Reserves for Loss and Loss Expenses

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

The Company's reserves for losses and loss expenses are comprised of case reserves and incurred but not reported liabilities ("IBNR"). When a claim is reported, a case reserve is established for the estimated ultimate payment based upon known information about the claim. As more information about the claim becomes available over time, case reserves are adjusted up or down as appropriate. Reserves are also established on an aggregate basis to provide for IBNR liabilities and expected loss reserve development on reported claims.

Loss reserves included in the Company’s financial statements represent management’s best estimates based upon an actuarially derived point estimate and other considerations. The Company uses a variety of actuarial techniques and methods to derive an actuarial point estimate for each operating unit. These methods include paid loss development, incurred loss development, paid and incurred Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods and frequency and severity methods. In circumstances where one actuarial method is considered more credible than the others, that method is used to set the point estimate. The actuarial point estimate may also be based on a judgmental weighting of estimates produced from each of the methods considered. Industry loss experience is used to supplement the Company’s own data in selecting “tail factors” in areas where the Company’s own data is limited. The actuarial data is analyzed by line of business, coverage and accident or policy year, as appropriate, for each operating unit.

The establishment of the actuarially derived loss reserve point estimate also includes consideration of qualitative factors that may affect the ultimate losses. These qualitative considerations include, among others, the impact of re-underwriting initiatives, changes in the mix of business, changes in distribution sources and changes in policy terms and conditions.

The key assumptions used to arrive at the best estimate of loss reserves are the expected loss ratios, rate of loss cost inflation, and reported and paid loss emergence patterns. Expected loss ratios represent management’s expectation of losses at the time the business is priced and written, before any actual claims experience has emerged. This expectation is a significant determinant of the estimate of loss reserves for recently written business where there is little paid or incurred loss data to consider. Expected loss ratios are generally derived from historical loss ratios adjusted for the impact of rate changes, loss cost trends and known changes in the type of risks underwritten. Expected loss ratios are estimated for each key line of business within each operating unit. Expected loss cost inflation is particularly important for the long-tail lines, such as excess casualty, and claims with a high medical component, such as workers’ compensation. Reported and paid loss emergence patterns are used to project current reported or paid loss amounts to their ultimate settlement value. Loss development factors are based on the historical emergence patterns of paid and incurred losses, and are derived from the Company’s own experience and industry data. The paid loss emergence pattern is also significant to excess and assumed workers’ compensation reserves because those reserves are discounted to their estimated present value based upon such estimated payout patterns.

Loss frequency and severity are measures of loss activity that are considered in determining the key assumptions described in our discussion of loss and loss expense reserves, including expected loss ratios, rate of loss cost inflation and reported and paid loss emergence patterns. Loss frequency is a measure of the number of claims per unit of insured exposure, and loss severity is a measure of the average size of claims. Factors affecting loss frequency include the effectiveness of loss controls and safety programs and changes in economic activity or weather patterns. Factors affecting loss severity include changes in policy limits, retentions, rate of inflation and judicial interpretations.

Another factor affecting estimates of loss frequency and severity is the loss reporting lag, which is the period of time between the occurrence of a loss and the date the loss is reported to the Company. The length of the loss reporting lag affects our ability to accurately predict loss frequency (loss frequencies are more predictable for lines with short reporting lags) as well as the amount of reserves needed for incurred but not reported losses (less IBNR is required for lines with short reporting lags). As a result, loss reserves for lines with short reporting lags are likely to have less variation from initial loss estimates. For lines with short reporting lags, which include commercial automobile, primary workers’ compensation, other liability (claims-made) and property business, the key assumption is the loss emergence pattern used to project ultimate loss estimates from known losses paid or reported to date. For lines of business with long reporting lags, which include other liability (occurrence), products liability, excess workers’ compensation and liability reinsurance, the key assumption is the expected loss ratio since there is often little paid or incurred loss data to consider. Historically, the Company has experienced less variation from its initial loss estimates for lines of businesses with short reporting lags than for lines of business with long reporting lags.

The key assumptions used in calculating the most recent estimate of the loss reserves are reviewed each quarter and adjusted, to the extent necessary, to reflect the latest reported loss data, current trends and other factors observed.

The table below provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending reserve balances:


	March 31,
(In thousands)	2022		2021
Net reserves at beginning of period	$	12,848,362	$	11,620,393


Net provision for losses and loss expenses:
Claims occurring during the current year (1)	1,327,695		1,115,173
Increase (decrease) in estimates for claims occurring in prior years (2) (3)	3,761		(859)
Loss reserve discount accretion	7,796		7,278
Total	1,339,252		1,121,592
Net payments for claims:
Current year	84,598		97,586
Prior years	933,656		794,472
Total	1,018,254		892,058
Foreign currency translation	9,983		(14,779)
Net reserves at end of period	13,179,343		11,835,148
Ceded reserves at end of period	2,543,546		2,245,380
Gross reserves at end of period	$	15,722,889	$	14,080,528

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(1) Claims occurring during the current year are net of loss reserve discounts of $7 million and $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

(2) The change in estimates for claims occurring in prior years is net of loss reserve discount. On an undiscounted basis, the estimates for claims occurring in prior years decreased by $4 million and $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

(3) For certain retrospectively rated insurance policies and reinsurance agreements, reserve development is offset by additional or return premiums. Favorable development, net of additional and return premiums, was $1 million and $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has impacted, and may further impact, the Company’s results through its effect on claim frequency and severity. Loss cost trends have been impacted and may be further impacted by COVID-19-related claims in certain lines of business. Losses incurred from COVID-19-related claims have been offset, to a certain extent, by lower claim frequency in certain lines of our businesses; however, as the economy and legal systems have reopened, the benefit of lower claim frequency has continued to abate. Although as populations continue to be vaccinated against the virus and the effects of the pandemic have receded in many jurisdictions, most particularly the United States, it remains too early to determine the ultimate net impact of COVID-19 on the Company. New variants of the COVID-19 virus, including the “Omicron” variant, continue to create risks with respect to loss costs and the potential for renewed impact of the other effects of COVID-19 associated with economic conditions, inflation, and social distancing and work from home rules.

Most of the COVID-19-related claims reported to the Company to date involve certain short-tailed lines of business, including contingency and event cancellation, business interruption, and film production delay. The Company has also received COVID-19-related claims for longer-tailed casualty lines of business such as workers’ compensation and other liability; however, the estimated incurred loss impact for these reported claims are not material at this time. Given the continuing uncertainty regarding the pandemic's pervasiveness, the future impact that the pandemic may have on claim frequency and severity remains uncertain at this time.

The Company has estimated the potential COVID-19 impact to its contingency and event cancellation, workers’ compensation, and other lines of business under a number of possible scenarios; however, due to COVID-19’s continued evolving impact, there remains a high degree of uncertainty around the Company’s COVID-19 reserves. In addition, should the pandemic continue or worsen as a result of new COVID-19 variants or otherwise, governments in the jurisdictions where we operate may renew their efforts to expand policy coverage terms beyond the policy’s intended coverage. Accordingly, losses arising from these actions, and the other factors described above, could exceed the Company’s reserves established for those related policies.

As of March 31, 2022, the Company had recognized losses for COVID-19-related claims activity, net of reinsurance, of approximately $290 million, of which $246 million relates to the Insurance segment and $44 million relates to the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment. Such $290 million of COVID-19-related losses included $268 million of reported losses and $22 million of IBNR. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company recognized current accident year losses for COVID-19-related claims activity, net of reinsurance, of approximately $1 million, which relates to the Insurance segment.

During the three months ended March 31, 2022, favorable prior year development (net of additional and return premiums) of $1 million included $6 million of favorable development for the Insurance segment, largely offset by $5 million of adverse development for the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment.

The overall favorable development for the Insurance segment was primarily attributable to favorable development on the 2021 accident year, largely offset by adverse development on the 2015 through 2019 accident years. The favorable development on the 2021 accident year was concentrated in the commercial auto liability, other liability and accident and health (employer stop loss) lines of business. The Company continued to experience lower reported claim frequency in commercial auto and other liability in 2021 relative to historical averages, and lower reported incurred losses relative to our expectations. These trends began in 2020, and were likely caused by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including, for example, lockdowns, reduced driving/traffic, significant work from home, court closures, and similar reduced activities and travel. While reported claim frequency in these lines increased in 2021 relative to 2020, it remained below the historical levels pre- the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding the ultimate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on accident year 2021 incurred losses, the Company remains cautious in factoring in these trends in setting its initial loss ratio picks for this year. As accident year 2021 has begun to mature, we have recognized some of the favorable reported experience in our ultimate loss picks made as of March 31, 2022. The adverse development on the 2015 through 2019 accident years is concentrated in the other liability line of business, and to a lesser degree professional liability and commercial auto liability. The development is driven by a larger than expected number of large losses reported. The large losses particularly impacted the excess and surplus lines casualty classes of business.

The overall adverse development for the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment was driven mainly by adverse development in the non-proportional reinsurance assumed liability and professional liability lines of business, largely offset by favorable development in excess workers' compensation. Both the adverse and favorable development was spread across many prior accident years. The adverse development was associated primarily with our U.S. assumed reinsurance business, and related to accounts insuring construction projects and professional liability exposures. The favorable excess workers' compensation development was driven by continued lower claim frequency and reported losses relative to our expectations and to favorable claim settlements.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, favorable prior year development (net of additional and return premiums) of $3 million included $6 million of favorable development for the Insurance segment, partially offset by $3 million of adverse development for the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment.

The overall favorable development for the Insurance segment was primarily attributable to favorable development on the 2020 accident year, partially offset by adverse development on the 2016 through 2018 accident years. The favorable development on the 2020 accident year was largely concentrated in the commercial auto liability and other liability lines of business. During 2020, the Company achieved larger rate increases in these lines of business than were contemplated in its budget and initial loss ratio selections. The Company also experienced significantly lower reported claim frequency in these lines in 2020 relative to historical averages, and lower reported incurred losses relative to our expectations. We believe that the lower claim frequency and lower reported incurred losses were caused by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including for example, lockdowns, reduced driving and traffic, work from home, court closures, etc.; however, due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding the ultimate impacts of the pandemic on accident year 2020 incurred losses, the Company did not adjust its reserves based on these lower trends during 2020. As of March 31, 2021, we began to recognize some of the favorable accident year 2020 experience in certain lines in our ultimate loss picks. The adverse development on the 2016 through 2018 accident years is concentrated in the other liability line of business, and is driven by a higher than expected number of large losses reported. The large losses particularly impacted directors and officers liability and excess and surplus lines casualty classes of business.

Prior year reserve development for the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment was less significant during the first quarter of 2021, and consisted of small adverse or favorable movements across many lines of business, which largely offset each other. The largest contributor to the slight overall adverse development for the segment was non-proportional reinsurance assumed property business, which was impacted by higher than expected reported losses on property per risk treaties written in the U.S. and U.K. related to accident year 2020.