider the financial strength of our retrocessionaires when determining whether to purchase coverage from them. Retrocessional coverage is obtained from companies rated “A-” or better by A. M. Best or from retrocessionaires whose obligations are fully collateralized. The financial performance and rating status of all material retrocessionaires is routinely monitored.
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In accordance with industry practice, we frequently pay amounts in respect of claims under contracts to reinsurance brokers for payment over to the ceding companies. In the event that a broker fails to make such a payment, depending on the jurisdiction, we may remain liable to the ceding company for the payment. Conversely, in certain jurisdictions, when ceding companies remit premiums to reinsurance brokers, such premiums are deemed to have been paid to us and the ceding company is no longer liable to us for those amounts whether or not the funds are actually received by us. Consequently, we assume a degree of credit risk associated with our brokers during the premium and loss settlement process. To mitigate credit risk related to reinsurance brokers, we have established guidelines for brokers and intermediaries.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to fluctuations in interest rates. Movements in rates can result in changes in the market value of our fixed maturity portfolio and can cause changes in the actual timing of receipt of principal payments of certain securities. Rising interest rates result in a decrease in the market value of our fixed maturity portfolio and can expose our portfolio, in particular our mortgage-backed securities, to extension risk. Conversely, a decrease in interest rates will result in an increase in the market value of our fixed maturity portfolio and can expose our portfolio, in particular our mortgage-backed securities, to prepayment risk. An aggregate hypothetical impact on our fixed maturity portfolio, generated from an immediate parallel shift in the treasury yield curve, as of March 31, 2007 is as follows ($ in thousands):
Interest Rate Shift in Basis Points | ||||||||||||||||||||
- 100 bp | - 50 bp | Current | + 50 bp | + 100 bp | ||||||||||||||||
Total market value | $ | 3,640,775 | 3,597,665 | 3,552,313 | 3,504,496 | $ | 3,454,322 | |||||||||||||
Percent change in market value | 2.5 | % | 1.3 | % | — | (1.3 | %) | (2.8 | %) | |||||||||||
Resulting unrealized appreciation / (depreciation) | $ | 45,368 | 2,258 | (43,094 | ) | (90,911 | ) | $ | (141,085 | ) |
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We write business on a worldwide basis. Consequently, our principal exposure to foreign currency risk is the transaction of business in foreign currencies. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates can impact revenues, costs, receivables and liabilities, as measured in the U.S. dollar, our financial reporting currency. We seek to minimize our exposure to large foreign currency risks by holding invested assets denominated in foreign currencies to offset liabilities denominated in the same foreign currencies.
Sources of Fair Value
The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our financial instruments as of March 31, 2007 ($ in thousands):
Carrying | ||||||||
Amount | Fair Value | |||||||
Financial assets: | ||||||||
Fixed maturity securities | $ | 3,552,313 | $ | 3,552,313 | ||||
Preferred stocks | 10,839 | 10,839 | ||||||
Short-term investments | 8,299 | 8,299 | ||||||
Financial liabilities: | ||||||||
Debt obligations | $ | 292,840 | $ | 305,490 |
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The fair value of fixed maturity securities, preferred stocks and short-term investments are based on quoted market prices at the reporting date for those or similar investments.
Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and timely reported as specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
No changes occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2007 in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are subject to change. These uncertainties and contingencies can affect actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us.
In particular, statements using words such as “may,” “should,” “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “predict,” “potential,” or words of similar import generally involve forward-looking statements. For example, we have included certain forward-looking statements in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” with regard to trends in results, prices, volumes, operations, investment results, margins, risk management and exchange rates. This Form 10-Q also contains forward-looking statements with respect to our business and industry, such as those relating to our strategy and management objectives and trends in market conditions, market standing, product volumes, investment results and pricing conditions.
In light of the risks and uncertainties inherent in all future projections, the inclusion of forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q should not be considered as a representation by us or any other person that our objectives or plans will be achieved. Numerous factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, including the following:
(1) | significant weather-related or other natural or man-made disasters over which we have no control; | ||
(2) | the adequacy of our liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, including, but not limited to, losses from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma and the possibility that ultimate |
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losses and loss adjustment expenses from these hurricanes may prove to be materially different from estimates made to date; | |||
(3) | the effectiveness of our loss limitation methods and pricing models; | ||
(4) | our ability to maintain our A.M. Best Company, Inc. rating; | ||
(5) | conducting operations in a competitive environment; | ||
(6) | the cyclicality of the property and casualty reinsurance business; | ||
(7) | tax, regulatory or legal restrictions or limitations applicable to us or the property and casualty reinsurance business generally; | ||
(8) | our ability to maintain our business relationships with reinsurance brokers; | ||
(9) | the availability of retrocessional reinsurance on acceptable terms; | ||
(10) | market volatility and interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuation; | ||
(11) | general political and economic conditions, including the effects of civil unrest, acts of terrorism, war or a prolonged U.S. or global economic downturn or recession; and | ||
(12) | changes in our plans, strategies, objectives, expectations or intentions, which may happen at any time at our discretion. |
As a consequence, current plans, anticipated actions and future financial condition and results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of us. The foregoing factors, which are discussed in more detail in Item 1A – “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, should not be construed as exhaustive. Additionally, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of any future revisions or updates we may make to forward-looking statements to reflect new information or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of future events.
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibit | ||
Number | Description | |
10.1 | Addendum No. 1 to the Excess of Loss Retrocession Agreement by and between Platinum Underwriters Bermuda, Ltd. and Platinum Underwriters Reinsurance, Inc. dated as of April 1, 2006 | |
10.2 | First Amendment and Waiver to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | |
31.1 | Certification of Michael D. Price, Chief Executive Officer of Platinum Holdings, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act. | |
31.2 | Certification of Joseph F. Fisher, Chief Financial Officer of Platinum Holdings, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act. | |
32.1 | Certification of Michael D. Price, Chief Executive Officer of Platinum Holdings, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
32.2 | Certification of Joseph F. Fisher, Chief Financial Officer of Platinum Holdings, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd | ||||
Date: April 27, 2007 | /s/Michael D. Price | |||
By: Michael D. Price | ||||
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||
(Principal Executive Officer) | ||||
Date: April 27, 2007 | /s/ Joseph F. Fisher | |||
By: Joseph F. Fisher | ||||
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||
(Principal Financial Officer) | ||||
Date: April 27, 2007 | /s/ James A. Krantz | |||
By: James A. Krantz | ||||
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | ||||
(Principal Accounting Officer) |
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