UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x | Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the period ended March 31, 2012, or |
¨ | Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
Commission file number 1-31599
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| | |
Bermuda | | 98-0392908 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
Wellesley House
90 Pitts Bay Road
Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices, including postal code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (441) 278-0400
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 periods that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
| | | | | | |
Large accelerated filer | | x | | Accelerated filer | | ¨ |
| | | |
Non-accelerated filer | | ¨ | | Smaller reporting company | | ¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
| | | | |
Description of Class | | Common Shares Outstanding as of May 1, 2012 | |
Ordinary Shares - $1.00 par value | | | 43,386,998 | |
INDEX
1
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands of United States dollars except share amounts)
| | | | | | | | |
| | MARCH 31, 2012 | | | DECEMBER 31, 2011 | |
| | (UNAUDITED) | | | | |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Investments | | | | | | | | |
Fixed maturity investments, available for sale at fair value (amortized cost: $4,989,330 and $4,700,989 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) | | $ | 5,131,035 | | | $ | 4,831,966 | |
Short-term investments, available for sale at fair value (amortized cost: $54,920 and $67,803 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) | | | 54,919 | | | | 67,802 | |
Equity securities, available for sale at fair value (cost: $60,380 and $56,381 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) | | | 67,238 | | | | 59,767 | |
Other investments | | | 432,428 | | | | 432,658 | |
Total investments | | | 5,685,620 | | | | 5,392,193 | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | 679,634 | | | | 890,914 | |
Premiums receivable, net | | | 1,284,026 | | | | 636,727 | |
Deferred acquisition costs | | | 191,690 | | | | 166,049 | |
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | | | 280,094 | | | | 149,670 | |
Losses recoverable | | | 497,522 | | | | 666,928 | |
Accrued investment income | | | 25,669 | | | | 29,708 | |
Goodwill and intangible assets | | | 179,051 | | | | 181,828 | |
Deferred tax asset | | | 34,802 | | | | 33,355 | |
Net receivable on sales of investments | | | 33,969 | | | | 77,821 | |
Other assets | | | 76,751 | | | | 67,422 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total assets | | $ | 8,968,828 | | | $ | 8,292,615 | |
| | | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | | | | | |
Reserve for losses and loss expenses | | $ | 3,760,829 | | | $ | 3,824,224 | |
Reserve for unearned premiums | | | 1,494,324 | | | | 932,108 | |
Deposit liabilities | | | 26,950 | | | | 26,887 | |
Reinsurance balances payable | | | 293,726 | | | | 189,488 | |
Debt | | | 527,180 | | | | 528,118 | |
Net payable on purchases of investments | | | 65,385 | | | | 55,243 | |
Other liabilities | | | 115,896 | | | | 125,382 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 6,284,290 | | | | 5,681,450 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Commitments and contingent liabilities | | | | | | | | |
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | | | | | | |
Preferred shares | | | | | | | | |
Series A and B, total liquidation preference $430,000 (2011 - $430,000) | | | 17,200 | | | | 17,200 | |
Common shares | | | | | | | | |
Ordinary - 43,386,903 issued and outstanding (2011 - 43,086,834) | | | 43,387 | | | | 43,087 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 528,677 | | | | 526,910 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | | | 140,795 | | | | 130,392 | |
Retained earnings | | | 1,954,479 | | | | 1,893,576 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total shareholders’ equity | | | 2,684,538 | | | | 2,611,165 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | $ | 8,968,828 | | | $ | 8,292,615 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
2
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In thousands of United States dollars, except share and per share amounts)
| | | | | | | | |
| | THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Revenues | | | | | | | | |
Gross premiums written | | $ | 1,061,649 | | | $ | 1,000,358 | |
Ceded premiums written | | | (218,593 | ) | | | (201,486 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net premiums written | | | 843,056 | | | | 798,872 | |
Change in unearned premiums | | | (431,421 | ) | | | (416,039 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net premiums earned | | | 411,635 | | | | 382,833 | |
Net investment income | | | 57,075 | | | | 52,501 | |
Net realized and unrealized investment gains | | | 5,203 | | | | 3,775 | |
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses | | | — | | | | (1,256 | ) |
Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) | | | (219 | ) | | | (391 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings (losses) | | | (219 | ) | | | (1,647 | ) |
Other underwriting loss | | | (335 | ) | | | (1,069 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total revenues | | | 473,359 | | | | 436,393 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | |
Net losses and loss expenses | | | 262,767 | | | | 401,853 | |
Acquisition expenses | | | 68,489 | | | | 65,618 | |
General and administrative expenses | | | 66,041 | | | | 65,961 | |
Amortization of intangibles | | | 2,777 | | | | 2,798 | |
Net foreign exchange gains | | | (18,137 | ) | | | (6,918 | ) |
Interest expense | | | 9,047 | | | | 9,054 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total expenses | | | 390,984 | | | | 538,366 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Income (loss) before income taxes | | | 82,375 | | | | (101,973 | ) |
Income tax benefit | | | 167 | | | | 14,556 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss) | | | 82,542 | | | | (87,417 | ) |
Preferred dividends | | | (8,188 | ) | | | (3,875 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss) available (attributable) to common and participating common shareholders | | $ | 74,354 | | | $ | (91,292 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Comprehensive income (loss) | | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss) | | $ | 82,542 | | | $ | (87,417 | ) |
Other comprehensive income (loss) | | | | | | | | |
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on investments arising during the period (net of applicable deferred income taxes of $1,242 and $1,086 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively) | | | 15,470 | | | | (3,419 | ) |
Portion of other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) (net of applicable deferred taxes of $12 and nil for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively) | | | 207 | | | | 391 | |
Foreign currency translation adjustments | | | (540 | ) | | | 2,663 | |
Reclassification adjustment for net realized gains included in net income (loss) | | | (4,756 | ) | | | (5,422 | ) |
Reclassification adjustment for net losses on derivative designated as cash flow hedge included in net income (loss) | | | 22 | | | | 22 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive income (loss) | | | 10,403 | | | | (5,765 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Comprehensive income (loss) | | $ | 92,945 | | | $ | (93,182 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Per share data | | | | | | | | |
Basic earnings (losses) per common share | | $ | 1.72 | | | $ | (2.25 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Diluted earnings (losses) per common share | | $ | 1.72 | | | $ | (2.25 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Dividend per common share | | $ | 0.31 | | | $ | 0.30 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands of United States dollars)
| | | | | | | | |
| | THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Preferred shares | | | | | | | | |
Balance, beginning and end of period | | $ | 17,200 | | | $ | 8,000 | |
Common shares | | | | | | | | |
Balance, beginning of period | | | 43,087 | | | | 47,218 | |
Issuance of common shares | | | 300 | | | | 598 | |
Repurchase of common shares | | | — | | | | (7,491 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Balance, end of period | | | 43,387 | | | | 40,325 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | | | | | | |
Balance, beginning of period | | | 526,910 | | | | 613,915 | |
Issuance of common shares | | | 179 | | | | 9,631 | |
Repurchase of common shares and share equivalents | | | — | | | | (333,313 | ) |
Settlement of equity awards | | | (3,407 | ) | | | (4,927 | ) |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | 4,995 | | | | 4,614 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Balance, end of period | | | 528,677 | | | | 289,920 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | | | | | | | | |
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments: | | | | | | | | |
Balance, beginning of period | | | 9,609 | | | | 10,877 | |
Foreign currency translation adjustments | | | (540 | ) | | | 2,663 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Balance, end of period | | | 9,069 | | | | 13,540 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Unrealized holding gains on investments, net of deferred taxes: | | | | | | | | |
Balance, beginning of period | | | 122,815 | | | | 109,656 | |
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period, net of reclassification adjustment | | | 10,714 | | | | (8,841 | ) |
Other-than-temporary impairment losses during the period | | | 207 | | | | 391 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Balance, end of period | | | 133,736 | | | | 101,206 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Accumulated derivative loss on cash flow hedging instruments: | | | | | | | | |
Balance, beginning of period | | | (2,032 | ) | | | (2,120 | ) |
Net change from current period hedging transactions, net of reclassification adjustment | | | 22 | | | | 22 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Balance, end of period | | | (2,010 | ) | | | (2,098 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total accumulated other comprehensive income | | | 140,795 | | | | 112,648 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Retained earnings | | | | | | | | |
Balance, beginning of period | | | 1,893,576 | | | | 2,060,607 | |
Net income (loss) | | | 82,542 | | | | (87,417 | ) |
Dividends on preferred shares | | | (8,188 | ) | | | (3,875 | ) |
Dividends on common shares | | | (13,451 | ) | | | (11,944 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Balance, end of period | | | 1,954,479 | | | | 1,957,371 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total shareholders’ equity | | $ | 2,684,538 | | | $ | 2,408,264 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands of United States dollars)
| | | | | | | | |
| | THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Cash flows provided by operating activities | | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss) | | $ | 82,542 | | | $ | (87,417 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | | | |
Amortization of net premium on investments | | | 5,147 | | | | 4,224 | |
Amortization of other intangibles and depreciation | | | 6,015 | | | | 5,538 | |
Net realized gains on investment sales | | | (5,203 | ) | | | (3,685 | ) |
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings | | | 219 | | | | 1,647 | |
Deferred taxes | | | (2,043 | ) | | | (17,190 | ) |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | 4,995 | | | | 4,614 | |
Equity in earnings of other investments | | | (23,125 | ) | | | (13,757 | ) |
Premiums receivable, net | | | (647,299 | ) | | | (221,520 | ) |
Deferred acquisition costs | | | (25,641 | ) | | | (24,002 | ) |
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | | | (130,424 | ) | | | (140,298 | ) |
Losses recoverable | | | 169,406 | | | | (21,559 | ) |
Accrued investment income | | | 4,039 | | | | 3,772 | |
Other assets | | | 3,921 | | | | 997 | |
Reserve for losses and loss expenses | | | (63,395 | ) | | | 246,271 | |
Reserve for unearned premiums | | | 562,216 | | | | 556,456 | |
Deposit liabilities | | | 63 | | | | 263 | |
Reinsurance balances payable | | | 104,238 | | | | (86,087 | ) |
Other liabilities | | | (20,766 | ) | | | (26,985 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | | 24,905 | | | | 181,282 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash flows (used in) provided by investing activities | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from sales of available for sale investments | | | 833,334 | | | | 1,017,204 | |
Proceeds from maturities and calls on available for sale investments | | | 230,186 | | | | 270,032 | |
Proceeds from the redemption of other investments | | | 25,031 | | | | — | |
Purchases of available for sale investments | | | (1,285,594 | ) | | | (1,143,328 | ) |
Purchases of other investments | | | (1,676 | ) | | | (11,041 | ) |
Net settlements of other assets | | | (7,315 | ) | | | (361 | ) |
Purchases of fixed assets | | | (4,257 | ) | | | (1,731 | ) |
Change in securities lending collateral received | | | — | | | | (12,771 | ) |
Net cash paid for subsidiary acquisition | | | (45 | ) | | | (2,815 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | | | (210,336 | ) | | | 115,189 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash flows used in financing activities | | | | | | | | |
Issuance of common shares | | | 436 | | | | 10,176 | |
Repurchase of common shares | | | — | | | | (344,272 | ) |
Change in securities lending payable | | | — | | | | 12,771 | |
Settlement of equity awards | | | (3,407 | ) | | | (4,927 | ) |
Proceeds from issuance of debt | | | 364 | | | | 299 | |
Repayments of debt | | | (1,516 | ) | | | (184 | ) |
Dividends on preferred shares | | | (8,188 | ) | | | (3,875 | ) |
Dividends on common shares | | | (13,447 | ) | | | (11,931 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net cash flows used in financing activities | | | (25,758 | ) | | | (341,943 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | | | (91 | ) | | | 4,390 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | | | (211,280 | ) | | | (41,082 | ) |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | | | 890,914 | | | | 609,852 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | | $ | 679,634 | | | $ | 568,770 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. (“Endurance Holdings”) was organized as a Bermuda holding company on June 27, 2002. Endurance Holdings writes specialty lines of insurance and reinsurance on a global basis through its wholly-owned operating subsidiaries:
| | |
Operating Subsidiaries | | Domicile |
Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd. | | Bermuda |
Endurance Worldwide Insurance Limited | | England |
Endurance Reinsurance Corporation of America | | Delaware |
Endurance American Insurance Company | | Delaware |
Endurance American Specialty Insurance Company | | Delaware |
Endurance Risk Solutions Assurance Co. | | Delaware |
American Agri-Business Insurance Company | | Texas |
2. | Summary of significant accounting policies |
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Endurance Holdings and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated on consolidation. Management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Among other matters, significant estimates and assumptions are used to record premiums written and ceded, and to record reserves for losses and loss expenses and contingencies. Estimates and assumptions are periodically reviewed and the effects of revisions are recorded in the consolidated financial statements in the period that they are determined to be necessary.
The balance sheet at December 31, 2011 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2011 contained in Endurance Holdings’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 (the “2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K”).
Certain comparative information has been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. The Company identified immaterial mis-classifications of certain tax and foreign exchange effects on the Company’s investment portfolio in the 2008 and 2009 financial statements. The Company reclassified these tax and foreign exchange effects on the investment portfolio between accumulated other comprehensive income and retained earnings within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for the year ended December 31, 2011. The reclassifications had no impact on earnings or total shareholders’ equity for the year ended December 31, 2011.
6
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
2. | Summary of significant accounting policies, cont’d. |
There were no material changes in the Company’s significant accounting and reporting policies subsequent to the 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
In October 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2010-26, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts”, (“ASU 2010-26”) which modifies the definition of the types of costs incurred by insurance entities that can be capitalized in the acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts. The amended guidance specifies that certain costs incurred in the successful acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts should be capitalized. Those costs include incremental direct costs of contract acquisition that result directly from and are essential to the contract transaction and would not have been incurred had the contract transaction not occurred. All other acquisition-related costs, such as costs incurred for soliciting business, administration, and unsuccessful acquisition or renewal efforts should be charged to expense as incurred. Administrative costs, including rent, depreciation, occupancy, equipment, and all other general overhead costs are considered indirect costs and should also be charged to expense as incurred. ASU 2010-26 was effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011 with prospective or retrospective application permitted. The Company adopted this standard prospectively on January 1, 2012. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs” (“ASU 2011-04”). ASU 2011-4 amends Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement” (“ASC 820”) to change several requirements for measuring fair value and disclosing information about fair value measurements. Among the more significant changes, ASU 2011-04 amends ASC 820 to clarify certain existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements as follows:
| • | | The “highest-and-best-use” and “valuation-premise” concepts only apply to measuring the fair value of nonfinancial assets. The previous guidance permitted the application of these concepts to financial assets and liabilities. |
| • | | A reporting entity is required to measure the fair value of its own equity instruments from the perspective of a market participant that holds that instrument as an asset. |
| • | | Reporting entities are required to disclose quantitative information about inputs used in estimating Level 3 fair value measurements. |
ASU 2011-04 was effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption prohibited. The Company adopted this standard prospectively on January 1, 2012. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income” (“ASU 2011-05”). ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option in current GAAP to permit the presentation of other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in shareholders’ equity. The remaining two options are:
| • | | A single continuous statement of net income and comprehensive income; or |
| • | | Two separate, but consecutive, statements of net income and other comprehensive income |
ASU 2011-05 is effective for interim and annual periods ending on or after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted and full retrospective application is required. The Company adopted this standard retrospectively on January 1, 2012. This standard did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
7
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
2. | Summary of significant accounting policies, cont’d. |
In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment” (“ASU 2011-08”). Under ASU 2011-08, an entity has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, an entity determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing any further testing is unnecessary. In addition, an entity has the option to bypass the qualitative assessment for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to performing the first step of the two-step goodwill impairment test.
ASU 2011-08 will be effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this standard prospectively on January 1, 2012. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Composition of Net Investment Income and of Invested Assets
The components of net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Available for sale investments | | $ | 36,982 | | | $ | 42,186 | |
Other investments | | | 23,125 | | | | 13,757 | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | 340 | | | | 190 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 60,447 | | | $ | 56,133 | |
Investment expenses | | | (3,372 | ) | | | (3,632 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 57,075 | | | $ | 52,501 | |
| | | | | | | | |
The following table summarizes the composition of the investment portfolio by investment type at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | March 31, 2012 | | | December 31, 2011 | |
Type of Investment | | Fair Value | | | Percentage | | | Fair Value | | | Percentage | |
Fixed maturity securities | | $ | 5,131,035 | | | | 81.0 | % | | $ | 4,831,966 | | | | 76.6 | % |
Cash and cash equivalents (1) | | | 648,218 | | | | 10.2 | % | | | 913,492 | | | | 14.5 | % |
Other investments (2) | | | 432,428 | | | | 6.8 | % | | | 432,658 | | | | 6.9 | % |
Short term investments | | | 54,919 | | | | 0.9 | % | | | 67,802 | | | | 1.1 | % |
Equity securities | | | 67,238 | | | | 1.1 | % | | | 59,767 | | | | 0.9 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 6,333,838 | | | | 100.0 | % | | $ | 6,305,685 | | | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (1) | Includes net receivable on sales of investments and net payable on purchases of investments. |
| (2) | Consists of investments in alternative funds and specialty funds. |
8
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
The following table summarizes the composition of the fixed income investment portion of the portfolio, which includes fixed maturity securities and short term investments, by investment ratings assigned by rating agencies at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. In some cases, where bonds are unrated, the rating of the issuer has been applied.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | March 31, 2012 | | | December 31, 2011 | |
Ratings(1) | | Fair Value | | | Percentage | | | Fair Value | | | Percentage | |
U.S. government and agencies securities | | $ | 1,404,450 | | | | 27.1 | % | | $ | 1,269,123 | | | | 25.9 | % |
AAA / Aaa | | | 943,495 | | | | 18.2 | % | | | 941,500 | | | | 19.2 | % |
AA / Aa | | | 1,669,700 | | | | 32.1 | % | | | 1,665,593 | | | | 34.0 | % |
A / A | | | 910,353 | | | | 17.6 | % | | | 776,251 | | | | 15.8 | % |
BBB | | | 138,423 | | | | 2.7 | % | | | 130,864 | | | | 2.7 | % |
Below BBB | | | 117,797 | | | | 2.3 | % | | | 114,716 | | | | 2.3 | % |
Not rated | | | 1,736 | | | | — | % | | | 1,721 | | | | 0.1 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 5,185,954 | | | | 100.0 | % | | $ | 4,899,768 | | | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (1) | The credit rating for each asset reflected above was determined based on the rating assigned to the individual security by Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC (“Standard & Poor’s”). If a rating is not supplied by Standard & Poor's, the equivalent rating supplied by either Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch Ratings is used. |
Contractual maturities of the fixed income portfolio are shown below as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | March 31, 2012 | | | December 31, 2011 | |
| | Amortized Cost | | | Fair Value | | | Amortized Cost | | | Fair Value | |
Due within one year | | $ | 448,722 | | | $ | 451,886 | | | $ | 517,156 | | | $ | 520,755 | |
Due after one year through five years | | | 1,967,167 | | | | 2,013,795 | | | | 1,732,335 | | | | 1,773,553 | |
Due after five years through ten years | | | 595,678 | | | | 619,751 | | | | 584,107 | | | | 612,052 | |
Due after ten years | | | 59,777 | | | | 64,085 | | | | 45,837 | | | | 50,803 | |
Residential mortgage-backed securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 956,734 | | | | 987,037 | | | | 933,479 | | | | 965,019 | |
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 105,898 | | | | 102,561 | | | | 119,599 | | | | 114,662 | |
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 23,554 | | | | 24,023 | | | | 28,257 | | | | 28,807 | |
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 517,617 | | | | 551,877 | | | | 491,810 | | | | 518,483 | |
Asset-backed securities | | | 369,103 | | | | 370,939 | | | | 316,212 | | | | 315,634 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 5,044,250 | | | $ | 5,185,954 | | | $ | 4,768,792 | | | $ | 4,899,768 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In addition to the Company’s available for sale investments, the Company invests in (i) hedge funds and private equity funds that generally invest in senior secured bank debt, high yield debt securities, distressed debt, distressed real estate, derivatives and equity long/short strategies (“alternative funds”) and (ii) high yield loan and convertible debt funds (“specialty funds”). The Company’s alternative funds and specialty funds are recorded on the Company’s balance sheet as “Other Investments.” At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had invested, net of capital returned, a total of $313.0 million and $336.3 million, respectively, in Other Investments. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the carrying value of Other Investments was $432.4 million and $432.7 million, respectively. Certain of Other Investments are subject to redemption restriction provisions (see Note 9).
9
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
Net Realized and Unrealized Investment Gains
Realized and unrealized investment gains and losses are recognized in earnings using the first in and first out method. The analysis of net realized and unrealized investment gains for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Gross realized gains on investment sales | | $ | 7,248 | | | $ | 11,573 | |
Gross realized losses on investment sales | | | (2,347 | ) | | | (7,708 | ) |
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments(1) | | | 302 | | | | (90 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net realized and unrealized investment gains | | $ | 5,203 | | | $ | 3,775 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Unrealized Gains and Losses and Other-than-temporary Impairments
The amortized cost, fair value and related gross unrealized gains and losses and non-credit other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses on the Company’s securities classified as available for sale at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Amortized Cost | | | Gross Unrealized Gains | | | Gross Unrealized Losses | | | Fair Value | | | Non-Credit OTTI(2) | |
March 31, 2012 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. government and agencies securities | | $ | 1,367,664 | | | $ | 38,046 | | | $ | (1,260 | ) | | $ | 1,404,450 | | | $ | — | |
U.S. state and municipal securities | | | 48,755 | | | | 1,457 | | | | — | | | | 50,212 | | | | — | |
Foreign government securities | | | 115,308 | | | | 1,700 | | | | (61 | ) | | | 116,947 | | | | — | |
Government guaranteed corporate securities | | | 251,486 | | | | 2,174 | | | | (151 | ) | | | 253,509 | | | | — | |
Corporate securities | | | 1,233,211 | | | | 38,974 | | | | (2,705 | ) | | | 1,269,480 | | | | — | |
Residential mortgage-backed securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 956,734 | | | | 30,658 | | | | (355 | ) | | | 987,037 | | | | — | |
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 105,898 | | | | 874 | | | | (4,211 | ) | | | 102,561 | | | | (7,341 | ) |
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 23,554 | | | | 469 | | | | — | | | | 24,023 | | | | — | |
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities(1) | | | 517,617 | | | | 36,548 | | | | (2,288 | ) | | | 551,877 | | | | (70 | ) |
Asset-backed securities | | | 369,103 | | | | 3,564 | | | | (1,728 | ) | | | 370,939 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total fixed maturity investments | | $ | 4,989,330 | | | $ | 154,464 | | | $ | (12,759 | ) | | $ | 5,131,035 | | | $ | (7,411 | ) |
Short term investments | | | 54,920 | | | | 1 | | | | (2 | ) | | | 54,919 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total fixed income investments | | $ | 5,044,250 | | | $ | 154,465 | | | $ | (12,761 | ) | | $ | 5,185,954 | | | $ | (7,411 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities | | $ | 60,380 | | | $ | 7,186 | | | $ | (328 | ) | | $ | 67,238 | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | Balances include amounts related to collateralized debt obligations held with total fair values of $29.7 million. |
(2) | Represents total OTTI recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income. It does not include the change in fair value subsequent to the impairment measurement date. At March 31, 2012, the gross unrealized loss related to fixed income investments for which a non-credit OTTI was recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income was $2.2 million. |
10
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Amortized Cost | | | Gross Unrealized Gains | | | Gross Unrealized Losses | | | Fair Value | | | Non-Credit OTTI(2) | |
December 31, 2011 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. government and agencies securities | | $ | 1,218,069 | | | $ | 51,140 | | | $ | (86 | ) | | $ | 1,269,123 | | | $ | — | |
U.S. state and municipal securities | | | 52,274 | | | | 1,262 | | | | (19 | ) | | | 53,517 | | | | — | |
Foreign government securities | | | 73,361 | | | | 1,820 | | | | (184 | ) | | | 74,997 | | | | — | |
Government guaranteed corporate securities | | | 349,447 | | | | 2,531 | | | | (153 | ) | | | 351,825 | | | | — | |
Corporate securities | | | 1,118,481 | | | | 31,526 | | | | (10,108 | ) | | | 1,139,899 | | | | — | |
Residential mortgage-backed securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 933,479 | | | | 31,884 | | | | (344 | ) | | | 965,019 | | | | — | |
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 119,599 | | | | 1,366 | | | | (6,303 | ) | | | 114,662 | | | | (7,932 | ) |
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 28,257 | | | | 552 | | | | (2 | ) | | | 28,807 | | | | — | |
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities (1) | | | 491,810 | | | | 29,741 | | | | (3,068 | ) | | | 518,483 | | | | (75 | ) |
Asset-backed securities | | | 316,212 | | | | 2,336 | | | | (2,914 | ) | | | 315,634 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total fixed maturity investments | | $ | 4,700,989 | | | $ | 154,158 | | | $ | (23,181 | ) | | $ | 4,831,966 | | | $ | (8,007 | ) |
Short term investments | | | 67,803 | | | | 4 | | | | (5 | ) | | | 67,802 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total fixed income investments | | $ | 4,768,792 | | | $ | 154,162 | | | $ | (23,186 | ) | | $ | 4,899,768 | | | $ | (8,007 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities | | $ | 56,381 | | | $ | 4,162 | | | $ | (776 | ) | | $ | 59,767 | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | Balances include amounts related to collateralized debt obligations held with total fair values of $17.2 million. |
(2) | Represents total OTTI recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income. It does not include the change in fair value subsequent to the impairment measurement date. At December 31, 2011, the gross unrealized loss related to fixed income investments for which a non-credit OTTI was recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income was $1.5 million. |
11
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
The following tables summarize, for all available for sale securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time the security has continuously been in an unrealized loss position.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Less than 12 months | | | 12 months or greater | | | Total | |
| | Unrealized Losses(1) | | | Fair Value | | | Unrealized Losses(1) | | | Fair Value | | | Unrealized Losses(1) | | | Fair Value | |
March 31, 2012 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. government and agencies securities | | $ | (1,260 | ) | | $ | 372,919 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | (1,260 | ) | | $ | 372,919 | |
U.S. state and municipal securities | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Foreign government securities | | | (17 | ) | | | 8,745 | | | | (44 | ) | | | 4,727 | | | | (61 | ) | | | 13,472 | |
Government guaranteed corporate securities | | | — | | | | — | | | | (151 | ) | | | 2,235 | | | | (151 | ) | | | 2,235 | |
Corporate securities | | | (2,651 | ) | | | 211,455 | | | | (54 | ) | | | 1,931 | | | | (2,705 | ) | | | 213,386 | |
Residential mortgage-backed securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agency mortgage-backed securities | | | (349 | ) | | | 82,259 | | | | (6 | ) | | | 4,411 | | | | (355 | ) | | | 86,670 | |
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities | | | (981 | ) | | | 22,517 | | | | (3,230 | ) | | | 54,975 | | | | (4,211 | ) | | | 77,492 | |
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agency mortgage-backed securities | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities | | | (1,926 | ) | | | 42,500 | | | | (362 | ) | | | 6,167 | | | | (2,288 | ) | | | 48,667 | |
Asset-backed securities | | | (1,142 | ) | | | 94,196 | | | | (586 | ) | | | 10,767 | | | | (1,728 | ) | | | 104,963 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total fixed maturity investments | | $ | (8,326 | ) | | $ | 834,591 | | | $ | (4,433 | ) | | $ | 85,213 | | | $ | (12,759 | ) | | $ | 919,804 | |
Short term investments | | | (2 | ) | | | 2,048 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (2 | ) | | | 2,048 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total fixed income investments | | $ | (8,328 | ) | | $ | 836,639 | | | $ | (4,433 | ) | | $ | 85,213 | | | $ | (12,761 | ) | | $ | 921,852 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities | | $ | (323 | ) | | $ | 8,099 | | | $ | (5 | ) | | $ | 837 | | | $ | (328 | ) | | $ | 8,936 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | Gross unrealized losses include unrealized losses on non-OTTI and non-credit OTTI securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income at March 31, 2012. |
As of March 31, 2012, 403 available for sale securities were in an unrealized loss position aggregating $13.1 million. Of those, 80 securities with aggregated unrealized losses of $4.4 million at March 31, 2012 had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater.
12
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Less than 12 months | | | 12 months or greater | | | Total | |
| | Unrealized Losses(1) | | | Fair Value | | | Unrealized Losses(1) | | | Fair Value | | | Unrealized Losses(1) | | | Fair Value | |
December 31, 2011 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. government and agencies securities | | $ | (86 | ) | | $ | 23,488 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | (86 | ) | | $ | 23,488 | |
U.S. state and municipal securities | | | (19 | ) | | | 6,146 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (19 | ) | | | 6,146 | |
Foreign government securities | | | (114 | ) | | | 12,565 | | | | (70 | ) | | | 4,592 | | | | (184 | ) | | | 17,157 | |
Government guaranteed corporate securities | | | (70 | ) | | | 25,157 | | | | (83 | ) | | | 8,232 | | | | (153 | ) | | | 33,389 | |
Corporate securities | | | (9,949 | ) | | | 233,894 | | | | (159 | ) | | | 5,784 | | | | (10,108 | ) | | | 239,678 | |
Residential mortgage-backed securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agency mortgage-backed securities | | | (272 | ) | | | 52,240 | | | | (72 | ) | | | 32,320 | | | | (344 | ) | | | 84,560 | |
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities | | | (462 | ) | | | 24,839 | | | | (5,841 | ) | | | 60,850 | | | | (6,303 | ) | | | 85,689 | |
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agency mortgage-backed securities | | | (2 | ) | | | 138 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (2 | ) | | | 138 | |
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities | | | (2,379 | ) | | | 45,018 | | | | (689 | ) | | | 10,624 | | | | (3,068 | ) | | | 55,642 | |
Asset-backed securities | | | (2,361 | ) | | | 165,455 | | | | (553 | ) | | | 10,235 | | | | (2,914 | ) | | | 175,690 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total fixed maturity investments | | $ | (15,714 | ) | | $ | 588,940 | | | $ | (7,467 | ) | | $ | 132,637 | | | $ | (23,181 | ) | | $ | 721,577 | |
Short term investments | | | (5 | ) | | | 6,740 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (5 | ) | | | 6,740 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total fixed income investments | | $ | (15,719 | ) | | $ | 595,680 | | | $ | (7,467 | ) | | $ | 132,637 | | | $ | (23,186 | ) | | $ | 728,317 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity securities | | $ | (707 | ) | | $ | 10,993 | | | $ | (69 | ) | | $ | 776 | | | $ | (776 | ) | | $ | 11,769 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | Gross unrealized losses include unrealized losses on non-OTTI and non-credit OTTI securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31, 2011. |
As of December 31, 2011, 556 available for sale securities were in an unrealized loss position aggregating $24.0 million. Of those, 94 securities with aggregated unrealized losses of $7.5 million had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater.
The analysis of OTTI for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses | | $ | — | | | $ | (1,256 | ) |
Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) | | | (219 | ) | | | (391 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings (losses) | | $ | (219 | ) | | $ | (1,647 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
13
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
Of the $0.2 million (2011: $1.6 million) of OTTI losses recognized by the Company in the first quarter of 2012, the majority of it related to reductions in expected recovery values on mortgage-backed securities during the period. At March 31, 2012, the Company did not have the intent to sell securities in an unrealized loss position and determined that it was unlikely that the Company would be required to sell securities in an unrealized loss position.
The following table provides a roll-forward of the amount related to credit losses for the Company’s fixed income investments recognized in earnings (losses) for which a portion of an OTTI loss was recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Beginning balance | | $ | (2,225 | ) | | $ | (10,214 | ) |
Addition for the amount related to the credit loss for which an other-than-temporary impairment was not previously recognized | | | — | | | | — | |
Addition for the amount related to the credit loss for which an other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized | | | (219 | ) | | | (391 | ) |
Reductions for increases in cash flows expected to be collected that are recognized over the remaining life of the security | | | — | | | | — | |
Reductions for securities sold during the period | | | 257 | | | | 216 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Ending balance | | $ | (2,187 | ) | | $ | (10,389 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Variable Interest Entities
Entities that do not have sufficient equity at risk to allow the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support or in which the equity investors, as a group, do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest are referred to as variable interest entities (“VIE”). A VIE is consolidated by the variable interest holder that is determined to have the controlling financial interest (primary beneficiary) as a result of having both the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of an entity subject to consolidation based on a qualitative assessment of the VIE’s capital structure, contractual terms, nature of the VIE’s operations and purpose and the Company’s relative exposure to the related risks of the VIE on the date it becomes initially involved in the VIE. The Company reassesses its VIE determination with respect to an entity on an ongoing basis.
The Company is involved in the normal course of business with VIEs primarily as a passive investor in residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and through its interests in Other Investments in alternative and specialty funds that are structured as limited partnerships considered to be third party VIEs. The Company determined that it was not the primary beneficiary for any of these investments as of March 31, 2012. The Company believes its exposure to loss with respect to these investments is generally limited to the investment carrying amounts reported in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and any unfunded investment commitments.
14
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
The Company determines the fair value of the fixed maturity investments, short-term investments, equity securities, Other Investments, debt, and other assets and liabilities in accordance with current accounting guidance, which defines fair value and establishes a fair value hierarchy based on inputs to the various valuation techniques used for each fair value measurement. The Company determines the estimated fair value of each individual security utilizing the highest level inputs available. Valuation inputs by security type may include the following:
| • | | Government and agencies fixed maturity securities – These securities are generally priced by pricing services or index providers. The pricing services or index providers may use current market trades for securities with similar quality, maturity and coupon. If no such trades are available, the pricing service typically uses analytical models which may incorporate option adjusted spreads, daily interest rate data and market/sector news. The Company generally classifies the fair values of government and agencies securities in Level 2. Current issue U.S. government securities are generally valued based on Level 1 inputs, which use the market approach valuation technique. |
| • | | Government guaranteed corporate fixed maturity securities – These securities are generally priced by pricing services or index providers. The pricing service or index providers may use current market trades for securities with similar quality, maturity and coupon. If no such trades are available, the pricing service typically uses analytical spread models which may incorporate inputs from the U.S treasury curve or LIBOR. The Company generally classifies the fair values of its government guaranteed corporate securities in Level 2. |
| • | | Corporate fixed maturity securities – These securities are generally priced by pricing services or index providers. The pricing services or index providers typically use discounted cash flow models that incorporate benchmark curves for treasury, swap and high issuance credits. Credit spreads are developed from current market observations for like or similar securities. The Company generally classifies the fair values of its corporate securities in Level 2. |
| • | | Preferred equity securities – These securities are generally priced by pricing services or index providers. The pricing services or index providers typically use discounted cash flow models that incorporate benchmark curves for treasury, swap and high issuance credits. Credit spreads are developed from current market observations for like or similar securities. The Company generally classifies the fair values of its preferred equity securities in Level 2. |
| • | | Common equity securities – The Company primarily invests in equity securities through the investment in exchange traded funds. These funds and underlying securities are generally priced by pricing services based on quoted market prices in active markets. The Company generally classifies the fair values of its common equity securities in Level 1. |
| • | | Other assets and liabilities – These securities consist of a variety of derivative instruments used to enhance the efficiency of the investment portfolio and economically hedge certain risks. These instruments are generally priced by pricing services, broker/dealers and/or recent trading activity. The market value approach valuation technique is used to estimate the fair value for these derivatives based on significant observable market inputs. Certain derivative instruments are priced by pricing services based on quoted market prices in active markets. These derivative instruments are generally classified in Level 1. Other derivative instruments are priced using industry valuation models and are considered Level 2, as the inputs to the valuation model are based on observable market inputs. |
15
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
4. | Fair value measurement, cont’d. |
| • | | Structured securities including agency and non-agency, residential and commercial, mortgage and asset-backed securities – These securities are generally priced by broker/dealers. Broker/dealers may use current market trades for securities with similar qualities. If no such trades are available, inputs such as bid and offer, prepayment speeds, the U.S. treasury curve, swap curve and cash settlement may be used in a discounted cash flow model to determine the fair value of a security. The Company generally classifies the fair values of its structured securities in Level 2. |
| • | | Other Investments – Other Investments, including alternative funds and specialty funds, are generally priced on net asset values (“NAV”) received from the fund managers or administrators. Due to the timing of the delivery of the final NAV by certain of the fund managers, valuations of certain alternative funds and specialty funds are estimated based on the most recently available information, including period end NAVs, period end estimates, or, in some cases, prior month or prior quarter NAVs. As this valuation technique incorporates both observable and significant unobservable inputs, the Company generally classifies the fair value of its Other Investments in Level 3. |
| • | | Debt – Outstanding debt consists of the Company’s 6.15% Senior Notes due October 15, 2015 and the 7.0% Senior Notes due July 15, 2034 (the “Senior Notes”). The fair values of these securities were obtained from a third party pricing service and pricing was based on the spread above the risk-free yield curve. These spreads are generally obtained from the new issue market, secondary trading and broker-dealer quotes. As these spreads and the yields for the risk-free yield curve are observable market inputs, the fair values of the Senior Notes are classified in Level 2. |
The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income, net receivable on sales of investments, net payable on purchases of investments, and other financial instruments not described above approximate their fair values at March 31, 2012.
Transfers between levels are assumed to occur at the end of each period.
16
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
4. | Fair value measurement, cont’d. |
The following table sets forth the Company’s available for sale investments, Other Investments, derivative instruments and debt categorized by the level within the hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at March 31, 2012:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2012 | |
| | Total at March 31, 2012 | | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. government and agencies securities | | $ | 1,404,450 | | | $ | 8,875 | | | $ | 1,395,575 | | | $ | — | |
U.S. state and municipal securities | | | 50,212 | | | | — | | | | 50,212 | | | | — | |
Foreign government securities | | | 116,947 | | | | — | | | | 116,947 | | | | — | |
Government guaranteed corporate securities | | | 253,509 | | | | — | | | | 253,509 | | | | — | |
Corporate securities | | | 1,269,480 | | | | — | | | | 1,269,480 | | | | — | |
Residential mortgage-backed securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 987,037 | | | | — | | | | 987,037 | | | | — | |
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 102,561 | | | | — | | | | 102,054 | | | | 507 | |
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 24,023 | | | | — | | | | 24,023 | | | | — | |
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 551,877 | | | | — | | | | 543,481 | | | | 8,396 | |
Asset-backed securities | | | 370,939 | | | | — | | | | 370,939 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total fixed maturity investments | | $ | 5,131,035 | | | $ | 8,875 | | | $ | 5,113,257 | | | $ | 8,903 | |
Short term investments | | | 54,919 | | | | — | | | | 54,919 | | | | — | |
Equity securities | | | 67,238 | | | | 47,698 | | | | 19,540 | | | | — | |
Other investments | | | 432,428 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 432,428 | |
Other assets (see Note 6) | | | 12,740 | | | | — | | | | 12,740 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total assets | | $ | 5,698,360 | | | $ | 56,573 | | | $ | 5,200,456 | | | $ | 441,331 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other liabilities (see Note 6) | | $ | 5,619 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 5,619 | | | $ | — | |
Debt | | | 562,061 | | | | — | | | | 562,061 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities | | $ | 567,680 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 567,680 | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
17
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
4. | Fair value measurement, cont’d. |
During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company purchased current issue U.S. government securities which are classified as Level 1 securities. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company also purchased equity securities, which are classified as Level 1 securities as they are exchange traded.
During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company purchased preferred equity securities, which are classified as Level 2 securities. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company also purchased asset-backed securities, agency mortgage-backed securities, collateralized debt obligation securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, corporate securities, foreign government securities, short-term investments, and U.S. government and agency securities which were classified as Level 2 securities, as these securities are generally priced by pricing services, index providers or broker/dealers.
During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company purchased commercial mortgage-backed securities, which are classified as Level 3 securities, as no observable price was available. The Company used pricing models with significant unobservable inputs in order to determine the fair value of these securities.
During the three months ended March 31, 2012, certain of the Company’s fixed maturity investments were transferred from Level 3 to Level 2. The reclassifications included corporate securities where market activity had increased. In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2012, certain collateralized debt obligations and commercial mortgaged-backed securities previously classified as Level 3 securities were sold.
During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company included its Other Investments within the fair value hierarchy as required by ASU 2011-04, which the Company adopted on January 1, 2012. These securities are generally priced on NAV received from the fund managers or administrators. Due to the timing of the delivery of the final NAV by certain of the fund managers, valuations of certain alternative funds and specialty funds are estimated based on the most recently available information, including period-end NAV, period-end estimates, or, in some cases, prior month or prior quarter NAV. As this valuation technique incorporates both observable and significant unobservable inputs, these investments are generally classified as Level 3.
During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company included its Senior Notes within the fair value hierarchy as required by ASU 2011-04, which the Company adopted on January 1, 2012. The fair value of the Senior Notes is obtained from a third party pricing service and pricing was based on the spread above the risk-free yield curve. As the spreads and the yields for the risk-free yield curve are observable market inputs, the fair value of the Senior Notes are classified in Level 2.
18
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
4. | Fair value measurement, cont’d. |
The following table sets forth the Company’s available for sale investments and derivative instruments categorized by the level within the hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at December 31, 2011:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011 | |
| | Total at December 31, 2011 | | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. government and agencies securities | | $ | 1,269,123 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,269,123 | | | $ | — | |
U.S. state and municipal securities | | | 53,517 | | | | — | | | | 53,517 | | | | — | |
Foreign government securities | | | 74,997 | | | | — | | | | 74,997 | | | | — | |
Government guaranteed corporate securities | | | 351,825 | | | | ��� | | | | 351,825 | | | | — | |
Corporate securities | | | 1,139,899 | | | | — | | | | 1,139,899 | | | | — | |
Residential mortgage-backed securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 965,019 | | | | — | | | | 965,019 | | | | — | |
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 114,662 | | | | — | | | | 114,153 | | | | 509 | |
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 28,807 | | | | — | | | | 28,807 | | | | — | |
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities | | | 518,483 | | | | — | | | | 508,598 | | | | 9,885 | |
Asset-backed securities | | | 315,634 | | | | — | | | | 315,634 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total fixed maturity investments | | $ | 4,831,966 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 4,821,572 | | | $ | 10,394 | |
Short term investments | | | 67,802 | | | | 9,800 | | | | 58,002 | | | | — | |
Equity securities | | | 59,767 | | | | 34,681 | | | | 25,086 | | | | — | |
Other assets (see Note 6) | | | 513 | | | | — | | | | 513 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total assets | | $ | 4,960,048 | | | $ | 44,481 | | | $ | 4,905,173 | | | $ | 10,394 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other liabilities (see Note 6) | | $ | 891 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 891 | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
19
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
4. | Fair value measurement, cont’d. |
Level 3 assets represented 7.74% and 0.21% of the Company’s total available for sale investments, Other Investments and derivative instruments at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Level 3 securities are primarily comprised of non-agency commercial mortgage-backed securities and investments in alternative and specialty funds. The Company utilizes pricing from various pricing sources for all of its securities classified within Level 3, and makes no adjustments to the pricing obtained. The NAV used to fair value the Company’s Other Investments are generally derived from the underlying investments held within the funds. Although the Company does not have direct access to detailed financial information related to the underlying investments of the funds, the Company obtains and reviews fund financial statements, internal control review reports, and industry benchmarking reports to determine the reasonability of the NAV of the fund.
No impairment losses on Level 3 securities were recognized in earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2012 (2011: $0.2 million, representing realized losses due to OTTI).
There were no material changes in the Company’s valuation techniques for the three months ended March 31, 2012.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for all available for sale investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively:
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Level 3, beginning of period | | $ | 10,394 | | | $ | 9,639 | |
Total net realized gains included in earnings (losses) | | | 5 | | | | 6 | |
Total net realized and unrealized losses included in earnings (losses) | | | — | | | | (248 | ) |
Change in unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income (loss) | | | 594 | | | | 957 | |
Change in unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income (loss) | | | (114 | ) | | | (26 | ) |
Purchases | | | 174 | | | | — | |
Sales | | | (450 | ) | | | (749 | ) |
Transfers in to Level 3(1) | | | 432,820 | | | | 15,509 | |
Transfers out of Level 3 | | | (2,092 | ) | | | (3,932 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Level 3, end of period | | $ | 441,331 | | | $ | 21,156 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| (1) | Included in this balance in 2012 is the fair value of the Other Investments, which was added to Level 3 as required by ASU 2011-04, effective January 1, 2012. |
At December 31, 2011, the carrying value of the Company’s Other Investments was $432.7 million, which approximates fair value.
At December 31, 2011, the carrying value of the Company’s Senior Notes was $528.0 million, and the fair value was $535.3 million.
The two-class method utilized by the Company is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings (losses) per share for the holders of Endurance Holdings’ ordinary and class A shares (also referred to as “common shares”) and participating common shares, which includes unvested restricted shares which receive cash dividends, according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Net income (loss) available (attributable) to common and participating common shareholders is reduced by the amount of dividends declared in the current period and by the contractual amount of dividends that must be paid for the current period related to the Company’s common and participating common shares. Any remaining undistributed earnings are allocated to the common and participating common shareholders to the extent that each security may share in earnings as if all of the earnings for the period had been distributed. In periods of loss, no losses are allocated to participating common shareholders. Instead, all such losses are allocated solely to the common shareholders.
20
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
5. | Earnings per share, cont’d. |
Basic earnings (losses) per common share are calculated by dividing net income (loss) available (attributable) to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. The weighted average number of common shares excludes any dilutive effect of outstanding warrants, options and convertible securities such as unvested restricted shares.
Diluted earnings (losses) per common share are based on the weighted average number of common shares and assumes the exercise of all dilutive stock warrants and options and the vesting or conversion of all convertible securities such as unvested restricted shares using the two-class method described above.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings (losses) per share for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Numerator: | | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss) available (attributable) to common and participating common shareholders | | | 74,354 | | | | (91,292 | ) |
Less amount allocated to participating common shareholders(1) | | | (1,295 | ) | | | (275 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss) allocated (attributed) to common shareholders | | $ | 73,059 | | | $ | (91,567 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Denominator: | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average shares – basic | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding | | | 42,436,329 | | | | 40,749,921 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Weighted average shares – basic | | | 42,436,329 | | | | 40,749,921 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Share equivalents: | | | | | | | | |
Options | | | 42,985 | | | | — | |
Restricted share units | | | 9,536 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
Weighted average shares – diluted | | | 42,488,850 | | | | 40,749,921 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Basic earnings (losses) per common share | | $ | 1.72 | | | $ | (2.25 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Diluted earnings (losses) per common share | | $ | 1.72 | | | $ | (2.25 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
(1) | Represents earnings attributable to holders of unvested restricted shares issued under the Company’s equity compensation plans that are considered participating. In periods of loss, no losses are allocated to participating common shareholders (unvested restricted shares). |
21
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
5. | Earnings per share cont’d. |
Endurance Holdings declared a dividend of $0.484375 per Series A preferred share and $0.46875 per Series B preferred share on February 20, 2012 (2011—Series A: $0.484375, Series B: Nil). The Series A and Series B preferred share dividends were paid on March 15, 2012 to shareholders of record on March 1, 2012. Endurance Holdings also declared a dividend of $0.31 per common share on March 1, 2012 (2011—$0.30). The dividend was paid on March 30, 2012 to shareholders of record on March 16, 2012.
| | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Dividends declared per Series A preferred share | | $ | 0.484375 | | | $ | 0.484375 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Dividends declared per Series B preferred share | | $ | 0.468750 | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
Dividends declared per common share | | $ | 0.31 | | | $ | 0.30 | |
| | | | | | | | |
The Company’s derivative instruments are recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value, with changes in fair value and gains and losses recognized in net realized and unrealized investment gains and net foreign exchange gains in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss). The majority of the Company’s derivatives are not designated as hedges under current accounting guidance. The Company may enter derivative transactions directly or as part of strategies employed by its external investment managers. The Company’s objectives for holding these derivatives are as follows:
Interest Rate Futures, Swaps, Swaptions and Options
The Company may use interest rate futures, swaps, swaptions and options within its portfolio of fixed maturity investments to manage its exposure to interest rate risk, which can include increasing or decreasing its exposure to this risk through modification of the portfolio composition and duration.
Foreign Exchange Forwards, Futures and Options
The Company may utilize foreign exchange forward contracts and options as part of its overall currency risk management and investment strategies.
Credit Default Swaps
The Company may purchase protection through credit default swaps to mitigate the risk associated with its underwriting operations, most notably in the surety line of business, and to manage market exposures.
The Company may assume or economically hedge credit risk through credit default swaps to replicate or hedge investment positions. The original term of these credit default swaps is generally five years or less.
Commodity Futures and Options
The Company may utilize commodity futures and options to economically hedge certain underwriting risks.
To-Be-Announced Mortgage-backed Securities (“TBAs”)
The Company may purchase TBAs in both long and short positions to enhance investment performance and as part of its overall investment strategy. TBAs represent commitments to purchase a future issuance of agency mortgage-backed securities. For the period between purchase of a TBA and issuance of the underlying securities, the Company’s position is accounted for as a derivative.
22
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
The fair values and the related notional values of derivatives included in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are noted below.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | March 31, 2012 | | | December 31, 2011 | |
| | Fair Value | | | Notional Principal Amount | | | Fair Value | | | Notional Principal Amount | |
Foreign exchange forward contracts | | $ | 78 | | | $ | 3,121 | | | $ | 216 | | | $ | 8,412 | |
Credit default swaps | | | 18 | | | | 800 | | | | 15 | | | | 850 | |
Interest rate swaps | | | 33 | | | | 5,000 | | | | 223 | | | | 3,000 | |
Interest rate swaptions | | | — | | | | — | | | | 36 | | | | 1,100 | |
Interest rate futures | | | — | | | | — | | | | 23 | | | | 200,000 | |
TBAs | | | 12,611 | | | | 12,000 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total recorded in other assets | | $ | 12,740 | | | $ | 20,921 | | | $ | 513 | | | $ | 213,362 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign exchange forward contracts | | | 194 | | | | 7,404 | | | | 199 | | | | 8,216 | |
Credit default swaps | | | 18 | | | | 800 | | | | 71 | | | | 1,800 | |
Interest rate swaps | | | 12 | | | | 5,000 | | | | 594 | | | | 2,000 | |
Interest rate swaptions | | | 149 | | | | 10,000 | | | | 27 | | | | 5,500 | |
TBAs | | | 5,246 | | | | 5,000 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total recorded in other liabilities | | $ | 5,619 | | | $ | 28,204 | | | $ | 891 | | | $ | 17,516 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net derivative asset (liability) | | $ | 7,121 | | | $ | 49,125 | | | $ | (378 | ) | | $ | 230,878 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The fair values of all derivatives at March 31, 2012 were recorded in other assets or other liabilities in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. None of the above derivatives have been designated as hedges under current accounting guidance.
The gains and losses on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for derivatives for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Total included in net foreign exchange gains from foreign exchange forward contracts | | $ | (118 | ) | | $ | (360 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Futures contracts | | $ | 87 | | | $ | (10 | ) |
Credit default swaps | | | 43 | | | | (86 | ) |
Interest rate swaps | | | 153 | | | | 4 | |
Interest rate swaptions | | | 10 | | | | 2 | |
TBAs | | | 9 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total included in net realized and unrealized investment gains | | $ | 302 | | | $ | (90 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total gains (losses) from derivatives | | $ | 184 | | | $ | (450 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
23
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
7. | Stock-based employee compensation and other stock plans |
The Company has a stock-based employee compensation plan, which provides the Company with the ability to grant options to purchase the Company’s ordinary shares, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, share bonuses and other equity incentive awards to key employees.
No options were granted, expired or vested during the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the quarter ended March 31, 2012 was $0.3 million (2011—$15.0 million). The Company received proceeds of $0.2 million (2011—$9.9 million) from the exercise of options during the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The Company issued new ordinary shares in connection with the exercise of the above options. There were no unrecognized stock-based compensation expenses related to unvested stock options at March 31, 2012 and 2011.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, the Company granted an aggregate of 377,308 (2011 – 282,856) restricted shares and restricted share units with weighted average grant date fair values of $14.5 million (2011—$13.8 million). During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, the aggregate fair value of restricted shares and restricted share units that vested was $10.2 million (2011—$9.4 million). For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compensation costs recognized in earnings for all restricted shares and restricted share units were $5.0 million (2011—$4.6 million). At March 31, 2012, compensation costs not yet recognized related to unvested restricted shares and restricted share units was $16.8 million (2011—$18.4 million).
The Company also has an Employee Share Purchase Plan under which employees of Endurance Holdings and certain of its subsidiaries may purchase Endurance Holdings’ ordinary shares. For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, total expenses related to the Company’s Employee Share Purchase Plan were approximately $43,000 (2011—$53,000).
The determination of the Company’s business segments is based on how the Company monitors the performance of its underwriting operations. The Company has two reportable business segments, Insurance and Reinsurance, which are comprised of the following lines of business:
Insurance segment lines of business
| • | | Surety and Other Specialty |
Reinsurance segment lines of business
| • | | Surety and Other Specialty |
24
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
8. | Segment reporting, cont’d. |
Management measures segment results on the basis of the combined ratio, which is obtained by dividing the sum of the net losses and loss expenses, acquisition expenses and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned. When purchased within a single line of business, ceded reinsurance and recoveries are accounted for within that line of business. When purchased across multiple lines of business, ceded reinsurance and recoveries are allocated to the lines of business in proportion to the related risks assumed. The Company does not manage its assets by segment; accordingly, investment income and total assets are not allocated to the individual business segments. General and administrative expenses incurred by the segments are allocated directly. Remaining general and administrative expenses not directly incurred by the segments are allocated primarily based on estimated consumption, headcount and other variables deemed relevant to the allocation of such expenses.
The following table provides a summary of segment revenues, results and reserves for losses and loss expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2012:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Insurance | | | Reinsurance | | | Total | |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross premiums written | | $ | 635,347 | | | $ | 426,302 | | | $ | 1,061,649 | |
Ceded premiums written | | | (207,566 | ) | | | (11,027 | ) | | | (218,593 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net premiums written | | | 427,781 | | | | 415,275 | | | | 843,056 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net premiums earned | | | 161,630 | | | | 250,005 | | | | 411,635 | |
Other underwriting loss | | | — | | | | (335 | ) | | | (335 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 161,630 | | | | 249,670 | | | | 411,300 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net losses and loss expenses | | | 113,702 | | | | 149,065 | | | | 262,767 | |
Acquisition expenses | | | 16,214 | | | | 52,275 | | | | 68,489 | |
General and administrative expenses | | | 34,435 | | | | 31,606 | | | | 66,041 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 164,351 | | | | 232,946 | | | | 397,297 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Underwriting (loss) income | | $ | (2,721 | ) | | $ | 16,724 | | | $ | 14,003 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss ratio | | | 70.4 | % | | | 59.7 | % | | | 63.9 | % |
Acquisition expense ratio | | | 10.0 | % | | | 20.9 | % | | | 16.6 | % |
General and administrative expense ratio | | | 21.3 | % | | | 12.6 | % | | | 16.0 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Combined ratio | | | 101.7 | % | | | 93.2 | % | | | 96.5 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reserve for losses and loss expenses | | $ | 1,870,336 | | | $ | 1,890,493 | | | $ | 3,760,829 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
25
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
8. | Segment reporting, cont’d. |
The following table provides a summary of segment revenues, results and reserves for losses and loss expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Insurance | | | Reinsurance | | | Total | |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross premiums written | | $ | 625,831 | | | $ | 374,527 | | | $ | 1,000,358 | |
Ceded premiums written | | | (193,535 | ) | | | (7,951 | ) | | | (201,486 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net premiums written | | | 432,296 | | | | 366,576 | | | | 798,872 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net premiums earned | | | 162,492 | | | | 220,341 | | | | 382,833 | |
Other underwriting loss | | | — | | | | (1,069 | ) | | | (1,069 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 162,492 | | | | 219,272 | | | | 381,764 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net losses and loss expenses | | | 98,836 | | | | 303,017 | | | | 401,853 | |
Acquisition expenses | | | 16,308 | | | | 49,310 | | | | 65,618 | |
General and administrative expenses | | | 36,806 | | | | 29,155 | | | | 65,961 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 151,950 | | | | 381,482 | | | | 533,432 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Underwriting income (loss) | | $ | 10,542 | | | $ | (162,210 | ) | | $ | (151,668 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss ratio | | | 60.8 | % | | | 137.5 | % | | | 105.0 | % |
Acquisition expense ratio | | | 10.0 | % | | | 22.4 | % | | | 17.1 | % |
General and administrative expense ratio | | | 22.7 | % | | | 13.2 | % | | | 17.2 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Combined ratio | | | 93.5 | % | | | 173.1 | % | | | 139.3 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reserve for losses and loss expenses | | $ | 1,772,733 | | | $ | 1,793,465 | | | $ | 3,566,198 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
The following table reconciles total segment results to income (loss) before income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Total underwriting income (loss) | | $ | 14,003 | | | $ | (151,668 | ) |
Net investment income | | | 57,075 | | | | 52,501 | |
Net foreign exchange gains | | | 18,137 | | | | 6,918 | |
Net realized and unrealized investment gains | | | 5,203 | | | | 3,775 | |
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings | | | (219 | ) | | | (1,647 | ) |
Amortization of intangibles | | | (2,777 | ) | | | (2,798 | ) |
Interest expense | | | (9,047 | ) | | | (9,054 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Income (loss) before income taxes | | $ | 82,375 | | | $ | (101,973 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
26
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
8. | Segment reporting, cont’d. |
The following table provides gross and net premiums written by line of business for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gross premiums written | | | Net premiums written | | | Gross premiums written | | | Net premiums written | |
| | 2012 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2011 | |
Business Segment | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Insurance | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agriculture | | $ | 533,667 | | | $ | 354,920 | | | $ | 508,705 | | | $ | 346,472 | |
Professional lines | | | 36,345 | | | | 30,205 | | | | 35,469 | | | | 31,124 | |
Casualty | | | 37,827 | | | | 26,463 | | | | 38,882 | | | | 25,759 | |
Property | | | 9,844 | | | | 833 | | | | 24,690 | | | | 12,585 | |
Healthcare liability | | | 16,653 | | | | 14,348 | | | | 18,137 | | | | 16,406 | |
Surety and other specialty | | | 1,011 | | | | 1,012 | | | | (52 | ) | | | (50 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Insurance | | | 635,347 | | | | 427,781 | | | | 625,831 | | | | 432,296 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reinsurance | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Catastrophe | | | 143,182 | | | | 133,718 | | | | 138,247 | | | | 131,123 | |
Casualty | | | 121,674 | | | | 120,437 | | | | 116,352 | | | | 115,554 | |
Property | | | 106,746 | | | | 106,746 | | | | 70,087 | | | | 70,087 | |
Aerospace and marine | | | 25,629 | | | | 25,593 | | | | 20,838 | | | | 20,839 | |
Surety and other specialty | | | 29,071 | | | | 28,781 | | | | 29,003 | | | | 28,973 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Reinsurance | | | 426,302 | | | | 415,275 | | | | 374,527 | | | | 366,576 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 1,061,649 | | | $ | 843,056 | | | $ | 1,000,358 | | | $ | 798,872 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
9. | Commitments and contingencies |
Concentrations of credit risk. The Company’s reinsurance recoverables at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 amounted to $497.5 million and $666.9 million, respectively. At March 31, 2012, substantially all reinsurance recoverables were due from the U.S. government or from reinsurers rated A- or better by A.M. Best or Standard & Poor’s.
Major production sources. The following table shows the percentage of net premiums written generated through the Company’s largest brokers for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively:
| | | | | | | | |
Broker | | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. | | | 16.3 | % | | | 13.1 | % |
Aon Benfield | | | 15.8 | % | | | 15.7 | % |
Willis Companies | | | 6.0 | % | | | 5.9 | % |
| | | | | | | | |
Total of largest brokers | | | 38.1 | % | | | 34.7 | % |
| | | | | | | | |
Letters of credit. As of March 31, 2012, the Company had issued letters of credit of $375.8 million (December 31, 2011 – $447.3 million) under its credit facility in favor of certain ceding companies to collateralize obligations.
27
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except
for ratios, share and per share amounts)
9. | Commitments and contingencies, cont’d. |
Investment commitments. As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had pledged cash and cash equivalents and fixed maturity investments of $175.1 million and $171.4 million, respectively, in favor of certain ceding companies to collateralize obligations. As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had also pledged $435.1 million and $517.2 million of its cash and fixed maturity investments as required to meet collateral obligations for $375.8 million and $447.3 million in letters of credit outstanding under its credit facility, respectively. In addition, as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, cash and fixed maturity investments with fair values of $361.6 million and $370.4 million were on deposit with U.S. state regulators, respectively, and cash and fixed maturity investments with fair values of $1.3 million and $7.6 million were on deposit with Canadian regulators, respectively.
The Company is subject to certain commitments with respect to Other Investments at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The Company is generally subject to redemption restriction provisions of between one to five years from the date of the original commitment and rolling redemption restrictions on a one or two year basis thereafter. Due to redemption restrictions, the Company is prohibited from requesting redemptions during 2012 of $38.9 million (December 31, 2011 – $83.6 million) of its Other Investments held at March 31, 2012. Certain of the Company’s investments in private equity funds cannot be redeemed until the liquidation of the underlying assets of the fund. It is estimated that the majority of the underlying assets of these funds would liquidate within the next two to thirteen years. In addition, as of March 31, 2012 the Company was committed to investing a further $16.4 million (December 31, 2011 – $18.1 million) in various investment funds classified as Other Investments.
Reinsurance commitments. In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into reinsurance agreements that may include terms which could require the Company to collateralize certain of its obligations.
Employment agreements. The Company has entered into employment agreements with certain officers that provide for equity incentive awards, executive benefits and severance payments under certain circumstances.
Operating leases. The Company leases office space and office equipment under operating leases. Future minimum lease commitments at March 31, 2012 are as follows:
| | | | |
Twelve months ended March 31, | | Amount | |
2012 | | $ | 14,310 | |
2013 | | | 11,421 | |
2014 | | | 8,128 | |
2015 | | | 6,921 | |
2016 | | | 4,808 | |
2017 and thereafter | | | 22,248 | |
| | | | |
| | $ | 67,836 | |
| | | | |
Total lease expense under operating leases for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $3.5 million (2011 – $3.1 million).
Legal proceedings. The Company is party to various legal proceedings generally arising in the normal course of its business. While any proceeding contains an element of uncertainty, the Company does not believe that the eventual outcome of any litigation or arbitration proceeding to which it is presently a party could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or business. Pursuant to the Company’s insurance and reinsurance agreements, disputes are generally required to be settled by arbitration.
28
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following is a discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 of Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. (“Endurance Holdings”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Form 10-Q”) as well as the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, the discussions of critical accounting policies and the qualitative and quantitative disclosure about market risk contained in Endurance Holdings’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 (the “2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K”).
Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, including information with respect to the Company’s plans and strategy for its business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. Please see the section “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” below for more information on factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this discussion and analysis. You should review the “Risk Factors” set forth in the 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K and this Form 10-Q for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein.
Overview
Endurance Holdings was organized as a Bermuda holding company on June 27, 2002 and has seven wholly-owned operating subsidiaries:
| • | | Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd. (“Endurance Bermuda”), domiciled in Bermuda with branch offices in Zurich and Singapore; |
| • | | Endurance Reinsurance Corporation of America (“Endurance U.S. Reinsurance”), domiciled in Delaware; |
| • | | Endurance Worldwide Insurance Limited (“Endurance U.K.”), domiciled in England; |
| • | | Endurance American Insurance Company (“Endurance American”), domiciled in Delaware; |
| • | | Endurance American Specialty Insurance Company (“Endurance American Specialty”), domiciled in Delaware; |
| • | | Endurance Risk Solutions Assurance Co. (“Endurance Risk Solutions”), domiciled in Delaware; and |
| • | | American Agri-Business Insurance Company, domiciled in Texas and managed by ARMtech Insurance Services, Inc. (together “ARMtech”). |
The Company writes specialty lines of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance on a global basis and seeks to create a portfolio of specialty lines of business that are profitable and have limited correlation with one another. The Company’s portfolio of specialty lines of business is organized into two business segments, Insurance and Reinsurance.
In the Insurance segment, the Company writes agriculture, professional lines, casualty, property, healthcare liability and surety and other specialty insurance. In the Reinsurance segment, the Company writes catastrophe, casualty, property, aerospace and marine and surety and other specialty reinsurance.
29
The Company’s Insurance and Reinsurance segments both include property related coverages which provide insurance or reinsurance of an insurable interest in tangible property for property loss, damage or loss of use. In addition, the Company’s Insurance and Reinsurance segments include various casualty insurance and reinsurance coverages which are primarily concerned with the losses caused by injuries to third parties, i.e., not the insured, or to property owned by third parties and the legal liability imposed on the insured resulting from such injuries.
Application of Critical Accounting Estimates
The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements are based on the selection of accounting policies and application of significant accounting estimates which require management to make significant estimates and assumptions. The Company believes that some of the more critical judgments in the areas of accounting estimates and assumptions that affect its financial condition and results of operations are related to the recognition of premiums written and ceded, reserves for losses and loss expenses, other-than-temporary impairments within the investment portfolio and fair value measurements of certain portions of the investment portfolio. For a detailed discussion of the Company’s critical accounting estimates, please refer to the 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q. There were no material changes in the application of the Company’s critical accounting estimates subsequent to that report. Management has discussed the application of these critical accounting estimates with the Company’s Board of Directors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
30
Consolidated Results of Operations – For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011
Results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | | | | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | Change(1) | |
| | (U.S. dollars in thousands, except for ratios) | |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross premiums written | | $ | 1,061,649 | | | $ | 1,000,358 | | | | 6.1 | % |
Ceded premiums written | | | (218,593 | ) | | | (201,486 | ) | | | 8.5 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net premiums written | | | 843,056 | | | | 798,872 | | | | 5.5 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net premiums earned | | | 411,635 | | | | 382,833 | | | | 7.5 | % |
Net investment income | | | 57,075 | | | | 52,501 | | | | 8.7 | % |
Net realized and unrealized gains | | | 5,203 | | | | 3,775 | | | | 37.8 | % |
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings (losses) | | | (219 | ) | | | (1,647 | ) | | | (86.7 | )% |
Other underwriting loss | | | (335 | ) | | | (1,069 | ) | | | (68.7 | )% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total revenues | | | 473,359 | | | | 436,393 | | | | 8.5 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Losses and loss expenses | | | 262,767 | | | | 401,853 | | | | (34.6 | )% |
Acquisition expenses | | | 68,489 | | | | 65,618 | | | | 4.4 | % |
General and administrative expenses | | | 66,041 | | | | 65,961 | | | | 0.1 | % |
Amortization of intangibles | | | 2,777 | | | | 2,798 | | | | (0.8 | )% |
Net foreign exchange gains | | | (18,137 | ) | | | (6,918 | ) | | | 162.2 | % |
Interest expense | | | 9,047 | | | | 9,054 | | | | (0.1 | )% |
Income tax benefit | | | (167 | ) | | | (14,556 | ) | | | (98.9 | )% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss) | | $ | 82,542 | | | $ | (87,417 | ) | | | NM | (2) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss ratio | | | 63.9 | % | | | 105.0 | % | | | (41.1 | ) |
Acquisition expense ratio | | | 16.6 | % | | | 17.1 | % | | | (0.5 | ) |
General and administrative expense ratio | | | 16.0 | % | | | 17.2 | % | | | (1.2 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Combined ratio | | | 96.5 | % | | | 139.3 | % | | | (42.8 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | With respect to ratios, changes show increase or decrease in percentage points. |
Premiums
Gross premiums written in the three months ended March 31, 2012 were $1,061.6 million, an increase of $61.3 million, or 6.1%, compared to the same period in 2011. Net premiums written in the three months ended March 31, 2012 were $843.1 million, an increase of $44.2 million, or 5.5%. The change in net premiums written was driven by the following factors:
| • | | An increase in the property line of the Reinsurance segment in the quarter ended March 31, 2012 compared to 2011 as a result of new premiums and growth in renewal premiums written by the Company’s Zurich branch together with improved pricing on renewals across the Company’s other property businesses; |
| • | | Growth in the agriculture line of the Insurance segment arising from an increase in policy count and increased premium levels per policy, partially offset by lower commodity prices; |
| • | | Growth in the aerospace and marine line of the Reinsurance segment resulting from new marine business written at the Company’s Zurich branch; |
31
| • | | Growth in the casualty line of the Reinsurance segment arising from a single large positive premium adjustment; and |
| • | | A decline in the property line of the Insurance segment in the quarter ended March 31, 2012 compared to 2011 as the Company significantly curtailed premiums in several products within this line of business in an effort to reallocate capital to more profitable lines of business. |
Growth in ceded premiums written by the Company in the quarter ended March 31, 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 was primarily driven by increased cessions in the agriculture Insurance line to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation associated with both the growth in gross premiums written and from increased cessions of risks in drought plagued areas of the southern United States.
Net premiums earned for the three months ended March 31, 2012 were $411.6 million, an increase of $28.8 million, or 7.5%, from the first quarter of 2011. The increase in net premiums earned resulted principally from growth in net written premiums recorded in more recent periods.
Net Investment Income
The Company’s net investment income of $57.1 million increased 8.7% or $4.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011. Net investment income during the first quarter of 2012 included net mark to market gains of $23.1 million on Other Investments, comprised of alternative funds and specialty funds, as compared to mark to market gains of $13.8 million in the first quarter of 2011. Investment income generated from the Company’s fixed income investments, which consist of fixed maturity investments and short-term investments, declined by $5.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. This decline resulted from lower reinvestment rates over the past 12 months driven by lower market yields, partially offset by a higher average investment portfolio balance. Investment expenses, including investment management fees, were $3.4 million at March 31, 2012 and $3.6 million at March 31, 2011.
The annualized net earned yield and total return of the investment portfolio for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 and market yield and portfolio duration as of March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Annualized net earned yield(1) | | | 3.76 | % | | | 3.51 | % |
Total return on investment portfolio(2) | | | 1.38 | % | | | 0.90 | % |
Market yield(3) | | | 1.69 | % | | | 2.54 | % |
Portfolio duration(4) | | | 2.64 years | | | | 2.44 years | |
(1) | The actual net earned income from the investment portfolio after adjusting for expenses and accretion of discount and amortization of premium from the purchase price divided by the average book value of assets. |
(2) | Includes realized and unrealized gains and losses. |
(3) | The internal rate of return of the investment portfolio based on the given market price or the single discount rate that equates a security price (inclusive of accrued interest) for the portfolio with its projected cash flows. Excludes Other Investments and operating cash. |
(4) | Includes only cash and cash equivalents and fixed income investments managed by the Company’s investment managers. |
During the first quarter of 2012, the yield on the benchmark three year U.S. Treasury bond fluctuated within a 49 basis point range, with a high of 1.20% and a low of 0.71%. Trading activity in the Company’s portfolio during the first quarter included reductions in government guaranteed corporate securities and non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities, and increased allocations to U.S. government securities, foreign government securities, corporate securities, non-agency commercial mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. The duration of the fixed income investments increased to 2.64 years at March 31, 2012 from 2.39 years at December 31, 2011, primarily due to lower cash balances.
32
Net Realized and Unrealized Gains
The Company’s investment portfolio is managed to generate attractive economic returns and income while providing the Company with liquidity. Movements in financial markets and interest rates influence the timing and recognition of net realized investment gains and losses as the portfolio is adjusted and rebalanced. Proceeds from sales of investments classified as available for sale during the three months ended March 31, 2012 were $833.3 million compared to $1,017.2 million during the same period a year ago. Net realized investment gains increased during the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 as fewer securities were sold at a loss compared to the prior period. Realized investment gains and losses and the change in the fair value of derivative financial instruments for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
| | (U.S. dollars in thousands) | |
Gross realized gains on investment sales | | $ | 7,248 | | | $ | 11,573 | |
Gross realized losses on investment sales | | | (2,347 | ) | | | (7,708 | ) |
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments | | | 302 | | | | (90 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net realized and unrealized gains in earnings | | $ | 5,203 | | | $ | 3,775 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Impairment Losses Recognized in Earnings
During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company identified available for sale securities that were considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired. The Company considered whether it intended to sell or would be more likely than not required to sell its fixed income investments in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2012. The Company did not identify any such securities meeting these criteria. As such, the Company performed various analyses and reviews, which are described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Estimates” in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, to determine whether the investments in an unrealized loss position were other-than-temporarily impaired as a result of credit related factors or non-credit related factors. Net impairment losses recognized in earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
| | (U.S. dollars in thousands) | |
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses | | $ | — | | | $ | (1,256 | ) |
Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income | | | (219 | ) | | | (391 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings | | $ | (219 | ) | | $ | (1,647 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
The $0.2 million and $1.6 million of other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses recognized by the Company in the first quarters of 2012 and 2011 relating to specific credit events for its fixed income investments were primarily due to reductions in expected recovery values on residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities during the period. A total of $0.2 million was shifted from a non-credit OTTI loss previously recognized in comprehensive income (loss) to a credit OTTI loss recorded in net income (loss) for the first quarter of 2012.
The Company assessed its intent and ability to hold certain equity securities that were in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2012 and determined it did not need to recognize any OTTI losses in the three months ended March 31, 2012.
33
Net Foreign Exchange Gains and Losses
For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company remeasured its monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, which resulted in a net foreign exchange gain of $18.1 million compared to a net foreign exchange gain of $6.9 million for the same period of 2011. The net foreign exchange gain in the quarter ended March 31, 2012 resulted from a decrease in the value of Japanese Yen denominated net liabilities as the U.S. dollar and British Sterling strengthened against the Yen and an increase in the value of net asset positions in other key currencies as the U.S. dollar generally weakened during the period. In addition, foreign exchange gains were recognized in income as revaluations on investments recorded in other comprehensive income were realized. In the prior year, the net foreign exchange gain was due to offsetting exposures across the Company as the U.S. dollar weakened against other major currencies.
Net Losses and Loss Expenses
The Company’s reported net losses and loss expenses are characterized by various factors and are significantly impacted by the occurrence or absence of catastrophic events and subsequent loss emergence related to such events. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company incurred catastrophe losses arising from windstorms in Kentucky, which impacted the Company’s net loss ratio in the Reinsurance segment. The Company recorded losses, net of reinsurance, reinstatement premiums and other loss sensitive accruals, of $22.5 million in relation to these events, which added 5.8 percentage points to the Company’s net loss ratio for the first quarter of 2012. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Tohuko, Japan earthquake and tsunami, Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake and floods experienced in Queensland, Australia adversely affected the Company’s net loss ratio in the Reinsurance segment. The Company recorded losses, net of reinstatement premiums and other loss sensitive accruals, of $184.8 million in relation to the three events, which added 48.8 percentage points to the Company’s net loss ratio for the first quarter of 2011. In addition, the Company recorded lower reserves for attritional losses across the Insurance segment lines of business in the first quarter of 2012 compared to 2011.
Favorable prior year loss reserve development was $16.9 million for the first quarter of 2012 compared to $48.7 million during the same period in 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, prior year loss reserves emerged favorably across each line of the Insurance segment and the short and long tail lines of the Reinsurance segment. Favorable reserve development in the first quarter of 2012 was less than the first quarter of 2011 principally due to the agriculture line of business, which experienced a later and stronger harvest in the 2010 crop year than in the 2011 crop year. The impact of the later and stronger harvest in the 2010 crop year was an extension of claims settlements into the first quarter of 2011, which consequently experienced significant favorable development.
The Company participates in lines of business where claims may not be reported for many years. Accordingly, management does not believe that reported claims are the only valid means for estimating ultimate obligations. Ultimate losses and loss expenses may differ materially from the amounts recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. These estimates are reviewed regularly and, as experience develops and new information becomes known, the reserves are adjusted as necessary. Reserve adjustments, if any, are recorded in earnings in the period in which they are determined. The overall loss reserves were established by the Company’s actuaries and reflect management’s best estimate of ultimate losses. See “Reserve for Losses and Loss Expenses” below for further discussion.
Acquisition Expenses
The acquisition expense ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was lower than that for the same period in 2011 because of a shift in business mix in the Reinsurance segment as the catastrophe line of business increased its share of earned premiums and has lower relative acquisition costs and the casualty line of business has seen a decline in its share of earned premiums and has higher relative acquisition costs.
General and Administrative Expenses
The Company’s general and administrative expense ratio for the first quarter of 2012 decreased compared to the same period in 2011 due to higher earned premiums primarily in the property line of the Reinsurance segment. General and administrative expense was comparable in the first quarter of 2012 compared to 2011. A reduction in annual incentive expense caused by a lower payout of 2011 annual incentive than accrued was offset by higher severance payments and increased consulting and facilities costs. At March 31, 2012, the Company had a total of 840 employees compared to 836 employees at March 31, 2011.
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Income Tax Benefit
The Company recorded a tax benefit for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 of $0.2 million compared to a tax benefit of $14.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. The decline was due to significant net losses experienced in the Company’s United States taxable jurisdictions in 2011.
Net Income (Loss)
The Company produced net income of $82.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to a net loss of $87.4 million in the same period of 2011 primarily as a result of the decrease in catastrophe losses during the current period.
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Reserve for Losses and Loss Expenses
In order to capture the key dynamics of loss development and expected volatility that may arise within the disclosed amounts for the reserve for losses and loss expenses, the key lines of business within each business segment are aggregated based on their potential expected length of loss emergence. The period over which loss emergence occurs is typically referred to as the tail. The Company has classified its lines of business as either having a “short,” “long” or “other” tail pattern. The Company views short tail business as that for which development typically emerges within a period of several quarters while long tail business would emerge over many years. The Company’s lines of business are generally included in the following reserving categories:
Insurance Segment – Short Tail Line
Insurance Segment – Long Tail Lines
| • | | Workers compensation (discontinued) |
Insurance Segment – Other Tail Lines
Reinsurance Segment – Short Tail Lines
Reinsurance Segment – Long Tail Lines
Reinsurance Segment – Other Tail Lines
As of March 31, 2012, the Company had accrued losses and loss expense reserves of $3.8 billion (December 31, 2011—$3.8 billion). This amount represents management’s best estimate of the ultimate liability for payment of losses and loss expenses related to loss events. During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company’s net paid losses and loss expenses were $153.6 million and $183.4 million, respectively.
As more fully described under “Reserving Process” in the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company incorporates a variety of actuarial methods and judgments in its reserving process. Two key inputs in the various actuarial methods employed by the Company are initial expected loss ratios and expected loss reporting patterns. These key inputs impact the potential variability in the estimate of the reserve for losses and loss expenses and are applicable to each of the Company’s business segments. The Company’s loss and loss expense reserves consider and reflect, in part, deviations resulting from differences between expected loss and actual loss reporting as well as judgments relating to the weights applied to the reserve levels indicated by the actuarial methods. Expected loss reporting patterns are based upon internal and external historical data and assumptions regarding claims reporting trends over a period of time that extends beyond the Company’s own operating history.
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Differences between actual reported losses and expected losses are anticipated to occur in any individual period and such deviations may influence future initial expected loss ratios and/or expected loss reporting patterns as the recent actual experience becomes part of the historical data utilized as part of the ongoing reserve estimation process. The Company has demonstrated the impact of changes in the speed of the loss reporting patterns, as well as changes in the expected loss ratios, within the table under the heading “Potential Variability in Reserves for Losses and Loss Expenses” in the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Losses and loss expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are summarized as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Incurred related to: | | | | |
| | Current year | | | Prior years | | | Total incurred losses | |
| | (U.S. dollars in thousands) | |
Insurance: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short tail | | $ | 7,808 | | | $ | (4,447 | ) | | $ | 3,361 | |
Long tail | | | 61,227 | | | | (331 | ) | | | 60,896 | |
Other | | | 52,514 | | | | (3,069 | ) | | | 49,445 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Insurance | | | 121,549 | | | | (7,847 | ) | | | 113,702 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reinsurance: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short tail | | | 103,401 | | | $ | (6,150 | ) | | | 97,251 | |
Long tail | | | 52,561 | | | | (4,982 | ) | | | 47,579 | |
Other | | | 2,157 | | | | 2,078 | | | | 4,235 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Reinsurance | | | 158,119 | | | | (9,054 | ) | | | 149,065 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Totals | | $ | 279,668 | | | $ | (16,901 | ) | | $ | 262,767 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Losses and loss expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2012 included $16.9 million in favorable development of reserves relating to prior accident years. This favorable loss reserve development benefited the Company’s reported net loss ratio by approximately 4.1 percentage points. The net reduction in estimated losses for prior accident years reflects lower than expected loss emergence in all of the Company’s reserve categories within the Insurance segment and the short and long tail categories within the Reinsurance segment.
For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company did not materially alter the two key inputs utilized to establish reserve for losses and loss expenses (initial expected loss ratios and loss reporting patterns) related to prior years for the insurance and reinsurance reserve categories as the variances in reported losses for those reserve categories were within the range of possible results anticipated by the Company.
Insurance
Short Tail Insurance. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the favorable loss development in the short tail insurance reserve category was primarily due to lower than expected claims reported and favorable case reserve development in the Company’s property line of business.
Long Tail Insurance.For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recorded a modest amount of favorable loss emergence within this reserve category primarily due to lower than expected claims activity within the healthcare liability, casualty and professional lines of business. This favorable loss emergence was partially offset by adverse loss development within the workers’ compensation and U.S. based casualty lines of business. The Company exited the workers’ compensation insurance line of business in 2009.
Other Insurance. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recorded favorable loss emergence within this category due to lower than anticipated agriculture claims settlements for the 2011 crop year.
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Reinsurance
Short Tail Reinsurance. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recorded overall favorable loss emergence within this reserve category primarily due to lower than expected claims activity and favorable case reserve development within the catastrophe, aerospace and marine and surety and other specialty lines of business, partially offset by adverse loss development within the property line of business.
Long Tail Reinsurance. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recorded favorable loss emergence within this reserve category primarily due to lower than expected claims reported within the casualty line of business.
Other Reinsurance. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recorded a modest amount of adverse loss emergence within this reserve category primarily due to higher than expected European agriculture claims that resulted from challenging weather conditions in 2011.
Losses and loss expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 are summarized as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Incurred related to: | | | | |
| | Current year | | | Prior years | | | Total incurred losses | |
| | (U.S. dollars in thousands) | |
Insurance: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short tail | | $ | 13,334 | | | $ | (9,274 | ) | | $ | 4,060 | |
Long tail | | | 65,207 | | | | (2,560 | ) | | | 62,647 | |
Other | | | 54,907 | | | | (22,778 | ) | | | 32,129 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Insurance | | | 133,448 | | | | (34,612 | ) | | | 98,836 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reinsurance: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short tail | | | 259,738 | | | | (14,163 | ) | | | 245,575 | |
Long tail | | | 55,003 | | | | 275 | | | | 55,278 | |
Other | | | 2,369 | | | | (205 | ) | | | 2,164 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Reinsurance | | | 317,110 | | | | (14,093 | ) | | | 303,017 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Totals | | $ | 450,558 | | | $ | (48,705 | ) | | $ | 401,853 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Losses and loss expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 included $48.7 million in favorable development of reserves relating to prior accident years. This favorable development benefited the Company’s reported net loss ratio by approximately 12.7 percentage points. This net reduction in estimated losses for prior accident years resulted primarily from lower than expected claims emergence across all lines of business included within the Insurance segment and in the short tail and other lines of business in the Reinsurance segment.
For the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company did not materially alter the two key inputs utilized to establish reserve for losses and loss expenses (initial expected loss ratios and loss reporting patterns) related to prior years for the insurance and reinsurance reserve categories as the variances in reported losses for those reserve categories were within the range of possible results anticipated by the Company.
Insurance
Short Tail Insurance. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, the favorable loss emergence in the short tail insurance reserve category was primarily due to lower than expected claims reported within the property line of business.
Long Tail Insurance.For the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company recorded overall favorable loss emergence within this reserve category primarily due to lower than expected claims activity within the Bermuda based healthcare and casualty lines of business. This favorable loss emergence was partially offset by adverse loss development within the professional, workers’ compensation and U.S. based casualty lines of business. The Company exited the workers’ compensation insurance line of business in 2009.
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Other Insurance. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company recorded favorable loss emergence within this reserve category due to lower than anticipated agriculture claims settlements for the 2010 crop year.
Reinsurance
Short Tail Reinsurance. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company recorded overall favorable loss emergence within this reserve category primarily due to lower than expected claims activity and favorable case reserve development within the catastrophe line of business, partially offset by adverse loss development within the property line of business.
Long Tail Reinsurance. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company recorded a modest amount of adverse loss emergence within this reserve category primarily due to higher than expected claims reported within the casualty line of business, partially offset by favorable loss development in the professional liability portion of the casualty line of business.
Other Reinsurance. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company recorded a modest amount of favorable loss emergence within this reserve category primarily due to lower than expected claims reported within the agriculture line of business.
The total reserves for losses and loss expenses recorded on the Company’s balance sheet were comprised of the following at March 31, 2012:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Case Reserves | | | IBNR Reserves | | | Reserve for losses and loss expenses | |
| | (U.S. dollars in thousands) | |
Insurance: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short tail | | $ | 29,993 | | | $ | 26,270 | | | $ | 56,263 | |
Long tail | | | 408,703 | | | | 1,233,227 | | | | 1,641,930 | |
Other | | | 52,447 | | | | 119,696 | | | | 172,143 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Insurance | | | 491,143 | | | | 1,379,193 | | | | 1,870,336 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reinsurance: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short tail | | | 531,683 | | | | 356,644 | | | | 888,327 | |
Long tail | | | 292,812 | | | | 702,068 | | | | 994,880 | |
Other | | | 3,081 | | | | 4,205 | | | | 7,286 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Reinsurance | | | 827,576 | | | | 1,062,917 | | | | 1,890,493 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Totals | | $ | 1,318,719 | | | $ | 2,442,110 | | | $ | 3,760,829 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
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The total reserves for losses and loss expenses recorded on the Company’s balance sheet were comprised of the following at December 31, 2011:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Case Reserves | | | IBNR Reserves | | | Reserve for losses and loss expenses | |
| | (U.S. dollars in thousands) | |
Insurance: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short tail | | $ | 31,408 | | | $ | 26,313 | | | $ | 57,721 | |
Long tail | | | 404,377 | | | | 1,219,844 | | | | 1,624,221 | |
Other | | | 203,844 | | | | 51,757 | | | | 255,601 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Insurance | | | 639,629 | | | | 1,297,914 | | | | 1,937,543 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reinsurance: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short tail | | | 497,218 | | | | 405,274 | | | | 902,492 | |
Long tail | | | 284,619 | | | | 694,788 | | | | 979,407 | |
Other | | | 403 | | | | 4,379 | | | | 4,782 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Reinsurance | | | 782,240 | | | | 1,104,441 | | | | 1,886,681 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Totals | | $ | 1,421,869 | | | $ | 2,402,355 | | | $ | 3,824,224 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Underwriting Results by Business Segments
The determination of the Company’s business segments is based on the manner in which management monitors the performance of the Company’s underwriting operations. As a result, we report two business segments – Insurance and Reinsurance.
Management measures the Company’s results on the basis of the combined ratio, which is obtained by dividing the sum of the losses and loss expenses, acquisition expenses and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned. The Company’s historic combined ratios may not be indicative of future underwriting performance. When purchased within a single line of business, ceded reinsurance and recoveries are accounted for within that line of business. When purchased across multiple lines of business, ceded reinsurance and recoveries are allocated to the lines of business in proportion to the related risks assumed. The Company does not manage its assets by business segment; accordingly, investment income and total assets are not allocated to the individual business segments. General and administrative expenses incurred by the business segments are allocated directly. Remaining general and administrative expenses not directly incurred by the business segments are allocated primarily based on estimated consumption, headcount and other variables deemed relevant to the allocation of such expenses. Ceded reinsurance and recoveries are recorded within the business segment to which they apply.
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Insurance
The following table summarizes the underwriting results and associated ratios for the Company’s Insurance segment for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | | | | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | Change(1) | |
| | (U.S. dollars in thousands) | | | | |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross premiums written | | $ | 635,347 | | | $ | 625,831 | | | | 1.5 | % |
Ceded premiums written | | | (207,566 | ) | | | (193,535 | ) | | | 7.2 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net premiums written | | | 427,781 | | | | 432,296 | | | | (1.0 | )% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net premiums earned | | | 161,630 | | | | 162,492 | | | | (0.5 | )% |
Other underwriting income | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 161,630 | | | | 162,492 | | | | (0.5 | )% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Losses and loss expenses | | | 113,702 | | | | 98,836 | | | | 15.0 | % |
Acquisition expenses | | | 16,214 | | | | 16,308 | | | | (0.6 | )% |
General and administrative expenses | | | 34,435 | | | | 36,806 | | | | (6.4 | )% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 164,351 | | | | 151,950 | | | | 8.2 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Underwriting (loss) income | | $ | (2,721 | ) | | $ | 10,542 | | | | NM | (2) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss ratio | | | 70.4 | % | | | 60.8 | % | | | 9.6 | |
Acquisition expense ratio | | | 10.0 | % | | | 10.0 | % | | | — | |
General and administrative expense ratio | | | 21.3 | % | | | 22.7 | % | | | (1.4 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Combined ratio | | | 101.7 | % | | | 93.5 | % | | | 8.2 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | With respect to ratios, changes show increase or decrease in percentage points. |
Premiums. Gross premiums written for the first quarter of 2012 in the Insurance segment increased by $9.5 million over the first quarter of 2011. Gross and net premiums written for each line of business in the Insurance segment for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
| | Gross Premiums Written | | | Net Premiums Written | | | Gross Premiums Written | | | Net Premiums Written | |
| | (U.S. dollars in thousands) | |
Agriculture | | $ | 533,667 | | | $ | 354,920 | | | $ | 508,705 | | | $ | 346,472 | |
Professional lines | | | 36,345 | | | | 30,205 | | | | 35,469 | | | | 31,124 | |
Casualty | | | 37,827 | | | | 26,463 | | | | 38,882 | | | | 25,759 | |
Property | | | 9,844 | | | | 833 | | | | 24,690 | | | | 12,585 | |
Healthcare liability | | | 16,653 | | | | 14,348 | | | | 18,137 | | | | 16,406 | |
Surety and other specialty | | | 1,011 | | | | 1,012 | | | | (52 | ) | | | (50 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 635,347 | | | $ | 427,781 | | | $ | 625,831 | | | $ | 432,296 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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The decrease in the Insurance segment’s net premiums written for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to 2011 was driven by the following factors:
| • | | A decline in the property line of the Insurance segment in the quarter ended March 31, 2012 compared to 2011 as the Company significantly curtailed premiums in several products within this line of business in an effort to reallocate capital to more profitable lines of business; and |
| • | | Growth in the agriculture line of the Insurance segment arising from an increase in policy count offset by the impact of reduced commodity prices on premiums. |
Ceded premiums written by the Company increased in the quarter ended March 31, 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 because of increased cessions in the agriculture line to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation associated with the growth in gross premiums written and from increased cessions of risks from the southern United States.
Agriculture insurance writings are seasonal in nature with the majority of net premiums written recorded in the first and third quarters of the year. The net premiums earned by the Company in the Insurance segment reduced marginally in the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to 2011.
Net Losses and Loss Expenses. The loss ratio in the Company’s Insurance segment for the three months ended March 31, 2012 increased 9.6 percentage points compared to the same period in 2011. The current accident quarter loss ratio decreased by 8.2 percentage points for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 due to lower loss ratios in the Company’s agriculture, property, casualty and professional lines. In the agriculture line, lower accident year loss ratios were due to improved growing conditions in the southern U.S. year over year. In the property line, a few large losses from winter storms contributed to the higher loss ratio in the prior period compared to the first quarter of 2012.
During the first quarter of 2012 the Company’s previously estimated loss and loss expense reserve for the Insurance segment for prior accident years was reduced by $7.8 million, which decreased the net loss ratio by 4.9 percentage points, as compared to reductions of $34.6 million, which decreased the net loss ratio by 21.3 percentage points, for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The higher level of favorable loss development in the first quarter of 2011 compared to 2012 was driven by the agriculture line of business. The higher development in the first quarter of 2011 resulted from the combination of strong performance during the 2010 crop year with a delayed harvest that extended claims settlements until the first quarter of 2011 compared to the 2011 crop year, which did not experience the same level of harvest delays or extension of claim settlements into the first quarter of 2012.
Acquisition Expenses.The Company’s acquisition expenses and acquisition ratio in the Insurance segment in the first quarter of 2012 were comparable to the same period in 2011.
General and Administrative Expenses.The general and administrative expense ratio in the Insurance segment for the first quarter of 2012 decreased 1.4 percentage points compared to the same period in 2011 as a result of reduced staffing and higher third party commissions and expense reimbursement offsets in the agriculture line of business.
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Reinsurance
The following table summarizes the underwriting results and associated ratios for the Company’s Reinsurance business segment for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | | | | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | Change(1) | |
| | (U.S. dollars in thousands) | | | | |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross premiums written | | $ | 426,302 | | | $ | 374,527 | | | | 13.8 | % |
Ceded premiums written | | | (11,027 | ) | | | (7,951 | ) | | | 38.7 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net premiums written | | | 415,275 | | | | 366,576 | | | | 13.3 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net premiums earned | | | 250,005 | | | | 220,341 | | | | 13.5 | % |
Other underwriting loss | | | (335 | ) | | | (1,069 | ) | | | (68.7 | )% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 249,670 | | | | 219,272 | | | | 13.9 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Losses and loss expenses | | | 149,065 | | | | 303,017 | | | | (50.8 | )% |
Acquisition expenses | | | 52,275 | | | | 49,310 | | | | 6.0 | % |
General and administrative expenses | | | 31,606 | | | | 29,155 | | | | 8.4 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 232,946 | | | | 381,482 | | | | (38.9 | )% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Underwriting income (loss) | | $ | 16,724 | | | $ | (162,210 | ) | | | NM | (2) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss ratio | | | 59.7 | % | | | 137.5 | % | | | (77.8 | ) |
Acquisition expense ratio | | | 20.9 | % | | | 22.4 | % | | | (1.5 | ) |
General and administrative expense ratio | | | 12.6 | % | | | 13.2 | % | | | (0.6 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Combined ratio | | | 93.2 | % | | | 173.1 | % | | | (79.9 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | With respect to ratios, changes show increase or decrease in percentage points. |
Premiums. In the first quarter of 2012, net premiums written in the Reinsurance segment increased by 13.3% over the first quarter of 2011. Gross and net premiums written for each line of business in the Reinsurance segment for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
| | Gross Premiums Written | | | Net Premiums Written | | | Gross Premiums Written | | | Net Premiums Written | |
| | (U.S. dollars in thousands) | |
Catastrophe | | $ | 143,182 | | | $ | 133,718 | | | $ | 138,247 | | | $ | 131,123 | |
Casualty | | | 121,674 | | | | 120,437 | | | | 116,352 | | | | 115,554 | |
Property | | | 106,746 | | | | 106,746 | | | | 70,087 | | | | 70,087 | |
Aerospace and marine | | | 25,629 | | | | 25,593 | | | | 20,838 | | | | 20,839 | |
Surety and other specialty | | | 29,071 | | | | 28,781 | | | | 29,003 | | | | 28,973 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 426,302 | | | $ | 415,275 | | | $ | 374,527 | | | $ | 366,576 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The net increase in net premiums written in the Reinsurance segment for the current quarter compared to the same period in 2011 was primarily due to the following factors:
| • | | An increase in the property line in the quarter ended March 31, 2012 compared to 2011 as a result of new premiums and growth in renewal premiums written by the Company’s Zurich branch together with improved pricing on renewals across the Company’s other property businesses; |
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| • | | Growth in the aerospace and marine line resulting from new marine business written by the Company’s Zurich branch; |
| • | | Growth in the casualty line arising from a single large positive premium adjustment; and |
| • | | Premium rate increases in certain internationally exposed parts of the catastrophe line of business. |
Ceded premiums written by the Company increased in the quarter ended March 31, 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 because of increased cessions of risks in the Company’s catastrophe reinsurance line of business. Net premiums earned by the Company in the Reinsurance segment for the three months ended March 31, 2012 increased compared to the first quarter of 2011 as a result of the growth in net premiums written in the last twelve months.
Net Losses and Loss Expenses. The net loss ratio in the Company’s Reinsurance segment for the three months ended March 31, 2012 decreased compared to the first quarter of 2011 as a result of the lower catastrophe losses incurred in the period. The Company recorded losses, net of reinstatement premiums and other loss sensitive accruals, of $22.5 million in relation to the Kentucky windstorms that occurred during the period. The net losses from these events added 9.7 percentage points to the Reinsurance segment’s net loss ratio for the first quarter of 2012. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company incurred losses of $184.8 million related to the Tohuko, Japan earthquake and tsunami, Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake and floods experienced in Queensland, Australia. The net losses from those events added 84.8 percentage points to the Reinsurance segment’s net loss ratio for the first quarter of 2011.
The Company recorded $9.1 million or 3.6 percentage points of favorable prior year loss reserve development in the first quarter of 2012 compared to $14.1 million or 6.4 percentage points in the same quarter last year. During the first quarter of 2012, lower favorable loss reserve development emanated from the Reinsurance segment’s short tail line of business compared to the first quarter of 2011, due to lower than expected claims emergence in the prior year within the catastrophe line of business.
Acquisition Expenses. The Company’s acquisition expense ratio in the Reinsurance segment decreased for the first quarter of 2012 as compared to the first quarter of 2011. The decrease in the acquisition expense ratio for the first quarter was generally due to a shift in business mix as the catastrophe line of business, which incurs lower relative acquisition costs, increased its share of earned premiums and the casualty line of business, which incurs higher relative acquisition costs, has seen a decline in its share of earned premiums.
General and Administrative Expenses. The general and administrative expense ratio experienced by the Reinsurance segment in the three months ended March 31, 2012 reduced in comparison to the same period in 2011 as modest growth in expenditures was more than offset by an increase in net earned premiums.
Significant Transactions and Events
Credit Facility. On April 19, 2012 the Company and certain designated subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $700.0 million four-year revolving credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent (the “Credit Facility”). Upon entering into the Credit Facility, the Company terminated its existing $1,175.0 million amended and restated credit agreement dated May 8, 2007 with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent. As of March 31, 2012, there were no borrowings under this facility and letters of credit outstanding under the facility were $375.8 million. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources - Credit Facility” below.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Endurance Holdings is a holding company that does not have any significant operations or assets other than its ownership of the shares of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. Endurance Holdings relies primarily on dividends and other permitted distributions from its subsidiaries to pay its operating expenses, interest on debt and dividends, if any, on its ordinary shares, its 7.75% Non-Cumulative Preferred Shares, Series A (“Series A Preferred Shares”) and its 7.5% Non-Cumulative Preferred Shares, Series B (“Series B Preferred Shares”). There are restrictions on the payment of dividends by the Company’s operating subsidiaries to Endurance Holdings, which are described in more detail below.
Ability of Subsidiaries to Pay Dividends.The ability of Endurance Bermuda to pay dividends is dependent on its ability to meet the requirements of applicable Bermuda law and regulations. Under Bermuda law, Endurance Bermuda may not declare or pay a dividend if there are reasonable grounds for believing that Endurance Bermuda is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due, or the realizable value of Endurance Bermuda’s assets would thereby be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium accounts. Further, Endurance Bermuda, as a regulated insurance company in Bermuda, is subject to additional regulatory restrictions on the payment of dividends or distributions. As of March 31, 2012, Endurance Bermuda could pay a dividend or return additional paid-in capital totaling approximately $571.6 million (December 31, 2011 – $605.6 million) without prior regulatory approval based upon the Bermuda insurance and corporate regulations. In 2011, Endurance Holdings loaned Endurance Bermuda $200 million, which remains outstanding and is callable on demand.
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Endurance U.S. Reinsurance, Endurance American, Endurance American Specialty and Endurance Risk Solutions are subject to regulation by the State of Delaware Department of Insurance and ARMtech is subject to regulation by the Texas Department of Insurance. Dividends for each U.S. operating subsidiary are limited to the greater of 10% of policyholders’ surplus or statutory net income, excluding realized capital gains. In addition, dividends may only be declared or distributed out of earned surplus. At December 31, 2011, Endurance U.S. Reinsurance, Endurance American, Endurance Risk Solutions and Endurance American Specialty did not have earned surplus; therefore, these companies are precluded from declaring or distributing dividends at March 31, 2012 without the prior approval of the applicable insurance regulator. At March 31, 2012, ARMtech (with notice to the Texas Department of Insurance) could pay dividends of $3.9 million without prior regulatory approval from the applicable regulators. In addition, any dividends paid by Endurance American, Endurance American Specialty and Endurance Risk Solutions would be subject to the dividend limitation of their respective parent insurance companies.
Under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom’s Financial Services Authority (“FSA”), Endurance U.K. must maintain a margin of solvency at all times, which is determined based on the type and amount of insurance business written. The FSA regulatory requirements impose no explicit restrictions on Endurance U.K.’s ability to pay a dividend, but Endurance U.K. would have to notify the FSA 28 days prior to any proposed dividend payment. Dividends may only be distributed from profits available for distributions. At March 31, 2012, Endurance U.K. did not have profits available for distributions.
Cash and Invested Assets. The Company’s aggregate invested assets, including fixed maturity investments, short term investments, equity securities, other investments (consisting of alternative and specialty funds), cash and cash equivalents and pending securities transactions, as of March 31, 2012 totaled $6.3 billion which is consistent with the aggregate invested assets of $6.3 billion as of December 31, 2011.
The Company’s aggregate direct exposure to the indebtedness and equity securities of those countries whose currency is the Euro or whose sovereign debt rating is below AAA (except the U.S.) was $208.7 million at March 31, 2012, compared to $239.8 million at December 31, 2011. On April 26, 2012, Standard & Poor’s downgraded the sovereign ratings of Spain from “A” to “BBB-plus”. If this downgrade was in effect at March 31, 2012, the total fair value of the Company’s securities having an “A” rating would have declined by $0.3 million, while securities having a “BBB” rating would have increased by the same amount. The Company does not have any direct exposure to sovereign debt issued by Ireland, Greece or Portugal.
In addition to the direct exposures above, the Company has indirect exposure to sovereign and non-sovereign investments whose currency is the Euro or whose sovereign debt rating is below AAA through a hedge fund with a primary focus on European indebtedness, principally focused on benefitting from the declining value of European sovereign indebtedness. The Company’s investment in the hedge fund was $20.0 million and its fair market value as of March 31, 2012 was in excess of that amount.
Cash Flows
| | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
| | (U.S. dollars in thousands) | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | $ | 24,905 | | | $ | 181,282 | |
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | | | (210,336 | ) | | | 115,189 | |
Net cash used in financing activities | | | (25,758 | ) | | | (341,943 | ) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | | | (91 | ) | | | 4,390 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | | | (211,280 | ) | | | (41,082 | ) |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | | | 890,914 | | | | 609,852 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | | $ | 679,634 | | | $ | 568,770 | |
| | | | | | | | |
In the three months to March 31, 2012, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents decreased $211.3 million to $679.6 million. In the three months to March 31, 2011, cash and cash equivalents decreased by $41.1 million to $568.8 million.
Cash flows provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 were $24.9 million compared to $181.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The decrease in cash flows provided by operating activities during 2012 was primarily due to higher claim payments and decreased premium collections, offset by an increase in net income.
During the three months ended March 31, 2012, cash flows used in investing activities were $210.3 million, compared to cash flows provided by investing activities of $115.2 million for the same period in 2011. The Company manages it investment portfolio to generate attractive economic returns and income while providing the Company with liquidity. Movements in financial markets and interest rates influence the timing of investment sales and purchases. The cash flows used in investing activities in 2012 principally reflected $198.7 million in net purchases within our investment portfolio, while 2011 reflected net proceeds of $132.9 million from the sale and maturity of investments.
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Our cash flows used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 were $25.8 million, compared to cash flows used in financing activities of $341.9 million for the same period in 2011. The cash flows used in financing activities in 2011 was significantly higher than in 2012 principally due to the repurchases of common shares in 2011.
During the three months ended 2012, the Company repurchased $1.0 million of its 6.15% Senior Notes due October 15, 2015. During the three months ended March 31 2011, the Company used its capital to repurchase its ordinary shares and share equivalents in open market and private transactions. On January 28, 2011, the Company repurchased 7,143,056 ordinary shares and options to purchase 10,000 ordinary shares from two affiliated funds of Perry Corp., a founding shareholder of Endurance. The aggregate repurchase price for the shares and the options was $321.5 million. The ordinary shares acquired by the Company represented approximately 15% of its ordinary shares outstanding at December 31, 2010. Endurance Holdings funded the repurchase of these shares primarily from calling an outstanding loan between Endurance Holdings and Endurance Bermuda. Endurance Bermuda funded the settlement of the loan from its existing cash and investments. The repurchase did not impact the disclosed dividend payment capacity of Endurance Bermuda as of December 31, 2011.
As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had pledged cash and cash equivalents and fixed maturity investments of $175.1 million and $171.4 million, respectively, in favor of certain ceding companies to collateralize obligations. As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had also pledged $435.1 million and $517.2 million of its cash and fixed maturity investments to meet collateral obligations for $375.8 million and $447.3 million in letters of credit outstanding under its credit facility, respectively. In addition, at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, cash and fixed maturity investments with fair values of $361.6 million and $370.4 million were on deposit with U.S. state regulators, respectively, and cash and fixed maturity investments with fair values of $1.3 million and $7.6 million were on deposit with Canadian regulators, respectively.
Credit Facility.On April 19, 2012 the Company and certain designated subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $700.0 million four-year revolving credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan”) as administrative agent (the “Credit Facility”). Upon entering into the Credit Facility, the Company terminated its existing $1,175.0 million amended and restated credit agreement dated May 8, 2007 with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent. As of March 31, 2012, there were no borrowings under this facility and letters of credit outstanding under the facility were $375.8 million.
The Credit Facility consists of two tranches: (i) a tranche 1 secured credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $560.0 million (the “Tranche 1 Facility”), which is secured on a several basis by the respective entity incurring such obligation by cash and securities deposited into collateral accounts from time to time with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and (ii) a tranche 2 unsecured facility in an aggregate principal amount of $140.0 million (the “Tranche 2 Facility”). The proceeds of the Credit Facility may be used for general corporate purposes, to finance potential acquisitions and for the repurchase of the Company’s outstanding publicly or privately issued securities. So long as the Company is not in default under the terms of the Credit Facility, the Company may request that the size of the Credit Facility be increased by $350.0 million, provided that no participating lender is obligated to increase its commitments under the Credit Facility.
For letters of credit issued on a collateralized basis under the Tranche 1 Facility, the Company is required to pay a fee of 0.45% on the daily stated amount of such letters of credit. For letters of credit issued on an uncollateralized basis under the Tranche 2 Facility, the Company is required to pay a fee ranging from 1.125% to 1.750% over LIBOR on the daily stated amount of such letters of credit based upon the Company debt ratings as issued by Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s. The interest rate for revolving loans under the Tranche 2 Facility is (a) the highest of (i) 0.5% in excess of the federal funds effective rate, (ii) the prime rate as announced by JP Morgan and (iii) the Eurodollar rate applicable for an interest period of one month plus 1%, plus a margin ranging from 0.125% to 0.750% depending upon the type of loan and the Company’s ratings as issued by Moody’s and S&P or (b) LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 1.125% to 1.750%. In addition, the Credit Facility requires the Company to pay to the lenders a commitment fee.
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The Credit Facility requires the Company’s compliance with certain customary restrictive covenants. These include certain financial covenants, such as maintaining a leverage ratio (no greater than 0.35:1.00 at any time) and a consolidated tangible net worth (no less than $1.8 billion at any time). In addition, each of the Company’s regulated insurance subsidiaries that has a claims paying rating from A.M. Best must maintain a rating of at least B++ at all times. The terms of the Credit Facility restrict the declaration or payment of dividends if the Company is already in default or the payment or declaration would cause a default under the terms of the Credit Facility.
The Credit Facility also contains customary event of default provisions, including failure to pay principal or interest under the Credit Facility, insolvency of the Company, a change in control of the Company, a breach of the Company’s representations or covenants in the Credit Facility or a default by the Company under its other indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Credit Facility, the lenders can terminate their commitments under the Credit Facility, require repayment of any outstanding revolving loans, give notice of termination of any outstanding letters of credit in accordance with their terms, require the delivery of cash collateral for outstanding letters of credit and foreclose on any security held by the lenders under the Credit Facility.
Historically, the operating subsidiaries of the Company have generated sufficient cash flows to meet all of their obligations. Because of the inherent volatility of the business written by the Company, the seasonality in the timing of payments by ceding companies, the irregular timing of loss payments, the impact of a change in interest rates on the Company’s investment returns as well as seasonality in coupon payment dates for fixed maturity investments, cash flows from the Company’s operating activities may vary significantly between periods. The Company expects to continue to generate positive operating cash flows through 2012, absent the occurrence of additional significant catastrophic events. In the event that paid losses accelerate beyond the ability to fund such payments from operating cash flows, the Company would use its cash balances available, liquidate a portion of its investment portfolio, access its existing credit facility, or arrange for additional financing. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in executing these strategies.
Currency and Foreign Exchange
The Company’s functional currencies are U.S. dollars for its U.S. and Bermuda operations and British Sterling for its U.K. operations. The reporting currency for all operations is U.S. dollars. The Company maintains a portion of its investments and liabilities in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Company has made a significant investment in the capitalization of Endurance U.K, which is subject to the FSA’s rules concerning the matching of the currency of its assets to the currency of its liabilities. Depending on the profile of Endurance U.K.’s liabilities, it may be required to hold some of its assets in currencies corresponding to the currencies of its liabilities. The Company may, from time to time, experience gains or losses resulting from fluctuations in the values of foreign currencies, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.
Assets and liabilities of foreign operations whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses of such foreign operations are translated at average exchange rates during the year. The effect of the translation adjustments for foreign operations is included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Other monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are revalued at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date with the resulting foreign exchange gains and losses included in earnings. Revenues and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the prevailing exchange rate on the transaction date.
Effects of Inflation
The effects of inflation could cause the severity of claims to rise in the future. The Company’s estimates for losses and loss expenses include assumptions about future payments for settlement of claims and claims handling expenses, such as medical treatments and litigation costs. To the extent inflation causes these costs to increase above reserves established for these claims, the Company will be required to increase the reserve for losses and loss expenses with a corresponding reduction in its earnings in the period in which the deficiency is identified. In addition, inflation could lead to higher interest rates causing the current unrealized gain position on the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio to decrease or become an unrealized loss position. The current short duration of the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio has the potential to help reduce the negative effects of higher interest rates on the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio. The Company may also choose to hold its fixed income investments to maturity which would result in the unrealized gains largely amortizing through net investment income.
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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements under “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”). The PSLRA provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to us specifically and the insurance and reinsurance business generally, investments, capital markets and the general economic environments in which we operate. Statements which include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “will,” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements for the purposes of the PSLRA or otherwise.
All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
| • | | the effects of competitors’ pricing policies, and of changes in laws and regulations on competition, industry consolidation and development of competing financial products; |
| • | | greater frequency or severity of claims and loss activity, including as a result of natural or man-made catastrophic events, than our underwriting, reserving or investment practices have anticipated; |
| • | | greater frequency or severity of loss activity, as a result of changing climate conditions; |
| • | | changes in market conditions in the agriculture industry, which may vary depending upon demand for agricultural products, weather, commodity prices, natural disasters, technological advances in agricultural practices, changes in U.S. and foreign legislation and policies related to agricultural products and producers; |
| • | | termination of or changes in the terms of the U.S. multiple peril crop insurance program and termination or changes to the U.S. farm bill, including modifications to the Standard Reinsurance Agreement put in place by the Risk Management Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture; |
| • | | decreased demand for property and casualty insurance or reinsurance or increased competition due to an increase in capacity of property and casualty insurers and reinsurers; |
| • | | changes in the availability, cost or quality of reinsurance or retrocessional coverage; |
| • | | the inability to renew business previously underwritten or acquired; |
| • | | the inability to obtain or maintain financial strength or claims-paying ratings by one or more of our subsidiaries; |
| • | | our ability to effectively integrate acquired operations and to continue to expand our business; |
| • | | uncertainties in our reserving process, including the potential for adverse development of our loss reserves or failure of our loss limitation methods; |
| • | | the ability of the counterparty institutions with which we conduct business to continue to meet their obligations to us; |
| • | | the failure or delay of the Florida Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund or private market participants in Florida to promptly pay claims, particularly following a large windstorm or of multiple smaller storms; |
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| • | | our continued ability to comply with applicable financial standards and restrictive covenants, the breach of which could trigger significant collateral or prepayment obligations; |
| • | | Endurance Holdings or Endurance Bermuda becomes subject to income taxes in jurisdictions outside of Bermuda; |
| • | | changes in tax regulations or laws applicable to us, our subsidiaries, brokers or customers; |
| • | | state, federal and foreign regulations that impede our ability to charge adequate rates and efficiently allocate capital; |
| • | | changes in insurance regulations in the U.S. or other jurisdictions in which we operate, including the establishment of the Federal Insurance Office and other regulatory changes mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 in the United States and the implementation of Solvency II by the European Commission; |
| • | | reduced acceptance of our existing or new products and services; |
| • | | loss of business provided by any one of a few brokers on whom we depend for a large portion of our revenue, and our exposure to the credit risk of our brokers; |
| • | | actions by our competitors, many of which are larger or have greater financial resources than we do; |
| • | | assessments by states for high risk or otherwise uninsured individuals; |
| • | | the impact of acts of terrorism and acts of war; |
| • | | the effects of terrorist related insurance legislation and laws; |
| • | | political stability of Bermuda; |
| • | | changes in the political environment of certain countries in which we operate or underwrite business; |
| • | | changes in accounting regulation, policies or practices; |
| • | | our investment performance; |
| • | | the valuation of our invested assets and the determination of impairments of those assets, if any; |
| • | | the breach of our investment guidelines or the inability of those guidelines to mitigate investment risk; |
| • | | the possible further downgrade of U.S. or foreign government securities by credit rating agencies, and the resulting effect on the value of U.S. or foreign government and other securities in our investment portfolio as well as the uncertainty in the market generally; |
| • | | the need for additional capital in the future which may not be available or only available on unfavorable terms; |
| • | | the ability to maintain the availability of our systems and safeguard the security of our data in the event of a disaster or other unanticipated event; and |
| • | | changes in general economic conditions, including inflation, foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other factors. |
The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the risk factors set forth in Item 1A thereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
There have been no material changes in market risk from the information provided under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Quantitative and Qualitative Information about Market Risk” included in the Company’s 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |
a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s 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, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act.
(b) Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the Company’s first fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
We are party to various legal proceedings generally arising in the normal course of our business. While any proceeding contains an element of uncertainty, we do not believe that the eventual outcome of any litigation or arbitration proceeding to which we are presently a party could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or business. Pursuant to our insurance and reinsurance agreements, disputes are generally required to be finally settled by arbitration.
There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES | | | | |
Period | | (a) Total Number of Shares Purchased(1) | | | (b) Average Price Paid per Share | | | (c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(1)(2) | | | (d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs(1)(2) | |
January 1, 2012 – January 31, 2012 | | | — | | | $ | — | | | | — | | | | 7,000,000 | |
February 1, 2012 – February 29, 2012 | | | — | | | $ | — | | | | — | | | | 7,000,000 | |
March 1, 2012 – March 31, 2012 | | | — | | | $ | — | | | | — | | | | 7,000,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | — | | | $ | — | | | | — | | | | 7,000,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | Ordinary shares or share equivalents. |
(2) | At its meeting on November 9, 2011, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the repurchase of up to a total of 7,000,000 ordinary shares and share equivalents through November 30, 2013, superceding all previous authorizations. |
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Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
None
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures |
Not applicable
None
| (a) | The following sets forth those exhibits filed pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K: |
| | |
Exhibit Number | | Description |
| |
10.1 | | 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended through March 1, 2012. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 6, 2012. |
| |
31.1 | | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act. |
| |
31.2 | | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act. |
| |
32 | | Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
101 | | Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as at March 31, 2012 (unaudited) and December 31, 2011; (ii) the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011; (iii) the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011; (iv) the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011; and (v) the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| | | | |
| | | | ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD. |
| | |
Date: May 8, 2012 | | By: | | /s/ David Cash |
| | | | David Cash |
| | | | Chief Executive Officer |
| | |
Date: May 8, 2012 | | By: | | /s/ Michael J. McGuire |
| | | | Michael J. McGuire |
| | | | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
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