RESERVES FOR LOSS AND LOSS SETTLEMENT EXPENSES

Because property and casualty insurance reserves are estimates of the unpaid portions of incurred losses that have been reported to us, as well as losses that have been incurred but not reported (“IBNR”), the establishment of appropriate reserves, including reserves for catastrophes, is an inherently uncertain and complex process. The ultimate cost of losses and related loss settlement expenses may vary materially from recorded amounts, which are based on management’s best estimates. We regularly update our reserve estimates as new information becomes available and as events unfold that may affect the resolution of unsettled claims. Changes in prior year reserve estimates, which may be material, are reported as a component of losses and loss settlement expenses incurred in the period such changes are determined.

The following table provides an analysis of changes in our property and casualty loss and loss settlement expense reserves for 2013, 2012 and 2011 (net of reinsurance amounts):




Years Ended December 31,	2013			2012			2011
Gross liability for losses and loss settlement expenses at beginning of year	$	971,911		$	945,051		$	603,090
Ceded loss and loss settlement expenses	(103,870		)	(120,359		)	(39,000		)
Net liability for losses and loss settlement expenses at beginning of year	$	868,041		$	824,692		$	564,090
Reserves acquired in Mercer Insurance Group acquisition, net	—			—			252,598
Beginning balance, as adjusted	$	868,041		$	824,692		$	816,688
Losses and loss settlement expenses incurred for claims occurring during
Current year	$	494,841		$	512,564		$	468,926
Prior years	(57,487		)	(73,427		)	(61,095		)
Total incurred	$	437,354		$	439,137		$	407,831
Losses and loss settlement expense payments for claims occurring during
Current year	$	203,868		$	201,632		$	253,175
Prior years	216,026			194,156			146,653
Total paid	$	419,894		$	395,788		$	399,828
Net liability for losses and loss settlement expenses at end of year	$	885,501		$	868,041		$	824,692
Ceded loss and loss settlement expenses	75,150			103,870			120,359
Gross liability for losses and loss settlement expenses at end of year	$	960,651		$	971,911		$	945,051

There are a multitude of factors that can impact loss reserve development. Those factors include, but are not limited to: historical data, the potential impact of various loss development factors and trends including historical loss experience, legislative enactments, judicial decisions, legal developments in imposition of damages, experience with alternative dispute resolution, results of our medical bill review process, the potential impact of salvage and subrogation and changes and trends in general economic conditions, including the effects of inflation. All of these factors influence our estimates of required reserves and for long tail lines these factors can change over the course of the settlement of the claim. However, there is no precise method for evaluating the specific dollar impact of any individual factor on the development of reserves.

The favorable reserve development in 2013 on prior year reserves was primarily related to our long-tail lines of commercial business including other liability, workers’ compensation and auto liability. The significant driver of the favorable reserve development in 2013 was the other liability line, primarily due to additional recognition of relatively recent changes in reserve development patterns which have shown increased redundancies in reserves for reported claims along with relatively less need for IBNR claim reserves. Also, contributing to the favorable development in 2013, only to a lesser extent than the other liability line of business, were workers’ compensation, commercial auto liability and surety lines of business

In 2012 we experienced favorable reserve development for reserves established for claims that occurred in prior years. The majority of this favorable development is related to our long-tail lines of commercial business including other liability, workers’ compensation and auto liability.

The significant driver of the favorable reserve development in 2012 was the other liability line. The favorable development is generally caused by changes in loss development patterns due to many of the factors cited above. Specifically, we observed a continuation of a trend, started in 2011, reducing the overall number of reported new construction defect claims and lower than expected loss emergence on known claims. In addition, in 2009 management began an initiative to control legal defense costs. As these costs are a significant component of the carried reserves for the other liability line, management believes this initiative is also contributing to the favorable reserve development trends.

Reserves for all other lines of business, with the exception of assumed reinsurance, experienced favorable reserve development in 2012, only to a lesser extent than the other liability line. We attribute this remaining development to the factors noted above. Our assumed reinsurance line was impacted by adverse reserve development on prior year catastrophes from accident year 2011 (Japan earthquake and tsunami, Thailand flood, and Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake) and from accident year 2010 (Canterbury, New Zealand earthquake).

In 2011, we experienced favorable reserve development for reserves established for claims that occurred in prior years. The majority of this favorable development is related to our long-tail lines of commercial business including other liability, workers’ compensation and auto liability.

The significant driver of the favorable reserve development in 2011 was the other liability line. The favorable development is generally caused by changes in loss development patterns due to many of the factors cited above. Specifically, we have observed an overall reduction in reported new construction defect claims and less than expected loss emergence on known claims. In addition, in 2009 management began an initiative to control legal defense costs. As these costs are a significant component of the carried reserves for the other liability line, management believes this initiative is also contributing to the favorable reserve development trends.

Our commercial automobile liability line developed favorably in 2011. The favorable reserve development is generally caused by changes in loss development patterns due to many of the factors cited above. Specifically, we have observed a lower level of latent claim development.

Reserves for all other lines of business, with the exception of assumed reinsurance, experienced favorable reserve development in 2011, only to a lesser extent than the other liability line. We attribute this remaining development to the factors noted above. Our assumed reinsurance line was impacted by adverse reserve development on prior year catastrophes from accident year 2010 (Canterbury, New Zealand earthquake).

Generally, we base reserves for each claim on the estimated ultimate exposure for that claim, determined from a prudently conservative point of view. We believe that it is appropriate and reasonable to establish a best estimate for reserves within a range of reasonable estimates, especially when we are reserving for claims for bodily injury, disabilities and similar claims, for which settlements and verdicts can vary widely. Our reserving philosophy may result in favorable development in future years that will decrease losses and loss settlement expenses for prior year claims in the year of adjustment. While we realize that this philosophy, coupled with what we believe to be aggressive and successful claims management and loss settlement practices, has resulted in year-to-year redundancies in reserves, our approach is better than experiencing year-to-year uncertainty as to the adequacy of our reserves. We believe our approach produces recorded reserves that are reasonably consistent as to their relative position within a range of reasonable reserves from year-to-year. However, conditions and trends that have affected the reserve development for a given year do change. Therefore, such development cannot be used to project future reserve redundancies or deficiencies.

We are not aware of any significant contingent liabilities related to environmental issues. Because of the type of property coverage we write, we have potential exposure to environmental pollution, mold and asbestos claims. Our underwriters are aware of these exposures and use riders or endorsements to limit exposure.