individual lines of business. Similarly, the range for the Company’s total reserves in the aggregate, is narrower than the sum of the ranges for the lines of business disclosed above.
The Company is not aware of any generally accepted model to perform the reserve range analysis described above, however, other models may be employed to develop these ranges.
The Company does not calculate a range for its total net unpaid loss and loss expense reserves as it would not be appropriate to add the ranges for each line of business to obtain a range around the Company’s total reserves, because this would not reflect the diversification effects across the Company’s various lines of business. The diversification effects result from the fact that losses across the Company’s different lines of business are not completely correlated.
The Company writes both “short-tail” and “long-tail” lines of business. “Short-tail” and “long-tail” describe the time between the receipt of the premium from a policy and the final settlement of any loss incurred under such policy. Short-tail lines include property catastrophe, other property and certain marine and aviation lines where, on average, the settlement period may be up to 24 months. Long-tail lines, on the other hand, include the Company’s casualty business in which claims may take up to 30 years to be reported and settled. The increase in the time associated with ultimate settlement of a claim is directly related to an increase in the amount of judgment required to establish loss reserves, especially IBNR reserves.
See further discussion under “—Segments” below for prior year development of loss reserves.
Certain aspects of the Company’s casualty operations complicate the actuarial process for establishing reserves. Certain casualty business written by the Company’s insurance operations is high layer excess casualty business, meaning that the Company’s liability attaches after large deductibles including self insurance or insurance from sources other than the Company. The Company commenced writing this type of business in 1986 and issued policies in forms that were different from traditional policies used by the industry at that time. Initially, there was a lack of industry data available for this type of business. Consequently, the basis for establishing loss reserves by the Company for this type of business was largely judgmental and based upon the Company’s own reported loss experience which was used as basis for determining ultimate losses, and therefore IBNR reserves. Over time, the amount of available historical loss experience data has increased. As a result, the Company has obtained a larger statistical base to assist in establishing reserves for these excess casualty insurance claims.
and when a claim is finally settled. As a result, more judgment is required to establish reserves for ultimate claims in the Company’s reinsurance operations. In the Company’s reinsurance general operations, case reserves for reported claims are generally established based on reports received from ceding companies. Additional case reserves may be established by the Company to reflect the Company’s estimated ultimate cost of a loss.
Casualty reinsurance business involves reserving methods that generally include historical aggregated claim information as reported by ceding companies, combined with the results of claims and underwriting reviews of a sample of the ceding company’s claims and underwriting files. Therefore, the Company does not always receive detailed claim information for this line of business.
Discontinued asbestos and long-tail environment businesshad been previously written by NAC Re Corp. (now known as XL Reinsurance America Inc.), prior to its acquisition by the Company.
Except for certain workers’ compensation and long-term disability liabilities, the Company does not discount its unpaid losses and loss expenses. The Company utilizes tabular reserving for workers’ compensation and long-term disability unpaid losses that are considered fixed and determinable. For further discussion see the Consolidated Financial Statements. As noted above, case reserves for the Company’s reinsurance general operations are generally established based on reports received from ceding companies. Additional case reserves may be established by the Company to reflect the Company’s estimated ultimate cost of a loss. In addition to information received from ceding companies on reported claims, the Company also utilizes information on the pattern of ceding company loss reporting and loss settlements from previous catastrophic events in order to estimate the Company’s ultimate liability related to these hurricane loss events. Commercial catastrophe model analyses and zonal aggregate exposures are utilized to assess potential client loss before and after an event. Initial cedant loss reports are generally obtained shortly after a catastrophic event, with subsequent updates received as new information becomes available. The Company actively requests loss updates from cedants periodically for the first year following an event. The Company’s claim settlement processes also incorporate an update to the total loss reserve at the time a claim payment is made to a ceding company.
While the reliance on loss reports from ceding companies may increase the level of uncertainty associated with the estimation of total loss reserves for property reinsurance relative to direct property insurance, there are several factors which serve to reduce the uncertainty in loss reserve estimates for property reinsurance. First, for large events such as Hurricane Katrina, aggregate limits in property catastrophe reinsurance contracts are generally fully exhausted by the loss reserve estimates. Second, as a reinsurer, the Company has access to information from a broad cross section of the insurance industry. The Company utilizes such information in order to perform consistency checks on the data provided by ceding companies and is able to identify trends in loss reporting and settlement activity and incorporate such information in its estimate of IBNR reserves. Finally, the Company also supplements the loss information received from cedants with loss estimates developed by market share techniques and/or from third party catastrophe models applied to exposure data supplied by cedants.
Reinsurance Premium Estimates
The Company writes business on both an excess of loss and proportional basis. In the case of excess of loss contracts, the subject written premium is generally outlined within the treaty and the Company receives a minimum and/or deposit premium on a quarterly basis which is normally followed by an adjustment premium based on the ultimate subject premium for the contract. The Company estimates the premium written on the basis of the expected subject premium and regularly reviews this against actual quarterly statements to revise the estimate based on the information provided by the cedent.
On proportional contracts, written premiums are estimated to expected ultimate premiums based on information provided by the ceding companies. An estimate of premium is recorded at the inception of the contract. The ceding company’s premium estimate may be adjusted based on their history of providing accurate premium estimates. When the actual premium is reported by the ceding company, normally on a quarterly basis, it may be materially higher
41
or lower than the estimate. Adjustments arising from the reporting of actual premium by the ceding companies are recorded in the period in which they are determined.
Written premiums on excess of loss contracts are earned in accordance with the loss occurring period defined within the treaty, normally 12 months following inception of the contract. Written premiums on proportional contracts are earned over the risk periods of the underlying policies issued and renewed, normally 24 months. For both excess of loss and proportional contracts, the earned premium is recognized ratably over the earning period, namely 12 - 24 months. The portion of the premium related to the unexpired portion of the policy at the end of any reporting period is reflected in unearned premiums.
Reinstatement premiums are recognized at the time a loss event occurs where coverage limits for the remaining life of the contract are reinstated under pre-defined contract terms and are fully earned when recognized. Accrual of reinstatement premiums is based on the Company’s estimate of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, which involves management judgment as described below.
Reinsurance operations by their nature add further complications in that generally the ultimate premium due under a specific contract will not be known at the time the contract is entered into. As a result, more judgment and ongoing monitoring is required to establish premiums written and earned in the Company’s reinsurance operations.
The amount premiums receivable related to reinsurance operation amounted to $1.8 billion as at December 31, 2005.
A significant portion of amounts included as premiums receivable, which represent estimated premiums written, net of commissions, are not currently due based on the terms of the underlying contracts. Management reviews the premiums receivable balance at least quarterly and provides a provision for amounts deemed to be uncollectible. The Company recorded a provision for uncollectible premiums receivable at December 31, 2005 of $11.0 million.
Variable Interest Entities and Other Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
See the discussion of the Company’s variable interest entities and other off-balance sheet arrangements in Item 7 of the Company’s Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005.
Segment Results for the three months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2005
The Company is organized into four operating segments — Insurance, General Reinsurance, Life and Annuity Reinsurance and Financial Products and Services — in addition to a Corporate segment that includes the general investment and financing operations of the Company. Following changes in executive management responsibilities the Company now considers the Life and Annuity Reinsurance business as a separate operating segment. General operations include property and casualty lines of business.
The Company evaluates the performance of each segment based on underwriting results for general operations, net income from life and annuity operations and contribution from financial operations. Other items of revenue and expenditure of the Company are not evaluated at the segment level. In addition, the Company does not allocate assets by segment for its general operations. Investment assets related to the Company’s life and annuity and financial operations are held in separately identified portfolios. Net investment income from these assets is included in net income from life and annuity operations and contribution from financial operations, respectively.
Insurance
General insurance business written includes risk management and specialty lines. Risk management products are comprised of global property and casualty insurance programs for large multinational companies, including umbrella liability, integrated risk and primary master property and liability coverages. Specialty lines products include directors’ and officers’ liability, environmental liability, professional liability, aviation and satellite, employment practices liability, marine, equine and certain other insurance coverages including program business. The Company discontinued writing surety business in 2005.
42
A large part of the Company’s casualty insurance business written has loss experience that is low frequency and high severity. As a result, large losses, though infrequent, can have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. The Company attempts to mitigate this risk by using strict underwriting guidelines and various reinsurance arrangements.
The following table summarizes the underwriting results for this segment:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | | |
| | June 30, | | | | |
| |
|
| | | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | | % Change |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
|
Gross premiums written | | $ | 1,372,084 | | $ | 1,414,389 | | | (3.0 | )% |
Net premiums written | | | 1,107,265 | | | 1,112,212 | | | (0.4 | )% |
Net premiums earned | | | 1,029,135 | | | 1,054,360 | | | (2.4 | )% |
Fee income and other | | | 7,099 | | | (2,916 | ) | | NM | |
Net losses and loss expenses | | | 681,728 | | | 676,374 | | | 0.8 | % |
Acquisition costs | | | 113,555 | | | 119,032 | | | (4.6 | )% |
Operating expenses | | | 157,604 | | | 140,261 | | | 12.4 | % |
Exchange losses (gains) | | | 46,324 | | | (34,104 | ) | | NM | |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
|
Underwriting profit | | $ | 37,023 | | $ | 149,881 | | | (75.3 | )% |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
|
* NM — Not Meaningful Gross and net premiums written decreased by 3.0% and 0.4%, respectively, in the three months ended June 30, 2006 compared with the three months ended June 30, 2005. The decrease in gross premium written was primarily due to continued competitive pressures and price decreases across most non-catastrophe exposed lines, reduced exposures in property and marine and offshore energy business, and the discontinuation of the segment’s surety business. Decreases were partially offset by increased volume in professional lines. The decrease in net premiums written compared to the same period in 2005 was in line with that of gross premiums due to lower net retentions in certain lines of business combined with returned ceded premiums associated with a professional lines commutation.
Net premiums earned decreased by 2.4% in the three months ended June 30, 2006 compared with the three months ended June 30, 2005. The decrease was due to the factors affecting net premiums written noted above. The ceded premium impact of the commutation noted above increased net premium earned by $65.0 million in the current quarter.
Exchange losses in the three months ended June 30, 2006 were primarily due to the impact of the strengthening of the U.K. Sterling, Euro, and Swiss Franc against the U.S. dollar during the quarter on Euro and U.K. Sterling loss reserves in units with U.S. dollar functional currencies.
The following table presents the ratios for this segment:
| | | | |
| | (Unaudited) |
| | Three Months Ended |
| | June 30, |
| |
|
|
|
| | 2006 | | 2005 |
| |
| |
|
Loss and loss expense ratio | | 66.2% | | 64.2% |
Underwriting expense ratio | | 26.4% | | 24.5% |
| |
| |
|
Combined ratio. | | 92.6% | | 88.7% |
| |
| |
|
43
The loss and loss expense ratio includes net losses incurred for both the current year and any adverse or favorable prior year development of loss and loss expense reserves held at the beginning of the year. The loss ratio for the three months ended June 30, 2006 increased compared with the three months ended June 30, 2005, primarily due to loss ratios recorded on current quarter business earned being slightly higher than prior year because of recent price reductions and the impact of losses recaptured upon the commutation, noted above. The three months ended June 30, 2006 included only approximately $2.0 million in net prior period reserve strengthening.
The increase in the underwriting expense ratio in the three months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 was due primarily to an increase in the operating expense ratio of 1.9 points (15.3% as compared to 13.4%). The increase in the operating expense ratio was due primarily to increased compensation costs compared to the same quarter in the prior year, combined with the reduction in net earned premiums described above.
Reinsurance
Reinsurance — General Operations
General reinsurance business written includes casualty, property, marine, aviation and other specialty reinsurance on a global basis. The Company’s reinsurance property business generally has loss experience characterized as low frequency and high severity, which can have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. The Company endeavors to manage its exposures to catastrophic events by limiting the amount of its exposure in each geographic zone worldwide and requiring that its property catastrophe contracts provide for aggregate limits and varying attachment points.
The following table summarizes the underwriting results for the general operations of this segment:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | |
| | June 30, | | | |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| | | |
| | 2006 | | | 2005 | | | % Change |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
Gross premiums written | | $ | 582,353 | | | $ | 506,250 | | | 15.0% |
Net premiums written | | | 439,664 | | | | 347,492 | | | 26.5% |
Net premiums earned | | | 671,871 | | | | 673,201 | | | (0.2)% |
Fee income and other | | | (2,109 | ) | | | (463 | ) | | NM |
Net losses and loss expenses | | | 372,613 | | | | 568,154 | | | (34.4)% |
Acquisition costs | | | 159,485 | | | | 149,049 | | | 7.0% |
Operating expenses | | | 45,077 | | | | 38,153 | | | 18.1% |
Exchange (gains) losses | | | (21,083 | ) | | | 21,895 | | | NM |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
Underwriting profit (loss) | | $ | 113,670 | | | $ | (104,513 | ) | | NM |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
* NM — Not Meaningful Gross and net premiums written increased by 15.0% and 26.5%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2006 as compared to the second quarter in 2005. The growth in gross premiums written was due primarily to certain premium adjustments of $54.7 million in the current quarter related to prior underwriting years. Net premiums written reflected the above changes in gross premiums written combined with the new catastrophe reinsurance agreement with Cyrus Reinsurance Limited and timing changes on certain segment reinsurance programs.
Net premiums earned in the second quarter of 2006 decreased 0.2% as compared to the second quarter of 2005. This decrease is a reflection of the premium adjustments noted above as well as an overall reduction of net premiums written over the last 24 months.
44
The following table presents the ratios for this segment:
| | | | |
| | (Unaudited) |
| | Three Months Ended |
| | June 30, |
| |
|
|
|
| | 2006 | | 2005 |
| |
| |
|
Loss and loss expense ratio | | 55.5% | | 84.4% |
Underwriting expense ratio | | 30.4% | | 27.8% |
| |
| |
|
Combined ratio. | | 85.9% | | 112.2% |
| |
| |
|
The loss and loss expense ratio includes net losses incurred for both the current year and any adverse or favorable prior year development of loss reserves held at the beginning of the year. The decrease in the loss and loss expense ratio in the three months ended June 30, 2006, compared to the same three months ended in 2005, primarily reflected adverse prior year development relating to North American Reinsurance operations of $190.6 million recorded in 2005. This increase resulted from the Company’s scheduled semi-annual 2005 reserve review. There was limited development as noted below resulting from the 2006 review. Net prior year loss development represented a release of $20.9 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2006. This development consists of $42.9 million adverse development on the 2005 hurricanes, which was more than offset by $63.8 million favorable development on the remainder of the portfolio. This compares to $157.6 million in total net adverse development in the second quarter of 2005.
The $63.8 million favorable development experienced in the quarter is comprised of $12.8 million adverse on Casualty lines more than offset by $76.6 million favorable on non-casualty lines, primarily property risk. The casualty development includes adverse on a specific Workers’ Compensation program written in our North American Reinsurance operations and deterioration on claims related to Enron, partially offset by favorable developments on Medical Malpractice. Professional lines continue to develop within expectations.
The increase in the underwriting expense ratio in the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared with the three months ended June 30, 2005, was due to increases in the both acquisition expense ratio and operating expense ratio to 23.7% and 6.7%, respectively, as compared to 22.1% and 5.7%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2005. The increase in the acquisition expense ratio was due to increased profit commissions that resulted from favorable loss development compared to prior periods. The operating expense ratio increase was primarily due to compensation expenses.
Exchange gains in the three months ended June 30, 2006 were mainly attributable to an overall weakening, during the quarter, in the value of the U.S. dollar against U.K. Sterling and the Euro in those operations with U.S. dollar as their functional currency and net U.K. sterling and Euro assets.
Reinsurance — Life and Annuity Operations
Life business written by the reinsurance operations is primarily European life reinsurance. This includes term assurances, group life, critical illness cover, immediate annuities and disability income business. Due to the nature of these contracts, premium volume may vary significantly from period to period. In addition, certain closed block U.S. life and annuity reinsurance contracts previously included in the Financial Products and Services segment are now included in the Reinsurance segment as management of these contracts was transferred to the traditional life reinsurance business units in 2005 in order to centralize management of mortality-based life and annuity reinsurance business.
45
The following summarizes net income from life and annuity operations:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | |
| | June 30, | | | |
| |
|
| | | |
| | 2006 | | | 2005 | | | % Change |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
Gross premiums written | | $ | 189,174 | | | $ | 1,942,748 | | | (90.3)% |
Net premiums written | | | 179,678 | | | | 1,933,008 | | | (90.7)% |
Net premiums earned | | | 179,894 | | | | 1,933,215 | | | (90.7)% |
Fee income and other | | | 128 | | | | 114 | | | 12.3% |
Claims and policy benefits | | | 232,453 | | | | 2,020,664 | | | (88.5)% |
Acquisition costs | | | 12,279 | | | | 35,058 | | | (65.0)% |
Operating expenses | | | 5,446 | | | | 5,068 | | | 7.5% |
Exchange (gains) losses | | | (2,864 | ) | | | 403 | | | NM |
Net investment income | | | 85,371 | | | | 71,963 | | | 18.6% |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
Net income (loss) from life and annuity operations | | $ | 18,079 | | | $ | (55,901 | ) | | NM |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
* NM — Not Meaningful Gross and net premiums written as well as net premiums earned and claims and policy benefits decreased significantly in the second quarter of 2006 as compared to the second quarter of 2005. These decreases were primarily the result of a large U.K. immediate annuity portfolio contract written in the second quarter of 2005, representing $1.8 billion in net premiums written and earned. The underlying portfolio of installment premium term assurance business continues to grow predominantly in the U.K. and Europe. Ceded premiums remained consistent with the prior year.
Claims and policy benefits also decreased significantly as a result of the annuity payout liabilities assumed under the contract noted above during 2005. Changes in claims and policy benefits also include the movement in policy benefit reserves related to other contracts where investment assets were acquired with the assumption of the policy benefit reserves at the inception of the contract. In addition, during the second quarter of 2005, $37.4 million in claims and policy benefits were recorded related to certain novated blocks of U.S.-based term-life mortality reinsurance business as a result of the actuarially modeled impact of actual paid losses being greater than expected, which were not repeated in 2006.
Acquisition costs decreased in the second quarter of 2006, as compared to the second quarter of 2005, due to the write-off of certain deferred costs related to the U.S. mortality business of $25.9 million, which took place in the second quarter of 2005 as then current profit projections did not support the recovery of deferred costs. Operating expenses increased in the second quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005, reflecting reduced compensation costs offset by increased corporate allocations and the start-up costs of new life operations in the U.S.
Net investment income is included in the calculation of net income from life and annuity operations, as it relates to income earned on portfolios of separately identified and managed life investment assets and other allocated assets. The continued build-up of the business has significantly increased the invested assets relating to these operations since 2005.
Financial Products and Services
Financial Products and Services provides (i) financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance, (ii) a wide range of structured financial and alternative risk transfer products, (iii) municipal investment and funding agreements, (iv) political risk insurance, and (v) weather and energy risk management products. Many of the products offered by Financial Products and Services are unique and tailored to the specific needs of the insured or user.
Financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance generally guarantees payments of interest and principal on an issuer’s obligations when due. Obligations guaranteed or enhanced by the Company range in duration and premiums are received either on an installment basis or upfront. Guaranties written in credit default swap form provide coverage for losses upon the occurrence of specified credit events set forth in the swap documentation.
46
Structured financial and alternative risk transfer products cover complex financial risks, including property, casualty and mortality insurance and reinsurance, and business enterprise risk management products
Municipal investment contracts and funding agreements provide users guaranteed rates of interest on amounts deposited with the Company. The Company has investment risk related to its ability to generate sufficient investment income to enable the total invested assets to cover the payment of its estimated ultimate liability on such agreements.
Political risk insurance generally covers risks arising from expropriation, currency inconvertibility, contract frustration, non-payment and war on land or political violence (including terrorism) in developing regions of the world. Political risk insurance is typically provided to financial institutions, equity investors, exporters, importers, export credit agencies and multilateral agencies in connection with investments and contracts in emerging market countries.
The Company’s weather and energy risk management products are customized solutions designed to assist corporate customers, primarily energy companies and utilities, to manage their financial exposure to variations in underlying weather conditions and related energy markets. The following table summarizes the contribution for this segment:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | |
| | June 30, | | | |
| |
|
|
|
|
| | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | | % Change |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
Gross premiums written | | $ | 152,570 | | $ | 102,450 | | | 48.9% |
Net premiums written | | | 148,220 | | | 100,386 | | | 47.7% |
Net premiums earned | | | 103,690 | | | 51,992 | | | 99.4% |
Fee income and other | | | 1,512 | | | 217 | | | NM |
Net losses and loss expenses | | | 65,220 | | | 17,179 | | | 279.6% |
Acquisition costs | | | 10,193 | | | 7,849 | | | 29.9% |
Operating expenses | | | 20,399 | | | 17,338 | | | 17.7% |
Exchange losses | | | 316 | | | 1,113 | | | (71.6)% |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
Underwriting profit | | $ | 9,074 | | $ | 8,730 | | | 3.9% |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
Net investment income — financial guarantee | | $ | 18,323 | | $ | 14,986 | | | 22.3% |
Net investment income — structured products | | | 108,487 | | | 70,725 | | | 53.4% |
Interest expense — structured products | | | 80,521 | | | 54,134 | | | 48.7% |
Operating expenses — structured products | | | 11,625 | | | 13,439 | | | (13.5)% |
Net income (losses) from financial and investment affiliates | | | 12,255 | | | (7,437 | ) | | NM |
Minority interest | | | — | | | 2,300 | | | NM |
Net results from derivatives | | | 3,887 | | | 17,487 | | | (77.8)% |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
Net contribution from financial operations | | $ | 59,880 | | $ | 34,618 | | | 73.0% |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
* NM — Not Meaningful Gross and net premiums written relating to the financial guaranty line of business reflect premiums received and accrued for in the periods presented and do not include the present value of future cash receipts expected from financial guaranty installment premium policies and contracts written in the period. In addition to financial guaranty premiums, segment premiums also include premiums received from political risk and other structured property and casualty business lines. Increases in gross and net premiums written of 48.9% and 47.7%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2006, as compared to the comparable period in 2005 were primarily due to additional premiums written as a result of losses reported and a change of control cancellation of a structured property and casualty reinsurance contract. In addition, the financial guarantee business reported continued growth in its public finance in-force portfolio.
Net premiums earned increased in the second quarter of 2006, as compared to the same period in 2005. The increase primarily resulted from earnings attributable to the additional premium written relating to the structured property and casualty reinsurance contract discussed above, as well as to earnings from the early termination of certain financial guaranty insurance contracts (e.g. as a result of issuers refinancing such obligations).
47
The following table provides a line of business breakdown of the Financial Products and Services segment’s net premiums earned:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | |
| | June 30, | | |
| |
|
|
| | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | % Change |
| |
| |
| |
|
Financial Guaranty | | $59,794 | | $40,850 | | 46.4% |
Political Risk | | 9,578 | | 6,352 | | 50.8% |
Other (1) | | 34,318 | | 4,790 | | NM |
(1) Includes structured financial and alternative risk transfer products and weather and energy risk management products
* NM — Not Meaningful
Net losses and loss expenses include current year net losses incurred and adverse or favorable development of prior year net loss and loss expense reserves. Net losses and loss expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2006 increased by 279.6% compared to the three months ended June 30, 2005. This increase was primarily a result of adverse development on 2005 hurricane losses and a structured property and casualty contract of aggregating $26.0 million, as well as an increase of $28.0 million in a case reserve on a structured finance transaction which guaranteed a certain amount of revenue from a pool of equipment leases. The second quarter of 2005 included approximately $9.5 million of net provisions for case reserves related to certain financial guaranty contracts, as well as a provision for unallocated reserves on our financial guaranty business of approximately $2.4 million.
For the three months ended June 30, 2006, acquisition costs as a percentage of net premiums earned decreased as compared to the same period in 2005 as there were no acquisition costs associated with the additional premiums earned discussed above.
Operating expenses increased in the second quarter of 2006, as compared to the second quarter of 2005, due to increases in certain segment management costs.
Net investment income related to the financial guaranty business increased by 22.3% in the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to the same period in 2005, due primarily to higher average invested assets resulting from net cash inflows from operations combined with higher yields on new investments during the three months ended June 30, 2006.
Net investment income related to structured products increased by 53.4% in the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to the same period in 2005, primarily as a result of significant increases in the combined average funding agreement and guaranteed investment contract balances from $4.7 billion to $5.9 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2005 and 2006, respectively, together with increased yields.
Interest expenses on structured products relate to the accretion charges on deposit liabilities related to funding agreements, guaranteed investment contracts and certain structured insurance and reinsurance contracts. The increase in interest expense during the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to the same period in 2005, related primarily to the increase in the combined average funding agreement and guaranteed investment contract balances for the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to the period in 2005.
Net results from derivatives represent changes in the market value of the Company’s insured credit derivative portfolio, weather and energy derivative instruments and certain structured derivatives. The net results from derivatives for the three months ended June 30, 2006 primarily related to small gains on certain weather derivatives and a larger gain in 2005, related to the early termination of a structured derivative product tied to appreciation in a housing price index.
Net income from financial and investment affiliates include earnings on the Company’s investment in Primus Guaranty, Ltd (“Primus”) and certain of the Company’s investment affiliates. The increase in the second quarter of 2006, as compared to the second quarter of 2005, was due primarily to increased earnings from Primus. Primus spe-
48
cializes in providing credit risk protection through credit derivatives. Primus had a positive mark-to-market adjustment in the quarter related to such derivatives.
Investment Activities
The following table illustrates the change in net investment income from general operations, net income (loss) from investment affiliates, net realized gains (losses) on investments and net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment derivative instruments for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005.
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | | |
| | June 30, | | | | |
| |
| | | | |
| | 2006 | | | 2005 | | | % Change | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| |
Net investment income — general operations | | $261,441 | | | $209,727 | | | 24.7% | |
Net income (loss) from investment affiliates — general operations | | 27,800 | | | (7,936 | ) | | NM | |
Net realized (losses) gains on investments | | (23,604 | ) | | 90,055 | | | NM | |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment | | | | | | | | | |
derivative instruments — general operations | | 25,351 | | | (65,428 | ) | | NM | |
* NM — Not Meaningful Net investment income related to general operations increased 24.7% in the second quarter of 2006 as compared to the second quarter of 2005 due primarily to a higher investment base, as well as increases in the yield of the portfolio. Excluding the non-recurring $28.6 million of income associated with the unwind of a collateralized debt obligation in the second quarter of 2005, the increase in net investment income related to general operations was 44.3%. The growth in the investment base reflected the issuance of ordinary shares and equity units in the fourth quarter of 2005 and the Company’s cash flow from operations. The market yield to maturity on the fixed income portfolio was 5.4% at June 30, 2006, as compared to 4.1% at June 30, 2005 due primarily to higher interest rates in the U.S.
Net income from investment affiliates increased in the second quarter of 2006 compared to a net loss for the second quarter of 2005 due primarily to stronger performance in alternative fund affiliates.
The Company manages its investment grade fixed income securities using an asset/liability management framework. Due to the unique nature of the underlying liabilities, customized benchmarks are used to measure investment performance and comparison to standard market indices is not meaningful. Investment performance is not monitored for certain assets primarily consisting of operating cash and special regulatory deposits. The following is a summary of the investment portfolio returns for the asset/liability portfolios and risk asset portfolios:
| | (Unaudited) | | (Unaudited) |
| | Three Months | | Three Months |
| | Ended | | Ended |
| | June 30, 2006 (1) | | June 30, 2005 (1) |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Asset/Liability portfolios | | | | | | |
USD fixed income portfolio | | 0.6 | % | | 2.3 | % |
Non USD fixed income portfolio | | 0.1 | % | | 3.0 | % |
Risk Asset portfolios | | | | | | |
Alternative portfolio (2) | | 1.5 | % | | (0.7 | )% |
Equity portfolio | | (3.2 | )% | | 1.3 | % |
High-Yield fixed income portfolio | | 0.5 | % | | 2.9 | % |
(1) | Portfolio returns are calculated by dividing the sum of net investment income or net income (loss) from investment affiliates, realized gains (losses) and unrealized gains (losses) by the average market value of each portfolio. Non U.S. dollar fixed income performance is measured in either the underlying currency or in U.S. dollars. |
|
(2) | Performance on the alternative portfolio reflects the three months ended May 31, 2006 and May 31, 2005, respectively. |
|
49
Net Realized Gains and Losses and Other than Temporary Declines in the Value of Investments
Net realized losses on investments in the second quarter of 2006 included net realized losses of $11.3 million from sales of investments and net realized losses of approximately $12.3 million related to the write-down of certain of the Company’s fixed income, equity and other investments where the Company determined that there was an other than temporary decline in the value of these investments.
Net realized gains on investments in the second quarter of 2005 included net realized gains of $101.3 million from sales of investments and net realized losses of approximately $11.2 million related to the write-down of certain of the Company’s fixed income, equity and other investments where the Company determined that there was an other than temporary decline in the value of those investments.
The Company’s process for identifying declines in the fair value of investments that are other than temporary involves consideration of several factors. These factors include: (i) the time period during which there has been a significant decline in value; (ii) an analysis of the liquidity, business prospects and overall financial condition of the issuer; (iii) the significance of the decline; (iv) an analysis of the collateral structure and other credit support, as applicable, of the securities in question; and (v) the Company’s intent and ability to hold the investment for a sufficient period of time for the value to recover. Where the Company’s analysis of the above factors results in the Company’s conclusion that declines in fair values are other than temporary, the cost of the security is written down to fair value and the previously unrealized loss is therefore realized in the period such determination is made.
Net realized and unrealized gains on investment derivatives for the three months ended June 30, 2006, as well as the losses for the corresponding period in 2005, resulted from the Company’s investment strategy to hedge certain interest, credit and foreign exchange risks within the investment portfolio.
Net Unrealized Gains and Losses on Investments
At June 30, 2006, the Company had net unrealized losses on fixed income and short term securities of $459.7 million and net unrealized gains on equities of $131.2 million. Of these amounts, gross unrealized losses on fixed income and short term securities and equities were $699.2 million and $12.7 million, respectively. The information presented below for the gross unrealized losses on the Company’s investments at June 30, 2006 shows the potential effect upon future earnings and financial position should management later conclude that some of the current declines in the fair value of these investments are other than temporary. U.S., U.K. and the Euro zone interest rates increased during the three months ended June 30, 2006, which was the primary reason for the decline in net unrealized gains on fixed income securities.
At June 30, 2006, approximately 11,400 fixed income securities out of a total of approximately 17,400 securities were in an unrealized loss position. The largest single unrealized loss in the fixed income portfolio was $6.5 million. Approximately 300 equity securities out of a total of approximately 1,700 securities were in an unrealized loss position at June 30, 2006 with the largest individual loss being $1.3 million.
50
The following is an analysis of how long each of those securities with an unrealized loss at June 30, 2006 had been in a continual unrealized loss position:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | | | (Unaudited) | | (Unaudited) |
| | | | Amount of | | Fair Value of Securities |
| | Length of time in a continual | | unrealized loss at | | unrealized loss position |
Type of Securities | | unrealized loss position | | June 30, 2006 | | at June 30, 2006 |
| |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Fixed Income and | | | | | | | | | | |
Short-Term | | Less than six months | | $ | 204,172 | | | $ | 9,112,947 | |
| | At least 6 months but less than 12 months | | | 308,829 | | | | 8,699,510 | |
| | At least 12 months but less than 2 years | | | 137,912 | | | | 4,579,046 | |
| | 2 years and over | | | 48,251 | | | | 823,492 | |
| | | |
|
| | |
|
| |
| | Total | | $ | 699,164 | | | $ | 23,214,995 | |
| | | |
|
| | |
|
| |
Equities | | Less than six months | | $ | 9,827 | | | $ | 104,176 | |
| | At least 6 months but less than 12 months | | | 2,903 | | | | 40,478 | |
| | | |
|
| | |
|
| |
| | Total | | $ | 12,730 | | | $ | 144,654 | |
| | | |
|
| | |
|
| |
The following is the maturity profile of the fixed income securities that were in a gross unrealized loss position at June 30, 2006:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited) | | (Unaudited) |
Maturity profile in years of fixed | | Amount of | | Fair value of securities |
income securities in a continual | | unrealized loss at | | in unrealized loss positions |
unrealized loss position | | June 30, 2006 | | at June 30, 2006 |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Less than 1 year remaining | | | $ | 4,727 | | | | $ | 838,159 | |
At least 1 year but less than 5 years remaining | | | | 130,938 | | | | | 6,570,555 | |
At least 5 years but less than 10 years remaining | | | | 175,711 | | | | | 3,885,236 | |
At least 10 years but less than 20 years remaining | | | | 38,282 | | | | | 1,874,183 | |
At least 20 years or more remaining | | | | 100,198 | | | | | 930,839 | |
Mortgage and asset backed securities | | | | 249,308 | | | | | 9,116,023 | |
| | |
|
| | | |
|
| |
Total | | | $ | 699,164 | | | | $ | 23,214,995 | |
| | |
|
| | | |
|
| |
The Company operates a risk asset portfolio that includes high yield (below investment grade) fixed income securities. These represented approximately 2.2% of the total fixed income portfolio market value at June 30, 2006. Fair values of these securities have a higher volatility than investment grade securities. Of the total gross unrealized losses in the Company’s fixed income portfolio as at June 30, 2006, $18.1 million related to securities that were below investment grade or not rated. The following is an analysis of how long each of these below investment grade and unrated securities had been in a continual unrealized loss position at the date indicated:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited) | | (Unaudited) |
| | Amount of | | Fair value of securities |
Length of time in a continual | | unrealized loss at | | in unrealized loss position |
unrealized loss position | | June 30, 2006 | | at June 30, 2006 |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Less than six months | | | $ | 8,363 | | | | $ | 414,111 | |
At least 6 months but less than 12 months | | | | 7,192 | | | | | 131,319 | |
At least 12 months but less than 2 years | | | | 2,233 | | | | | 33,255 | |
2 years and over | | | | 278 | | | | | 2,481 | |
| | |
|
| | | |
|
| |
Total | | | $ | 18,066 | | | | $ | 581,166 | |
| | |
|
| | | |
|
| |
51
Other Revenues and Expenses
The following table sets forth other revenues and expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | |
| | June 30, | | |
| |
|
|
| | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | % Change |
| |
| |
| |
|
Net income from operating affiliates — general operations | | $27,810 | | $18,393 | | 51.2% |
Amortization of intangible assets | | 420 | | 3,043 | | (86.2)% |
Corporate operating expenses | | 39,313 | | 34,691 | | 13.3% |
Interest expense | | 54,111 | | 43,632 | | 24.0% |
Income tax expense | | 66,437 | | 41,776 | | 59.0% |
Net income from operating affiliates was higher for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to the same period in 2005 due to higher income from the Company’s investment manager affiliates.
Corporate operating expenses in the three months ended June 30, 2006 increased compared to the three months ended June 30, 2005 primarily reflecting increased compensation costs partially offset by favorable foreign exchange impacts.
The increase in interest expense primarily reflected the increase in outstanding debt since June 30, 2005. For more information on the Company’s financial structure, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources”.
The increase in the Company’s income taxes arose principally from the increase in the profitability of the Company’s U.S. and European operations.
Segment Results for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2005
Insurance | | | | | | | | | |
|
The following table summarizes the underwriting results for this segment: | | | | | | |
|
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | | |
| | Six Months Ended | | | |
| | June 30, | | | |
| |
|
|
|
|
| | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | | % Change |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
Gross premiums written | | $ | 2,930,907 | | $ | 3,092,164 | | | (5.2)% |
Net premiums written | | | 2,260,430 | | | 2,392,362 | | | (5.5)% |
Net premiums earned | | | 2,060,432 | | | 2,136,878 | | | (3.6)% |
Fee income and other | | | 14,494 | | | 1,011 | | | NM |
Net losses and loss expenses | | | 1,359,235 | | | 1,401,889 | | | (3.0)% |
Acquisition costs | | | 241,249 | | | 257,775 | | | (6.4)% |
Operating expenses | | | 295,682 | | | 266,129 | | | 11.1% |
Exchange (gains) losses | | | 77,035 | | | (19,789 | ) | | NM |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
Underwriting profit | | $ | 101,725 | | $ | 231,885 | | | (56.1)% |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
* NM — Not Meaningful52
Gross and net premiums written decreased by 5.2% and 5.5%, respectively, in the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared with the six months ended June 30, 2005. The decrease in gross premiums written was primarily due to corporate risk management initiatives, continued competitive pressures, fewer multi-year contracts, foreign exchange movements and the discontinuation of the segment’s surety line of business. These decreases were partially offset by increased volume in professional lines. The decrease in net written premiums as a percentage of gross premiums is primarily a result of decreasing net retentions in certain lines partially offset by the return premium associated with the commutation of a ceded reinsurance policy in professional lines of business.
Net premiums earned decreased by 3.6% in the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared with the six months ended June 30, 2005. The decline in net premium earned is primarily as a result of the earn out of net premiums written in 2005, and the factors impacting gross and net premiums noted above.
Exchange losses in the six months ended June 30, 2006 were primarily due to the strengthening of the U.K. sterling and the Euro against the U.S. dollar during the period.
The following table presents the ratios for this segment:
| | | | |
| | (Unaudited) |
| | Six Months Ended |
| | June 30, |
| |
|
|
|
| | 2006 | | 2005 |
| |
| |
|
Loss and loss expense ratio | | 66.0% | | 65.6% |
Underwriting expense ratio | | 26.0% | | 24.5% |
| |
| |
|
Combined ratio. | | 92.0% | | 90.1% |
| |
| |
|
The loss and loss expense ratio includes net losses incurred for both the current year and any adverse or favorable prior year development of loss and loss expense reserves held at the beginning of the year. The loss and loss expense ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2006 increased compared with the six months ended June 30, 2005, primarily as a result of higher net adverse development in the same period of the prior year. Prior year net adverse development totaled approximately $16.4 million in the first half of 2006. Net adverse development during the first half of 2005 was $60.0 million largely in professional lines.
The underwriting expense ratio in the six months ended June 30, 2006 increased compared to the same period in 2005, as a result of an increase in the operating expense ratio of 1.9 points (14.4% as compared to 12.5%) partially offset by a lower acquisition expense ratio. The increase in the operating expense ratio was due primarily to increased compensation costs combined with the lower earned premiums.
53
Reinsurance
Reinsurance — General Operations
The following table summarizes the underwriting results for the general operations of this segment:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | | |
| | Six Months Ended | | | |
| | June 30, | | | |
| |
|
| | | |
| | 2006 | | | 2005 | | | % Change |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
Gross premiums written | | $ | 2,064,908 | | | $ | 2,200,452 | | | (6.2)% |
Net premiums written | | | 1,728,663 | | | | 1,915,362 | | | (9.7)% |
Net premiums earned | | | 1,306,998 | | | | 1,356,952 | | | (3.7)% |
Fee income and other | | | 817 | | | | (446 | ) | | NM |
Net losses and loss expenses | | | 759,701 | | | | 978,504 | | | (22.4)% |
Acquisition costs | | | 282,524 | | | | 291,239 | | | (3.0)% |
Operating expenses | | | 84,653 | | | | 79,559 | | | 6.4% |
Exchange (gains) losses | | | (17,669 | ) | | | 18,281 | | | NM |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
Underwriting profit (loss) | | $ | 198,606 | | | $ | (11,077 | ) | | NM |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
* NM — Not Meaningful Gross and net premiums written decreased 6.2% and 9.7%, respectively, in the first half of 2006 as compared to the first half of 2005. This decrease related primarily to the net reduction in catastrophe exposure and restructuring of the Company’s marine and energy exposures as a part of the Company’s aggregate risk reduction initiatives, partially offset by certain premium adjustments of $54.7 million reflected in the second quarter of 2006. Additionally, selective underwriting in certain motor and casualty lines of business contributed to the decrease. On a net premiums written basis, the decrease largely reflected the significant new catastrophe quota share reinsurance treaty with Cyrus Reinsurance Limited.
Net premiums earned in the first half of 2006 decreased 3.7% as compared to the first half of 2005, due primarily to the earn out of the impact of rate pressures seen in gross premiums written over the last 12 months.
The following table presents the ratios for this segment:
| | | | |
| | (Unaudited) |
| | Six Months Ended |
| | June 30, |
| |
|
|
|
| | 2006 | | 2005 |
| |
| |
|
Loss and loss expense ratio | | 58.1% | | 72.1% |
Underwriting expense ratio | | 28.1% | | 27.3% |
| |
| |
|
Combined ratio | | 86.2% | | 99.4% |
| |
| |
|
The loss and loss expense ratio includes net losses incurred for both the current year and any adverse or favorable prior year development of loss reserves held at the beginning of the year. The increase in the loss and loss expense ratio in the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005, primarily reflected higher than expected development in the second quarter of 2005 relating to U.S. casualty business of $190.6 million noted above. During the six months ended June 30, 2006, net prior year reserve releases totaled $14.2 million largely in property and professional lines of business.
The increase in the underwriting expense ratio in the first half of 2006 as compared with the first half of 2005, was due to an increase in the operating expense ratio to 6.5%, as compared to 5.9%, in the first half of 2005. Acquisition costs remained flat.
54
The operating expense ratio increase reflects additional compensation expenses particularly offset by corporate cost reduction efforts.
Exchange gains in the six months ended June 30, 2006 were mainly attributable to an overall weakening in the value of the U.S. dollar against the U.K. Sterling and the Euro in those operations with U.S. dollars as their functional currency and net U.K. Sterling and Euro assets.
Reinsurance — Life and Annuity Operations
The following summarizes net income from life and annuity operations:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | | |
| | Six Months Ended | | | |
| | June 30, | | | |
| |
|
| | | |
| | 2006 | | | 2005 | | | % Change |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
Gross premiums written | | $ | 288,816 | | | $ | 2,033,757 | | | (85.8)% |
Net premiums written | | | 270,146 | | | | 2,014,264 | | | (86.6)% |
Net premiums earned | | | 270,559 | | | | 2,014,686 | | | (86.6)% |
Fee income and other | | | 194 | | | | 179 | | | 8.4% |
Claims and policy benefits | | | 375,333 | | | | 2,146,291 | | | (82.5)% |
Acquisition costs | | | 21,554 | | | | 41,409 | | | (47.9)% |
Operating expenses | | | 11,924 | | | | 9,251 | | | 28.9% |
Exchange (gains) losses | | | (6,238 | ) | | | 673 | | | NM |
Net investment income | | | 163,994 | | | | 131,866 | | | 24.4% |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
Net profit (loss) from life and annuity operations | | $ | 32,174 | | | $ | (50,893 | ) | | (163.2)% |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
* NM — Not Meaningful Gross and net premiums written as well as net premiums earned and claims and policy benefits decreased significantly in the first half of 2006 as compared to the first half of 2005 primarily as a result of several large immediate annuity portfolio contracts bound in the second quarter of 2005. In addition, the underlying portfolio of installment premium term assurance business continues to grow.
Claims and policy benefits also decreased significantly as a result of the annuity payout liabilities accepted under the contracts noted above. Changes in claims and policy benefits also included the movement in policy benefit reserves related to other contracts where investment assets were acquired with the assumption of the policy benefit reserves at the inception of the contract. In addition, during the second quarter of 2005, $37.4 million in losses were recorded related to certain novated blocks of U.S.-based term life mortality reinsurance business as a result of the actuarially modeled impact of actual paid losses being greater than expected.
Acquisition costs decreased in the first half of 2006 as compared to the first half of 2005 reflecting the write-off of certain deferred costs related to the U.S. mortality business during the prior year noted above, as then current profit projections did not support the recovery of the deferred costs product commissions booked in the prior year. Operating expenses increased in the first half of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 due to build out of existing operations and start-up costs of new life operations in the U.S.
Net investment income increased in the first half of 2006 compared to the first half of 2005 reflecting the increase in life business invested assets primarily arising from new large annuity contracts written since June 30, 2005.
55
Financial Products and Services
The following table summarizes the contribution for this segment:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | | |
| | Six Months Ended | | | |
| | June 30, | | | |
| |
|
|
|
|
| | | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | | % Change |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
Gross premiums written | | $ | 254,063 | | $ | 163,397 | | | 55.5% |
Net premiums written | | | 244,526 | | | 153,015 | | | 59.8% |
Net premiums earned | | | 165,150 | | | 103,687 | | | 59.3% |
Fee income and other | | | 4,087 | | | 13,368 | | | (69.4)% |
Net losses and loss expenses | | | 97,749 | | | 24,375 | | | 301.0% |
Acquisition costs | | | 17,272 | | | 14,959 | | | 15.5% |
Operating expenses | | | 38,682 | | | 34,894 | | | 10.9% |
Exchange (gains) losses | | | 314 | | | 1,064 | | | (70.5)% |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
Underwriting profit | | $ | 15,220 | | $ | 41,763 | | | (63.6)% |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
Net investment income — financial guarantee | | $ | 35,400 | | $ | 29,504 | | | 20.0% |
Net investment income — structured products | | | 214,162 | | | 132,579 | | | 61.5% |
Interest expense — structured products | | | 158,040 | | | 96,544 | | | 63.7% |
Operating expenses — structured products | | | 21,629 | | | 23,197 | | | (6.8)% |
Net (loss) income from financial and investment affiliates | | | 18,704 | | | (809 | ) | | NM |
Minority interest | | | 2,258 | | | 4,575 | | | (50.6)% |
Net results from derivatives | | | 22,815 | | | 33,565 | | | (32.0)% |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
Net contribution from financial operations | | $ | 124,374 | | $ | 112,286 | | | 10.8% |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
* NM — Not Meaningful Gross and net premiums written relating to the financial guaranty line of business reflect premiums received and accrued for in the period and do not include the present value of future cash receipts expected from financial guaranty installment premium policies and contracts written in the period. In addition to financial guaranty premiums, segment premiums also include premiums received from political risk and other structured property and casualty business lines. Increases in gross and net premiums written of 55.5% and 59.8%, respectively, for the six month period ended June 30, 2006, as compared to the comparable period in 2005, were primarily due to the growth in financial guaranty in-force installment business and several large up front financial guaranty public finance policies written in 2006, as well as additional premiums associated with a structured property and casualty reinsurance contract.
Net premiums earned increased during the six months end June 30, 2006, as compared to the comparable prior year period. The increase primarily resulted from earnings attributable to the additional premium written relating to the structured property and casualty reinsurance contract discussed above, as well as to earnings from the early termination of certain financial guaranty insurance contracts (e.g. as a result of the issuers refinancing such obligations).
The following table provides a line of business breakdown of the Financial Products and Services segment’s net premiums earned:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | |
| | Six Months Ended | | |
| | June 30, | | |
| |
|
|
| | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | % Change |
| |
| |
| |
|
Financial Guaranty | | $105,807 | | $80,457 | | 31.5% |
Political Risk | | 15,607 | | 13,403 | | 16.4% |
Other (1) | | 43,736 | | 9,827 | | NM |
(1) Includes structured financial and alternative risk transfer products and weather and energy risk management products.
* NM — Not Meaningful56
Net losses and loss expenses include current year net losses incurred and adverse or favorable development of prior year net loss and loss expense reserves. Net losses and loss expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2006 increased by 301.0%, as compared to the comparable period in 2005. This increase was primarily a result of case reserve provisions relating to a structured finance transaction which guaranteed a certain amount of revenue from a pool of equipment leases of $49.5 million combined with hurricane losses on a structured property and casualty contract partially offset by a small decrease in financial guaranty reserves.
For the six months ended June 30, 2006, acquisition costs as a percentage of net premiums earned decreased as there were no acquisition costs relating to the additional earned structural property and casualty premiums discussed above.
Total operating expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2006 were consistent with the same period in 2005.
Net investment income related to financial guaranty business increased by 20.0% in the six months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to the same period in 2005, due primarily to higher invested assets resulting from net cash inflows from operations combined with higher investment yields during the period.
Net investment income related to structured products increased by 61.5% as compared to the same period in 2005 as a result of significant increases in the combined average funding agreement and guaranteed investment contract balances from $4.2 billion to $6.0 billion, combined with increased yields in 2006.
Interest expenses on structured products are comprised of the accretion charges on deposit liabilities related to funding agreements, guaranteed investment contracts and certain structured insurance and reinsurance contracts. The increase in interest expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 related primarily to the increase in the number of funding agreements noted above, partially offset by reduced interest expenses on certain deposit liabilities resulting from a change in the timing of estimated cash outflows.
Net results from derivatives represent changes in the market value of the Company’s insured credit derivative portfolio, weather and energy derivative instruments and certain structured derivatives. The net results from derivatives for the six months ended June 30, 2006 included realized gains from European frost day weather derivative contracts for the 2005/2006 winter, partially offset by negative movements in certain investment grade credit derivative exposures and the amortization of prior mark-to-market gains.
Net income (loss) from financial and investment affiliates includes, earnings on the Company’s investment in Primus Guaranty, Ltd (“Primus”) and certain of the Company’s investment affiliates. The increase in the six months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to the same period in 2005 was due primarily to a large positive mark-to-market during the second quarter of 2006 for Primus combined with continued strong performance of certain investment affiliates.
Investment Activities
The following table illustrates the change in net investment income from general operations, net income from investment affiliates, net realized (losses) gains on investments and net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment derivative instruments for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005.
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | | |
| | Six Months Ended | | | |
| | June 30, | | | |
| |
| | | |
| | 2006 | | | 2005 | | | % Change |
| |
| | |
| | |
|
Net investment income — general operations | | $523,808 | | | $381,657 | | | 37.2% |
Net income from investment affiliates — general operations | | 127,774 | | | 59,978 | | | 113.0% |
Net realized (losses) gains on investments | | (839 | ) | | 150,726 | | | NM |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment | | | | | | | | |
derivative instruments — general operations | | 55,274 | | | (36,328 | ) | | NM |
* NM — Not Meaningful57
Net investment income related to general operations increased in the first half of 2006 as compared to the first half of 2005 due primarily to a higher investment base as well as increases in the yield of the portfolio. The growth in the investment base reflected the issuance of ordinary shares and equity units in the fourth quarter at 2005 and the Company’s cash flow from operations. The market yield to maturity on the general account portion of the fixed income portfolio was 5.4% at June 30, 2006 as compared to 4.1% at June 30, 2005, due primarily to higher interest rates in the U.S.
Net income from investment affiliates increased in the first half of 2006 compared to the first half of 2005 due primarily to stronger performance in alternative fund affiliates and private equity fund affiliates in the first half of 2006.
The Company manages its investment grade fixed income securities using an asset/liability management framework. Due to the unique nature of the underlying liabilities, customized benchmarks are used to measure investment performance and comparison to standard market indices is not meaningful. Investment performance is not monitored for certain assets primarily consisting of operating cash and special regulatory deposits. The following is a summary of the investment portfolio returns for the asset/liability portfolios and risk asset portfolios:
| | (Unaudited) | | (Unaudited) |
| | Six Months | | Six Months |
| | Ended | | Ended |
| | June 30, 2006 (1) | | June 30, 2005 (1) |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Asset/Liability portfolios | | | | | | |
USD fixed income portfolio | | 0.8 | % | | 2.3 | % |
Non USD fixed income portfolio | | (0.8 | %) | | 3.2 | % |
Risk Asset portfolios | | | | | | |
Alternative portfolio (2) | | 5.9 | % | | 2.2 | % |
Equity portfolio | | 5.1 | % | | 0.8 | % |
High-Yield fixed income portfolio | | 2.4 | % | | 1.5 | % |
(1) | Portfolio returns are calculated by dividing the sum of net investment income or net (loss) from investment affiliates, realized gains (losses) and unrealized gains (losses) by the average market value of each portfolio. Non U.S. dollar fixed income performance is measured in either the underlying currency or in U.S. dollars. |
|
(2) | Performance on the alternative portfolio reflects the six months ended May 31, 2006 and May 31, 2005, respectively. |
Net realized and unrealized gains on investment derivatives for the six months ended June 30, 2006, as well as losses for the corresponding period in 2005, resulted from the Company���s investment strategy to hedge certain interest, credit and foreign exchange risks within the investment portfolio.
Net Realized Gains and Losses and Other Than Temporary Declines in the Value of Investments
Net realized losses on investments in the first six months of 2006 included net realized gains of $22.2 million from sales of investments and net realized losses of approximately $23.0 million related to the write-down of certain of the Company’s fixed income, equity and other investments where the Company determined that there was an other than temporary decline in the value of these investments.
Net realized gains on investments in the first six months of 2005 included net realized gains of $184.5 million from sales of investments and net realized losses of approximately $33.8 million related to the write-down of certain of the Company’s fixed income, equity and other investments where the Company determined that there was an other than temporary decline in the value of those investments.
58
Other Revenues and Expenses
The following table sets forth other revenues and expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | |
| | Six Months Ended | | |
| | June 30, | | |
| |
|
|
|
|
| | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | % Change |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Net income from operating affiliates — general operations | | $ | 20,360 | | $ | 33,615 | | (39.4)% |
Amortization of intangible assets | | | 1,515 | | | 5,836 | | (74.0)% |
Corporate operating expenses | | | 88,455 | | | 83,076 | | 6.5% |
Interest expense | | | 104,461 | | | 89,508 | | 16.7% |
Income tax expense | | | 133,073 | | | 94,650 | | 40.6% |
Net income from operating affiliates for the six months ended June 30, 2006 decreased by 39.4% compared to the same period in 2005. This decrease related primarily to the impairment in value of certain operating affiliates during the first quarter of 2006.
Corporate operating expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2006 increased compared to the six months ended June 30, 2005 due to certain increased compensation costs partially offset by favorable foreign exchange movements.
The increase in interest expense primarily reflected the increase in outstanding debt since June 30, 2005. For more information on the Company’s financial structure, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources”.
The increase in the Company’s income taxes arose principally from an improvement in the profitability of the Company’s U.S. and European operations.
Investments
The primary objectives of the investment strategy are to support the liabilities arising from the operations of the Company, generate stable investment income and to build book value for the Company over the longer term. The strategy strives to maximize investment returns while taking into account market and credit risk. The Company’s overall investment portfolio is structured to take into account a number of variables including local regulatory requirements, business needs, collateral management and risk tolerance.
At June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, total investments, cash and cash equivalents and net payable for investments purchased were $41.0 billion and $41.2 billion, respectively. The following table summarizes the composition of the Company’s total investments and cash and cash equivalents:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Market Value at | | | | | | Market Value at | | | | |
| | June 30, | | | Percent of | | December 31, | | | Percent of |
| | 2006 | | | Total | | 2005 | | | Total |
| |
|
| | |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
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Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 2,566,768 | | | 6.3 | % | | $ | 3,693,475 | | | 9.0 | % |
Net payable for investments purchased | | | (450,548 | ) | | (1.1 | )% | | | (639,034 | ) | | (1.6 | )% |
Short-term investments | | | 2,772,074 | | | 6.8 | % | | | 2,546,073 | | | 6.2 | % |
Fixed maturities | | | 32,792,886 | | | 80.0 | % | | | 32,309,565 | | | 78.4 | % |
Equity securities | | | 838,364 | | | 2.0 | % | | | 868,801 | | | 2.1 | % |
Investments in affiliates | | | 2,021,256 | | | 4.9 | % | | | 2,046,721 | | | 5.0 | % |
Other investments | | | 442,797 | | | 1.1 | % | | | 399,417 | | | 0.9 | % |
| |
|
| | |
| | |
|
| | |
| |
Total investments and cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 40,983,597 | | | 100 | % | | $ | 41,225,018 | | | 100 | % |
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| | |
| | |
|
| | |
| |
59
The Company reviews, on a regular basis, its corporate debt concentration, credit quality and compliance with established guidelines. At June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the average credit quality of the Company’s total fixed income portfolio was “AA”. Approximately 54.4% of the fixed income portfolio was rated “AAA” by one or more of the principal ratings agencies. Approximately 2.2% was below investment grade or not rated.
Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses
The Company establishes reserves to provide for estimated claims, the general expenses of administering the claims adjustment process and for losses incurred but not reported. These reserves are calculated using actuarial and other reserving techniques to project the estimated ultimate net liability for losses and loss expenses. The Company’s reserving practices and the establishment of any particular reserve reflects management’s judgment concerning sound financial practice and do not represent any admission of liability with respect to any claims made against the Company.
Unpaid losses and loss expenses relates primarily to the casualty insurance and reinsurance business written by the Company. The balance was $17.6 billion at June 30, 2006, and $17.4 billion at December 31, 2005.
The table below represents a reconciliation of the Company’s unpaid losses and loss expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2006:
| | | | | (Unaudited) | | | (Unaudited) |
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | (Unaudited) | | Unpaid | | | Net unpaid |
| | Gross unpaid | | losses and | | | losses |
| | losses and loss | | loss expenses | | | and loss |
| | expenses | | recoverable | | | expenses |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
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Balance as at December 31, 2005 | | $ | 23,767,672 | | $ | (6,412,648 | ) | | $ | 17,355,024 |
Losses and loss expenses incurred | | | 2,738,295 | | | (521,610 | ) | | | 2,216,685 |
Losses and loss expenses paid /recovered | | | 978,442 | | | (769,713 | ) | | | 2,208,729 |
Foreign exchange and other | | | 205,975 | | | 31,663 | | | | 237,638 |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
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Balance as at June 30, 2006 | | $ | 23,733,500 | | $ | (6,132,882 | ) | | $ | 17,600,618 |
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
|
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While the Company reviews the adequacy of established reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses regularly, no assurance can be given that actual claims made and payments related thereto will not be in excess of the amounts reserved. In the future, if such reserves develop adversely, such deficiency would have a negative impact on future results of operations. See “Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses” in Item 1, “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Item 7 and Item 8, Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, each in the Company’s Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005, for further discussion.
Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses Recoverable and Reinsurance Balances Receivable
As a significant portion of the Company’s net premium written incepts in the first six months ended of the year, certain assets and liabilities have increased at June 30, 2006 compared to December 31, 2005. This includes deferred acquisition costs, unearned premiums, premiums receivable and prepaid reinsurance premiums.
In the normal course of business, the Company seeks to reduce the potential amount of loss arising from claims events by reinsuring certain levels of risk assumed in various areas of exposure with other insurers or reinsurers. While reinsurance agreements are designed to limit the Company’s losses from large exposures and permit recovery of a portion of direct unpaid losses, reinsurance does not relieve the Company of its ultimate liability to its insureds. Accordingly, the loss and loss expense reserves on the balance sheet represent the Company’s total unpaid gross losses. Unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable relates to estimated reinsurance recoveries on the unpaid loss and loss expense reserves.
Unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverables were $6.3 billion at June 30, 2006 and $6.6 billion at December 31, 2005. The table below presents the Company’s net paid and unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable and reinsurance balances receivable at June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005.
60
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | (Unaudited) | | | | | |
| June 30, | | December 31, |
| 2006 | | 2005 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Reinsurance balances receivable | | $ | 1,046,991 | | | | $ | 1,069,402 | |
Reinsurance recoverable on future policy benefits | | | 15,954 | | | | | 28,874 | |
Unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable | | | 6,341,949 | | | | | 6,646,972 | |
Bad debt reserve on unpaid losses and loss expenses | | | | | | | | | |
and reinsurance balances recoverable | | | (229,561 | ) | | | | (260,713 | ) |
| |
|
| | | |
|
| |
Net paid and unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable | | | | | | | | | |
and reinsurance balances receivable | | $ | 7,175,333 | | | | $ | 7,484,535 | |
| |
|
| | | |
|
| |
Under the terms of the Sale and Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”), as amended, between XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd (“XLI”) and Winterthur Swiss Insurance Company (“WSIC”), WSIC provided the Company with post-closing protection determined as of June 30, 2004 with respect to, among other things, adverse development of reserves and premium on certain Winterthur International Insurance business. This protection was based upon net loss experience and development over a three-year, post-closing seasoning period based on actual loss development experience, collectible reinsurance and certain other factors set forth in the SPA. The SPA included a process for determining the amount due from WSIC by an independent actuarial process whereby the Independent Actuary developed a value of the seasoned net reserves. The actual final seasoned net reserves amount was the submission that was closest to the number developed by the Independent Actuary.
As the Company and WSIC were unable to come to an agreement, the Company submitted to WSIC notice to trigger the independent actuarial process as contemplated by the SPA. On February 3, 2005, both the Company and WSIC made submissions for the independent actuarial process. There were two separate numbers submitted - that for the Seasoned Net Reserves Amount (“SNRA”) and that for the Net Premium Receivable Amount (“NPRA”). Subsequent to this date neither party had the opportunity to submit revised figures to the Independent Actuary.
On November 23, 2005 the Company received the draft report from the Independent Actuary in connection with the Company’s post-closing protection. The final report was received on December 6, 2005. The Independent Actuary’s report concluded that WSIC submitted SNRA and NPRA were closest to the Independent Actuary’s determinations of SNRA and NPRA. These determinations resulted in the Company receiving a net lump sum payment in the amount of approximately $575.0 million (including interest receivable) from WSIC. As the Company had recorded $1.4 billion in unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable related to this protection, a loss of approximately $834.2 million was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2005.
As noted above the independent actuarial process followed a “baseball-type” arbitration whereby there were only two possible outcomes, not a range of outcomes. The nature of the process was that the final SNRA was either the SNRA submitted by the Company or the SNRA submitted by WSIC. Accordingly, until the receipt of the Independent Actuary’s report in the fourth quarter of 2005, the Company’s best estimate was the SNRA it had submitted, as it could only ever have been either that number or the number that WSIC submitted.
For financial statement purposes, at each reporting period end subsequent to the SNRA and NPRA submissions being made in February of 2005, the Company assessed the two possible outcomes regarding the SNRA and after considering any new or changed information arising from the process, determined whether it continued to be probable that the Company’s SNRA would become the final SNRA as a result of the Independent Actuarial process. If at any time during the process management had concluded, based on the then current information, that the Independent Actuary would calculate an SNRA closer to WSIC’s SNRA submission, then a loss amounting to the entire difference between the two values would have been recorded. Management did not conclude that this was appropriate at any time prior to the receipt of the Independent Actuary’s draft report on November 23, 2005. Specifically, during the third quarter of 2005, further detailed internal analysis was conducted by management to re-evaluate the probability that the Company would be successful in the Independent Actuarial process. All areas where there was a potential that WSIC’s SNRA submission may have been accepted over the Company’s were examined, effectively estimating a reasonable worst-case scenario outcome from the Company’s point of view. This was compared to the midpoint of the difference between the two submissions. Management continued to believe the Company would be successful in the process.
61
There were many individual differences between the Independent Actuary’s calculation of the SNRA and that of the Company attributable to different judgment calls, different actuarial methodologies and sources of data. These related primarily to the following five areas:
(i) The Independent Actuary made downwards and upwards adjustments to the Company’s established case reserves and then used the revised reserves as source data for his actuarial analysis and the related calculation of the resultant IBNR. The Company’s established case reserves previously had been reviewed both internally and by independent claims analysts (which were outside legal counsel in most instances).
(ii) The Independent Actuary selected projection methodologies different than the Company’s. Most significantly the Independent Actuary’s weighting of paid loss projection versus incurred loss projection was different from the Company’s which gave rise to differing conclusions regarding future loss development. The Company continues to believe that its methodology, which was adopted by in-house actuaries and reviewed by both outside actuaries and included in the financial statements audited by the Company’s outside auditors, is appropriate and has not changed its loss projections based on the Independent Actuary’s report. The methodology used by the Company’s actuaries for these reserves is consistent with that used by the Company’s actuaries for similar risks written in other business units of the Company.
(iii) The Independent Actuary adopted a methodology different from that of the Company to estimate the application of reinsurance treaties against loss reserves across underwriting years and types of business.
(iv) The conversion into U.S. dollars of the underlying reserve development in local currency between July 2001 and June 2004 also generated a difference. The impact of the decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar on the Independent Actuary’s lower levels of local currency adverse development was to increase the difference between XL and the Independent Actuary in U.S. dollars. This was an issue peculiar to the interpretation of the SPA and does not affect the conversions of the loss reserves under U.S. GAAP.
(v) The Independent Actuary made different assumptions than the Company regarding the classification of data used in the actuarial analysis. For example, the Independent Actuary characterized losses as large losses for purposes of separate treatment in his actuarial analysis at a level that was different from the Company. The Company’s loss reserves and actuarial methodologies were reviewed both internally and externally by outside actuaries and included in the financial statements audited by the Company’s outside auditors.
The differences between the Independent Actuary’s and the Company’s evaluations of the factors described above were the result of the application of judgments in, the application of actuarial methodology, assessment of loss on individual claims events and/or interpretation of the provisions of the SPA. Because these factors are interdependent, quantification of a single factor’s individual contribution to the overall difference is not always possible. The quantification of certain reasonably discrete items has been given below. The Company’s loss reserves and actuarial methodologies were reviewed both internally and externally by outside actuaries and claims analysts throughout the seasoning period up to the date of our submission to the Independent Actuary and thereafter. Any adjustments to the underlying carried reserves (both upward and downward) since that date have been the result of new information and have been recorded in the period during which the information became available. In particular during our ongoing assessments of unpaid losses in 2005 it was noted that in certain instances reported experience indicated that the distribution of gross losses to existing reinsurance treaties had developed such that net losses were reduced by approximately $90 million. In addition certain claim settlements and new claim emergence resulted in positive development of approximately $110 million as required by the application of actuarial methodologies on a basis consistent with historical practices. As a result, changes in estimates were recorded as the new information and other developments became available contributing to the net positive development for global risk lines of business during 2005 noted in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. These developments did not change the Company’s assessment of the outcome of the Independent Actuarial process.
The difference between the independent actuary’s conclusion on the Net Premium Receivable Amount (“NPRA”) and that of the Company related almost exclusively to an interpretation of the SPA with respect to the
62
application of certain accruals for premiums payable at the closing of the purchase in 2001. The Company accordingly has not made any adjustment to its current premiums receivable balances.
The losses resulting from the determinations of the Independent Actuary were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2005 as it was at this time that the draft and final reports of the Independent Actuary were released and sufficient new information was available to support recording a loss for uncollectible reinsurance based on the baseball-type arbitration which allowed for only one of two outcomes. At no time before the release of that report did the Company believe that recognition of a loss under FAS 5 was appropriate.
Under FAS 5, paragraph 8, a loss contingency shall be accrued to income if information available prior to issuance of the financial statements indicates that it is probable that an asset had been impaired or a liability had been incurred at the date of the financial statements. It is implicit in this condition that it must be probable that one or more future events will occur confirming the fact that of the loss. At no time prior to the Company’s receipt of the draft actuarial report did this condition exist.
Under the terms of the SPA, WSIC also provided the Company with protection with respect to third party reinsurance receivables and recoverables related to the acquisition of certain Winterthur International insurance operations (the “Winterthur Business”).
On June 7, 2006, subsidiaries of the Company, entered into an agreement (the “Agreement”) with WSIC. The purpose of this Agreement is to release all actual or potential disputes, claims or issues arising out of or related in any way to: (i) the Liquidity Facility and the Sellers Retrocession Agreements, as well as (ii) subject to certain exceptions, the SPA.
The Agreement further provides for a four-year term, collateralized escrow arrangement (the “Fund”) of up to $185 million (plus interest) to protect certain subsidiaries from future nonperforming third party reinsurance related to the Winterthur Business. The Fund has been structured to align the parties’ interests by providing for any sums remaining in the Fund at the end of its term to be shared in agreed percentages.
The Agreement replaces the protections provided to the Company from WSIC for reinsurance receivables and recoverables under the Liquidity Facility and Sellers Retrocession Agreements noted above and described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As a holding company, the Company’s assets consist primarily of its investments in subsidiaries, and the Company’s future cash flows depend on the availability of dividends or other statutorily permissible payments from its subsidiaries. The ability to pay such dividends is limited by the applicable laws and regulations of the various countries the Company operates in including, among others, Bermuda, the United States, Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and those of the Society of Lloyd’s and certain contractual provisions. No assurance can be given that the Company or its subsidiaries will be permitted to pay dividends in the future.
The Company and its subsidiaries provide no guarantees or other commitments (express or implied) of financial support to the Company’s subsidiaries or affiliates, except for express written financial support provided by XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd in connection with the Company’s financial guaranty subsidiaries and where other express written guaranty or other financial support arrangements are in place.
Liquidity
Liquidity is a measure of the Company’s ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the short and long term cash requirements of the Company’s business operations.
63
The Company’s operating subsidiaries provide liquidity in that premiums are generally received months or even years before losses are paid under the policies related to such premiums. Historically, cash receipts from operations, consisting of insurance premiums and investment income, have provided more than sufficient funds to pay losses, operating expenses and dividends to the Company.
New cash from operations was approximately $762.1 million in the first six months of 2006 compared with $3.2 billion in the same period in 2005. New cash in the first six months of 2005 included a large immediate annuity portfolio of $1.8 billion. Net new cash in 2006 was due primarily to higher investment income in the period, offset by payments related to the 2005 hurricanes of approximately $590 million. In addition net cash from structured and spread transactions was negative $784.7 million, substantially due to ordinary course net redemptions in the muni-GIC's and funding agreements.
Capital Resources
At June 30, 2006, the Company had total shareholders’ equity of $8.5 billion. In addition to ordinary and preferred share capital, the Company depends on external sources of financing such as debt, credit facilities and contingent capital to support its underwriting activities.
The Company does not intend, subject to the terms and conditions of the Series A or Series B preference ordinary shares as set forth in the relevant prospectus supplements, to redeem either the Series A or Series B preference ordinary shares unless replaced with capital having at least the equivalent credit.
As at June 30, 2006, the Company had revolving loan facilities from a variety of sources, including commercial banks, totaling $4.6 billion of which $3.4 billion in debt was outstanding. In addition, the Company had letters of credit facilities amounting to $6.1 billion of which $4.1 billion was utilized to provide letters of credit in issue at June 30, 2006, 4.8% of which were collateralized by the Company’s investment portfolio. Such letters of credit principally support the Company’s U.S. non-admitted business and the Company’s capital requirements at Lloyd’s.
Debt
The following table presents the Company’s indebtedness under outstanding debt securities and lenders’ commitments as at June 30, 2006:
| | | | | | | | | | Payments Due by Period |
| | | | | | | | | |
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Notes Payable and Debt | | | | | | | | Year of | | Less than | | 1 to 3 | | 3 to 5 | | After 5 |
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | Commitment | | In Use | | Expiry | | 1 Year | | Years | | Years | | Years |
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| |
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364-day revolver | | $ | 100,000 | | $ | — | | 2006 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | | |
5 and 3-year revolvers | | | 1,000,000 | | | — | | 2007/2010 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | $ | — |
5-year revolver | | | 100,000 | | | — | | 2010 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
2.53% Senior Notes | | | 825,000 | | | 825,000 | | 2009 | | | — | | | 825,000 | | | — | | | — |
5.25% Senior Notes | | | 745,000 | | | 745,000 | | 2011 | | | — | | | 745,000 | | | — | | | — |
6.58% Guaranteed | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Senior Notes | | | 255,000 | | | 255,000 | | 2011 | | | — | | | — | | | 255,000 | | | — |
6.50% Guaranteed | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Senior Notes | | | 598,237 | | | 598,237 | | 2012 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 600,000 |
5.25% Senior Notes | | | 594,650 | | | 594,650 | | 2014 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 600,000 |
6.375% Senior Notes | | | 350,000 | | | 350,000 | | 2024 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 350,000 |
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Total | | $ | 4,567,887 | | $ | 3,367,887 | | | | $ | — | | $ | 1,570,000 | | $ | 255,000 | | $ | 1,550,000 |
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“Commitment” and “In Use” data represent June 30, 2006 accreted values. “Payments Due by Period” data represent ultimate redemption values.
64
Credit facilities, contingent capital and other sources of collateral.
The Company closed a new $500 million syndicated credit facility on May 9, 2006. The new facility has a tenor of 364-days and is available for letters of credit only.
At June 30, 2006, the Company had eight letter of credit facilities in place with total availability of $6.1 billion, of which $4.1 billion was utilized.
| | | | | | | | | | Amount of Commitment |
| | | | | | | | | | Expiration Per Period |
Other Commercial | | | | | | | | | |
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Commitments | | | | | | | | Year of | | Less than | | 1 to 3 | | 3 to 5 | | After 5 |
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | Commitment | | In Use | | Expiry | | 1 Year | | Years | | Years | | Years |
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Letter of credit | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
facility | | $ | 200,000 | | $ | 192,421 | | Continuous | | $ | 200,000 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — |
2 Letter of credit | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
facilities | | | 5,979 | | | 5,979 | | 2006 | | | 5,979 | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Letter of credit | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
facility (1) | | | 100,000 | | | — | | 2006 | | | 100,000 | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Letter of credit | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
facility | | | 150,000 | | | 150,000 | | 2006 | | | 150,000 | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Letter of credit | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
facility | | | 500,000 | | | 471,238 | | 2007 | | | 500,000 | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Letter of credit | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
facility | | | 913,250 | | | 742,282 | | 2008 | | | — | | | 913,250 | | | — | | | — |
Letter of credit | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
facility (1) | | | 2,000,000 | | | 737,793 | | 2007 | | | — | | | 2,000,000 | | | — | | | — |
Letter of credit | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
facility (1) | | | 2,250,000 | | | 1,824,684 | | 2010 | | | — | | | — | | | 2,250,000 | | | — |
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8 Letter of credit | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
facilities | | $ | 6,119,229 | | $ | 4,124,397 | | | | $ | 955,979 | | $ | 2,913,250 | | $ | 2,250,000 | | $ | — |
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(1) Of the total letter of credit facilities above, $1,000 million is also included in the revolvers under notes payable and debt. The Company has several letter of credit facilities provided on a syndicated and bilateral basis from commercial banks. These facilities are principally utilized to support non-admitted insurance and reinsurance operations in the United States and capital requirements at Lloyd’s. In addition to letters of credit, the Company has established insurance trusts in the U.S. that provide cedants with statutory relief under state insurance regulations in the U.S. It is anticipated that the commercial facilities will be renewed on expiry but such renewals are subject to the availability of credit from banks utilized by the Company. In the event that such credit support is insufficient, the Company could be required to provide alternative security to cedants. This could take the form of additional insurance trusts supported by the Company’s investment portfolio or funds withheld using the Company’s cash resources. The value of letters of credit required is driven by, among other things, loss development of existing reserves, the payment pattern of such reserves, the expansion of business written by the Company and loss experience of such business.
In addition to funded debt transactions, the Company and a majority-owned subsidiary XL Financial Assurance Ltd. (“XLFA”) have entered into contingent capital transactions. No up-front proceeds were received by the Company or XLFA under these transactions, however, in the event that the associated irrevocable put option agreements are exercised, proceeds previously raised from investors from the issuance of pass-through trust securities would be received in return for the issuance of preferred shares by the Company or XLFA, as applicable.
Ratings
The Company’s ability to underwrite business is dependent upon the quality of its claims paying and financial strength ratings as evaluated by independent rating agencies. As a result, in the event that the Company is downgraded,
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its ability to write business may be adversely affected. In the normal course of business, the Company evaluates its capital needs to support the volume of business written in order to maintain its claims paying and financial strength ratings. The Company regularly provides financial information to rating agencies to both maintain and enhance existing ratings.
The following are the current financial strength and claims paying ratings from internationally recognized rating agencies in relation to the Company’s principal insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries and pools:
| Rating agency | | | | Rating |
|
| | | |
|
| Standard & Poor’s | | | | A+ (Stable) |
| Fitch | | | | AA- (Stable) |
| A.M. Best | | | | A+ (Stable) |
| Moody’s Investor Services | | | | Aa3 (Stable) |
The following are the current financial strength ratings from internationally recognized rating agencies in relation to the Company’s principal financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries:
| Rating agency | | Rating |
|
| |
|
| Standard & Poor’s | | AAA |
| Fitch | | AAA |
| Moody’s Investor Services | | Aaa |
In addition, XL Capital Ltd had the following long term debt ratings as at June 30, 2006: “a-” (Stable) from A.M. Best, “A-” (Stable) from Standard and Poor’s, “A3” (Stable) from Moody’s and “A” (Stable) from Fitch.
Other
For information regarding cross-default and certain other provisions in the Company’s debt and convertible securities documents, see Item 7 of the Company’s Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005.
The Company has had several share repurchase programs in the past as part of its capital management strategy. On January 9, 2000, the Board of Directors authorized a program for the repurchase of shares up to $500.0 million. Under this plan, the Company has purchased 6.6 million shares at an aggregate cost of $364.6 million or an average cost of $55.24 per share. The Company has $135.4 million remaining in its share repurchase authorization. During the six months ended June 30, 2006, no shares were repurchased in the open market. The Company has repurchased shares from employees and directors in relation to withholding tax on restricted stock. See Part II, Item 2 “Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds”, below.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”) provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Any prospectus, prospectus supplement, the Company’s Annual Report to ordinary shareholders, any proxy statement, any other Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K of the Company or any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of the Company may include forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Such statements include forward-looking statements both with respect to the Company in general, and to the insurance, reinsurance and financial products and services sectors in particular (both as to underwriting and investment matters). Statements that include the words “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “believe”, “project”, “anticipate”, “will”, “may”, and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements for 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. The Company believes that these factors include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) the adequacy of rates and terms and conditions may not be as sustainable as the Company is currently projecting; (ii) changes to the size of the Company’s claims relating to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma and other natural catastrophes; (iii) the Company’s ability to realize the expected
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benefits of the collateralized quota share reinsurance treaty that it entered into in the fourth quarter of 2005 with respect to specified portions of its property catastrophe and retrocessional lines of business; (iv) the timely and full recoverability of reinsurance placed by the Company with third parties, or other amounts due to the Company; (v) the projected amount of ceded reinsurance recoverables and the ratings and creditworthiness of reinsurers may change; (vi) the size of the Company’s claims relating to the hurricane and tsunami losses described herein may change; (vii) the timing of claims payments being faster or the receipt of reinsurance recoverables being slower than anticipated by the Company; (viii) ineffectiveness or obsolescence of the Company’s business strategy due to changes in current or future market conditions; (ix) increased competition on the basis of pricing, capacity, coverage terms or other factors; (x) greater frequency or severity of claims and loss activity, including as a result of natural or man-made catastrophic events, than the Company’s underwriting, reserving or investment practices anticipate based on historical experience or industry data; (viii) developments in the world’s financial and capital markets that adversely affect the performance of the Company’s investments and the Company’s access to such markets; (ix) the potential impact on the Company from government-mandated insurance coverage for acts of terrorism; (x) the potential impact of variable interest entities or other off-balance sheet arrangements on the Company; (xi) developments in bankruptcy proceedings or other developments related to bankruptcies of companies insofar as they affect property and casualty insurance and reinsurance coverages or claims that the Company may have as a counterparty; (xii) availability of borrowings and letters of credit under the Company’s credit facilities; (xiii) changes in regulation or tax laws applicable to the Company or its subsidiaries, brokers or customers; (xiv) acceptance of the Company’s products and services, including new products and services; (xv) changes in the availability, cost or quality of reinsurance; (xvi) changes in the distribution or placement of risks due to increased consolidation of insurance and reinsurance brokers; (xvii) loss of key personnel; (xviii) the effects of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; (xix) changes in ratings, rating agency policies or practices; (xx) changes in accounting policies or practices or the application thereof; (xxi) legislative or regulatory developments; (xxii) changes in general economic conditions, including inflation, foreign currency exchange rates and other factors; (xxiii) the effects of business disruption or economic contraction due to war, terrorism or other hostilities; and (xxiv) the other factors set forth in the Company’s other documents on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). 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 herein or elsewhere. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Except as described below, there have been no material changes in the Company’s market risk exposures, or how those exposures are managed, since December 31, 2005. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” presented under Item 7A of the Company’s Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005.
The Company enters into derivatives and other financial instruments primarily for risk management purposes. The Company’s derivative transactions can expose the Company to credit default swap risk, weather and energy risk, investment market risk and foreign currency exchange rate risk. The Company attempts to manage these risks based on guidelines established by senior management. Derivative instruments are carried at fair value with resulting changes in fair value recognized in income in the period in which they occur.
Value-at-risk (“VaR”) is one of the tools used by management to estimate potential losses in fair values using historical rates, market movements and credit spreads to estimate the volatility and correlation of these factors to calculate the potential loss that could occur over a defined period of time given a certain probability.
This risk management discussion and the estimated amounts generated from the sensitivity and VaR analyses presented in this document are forward-looking statements of market risk assuming certain adverse market conditions occur. Actual results in the future may differ materially from these estimated results due to, among other things, actual developments in the global financial markets. The results of analysis used by the Company to assess and mitigate risk should not be considered projections of future events of losses. See generally “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Item 2.
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Credit Default Swaps
The Company has written certain financial guaranty transactions in derivative or swap form. The Company does not actively trade these transactions and generally issues and holds these contracts to maturity. Changes in fair value can result from changes in market credit spreads, supply and demand for similar type instruments, changes in future loss and/or recovery estimates, interest rates and credit rating upgrades or downgrades. The Company therefore is at risk for changes in fair value due to changes in any of the above factors. In addition, the Company enters into credit default swap transactions as part of its overall investment strategy.
Weather and Energy Market Risk
The Company offers weather and energy risk management products in insurance or derivative form to end-users, while managing the risks in the over-the-counter and exchange traded derivatives markets in a weather and energy derivatives trading portfolio.
Fair values for the Company’s natural gas derivative contracts are determined through the use of quoted market prices. As quoted market prices are not widely available in the weather derivative market, management uses available market data and internal pricing models based upon consistent statistical methodologies to estimate fair values. Estimating fair value of instruments that do not have quoted market prices requires management judgment in determining amounts that could reasonably be expected to be received from, or paid to, a third party in settlement of the contracts. The amounts could be materially different from the amounts that might be realized in an actual sale transaction. Fair values are subject to change in the near-term and reflect management’s best estimate based on various factors including, but not limited to, realized and forecasted weather conditions, changes in commodity prices, changes in interest rates and other market factors.
The following table summarizes the movement in the fair value of weather and energy contracts outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2006.
| (Unaudited) |
| Six Months Ended |
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | June 30, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value of contracts outstanding, beginning of the period | | $ | (4,345 | ) |
Net option premiums realized (1) | | | (4,627 | ) |
Reclassification of settled contracts to realized (2) | | | (13,176 | ) |
Other changes in fair value (3) | | | 16,169 | |
| |
|
| |
Fair value of contracts outstanding, end of period | | $ | (5,979 | ) |
| |
|
| |
(1) | The Company received $11.6 million of premiums and realized $7.0 million of premiums on expired transactions for a net increase in the balance sheet derivative asset of $4.6 million. |
|
(2) | The Company paid $13.2 million to settle derivative positions during the period resulting in a reclassification of this amount from unrealized to realized and an increase in the derivative asset on the balance sheet. |
|
(3) | This represents the effects of changes in commodity prices, the time value of options, and other valuation adjustments. |
The change in the fair value of contracts outstanding at June 30, 2006 as compared to the beginning of the period, is primarily a result of realized gains from European frost day weather derivative contracts for the 2005/06 winter, and favorable weather development in the European weather portfolio and the impact on seasonal contracts that are at the end of their risk periods.
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The following table summarizes the maturity of contracts outstanding as of June 30, 2006:
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Unaudited) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Less Than | | | | | | | | | | Greater Than | | Total | |
Source Of Fair Value | | 1 Year | | | 1-3 Years | | | 3-5 Years | | 5 Years | | Fair Value | |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
Prices actively quoted | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | |
Prices based on models and other | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
valuation methods | | | (5,557 | ) | | | (4,032 | ) | | | 3,610 | | — | | | (5,979 | ) |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
Total fair value of contracts | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
outstanding | | $ | (5,557 | ) | | $ | (4,032 | ) | | $ | 3,610 | | $ | — | | $ | (5,979 | ) |
| |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
The Company manages its weather and energy portfolio through the employment of a variety of strategies. These include geographical and directional diversification of risk exposures and direct hedging within the capital and reinsurance markets. Risk management is undertaken on a product portfolio-wide basis, to maintain a portfolio that the Company believes is well diversified and which remains within the aggregate risk tolerance established by the Company’s senior management.
The Company’s aggregate average, low and high seasonal VaR amounts for its weather risk management portfolio, calculated at a 99% confidence level, during the period ended June 30, 2006 were $39.6 million, $37.3 million and $51.8 million, respectively. The corresponding levels for the weather risk management portfolio during the period ended June 30, 2005 were $100.8 million, $86.0 million and $115.1 million, respectively. The Company calculates its aggregate VaR by summing the VaR amounts for each of its seasonal portfolios. The Company’s aggregation methodology yields a conservative aggregate portfolio VaR, given that current weather events and patterns have an immaterial effect on expectations for future seasons and the Company could therefore greatly reduce or eliminate its VaR on future seasons by selling its positions prior to the beginning of a season. At present, the Company’s VaR calculation does not exceed $15.0 million in any one season.
For electricity generation outage insurance products, VaR is calculated using an annual holding period. Management has established an annual VaR limit of $25.0 million for this book of business. The Company’s average, low and high annual VaR amounts, calculated at a 99% confidence level, during the period ended June 30, 2005 were $21.0 million, $15.3 million, and $28.8 million, respectively. The corresponding amounts during the period ended June 30, 2004 were $4.2 million, $2.6 million, and $7.6 million, respectively.
Investment Market Risk
The Company’s investment portfolio consists of exposures to fixed income securities, equities, alternative investments, derivatives, business and other investments and cash. These securities and investments are denominated in both U.S. dollars and foreign currencies.
Through the structure of the Company’s investment portfolio, the Company’s earnings and book value are directly affected by changes in the valuations of the securities and investments held in the investment portfolio. These valuation changes reflect changes in interest rates (e.g. changes in the level, slope and curvature of the yield curves, volatility of interest rates, mortgage prepayment speeds and credit spreads), credit quality, equity prices (e.g. changes in prices and volatilities of individual securities, equity baskets and equity indices) and foreign currency exchange rates (e.g. changes in spot prices, forward prices and volatilities of currency rates). Market risk therefore arises due to the uncertainty surrounding the future valuations of these different assets, the factors that impact their values and the impact that this could have on the Company’s earnings and book value.
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The Company seeks to manage the risks of the investment portfolio through a combination of asset class, country, industry and security level diversification and investment manager allocations. These allocation decisions are made relative to the liability profile of the Company and the Company’s surplus. Further, individual security and issuer exposures are generally controlled and monitored at the investment portfolio level, via specific investment constraints outlined in investment guidelines and agreed with the Company’s external investment professionals. Additional constraints are generally agreed with the external investment professionals which may address exposures to eligible securities, prohibited investments/transactions, credit quality and general concentration limits.
The Company’s direct use of investment derivatives includes futures, forwards, swaps and option contracts that derive their value from underlying assets, indices, reference rates or a combination of these factors. When investment guidelines allow for the use of derivatives, these can generally only be used for the purposes of managing interest rate risk, foreign exchange risk, credit risk and replicating permitted investments, provided the use of such instruments is incorporated in the overall portfolio duration, spread, convexity and other relevant portfolio metrics. The direct use of derivatives is generally not permitted to economically leverage the portfolio outside of the stated guidelines. Derivatives may also be used to add value to the investment portfolio where market inefficiencies are perceived to exist, to utilize cash holdings to purchase equity indexed derivatives and to adjust the duration of a portfolio of fixed income securities to match the duration of related deposit liabilities.
Investment Value-At-Risk
The VaR of the Company’s total investment portfolio at June 30, 2006, based on a 95% confidence level with a one month holding period, was approximately $666.3 million as compared to $489.0 million as at December 31, 2005. The VaR of all investment related derivatives as at June 30, 2006 was approximately $19.9 million as compared to $26.3 million as at December 31, 2005. The Company’s investment portfolio VaR as at June 30, 2006 is not necessarily indicative of future VaR levels.
To complement the VaR analysis based on normal market environments, the Company considers the impact on the investment portfolio of several different historical stress periods to analyze the effect of unusual market conditions. The Company establishes certain historical stress test scenarios which are applied to the actual investment portfolio. As these stress tests and estimated gains and losses are based on historical events, they will not necessarily reflect future stress events or gains and losses from such events. The results of the stress test scenarios are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they are appropriate, based on current shareholders’ equity, market conditions and the Company’s total risk tolerance. Given the investment portfolio allocations as at June 30, 2006, the Company would expect to lose approximately 5.0% of the portfolio if the most damaging event stress tested was repeated, all other things held equal, as compared to 5.2% at December 31, 2005. Given the investment portfolio allocations as at June 30, 2006, the Company would expect to gain approximately 17.3% on the portfolio if the most favorable event stress tested was repeated, all other things held equal, as compared to 17.3% at December 31, 2005. The Company assumes that no action is taken during the stress period to either liquidate or rebalance the portfolio. The Company believes that this fairly reflects the potential decreased liquidity that is often associated with stressed market environments.
Fixed Income Portfolio
The Company’s fixed income portfolio is exposed to credit and interest rate risk. The fixed income portfolio includes fixed maturities, short-term investments, cash and cash equivalents and net payable for investments purchased.
As at June 30, 2006, the value of the Company’s fixed income portfolio, including cash and cash equivalents and net payable for investments purchased, was approximately $37.7 billion as compared to approximately $37.9 billion as at December 31, 2005. As at June 30, 2006, the fixed income portfolio consisted of approximately 91.1% of the total investment portfolio (including cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income and net payable for investments purchased) as compared to approximately 91.1% as at December 31, 2005.
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The table below shows the Company’s fixed income portfolio by credit rating in percentage terms of the Company’s total fixed income exposure (including fixed maturities, short-term investments, cash and cash equivalents and net payable for investments purchased) as at June 30, 2006.
| | Total |
| |
|
|
AAA | | 54.4 | % |
AA | | 15.2 | % |
A | | 16.9 | % |
BBB | | 11.3 | % |
BB & BELOW | | 2.0 | % |
NR | | 0.2 | % |
| |
| |
Total | | 100.0 | % |
| |
| |
At June 30, 2006, the average credit quality of the Company’s total fixed income portfolio was “AA”.
As at June 30, 2006, the top 10 corporate holdings, which exclude government guaranteed and government sponsored enterprises, represented approximately 3.9% of the Company’s total fixed income portfolio and approximately 11.4% of all corporate holdings. The top 10 corporate holdings listed below represent the direct exposure to the corporations listed below, including their subsidiaries, and excludes any securitized, credit enhanced and collateralized asset or mortgage backed securities, cash and cash equivalents and excludes any reduction to this exposure through credit default swaps, if applicable.
| | Percentage of Total |
Top 10 Corporate Holdings | | Fixed Income Portfolio (1) |
| |
|
|
Bank of America Corporation | | 0.5 | % |
KFW Bankengruppe | | 0.5 | % |
Lloyds TSB Group plc | | 0.4 | % |
The Royal Bank of Scotland | | 0.4 | % |
General Electric Company | | 0.4 | % |
Wells Fargo & Company | | 0.4 | % |
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc | | 0.4 | % |
HSBC Holdings plc | | 0.3 | % |
Citigroup Inc | | 0.3 | % |
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc | | 0.3 | % |
(1) Including fixed maturities, short-term investments, cash and cash equivalents and net payable for investments purchased. The Company’s fixed income portfolio is exposed to interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is the price sensitivity of a fixed income security to changes in interest rates. The hypothetical case of an immediate 100 basis point adverse parallel shift in global bond yield curves as at June 30, 2006 would decrease the fair value of the Company’s fixed income portfolio by approximately 3.9% or $1.5 billion. Based on historical observations, it is unlikely that all global yield curves would shift uniformly in the same direction and at the same time.
Equity Portfolio
As at June 30, 2006, the Company’s equity portfolio, which for financial reporting purposes includes certain fixed income mutual fund investments that do not have the risk characteristics of equity investments, was $838.4 million as compared to $868.8 million as at December 31, 2005. As at June 30, 2006, the Company’s allocation to equity securities was approximately 2.0% of the total investment portfolio (including cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income and net payable for investments purchased) as compared to approximately 2.1% as at December 31, 2005.
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As at June 30, 2006, approximately 44% of the equity portfolio was invested in U.S. companies as compared to approximately 53% as at December 31, 2005. As at June 30, 2006, the top ten equity holdings represented approximately 6.2% of the Company’s total equity portfolio as compared to approximately 5.8% as at December 31, 2005.
The Company’s equity portfolio is exposed to price risk. Equity price risk is the potential loss arising from decreases in the market value of equities. An immediate hypothetical 10% change in the value of each equity position would affect the fair value of the portfolio by approximately $83.8 million as at June 30, 2006 as compared to $86.9 million as at December 31, 2005.
Alternative Investment Portfolio
The Company’s alternative investment portfolio had approximately 60 separate fund investments at June 30, 2006 with a total exposure of $1.6 billion representing approximately 3.9% of the total investment portfolio as compared to December 31, 2005 where the Company had approximately 80 separate fund investments with a total exposure of $1.7 billion representing approximately 4.1 % of the total investment portfolio.
As at June 30, 2006, the alternative investment style allocation was 38% in Directional/tactical strategies, 29% in Event-driven strategies, 24% in Arbitrage strategies, and 9% in Multi-strategy strategies. As at December 31, 2005, the alternative investment style allocation was 43% in Directional/tactical strategies, 31% in Event-driven strategies, 18% in Arbitrage strategies, and 8% in Multi-strategy strategies.
Private Investment Portfolio
As at June 30, 2006, the Company’s exposure to private investments was approximately $347.4 million compared to $252.2 million as at December 31, 2005. As at June 30, 2006, the Company’s exposure to private investments comprised approximately 0.8% of the total investment portfolio (including cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income and net payable for investments purchased), as compared to 0.6% as at December 31, 2005.
Bond and Stock Index Futures Exposure
As at June 30, 2006, bond and stock index futures outstanding had a net long position of $11.2 million as compared to a net long position of $46.4 million as at December 31, 2005. A 10% appreciation or depreciation of the underlying exposure to these derivative instruments would have resulted in realized gains or realized losses of $1.1 million as at June 30, 2006 and $4.6 million as at December 31, 2005, respectively. The Company may reduce its exposure to these futures through offsetting transactions, including options and forwards.
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
The Company has exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations through its operations, unpaid losses and loss expenses and in its investment portfolio. The Company’s net foreign currency denominated payable on foreign exchange contracts as at June 30, 2006 was $120.9 million as compared to $603.0 million as at December 31, 2005, with a net unrealized loss of $3.8 million as compared to a net unrealized gain of $15.9 million as at December 31, 2005.
Foreign exchange contracts within the investment portfolio are utilized to manage individual portfolio foreign exchange exposures, subject to investment manager guidelines established by management. These contracts are not designated as specific hedges for financial reporting purposes and, therefore, realized and unrealized gains and losses on these contracts are recorded in income in the period in which they occur. These contracts generally have maturities of three months or less.
The Company also attempts to manage the foreign exchange volatility arising on certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies. These include, but are not limited to, premium receivable, reinsurance contracts, claims payable and investments in subsidiaries.
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Credit Risk
The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of non-performance by the other parties to the forward contracts, however the Company does not anticipate non-performance. The difference between the notional principal amounts and the associated market value is the Company’s maximum credit exposure.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that all material information relating to the Company required to be filed in this report has been made known to them in a timely fashion.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the Company’s evaluation required pursuant to Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
In November 2006, the Company discovered certain errors in its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. These errors resulted from a misapplication of the accounting standards relating to Statements of Cash Flows. The Company brought the errors to the attention of its independent auditor and determined that it would restate its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the periods ending March 31, 2006, June 30, 2006 and the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004, and 2005, respectively. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Management and the Company's independent auditors have concluded that the control deficiency that resulted in the restatement of the prior period financial statements was not in itself a material weakness. In addition, the control deficiency that resulted in the restatement when aggregated with other deficiencies did not constitute a material weakness. The Company has taken steps to remediate the significant deficiency in the processes surrounding the preparation of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On June 21, 2004, a consolidated and amended class action complaint (the “Amended Complaint”) was served on the Company and certain of its present and former directors and officers as defendants in a putative class action (Malin et al. v. XL Capital Ltd et al.) filed in United States District Court, District of Connecticut (the “Malin Action”). The Malin Action purports to be on behalf of purchasers of the Company’s common stock between November 1, 2001 and October 16, 2003, and alleges claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Laws”). The Amended Complaint alleged that the defendants violated the Securities Laws by, among other things, failing to disclose in various public and shareholder and investor reports and other communications the alleged inadequacy of the Company’s loss reserves for its NAC Re subsidiary (now known as XL Reinsurance America, Inc.) and that, as a consequence, the Company’s earnings and assets were materially overstated. On August 26, 2005, the Court dismissed the Amended Complaint owing to its failure adequately to allege “loss causation,” but provided leave for the plaintiffs to file a further amended complaint. The plaintiffs thereafter filed a second amended complaint (the “Second Amended Complaint”), which is similar to the Amended Complaint in its substantive allegations. On December 31, 2005, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint. The plaintiffs have opposed the motion. The Company and the defendant present and former officers and directors intend to vigorously defend the claims asserted against them.
On June 17, 2004, William Kronenberg, III, Frank A. Piliero and David M. Rosenberg (together, the “Claimants”) commenced an arbitration against the Company before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in New York, New York. The Claimants and the Company were parties to a stock purchase agreement dated June 1, 1999, pursuant to which the Company acquired the outstanding capital stock of ECS, Inc. (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”). In their AAA arbitration demand, the Claimants asserted claims of fraud and deceitful conduct, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of contract and a covenant of good faith and fair dealing, all relating to the allegation that the Company failed to make certain contingent payments allegedly due to the Claimants under the Stock Purchase Agreement. Claimants sought $85 million (the maximum amount payable under the contingent payment provision at issue), plus punitive damages, interest, costs and attorneys’ fees. On February 21, 2006, the AAA panel issued a final award in favor of the Company with respect to the major disputes at issue. On June 21, 2006 the parties reached a settlement in principle of all remaining issues in dispute, and the settlement is in the process of being finalized.
The Company is also subject to litigation and arbitration in the normal course of its business. These lawsuits and arbitrations principally involve claims on policies of insurance and contracts of reinsurance and are typical for the Company and for the property and casualty insurance and reinsurance industry in general. Such legal proceedings are considered in connection with the Company’s loss and loss expense reserves. Reserves in varying amounts may or may not be established in respect of particular claims proceedings based on many factors, including the legal merits thereof. In addition to claims litigation, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to lawsuits in the normal course of business that do not arise from or directly relate to claims on policies of insurance or contracts of reinsurance.
As previously disclosed, in May and June of 2005, the Company received a subpoena from the SEC and a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, respectively, in each case for documents and information relating to certain finite-risk and loss mitigation insurance products. The Company is fully cooperating and responding to these requests.
From time to time, the Company has also received and responded to additional requests from Attorneys General and state insurance regulators for information relating to the Company’s contingent commission arrangements with brokers and agents and the Company’s insurance and reinsurance practices in connection with certain finite-risk and loss mitigation products. Similarly, the Company’s affiliates outside the United States have, from time to time, received and responded to requests from regulators relating to the Company’s insurance and reinsurance practices regarding contingent commissions or finite-risk and loss mitigation products. The Company is fully cooperating with these regulators in these matters.
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In August 2005, plaintiffs in a proposed class action multi-district lawsuit, captionedIn re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation,MDL No. 1663, Civil Action No. 04-5184 (FSH) (the “MDL”), filed a consolidated amended complaint (the “Amended Complaint”), which named as new defendants, in the pending action approximately 30 entities, including Greenwich Insurance Company, Indian Harbor Insurance Company and XL Capital Ltd. In the MDL, named plaintiffs have asserted various claims purportedly, on behalf of a class of commercial insureds against approximately 113 insurance companies and insurance brokers through which the named plaintiffs allegedly purchased insurance. The Amended Complaint alleges that the defendant insurance companies and insurance brokers conspired to manipulate bidding practices for insurance policies in certain insurance lines and failed to disclose certain commission arrangements. The named plaintiffs have asserted statutory claims under the Sherman Act, various state antitrust laws and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, as well as common law claims alleging breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting a breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment. Discovery in the MDL continues. Defendants filed motions to dismiss the Amended Complaint in late November 2005. On February 1, 2006, plaintiffs filed a motion seeking leave to further amend their Amended Complaint to, among other things, add additional defendants, including X.L. America, Inc. and XL Insurance America, Inc. That motion was denied without prejudice. On or about February 13, 2006, plaintiffs filed a motion seeking class certification. Defendants filed an opposition to the class certification motion, as well as a separate motion seeking to exclude the testimony of the expert witness upon whom plaintiffs have relied in seeking class certification. These motions are presently pending before the Court. Discovery has been proceeding since the fall of 2005.
On April 4, 2006 a complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on behalf of New Cingular Wireless Headquarters LLC and several other corporations against approximately 100 defendants, including Greenwich Insurance Company, XL Specialty Insurance Company, XL Insurance America, Inc., XL Insurance Company Limited, Lloyd’s syndicates 861, 588 and 1209 and XL Capital Ltd. (the “New Cingular Lawsuit”). The New Cingular Complaint, which makes the same basic allegations as those alleged in the MDL Amended Complaint, asserts statutory claims under the Sherman Act, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, as well as common law claims alleging breach of fiduciary duty, inducement to breach fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment and fraud. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litgation (the “JPML”) issued a Conditional Transfer Order directing that the New Cingular Lawsuit be transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey so that it can be coordinated and/or consolidated with the MDL. Certain parties in the New Cingular Lawsuit have filed motions seeking to vacate the JPML’s Conditional Transfer Order; the JPML has not yet ruled on such motions.
See also discussion of the Sale and Purchase Agreement, as amended, between XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and Winterthur Swiss Insurance Company, in “Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses Recoverable and Reinsurance Balances Receivable” in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 2 above.
The Company believes that the ultimate outcome of all outstanding litigation and arbitration will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition, future operating results and/or liquidity, although an adverse resolution of a number of these items could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations in a particular fiscal quarter or year.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the period ended December 31, 2005 for further information.
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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
(c) Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliate Purchasers
The following table provides information about purchases by the Company during the three months ended June 30, 2006 of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act:
Issuer purchases of equity securities
| | | | | | Total Number | | |
| | | | | | of Shares | | Approximate Dollar |
| | | | | | Purchased as | | Value of Shares |
| | | | | | Part of | | that May Yet Be |
| | Total Number | | Average Price | | Publicly | | Purchased Under |
| | of Shares | | Paid | | Announced Plans | | the Plans |
Period | | Purchased (1) | | per Share (2) | | or Programs | | or Programs (3) |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
April 1-30, 2006 | | 10,263 | | 64.62 | | — | | $135.4 million |
May 1-31, 2006 | | 4,087 | | 63.43 | | — | | $135.4 million |
June 1-30, 2006 | | 158 | | 64.06 | | — | | $135.4 million |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
Total | | 14,508 | | 64.28 | | — | | $135.4 million |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
(1) | All of the shares included in each period were purchased in connection with the vesting of restricted shares granted under the Company’s restricted stock plan. All of these purchases were made in connection with satisfying tax withholding obligations of those employees. These shares were not purchased as part of the Company’s publicly announced share repurchase program. |
|
(2) | The price paid per share is the closing price of the shares on the vesting date. |
|
(3) | On January 9, 2000, the Board of Directors previously authorized a $500.0 million share repurchase program. The Company did not repurchase any equity securities under the share repurchase program during the three or six months ended June 30, 2006. As of June 30, 2006, the Company could repurchase up to approximately $135.4 million of its equity securities under the share repurchase program. |
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
At the Annual General Meeting of holders (the “Shareholders”) of Class A Ordinary Shares held on April 28, 2006 at the Executive Offices of the Company, XL House, One Bermudiana Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda, the Shareholders approved the following:
1. The election of three Class II Directors to hold office until 2009:
| | Votes in Favor | | Votes Withheld |
| |
| |
|
Dale R. Comey | | 152,559,822 | | 3,872,130 |
Brian M. O’Hara | | 152,997,967 | | 3,433,985 |
John T. Thornton | | 151,526,208 | | 4,905,744 |
In addition, the terms of the following Directors continued after the Annual General Meeting: J. Mauriello, E.M. McQuade, R.S. Parker, A.Z. Senter, M.P. Esposito, Jr., C. Rance and E.E. Thrower. Mr. Weiser retired from the Board of Directors on April 28, 2006, immediately prior to the Company’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. On June 8, 2006, the Company’s board, acting upon the recommendation of its Nominating and Governance Committee, elected Herbert Haag to the board effective immediately.
2. The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, New York, New York, to act as the registered independent public accounting firm for the Company for the year ending December 31, 2006:
Votes In Favor | | Votes Against | | Abstentions |
| |
| |
|
155,427,262 | | 860,588 | | 144,102 |
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
| |
10.1 | Amendment No. 2, dated as of May 5, 2006, to the Three-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2004, between XL Capital Ltd, X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and XL Re Ltd, as Account Parties and Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 11, 2006. |
|
10.2 | Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 5, 2006, to the Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2005, between XL Capital Ltd, X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and XL Re Ltd, as Account Parties and Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 11, 2006. |
|
10.3 | Credit Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2006, between XL Capital Ltd, X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and XL Re Ltd, as Account Parties and Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 11, 2006. |
|
10.4 | Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 3, 2005, between XL Capital Ltd, X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and XL Re Ltd, as Borrowers and Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and Bear Stearns Corporate Lending Inc. as Administrative Agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 11, 2006. |
|
10.5 | Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 15, 2006, to the 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2005, between XL Capital Ltd, X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and XL Re Ltd, as Account Parties and Guarantors, and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as the Lender, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 19, 2006. |
|
10.6 | Letter of Amendment, dated as of May 16, 2006, to the Letter of Credit Facility and Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of March 14, 2006, by and among XL Capital Ltd, as Account Party, XL Capital Ltd, X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and XL Re Ltd, as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and Citibank International plc, as Agent and Security Trustee, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 19, 2006. |
|
10.7 | Amendment No. 2, dated as of May 26, 2006, to the Master Standby Letter of Credit and Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2005, between XL Capital Ltd, X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and XL Re Ltd, as Account Parties and Guarantors, and National Australia Bank Limited, New York Branch, as the Bank, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 30, 2006. |
|
10.8 | Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 31, 2006, to the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2001, relating to XLA’s 6.58% guaranteed senior notes due April 12, 2011, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 6, 2006. |
|
31* | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications. |
|
32* | Section 1350 Certification. |
|
99.1** | XL Capital Assurance Inc. and Subsidiary condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited) for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005. |
|
99.2** | XL Financial Assurance Ltd. condensed financial statements (unaudited) for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005. |
|
|
* | Filed herewith |
|
** | Previously filed with the original Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2006, as filed on August 9, 2006, and herein incorporated by reference. |
|
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SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| | XL CAPITAL LTD |
| | (Registrant) |
|
Date: November 8, 2006 | | /s/ BRIAN M. O’HARA |
| | Brian M. O’Hara |
| | President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
Date: November 8, 2006 | | /s/ JERRY DE ST. PAER |
| | Jerry de St. Paer |
| | Executive Vice President and |
| | Chief Financial Officer |
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